2. H O L Y W A R : Target

CHAPTER III

Cameron shuffled into her office the next day with bags under her eyes, having been tormented by nightmares that left her unable to sleep. Still, she diligently powered through her therapy session with Jack, who seemed far more talkative than usual—and that was saying something.

"...and sure, Ms. Newberry can be kinda hard on us sometimes, but I'm really learning a lot from her," Jack rambled on while Cameron did her best to look attentive. "I was working on a flambé yesterday, and—oh, waitaminute! I'm sorry, Ms. Walden," he apologized, quickly getting out of the beanbag chair, "but I'm gonna be late for my first class!"

"That's alright, Jackson," Cameron told him with a tired smile. "Go on ahead. But thank you for being so open with me. I think it's helping you a lot."

Jack beamed. "Thank you for listening!" He waved and hurried out of the office, calling, "Bye, Ms. Walden!"

"Bye, Jackson." Cameron watched the young jackal go and then exhaled, rubbing her eyes.

When she lowered her hands, she cried, "Oh!", because Zechariah was suddenly sitting in front of her, looking as stoic as ever.

"Good morning, Miss Cameron," the large cheetah greeted her. "I trust you slept well last night?"

Cameron stared at him incredulously.

Zechariah tilted his head, taking note of the bags under her eyes. "Or... perhaps not," he realized. "Nightmares again?"

Cameron slumped in her seat. "Yeah." Then she smiled ruefully and joked, "This whole 'immersion therapy' thing isn't really working out for me, I guess."

Zechariah smiled, but Cameron could the worry on his face. "Perhaps you should go to actual therapy," he suggested. "I'm sure there is a psychologist somewhere in the city who specializes in zoophobia."

Cameron laughed. "If there isn't, I'd be surprised. But I'm fine, Zech," she reassured the vice principal. "Honest. I just... need some more time to adjust."

Zechariah frowned. "Very well. I'll leave you to your work, then." He turned to leave, then paused and glanced over his shoulder. "By the way, Kimberly is out sick today," he informed Cameron. "She asked me to let you know—and to pass along her phone number in case you wanted to speak with her." He used his prehensile tail to deposit a small piece of paper onto Cameron's desk. Then he smiled warmly and told Cameron, "You have nothing to fear from anyone or anything in this haven, Miss Cameron. I promise." With that parting word, he finally left.

Cameron smiled as well, touched by Zechariah's efforts to make her feel more at home. "Thanks, Zech," she whispered.

-

Zechariah's ears twitched as he heard Cameron's words of gratitude—as well as the shifting of an unseen form in the shadows along the hallway walls.

"Don't make empty promises, Zechariah," Guardian's disembodied voice warned from the darkness. "There are things in this haven she would do well to be afraid of."

"There's no use in telling her that," Zechariah snapped, glowering at the shadows. "We're supposed to be trying to make her less afraid, remember?"

"Duly noted. Just stay on your toes."

"I will. And I expect you to do the same."

Guardian huffed, and then there was silence.

Zechariah scowled before softening a bit. I suppose he has every right to be on edge, considering what happened last time Adina was here, he realized. But we can't let personal issues get in the way of what really matters...