A FRIEND BEHIND THE FANG
( CAMERON X FABIAN )
Story idea by: Kalum16
( Cameron always had her fear of animals ever since she was little. One fine day, her fear took the best of her leaving a familiar red fox scarred. On that day will she learn the truth that behind the fang is a friend.)
Cameron had just arrived at the academy. The sun was barely peeking from the horizon and no soul was in sight. It was kind of her thing being an early riser and getting her workplace ready. She enjoys the warm touch of the morning sun on her skin. It was refreshing for her, a grin carved on her face. As she steps inside the hallway of the academy, her shoes squeak on the pristine floor as the sound echoes throughout the hallway. It's a clear sign that there was no one around. Her heels clackers as she walks pass the lockers going to her room. As her eyes lay upon a familiar door, her hand reaches for the knob ready to twists it open when suddenly...
"Oh, Cameron~ Pleasure to be meeting you this fine morning!" A familiar voice calls out. Cameron jolted a bit at first alarmed by the sudden voice but immediately cools herself as she carves a friendly smile.
"Hello Fabian, I didn't see you earlier!" Cameron greeted him. She always wondered how animals as big as Fabian and Zechariah always manage to sneak pass her even with their large mass.
"Not seeing me... Ohh that's painful!" Fabian talks with a melodramatic tone as he lowers his head. Suddenly, he brought his head up and looks at her.
"But it's nothing compared to not seeing your beautiful face glimmering in the sunlight!" Fabian suddenly flirts with his deep French accent. Cameron's eyes widens and she couldn't help a giggle escape her mouth. Fabian was always such a flirt to her. She doesn't think of it much but sometimes it does cheer her up especially on a gloomy day.
"Thanks Fabian"
"Well anyway, I think I should go set up the room. It was nice talking to you!" Cameron said as she opens the door.
"Pleasure's mine, o' sweet Cameron!" He flirts one more time as he crawls away. Cameron couldn't help but giggle at him before walking inside the counseling room.
Dusk landed on Safe Haven as the sun timidly descents under the horizon, its head gently peeking out as more of it's shine disappear every second. In the Zoophoenix Academy, students are seen busily walking and chatting in the corridor as the bells rung marking the end of school favoured by all the students.
Inside a familiar room, Cameron was seen sitting on her chair, her eyes and ears concentrating on the student in front of her as they talk.
"Well, bell's rung. I should get going. Anyways, thanks for listening to me Ms Walden. It really helps!" Addison said to Cameron as his arms wraps around his snuggly green sweater. Clearly showing the sign that he felt safe with Cameron. A sign that not many people can get from him except for Damian, Sahara, Vince and Leo.
"You're welcome Addison. It's an honour to be able to talk with you and I'm glad if my words help!" Cameron thanks him as she gave him a warm look. Addison then left the office leaving only Cameron alone.
After a few seconds, Cameron slouches her back as she relaxes on she chair. Her arms stretch upwards as a yawn escapes her mouth. She always enjoyed her duty as the counsellor but she'll be lying if she said it wasn't tiring. She then proceeds to spin around in her chair trying to relax her mind and body.
Suddenly, the door opens revealing a certain cowboy demoness with a whip by her side and her usual southern getup.
"Howdy there Cam! Doing fine?" She asks her in a southern accent as she rests her back and leans on the door, crossing her arms.
"Hi there Carrie, I'm fine just a little bit tired..." Cameron says as she continues stretching standing up from behind the desk.
"I hear you girl, Monday's are really a pain in the ass! But I'm still glad to see you adjusting well!" Carrie says to her.
"Well, I'm still getting used to stuff but I think I'm fine!!" Cameron reassures her.
"It's alright, I know you'll manage. Anyways, can I walk you home? Always appreciate the company!" Carrie invites her.
"Sorry Carrie, I have a few paperwork that needs to be settled, though I appreciate the offer!" Cameron apologies at her as she sat back on her chair and proceeds to look through the stack of papers on her chairs.
"That's a bummer but it's fine, well... I'll guess I'll head home now! See you tomorrow Cam!" Carrie waves her goodbye as she left the office closing the door.
"Bye!!" Cameron shouts from inside as she continues reading through the paperwork.
As the sun continues it's descent, Cameron was too distracted with her tasks to notice the time. As the stack starts to thin a bit, she was relieved her job was almost done. Suddenly, her phone flashed when she got a notification. She took her time to read through the notification before her eyes went wide when she saw the time. It was already getting late. Cameron immediately packs her stuff and stored them in her handbag. She then swiftly cleans her table before moving towards the door and closing the lights before exiting her office.
She closes the door from behind her and laid upon the sight of an empty hallway. It seems that everyone had already left. She then grips her handbag before she starts walking. As she took a few steps, a voice suddenly calls out to her.
"Good evening Cameron~!"
"HOLY MOTHER OF-
She jolted from the sudden greeting as she immediately turns around to see who it was.
"Ohh Fabian... don't scare me like that!!!" She gasped as her chest was pumping up and down like a piston. Her breath visible to the eye.
"Sorry for startling you, ma mozelle'. It was truly an accident!!" Fabian apologies for startling her.
"It's.. It's fine, just... give me a warning next time will ya?" Cameron warns him as she wipes the sweat off her brows.
"Yes, of course! Again, I apologise!" Fabian said in a worried tone.
"It's alright..." Cameron reassures him as both of them stood there for a while.
"Well, I'll guess I'll go now." Cameron says as she continued walking. As she walks, suddenly, Fabian's towering figure suddenly moved besides her.
"Can I have the pleasure of walking with you, Ms Cameron?" Fabian asks her politely.
"Sure, I don't mind!" Cameron responded as both of them walked side by side through the hallway. It was a moment of silence for both of them before Fabian's mouth suddenly opens.
"So.. Cameron, what are you doing so late at academy?" Fabian asks her as he continues crawling besides her.
"I got some paperwork that needed to be done, so I stayed in late"
"I guessed that I lost track of time and didn't realise it was already late!" Cameron added.
"Such dedication, you're really one of a kind!" Fabian commended her adding a hint of flirting in his words.
"T-thanks!" She stuttered for a bit.
It was then she realised something as she laid her eyes upon him. He was really big... even as a predator, he was bigger that what she'd usually seen on TV. She then starts to notice the finer yet... scary features of the large red fox. The way he grins, his teeth visible to her, his fangs protruding from the side, sharp... and deadly...It made her think of the worst possibility, the way it would bear inside her flesh, tearing through her skin, piercing her muscles. His eyes... the yellow glint that runs through it, perhaps looking at her with a predatory gaze, admiring the scrumptious feast in front of him.
Her eyes was then brought down to his enormously huge paw. The way it could pin her down to the ground breaking her spine, crushing her lungs. His claws puncturing her soft belly. Suddenly, her head starts to get a little fuzzy, as her heart starts beating faster. Fear engulfs her body as her movements became stiffer. Her eyes shook in fear as sweat starts dripping from her forehead. She could feel herself getting colder due to the fear.
He wouldn't do it... would he? He's a friend... he's not some sort of...feral...animal. This thoughts ran in her mind and repeated itself like a recording as her phobia was getting to her. Her body shook in fear as her eyes averts itself from him. After all, she was standing in front of an apex predator. She lost track of her surrounding as her eyes became blind due to the fear.
Fabian who was crawling besides her suddenly took notice of her sudden change. She was trembling as if she was cold and her eyes digging deep into the ground. He immediately knew something was wrong. He tries to close his distance with her, his paws raised to tap her shoulder, his intentions to calm her down.
Cameron who noticed his presence nearing her shot her eyes towards him only to see his paw towering above her. Her mind plagued by fear immediately switches to panic mode. She lets out a scream as she scrambles backward. Her feet moves swiftly as she retreats and her back hit the row lockers behind her as a metallic thud banged on the locker. She immediately lowers and curls herself, her hands shielding her face as her eyes closed in fear. Tears began to form as a whimper escapes her mouth as she awaits his claws slicing her face clean off. But... it didn't happen... a second passed... soon, a minute... and then two... but nothing happened.
Her eyes open bit by bit still too scared as she looks at the predator in front of her only to see a friend. A friend that had a look of hurt on his face, a frown forming on his muzzle as his eyes looks down in disappointment. She immediately carves a regretful look.
"I...I..." Cameron stutters as the same fear was still lingering inside her.
"It's alright... I understand..." He spoke with a hint of sorrow in his voice. He simply chuckles in disbelief as his body then limply turns as he crawls away from her not looking back. Cameron who was still struggling with her emotions didn't know what to do. She suddenly stood up forcefully and looks at the direction he walked.
"Wait! Fabian!!" She yells calling out to him but it was too late. He was long gone. There she was, standing all alone after the mess she just created. She can't believe what she just did to him. She bit her lip in regret as she walks home.
Night had already replaced the day the moment she walked out from the school. She walks slowly along the empty sidewalks, her mind kept replaying the scene from earlier.
The way his eyes look at her. The hurt... the shattered trust... The fear that engulfed her was no longer there only to be replaced with a feeling of uneasiness and regret. It made her think of herself as a sick person, something she had never thought of before. Guilt... was all she could feel as she thought about earlier. Pure guilt caused by her own bias and fear of others.
As she continues walking not noticing her surroundings, a few sinister figures snickers as they see her walking alone. Cameron just walked before she noticed a shadow on the ground in front of her. Her eyes bulge as she raised her head to see a shadowy figure blocking her path.
"Excuse me.." She spoke weakly as she moved herself a bit to the right before trying to walk past him. Suddenly, the figure immediately steps to the right blocking her path again.
"I'm sorry... I'm trying to pass through..." She spoke softly to the figure.
"You can pass alright... after you give me whatever it is you have.." The figure chuckling menacingly at her. Cameron immediately understood the intention of the dark figure as she immediately panics. Her pupil starts to shake in fear.
"P-please, I don't want any trouble" She stutters as she retreats slowly from the figure. Suddenly, her ear picks up a few cackles belonging to multiple people behind her. She shot her head back to see more cloaked figure blocking her behind.
"Just give us the money... and there won't be any trouble!" One of the figure threatens her.
She immediately gulps in fear as her mind went on autopilot. She immediately scrambles her handbag for her purse to ease the cloaked figured. As her fingers rummaged her handbag, she then panics, realising her purse isn't there. She searches her bag thoroughly in haste but to no avail.
"Well, what yer waiting for? It's easy, just give us the f*cking money, and we'll let your pretty little ass go!!" One of the figure yells at her as their patience runs thin.
"I...I...I don't have any money..." Cameron says to them, her voice shaking in fear.
"This broad is lying!!" One of the figure yelled angrily.
"Please! I'm telling the truth!!" Cameron begs at them for her safety.
"Boys... grab her!!" One of the figures ordered as the rest immediately closes their distance with her. Cameron literally couldn't breath due to the sheer panic as her eyes wildly travel around trying to find a single soul that could safe her. She then notices the alley besides her. It was a long shot but it might be her only chance of survival.
She looks at all of them before immediately sprinting to the side going inside the alley. The attackers just stood there dumbfounded before one of them facepalms himself.
"What you're all f*cking waiting for? GET HER!!" He screams at his incompetent accomplices in pure anger.
All of them immediately chases after her through the dark alley. Cameron ran with all her might as she avoids the trash cans or trash blocking her path. She kept running, praying that she'll run into someone who would save her. After a moment of running, she froze in her tracks as she reached a dead end. A mighty wall stood in front of her. She mentally cursed her luck as she immediately looks back and tries to find another way. But then she could hear the footsteps of the people closing in on her. She backs herself to the wall and curls herself in a ball as she was helpless. Tears of fear began to flow from her eyes as she sniffs. She could hear their footsteps coming closer her way and she could hear their voices closing in. She whimpers and prayed for her own safety.
"Please...someone..." She whimpers as she prepares herself for the worst. Suddenly, she could hear their footsteps stop. She then picks up their voices containing a hint of panic.
"Who're you?!!"
She could hear one of them asking in fear. What followed that was a loud, painful scream. A scream begging for mercy as she could hear his agony. Suddenly, she could hear the rest fleeing in panic and cursing in disbelief. She could still hear flesh being torn apart but she braves herself as she went near the sound.
Her eyes bulge when she laid her eyes upon Fabian, his fangs burying themselves deep inside the person's neck, blood gushing out dripping down at the floor staining it. His red-orange fur stained by a dark pallette which she presumes is blood. His muzzle wrinkled as his eyes blares with fury. He suddenly looks back and snarls in the direction of the fleeing troop. He then drops the lifeless corpse in front of him and looks at Cameron.
Cameron stood frozen still stark with the fear that engulfs her once more. But like a flick of a switch, her fears was washed away when his face soften as he laid his eyes upon her. It was the look of a friend, caring and worried for her. His predatory glare was immediately replaced with a warm look.
Cameron just stares at him idly, her brain confused about the situation. Fabian then realised about his condition. Blood splattered on his fur, dripping from his fangs. His claws starts retracting as he looks down in shame.
"I...I...just wanted to give this back to you..." He stutters softly as his fuzzy tail was suddenly brought out in front of him. It uncurls revealing a brown leather purse.
"That's my purse" Cameron gasped inside as she stares at his tail. Soon, his tail puts the purse flat on the ground before he turns away with his head still looking down. He then proceeds to walk away from her with shame on what he displayed at her. Suddenly, he froze in his tracks as he could feel something warm at his back. He looks backwards to see Cameron hugging him tightly, sniffles escaping her mouth as tears of joy ran through her face.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" She thanks him repeatedly as she continues to tear up. Fabian's eyes bulge at the sudden feeling but he smiles warmly and his tail wraps around her to calm her down. They stayed that way for a while before Cameron managed to compose herself.
"How did your find me?" Cameron asks him while wiping her tears.
"I followed your scent, only a beautiful woman like you carries a similarly beautiful scent!" Fabian took his chance to flirt with her causing her to giggle letting of her worries. Fabian chuckles seeing Cameron giggle, glad to know that she was alright.
As Cameron looks at his chuckling face, she could see scars and wounds running through his face. Probably a result of the earlier fight.
"Fabian, you're hurt!!" Cameron gasped as she held his face, her small hand directing his face towards her.
"I'm fine... it's just a scratch" Fabian reassures her as he didn't want to worry her.
"Why don't you follow me home? I have a first aid kit there. I can treat your wounds!" Cameron offered with a warm look. Fabian suddenly bit his lips and sighs before looking at her.
"Cameron... are you not terrified with my...feral side?" He asks her in discomfort. Cameron's eyes widen at the question but it was true. She still have a fear of animals even until now. Fabian looks down in disappointment when she didn't answer it.
"Fabian..." Cameron suddenly calls him softly. Fabian looks at her with suprise as his eyes was wide open.
"No, I'm not afraid of you or your wild side. You saved me... you're my hero!" Cameron said softly which made Fabian grin in relief. He chuckles at her before giving her a warm look.
"Now.. let's get you fixed up!" Cameron says as she walks picking up her purse and putting it inside her handbag. Fabian then followed her as he crawls besides her.
Suddenly, Cameron yelps when she feels his tail curling up on her. A familiar feeling of fear starts to crawl back inside her mind before she felt the warm and comfortable feeling from it. Her mind immediately tossed away the fear and replace it with a warm and loving feeling. A feeling she wouldn't mind having for the rest of her life.
Standing besides her wasn't a vicious predator looking for its next prey, no! Instead, it was a caring and loving friend who would risk his life for her own. A friend she was glad to have by her side. It doesn't matter if he was feral or a beast, in the end, the person besides her was someone she cherished.
A friend...