Luna
Today marks the day we welcome new animals to our zoo's exhibit. Hybrids to be exact. I stop in front of the TV halfway naked as I brush my teeth. The local news had a helicopter hovering around the new exhibit. I blink a few times and lean a bit closer to the screen. It showed two figures, both males but one was a baby. I shake my head, getting too distracted, and go to my bathroom. Today is my first day working at the zoo. I want it to be perfect. Putting on my work uniform, I gather all the stuff I need before heading out the door. I have only been at this apartment for maybe three months. I moved from upper California down here to the lower part of it. L.A. hasn’t been one of my top places to go, but working at a zoo outside Sacramento. That’s the closest zoo I can get a job at.
I hopped into my beaten-up truck and headed to the zoo. Today will be the first time I handle animals and hybrids. I wonder if I will even be working with the new ones.
My mind suddenly goes back to that picture that was on the TV screen. A picture of a man with no shirt and white cat-like ears was screaming at the top of his lungs while holding onto the baby.
I arrived at the zoo a few minutes later, since my apartment isn’t that far from it. Getting out of my truck, I look around as my body tenses up with excitement. “Alright, time to go inside.” I say to myself as I start heading to the zoo’s main building. When I enter, I look around at all the fake wildlife decorated around the interior. Along with a small koi pond tucked in the corner, I guess for people to put coins in.
“Can I help you?” A middle-aged lady walks over to me wearing the same uniform I am wearing. A classic green and yellow uniform. I stand up straight, suddenly becoming nervous. “Uh, yes. I am here on my first day. Luna Bedford.” I say while the lady checks her clipboard. “Says you will be dealing with the new hybrids. Good luck.” The lady hands me a badge and walks away. I stood confused for a brief moment. This can’t be right. On my first day, I am taking care of a half-naked man and his cub.
I gather up the supplies needed from the corner supply closet. Items like baby diapers, towels, and some blankets. I really don't know what they would need, so I also make my way to the kitchen to see if I can get some chopped meat. "Where are you taking those items?" Another lady behind a counter asks me. This woman was older than the last lady I talked to. My hands suddenly become sweaty as my body starts to hyperventalate like I got in trouble. "This is for the newborn baby in the hybrid enclosure. Do they not get anything?" I ask as the lady waves her hand dismissively. "Their dinner doesn't happen till about seven PM." The lady informs me while raising her head up, finally to make eye contact with me. "Be careful, little girl. I heard the adult hybrid doesn't take to feedings well." She looks back down at her magazine. I turn and head towards the double doors leading to the outside zoo.
The first animals beside the building were in the reptile exhibit to the right. Then to the left, there were some vending machines. Along with some vendors. One I believe was named “The Moon Cafe.”I glanced over at the cafe, busy as usual. It always had a lineout of the door since it opened last year. Turning towards the exhibits, I started passing each one ofthem. Monkeys were first, then gorillas, lions, and tigers. At the very end were the hybrids. Once I get to the enclosure, I already hear growling and screaming. Some of it I couldn’t understand because he was yelling in a different language. There was a crowd near the front of the exhibit. Some were in awe, some whispering to each other, and some laughing. “Get the hell away from me and my cub!” The hybrid screamed while holding his baby tightly to his bare chest. I stand and watch for a few moments before looking at his information placard.
'Snow Leopards (Hybrids) will kill onsite. Snow Leopards are naturally solitary. They can range in colors from pale yellow to gray to chestnut. While normal snow leopard's shoulders, upper arms, back, and haunches are marked with dark spots. Hybrid snow leopards, on the other hand, only have marks on their tail and ears.'
As I was reading their placard, a hear a woman scream. I turned to see what the problem was, but a guy was standing awfully close to me. I looked up, and there he was. Standing in front of me with his cub, glaring down at me. I feel suddenly small as he growls at me. My body starts tensing up as he leans down towards me. So close, I can practically feel his breath on me. He muttered something in some weird language before getting tased. I instinctively reach out and grab his cub right when he fell to the ground.
