The young leopard who lay sleeping before my brother and I was absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe he's ours.

We planned to give him a much needed bath first and then take him meet our father, but he fell asleep in my arms and neither of use wanted to wake him.

"Beautiful, isn't he?" I sighed softly. Zion nodded in agreement, his hand reaching for mine. He interlocked our fingers and gave my hand a squeeze, just as our sweet little leopard began to stir.

We watched as he inhaled the scent of the bed, before his eyes opened. He looked confused, until he saw us.

Scrambling to his feet, he leapt off the side of the bed furthest away from where we stood, and slid underneath.

"Not this again" Zion groaned, releasing my hand. "Out you get, little pup. You're going in the bath"

I peered under the bed, and wide, scared eyes met my own. I thought he'd calmed down, but I guess it's going to take more than an hour in my arms to achieve that. I wish for him to feel comfortable here before we discuss with him what we desire, but my brother over there wants to skip all the stages and put it in his ass, apparently.

That's probably why you're reading our story though, isn't it?

Typical.

"Come out, little one. We didn't mean to startle you" when he made no move to come out, I told my brother to go and get some food for him from downstairs. We'd prepared already for the strong, almost certain possibility that we would find him, like we did. We're both well known within the clan for our superior tracking abilities. Once we caught hold of his scent, there was nowhere left for him to hide.

Zion soon returned, crouching down and holding the food out for the nameless leopard. How I wish he'd feel comfortable enough to shift, so he could talk to us, tell us his name...

Shuffling sounds could be heard from underneath the bed, and slowly, a nose appeared. Zion took a step back, coaxing the young leopard to come further out. It took a while, but eventually, he had ventured out from under the bed fully.

Zion let him eat the food from his hand, grinning at me. The best way to make an animal, leopard or any other, feel more comfortable with you was to feed them by hand. Our little one will begin to relax soon enough.

"How old do you think he is?" I asked my brother, who just shrugged in response.

"I'm not sure. He can't be any older than twenty, though. I've heard that the size of the leopard resembles what type of person the shifter is, so we can't base his age on his size. But from the size of his leopard and the way he's been acting, I'd say he's the shy, anxious type"

"No shit" I mumbled, scooping the small leopard into my arms as he finished eating. He looked up at me with wide eyes, but didn't try anything as I carried him into the adjoining bathroom.

I placed him down on the floor, just as my brother came in behind me and shut the door. I started the water and added a mild soap, careful not to make the water too hot for the little leopard to handle.

When the bath was ready, I turned to retrieve him, only to find he'd squashed himself into the corner of the bathroom furthest away from us.

"Come on, little one. We need to clean you up a little" I told him gently, taking a step towards him. In response, he pressed himself impossibly further into the corner, his gaze flicking quickly between my own and Zion's.

I turned to my brother, only to see him smirking and flashing his fangs at the poor leopard.

"Zion! Not helpful!" I scolded, lunging forward and grabbing the bundle of fur before he could move.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist" he chuckled, observing as I rolled my sleeves up and began to wash the dirt clean from the shifter's fur.

When he was all washed and dried, Zion slipped a collar around the leopard's neck and clipped a leash to it. We didn't wish to do it, but we feared that he'd make a run for freedom if we didn't.

"I wonder if he'll let me collar him when he's a human. That'd be hot, right Chase?" Zion grinned. I ignored him, rolling my eyes.

Father couldn't care less if we kept him or not. "Just do whatever with it, but any trouble and you two are responsible" were his exact words.

We're lucky father likes us enough to let us do whatever we please, as long as we tell him. He even approves of our relationship, even though we're twins, and didn't bat an eyelid when we said we had our eyes on a leopard shifter. Our sister Liliana, however, doesn't get the same luxuries. She's next in line after father, so her safety is more important than anything.

After meeting with father, we made our way back to our home, the little leopard trotting happily beside us. He occasionally rubbed himself on my leg, putting his scent on me. The simple action was sweet, he was telling me he trusted me. I read up on leopard behaviour before we went to find him, so I'd know what he was trying to say.

Though I was a little worried, because although a shifter is one with their animal, they survive off basic instinct, doing what is necessary to survive. But when they're human, they sometimes don't share views with their other half, as they see things different.

But what I'm trying to say is that even though the little leopard is warming up to me, I have no way of knowing if he'll feel the same when he feels comfortable enough to shift.

When we arrived at home again, Zion removed the leopard's collar and immediately, he ran to our bedroom. I thought he'd disappear underneath the bed, but he surprised me by leaping up into the bed, turning a few circles and slumping down.

We approached him slowly, not wanting to scare him away again, but he didn't seem to mind our advance. He just watched, his golden eyes seeming less scared, and much more comfortable in our presence.

Zion sat down on his right, but I just stood for a moment longer, reaching out to stroke his head. He seemed to lean into the contact, almost welcoming it. I withdrew my hand, and smiled as the leopard stretched out over Zion, so his belly was facing the ceiling.

"I guess he's beginning to feel more at ease with you, too" I chucked, watching as my brother tentatively reached out as rubbed the animal's belly, but quickly drawing his hand back. He's never been the best with animals. Or people for that matter.

"I wish he'd just change already!" Zion growled impatiently, causing the leopard to roll over and leap up in fright, hitting Zion in the face with his tail as he jumped off the bed and wove himself between my legs. Well, sorry brother, but I think he has a favourite.

"Don't startle him like that" I scolded my brother, who rolled his eyes. "He may seem more comfortable, but we cannot forget how long he's been alone. I bet he hasn't changed for some time"

"Yeah? Well I wish he would turn. It'd be much more fun" he smirked, flashing his fangs at the poor leopard again, who leapt backwards in response before wrapping his tail around my leg.

"Zion, it'd be helpful if you'd stop messing with the poor thing. He might turn back sooner if you don't scare him half to death! I don't imagine he's ever even seen a vampire before, otherwise he probably wouldn't be so trusting" I sighed, knowing Zion would just do his own thing anyway, despite my warnings.

It may be a while yet before our little leopard is completely comfortable with both of us...