The first few weeks had been more than what Tai could handle. Every night she would jolt awake screaming from a nightmare. Jezero being on the other side of the building and on a lower floor, couldn't hear her even though the screams and yowls were ear splitting. Each time, Tai would wake up clutching her paws as if they were burning or even gone. Every nightmare was either a horrible reenactment of the incident or Tai being the victim of Snizard and Uni's tretcherous murder plan. Either way, Tai continued to suffer from lack of sleep and it showed. Dark circles started to form around her eyes and her tail was always twitching. Jezero began to notice her friend's terrible state.

“Are...you ok?*coff-coff*”

“Yeah...just...nightmares...”

“I wont pry into it then.*coff-coff* The Coyote boy had a box for you that you hadn't unpacked yet.*coff-coff*” Tai peered over and saw a crate with her name on it. She opened it up and found a set of silver gloves, some parts, and a note.

“I knew that your paws were almost destroyed and that you've been...De-Clawed...so I made you a set of pre-made paw gloves. I didn't know your paw size so I left some parts in here so that you could fix them to your preference. I'm sorry about what all had happened and hope that your future is brighter.

A paw print signature. Tai took the box up to her room and went outside. She normally hated the smell of the sea breeze but today it felt calming. She then noticed something floating through the air; a paper. It floated towards the island landing in a bush. Tai quickly ran for the parchment. It was the academy news paper, The Weekly Chill. It was dated for two weeks ago but news never really traveled to the island. Tai opened up the paper and soon her blood began to boil.

“Jezero, can you believe this?!”

“I can't really comment if I don't know what you're talking about.*coff-coff*”

“This.” Tai tossed her the paper. She began to read.

“Troublesome Students Perish in a Blaze: Jezero and Taijey H. Okale are announced dead after burning alive in a house fire. The two students were previously expelled from Young Minds Academy for endangering students after an explosion. Dean Bertrand had this to say, “I expected this of Ms. Okale as a somewhat crazed state due to her quiet nature, but I never expected it of the new student. Ms. Okale was a bad influence on the girl and it cost her her life. I however am glad to know that Ms. Okale won't be corrupting any more minds.” There are two other suspects besides the two now perished girls. The trial will be held in a week.” Jezero looked up to see Tai sitting in a huff.

“How dare that old badger accuse me of all of this.” she hissed.

“Its not like what he says is automatically gonna be taken as important.*coff-coff*”

“No but he is close friends with Mayor Nutcholas and our late founder, Colby C. Furdinand. So alive we're fugitives and dead we're nothing.”

“But they don't know we're alive.*coff-coff*

“Then I can easily slip under the radar and take my revenge.”

“You don't seriously think that?*coff-coff*”

“Bertrand thinks I'm crazy? I'll show him crazy what crazy really is...what crazy can do...”

“Tai!*coff-coff*”

Tai snapped out of her state. “I'm sorry...I lost myself there.”

“Not just to Bertrand, but to the entire city, and foremost Snizard and Uni.*coff-coff*”

Tai turned to her friend to see a smile on her face and her paw extended. She shook her hand but instantly drew back her paw in pain. “Your paw is freezing cold!”

“But I had a coffee in my hand just a few seconds ago.*coff-coff*” They both looked at the coffee cup. The contents inside were frozen solid. “Whoa...*coff-coff*”

“How...and What?” Tai rubbed her hand.

“Don't ask me.*coff-coff* Did you just grow a little taller?”

“At the rate I grow, I'd say you're losing it.”

“Then how do you explain that?!*coff-coff*” Jezero pointed at Tai's feet. Instead of being firmly on the ground, she was levitating a fair 6 inches in the air. Tai grabbed on to the nearest chair for fear of falling.

“What's going on?!”

“Well...would you believe superpowers?*coff-coff*”

“I may be experiencing mental stress but I don't think its giving me superpowers.” Tai could feel herself rising another 6 inches. “I don't know how or why; I just want to get down.”

“Just think about getting down or something like that.*coff-coff*”

“And how would that work, exact-” Tai's paws began to lower to the ground.

“Told ya.*coff-coff*”

“Fair enough.” Tai shrugged. “Now to plot.”

“Aren't you gonna fix those glove things Coyote boy sent you?*coff-coff*”

Tai paused for a moment. “Where's the tech room?”

“12th floor, room 20.*coff-coff*”

Tai ran to her room for the box and headed for the tech lab. As she opened the door her eyes grew wide; she had never seen so many mechanisms and tools gathered in one large room. A small model rocket sat in one corner and in another corner a pile of tools lay scattered.

“Well...may as well fix up the place first if I wanna work.” She spent the whole afternoon cleaning and organizing; grouping every kind of tool in a different box. “Now we're ready to work.” Many meticulous hours later, Tai emerged from the lab with ruffled messy fur. “Let it now be know. Mwahaha....” She raced down to the main room where Jezero was working with her powers. The cat hid in the darker corners of the room; surprisingly quiet with her metal paws. She waited for the right moment; when when Jezero was about to attack one of the targets. “An unaware target.” she grinned as she crept along. One more step and she pounced. Jezero reacted faster than Tai expected; she turned and froze her feline friend solid.

“You've been awful busy, Tai.*coff-coff*” She knocked on the block of ice that was her friend. “So have I.*coff-coff*” She knocked on the ice once more and it shattered; freeing Tai.

“I may have needed a bath but not an Ice-Cold one. So you've been working at your new abilities.”

“And I've done some thinking...*coff-coff*” Jezero walked over to the table. “I think that I should leave you to plot revenge on the city, alone.*coff-coff*”

“A...alone? But I thought we would plan this together?”

“Just for the time being...*coff-coff* If they see me then they'll know that we were alive. Just give me time to go underground and change my appearance.*coff-coff*”

Tai was struggling to come up with an argument. “We...I...”

“Just until things calm down. I'll keep in contact with you and at least try to help you with your plans.*coff-coff* I'll even find you a few henchmen. Just don't make this harder than what it is.*coff-coff*

Tai was bitting her lip; being left alone after all that had happened. “Well I cant send you off without anything that you might need.”

~

Jezero was on the boat that had brought them to the island while Tai had loaded the rest of the cargo on.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

“Its for both of our safety, Tai.*coff-coff* You can take your revenge under distant circumstances and I can help with out you being in danger.*coff-coff*

“Then at least grant me this. I will no longer go by Taijey Okale as she has perished in flames. I am now Diaboliclaw.”

“And for a shorter and easier path?*coff-coff*”

“D-Claw for short then.” the cat smiled. “I'll miss you, Jezero.”

“Its only for a while.*coff-coff* I'll have the henchmen sent over by tomorrow, I promise.*coff-coff*” With that, the two hugged and Jezero sailed off.

~

True to her word, two henchmen...well henchwomen arrived the following day. A tall multicolored polka-dotted polar bear, Kooky Kold Front and Tuxedo Menace, a ski goggle wearing penguin. D-Claw set out to train them immediately while plotting her revenge on the city.