Waking Saturday morning, Ann now made her way towards the kitchen. Practice with her friends was proceeding well, the teen confident that her friends would be able to handle themselves. "Morning mom, morning Merlin."
Merlin and Kellie now waved, both still nursing their coffee as they tried to wake up. As Ann now began to make breakfast, the two wizards settled onto the couch as they turned on the news.
'Tragedy has struck yet again as another body was found mutilated in the woods.'
"Oh no," Kellie gasped. "Quick turn it up!" Merlin did as she asked, Kellie creeping to the edge of the couch as Ann sprinted from the kitchen. As the three wizards now listened, they could feel their stomachs churn, their thoughts lingering on who with the anthro community had died. What they heard instead caught them by surprise
The victim was human. While the news did not go into extensive detail, they stated that the victim was human, a man identified Travis Coulter. From what Merlin, Kellie, and Ann could discern the body was mutilated, discovered in the early morning by three preteen anthro boys who had been camping in the area that evening. The reporter stating that the boys were not suspects in the man's death.
"Wow look at them," Ann said softly, pointing at the boys on the screen. The three preteens looked shell shocked, their eyes wide, their faces pale as they were interviewed. "They look like they've seen a ghost."
Kellie was quiet, her hand covering her mouth as she gazed intently at the screen. "This isn't good," she whispered. "Whoever killed that guy I can guarantee that the anthros will be blamed."
"Why would someone blame the anthros mom," Ann asked.
"Because people are already weirded out about anthros to begin with," Kellie answerd. "And there are people who will try to frame it as a revenge killing."
"Cmon mom that sounds crazy," Ann scoffed. "Who would believe that? Most of the anthros and magical races I've met are some of the nicest people I know."
"Your mother has a point Ann," Merlin stated. "I have seen charismatic men in the past use tragedy to sway the mob. Take Salem, a mob massacred innocent people out of fear. Fear stoked by charismatic men with blackened hearts."
Ann shuddered at the thought. Would her hometown devolve into a Second Salem Witch Hunt. Would evil men use these tragedies to punish the innocent? Gazing at the t.v. Ann felt herself go pale, watching as a man offer his opinion on the matter. An opinion that the teen could hear was not very flattering of magic, mythical races, or anthros.
"I'm going to see what I can dig up," Kellie said as she stood up. "See if Jack has any leads."
"I would say that is a prudent move," Merlin stated. "I shall do the same. See if any of my contacts can gather insight on what may have transpired."
"What do you want me to do," Ann asked. Kellie and Merlin paused, exchanging a glance between one another. "Maybe its best you stay out of this Ann."
"Oh cmon mom," Ann frowned. "I can help too you know. Let me at least see my friends."
"Ok fine," Kellie sighed. "Just try to stay out of trouble please. Things are more dangerous than you realize."
Ann nodded, quickly sprinting upstairs as looked to get dress. She needed to get together with her friends, hopefully they could figure out exactly what they needed to do next.