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"Desmond!"

The sheep ignores the secretary's calls and continues his uneven gallop towards the murky clutter of trees. The calls get closer and closer until the caracal reaches his side in a matter of seconds.

"Desmond!" He exclaims once more. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"If I hurry," The sheep says, gaze still locked on the trees. "I can catch them."

"Are you insane?!" Solomon hisses. "You're a herbivore, and a sheep at that! The same kind of animal that was just abducted now!"

"Go back if you're just gonna nag me!" Desmond snaps back.

The cat rolls his eyes and slows down to match Desmond's pace. Soon, they reach the thick of the woods.

"I-I can't see well... Too d-dark." Desmond mutters, catching his breath.

"Another reason why you shouldn't be here." Solomon responds tersely. "No one's around. Let's check further in, until we hit the fence."

The pair jog to the deepest part of the small forest, searching for any trace of the missing sheep. Eventually, they reach the tall barbed fence that marks the end of school grounds. The outside scenery is pitch black, but empty. Whatever made off with the student is gone.

"Damn it!" Desmond clings to the fence wires tightly and rams his head against mesh. The quavering clang of the impact reverberates in the night air before pathetically fading away.

"They could still be nearby somewhere..." Solomon turns around, scanning the area. "Hafsa should have alerted the faculty by now, so soon the guards will be on the hunt for the perpetrator. We should turn back."

Desmond only grimly stares into the black abyss beyond the fence. Solomon doesn't move, studying him from some feet away.

"Do you know this student? Isaac?" He asks after a while.

"No." Desmond replies, still facing away. "I don't. Does it matter?"

"...No, I suppose it doesn't."

---

The school had chosen to resolve the disappearance of the Ryeland sheep with standard protocol: the silent treatment. Having convinced the parents not to press charges, administration thought it sufficient to file a discreet missing person report to the police and quietly let the drama fizzle out. Not even a wake was held, as no body was found.

It's not uncommon for herbies to suddenly go missing and never be seen again. After all, around 15% of herbivores are eventually devoured by carnivores, either after a direct assault or after being slaughtered and sold on the black market. It's an uncomfortable reality a sensible member of society wouldn't dwell on.

But this case is different, and everybody knows it. To be abducted during a holiday celebration within the heavily guarded walls of an acclaimed boarding academy, right under the student council's nose... what kind of meat cartel would go that far? And worst of all, get away with it?

Brian and Hafsa had escorted the confused students back to the male and female dorms, respectively, with the help of some larger carnie students, and rushed to alert the staff. When Solomon and Desmond returned from their search empty-handed, they had no choice but to await the arrival of the police and drudge through a long and unhelpful testimony process.

The following day, Principal House calls them to his office.

"Please know that, first and foremost, the academy in no way holds the four of you responsible for yesterday's... incident." The goose begins, neck arched stiffly. "The security team is still trying to discern how anyone could have breached through our defenses. The most likely explanation, as of now... is a student assailant." He grimaces. Though they had suspected as much, the other four animals still flinch at the thought.

He pulls on his collar, trying to smooth his ruffled feathers. "What occurred yesterday is... a freak occurrence. Unheard of in this academy's history. So," His expression darkens. "I trust on your discretion in the coming days. It is your duty as role models to the students of this institution to make sure that conspiracies and paranoia are kept to a minimum."

A heavy silence weighs the room down. After a while, Hafsa speaks, her voice clear and determined.

"Of course, sir. Please leave it to us."

Her words had come out more instinctually than anything. They were in no position to even conceive another approach. And in the following week, the horrifying tale of Isaac the sheep's abduction went from being murmured, to whispered, to thought, to mostly forgotten. Even if this specific occurrence was abnormal, the idea of suddenly losing a classmate was not foreign to anyone. Such desensitization could not afford to be questioned. By Sunday, most herbivores regained enough confidence to walk back to their dorms by themselves.

The energy in the student council office, however, is mixed. Desmond's state of constant irritation is replaced by a quiet gloominess. Brian turns up his cheeriness to freakish levels in the hopes of fostering a more positive energy. Hafsa tries to play along with him for the most part, but her unrest is spelled out all too clearly on her face when left alone. The only member who appears to remain wholly unfazed by this situation is Solomon.

"For the pep rally next week, I think we should invest in something a bit more exorbitant. It is the beginning of the spring season after all." The caracal proposes to the group during their Tuesday meeting. "Brian, do we have the budget for some small-scale firecrackers or something?"

The pigeon scrolls through his spreadsheet. "Hm... I suppose we could manage about two dozen roman candles, maybe some fountains..."

"H-hey..." Hafsa interjects. "Do you really think fireworks are a good idea? I mean, I'm not sure if we should be doing something so festive given..." She drifts off.

Solomon expression softens. "I think everyone could use a bit of fun to take their minds off of last week. All due respect to the cheerleading team, but I think this pep rally could use a little boost of Noah's Arc pride, even if it's something simple."

"Well, if it's to cheer people up..."

"I guess it's settled then!" Brian chips in an unnaturally high voice. "Desmond, could you get in touch with the vendors and buy the fireworks then?"

He nods unenthusiastically. It's clear he wants to say something, but in an uncharacteristic gesture, he seems to be keeping his objections to himself.

"I suppose that's enough for today, then." Hafsa gets up from her seat. "See you guys Thursday!" No group dinner tonight.

A curt nod from Desmond and zealous waves from Brian later, only Hafsa and Solomon are left lingering in the room.

"Hey," The caracal starts. "You don't... blame yourself for what happened, do you?"

Hafsa sighs. "I don't know. That night was so... much." She looks down. "But, it was... bad. Really bad, Solomon. I can't act like nothing happened. It's bad enough if someone broke in, but if it was a student..."

"Hafsa."

Solomon takes a step towards her, until they're only a few inches apart. Hesitantly, she looks up at his hazel eyes. Even now, they're so calm she can't help but get lost in them. They're soothing.

"You heard what Principal House said. We did everything we could as student council members. Don't torture yourself."

"B-but--"

"We need to be better, Hafsa. Better than brutish carnivores or skittish herbivores. When a child falls over and injures themselves, a good parent would simply laugh it off and help them up instead of making a fuss. If we, as the figureheads of the student body, were to cower in fear over this incident, that would only worsen things. In difficult times, we must be this academy's strength. The light at the end of the tunnel."

Hafsa says nothing. Despite the giant ball of anxiety festering in her stomach, she knows that his words are true. She can only hang her head in shame. Once again, she has failed to act like the leader she should be.

But these thought suddenly vanish. They melt away as Solomon gently wraps an arm around her. His other hand supports the back of her head, his fingers sinking into her soft fur as he guides her to rest her forehead on his collarbone.

"I know your strength." Solomon continues in his soft voice, the air brushing against her ears. "I know how bright your smile is even when nothing is going well for you. That's what carnivores like us excel in. So, as much as it pains you, can you please smile for us like that until this all goes away?"

She nods, but really, he could've asked her to sell her tail to the black market and she still would've said yes. Her only concern at the moment is whether or not he can hear the manic pounding of her heart.

He exhales, and Hafsa desperately tries to suppress the shiver going down her spine. "Thank you. Let's be strong together." He lets her go and steps away, revealing his eyes, narrowed by the tender smile on his lips. "Please come speak to me again should you desire to."

At some point, he leaves. Hafsa cannot remember when, but one second he was there, very close to her, and another, gone. Phantoms of moments ago still fascinate her. His lingering warmth that protects her against the gentle wind of the open window, his scent that persists in the air, a fragrance so similar yet so different to hers. The serval steeps in those feelings until they dissolve into the afternoon air entirely.

Hafsa is the reliable sort, even to fellow carnivores. Throughout her life, she has always been the one to give support, not receive. Solomon had asked her for her strength, but in that moment, together, she was bereft of all power. She could only see refuge in him. In that moment, together, she didn't feel like a carnivore. She felt like a female.

But that was only a fleeting moment. As the cold breeze reminds her, she still lives in a society of carnivores and herbivores. There are fears, prejudices, and dangers that are caused and solved by carnivores alone. If Hafsa truly wants to be a part of this world, as an adult as a serval, and as a beacon of hope, she needs to follow Solomon's advice and put on a big smile.

Close-mouthed, of course.