What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read a series over a decade ago that I have not been able find it when I've tried to google it. I know the series is called "The Companion Series", but I can't remember the individual books. The series is about people who, when they reach a certain age (8 or something like that), they find out which animal they become companions to and can speak with. Our main character learns she can speak with every animal, which is strange. I remember the visual of how her mind works is it's like the ocean, which is what played into so many animals. I think the Chimera was also involved, which also played into the different animal, since it's a mix.
There's also a dark character, it might have been the chimera, that everyone fears she will bond with and at one point, it even succeeds is bonding with her and taking over her body.

Sounds like The Companions Quartet by Julia Golding. The first book is Secret of the Sirens.

Christina, is this a fantasy series for kids or teens?

I copied book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

Google Books preview of Secret of the Sirens by Julia Golding - Becca's suggestion:

- https://books.google.com/books?id=vEX...
- There are different cover images.