Chapter 1

"Three! Two! One! JUMP!" The warm summer sun turned the hillside a bright yellow, as three animals stood atop the peak. The trio laughed and tussled as a slight breeze blew over the rolling hills and meadows beyond. Just over the hills on the horizon stood a city outlined against the sky, Animalia. A beautiful city ran entirely by animals of all shapes and sizes, a place where animals lived free. It also happened to be the largest and most beautiful in the entire animal world! That's where this trio lived. "Aren't you gonna jump and roll down? You said you were the bravest!" a cat by the name of Serina teased, her sharp blue eyes glittering mischievously. She was a young Siamese with dark brown points contrasted on snow-white fur, her muzzle smirked as she glanced at the slope below. Beside her, a large pale yellow-orange leopard gecko the size of a small foal sat working his claws in the dirt nervously. Wrapping his tail tightly around him and not daring to look down at the daunting drop below, he said; "I did say I was brave, but not crazy!" the gecko tried to reason. A third animal, a male wolf, also sat on the hill with his friends. "Oh come on Sharky, it's just a hill. You can do it, we'll all do it together- right, Serina?" the grey wolf by the name of Ash glared at Serena, who nodded quickly. Sharky breathed out slowly, "Alright then, let's go!" Dropping into a crouch that his friends had taught him, Sharky wiggled his haunches back and forth, tensing his leg muscles. Ash and Serena both dropped into the crouch beside him, as the trio eyed each other mischievously. "Ready, JUMP!" Ash squealed, as they sprang into the air in massive leaps. The crisp air blasted their faces as they crashed onto the grass below- breaking into a roll as they continued down the slope. Sharky's large tail caught up into the fray, as Ash and Serena barrelled into him. The whole world became a fast blur as they continued downhill. " Woohoo!" Ash howled, as they slammed into a log. Sharky yelped with surprise as he was flung onto the ground at last, his mind raced with the thought: I did it. I did it and I'm still alive. Serena rose to her paws, quickly grooming the dust from her fur, "See? It wasn't that bad!" she purred. Ash rolled over and back onto his feet as well, he shook the leaf litter from his coat, "Haha, you're right. It was pretty fun, Sharky? Are you alright?" worry edged his voice. Sharky stood up quickly; It was pretty fun-but dangerous. Someone could have gotten hurt. Trotting towards the others, Sharky smiled, "It was pretty cool, thanks for making me do it anyway. Otherwise, I would have never tried it." he chuckled, as they turned toward Animalia in the distance beyond. Serena and Ash padded over to join him as they headed off towards the city, "It's probably time we went back, my parents don't like me being out too late." Serena meowed, as Ash and Sharky both murmured their agreements. "I don't know why they call you 'Sharky', you're not very fierce or shark-like." Ash butted him with his head jokingly. Sharky snickered at him, "Well you're not exactly on fire, are you?" he smirked back, as Ash huffed at him. Serena's whiskers twitched in amusement at the two, as she slinked forward to take the lead towards the upcoming city. "Hey, I was leading us just fine." Ash barked, as he quickened his stride to Serena's. Sharky quickly snaked through the gap between them, puffing out his chest as he trotted mockingly in front of them. "Alright then, race you home! Go!" Serena shouted as she pelted off. Ash and Sharky exchanged an amused glance and tore off after her. Sharky sprinted alongside his friends, chest and chest pumping as he cut through the grassy clearing. I could never imagine life without them; Sharky thought to himself; Whatever happens, I will always be there alongside them.