Diane sniffed the air and purred happily.

"Mmm! Dad, you've been cookin' 'gain haven' ya?" The woren's face split with a toothy grin as she walked into the kitchen. "Smells like yer home made peanut butter 'n' chocolate chip cookies if I'm not mistaken."

Paul Brandshire chuckled as he placed the tray of freshly baked cookies on top of the oven. "You've got a noise like your mother's."

"Aw shucks." Diane walked up beside her father and sniffed at the tray of cookies again. "Mmm... Ya dun mind if I try one, do ya?" She was already reaching out to pluck up one of the hot, chewy cookies when her father reached over and batted her hand away.

"'Fraid not. Those are for our neighbors, the Morgans. Lizzy hurt her foot yesterday in the woods, so I'm bringing her cookies as a 'get well soon' gift."

"Aw." Diane drew her hand back as her tail and ears dropped in disappointment. "Not ev'n a li'l nibble?"

"Nope."

"If I break Alex's foot will ya bake us some?"

Paul laughed. "No, but I may have to do just that in order to keep Alex from these. You know how your brother is, he'll find any way possible to get one of these cookies." Paul wrote 'Do Not Touch' on a piece of paper and sat it down beside the cookies. "Say, maybe you could help me with that?"

"Wha'? Breakin' Alex's foot?"

Paul snickered. "No, keeping your brother away from these cookies. I've got to run to the store, and I need someone to make sure Alex doesn't take one when he gets home."

Diane gave her father a quick salute. "Ya can count on me!"

* * *

Alex slipped off his 'Press' hat and hung it on the coat stand as he entered the house. A pleasent aroma caught his nose and he sniffed at it curiously. "Dad's been cooking again."

Making his way towards the kitchen, Alex glanced around the house for signs of his father or sister. The house was still and quiet. Must have headed out. The woren peeked into the kitchen, his tail and ears twitching as he did. He instantly spotted the tray of cookies on the oven. Tail flicking happily, Alex slipped into the kitchen and cautiously approached the cookies. It was then that he noticed the paper that sat next to them.

"Huh... 'Do Not Touch.'" Alex glanced at the oven and the surrounding counter tops. "No wires, no alarm..." Alex stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Just a sign? Dad's really lightening up on this..." With a shrug, Alex stepped up to the cookies and reached down to pick one up.


As still as a statue, the weretiger surveys her unsuspecting prey. Diane had been narrating the scene like this since she had first heard Alex step into the house. She found it more entertaining to herself when she compared the whole cookie ordeal to something a bit more wild. From where Diane crouched hidden in the corner, rolling pin in hand, she had been watching her brother ever since he had first entered the kitchen.

Sensing the moment to strike nearing, the graceful creature begins to make her move. Carefully and silently, she slipped out from her spot and moved towards her brother who was just now leaning over to grab one of the cookies. Diane felt the mucles in her legs tense as she crouched. Excitement buzzed through her, but she forced herself to wait until just the right moment. Alex's hand got closer to the cookies... closer... closer... closer... Now!


Alex didn't hear her. He certainly didn't see her when he had first entered the kitchen, but for some reason he knew she was there. Spinning around quickly, he saw Diane, rolling pin in hand, leaping through the air and aimed straight for him. In a flash, Alex reached behind him, grabbed one of the cookies, and held it out in front of him. "Drop the weapon and I'll give you the cookie!"

The rolling pin hit the floor with a clatter and Diane landed just a few inches in front of Alex, hands out expectantly. With a sigh, Alex dropped the peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie into the out stretched hands of his sister, then grabbed another for himself.

"You know..." Alex took a bite out of his cookie. "You don't make a very good guard."

"Oh shut up." Diane's tail waved contently as she munched on her cookie. "I won't tell Dad if you don't."