The jungle is a bad place, really bad place, Diane was taught that when she was a little girl, to fear predators, kinda ironic really since she was once a predator. The two made their way towards the Rainforest District.

Across a bridge looking ready to break, this reminded Diane of her police academy years and the many challenges she had to face. But there was no time to think about the past, lives are at sake and her and Wolf have only fifteen hours left.

The door was made out of bamboo, slowly, Wolf knocked on the door, it was a few minutes before the door creaked open, though the door wasn't all the way open, Diane could see the many scars on his face.

"Manchas, we just wanna speak about Emmitt Otterton." Diane spoke in a soft voice, making Manchas growl at her from behind the door.

"Emmitt? He went savage on me two weeks ago!" His voice breaking as he spoke, Diane was confused, went savage? A otter can't go savage... right? It was just something she wasn't used to hearing.

"What do you mean savage? Like real savage?" Wolf asked, writing all the information down like a real cop, Diane eyed him taking in all his features, he was attractive. But even more attractive in the rain.

"Yes! He went crazy."

Two weeks ago...

Manchas was told by his boss Mr.Shark to pick up Emmitt Otterton for some important business, he thought nothing of it; besides this was his job. Bring people to the boss and get paid, not questions asked.

But this time it was different, Emmitt was acting different; on the way to the storage unit Manchas  heard Emmitt growl. Like literal growl like a wild animal.

"Emmitt... you alright?" Manchas asked concerned, his eyes trailed to the mini mirror where he seen Emmitt destroying the seats of his car, the otter looked up at Manchas and attacked. Causing him to loose control of the wheel.

Blood was spilled, as Manchas desperately tried to gain control of the wheel again, but Emmitt had the upper hand; it was like something infected him. A new virus? No it couldn't have been since Manchas hadn't heard of one that week.

Finally, somehow Manchas managed to get control of the wheel; but by that time it was too late, they had already crashed into a tree and a ditch. Then Manchas seen it, a figure; before he could see who it ran off into the darkness.

+++

"He popped my eyeball out and broke my ankle, I don't even know why." That was the end of Machas's tale; but Diane thought it wasn't the end of the story. He had to know something, who was the figure?

"Manchas, can you please let us in?" She asked, Manchas thought for a moment but then slowly backed away from the door; but then it happened. An arrow grazed his neck and caused him to hit the ground.

It was a few minutes and Manchas still hadn't opened the door, Diane was starting to get worried; Wolf slowly peeked through the door and seen Manchas- or the wild side of him glaring at the duo.

"What?" Diane asked when he saw Wolf's face go pale, she peeked and seen it too. Her eyes widened grabbing Wolf's hand and ran across the bridge with Manchas after them. It was clear he wanted their blood.

"This is what Shark meant when he said they went savage!" Wolf yelled, letting go of Diane's hand; just in case if they needed to separate or one of them didn't make it out alive. The two slid underneath a ditch which made just enough time for Diane to call the front desk at the police department.

"BENJAMIN, SEND BACK-UP IMMEDIATELY; WE'RE AT THE RAINFOREST DISTRICT! CODE RED!" Diane yelled, placing her phone in her pocket; Manchas growled. That signaled he was getting close.

"If we die, or you die; I just wanna say... it's been fun spending time with you." Wolf says, causing Diane to glare at him but a small smile appeared on her face. She couldn't be mad at him, she enjoyed spending time with him too.

Manchas reached his paw through the ditch and touched Wolf's skin, the duo went out of the ditch and came face to face with; the savage. Diane grabbed a stick as small as her and held it in front of Manchas.

"Back up!" She says, waving the stick in front of Manchas; that didn't faze the beast in the slightest and he charged at them. But... Wolf grabbed another stick and stabbed Manchas in the chest.

"Wolf..." Diane says, looking at him; her eyes darting back and forth. Did he just... kill someone? She thought Wolf couldn't do that but he did. Soon the back-up Diane requested arrived.

"Diane, this better be good; what is it?" Bogo asked glaring at Diane, she didn't have words and was still shook at what Wolf did.

"It... it attacked us." She spoke, pointing at Manchas- or where it was originally was, it was gone?! What? How could that be? It was just now there when... Wolf stabbed him. Just what the hell happened?

"Yeah, what? The air?" Bogo asked sarcastically chuckling, but then switched back to serious mode still glaring at Diane.

"You wasted our time, and your two days are up, hand me the badge." Bogo says, holding his hand out; Diane felt tears roll down her face. This was it... all her hard work for nothing. Just when she was about to hand in her badge Wolf stepped in.

"Hold on, you're firing Diane for what? You only gave her two days to solve this case awhile your other members get what? Two months? And technically we still have fifteen hours left for our case. Now if you excuse us, we have some investigating to do." Wolf says grabbing Diane's hand and getting into one of those mini carts on the skyline.

There was silence for a few minutes, Diane was deep in thought, he really cared about her that much? She grabbed his paw and looked him in the eyes.

"Wolf, thanks for... everything; I wouldn't have made it this far without you." She says, flashing him a sad but soft smile; Wolf sighs pulling his paw away and looks up at the sky.

"Truth is, I've always wanted to be a cop; when I was younger." Wolf explained, still looking up at the sky; Diane was shocked. Wolf wanting to a cop? Was this some alternative universe or something?

"So... what happened?" Diane asked, curiously; Wolf looked at her and sighed he didn't like sharing his past with anyone.

"They killed them." Was all Wolf says, looking ready to break into tears; Diane held him close to her just in case he started crying so that she could comfort Wolf.

20 years ago...

Wolf still remembered it like it was yesterday, he and his parents were walking down the street going to the grocery store. When, it happened; a shootout broke out. No one knows how it happened but it did.

Police were shooting rapidly and it just so happened once police officer aimed directly towards Wolf and his parents, the bullets grazed them and his parents were shot in the neck and chest. Blood gushing out of their bodies.

Wolf rushed to his parents side, and shook both of them desperately trying to wake his parents; but nothing helped and more blood went out of their bodies as they were slowly dying.

"Mom, dad, wake up!" He pleaded, tears falling from his eyes; he looked around to see if anyone was a nurse or first-aid but nothing. Wolf had no time to grief as he ran, leaving his parents dead bodies there and didn't look back.

+++

Diane's eyes widened as she listened to Wolf's tale, it made sense; considering his cocky behavior and other aspects of his personality. She kissed his cheek and rubbed his back softly. Comforting him.

"I'm sorry, for your loss... I didn't know." Diane whispered, but Wolf's tail waged when she kissed him on the cheek; it felt... pure to him. Was this what love felt like? It's been a long time since Wolf felt that.

"It's fine..." He whispered back, moving away from Diane, looking down at the traffic below them. Then that's when Wolf realized it, there are traffic camera's everywhere! They must've seen what happened to Manchas.

"The traffic cameras... they see everything right? Which means they must've seen where Manchas went." Wolf simply spoke, Diane smiled; he was a real smart guy. It's just he's broken and she wants to break down those walls of his.

"I know someone who can help us." She says pointing at the mayor's office.

-

Date:

July 1, 2022

Word Count:

1,433