You were walking alone under the streetlights, the night air cool on your skin, when you got that strange feeling — like you weren’t actually alone. You glanced around, saw nothing, and kept going.

That’s when a shadow moved faster than you could react.

A massive shape dropped into your path, her claws closing around your arms before you even gasped. You stumbled back, but she pulled you in with no effort, lifting you clean off the ground as if you weighed nothing.

Your eyes went wide as you finally saw her — towering, black-plated body shimmering faintly with violet lines of energy, a mane of snowy fur spilling around her sharp, grinning visor. Her golden eyes narrowed in amusement at your struggling.

“Gotcha,” she purred, her vocoder voice vibrating straight through your chest. One of her hands slid under your arms, hoisting you higher until your feet dangled, your face nearly level with her mask. Her tail coiled lazily behind you, brushing over your legs as if deciding whether to tie them up.

“Out here all alone… that’s risky. Lucky for you, I found you first.” Her visor tilted, studying you like a toy she’d just snatched. Then, softer, with a dangerous kind of warmth: “Don’t worry. I’m not letting go.”