Coleena marveled at the stone creation before her. It was a feline face, carved out of a mountain, its open mouth leading into a cave. The cat's face was indistinguishable, looking like some sort of hybrid. She appreciated the fantastic craftsmanship of the sculpture, wondering who had built it.
As Coleena examined the structure, something occured to her. Could the Cat's medallion be inside? She rushed into the cave, eagerly anticipating the treasure inside.
The mouth led to a long, dark hallway, with moist walls, and a vague scent of something dead. Her eyes watered, due to the smell, and she tried to breath as little as possible while she descended into the throat of the cat.
A light shone at the end of the tunnel. Coleena excitedly rushed ahead, trying to contain her excitement.
The tunnel gave way to a great cavern. There was a large pool of water, and in the middle stood a pedestal. Coleena inched towards the pedestal with trepidation. The pool was shallow, allowing her to easily reach her destination.
As she reached the pedestal, her face broke into a wide grin. Upon the pedestal was a platinum medallion, encrusted with breathtaking sapphires, and engraved with a breathtaking image of a bipedal cat. It had stripes, a long, ringed tail, and a majestic mane. To Coleena, it appeared to be an amalgamation of all the different species of feline.
She giggled as she held the amulet in her hands. "It's mine," She whispered. "It's finally mine!"
She held out the medal in front of her, adoring the ornately crafted accessesory. But Coleena wasn't there for the medallion alone. Coleena wanted it's power.
Since a young age, Coleena had a fondness for cats. More than a fondness, in fact. She loved them, everything about them. She had always wanted to see, if only for a second, what it truly was like to be a feline. In her mind, she pictured herself as a large, imposing beast, a creature msde to hunt, with fangs, and claws, and an unmatched strength that no human could compete with. The thought of it drove her to tears.
Coleena paused. A hushed voice was speaking in her ear, in a language she didn't understand. And yet she knew what it was trying to say. The voice came from the amulet, and it was encouraging her, as if to say "Put me on, and fulfil your dreams."
Coleena could wait no longer. Without hesitation, she hung the medallion around her neck. She waited, just waited, for a minute or two. The medallion hummed softly, and an ethereal glow came from the gems that decorated its surface.
Coleena closed her eyes. Reality swirled around her. She felt as though she was slipping away. Her old body was no longer useful. It would have to be changed, to fit the new animal that lived inside Coleena.
She had known what cat she would be since she was nine. There was no other choice. Coleena smiled and laughed as her body began its transformation.