New Zoo (Original Series by Wallace111)

New-Zoo-Orientation Day

The day had finally come.


After what felt like centuries, Orientation Day had finally arrived at the New Zoo.


A lone car travelled down the long straight road on this one early morning. The sun was just beginning to rise into the sky as the 'box on wheels' continued to approach its destination.


After all, the people within still had plenty to prepare before the big moment.


"It's been so long...I'd thought it'd never come" thought Rebecca, keeping her eyes on the road. "But it's finally here" finished Rebecca, taking a quick glance at Elizabeth and Charlotte. Both of them seemed just as eager as Rebecca as they continued to approach their intended destination.


"I've got to say, it'll be great to be back," said Rebecca out loud. She noticed Charlotte and Elizabeth eyeing her as Rebecca smiled, making sure the pair were awake.


"I agree, it'll be nice when all the animals are back in. It'll stop feeling so lifeless" replied Charlotte, noticing Rebecca nodding in agreement. "It'll also be nice to see them all again" continued Charlotte, feeling a sentimentality towards them. She knew this was mirrored in the others over the last three months since redevelopment began.


Ever since they saved the New Zoo.


"Agreed," said Elizabeth simply. "But it'll be great to continue to expand, grow our 'family'" continued Elizabeth. It was then Rebecca took a glance in the rear-view mirror as she noticed Elizabeth fussing something next to her. She couldn't help but chuckle at Elizabeth's excitement over something so...tiny.


"I see you've brought Holly with you," said Rebecca. She looked back to the road, hearing the audible purring coming from Holly.

"It didn't feel right leaving her at home...especially today" replied Elizabeth. She continued to fuss Holly incessantly, Holly enjoying the affection. She glanced down at Holly, recalling the day she had brought her home.


Two Months Earlier:


The rain was pouring down incessantly as Elizabeth was walking back home. She had just decided to take a quick trip out to the nearby shop. She was wearing her yellow raincoat as her wellingtons splashed against the quickly growing puddles on the ground. Her hood was raised high as she held her shopping bag close to her.


"Why didn't I check the eggs yesterday?" thought Elizabeth, slightly fuming. There was a new recipe she wanted to try out for her and her roommates. It sounded very appetizing and exactly what she and the others fancied right about now.


Unfortunately, the only thing they were lacking was eggs.


Therefore, Elizabeth had decided to go and get some. It seemed so simple, even fun as the rain had been a slight drizzle only an hour before. Elizabeth was still trying to comprehend how the weather had changed so alarmingly.


"At least I'm not too far from home" mumbled Elizabeth, pulling her hood once more. Her raincoat had been a godsend against the increasing torrent of rain. She was on the final stretch as she imagined what she'd be getting to once she got home.


"I guess Charlotte will still be watching Great Expectations," said Elizabeth. She didn't see the appeal behind the show herself...but Charlotte enjoyed it, so Elizabeth kept quiet out of respect for her best friend.


That thought gave Elizabeth pause, she had her best friend back. "It still feels so strange to think of her as such...after what happened," thought Elizabeth. She shuddered slightly, unsure whether it was due to her memories or the cold. Her thoughts drifted towards her other best friend as she smiled. She closed her eyes briefly, the rain becoming distant for a moment as she smiled.


"Seems like the Spirit's still doing fine," thought Elizabeth, happy that things seemed to have worked out. "I should probably go see it soon, my best friend could probably use the company" continued Elizabeth. She eyed the nearby pavement, confident that she would be home in no time.


Elizabeth was about to walk further on. However, before she could, she heard a distant noise. She looked around, trying to find the origin of the sound.


"What was that?" wondered Elizabeth curiously, her eyes widening as she heard the noise again.


It sounded almost like a...cat.


Elizabeth wandered off her route, trying to find the origin. The noise sounded desperate as if pleading for someone to find it. Elizabeth's eyes filled with worry as she could only imagine how scared it must be.


"Might as well put my new magic to good use" thought Elizabeth, closing her eyes once more. She let the magic flow through her, allowing it to focus around her area. It was then she opened her eyes, shifting her focus to a nearby alleyway.


"It's there," said Elizabeth, quickly heading towards the alleyway. She promptly entered, looking around as the sound had gotten considerably louder.


Fortunately, Elizabeth didn't have to look very hard. She glanced at the origin of the noise, her eyes widening with sadness as she got a proper look.


It had indeed been a cat, a small grey cat with matted fur. It appeared barely older than a kitten. Its ears were pulled back, indicating to Elizabeth that the cat was clearly frightened. As it glanced at Elizabeth, it appeared to be trying to shrink. It arched its back as Elizabeth looked down at it as if it was trying to establish dominance. It barely moved, as Elizabeth looked at it sympathetically.


"It just looks so frightened," thought Elizabeth, resisting her urge to comfort it. After all, it was still a stray cat that could attack her at any moment. Therefore, Elizabeth bent down, trying to see the cat on its level.


Elizabeth stayed there, waiting patiently for the cat to come to her. She wanted to make sure the cat was comfortable. She stayed calm, noticing the cat seemed to be responding in kind. It moved further towards Elizabeth, eying her curiously.


After a few moments, it stroked itself against Elizabeth. It purred with a sense of satisfaction as Elizabeth smiled, enjoying the moment despite the increasing downpour.


"Now...how about I take you someplace warm?" asked Elizabeth, not expecting the cat to understand her. However, as Elizabeth stood up, the cat mewed. "It's ok, I'm not going to leave you" reassured Elizabeth, her tone soft as she bent down. The cat seemed rather responsive at allowing itself to be picked up as Elizabeth cradled it in her arms.


"Now, let's go home," said Elizabeth, the cat purring as if in agreement. The pair began to leave the alleyway, Elizabeth having lost track of time. Nevertheless, she didn't care.


After all, her new furry friend needed her.


"Now...how do I explain this to the others?" thought Elizabeth, her mind in deep thought as she continued her journey home.


Present Day:


"I still can't believe you brought a cat home...it could've belonged to somebody," said Rebecca, her tone indicating a level of jest in her statement.


"Her name is Holly" stated Elizabeth. "Besides...I couldn't have left the poor thing out in the rain. Also, I've been entirely responsible for her cat as you asked" continued Elizabeth, contentedly stroking Holly who was enjoying soaking up the affection.


Rebecca thought for a moment. Elizabeth had stuck to their agreement, being wholly responsible for Holly's care. She chuckled, visibly indicating she was conceding the point. Elizabeth smiled as well, content to keep fussing Holly.


"She can also help with pest control, especially given our new on-site facilities," said Elizabeth, her expression becoming serious for a moment. "If we're to store all the animal medication and food on-site then I imagine a mice problem will soon follow" continued Elizabeth.


"Good point" replied Rebecca. While indifferent to Holly herself, at least for now, Rebecca had noticed just how much happier it had made Elizabeth. She looked at Charlotte, having learned her lesson from trying to break them apart.


After all, they were a team and that sometimes...required compromise.


Charlotte chuckled slightly, noticing Elizabeth cradling Holly. "It's good to see her so happy," thought Charlotte, smiling as she eyed Holly. To be fair, Charlotte had grown fond of Holly as well as she looked around the others. "I'm glad we're much happier. We deserve it after all" thought Charlotte as she glanced out the window.


"Elizabeth was right...we really did need to level the playing field" thought Charlotte, staring at the distant trees. "I just hope the worst is behind us" continued Charlotte as she looked back through the windshield. She noticed the nearby sign, newly installed indicating that the New Zoo was only a couple of miles away.


"Guys, we're almost there," called out Rebecca. Elizabeth and Charlotte nodded in understanding, both preparing themselves for the long day ahead of them.


Soon, it would be time for their animals to come home.


Meanwhile:


The Spirit hovered above the Loch it had spawned from, meditating as it felt the magic hovering around it.


The Spirit's voluminous turquoise hair was puffed out, shining brightly alongside its body. It retained its now-familiar t-shirt displaying the New Zoo's stone archways. Its hood was up, the turquoise jacket wrapped around the Spirit like a blanket. Its green shorts continued to shine, the Loch shining in kind as it still wore a pair of sandals, a now-permanent reminder of its friendship with Elizabeth.


The Spirit's best friend.


It could sense something quickly approaching, a familiar sensation flowing through its body as it opened its eyes.


"They're here" stated the Spirit simply, trying to hide its excitement. However, its body betrayed it as it began to glow green. Soon, it resembled a large lightbulb as it found itself in deep euphoria. "It'll be great to see Elizabeth again!" said the Spirit excitedly, no longer able to hold back. Its excitement flowed greatly through it as it was looking forward to the animals soon returning.


The animals that would finally let her feed on more than table scraps.


This snapped the Spirit out of its euphoria as it heard a 'crack' in the sky. It looked up to the sky, a concerned expression on its face.


"Again...that 'thing' just isn't giving up," thought the Spirit. It focused deep within, allowing the energy to coarse through its body as it did so. The Spirit scraped up every morsel of energy it could from its depleting reserve. It continued to build up, growing stronger and stronger as it was nearly ready to be released.


It was then the Spirit threw the energy outwards, a green wave pulsating from its body. It felt itself weakening but still had enough strength inside of it to smile. The grey spot that had formed had faded once more, the Spirit content that it had accomplished its task.


"I hope that was enough to keep it away," thought the Spirit, slight flashes crossing its mind. It didn't know exactly what that thing was...but it knew for certain it was bad news.


The Spirit pushed the thought from its mind, hoping Elizabeth had not sensed it through their bond. After all, she deserved to have some time to enjoy herself. It noticed the Manager's car approaching the New Zoo. The alleged 'box on wheels' got closer and closer as the Spirit couldn't help but smile despite its concern.


"I just hope I can hold it back...for their sake," thought the Spirit, smiling as it knew what today was.


Today was the day it would finally regain its buffet and hopefully...the energy would force this 'thing' back for good.


Orientation day was here, and the Spirit couldn't be happier.


Not Too Far Away:


A distant transport forced its way down the road. The sound of the large white truck was intimidating as it threatened to destroy anything unfortunate enough to land in its path. It was long and ferocious, being guarded at the sides by smaller but just as deadly white transport vans.


The convoy shot down the road as if racing towards their destination.


Within the large white truck sat a large gargantuan man. The large black chair he was seated in appeared to be barely supporting him. His brown trench coat covered his body, hiding his red top and black combat trousers from view. His black ushanka was immediately recognisable as he pressed a button on his chair.


"Is everyone in position?" asked Ivan, his voice serious as he waited patiently for a few seconds.


"Yes, still in position" replied Igor, his tone understanding.


"Not too far off" stated Alexei. "The animals are...rather vocal" clarified Alexei. A sudden noise seemed to corroborate his story. "Look, will you sit down already!" shouted Alexei.


"Aw, struggling to handle one little girl are you?" interrupted Igor, chuckling slightly at his colleague's expense.


"Be fortunate you're not in charge of her...she's quite a handful for one so young" stated Alexei. "I'm still questioning why she's so important...at least soon she won't be our problem" continued Alexei, growing agitated at the joy Igor was surely feeling at his expense.


"Just finalising the reports for the handover," said Maximillian, his voice loud and confident. He was obviously intending to silence his bickering colleagues. "Charlotte's notes have proved to be rather invaluable" continued Maximillian, finishing his summary as the noise of a pen against paper could be heard.


"Good, now be sure to be ready. We only have a few hours to accomplish the reintegration" said Ivan, his voice firm as he could tell his subordinates clearly understood his instructions. He then pressed the button once more, disabling the shared intercom.


Right now, he had other priorities.


Ivan turned, his chair rotating as he looked to see his passenger. Her purple hair was misshapen, her business suit slightly unkempt, her eyes betraying her emotions behind her small black glasses.


It was evident that Victoria was miserable.


"Are you sure you're ok with this? I mean, after what happened to..." started Ivan.


"Yes, please stop reminding me" snapped Victoria, her emotions plastered on her face as Ivan shook his head.


"I'll ignore that...I can tell that you're still hurting" said Ivan, his expression showing sympathy. However, for Ivan, breaking his usual stoicism was a rather extraordinary occurrence. Victoria looked at him, understanding this as she could tell he was trying to make her feel better.


"Thank you Ivan," said Victoria, chuckling bitterly. "You were also so observant" continued Victoria, no longer able to hold back her tears. She found herself unable to hold them back as she quietly wept.


Ivan eyed her sympathetically. He said nothing. For once in his life, he was unsure of what to do.


After all, what do you say to a mother who's lost their child?


After what felt like forever, Ivan decided he needed to break the silence. Something was nagging at the corner of his mind and he desired answers.


"Are you sure this is best?" asking Ivan, facing Victoria. Victoria stared at Ivan, calming herself enough so she could be coherent.


"Yes...I have no clue how to maintain a goat, nor the resources to do so" admitted Victoria. "At least they know how to look after animals...they at least seem to be sincere in caring for them" continued Victoria, hating her position and to an extent, herself.


"But can you trust them?" asked Ivan, his expression still stiff.


"Do I have a choice?" replied Victoria bitterly. "Sorry Ivan...but it's for the best. Charlee needs to be amongst her own kind...or have companions" continued Victoria. "I only hope they stick to the one mandate I've enforced. After all, I'm still ultimately in charge of them" finished Victoria.


"I'll make sure they do," replied Ivan, cracking his knuckles with obvious intent. Victoria smiled a rare occurrence over the last few months.


"Nice to see someone is loyal to me," thought Victoria, her mind wandering for a moment. She thought back to her daughter. "Where is Charlee?" asked Victoria.


"She's on this transport. I knew you wouldn't want it any other way" replied Ivan, smiling for a brief moment as he laid back in his chair.


Victoria did the same, feeling the transport van continuing to drive down the road.


And onto an uncertain future.


Within Storage:


The Storage compartment appeared pristine, sterile. It was as if it was designed to be as bland and as visually boring as possible. Despite this, it served its purpose. It stored its cargo neatly and securely as various crates were tightly secured down to prevent harm from occurring to the animals inside.


Charlee, a complete goat, was currently being stored alongside Klaire, her little lamb Clara and Angelica as per Victoria's instructions. Charlee looked around, her eyes devoid of any human intelligence as she bleated out. She noticed Angelica, her companion over the last few months, staring at her. It was then Charlee walked over towards her, the pair snuggling close together as they felt a sense of contentedness wash over them.


Angelica bleated softly as Charlee lay beside her. She could feel something in her mind, something fizzling in and out. She bleated softly once more as a few unfamiliar memories flowed through her mind. Her eyes seemed to shift, clarity growing within. However, before she could comprehend anything, her eyes went blank once more. The clarity faded away as she felt her herd instincts come over her once more.


She bleated softly, glad to be with her growing companion. Charlee and Angelica continued to give each other company, unknowingly bringing each other comfort after what had happened to them.


Clara, however, couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She watched the pair, feeling frustrated at the goat beside her 'sister.' Clara knew that she was the reason why she had been separated from her father, and broken up her little family. Worst of all, her 'sister' now had a companion which left Clara feeling lonely. The craving for a companion her age was beginning to overwhelm the small lamb.


However, before Clara could focus, she heard a distant bleating from her 'mother'. That brought Clara's attention to the feeling in her stomach. She was hungry, her mind becoming occupied by her need for her 'mother's' milk as she decided to leave her 'sister' and the intruder alone.


Clara noticed another crate in the corner of her eye. She ignored it as her hunger became impossible to ignore.


Clara wrapped her mouth around Klaire's teat, beginning to drink the milk greedily. She felt satisfied at her meal as she began to settle. She felt content to know she was going home and would soon enjoy the green pastures once more.


Not too far away, Anna was sitting. She stared blankly within her storage crate, looking around to find something, anything to keep her interest. Her ears flopped downwards, obscuring her vision slightly as she continued to sit mindlessly.


"Ugh, I'm so bored...can anything interesting happen?!" growled Anna. She thumped her back paw as she continued to look around. The only thing which she could clearly see was the storage crate opposite.


"Might as well watch the Chicken Channel...again" mused Anna, trying to find some amusement in her situation. However, she was still growing quickly bored as the 'Chicken Channel' had been the only thing to watch for the last three months.


She noticed the makeshift coop within the storage crate. Not long after, Anna noticed the chickens and roosters mindlessly walking around. Anna sat unimpressed, clearly annoyed at her situation. However, she'd be lying if she didn't find something amusing about it.


"I guess the universe does have a sense of humour," said Anna, watching the chickens in an attempt to alleviate her boredom. "I just wish I had someone...anyone to talk to" continued Anna, thumping her back paw once more in agitation.


Surprisingly, that seemed to get the attention of one of the chickens. It turned, looking directly at Anna. Its white feathers seemed to shine slightly as the chicken formerly known as Britney stared at Anna. It almost seemed like...she understood her.


Anna felt as if she was falling into a daydream. In her desperation for social contact, it felt like she had an understanding with this chicken. It almost seemed like...


"Nope, that's enough for one day," said Anna, shaking her head as if to clear the clouds that had gotten stuck within it. She looked around, trying to find something else to be interested in.


As Anna turned to leave, her ears swivelled. They picked up a distant growl within the transport as Anna's mind began to wander.


"Is that...Caitlyn?" thought Anna, feeling slightly flustered as the thought of her best friend crossed her mind. However, this quickly gave way to anger. "Why did she abandon me? We could've escaped!" growled Anna, her paw thumping once more. She resisted the urge to scream as her anger at her predicament was becoming increasingly impossible to ignore.


For now, however, Anna was able to keep her rage contained. Her eyes narrowed as she retreated into the hutch provided with her crate. She imagined she'd be eating again to relieve her stress. After all, it always seemed to calm her down.


Elsewhere, Anna had been wrong in her assumption. The distant growl had not come from Caitlyn but Alyssa. The transformed Panda clutched its head, feeling something deep within its mind making a break for freedom.


Alyssa squeaked in pain, her mind feeling as if it was being attacked, altered. She squeaked further as it seemed as if she was powerless to stop whatever was happening to her. The pressure grew and grew, causing the squeaks of the panda to increase in frequency and intensity.


Eventually, the dam that was Alyssa's mind broke. Whatever was trying to force its way out had successfully done so. Alyssa blinked a few times, the darkness that had surrounded her eyes beginning to fade.


"Whaa...what?" thought Alyssa, her brown eyes regaining clarity as her human mind began to take centre stage. She blinked some more, her eyes regaining human clarity as Alyssa felt like she had just woken up from a dream.


"What...where am I?" continued Alyssa, confused as her body wasn't responding as she was accustomed to. She shook her head, trying to shake away her disorientation. As she did so, she made the mistake of looking down at herself.


It was then she eyed her new form. Alyssa's eyes widened as she noticed her black and white fur. She could feel her tail shifting behind her, her ears moving slightly. Her mouth widened, struggling to make words as only small growls escaped her mouth.


It was then realization struck like lightning, reminding Alyssa of what had happened to her...and her baby.


"Helen?!" squeaked Alyssa, clearly agitated. She tried to stand up, struggling to stand as her head tapped the crate she was in. After a short moment, her back gave way. Alyssa felt herself be forced back to the ground as she landed on all fours. The sensation felt weird as she continued to growl.


"This...this isn't possible" huffed Alyssa, staring at her paws. She couldn't help but worry for herself, for Helen. "Where's Father? I know he doesn't care about me but...why hasn't he come for Helen? His own granddaughter?" continued Alyssa. She continued to move slightly, eventually forcing herself still.


"How has Rebecca gotten away with this? Surely...her dream didn't come true" growled Alyssa, still in denial as the sights, to her, confirmed the contrary.


However, she didn't have much time to think as a sudden bellow interrupted her thoughts. Alyssa looked around, trying to find the origin of the noise. She soon discovered the cause, noticing the crocodile opposite.


It appeared to be 'smiling' at her as if enjoying her misery.


"Yes...that'll show her," thought Anastasia, her tail swishing with satisfaction. She still felt so angry, so hateful as she eyed the various animals around her. Her eyes were blank, devoid of anything that could remotely resemble humanity as the crocodile 'smirked' maliciously.


"They need to learn...fear me, learn that this is my territory," thought Anastasia. This caused her mind to wander, faintly recalling how the silly humans attempted to tame her. "As if I could be tamed!" bellowed Anastasia, swishing her tail in anger.


"This is my territory, no one else's!" thought Anastasia. She recalled the human's mistake, their attempt to give her a mate. They soon learnt their lesson when she presented the humans with the remains of male crocodile days later.


"That showed them!" thought Anastasia. She swished her tail more, slamming it against the crate. Fortunately, the crate was sturdy, barely shifting against her strikes. She 'smirked', glad she had shown those humans their mistake.


They hadn't tried to give her company since and, as long as she was here, it wouldn't ever happen!
It was then Anastasia returned her attention to the vibrations as the Transport continued to move. She 'smiled', glad that she'd soon be going home.


"Soon, I'll return to my territory," thought Anastasia, bellowing in happiness. Her tail swished once more as Anastasia looked around. Anastasia noticed the peafowl within a nearby storage crate. She 'smiled', imagining just how tasty they would be.


Currently, Megan was sitting within the nest...her nest. She was sitting on top of her eggs as she looked around aimlessly. She felt her instincts within her mind, not wanting to admit what they were telling her. She felt her anger increase as her feathers unfurled slightly in agitation. She felt conflicted about her predicament, hating herself for feeling this way.


"However, Chris has stuck to his part of the partnership" admitted Megan. She looked out, noticing Chris was pacing around. He was glancing towards the other storage crates, trying to find something to occupy himself with.


"Perhaps...I've been too harsh on him," thought Megan, her eyes sorrowful for a brief moment. However, as she recalled exactly what she was doing, she shook her head. "Nope, I still can't forgive him for violating me," thought Megan, still angry at her predicament. Hence, she continued to tend to her eggs like a good little peahen.


Although they did feel colder than usual.


"Perhaps they...no, that can't be right!" thought Megan, shaking her head in denial. She didn't want to give that thought any more focus as she looked around. Her mind began to wander back into her past, focusing particularly on her best friends.


"I wonder...what became of them? Did they get caught as well...or did they miss this?" thought Megan. She glanced towards one of the storage crates containing a cow and a horse. She began to look forward to returning to the Aviary...for the change of scenery if nothing else.


"I only hope my friends managed to avoid my fate," thought Megan. She stared at the cow more, focusing as something about it seemed...familiar.


Unknown to Megan, the cow was her best friend Marie. Even worse, she was the reason behind Megan's pain.


Marie looked around aimlessly, chewing her cud as she was trying to find something to occupy her mind. She noticed Stuart at her side, 'smiling' as she knew he was trying to offer comfort.


"Like he always does" thought Marie. However, she was unsure whether Stuart could help her with what was troubling her mind.


"How will my parents cope? What do they think of me for this?" thought Marie, feeling fortunate that she had been milked before being transported.


It allowed her to focus on her situation.


"You ok Marie?" grunted Stuart. He eyed her, trying to shift his mane out of the way. As he eyed her expression, he swiftly worked out what was bothering her. After all, he had learned how to read her effectively. There was little else to do over the last three months.


"I'm sure your parents don't hold this against you" whinnied Stuart, trying to reassure Marie.


"You don't know that...it's not your parents who've agreed to join the Zoo" snorted Maire. She stamped her front hoof forward in annoyance. After doing so, she looked down. She felt foolish right now as she looked down momentarily.


"I just wanted a little freedom...was that too much to ask?" lowed Marie. She then looked back up at Stuart, pleading for some reassurance.


Stuart found himself at a loss for words. He truly didn't know what to say. Therefore, he snuggled close up to Marie, trying to comfort her. Marie, while hoping for an answer, appreciated Stuart's attempt to cheer her up.


Hence, she returned the affection as the pair came close together.


As they did, Marie looked over towards a very tall storage crate. She noticed the giraffe within, curious as to whether it remembered who they once were.


"I hope you're in there Erica...I could use some advice right now" thought Marie, hoping that she was overreacting to the situation.


Even if deep down, she knew she wasn't.


Meanwhile, Erica was staring forward, her eyes full of human clarity. She felt very isolated as she looked around blankly. However, this feeling wasn't unfamiliar to Erica, she had experienced it every day since her transformation.


Erica truly wished she had spent that day in bed.


"I know Giraffes are my favourite animal...but being one is...a different story" grunted Erica. She looked around, noticing Jason at her side. She tried to look around, finding her constraints annoying to navigate through. Her legs were clamped down, ensuring she couldn't move, her body was tied down. Even her neck was barely able to move, being forced into a fixed position as she stared forward.


"I know they have to keep us secure...but this is overkill," thought Erica, wishing she could at least move a little. The only saving grace was that Jason was held down the same, supporting her in solidarity even if he couldn't comprehend it.


Erica then decided to try and look around, try and take her mind off her current situation.


"Why do I feel so desperately lonely?" bleated Erica. Despite all this company, she grumpily bent her long neck down. She looked back to Jason, trying to find something else to focus her mind on.


"I wonder...what was Jason like as a human?" thought Erica. The thought had recurred within her mind over the last few months, like a riddle for the ages. "If only he still had his memories" continued Erica, her attention being drawn to her pregnant belly. "Things might've been different" finished Erica, an expression of resignation on her face.


It was then Erica noticed Jason seemed increasingly agitated. "He's being needy...again," thought Erica, annoyance swelling within her. Still, at this moment, Erica desired some comfort, any comfort from what she was feeling.


"Might as well give him what he wants" thought Erica, snuggling up to Jason who seemed to calm. She looked around, hoping to get some comfort or at least a distraction from her thoughts of isolation.


This brought Erica's attention to a nearby storage crate. It contained a sole kangaroo within, looking around mindlessly.


"I wonder if she's like me," thought Erica, wondering if she was truly alone. Perhaps...one day she might find peace.


The Kangaroo, formerly known as Marlene, looked around aimlessly. It felt odd, uneasy as it continued to glance around. It was trying to comprehend its situation, feeling as if something was seriously wrong.


It looked down at its pouch, struggling to comprehend the feeling. Its head tilted curiously, wondering what this feeling was. It stared at its wrist, noticing the wristband it was wearing. For some reason, it felt important.


This brought Marlene's attention back to her pouch, recalling something important was within it as well.


"Is...this...do I desire a joey?" thought Marlene, feeling its mind wandering. It blinked its dark eyes, something seemed to be forcing its way through her mind. Something...from a past life. Her eyes began to brighten somewhat, the brown shifting towards a light shade of blue.


"A...Amanda?" thought Marlene, its memories flickering around as it tried to make sense of anything. It felt sad all of a sudden...as if it was grieving.


"My...my friend?" grunted Marlene. Something didn't seem right, she just knew it. She could faintly recall a human giving her something.


"She tried to...save us?" thought Marlene, her mind becoming increasingly clear. She looked down in her pouch, noticing the remains of a...


"Phone?" grunted Marlene, recognising the strange device. She recalled a new instinct that had crossed her mind at the time. How Amanda had returned, how Amanda had given her something. Something that she had come fiercely protective towards. She faintly recalled that Amanda had said they'd meet again.


And they had never done so.


"So...something must have...gone wrong," thought Marlene, fearing that Amanda, her friend, was never coming back. As Marlene fell into despair at this revelation, her eyes began to darken. The blue was being quickly snuffed out by the dark brown as her instincts cemented their control over Marlene's mind once more.


The Kangaroo grunted softly, its mind blank for a brief moment. It looked down at its pouch once more, feeling an instinctive need rising. It desired to have a mate of its own, but more importantly, desired to have a joey to call its own.


Unknown to Erica and Marlene, they had been watched by the pack of wolves within their storage crate. Bethany and Mindy were lying down, Mindy having given birth to a wonderful female pup, Snowball whereas Bethany was currently feeding her younger pups, Comet, Nova and Solstice.


Whilst Elizabeth and the others had been confused, Mindy hadn't cared about producing only one pup. If anything, having only one pup to spoil had caused Mindy to adore her pup all the more.


With that, Mindy looked down at her pup, 'smiling' intently as she looked around the developing pack. Whilst Snowball had been shy since she was born, Mindy hopes that more 'natural' surroundings might convince her to come out of her shell.


"It'd just be nice for her to have a friend...if only one" thought Mindy, feeling concerned for her pup. It was then she noticed Keith and Andy checking their surroundings. She then looked towards Bethany, noticing her look of absolute contentment.


"It's great to see Bethany so happy" thought Mindy, nuzzling Snowball once more in an attempt to sooth her. Snowball was shaking with fear, the bouncing of the truck not helping with her nerves. Mindy returned her attention to Bethany, noticing her nuzzling her trio of pups.


"After what she told me regarding her infertility...and how she wanted children" thought Mindy, returning her attention towards what Keith and Andy were looking at.


It was then she noticed they were staring at the giraffe opposite...reminding her of the giraffe's predicament.


All Mindy could give was a sympathetic glance in response.


"It's unfortunate...isn't it?" said Mindy, calling out to Andy whilst still lying on her side.


"Certainly, she does seem so lonely...especially since she clearly still has her memories like us" replied Andy, moving towards Mindy and snuggling up with her and their pup. The pack had been observing the giraffes for the last few months, with little else to do outside of raising their pups the best they could.


However, despite their situation, they were looking forward to expanding their pack.


"Well, at least we're all together, enjoying ourselves," said Keith. He moved down, snuggling up close to Bethany who licked his face affectionately.


"I can't disagree...even if it could've been very different" replied Andy. The others didn't say anything but the expression they were giving indicated that they agreed with him. Andy then moved down, snuggling close to Mindy as Mindy 'chuckled' in amusement.


"Guys..." started Andy, getting the attention of the rest of the pack. "I don't know what the future has in store for us but...we should make sure if we have any additions, we should make them feel welcome" finished Andy.


"I agree" replied Bethany, shifting her head to face the others. "No one should feel alone, they'll need all the comfort they can get, especially if they don't find it as enjoyable as we do" finished Bethany, her head slumping back down once more.


"I guess we're all in agreement?" asked Andy, satisfied as the others indicated they were. It was then Andy snuggled closer up to Mindy, content to be with his lover and mate.


In direct contrast to Erica, a nearby storage tank contained a familiar group from the Aquarium. Zoe and Chloe, the former humans now manta rays, remained close together. They enjoyed each other's company as the lovers 'embraced' once more.


Their best friend Sally was not too far off, watching the pair with satisfaction in her eyes. "It's nice to see their love for each other is still as strong as ever," thought Sally, bringing one of her tentacles to her head. She couldn't help but chuckle as she recalled the mischief she'd managed to get up to over the last three months.


Initially, she had been placed in a separate tank on her own. This had quickly become boring with little else to do except allow her mind to wander. She noticed that Zoe and Chloe weren't that far away. According to her calculations, she would be able to get to them long before she was at risk of drying out.


Her mind had swiftly accepted the challenge, seeing it as a puzzle of sorts and something to take her mind off of everything. Besides, she felt an odd sense of mischievousness come over her. It was like an itch she was struggling to scratch and she desired to satisfy it.


It hadn't taken long for Sally to escape her own tank, she almost wished it was harder.


"You'd think given the seriousness of 'whatever this is' started Sally, interrupting her memory momentarily. "They'd invest in tighter security for the storage facilities" finished Sally, letting the memory wash over her once more.


Within what Sally imagined had been ten minutes, she had managed to work her way into Zoe and Chloe's storage tank. While initially surprised to see her, they had quickly adapted, enjoying the company of their best friend once more.


Upon discovering that she had escaped, Sally had been returned to her own tank. They had attempted to make it more secure, preventing her from escaping again. Sally just saw this as another puzzle as she plotted her escape once more.


Hence, Sally had continued to outsmart them every time, treating each time they put her back as another puzzle. She became annoyingly swift at it, having little else to focus on which irritated the supervisors consistently.


Evidently, they had gotten the message as, after two months of this game, they stopped trying to force her back. She was eventually allowed to stay with Zoe and Chloe and therefore, keep the company of her best friends.


"Still, it's nice to see them together," thought Sally, returning to reality. "After all, they spent so long apart, I could tell it was killing Zoe inside" continued Sally internally. "They truly deserve one another...they make a very cute couple" finished Sally.


However, Sally noticed Zoe seemed to be in a state of distress. Sally figured it was to do with her childhood once more as Sally considered what to do.


"It's probably best to leave this to Chloe...she's always been better at calming Zoe," thought Sally. She noticed Chloe not far off, anticipating she was about to do exactly what Sally imagined she would.


"Zoe, what's wrong?" asked Chloe, already knowing the answer but trying to put her best friend and lover at ease.


"It's just...it's..." started Zoe, trying to find the best words. Upon looking at Chloe once more, seeing her 'concern' caused her to compose herself. "I'm worried about my past...about you, Sally. I...I don't want to risk losing you because of it" said Zoe, her tone uneven as she was trying to hold back the panic in her voice.


"Zoe...look at me," said Chloe softly, her reassuring tone calming Zoe's nerves. "Why do you fear that the past could catch up to us?" asked Chloe. Zoe looked at Chloe, clearly uncomfortable at the question. Chloe, despite her scepticism, decided to drop the subject. Right now, Zoe needed assurance and if that meant Chloe was to be kept in the dark...so be it.


"Zoe" started Chloe, eyeing her lover. "I promise whatever comes, I'll keep you safe" finished Chloe. At this she hugged her lover, Zoe feeling a sense of reassurance as she returned the motion.


"They do look so cute together," thought Sally, watching the situation from a distance. Before she could focus further, she heard a distant noise coming from the front of the transport.


"Figures, it's the big cats again," thought Sally, her internal voice having a deadpan tone. "They always seem to get special treatment. Guess they're one of the Manager's favourites" continued Sally, 'shrugging' her tentacles as she eyed Zoe and Chloe.


"Still...all I need is my best friends to be happy" admitted Sally. She imagined that the transport would be arriving at the Zoo soon enough. She then proceeded to swim towards the pair, wishing to enjoy their company for a little longer before the chaos unfolded.


Indeed, at the front of the Storage compartment, Diana laid down within her own storage crate. She was trying to find a way to pass the time, the vibrations of the truck moving across the road preventing her from taking a nap. She looked over the other big cats she could see, still somewhat alarmed at how much had changed over the past six months.


"I'm still baffled that Rebecca managed to pull this off," thought Diana, recalling how only six months ago she was alone. Now...the big cats had expanded considerably. It was almost like a...


"No, not that word," thought Diana, shaking her head slightly as she heard a distant yowling coming from one of the other crates. This caused another thought to cross Diana's mind, one that filled it with dread.


"I hope Rebecca hasn't finished the Sanctuaries" growled Diana softly, feeling annoyance within her. "However, knowing my luck, she's already done so" continued Diana. She was dreading returning to the Zoo, especially since the Sanctuary would force her to interact with something she'd been dreading to do so for the longest time.


It would force her to interact with the new cubs that had been born.


"I don't hate children...I just...I don't know" thought Diana, trying to work out exactly what was bothering her. Eventually, she surrendered, shaking her head to dismiss the unwanted thought as she looked around. She eyed the other big cats, focusing on them as she realised how much they had changed over time.


She eyed the Jaguars, noticing how they seemed to ignore one another.


"I guess that makes sense, given Jaguars are solitary creatures," thought Diana, still struggling to place these two. She hadn't got many ideas of their behaviour or personality as they had been very recent additions barely after the others had been taken to the Compound. They had barely been social either, not getting involved in Caitlyn's attempts to socialise with the big cats to alleviate what Diana imagined must have been her own boredom.


"However, one of them appears to still have their memories," thought Diana, staring at one who was just lying down. They appeared to be pregnant, slightly bulging around their stomach. Diana guessed that the jaguar to keep their memories was a female as she decided to move on.


Diana heard a chorus of growls coming from a nearby storage crate as she investigated the origin of the sound. It was then she noticed the Panthers within, Jasmine still appearing to be begging for sex while Derek appeared to be at the mercy of the four cubs that filled the place. The growls continued to increase in volume as Diana shook her head in annoyance.


"I wish Jasmine would pay some attention to her kids...or at least be quieter when she mates with Derek for fucks sake" growled Diana, her frustration impossible to hide. Jasmine had given birth to another set of twins over the last three months as Diana felt the noise coming from them was unbearable. It had also screwed considerably with their sleep schedule, disturbing the other big cats as much as her.


It was then Diana heard a roar coming from the crate opposite as she looked. Sandra appeared agitated at Jasmine as she looked back over to her mate Andrew. He continued to lie down lazily, not giving much notice to anything going on around him.


"Sometimes I envy Andrew for being able to sleep over Jasmine's demands for sex," thought Diana, noticing something jumping around within the crate. It was then Diana remembered that Jasmine wasn't the only one with a cub.


In fact, most of the big cats had given birth. A fact that was still puzzling Diana.


"At least Kiara's enthusiasm seems to be rubbing off on Alex. Nice kid, unlike his sister, sometimes" meowed Diana. She noticed Kiara looking over towards the snow leopards once more, clearly trying to find her best friend.


Diana then noticed Sandra coming forward. She grabbed Kiara who, despite her grunts of protest, was at her mother's mercy as she was bathed. Diana couldn't help but 'chuckle' even as she felt a little uncomfortable with how on edge Sandra seemed.


"Probably still getting used to having more company than her mate...if I recall, she wasn't near us before redevelopment" thought Diana. She turned away, planning to give the lions some privacy.


In reality, she was trying to turn away from her regret.


"If only I was faster, then...they might have escaped. I'm sorry" chuffed Diana. She looked over the snow leopard crate, wondering what Alex was up to.


"He seems rather...happy. Good to know, I'd hate for him to be depressed about this, especially at a young age" thought Diana, affording a rare 'smile.' Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Adrian who, even after three months, still seemed uncomfortable in his new form.


"I've noticed Caitlyn staring as well. I guess it's affecting her as well" thought Diana, noticing Caitlyn seemed to have moments where she seemed rather 'depressed.' Even after all the times Rebecca came to visit her, keep her company. Diana guessed Caitlyn was feeling rather guilty for her role in coercing her family into joining the Zoo.


"Well...I did warn her about that" thought Diana, at a loss of what to think in response. She looked over to Travis who, in contrast to Caitlyn, seemed to be in rather high spirits.


"He's been that way since his parents joined," thought Diana, recalling how Travis's family were apparently on the poverty line. "I guess he's been better for it" mewed Diana, recalling how Travis had come out of his shell considerably. "He at least seems to be enjoying himself...I guess the 'scaredy cat' conquered his fear after all" continued Diana. She acknowledged internally, that at least the disaster that was their families joining had some silver lining.


"He even seems to be making some friends...like Lucas," thought Diana. Despite her cynicism, Diana couldn't help but be proud of Travis for making the most of his new existence. Although she did feel concerned for Caitlyn who seemed to have comparatively...stagnated.


She then decided to look towards the Leopards now, unable to get them out of her mind.


Diana eyed the nearby leopards, noticing that they seemed comparatively settled...as per usual. While Diana still felt a sense of disappointment for her inability to save Georgia, at least Georgia seemed happy with Lucas.


"I guess something else went on with those two...perhaps some previous relationship?" thought Diana, finding herself guessing as she could only imagine what previous relationship if any, the pair had shared. Still, she watched as the pair slept lazily alongside each other, clearly not having a single care in the world.


And then there was Spot.


"I guess she steals all their energy" mused Diana, her tone indicating mild amusement. She watched Spot jumping around, eyeing her surroundings. She swept her paws out as if she was catching an imaginary butterfly. Diana had to admit the scene was amusing...and kind of cute.


"I can just imagine Spot is going to love the Sanctuary when we return" thought Diana, both dreading but also feeling happy for the situation. Her happiness caused her to think back to the last pair of cats that had been added over time.


Diana eyed the pair of pumas, her head tilting in confusion. Somehow, the pair had remained as enthusiastic as ever about being animals ever since their transformation.


"I expected the novelty of being animals to wear off eventually but...it seems to have never done so," thought Diana, eyeing their newest addition to their family. Despite her scepticism, Diana had to admit little Cinnamon was adorable. She was ever so curious about her surroundings, especially the supervisors who came to make sure they were ok. She was also rather merciful when it came to noise, being rather quiet.


Overall, Cinnamon had grown on Diana who was intrigued to see how she would react when they arrived back at the Zoo.


"Still, it'll be interesting to see what the future holds" mewed Diana, feeling a sense of doubt building within her. "Even if I'm more afraid of my past," thought Diana, not desiring to say it out loud.


Despite Katrina's reassurance over the past three months, Diana still hadn't plucked up the confidence to tell them her story.


Diana looked away, trying to take her mind off the situation. She noticed one of the final crates containing the Serval. It seemed to be trying to spy on the group as if it was interested in whatever gossip might be going around.


"Like she's been ever since she was added" deadpanned Diana. She shook her head, feeling like Haley wasn't particularly efficient at the gossip she craved.


This was, mostly in part, because of her large pointy ears. They usually gave her away, making it painfully obvious where she was and making it impossible for her to sneak up on others.


"Still...the other big cats seem to be humouring her," thought Diana. She 'chuckled' slightly, appreciative of the amusement Haley seemed to give the group. Which, considering their predicament, all of them could use more of.


However, before Diana could consider the point further, she felt the truck beginning to slow. It seemed gradual at first, the truck's speed and velocity declining at a steady rate. After what felt like an eternity, the truck came to a complete stop as Diana, alongside some of the other big cats stared at a door intriguingly.


The door whirred and clicked, making considerable noise. Lights at the side shifted, changing colour from red to green as the door began to rise. The noise of steps forming could be heard as approaching footsteps became louder and louder.


"I guess Ivan's here, ready to prepare us for extraction," thought Diana, watching the door slide upwards. Correct in her assumption, Ivan walked inside the storage component. His men followed suit, walking around towards the various storage crates.


"Ok, men...prepare for extraction!" called out Ivan, his voice booming across the compartment as his men got to work. Ivan then picked up his phone, intending to inform Rebecca of their arrival.


At the New Zoo:


Rebecca was currently sitting in the Office. She, alongside Elizabeth and Charlotte, was waiting with anticipation for the call. They had quickly managed to look around the Zoo. With the Spirit's assistance, they managed to confirm that everything was in working order as excitement built within them.


Now all that remained was to wait for the animals to return.


At that moment, the red landline telephone that was on the desk rang. Elizabeth and Charlotte looked at each other, then back to Rebecca as they gave her the go-ahead to answer it.


Rebecca nodded in understanding as she picked up the phone, not wanting to keep Ivan on hold for too long.


"Hello Ivan," said Rebecca, her tone jovial as she had already anticipated this call.


"Greetings Rebecca...we've arrived," replied Ivan, his tone as stoic as ever. "I suggest you and your comrades get to the entrance so you can help coordinate their return" recommended Ivan, although his recommendation sounded more like a command.


"Understood" replied Rebecca simply, motioning to Elizabeth and Charlotte to prepare themselves. "We'll see you soon" finished Rebecca dropping the phone down as her smile widened.


Like children waiting to unwrap their Christmas presents, the Managers dashed out of the Office. They were eagerly looking forward to the Zoo being full of life once more as they began to head towards the familiar stone archways.


Not a moment too soon, the Managers had arrived at the entrance of the New Zoo. They looked around, noticing the storage crates scattered around. Victoria motioned Rebecca to come to her. Rebecca nodded as she looked at Elizabeth and Charlotte who were already heading over to assist with the reintegration.


"Glad to see you here," said Victoria, eyeing Rebecca warningly.


"Same to you...again, sorry for what happened to Charlee" replied Rebecca, her eyes sincere as she flashed a small smile.


"If you want to show you're sorry...just stick to my mandate," said Victoria, a defeated expression on her face. Rebecca nodded as she turned to face Ivan.


It was at that point she discovered their additional passenger. Despite being just a child, Rebecca knew well enough by now not to underestimate her.


"What's she doing here?!" demanded Rebecca, her expression annoyed.


"I have a name Becky," replied the girl mockingly. Her icy blue eyes eyed Rebecca menacingly as if trying to penetrate Rebecca's defences. "Anyway...nice to see you again. I hope you don't disappoint Daddy...again" finished the girl, her smile widening sadistically.


"Tammy, that's enough," said Victoria, forcing herself into the conversation. Victoria hoped to deescalate the situation, they didn't have time for this. She motioned for Tammy to leave. Tammy shrugged her shoulders, skipping away as she stood near Ivan.


"Ok, why is Tammy here?" asked Rebecca, eyeing Victoria suspiciously for a brief moment.


Victoria took a moment to collect herself, trying to consider her words. "The Governor had a few terms and conditions before he would allow you to reopen" started Victoria, noticing Rebecca's annoyed expression. "Look...you can't make all the mistakes you made and expect to get off scot-free, his only request was that Tammy will be keeping an eye on things...for a while at least" explained Victoria, her expression sympathetic but firm.


"That doesn't mean I have to like it" replied Rebecca, crossing her arms in a huff.


"It's nice to know you think so highly of me," said Tammy sarcastically. Rebecca was silently fuming as Tammy stuck her tongue out mockingly.


"Tammy, leave us," said Victoria firmly. Tammy looked for a moment, rolling her eyes.


"Where do you suggest?" asked Tammy.


"Head to the Presentation Hall, Orientation will be a few hours" stated Rebecca, beginning to get fed up with the small girl.


"Fine, I'll go. See you soon...boss" said Tammy mockingly. She then began to skip away, not having a care in the world. If looks could kill, Tammy would already be dead from the glare Rebecca was giving to the back of her head.


"One of these days, I'll get out from under his control," thought Rebecca, taking a moment to calm herself.


Elizabeth watched Tammy leave. While she didn't care about the girl particularly, she noticed something unusual about her. Her attention was drawn to something unique...it felt almost magical.


Elizabeth was able to faintly trace it to her neck, noticing the pink pendant she was wearing. She could feel a magical trace coming from it as she cleared her mind.


Elizabeth needed an outside opinion on this matter and she knew just who to ask.


"Hello?" asked the Spirit. It had picked up Elizabeth's trace as the pair began to converse via their bond.


"Spirit? I need you to keep an eye on Tammy. More specifically, I need to know what that Pendant can do" said Elizabeth.


"I'll see what I can do," said the Spirit, nodding in agreement.


"Good, she'll be in the Presentation Hall for the next few hours. Will likely be the best opportunity to get some one-to-one time with her" explained Elizabeth.


"Fine, you can count on me Elizabeth" replied the Spirit. It quickly faded from Elizabeth's mind, intending to accomplish its task.


It was at this point Elizabeth began to return to reality. She looked around, noticing Rebecca was heading towards Ivan. She appeared to have regained her composure following her annoying encounter with Tammy.


"I guess it's time to return the animals" stated Rebecca. Ivan nodded as his men began to move the crates into the New Zoo, every ready to return them to their enclosures. Elizabeth and Charlotte did the same, each taking a group of men with animals belonging to certain sections of the Zoo.


Rebecca smiled as she watched the situation unfold. It was incredibly well organised, she'd have to thank Ivan personally once all was said and done. He really seemed to be trying to make this as stress-free as possible.


"Which I'm grateful for...especially since the difficult part is yet to come" thought Rebecca, placing her hand to her chin. For now, however, she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. She motioned to some of the men, telling them to follow her into the Main Hallway.


She would have time to think things through later.


Confrontation in the Hall:


After what felt like forever, Tammy had eventually arrived at the Presentation Hall. In reality, she had taken several intentional detours, intending to familiarise herself with the New Zoo's layout.


"After all...Daddy's counting on me" thought Tammy, looking down at her new pink pendant. She smiled, grateful for the gift her father spoiled her with. She could feel the power within, crackling, humming. It was as if it was talking to her.


"Magic is truly...something" mumbled Tammy, beginning to eye the Presentation Hall. It was well made, many chairs adorning the back as a stage stood proud and tall. A Large sheet could be pulled down, allowing for presentations to be given.


"Wow...Daddy certainly spared no expense" said Tammy. Her smile widened as she faintly recalled the other additions her father had made. "I guess Becky isn't as smart as she thinks she is," continued Tammy, chuckling as her smile widened to sadistic proportions.


Tammy walked down the small hallway leading to the stage. Her smile grew more and more as she got a glance at the few photographs that adorned the walls.


"I guess, these are the former human's new forms," thought Tammy, eyeing the portraits intrigued. Her eyes focused on one photograph in particular. It was bigger than the others around it and Tammy couldn't help but look at it intrigued.


The photo was of a tiger. It was sleeping within a large tree and appeared to not have a care in the world. Its orange fur and black stripes fascinated Tammy as she further inspected the photo. She eyed the small plaque at the bottom.


"Caitlyn?" mumbled Tammy, her smile widening. "I guess she's an important one to Becky due to the larger size," thought Tammy. A plan began to form in her mind, one that would put Rebecca in her place.


After all, Tammy hated people who tried to kill her father.


"I know Daddy wants to keep this place standing but...I'd much rather go scorched earth" thought Tammy. Her smile widened sadistically, the images of fire, of all the people who opposed her father burning in agony to their bitter end. It made her very happy, the thoughts making her content. She chuckled incessantly, unable to hold in her unbridled joy.


It took a few moments before Tammy regained her composure. She cleared her mind, realising, for now, she needed to focus.


Tammy continued to walk down the small hallway, entering the Presentation Hall proper. She looked around, noticing the stage. Tammy saw the nearby seating as she knew she still had hours to decide on her seat.


As Tammy was looking, the Spirit was eyeing her intently. It had arrived at the Presentation Hall, trying to get an idea of what it was dealing with.


"She seems off," thought the Spirit. It tried to read her mind, get a better idea. However, something seemed to be blocking it. "Is that other entity weakening me?" wondered the Spirit, trying to work out why all its magic was not affecting this girl.


"You can come out now," said Tammy, her tone dictatorial. The Spirit was momentarily shocked, how did Tammy know it was there?


"I'd rather get formalities dealt with now," said Tammy, her tone bratty but firm. She turned around, eyeing the Spirit in all its turquoise glory. Tammy's eyes widened with intrigue as she got a good look at the Spirit.


Clearly, despite hearing the reports, witnessing the Spirit was a different experience entirely.


"Fascinating," said Tammy simply, her mouth gaping. She quickly regained her composure, smiling smugly. The Spirit felt uncomfortable as Tammy continued to glance at her. "Good to see my pendant is working as intended" continued Tammy, tapping it a few times. "I know you were trying to read my mind. Don't you respect people's privacy?" asked Tammy, her tone intending to mock the Spirit.


"Wait...is that..." started the Spirit.


"Yes, it is," interrupted Tammy, smiling smugly. "Your magic won't work on me as long as I wear this" continued Tammy. "And don't think of removing it...only I can do that" added Tammy.


The Spirit was at a momentary loss for words. It had found someone it couldn't read or affect.


"Now, return to your dwarf of a master...I have things to do" stated Tammy. She turned her back on the Spirit. She smiled as she sensed it vanishing. She chuckled as she imagined it grovelling to its master.


"For now...might as well get settled in," said Tammy, walking off the stage. She opted to head up to the nearby stairs. Within moments, she had taken a seat.


Now all she had to do was wait for the others.


Hours Later:


It was mid-afternoon as a car pulled up into the car park of the New Zoo. Its driver seemed uneasy, the car swerving slightly before settling into a parking space.


The woman driver turned off the ignition, placing her head on the wheel for a moment. Her blond hair drooped slightly as if reflecting her current mood.


"Valeria, are you alright?" asked Dominic. His newly darkened brown hair shone slightly as he looked sympathetically at his wife.


"I'm...I'm ok" replied Valeria. She eyed her husband, noticing the Zoo uniform he was wearing. She was wearing one as well, feeling rather alarmed that the Zoo had known where they lived.


They had been informed to wear it for Orientation Day via a note attached when the uniforms arrived the previous week. The pair now matched as they looked at each other.
"I guess we should go and meet our new coworkers," said Valeria. Despite her unease, she was in better spirits than last week.


Even if she had to sign a deal with the devil to get there.


"Agreed, it's about time we saw our daughter again," said Dominic. He opened the door on his passenger side, noticing Valeria opening her own as the pair departed.


They began to walk down to the stone archways. Despite the reassurance, Valeria still found herself rooted to the spot as she froze. She stood still, feeling somewhat fearful as her legs felt weak.


"Come on legs, move" mumbled Valeria, trying to find the strength in her legs once more. She noticed Dominic coming to the side of her, trying to comfort his wife.


"Valeria, they agreed to our deal...they're not going to hurt you," said Dominic reassuringly.


It seemed to have the intended effect as Valeria began to calm. Her panic faded as she began to feel the strength in her legs once more. She was about to move forward, entering the New Zoo when a sudden pop could be heard nearby.


"C'mon slowpokes, we don't have all day!" said the woman. Her auburn hair flashed in the breeze as she blew up another bubble of what smelled like...strawberry gum. It audibly popped once more as Carol pulled it back into her mouth.


"Sorry...who are you?" asked Dominic, his expression confused. However, upon closer inspection, his eyebrow was raised in scepticism at the woman in front of him.


The woman thought for a moment, she placed her finger to her chin as she did so. She blew another bubble from her chewing gum which popped once more. "Sorry, where are my manners?" started the woman. "The name's Carol, I guess you're going to be my new coworker," said Carol, introducing herself as she blew another bubble. She took a glance at Valeria, her expression questionable for a moment.


"What's wrong with her?" asked Carol, waving a hand in front of Valeria's face.


"She's just nervous... and I suggest you get away from my wife" replied Dominic.


"Why?" asked Carol, blowing another bubble with her gum. As Dominic began to think, the bubble popped once more.


"That's getting on my nerves," thought Dominic, his brow furrowing in annoyance. "She's just uneasy about what they do here...especially since we're not here of our own free will," said Dominic.


Carol's reaction was not what Dominic was expecting.


She giggled.


"Why are you so hesitant darling?" said Carol, moving uncomfortably close to Valeria once more. "After all, the only people transformed here never deserved to be human anyway" continued Carol, oblivious to the rise she was getting from the pair.


Or perhaps she was, and she just didn't care.


Still, Carol gave the pair distance, walking with arrogance in her steps as she struck a pose. It was as if she was modelling in her Zoo uniform, her modest chest doing wonders to complement the shirt she was wearing.


Carol's glance wandered around as if she was captivating an invisible audience. It was then she got sight of a new person who had joined the group. She appeared to be hiding behind her pink hair as Carol watched her with confusion.


"Why hire someone like her? Is Rebecca aware that she's hired scaredy-cats?" thought Carol, trying to reconcile it in her mind. "Unless...they're here to set an example to everyone else" continued Carol, finding it impossible to prevent herself from laughing hysterically.


"What's so funny?" asked Dominic, still trying to reassure his wife.


"You'll find out" replied Carol mysteriously. It was then she shrugged her shoulders, turning around before skipping inside. She was clearly looking forward to the day ahead of them as the rest continued to look up at the stone archways.


"That woman's clearly delusional," said an old gruff voice as the group turned to face its origin. They noticed a rather tall old man looking back at them. His glasses adorned his face, complimenting his white hair and moustache as, like the rest of them, he was wearing a staff uniform.


"Harold?" said Dominic and Valeria, recognising the man from the television months ago.


If only they had taken the rumours seriously then, they might not have been in this mess.


"The one and only" replied Harold, his voice now taking on a cheerful tone. He then turned towards the comparatively smaller girl, still trying to hide behind her pink hair.


"Now what's your name?" asked Harold, bending down slightly to look at Sakura on her level.


"Sakura," replied the girl softly. Despite the quietness of her voice, Harold smiled, having heard it loud and clear.


"Sakura? That's a good name" replied Harold, nodding as he attempted to show his respect for the shy girl's boundaries. However, before he left, he leant down towards her ear. "I know you're quiet on the outside but I bet you speak loudly on the inside" whispered Harold, his tone reassuring as Sakura's expression indicated that she clearly appreciated it.


Harold looked over the group once more, smiling widely. "It's great to meet my new team," said Harold, taking time to enjoy the moment.


A moment that was rather short-lived.


Before Harold could react, he felt something, or more specifically, someone bump into him.


"Watch where you're going, old-timer!" shouted another person wearing a Zoo uniform. Before anyone could react, he ran inside. "Time to get going! It's almost time for Orientation!" shouted the boy. He ran off aimlessly through the stone archways as Harold managed to stand back up.


"I'll need to have a word with that boy later on," thought Harold, his brow furrowing in annoyance. He dismissed the moment for now, noticing Sakura seemed shaken from the situation. "Does anyone have the time?" asked Harold, looking over at the others.


"I do," said Sakura softly. She soon presented her pink unicorn watch, the colours somewhat bleached. While it looked rather childish on the teenage girl, no one decided to comment on it.


"Thank you Sakura," said Harold, making a quick note of the time. He noticed Sakura smiling softly in response to the appreciation. "I must admit, as brazen as that boy was, it is almost time" informed Harold. "I suppose we should go in together...as a show of solidarity" suggested Harold.


"Agreed," said Valeria, having regained her resolve. Dominic nodded, indicating he was the same. Even Sakura nodded in agreement as they all approached the stone archways.


They all walked inside, entering the Main Hallway as they anticipated that, if nothing else, today was going to be interesting.


"Time to find out what happened to my father," thought Sakura, feeling slightly reassured as she walked down the Main Hallway with the others. She looked around, noticing the overhead signs pointing towards the Animal Sanctuaries.


"Why does everyone else seem more aware about this place?" thought Sakura, noticing Dominic and Valeria looking around knowingly. Even Harold seemed to understand more than he was letting on.


"Welcome everyone!" called out Rebecca. The group stared at her, ranging from glares to unease, watching her walk forward to greet the group. "I welcome you all to the New Zoo" continued Rebecca, noticing the expressions of the others. She revelled in the attention they were giving her, excited that the day had finally come.


She stared at Sakura for a brief moment longer before returning her attention to the group.


"Now, if you'll follow me to Orientation, I'll tell you everything you'll need to know to make the most of this wonderful opportunity," said Rebecca, her tone enthusiastic as the staff had no choice but to follow or, in Sakura's case, didn't know any better.


They continued to walk, unknowingly realising that Orientation Day was going to be the first day of the rest of their lives.


Orientation Begins:


The group, walking together in solidarity, had finally arrived at the Presentation Hall.


They likely would have been there much sooner if Rebecca hadn't stopped at every moment to gush at what felt like every animal within the New Zoo. Sakura was confused at the reactions of the others, it almost seemed like they knew something she didn't.


"What secret could there be to warrant such...disdain?" thought Sakura. She was walking down the small hallway leading into where she imagined Orientation would continue. She looked with childish intrigue at the various photos of animals that seemed to be adorning the hallway.


Sakura eyed one photo containing a single jaguar. She held a breath as she admired the majesticness of the animal. Her eyes widened behind her long hair as she admired the beast.


The beast that, unknown to Sakura, had once been her father.


On the other hand, Dominic and Valeria were also staring at a photograph. This one was of a dairy cow as Valeria leant against Dominic for support. The pair just stood in silence, trying to comprehend what their lives had been reduced to.


"Sorry to break up the moment," said Harold, his tone truly apologetic. "But they're expecting us to follow now" continued Harold. Sakura, Dominic and Valeria all nodded. They rejoined up with Harold as they walked through the small hallway to enter the Presentation Hall proper.


The first thing they noticed was Rebecca, Elizabeth and Charlotte standing in the centre of the stage. They eyed the newcomers like a predator stalking its prey. Victoria joined them at the side, Ivan at the opposite side. An overhead projector stood within the centre. This gave the impression that they were due a presentation of sorts.


Little did they know, they would also be getting a demonstration.


The group knew that running was out of the question. After all, Ivan had made sure that his mercenaries were in plain sight. This was effective in getting the message across to the group that there was no way out.


Sakura, on the other hand, was left with more questions than answers.


"Please...have a seat," asked Rebecca firmly. Her tone offered no room for negotiation as the group nodded in agreement. Dominic and Valeria quickly sat down, the pair close together for support. Harold likewise, sat in the nearest seat he found as he gave a small glare towards the Managers.


Sakura, on the other hand, was looking around aimlessly. She noticed Carol was already seated, blowing her bubble gum in a mundane fashion. Percy was also seated, looking bored out of his mind.


"Please sit down," said Rebecca once more, minor frustration growing in her voice.


Sakura looked nervously, blushing awkwardly as she nodded. This was getting increasingly stranger as she noticed what appeared to be a...parrot stand.


"What's with the stand?" asked Sakura.


"Your questions will be answered in due course now...have a seat," said Rebecca firmly, attempting to keep her composure. Sakura felt rather intimidated under Rebecca's gaze, quickly mumbling out an apology.


Sakura took the closest seat she could find. She stumbled momentarily, making a bit of a fool out of herself as she finally sat down.


She glanced forward, ready for the Managers to begin.


Rebecca looked at her audience, making sure they were all ready.


"Welcome to Orientation Day everyone," said Rebecca. "I hope today leads to a long and prosperous career for you all" continued Rebecca, eyeing the group. She ignored the glares most of them were giving her, content that she was in control of the situation.


Except for Tammy, a fact that was increasingly annoying Rebecca.


"However, Elizabeth told me she'd keep an eye on her with the Spirit. Make sure she behaves herself" thought Rebecca, taking a moment to eye Elizabeth.


Elizabeth, noticing this as their signal to move forward, complied. "It's great to see you all here today. Now first, we're going to go over some general duties that we expect you to comply with" started Elizabeth, placing a piece of acetate onto the overhead projector.


"First, we expect you to take care of our animals. They are the royalty of the Zoo and we expect you to treat them as such" started Elizabeth, a small smile on her face.


"No shit" interrupted Percy, Elizabeth losing her train of thought for a moment. She looked up to face the offender.


"Excuse me?" said Elizabeth, a harshness in her tone.


"No offence but that's kind of obvious" replied Percy. His tone was smug, condescending but worst of all, it was just plain rude.


"Regardless of what you see as obvious" started Elizabeth, her tone harsh as she glared at Percy. "The animal's welfare is still the most important aspect of working with us. Anyone responsible for putting this at risk will suffer severe consequences...understood?" said Elizabeth.


The group nodded, not intending to provoke Elizabeth's wrath.


"Now Charlotte will take over for the next stage of our presentation" informed Elizabeth, stepping back as she allowed her best friend to take centre stage.


"Thank you Elizabeth," said Charlotte, turning to face the audience. "Now, we expect you to adhere to your allocated shifts and positions. These would have been outlined in your employee manuals which were sent with your uniforms" explained Charlotte.


"Skipping work will not be tolerated for any reason" continued Charlotte firmly. "Each of you needs to be here to assist in helping us run the New Zoo as we prepare to open in the next few months" stated Charlotte.


"Now, for the avoidance of doubt, I'm going to list off your expected positions," said Charlotte, taking a moment to glance at a flashcard she was holding. "Harold, you're on night shift and janitorial duties" started Charlotte, noticing Harold nod in agreement. "Dominic and Valeria will be in charge of the Petting Zoo as per our agreement last week" continued Charlotte. "Tammy will stay onsite as a Conservation Consultant," said Charlotte, having to force the words out. "Finally, Carol & Sakura will be in charge of general duties of animal care" finished Charlotte, noticing the pair nodding in agreement. However, Carol seemed much more confident.


"Excuse me...what's my role?" asked Percy, confusion evident on his face.


At this point, Elizabeth walked forward. "Oh Percy, your role will be as one of our exhibits," said Elizabeth condescendingly.


At that, her hand began to glow green. This received little fanfare from the audience except for Sakura, who stared at it. Her eyes widened as a thought crossed her mind.


She didn't want to believe it...it couldn't be possible.


"The Zoo animals...were formerly people?" thought Sakura. She noticed a flash of green energy shoot out as it flew towards Percy. It hit him dead on, causing him to feel warm as strange sensations began to spread across his body.


"Oh yes, time to begin the show," said Carol excitedly. She glanced down, trying to get as good a few of Percy as she could. The rest of the audience did the same, Harold, Dominic and Valeria, giving a knowing look.


"Wait...what's going...on?" mumbled Percy. The sensations continued to spread across his body. It was making him feel uncomfortable as he was feeling cramping in his feet.


Percy cringed, his feet feeling rather strange as they began their transformation into claws. His toes, obscured by his shoes, were fusing, hardening. His toenails sharpened, darkening as they began to tear against his shoes.


Within moments, Percy heard a tearing of material as he looked down. His eyes widened as he noticed his new claws skittering against the floor. They felt strange against the floor as Percy began to feel a warmth developing under his shirt.
"Wait, claws? I'm becoming a bird of some kind?" thought Percy, struggling to comprehend what was happening to him. His thoughts were drawn back to the warmth under his shirt, looking down at it.


He felt a puffing in his chest, something was pressing against it intently. Percy felt itchy as he began to scratch incessantly, a tingling going through his fingers.


"My...my fingers feel weird" mumbled Percy, continuing to itch regardless. He felt a sense of panic in his mind as a sense of powerlessness came over him.


Percy's attempts to alleviate his itching became less efficient as he eyed his fingers. He noticed them seem lighter. His eyes widened as his fingers seemed to thin out, fluffing out. They changed into what appeared to be orange feathers as the tingling spread across his arms.


"Wait..stop this!" begged Percy, the mercy in his eyes being ignored by the Managers. His arms began to shift, puffing out as they began to grow feathers all over. They were mostly orange with a few shaded white. They continued to spread across his arms like wildfire as his arms bent, shifting into something distinctly animalistic as they formed the bend of what was going to be his new wings.


"Please...SQUARK!" shouted Percy, realizing the animal sound he had made. He felt a hardening forming around his mouth as something was forcing its way out.


His lips began to shrink, a hard substance growing out as his new beak began to form. It was grey, swallowing his nose as it travelled up his face. The forming beak split into his upper and lower mandibles as he continued to squark for help.


"This...this can't be happening to me," thought Percy. He knew he'd been a difficult child. Hell, he knew he'd done many things wrong in his life. That's why he was in juvenile hall.


But he still didn't deserve this.


Currently, Everyone in the audience was staring at Percy with varying levels of indifference. Some because of his terrible first impression, others due to taking a level of enjoyment at watching him be degraded to a common animal.


Sakura, however, was horrified.


"What...the rumours, they're true?!" thought Sakura, fearing what had become of her father. She shook her head in denial. However, it was becoming harder to ignore the direct evidence in front of her.


"Good show Percy!" shouted Carol enthusiastically, giving a mocking salute as she blew her chewing gum once more. Percy stared at her, struggling to comprehend the audience as the feeling in his chest was becoming impossible to ignore.


Percy felt something pushing up against his shirt, scratching the material as he imagined his breast was forming. He struggled to breathe as it changed shape, shifting as it widened out. The itchiness was becoming impossible to ignore.


Fortunately, the increase in feather and shifting of his chest was beginning to stretch the shirt beyond its limits. Within moments, it tore in several places as it seemed to explode from Percy's body.


"SQUARK!" called out Percy, concerned for a brief moment about his modesty. A twisting development in his rear, however, drew his attention away as he stared back towards the shorts of the uniform he was wearing.


Something was developing down there, his rear feeling like a pillow as it eventually broke free. It shifted slightly, his rump now developing an increasing number of tail feathers. They spread like wildfire, quickly forming against his growing tail. Lateral tail feathers, upper tail coverts, under tail coverts, everything was developing and warping the boy beyond recognition. Itchy feathers continued to spread, bringing Percy great discomfort.


"Help SQUARK!" screamed Percy, his new beak making it impossible to speak normally. He could feel his head tingling. Realising what was happening to him, he tried to close his eyes, denying that this was real.


This only gave way for new animal instincts to begin to enter his mind. They laid low, biding their time. It was as if they were stalking their prey who right now, was the unsuspecting Percy.


"Guess Percy was the example after all" thought Carol, looking around. She noticed Sakura, still in a state of shock as her thoughts began to wander. "Now...what's so special about that girl?" wondered Carol, her curiosity peaking as the mystery just got more interesting.


For now, however, she returned her attention to Percy. His head seemed to be shifting as Carol watched with unbridled excitement.


"SQUARK!" called out Percy as he felt his head shifting. His hair fell from his head, his head changing shape, compressing as his new crown formed. His ears sank into his head, forming coverts as he was temporarily rendered deaf.


Within moments, his hearing was much clearer. However, this only filled Percy with fear as he realised how much closer he was to becoming an animal.


He felt an itching forming as the feathers continued to spread across him. They reached the nape of his neck, still the same orange and white colour as the rest of his body. They continued mercilessly up his body, ever ready to claim the last remaining parts of his humanity.


"SQUARK!" squawked Percy in defiance, trying to resist. However, it was far too late as the changes had claimed him. He barely had time to adjust to the increasing size of the Presentation Hall. The remains of his shorts fell discarded to the ground as if Percy had surrendered his humanity.


"Wait...please have mercy," thought Percy, looking around as he tried to get used to his new bearings. He could feel a nagging thought in his mind, something that was making it harder to comprehend his predicament. His eyes, having shifted and adjusted with the rest of his head, seemed to be darkening.


The capacity for human thought was beginning to drain from Percy's mind, leaving only the animal behind.


"SQUARK!" squawked out Percy. He was now physically a complete parrot. He looked around, trying to comprehend his new anatomy. He felt his mind being attacked by new animal instincts as he looked around in a blind panic. He flapped his new wings, barely getting off the ground.


"SQUARK!" continued Percy, trying to get anyone to help him. However, it was becoming increasingly harder to focus, harder to remember why he was upset.


It was then Percy heard a sound emanating against his new hearing. He looked down, barely seeing Elizabeth was blowing a whistle. He could feel his mind fading at an accelerated rate as his new parrot instincts were taking control. His eyes went blank as his human memories became locked behind his new parrot brain.


"Does Percy want a cracker?'' said Elizabeth, holding up a cracker for all to see. The audience looked at it, intrigued as Percy opened his wings. He flew down, his grace surprising the audience as he gripped the cracker. Elizabeth smiled as she watched Percy settle on the Parrot stand on the stage.


"Wha...what's going to happen to him?!" screamed Sakura, her voice in near hysterics. This caught the other staff off guard for a moment as a realization settled in for them.


"Wait...she didn't know that people were transformed?" was the collective thought they all shared.


Meanwhile, Ivan nodded. He noticed Victoria was staring at him. He prepared himself in case Sakura tried to run. He was ready to take action as he stared at the girl.


Fortunately, Sakura seemed to settle a little. However, upon closer inspection, she was still clearly spooked by the experience.


"Thank you, Ivan," said Rebecca, taking centre stage once more. "In answer to your question, he'll be added to the Aviary later on" stated Rebecca. "For now, however, I'd like to introduce the real member of staff who will be joining Carol and Sakura. Can we please give a warm welcome to Samuel" said Rebecca.


On Rebecca's announcement, a new member of staff revealed himself. He was wearing the same uniform as the rest. His neat brown hair was combed back and his baby blue eyes were full of optimism. His black trainers stood out a little as he smiled joyously at the people who would be his coworkers. He took a small bow in greetings, wanting to put his best foot forward.


"Thank you, Rebecca," said Samuel, his smile radiating as it seemed to brighten up everyone's spirits. "I look forward to working with you all moving forward" finished Samuel. He walked forward, sitting down in a nearby seat. He watched the Managers with intrigue, his eyes filled with almost childish curiosity.


"Well, now that the cat's out of the bag," said Elizabeth, chuckling a little at her joke. "I'll introduce you to our friend, the Spirit," continued Elizabeth.


At that announcement, a green glow appeared. The audience watched with intrigue, noticing it glow a few times as it appeared to be changing shape.


The green glow began to stretch out, forming features across its body.


The glow's head began to form, hair puffing out as it became a shade of turquoise. It contrasted against the green of that it had only moments ago as it curled out. The hair then expanded, becoming voluminous as it brightened up the Presentation Hall.


A body began to form, a shade of light blue replaced the green as a t-shirt formed on the developing Spirit. A picture of the Zoo's stone archways formed on the t-shirt as it shined brightly. A new material began to form around the developing body of the Spirit as a turquoise coloured jacket formed around it, a small hood developing at the back.


The glow was now beginning to resemble the familiar Spirit as small legs grew out from its form. A pair of bright green shorts formed around its lower body as its feet grew in. Sandals formed around its feet, the audience unaware of their significance.


Finally, the Spirit felt complete as it opened its eyes. They shined as its left eye was a shade of green whereas its right eye was a shade of light blue. Its irises sparkled as small clusters of energy escaped from them.


"Hello everyone," said the Spirit, its tone childish as it waved towards them. As it did so, the audience felt a tingle travelling across their bodies.


"No, please no" murmured Sakura, on the verge of tears as she feared what was about to happen.


Fortunately, the tingling was short-lived. Sakura looked down, grateful that she was still human.


However, her gratefulness was about to be short-lived. Elizabeth stepped forward, ready to give another announcement.


"The magic you've all been exposed to will ensure you cannot reveal the secret to our success" explained Elizabeth. "We can now track each and every movement you make, each and every thought you have and are not afraid to give any of you a 'horizontal adjustment' like Percy here if required" continued Elizabeth, her smile widening to sadistic proportions.


"Thank you Elizabeth," said Rebecca, walking forward to take control. "Now, I'd like to welcome you to the New Zoo once more. I hope you have a long and prosperous career" stated Rebecca. "I look forward to seeing you all on shift but for now...you are dismissed" finished Rebecca. She walked towards the overhead projector, turning it off as if to announce that the presentation was over.


The audience nodded, each moving at their own pace to depart. Carol was first to leave, a wide smile on her face as she couldn't be looking forward to the future. Samuel began to depart, his smile not fading as he was also looking forward to his next shift. Dominic and Valeria looked at Charlotte, Charlotte nodding her head as she, knowing what they wanted, gave them permission to go and see their daughter.


In contrast, Sakura was rooted to the spot in fear. She felt faint, worried stiff as she was still trying to reconcile what had happened to Percy. What happened to the others.


What had happened to her father.


"Hey...you ok?" said Harold, his tone soft as Sakura looked up. She eyed the older man as he bent down towards her. He noticed Sakura's fragile state as he took gentle care not to press her.


After all, she was currently in a very vulnerable state of mind.


"My father...is stuck here. And by coming here...I've endangered my mother and brother" thought Sakura. At that revelation, she was unable to hold back the tears she had buried within. She threw her arms around Harold, bawling into his shirt.


"There there, it'll be ok," said Harold, rubbing Sakura's back as he embraced her. She continued to bawl, unable to comprehend what he had said.


Harold also knew, deep down that, it was a lie.


"Suppose we should leave these two?" said Elizabeth, looking back at the others. Charlotte nodded as Rebecca grunted in agreement.


The group then left discreetly, allowing Sakura to come to terms with the uncertainty of her future at her own pace.


Harold cradled Sakura as she continued to bawl. He found himself rather cross at the situation.


"She's done nothing to deserve this...she needs guidance. Someone to keep her safe from that psycho Rebecca's hired" thought Harold. He looked down at Sakura, feeling determination within him once more.


Just like all those months ago, he felt determined to protect someone. And this time, he would not fail.


Epilogue:


The Managers were currently heading home. Their 'box on wheels' was continuing to progress at a steady pace, every reliable despite the mockery it received from its owners.


"I think that went quite well," said Elizabeth, continuing to fuss Holly affectionately.


"Agreed, we seem to have control over most of the situation" replied Charlotte, noticing Rebecca's more mixed expression. "Are you ok Rebecca?" asked Charlotte.


Rebecca thought about the situation for a moment. She tried to think of the best words to describe how she was feeling. She eyed the road once more, trying to focus her mind.


"I'm fine. It's just...I'm concerned about Tammy's appearance" started Rebecca. The others looked at her knowingly. "I was hoping we'd be free from his influence. Now, the Governor has an inside person to feed him information" continued Rebecca.


"Yeah...that is going to be quite a bridge to cross," said Elizabeth, a concerned expression on her face. "Especially because of that pendant she was wearing," added Elizabeth.


"What about it?" asked Charlotte.


"According to the Spirit, Tammy's now completely immune to its magic as long as she's wearing it" explained Elizabeth. "I reckon we're just going to have to tolerate her...and minimize whatever damage she tries to do," said Elizabeth.


"So, we can only keep an eye on her for now?" asked Charlotte.


"Exactly," said Elizabeth, letting the conversation hang in the air.


As the Managers continued to drive in silence, they noticed the sun setting in the near distance. They smiled, looking forward to the coming days. To them, the sunrise symbolized a new beginning, a brighter future for the New Zoo.


Now, like previously, they were hoping they wouldn't get burned.


Unknown to them, difficult times were on the horizon. Something which threatened to destroy not only everything they had built but everything they knew.


The darkness was fast approaching, its interest in the New Zoo at an all-time high.


After all, it had waited a thousand years for this moment, and now it was time.


Soon, the entire world would be tangled in strings.