The sun slowly peaked over the horizon and lit up the freshly snowed city, causing the snow to sparkle and shine like diamonds. That same sunlight peeked through curtains of the small studio apartment bedroom owned by Diamond and the small beam of light hitting a slumbering Diamond.

Diamond was laying on her belly on a king size bed and she had wrapped herself up in blankets. She let out a low grumble as the light hit her exposed head and opened one eye to look at her alarm clock that rested on the side table beside her bed. Seeing the time Diamond let out a sigh as she started to move out of her blanket cocoon, revealing she had only worn a pair of black panties to bed last night.

Each movement Diamond made there was a loud click, cracking, and popping sound came from her bones and once she was sitting at the foot of her bed she stood up. She let out another loud sigh as she rotated her head making more loud pop and cracking, “Every morning.” She muttered and paused as she caught her reflection in the full length mirror. 

Her bedroom was plain and simple, a bed, nightstand with clock, full length mirror and tall dresser for all her clothing. She shifted to face the mirror and her fingers resting on top of the claw scars on her stomach. Her mind started to drift before snapping back when there was a knocking at her front door and Diamond turned on her heel to head out of her bedroom to the main part of the studio apartment.

The main part of the studio was just as simple as her bedroom, it had a living room area, a kitchen that doubled as a dining room and another door to a bathroom. The only thing out of place was on the large cork board on wheels in the living room and it was covered with pictures and strings. 

Diamond walked to the front door and opened it without care or fear of being seen topless. The person standing there was Ophelia and she was in a dark blue winter coat. “Good morning, hope I didn’t wake you.” Ophelia said and pulled out a cell phone. “I am only stopping by to drop this off, don’t break it this time.”

“I didn’t break it last time,” Diamond said as she took the cell phone. “I was sucker punched by a coyote while on the phone with you.” Diamond paused when she turned on the screen and saw the wallpaper was of Diamond and her little sister Tullia.

“I already set up how you like it and copied all your old files to it.” Ophelia said and Diamond nodded as she put in her pin code to unlock the phone. “I also added Chris’ number to it too.”

“Alright,” Diamond said in a dismissive manner as she turned around to put the phone on the counter and Ophelia let out a loud sigh making Diamond turn around to look at her. “What?”

“Chris Quiin, the moonflower officer you worked with last two weeks ago on two cases.” Ophelia stated while rubbing her temple with one hand. “What did you th-oh my god, you thought he had died, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Diamond said and Ophelia narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms. “Normally those moonflower officers assigned to me, bug me with every case and try to get me to deal with normal human cases.”

“And you thought him not bugging you meant he was dead?” Opheila asked and Diamond just shrugged. “Well he’s not dead and working on cases didn’t need you. Anyways, want to get some breakfast with me?”

“No, I think I’ll go wash up and head up to the Sanctuary to visit my little sister.” Diamond said and Ophelia nodded.

“Alright, see you around, Diamond.” Ophelia said as she grabbed the door handle. “Tell little Tullia I say hello.” Diamond nodded before the door closed and Diamond locked the door before heading to the bathroom.

Diamond was standing in a bus stop shelter with a soft smile on her face after spending most of her day with her little sister at the Sanctuary. The sun was setting over the city as Diamond started to close her eyes before her ear twitched and heard a commotion from an alleyway a few feet away from the bus. She let out a sigh as she walked towards the alleyway but turned into a sprint when she heard a scream from a woman.

What Diamond saw was a man forcefully grabbing a woman by the wrist and throat. The man must have grabbed the woman’s throat when she screamed and Diamond rear back her fist, aiming for the man’s liver. Diamond was hit by the man’s scent of being a hyena therianthrope and made her not hold back her fist hitting the man in the side. When the punch connected the man's eyes widened to look to see Diamond before he crumbled to one knee and coughing up blood. 

Diamond quickly moved behind the man and grabbed the back of his neck with a vice-like grip. The man had let go of the woman and Diamond took this chance to grab one of the man’s wrist and twist it behind his own back. “Try anything and I will crush your spine.” Diamond whispered into the man’s ear with a low growl. 

“Understood.” The man managed to say through the blood coming out of his mouth. Diamond couldn’t see the man’s face but she could see other features now that had little more time to process everything. The man had messy black curly hair, his skin was darker from suntan, and she noticed a therianthrope gang tattoo just peeking out from under her hand. He was wearing a pair of worn out blue jeans, a black light jacket, off white t-shirt, and a pair of black running shoes. 

Diamond’s attention moved to the lady and could see how she was fairing but she was slightly startled from the woman’s appearance. The lady had short black hair, she looked to be around five feet and six inches tall and had very bright orange eyes with a tattoo under her left eye of Eye of Horus. Her skin was desaturated grayish brown, which Diamond thought made the lady look sickly and it would be hard to tell by the human eyes but for Diamond eyes could see that the lady’s cheeks were slightly sunken in. She wore a pair of brown runners, baggy black jeans and puffy blue jacket that Diamond theorized was hiding a thin sickly figure.

Diamond snapped back to reality, “Miss, are you alright.” Diamond asked and the lady jumped slightly before nodding quietly. “Good, left jacket pocket is my phone.” The lady nodded and walked to Diamond's left side and took out Diamond’s cell phone. “885542, call Chris Quinn and put on speakerphone.”

The lady did as she was told and the phone dial tone went off once before being picked up, “Hello?” Chris’ voice said over the cell phone.

“Hello, Chris, I’ve got a code 10-TA in an alleyway between 13th and 14th street, I need a wagon and bring Chip and Dale.” Diamond said loudly and tightened her grip when she felt the man try to shift his position. “Also come in an unmarked car when you come get me and…” 

The pause became awkward silence with Diamond staring at the lady, “Oh, Aziza, Aziza Smith.” The lady said and Diamond nodded.

“Alright, we will be there shortly,” Chris said as Diamond heard him getting out of his chair. “Keep that 10-TA under control until then.” Diamond dug in nails into the man’s neck and he made a small yelp sound.

There was no problem in bringing in the man and putting him in a cell to hold therianthrope. Chris, Diamond, and Aziza were now sitting in the police station conference room and Chris was about to get Aziza’s statement. “So you have no knowledge or connection to the ‘Sons of Sands’ gang?” Chris asked as twirling his pen.

“No, I don’t know anything about any gangs.” Aziza sighed and shifted in her seat. She had taken off her jacket and under it she was wearing a baggy cream color sweater. Diamond eyes never left Aziza as she was right about Aziza having thinner than normal body by seeing how thin her wrists are. “I just finished classes at Trinity College and I was going to the bus stop on 14th street, then out of nowhere that man grabbed me.”

“Did he say anything to you while he dragged you into the alleyway?” Chris asked and Aziza shook her head as she rubbed her wrist that was grabbed. “Alright, than we w-”

“We will put you up in a safe house until we know if this was an individual action or the whole gang is involved.” Diamond said and Chris turned to look at Diamond with a bit of confused look. “So Officer Quinn will take you to your apartment to gather some clothes and anything else you need.”

“Yes, uh though I would like to ask Diamond something first, outside.” Chris said and motioned his head to point to the door. Diamond nodded and headed towards the door to the bullpen before Chris looked towards Aziza, “I’ll be right back, Miss. Smith.”

“O-Oh okay,” Aziza said and was about to say something but held her tongue. Chris got up head out to the bullpen and closed the door behind him to see Diamond waiting.

“Safehouse? I was thinking of having one of our female officers to follow her.” Chris said. “I don’t even know if one of the safe houses are op-”

“My apartment is a special safehouse.” Diamond said and Chris raised his brows. “It’s only open to cases I’m working on and it’s off the books. Also many therianthrope don’t come sniffing around my territory if they know better.”

“Alright, I’m sold, so while I’m with Aziza getting her things, you are going to get your apartment ready for a guest.” Chris said and Diamond nodded while pulling out her phone. “Sounds like a plan and now let’s play it.” Chris's phone ding and he looked to see a text from Diamond.

“My apartment address and while she is in my apartment, you look closer into ‘Sons of Sand’.” Diamond said and Chris nodded before turning around to the conference room while Diamond turned to head to the elevator.