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Charlottes POV

"Bye!!!" I shouted as I ran away from the dump we call school. I waved at my friends as I jumped on the bus. Soon I would be home, at Leopard's Den, seeing the animals, watching my mum and Danny, talking to Dupe, laughing with Caroline, playing with Olivia, now she was back, helping her to tend for the leopard cub.

The bus seemed to drive slowly today. I hated the bus journey home, it took so long. I loved it when my mum came and picked me up, or when Danny came from his trips to Jo'burg. But, as always, I was on the bus today.

Finally after what seemed an eternity, the bus pulled slowly into Leopard's Den. I thanked the driver as I hopped off, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I looked towards the Animal Hospital, I guessed my mum and Danny would be there, but I decided I should go and get changed out of my uniform first.

As I walked in, I sensed a change in mood. The usually happy and uplifting air, seemed dull and distant. The atmosphere felt tense as I threw my bag down in my room. It was then that I saw Caroline in the doorway.

"Hello Charlotte, good day at school?" She asked as I nodded her a reply.

"Yes thanks Caroline, look!" I said producing a picture I had drawn on Leopards Den.

Caroline seemed secluded, she didn't seem her usual self.

"Lovely dear. Now I need to have a word with you. Sit down." She said as we moved towards my bed, before sitting on it. She moved me closer to her, holding my hand. Putting one arm around my shoulders.

"Now, everything's going to be fine but" I hated that phrase, it meant something wasn't or hadn't been fine. "your mum has had an accident today. Now she's with Danny in their room. It's not my place to say what happened dear, but your mum and Danny asked me to take you straight to them."

I nodded but couldn't say a word. Was my mum okay? What had happened? Would she tell me the truth for once instead of protecting me like some little kid?

Caroline stood up and gestured me to hold her hand. I took it; Caroline's hands were always perfectly manicured. She smiled at me, as she knocked on my mum and Danny's door. I heard Danny gently say come in, and so Caroline let me go in.

When I got in, I was shocked. My mum was led in the bed, Danny sat beside her. My mum had a huge gash on the back of her head, and her neck was green, blue, black and purple all in one colour with bruising, her arm was thrown back in a sling, what had happened?

"Mum!" I cried as I ran up to her, she held out her spare arm as she sat up, I fell straight into them, as she hugged me closely.

"Charlotte..." My mum started, she looked at Danny who moved closer to her, putting his arm around on her back. "Listen, Charlotte, I'm not going to lie to you okay? I'm going to tell you the truth, what happened. You deserve to know. You're not a little girl anymore."

I looked at her and smiled. Danny patted my shoulder, as he kissed my mum on the side of her head.

"Charlotte, I was attacked by a nasty male zebra whilst I was trying to look after one of his girl zebras. I was... I was knocked out and well, Danny saved me." My face turned white with worry, my mum noticing straight away threw her arm round me. "But hey, don't worry, I'm going to be absolutely fine!"

I began to cry gently, my mum pulled me to her and held me gently, she ran her spare hand through my hair whilst making quiet 'ssh' noises. Danny rubbed my back lovingly as it heaved up and down with my heavy breathing.

"I love you Charlotte... now what's that in your hand?" My mum asked as we pulled away, I was now recovered and thankful to Danny for saving my mum. I unrolled my piece of paper.

"Its a picture, I drew it for you and Danny. Its Leopards Den, look there's me and you and Danny... and everyone else." I showed them both the picture.

"It's wonderful Charlotte, thank you." My mum said kissing me gently.

"Well done Charlotte, now where shall we put it, here on the wall?" Danny asked squeezing my shoulder as he fastened the picture to his wall.

Danny smiled, "I'm going to go and ask Dupe something, won't be long" he got up and left, leaving me with my mum.

She grinned at me.

"Mum..."

"Yes dear?"

"Why did the zebra attack you? Will you go back to being a vet after?"

"He was scared that's all, he thought I was going to hurt the other zebra. Yes, I'll soon be back to looking after all the animals."

My face dropped... What if this happened again, what if she wasn't so lucky? In a moment of pure madness, I said something I knew I would probably regret.

"Mum, I don't want you to be a vet!!!" and after shouting that, I ran out of the room, and straight into my room, locking my door, collapsing onto my bed in a heap.