Gieah lifted her head and groaned at the pain in her head. She looked around her at the once again glistening lake and the sun streaming down. As she scrambled up she felt a force holding her paws together. Her eyes gazed behind her and what she saw shocked her. Her golden coat was gone, in its place was a pale blue coat with strange blue markings. She once again tried to stand up but failed. She tugged her front paw and tumbled forwards as it came unstuck. She heard laughter from within the lake. Angrily she peered into the clear water to see a pepito staring back at her.

Stop laughing at me! What happened to me? Where is my yellow coat?I don't want this horrible blue one.

The pepito gazed up at the poogle and saw a tear run down her cheek. He felt sorry for the young creature and took pity on her.

It was the lightning storm. It wasn't a normal lightning storm, it was much more intense. The lightning bolt recoded your DNA, changing your appearance completely.

The poogle looked herself up and down once again and nodded as the pepito spoke to her. She attempted to step forwards but felt her front paw sticking to her back paw once again.

Why do my paws keep sticking together though? How can I stop it?

That is the work of the lightning as well I'm afraid. The bolt has somehow made you magnetic, well your feet anyway. I think you can control it, try focusing all your inner energy into your paws, will them to turn off. If you do that you should be able to switch the magnetism on and off.

Gieah closed her eyes and focused her energy as the pepito suggested. To her surprise she was successful and her feet became unstuck. She leapt towards the pepito and thanked him, before asking him his name.

My name is Sparky, it's very nice to meet you Gieah. I hope to talk to you again some time

The poogle watched as Sparky lept out of the water and then disappeared once again below the surface. She stepped forward and gazed at her reflection. She screwed up her nose and splashed the water, obscuring the reflection. Her eyes swelled up with fat tears as she ran as fast as she could away from the lake, towards her favourite cafe where she knew her friends would be.

Do you really think you should be eating that? You're looking a bit chubby you know Indi.

The usuki usul, Poppy, smirked and flicked her long purple hair behind her shoulder. Mia, the disco kacheek, sneezed as the long hair brushed against her nose. She frowned as Poppy continued to flick her hair around, as if purposly trying to annoy her.

Do you have to do that Poppy, Poor Mia keeps sneezing. Has anyone seen Gieah today anyway?

The other three girls shook their heads at May, the yellow cybunny. As if hearing their conversation the bell on the shop door rang and Gieah entered, her head held low. She gazed around the cafe, searching for her friends.

Gieah over here! Wh..wh..what happened to your fur?

Gieah sighed and explained everything about how the lightning storm changed her look and how she had become magnetic. She watched her friends' faces closely as she told the story.

Eurgh, you've become a complete freak. I don't think you should sit on this table with us, what will people think!?

Indi giggled and high fived Poppy, scowling at Gieah May tutted and walked towards her friend.

Look Gee, we don't care if you look a bit different, we still love you. You're still that sweet poogle I met as a baby, you can still make milk squirt out my nose from your jokes. Ignore Poppy and Indy, they don't know what they're talking about.

Mia nodded in agreement and wrapped her arm around Gieah. The three girls looked over at Indy and Poppy still sat at the table.

Hey Poppy look at those losers looking at us. Eurgh, we might get infected if they look at us too long.

Poppy giggled with Indy and the two girls turned their back on the three standing up. Mia, Gieah and May linked arms and laughed as they walked out the cafe, leaving the others behind.

Well I guess we're just the three losers then, and to be honest I couldn't find two better friends.

Thank you to the following pets for appearing in my story,

Indi the white xwee, Mia the disco kacheek, Poppy the usuki usul, May the yellow cybunny

The colours here correspond to when that character speaks in the story.