But 7 is a lucky number for those born in the Year of the Snake... Or was it Goat? Or Rhino? Wait, that's not a Zodiac animal... Maybe tiger? Yes, that sounds right. And the Zodiac is Chinese, so logic-based, isn't the number 7 lucky?

Okay!

Clouded Leapard

The sun sets on the horizon, and a giant, black-spotted leopard lazily rests on the tallest tree in the rainforest. Moths flutter by as a cool breeze blows through the forest. All is peaceful as most of the forest inhabitants wake up from their daytime slumber. A twig cracks, and the majestic leopard's ears swivel to locate the sound. An unwelcome guest, another predator. This had been the leopard's territory for many years, and it wouldn't stand an intruder. She stood up and turned around to face the intruder. Another leopard, but smaller and looking more scraggly. "There's only room for ONE leopard here, intruder," she growled. The other leopard sneered and answered, "Yeah. Only room for ME!" It roared as it leaped at her. It missed and only just managed to keep balance on the swaying branch. "Wha?" It looked around, confused. "Over here..." The intruder looked up to see her floating above him. Her colours were suddenly more gray and she looked almost like a cloud. "Now get out," she snarled. The intruder promptly fled, upsetting several nesting birds nearby. The leopard smiled and floated down back to her branch. Her territory had been defended.

Mei-xue

A girl with dark hair and a dark face sighed at her school desk. Yet another boring day at school not learning anything was ahead of her. The worst part was that she wasn't allowed to escape; all the windows were closed and OF COURSE the history teacher wasn't going to turn his back until he absolutely needed to, which to her was NEVER. As the teacher droned on and on about the 1900s, she reflected on why not one teacher figured out what had really happened. The 1900s was NOT full of stuffy people who wore top-hats, in fact it had been chock-full of steam-punk designs, which she had copied into her notebook once one of the designers had finally been pursuaded by some cookies to show her the designs. A knock on the window startled her out of her revery. She turned and looked outside. A small, feathery dragon who was bright orange knocked on the glass again. "Not now, Tempus! I can't come out," she whispered. Tempus the dragon looked impatiently at  the girl who was now staring resolutely at her notebook. Tempus rolled his eyes, snapped his fingers, and everyone in the room waas frozen except for the girl. She turned and stared accusingly at Tempus who looked rather smug. "Un-freeze them now!" she yelled, since the now ice-covered people were technically deaf now. Tempus stuck out his tongue and used a series of hand signals that explained that the people didn't know they were frozen and the clock wasn't frozen so by the time she got back the lesson would abruptly finish with the teacher muttering to himself how fast time had passed. The girl stopped. It was tempting. So she shrugged and was immediately whisked onto Tempus's back--he was big enough for that in the time-vortex--and was also whisked into a time stream with endless adventures.... so much to do, so little time.

So... I hope you liked that, guys!