Chapter 99 - A Battle of the Heart (Finale)

Riz laughed again. "Come on! Come on! Show me what your pathetic meat-starved bodies can do!"

"Sure!" Legosi swiped with his claws, but met nothing but air. The larger animal brought a heavy elbow down onto his back, crashing him to the ground.

Bill jumped forward and gave an attempt at clawing the bear, feeling a connection.

Blood dripped from Riz's cheek. His dark eyes turned darker as he grabbed Bill by the shoulders, bringing a knee up to his chest. The tiger crumpled, coughing. Both carnivores down for the moment, Riz took the opportunity to look around. "Louis!"

The herbivore had disappeared, there was no response.

"I know you're out there! You might have escaped your fate with Legosi, but rest assured I will give you your fate as an herbivore."

Hearing that, Legosi's eyes snapped open. He sprung up to his feet and threw his hand out to the back of Riz's neck, cutting deeply into it.

"Ghhgh!" The killer grabbed his arm and used his momentum to fling him over his shoulder. Luckily, the wolf managed to land on his feet as he quickly turned to face his attacker, arms raised in a fighting stance.

Bill quickly got up from the ground and rushed at Riz. I wish I knew how to really fight... He threw a kick forward.

It connected, but the bear didn't budge. He grabbed the leg and flipped Bill onto his back.

"Ough!" He coughed as the wind got knocked out of him, and a fist came crashing down. He rolled out of the way.

Bill tried lunging at Riz's back next.

The bear, despite his large size, dropped to the ground with a graceful swiftness, causing the tiger to soar over him.

The cat landed on his stomach, scraping against the ground. "Agh!"

Meanwhile, Louis was climbing higher, listening to the sounds of the scuffle below. He was using his phone flashlight to see as he got higher. He still didn't know how he was going to shoot Riz, but he would figure it out.

"Which one of you do I want to kill first..." Riz held a finger underneath his chin. "Bill, you were always loud and annoying in club, but Legosi...the way you rubbed your relationship with Louis in everyone's noses was unforgivable."

Legosi was back on his feet, adopting a defensive position. He could feel some of his old scars reopening. "Y-you're insane, Riz!"

The hulking beast lunged at the wolf, who was in no shape to dodge. They fell to the ground, and the bear's jaws went for his abdomen. Legosi managed to hold him back with his arms, just barely.

Bill quickly ran and crashed into Riz to get him off of Legosi. "Because that's what the world needs! The longer I was with...him..." He couldn't bear to say the late sheep's name. He tried a punch.

Riz caught it, but just barely.

"It became more clear to me...We're only animals!" He got free of Riz's hand and threw a punch across his face, then another. "It's you who's the problem! Animals like you! Animals who think this is how it should be! But herbivores and carnivores can truly live together! I'll kill you for what you did!"

Legosi watched in awe as the tiger landed blow after successful blow onto the bear. His chest hurt. Not from the injuries, but because he truly felt Bill's pain and suffering. Pina's cheerful face flashed in his memory. He ran forward, aiming for Riz's legs, trying to take him down. "His nose, Bill! His nose!"

Bill made a small gasp as he changed his trajectory to punch Riz in the nose. Hard.

"Guuoouh!" Blood splattered out of the ursid's flat nose, staining Bill's white chest fur. Legosi held Riz steady by the legs.

The feline smiled as he punched him in the nose again. "Take that, asshole! I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you!"

Riz had been ducking lower and lower with each blow, until finally he released his strength, leaping out of the grasp of both carnivores and landing a few meters away, his shirt ripping away in the process.

Legosi gasped. Covering his back and chest were scars. Old scars.

Bill hissed again. "Get back here!" He rushed forward again. He had speed, but he was reckless. Riz wound up and punched the tiger square in the jaw, sending him flying. The cat landed on the ground, groaning. He felt dizzy. "Fuck..."

Legosi stayed put, catching his breath. He had to buy them time to recover. "Those scars..."

Riz looked down at them, somberly. "When you first eat meat, you'll be filled with so much guilt that you resort to self-harm."

"Then...you admit that it was the wrong thing to do!"

Riz wagged a finger at him. "No...that was before I knew the truth. These scars...they're now proof of my bond with Tem!"

Bill raised his head. "You're...you're wrong! I never self harmed and...and...I'm a meat eater!"

The ursid snapped his head to the tiger, his bent nose and snarling face creating a terrifying image. "You've eaten an herbivore alive, before, cat boy? You felt them cling desperately to the life you are taking from them?"

"N-no...but...I've eaten meat from the black market! It's the same thing. I know what it's like to eat meat and...and to crave it...I wanted to eat my boyfriend so often..." He began to get up again.

"So often I fantasized about it...Reveled in imagining it. It almost made it better..." He brushed some dirt off. "But then I realized that...that's all it is. A fantasy. That's how I never gave into it." He began walking around Riz as he spoke. "At first it was so hard...There was a time when I was holding him from behind and he was right there...I opened my mouth to take a bite...I somehow stopped myself...When I realized that I didn't have to give in to the fantasy...It became a lot easier, even though it was always there.

"Carnivores don't have to eat herbivores, but society conditions us that we should be separated...I keep thinking about everything and I realized that we're not even conditioned to not eat herbivores. We're just told not to and expected to suppress our instincts and then everyone gets fucking freaked out when something happens...Herbivores are taught to fear carnivores and everyone stays separated. It's...it's not a good society to live in. If you can call it living. It's miserable. I used to think because I was a carnivore, I was strong and I was better than herbivores. That's what my parents always taught me. But being with Pina..." He looked to Riz.

"This can all change. It will change. And animals like you..." He pointed a finger. "...won't matter anymore. You're a psychopath. The scum of the earth. You don't belong here and after what you did...I'm going to make sure you wish you never even tasted an herbivore." The tiger's face was covered with blood and he ached, but he pushed all thoughts of pain out of the way. The adrenaline rush was too high and his conviction was too strong to stop.

Elsewhere, Louis finally got a suitable place where he was still close enough to the fight, but out of danger himself. He made sure his gun was ready to be fired as he huffed. Now to just figure out just how the hell to shoot the bear without killing him.

"You...both of you don't understand!" Riz held his head, looking like he was in agony. "I wanted him to be my best friend! But in the end, he ran from me!"

Legosi felt some of his anger leave him. He reached his hand up. "Riz..."

The bear shook his head. "But-but I realized! The only way to break down the walls between herbivores and carnivores...is to eat them!"

The canine couldn't hold back a grimace. This guy hadn't listened to a word Bill had said, after all the effort he spent pouring his heart out. "No, Riz. The only way we can break down those walls...is through love."

Bill groaned at the pain. "What exactly happened with Tem?"

Riz sighed. It seemed his fighting spirit had dwindled. "I stopped taking my strength restricting drugs because of him. I wanted to show him...the real me. He was never afraid to be around me. I wanted..." He shook his head. "But when he saw me, my true, monstrous form, he ran! I injured him on accident and his blood...it drove me crazy. I knew what I had to do...what I was destined to do since birth."

The tiger saw a flicker of another Riz in those words. A Riz who didn't truly want this. "Don't you see? Meat has done this to you. You don't want this. Riz..." He stepped closer. "Let's stop fighting and talk about this. You can get better. I did." He knew that he would have to trick the bear to get him where he wanted.

"You two...you aren't bears." Riz clenched his fists. "You don't have to take pills that fuck up your body! Your prey accept you as you are!"

"We don't have any prey!" Bill argued. "Riz, snap out of it! You obviously need the pills! Look what you did to Tem!" His head turned to Legosi.

The wolf got his breathing under control. "Els. Why did you kill Els?"

"She...she started looking into Tem's death."

Legosi shook his head. "You know you can't get away with this, Riz. You know what you did was wrong. If you turn yourself in, they can help you."

"Please..." Bill stepped closer. "Just stop all of this."

Riz's large frame retracted ever so slightly, the breath from his crooked nose whistling.

The tiger stepped even closer. "So?"

The predator looked down at the blood-stained concrete, slowly holding his large paw out to Bill.

Legosi's ears perked up. Was that it? Did they actually accomplish this with minimal violence?

The tiger reached for it and grabbed it, still gaining the trust of the large carnivore.

A smile appeared on the bear's face. "I see...maybe..." Suddenly, Riz pulled Bill forward with all of his might, holding his leg out to connect with his gut.

The cat's eye widened and he brought a fist to Riz's stomach.

Legosi had let his guard down, so by the time he lunged at Riz the bear was ready for him, batting him aside.

"We'll never find common ground! I'm on a totally different level than either of you! I'm the only true carnivore here!" Riz's bellowing travelled up to where Louis was.

Bill coughed. "Why won't you listen?!"

"Because we're here to kill each other! Nothing more! It's the life of a carnivore!"

"You aren't understanding anything I'm saying! It doesn't have to be!" He held his stomach. "We don't have to fight!"

Legosi got up, but instead of attacking again, he spoke. "Did you love him?"

Riz backed away from them, looking at the wolf with wide eyes. "What?"

This gave Bill time to watch for an opening. No matter what this bear said or did, he killed Pina and he would have to pay.

"Tem! Did you love him?" Legosi shouted again.

It was the first time that night the bear actually looked scared. "I loved...the feeling of his flesh in my mouth...the taste of his bones..."

"RIZ!" The canine leapt forward with his claws, missing. "HIS FACE! HIS SENSE OF HUMOR! HIS KINDNESS!"

The killer dodged the attacks, making no effort to counter.

The feline watched, mortified at how far gone this bear was.

Above, Louis had heard Legosi shout. It didn't sound like they were fighting anymore. Maybe they could do this without violence? He was still trying to figure out how to aim his gun.

There was this strange tingling feeling, but he brushed it off as nerves.

"DO YOU REMEMBER RIZ?", the wolf cried out, more desperate than angry.

The bear screamed back, clutching the side of his head. "NO! I CAN'T! I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS FACE! NOTHING!"

Bill frowned. "Then you aren't his friend. If he's nothing now. Not even a memory. His name is all you have left. You made him a waste."

"SHUT UP!" Riz shot toward Bill, his dark eyes dampening. His calculated movements were slowly becoming sloppier.

The tiger jumped out of the way and clawed at his back. "YOU KNOW IT! AND YOU'RE LYING TO YOURSELF!" He tried to move forward to get more blows in on him.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DEVOUR YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND!" Those large bear arms swiped again and again to no avail. "NONE OF YOU CAN EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING I'VE GONE THROUGH!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DEVOUR MY CLOSEST FRIEND BECAUSE I'M NOT A FUCKING PSYCHOPATH! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF?" Bill kept scratching at his back as more and more warm blood was spilled.

Riz cried out as more and more of his old wounds came open by the tiger's claws.

Legosi stood by the sidelines, trying to find an opening to go in but finding his previous injuries combined with his current ones made him sluggish. He could only watch as he saw Bill's raw strength unleash. The strength of a carnivore in mourning.

Bill finally wrapped his arms around the predator's neck and brought his claws up. "In one swift movement, I can end your life right now. I guess you never guessed that taking so many lives away would lead to taking your own away."

They both had stopped moving, the night deafeningly calm. The bear's chest rumbled, which Bill and Legosi soon realized was a chuckle.

The tiger blinked. "This isn't funny. Can you goddamn take it seriously?! You're a murderer!"

The bear just continued. Bill soon felt something warm and wet falling onto his hands.

He blinked once more. "What's so funny?"

Riz's chest began to heave, and his chuckle transitioned into steady sobs.

Bill kept his position over him. "..."

Louis couldn't hear from up above, and he still didn't feel like it was time to aim the gun. As he continued to try and hear what was going on, he felt a weight being lifted and then warmth moving down his face. Is it really that time?! Right now?!

He grabbed the antlers that were now shed from his head and looked at them, and then realized that now he did have a plan. He got up and began moving.

Below, Riz continued to cry, leaving the other two animals speechless.

Bill felt himself tear up. "This is it, Riz. I'm sorry."

"Y-yeah.", the bear choked, before raising and worming his arms between his neck and Bill's arms and flinging himself out of the tiger's grasp.

Bill fell onto his tail and yelped as he sprung up and whimpered. "Fuck!"

"Bill!" Legosi ran up beside him to help him up.

The tiger smiled, lightly. "It's okay, it's just...pain." He turned to look at the bear. "Stop fighting against me! You know this is it for you!"

"Maybe so!" Riz spat, "But I'm going to take you two down with me!"

Bill sighed. "I'm okay with that. I don't have anything left to live for. I mean, my boyfriend is dead, the school is going to be segregated, my family doesn't support who I am...If stopping you means losing myself...Then I'm okay with that." He stepped forward. "But no matter what happens, I will stop you." He turned his head to Legosi. "You better make sure you stay the fuck alive through this. Louis needs you."

Speaking of the deer, he was quickly rushing back to them, but making sure to stay quiet and out of sight.

"B-Bill..." A tear fell from the wolf's eye.

"I know. I'm sorry. But we have to do this."

Riz grunted. "Alright. Bring it on! There's plenty of room in here next to your boyfriend!"

The tiger raised a brow. "You would eat me? What happened to all that 'what I was born for' crap and 'eating herbivores'?"

"What was that you said? 'We're only animals'? You shouldn't have any problem with me devouring you, then!"

"That's not what I meant and you know it, you bastard!" He curled his hands into fists. "But...If you kill me before I kill you, then you can eat me."

Riz grinned wide, showing his razor-sharp teeth. "Then we're agreed!" He hunched down once again and charged.

Bill got into a fighting stance and braced for what was coming. He was so tired and his muscles ached and everything felt like it was on fire. How much blood had he lost? He couldn't even keep track of everything he was saying. It was just coming out. "Legosi! You have to help me with this! I can't do it alone!"

Louis got into a close hiding place, quietly, finally able to see the large bear ahead. Now that his antlers were gone, they wouldn't give him away. All that was left to do was to wait until Riz was in the right place to shoot.

Bill and Riz exchanged punch after punch and attack after attack, but Legosi was still having trouble finding the timing to get in until the tiger finally shouted, "Just help me, Legosi!"

"Uh, uh, fuck it!' The canine charged in, leaping up and slashing at Riz's left ear, managing to take a chunk out of it. The bear retaliated with a swing of his arm, but Legosi was able to retreat in time.

Bill and Riz dealt many cuts and blows and the tiger still had the mindset that they were the only two animals that mattered now. It was between them. For Tem, For Els...For Pina. "Legosi! Hold him! Get him held so I can finish this!"

His friend nodded, now trying to get behind the bear, who took this into account as he dodged. However, it was proving difficult dealing with two other carnivores.

Bill was a machine, absolutely dealing punch after punch to the ursid, almost being reckless so that way the bear wouldn't be able to focus on the wolf trying to grab him. Blood was spilled everywhere. It was a crimson mess.

This went on for around a minute before Legosi managed to hook one of his arms around the large animal's underarm.

"Fuck off!" Riz tried to get the wolf off, but Legosi made sure he couldn't. He gave Riz a swift kick to the back of his knee, bringing him down. Around went the other arm.

"I've got him!"

Bill quickly came forward with his claws raised, ready to finish this.

A breeze blew up from below the bridge, causing Legosi's eyes to go wide. "...P-Pina?"

Something changed in Bill's eyes as his head snapped up to the wolf. "What? What about him!"

Legosi made sure his grip was tight before speaking. "H-his scent was carried on the wind! He's not inside Riz! I can smell him! He's still here!" The bear grunted, but the capturer kept his feet planted firmly on his legs.

"WHERE?! WHERE?!" Bill shouted.

"Uh! Uhh!" Legosi sniffed the air again, beyond thankful that he was no longer congested. "Two kilometers north! He's at a dump! I can smell garbage, too!"

Louis heard this and his heart lifted a little. Pina was still alive! Still...This needed to end. He peeked over his hiding spot and then slowly aimed the gun, ignoring the blood dripping down his face and making no noise as he aimed for the bear's shoulder. A loud crack rang throughout the area and echoed in the distance as he fired.

Riz cried out in pain as the bullet ripped into his bone. Legosi jumped and yelped, completely taken off guard, but he held on as tight as he could still.

Bill had taken off quickly to go find his sheep. His sheep who was...Still alive. The emotional weight that was lifted meant that this fight would be that much easier.

The deer stood there with the gun, still aiming as he stepped out from his hiding place, keeping the muzzle trained on Riz. "Stay right there! This ends right now! Legosi, call the police."

His fiance looked at the bear writhing in pain in his arms. "H-how am I gonna do that?"

"Fine, I'll do it." He kept the gun pointed as he pulled out his phone, emergency dialing the cops.

"Okay." Legosi looked over at his partner, eternally thankful he had remained out of harm's way. At least, that's what he thought. "L-LOUIS! LOUIS WHAT HAPPENED! YOU'RE COVERED IN BLOOD AND YOUR...YOUR..."

"LEGOSI! KEEP YOUR GRIP ON HIM!"

It was too late. Riz shot his head backwards, slamming into the wolf's nose and knocking him back. He scrambled away, holding his shoulder as blood seeped from it.

Louis kept the gun held. "Hello, police?"

In an instant, Riz was upon the deer, grabbing the wrist that held the phone and squeezing it. "YOU!"

The cervid yelped and looked up at the black circles the killer called his eyes. "Agh!" The phone and gun fell from his hands in the swift motion.

Riz held onto the deer's thin wrist as he bent over and picked the phone up. "Yeah, ugh, sorry! My friend thought it'd be funny to call the cops with my phone. Sorry, won't happen again." Riz ended the call and threw it with all of his might into the darkness.

Louis' eye widened with that. "You..."

Legosi sat up, still reeling from that impact. His nose was now freely bleeding and his vision blurry. He looked to where he heard animals talking, focusing his eyes.

The deer pulled against Riz. If I still had my antlers I could... It was an advantage earlier for a disadvantage now. And this could get him killed for real this time.

His assailant soon spied the gun and kicked it away. "Thought you were sneaky, huh?"

Louis looked away. "It was just a strategy. Too bad it didn't work." He smiled. "That was nice thinking, with the phone. You're smarter than I took you for."

"You always looked down on everyone at club! At me! Even your precious Legosi!" Riz squeezed the wrist tighter as he hoisted the deer up.

Louis kept a straight face. "I was raised that way. It wasn't my choice. I was punished if I didn't listen." He found his eyes. "I'm not afraid of you. I wanted to kill myself for so long. Death and I became best friends." Behind Riz, he kept an eye on Legosi, hoping to make quick eye contact. The wolf just needed to sneak up on Riz.

Thankfully, Legosi was in a lit patch of the area so Louis could see him clearly. The dog stood up, his fur bristling. His eyes caught a glint of the light, causing them to reflect eerily.

He couldn't keep the growl rising in his throat, but seeing Louis glance over at him calmly told him the deer had a plan, so he swallowed his instincts and made his way slowly over to them, eyes trained on Riz's huge back.


Elsewhere, Bill was running to find Pina, using what he knew about the area to find the dump. The smell of the garbage made it hard to smell the sheep, but it didn't matter. He had a voice. "Pina! Pina! Can you hear me?!" He heard the clink of an aluminum can, and the rustle of a trash bag.

His ear twitched and he quickly hurried in the direction. "Pina?" In a moment, he saw the blood that was soaking the ground. He gasped and quickly ran forward. "Pina!"

The sheep had been bound and gagged and was barely conscious. His eyes fluttered open slowly, his beautiful locks soiled by crimson.

The tiger was by his side faster than he had ever done anything, immediately removing the ropes and gag. He noticed that the sheep was only in his underwear. So the clothes were a lie...Why? He grunted as he completely untied his mate.

"B-Billy...Billy..." Pina clutched at the tiger's large chest.

Bill felt the fight and his injuries catch up with him now that he was still. He had hardly stopped moving before. "I'm here...And you're alive!" Tears streamed down his face as he held him close. His eyes opened as he noticed something that made his heart almost completely fall out of his body.

Pina's right leg ended just below the knee, tied up in a bloody stump with some cloth. The sheep chuckled weakly as he noticed Bill look down. "He...he said he...wanted to save the rest of me...for later..."

"Oh god..." The cat felt bile in his throat. This was all too much. "Babe, as much as I want to stay here with you, I need to get back and help Legosi and Louis. I'll carry you and hide you somewhere close. Is that okay?"

"Nngh, yeah, fine, fine." The sheep reached up and squeezed Bill as hard as he could. He was trembling.

The tiger couldn't help but shake as he lifted him, beginning a quick walk back to the site of the battle taking place.

Pina buried his face into the crook of his neck. He felt woozy. Like he was flying. "B-Billy...I was so...so scared."

"I know...I know...I was scared, too...But no one will ever touch you again."

Pina hiccupped. "I never thought...it'd be so scary. Is this how Luca felt? D-did he go through this because of me?"

"...Stay strong. You're strong. You're still alive." He kept walking but he nuzzled his cheek softly. The tiger wasn't sure who his mate was talking about, but he decided now was definitely not the time to bring it up.

Pina gripped at Bill's strong muscles and fur, dragging his fingernails through them. "F-fuck. Don't leave me! Hold on to me! Don't let me go!"

"I won't! Well, I will cause I have to finish this fight, but then after that I won't! Sorry!"

There was a pause. "...Get that bastard."

"Even if it's the last thing I do."


Meanwhile, Louis continued to watch Legosi sneak up behind Riz as he stayed in his grasp. "Your confidence will be your downfall, you know."

"That's my line!" The killer hissed. He brought his other hand up to Louis' jacket, zipping it down. "But you...I'll enjoy eating you most."

"I'm sure you will. I'm delicious, you know. I'm sure all the carnivores wanted me. Lucky you, getting to be the one that does it." Legosi was almost there. "I should give you a reward for your accomplishment."

"That wolf didn't know what he was missing. He was just playing with his food." Riz shed the jacket off, bringing a claw up to the shirt.

"I wanted to get eaten by him so many times, but now I know I'm truly getting eaten by someone who understands all of this. Louis the red deer, all yours. How is that sounding?"

Riz grinned, ripping through the shirt and spying a glimpse of the fur underneath. "You're not just fucking with me?"

Louis moved his head in a motion that told Legosi to speed up, subtly. "Please. I'm a freak. I'm a herbivore who is obsessed with carnivores. It's honestly an honor!"

"Now that you mention it...that does make sense. Must be why you were such an asshole. Just pushing us to eat you. Well...I'll oblige."

Legosi was now right behind him, his gaze intense. He looked over to his lover.

"Well first, let me give you that reward I mentioned. Thank you." He leaned in quickly and despite the great risk and the utter awfulness of it all, connected their lips. "Mmm."

Legosi blinked, totally not expecting that. He stood there, unsure of what to do next, now.

Riz pulled back, completely dumbfounded. "Uh...was that a free sample?"

"It's to show much I appreciate you."

"You're a pervert."

"Don't forget a homosexual!~" He winked, trying to replicate what he had seen from Pina so many times.

At that moment, Legosi leaped up onto his back, clawing into the front of his chest to keep from being bucked off as the bear howled in pain. He plunged his fingers into the bullet wound, which in turn released Louis from his grasp.

The deer scrambled away from him, immediately going to search for the gun.

Riz shook back and forth, but to no avail. Now unable to hold back anymore, Legosi snarled out in rage, growling like Louis had never heard him before. He opened his jaws wide and wrapped them around Riz's thick neck.

The buck turned when he heard this, eye bulging as wide as it could.

"RRRGHGHG!" Riz fell onto his back, knocking the wind out of Legosi and removing his mouth from the neck, ripping out some flesh and fur in the process.

Bill had just come back to see what was happening after hiding Pina somewhere safe. Even he was surprised at just how strong the wolf could be.

Louis gazed at the utter ferocity of his partner, finding his heart skipping a beat as he saw it. Carnivores were incredible but nothing surpassed canines. They were the perfect species.

Bill yelled as he ran forward and kicked Riz extremely hard across the face. "That's for what you did to Pina's leg you motherfucking bastard!" He wasn't done.

He started pummeling the carnivore's stomach again and again. "You seem to like to use this so much. Can you feel the herbivores you've murdered!" He brought his hands together and brought them down on his stomach as hard as he could.

Legosi, who was still underneath Riz, wrapped his arms and legs around the bear, restricting him.

Bill, losing himself in his rage, didn't stop clawing and striking him for a moment, even as the bear started regurgitating the meal he had before. And, without thinking, he raised his claws and slashed them quickly across his neck in one quick motion.

Blood sprayed from the bear's wound as Bill looked down with almost crazed eyes. The tiger got up slowly, never feeling as on fire as he felt now. All the anger and the hatred and everything Riz had ever done built up. He looked around quickly as the bear sputtered on the ground, warm crimson covering his large paws.

Bill began walking toward Louis who stepped back in awe. Though, he wasn't really sure what was happening.

The tiger easily found the gun the bear had kicked and picked it up. It was really time to finish this. There was no way he could have cut deep enough for it to kill him. But this would kill him. He and Bill were the only animals that mattered. He was going to pay for what he did.

Louis quickly turned his head to his mate. "Legosi!"

The wolf had been in shock at what just happened, but the deer's voice snapped him out of it. He rolled out from under Riz and stood up between him and Bill. "Enough, Bill! We won!"

"We haven't won until he'd dead!" Bill shouted. "You...you haven't seen what he did to Pina's leg!"

Louis stepped forward. "But Pina's alive! It could be worse."

The tiger turned to him. "HE KILLED TEM AND ELS!"

"You heard him! There's something wrong with him! Even if he spends the rest of his life in jail, he could get help and get better!" Legosi couldn't believe he was defending this monster, but he realized that if that one night at the fountain had gone differently, he might have ended up the same way.

"What if it were Louis?!" Bill cried.

The deer took a breath. "Bill...Killing him wont change anything. He's just one animal out of many that feels this way. You wouldn't accomplish anything by becoming a murderer. You'd just be as bad as him." He got even closer and put a hand on the shaking Bill's arm. "Bill-kun..." He spoke as softly as he could. "If you get a criminal record, you'll be separated from Pina for good..."

The tiger felt tears flow once more. "We're going to be separated anyway..."

"High school won't last your whole life, Bill!" Legosi called out.

The feline looked between all three animals before him. He wanted so badly to do it...This animal that caused so much pain..."Wh-what do I do...?"

Louis put a hand on the gun. "Cross that bridge when you get to it. We need to take care of what's happening right now. Legosi, please call the police."

"G-go to Pina! Be there for him! He's hurt!" The wolf took his phone out and dialed the emergency number.

But the tiger couldn't move. All the emotions, his injuries, everything...It all erupted as he crumpled onto his knees and buried his head in hands, sobbing his heart out. The gun fell to the ground in the process.

Louis kneeled down and rubbed his shoulder. He looked up at his fiance, with a gaze that didn't really show any emotion. The deer didn't know how to feel. But this was over. It was over...Legosi was hurt again, but he was alive and that's what mattered.

After the wolf was done on the phone, his mate waved him over to join the hug. Bill needed it right now. Needed them. And Louis finally understood what real friendship was. They had gone through this together and they were still alive and more importantly, they stopped an insane bear from hurting anyone else.

After a few minutes, Bill wiped his nose. "I'm going to go get Pina...I'll be right back." He stood up and walked off with his head down.

Louis turned his head to Legosi. "So...my antlers shed."

"I-I see that." The blood covering Louis was now dried. "Does...it hurt?"

"No...It doesn't." He moved a hand onto his mate's and scooted closer to him, looking at Riz's body. "You were...so brave..."

"I did what any carnivore should do. Me and Bill."

Riz coughed softly, hands still clutching his throat.

Louis raised his head a bit, ear twitching.

"I wonder if he'll survive until the ambulance comes..." Legosi pondered.

The bear coughed again. "I...I'll live." It sounded more like a croak.

The deer sighed. "Good. You deserve to live with what you did."

"...That's okay with me. I'm done running away. Tem didn't want me to eat him...I know that. My heart has been broken for months now..."

"I'm sorry," Louis said. "But you'll get better."

Riz closed his eyes. "...Treat him right...Legosi..."

The deer buried his face in his hands, but before he could do anything, Bill came back, carrying a certain sheep with him.

"Oh..." Legosi's jaw dropped when he saw the almost-naked herbivore missing his leg.

Louis gasped and ran over. "Oh my god...Pina..." Even though the other herbivore was in Bill's arms, Louis hugged him softly. "We're sorry you couldn't have helped...But we did it. It's over!"

Bill chuckled. "You'll just have to use that bat some other time, huh, babe?"

Pina threw up his signature peace sign. "Heyy, don't worry 'bout it." He looked at Louis and managed a laugh. "God, I'm so happy I don't shed..."

The deer smiled. "We missed you."

Legosi walked over to the three. "Uh, that doesn't hurt?"

"Hmm, lil somethin called shock, sweetie. Blood loss...too...is a...thing." Pina's head rolled as he edged on unconsciousness.

Bill sighed. "He's been doing that the whole walk over here. He was unconscious when I found him. Come on, let's go sit down." The three all found a place to sit down and wait for the police, Pina still being held in Bill's arms.

"The ambulance is coming, Pina. Don't worry!" Legosi tried to remain reassuring.

"Hey, I'm comfortable the way...I am." Pina grinned, goofily.

Bill hugged him closer. "I love you."

"If these are my last moments in this world, I want to be kissing the animal I love," Pina crooned, cupping Bill's fuzzy cheek.

Bill's lip quivered. "D-don't say that..." He leaned down and kissed him as gently as he could.

Pina smiled into the kiss, pulling away slightly to speak. "Fuck, I missed that torture device of a tongue."

Louis wrapped an arm around Legosi's. They could finally move on from all this. Start their life together. As exhausted as he was, he was excited for what was ahead. The places they'd go, the people they'd meet, the troubles they would face. He was ready to tackle all of them. If they could do this, they could do anything.

Pina soon passed out, and the three sat there silently, not thinking about anything but what was ahead. Riz was still breathing, but he didn't move, and the coolness of the night ran through each animal's fur as they waited.

Louis grabbed Legosi's hand as flashing red and blue lights appeared in the distance, coming to take them away from this nightmare and this chapter of their lives.

End of Book 1