Ariel picked up the stack of mail as she stepped into the apartment. "More letters for you, Dad," she called in the direction of his office. "Hopefully it's not hate mail again..."
"That's what my inbox is full of," Mr. Hobbes sighed, hunched over his keyboard. "I honestly thought I was doing the right thing when I used my section of the opinion column to publish a statement calling for no more discrimination. Someone said I don't deserve to be editor."
Ariel wrapped her arms around her father. "Oh, dad, don't say that," she said comfortingly. "You've worked so hard to be editor of the Times. Besides, you're not the only high-position predator to get snapped at."
"Still mad about the meet?"
"Sorta. I mean, sure, I was the only predator competing, but I won those races. Now my teammates are avoiding me more than ever, and I found my locker vandalized."
"That's horrible."
"Don't I know it..."
A knock on the door drew Ariel away. Standing shyly on the other side was Kiki.
"Hey, Ariel."
"Hey. Wanna come in?"
"No, I - I just had to tell you something." Kiki gulped, sighed and continued, "My dad made the announcement this morning - we're moving back to Primate City."
"What?!" Ariel couldn't believe her ears, but the look on Kiki's face told her that the monkey was telling the truth. "Why, Keek?" the tigress asked, choking back sobs. "Your dad's window-washing business has never been doing better..."
"He's worried about all the recent outbursts, the predators going savage..." Tears were running down Kiki's face now. "Oh, Ariel, I'm gonna miss you so much..."
"I'll text every day," Ariel assured her freind before wrapping her arms around Kiki.
The two friends embraced in silence.
Ariel's backpack felt heavier than ever as she trudged down the steps. She'd had to present her science project alone, and she was sure she'd get a bad grade thanks to her status as predator. "What else could possibly go wrong?" she wailed aloud.
Ariel's phone buzzed. It was a text from her mom:
Get to hospital NOW. Your brother...
"I shouldn't have asked."
Ariel watched in horror as her brother paced on all fours around the special chamber, his Cub League uniform in shreds in one corner. Once he managed to catch his family's glance, he snarled and attacked the clear wall. Ariel jumped back in horror. "I can't believe it," she whispered. "I just can't believe it."
"Neither can I," Mrs. Hobbes whispered in equal horror, squeezing her daughter's shoulder.
Mr. Hobbes checked his watch and said, "We have to go, Ariel."
"Can't I stay a little longer?" Ariel begged.
"Be home soon," Mrs. Hobbes sighed as she left with Mr. Hobbes.
Ariel looked on at the wild, feral creature who had once been her brother. And she'd thought that her situation had been the worst...
She felt a small paw slip itself into hers. At her side was Matt.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay," she replied. "It's not like you and your dad. Cal and I bickered all the time. We hated each other."
"That's not true. You like him, otherwise you wouldn't be here."
"I guess you're right. How's your mom, by the way?"
"Getting desperate. She's really worried about Benji, and me. I'm praying that they find a solution."
"Me too. Well, I guess I'd better be heading home."
"I'll take you," Matt offered.
"I'd like that," Ariel shrugged. The two predators headed for the elevator, still paw in paw.