A half hour later - The Back-Alley Market.

"Jeez, the marketplace was so dense tonight, it was a wonder my little ruse had worked so well." San said quietly, taking a breather and sliding out his phone to check the time. He looked up and got a good bearing on where he was. Not too far from the Arena. "So far so good."

The market had been a chore to wade through. It was a Friday night after all, typically weekends were the busiest times of the week. Even more so in the afternoon. He literally couldn't have even turned or looked up without seeing claws, talons, piercing eyes, or maws full of sharp teeth. Yet no one hassled the herbivore as he ventured into carnivore land alone.

Carnivores of all kinds, vendors boisterously trying to front their product, off-duty workers looking to unwind from their demanding jobs, students looking for something to take the edge off after school. Or you just had your locals out and about socializing or looking for a quick bite.

Had to have about a hundred or so beasts in the main bazaar strip, he thought to himself and he didn't turn not one head. He grinned like a devil as he got a move on, heading for the cobblestone steps that would take him down into the Inarigumi's territory.

Next came the real test. Now that he was out of the crowd, he'd have to see if his guise worked in more secluded areas.

Sure he might have worried about the marketplace, as a herbivore at least being surrounded by meat indulging carnivores wasn't exactly a sane thing that came to mind, but he wasn't exactly afraid of the average market goer. Most of them had control, or restraint. They weren't really the wildcards most herbivores paint them as after devouring incidents.

Instead an animal like him found his concerns more focused firmly on the less tame, the corrupt, the real predators. It was these dangerous animals that he found himself particularly worried about as he started down the flight of steps just a corner from the old paint factory building that housed the arena. The crooks, the desperate and the unstable tended to lurk in the alleyways and areas like this. Traffickers, kidnappers, fur poachers, one of the market's many criminal gangs… even that of his own girlfriend's. He kept his hand near his waist just in case.

Contrary to what his cellmate thought, the irony was not lost on him, of how close he was flirting with danger with them. As much as he trusted Priscilla and her tight-knit group, enjoyed her company, he still held some reservations about the Inarigumi as a whole. They were just like the other groups that ran the underworld. She said as much herself.

He had to think about it. If she didn't find me attractive, if I didn't know her more closely. I'd just be an innocent lost lamb for them. That's what I'd be, wouldn't I? He thought, That's all I am now when I really slice it. Hell what if I ran into some of her other sisters. She wouldn't exactly be here to bail me out.

"Then again, who the hell am I kidding? I'm not such an innocent lamb anyway." He muttered to himself. Lambs aren't supposed to kill.

I'd be a real hypocrite like Pris said if I believed I was untainted by this world. After all, I'm an ace-acces-whatever the word is, I've helped Kyuu hurt people. I've helped her hone her body, given her advice to win, enabled her. Hell, I'm enabling her now. Just so we can eat. Just so we can survive.

The bodies laying at her feet, I had some hand in it. Then there are the bodies at my own feet. The bodies, he thought. Rex, he thought. He still remembered that night. That was the shittiest he'd ever felt.

He began squeezing his head within his palm, just getting a frustrating headache.

He found himself having to stop in his tracks as his legs started to give out from under him. It couldn't be fatigue, he was that tired was he? He leaned against the wall trying to clear his mind, focus.

He just couldn't however. He couldn't help but feel disgust in himself. He still saw the bodies. He still recalled the pain he inflicted. Just the frantic begging that jaguar made as he held his dying friend in his arms.

It was nauseating. He almost hurled as he doubled over by the wall. Thankfully nothing came up. He rested there briefly before turning around. He still had his engagement to worry about, he thought. However no sooner as he looked forward, he saw a sight that shocked him to his core.

His eyes quaked with true fear, his blood ran cold, his body seized up as he saw two large figures in front of him, a crocodile and a cougar coming towards him. He immediately backed away into the corner by a couple of garbage cans as fast as he could, immediately reaching for his pistol.

Why are they here?! His mind screamed, as he fumbled with his jacket.

Both beasts just stared in his direction as they got closer.

To his utter horror, he knew these beasts. And not only that, they were dead! It was the crocodile and the cougar from before, the ones from that night months ago when he and Kyuu almost died. The night of the riot. They were ones he had killed. Both of the ghastly echoes were corpses, in terrible condition, pale and deteriorating, shambling towards him like some horror movie. They even smelled like they were dead. The rotting stench assaulted his nostrils as he looked on in horror.

The crocodile opened his mouth wide, the grisly exit wound shooting straight from the roof of his mouth to the back of his skull from where San had shot him. The cougar, whose eyes were a blank and expressionless pale yellow, still had the puncture hold from where he had taken the bullet to the lung. The contempt of the beast's eyes frightened him more than any claws or fangs would.

"Back off!" He fearfully shouted, finally producing his weapon in front of him. "Don't come near me!"

Both apparitions froze instantly, in front of him, recognizing the threat as if afraid. The hell would they need to fear? He thought. They were dead already. Weren't they?

Both of them raised their hands in fear.

"Hey, hey. We don't have anything!" The cougar shouted.

"Yeah, please don't hurt us!" The decaying reptile begged. "We don't want to hurt you Mister! I swear!"

"Please let us go!"

They were talking? The cougar from before had talked. But...no...it had been the caracal that time...right?

San blinked a few times, clearing his vision. To his utter horror, it wasn't them at all. Instead before him stood an alligator and a lynx, teenagers no older than himself. His sins hadn't come back from the grave at all. They just were similar species of carnivore. He was delusional. He had to have imagined the whole thing.

"I-I-I'm sorry…please forgive me." He said feebly, ashamed as he lowered his weapon. The two barely acknowledged his guilt as they took off running down the alleyway in terror. The llama found himself starting to hyperventilate profusely. He stumbled and fell flat on the hard cobblestone with a loud thud.

The hell is wrong with me? He had almost gunned down two innocents for what? A bad hallucination? Rex! I am out of my mind?

A deep breath escaped his lips and he tried to let his heart rest for a moment. He patted his forehead, it was drenched in sweat. He rubbed the stickiness on his chin.

The hell is wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with me?

He swiftly pulled his hood back over his head as he heard footsteps up on the steps behind him. He remembered where he was, he needed to straighten back up. Get up, he commanded himself. He quickly rushed down the alleyway trying to get some distance.

Shit...he silently cursed under his breath. That wasn't the first time something like that happened. It had been the same last Friday night. Only difference was it had just been an apparition of the cougar. Now it was the crocodile businessman. Last time, he had just chalked it up to his nerves, the pressure, but now he was seeing both of them.

He kept his head up where he could see what was in front of him this time as strolled through an occupied alleyway. No one said anything as he passed them by, not that he really noticed them himself. He was more concerned with just how real that episode felt.

He swore he saw them. He smelled them. They reeked like rotting flesh. And why now? Were they haunting him now? Was that what happens when you kill someone? Can't be. If that were the case how could anyone sleep at night? Got to be something else.

Maybe it was just his nerves, he hastily reasoned or perhaps just the guilt. He might be just seeing things, like maybe there was something that set it off? Like the smell. He thought a bit more about it. He was by those trash cans. It could just be the market. This place profited off of death. Could be just some leftover meat thrown away nearby? Right?

Just think of something else, he told himself. The beats from his lowered headphones caught his attention. Just think about the music, he thought. He picked up speed, nudging his headphones up a bit. The current song's bassline and drum beats pounding in his ears were like a tempo that motivated him to hurry.

He cautiously looked over his shoulder, making sure he wasn't tailed or that he hadn't drawn any notice. The animals he had past were shrinking in the distance, he wasn't on their radar. Which was good. No sign of the ones he accosted either. Last thing he needed were those two guys to come back with help.

He did however hear some commotion up ahead of him. He cursed and kept his head down as two large breed carnivores turned a corner mid-conversation. Lions from the looks of things. Both of them wearing dark suits.

San kept his head down as they got close, rocking casually with the bassline and drum beats of the current song.

"Still can't believe you knocked all his teeth out like that." Said the hulking one with the dark flowing mane and a large 'X' shaped scar across his snout. "I know you hate dogs, but that was brutal. You had already won when you dropped him."

"What the bastard gets. Stupid fucker almost took a chunk out of me! Dumb ass fucking mutt!" The other, a more slimmer built feline, said as they completed their pass. He was paler with a shorter scraggly mane and with three claw marks over his right eye, he also seemed a bit beat up, likely been in a fight from the sounds of things. "Say, Dolph, doesn't your lady friend live around, here?" He asked, nudging the other cat's shoulder.

"What the fuc- I told you the first time! We're not open to a threesome Free!" The X-scarred lion shouted with a clenched fist at the slender one, much to the lion's amusement.

"Aw, but I like foxtails." The slender one joked with a mischievous laugh.

"Besides, she'd probably kill the both of us if I asked that. Literally."

"Oooooh! I like a female with fire in 'em like that! At least let me meet her, huh Dolphy boy? I swear I won't tell the other guys. We got time to kill before the boss gets back."

"Forget it, Free."

"Well how about a round of pool then?"

"Ah, I guess." The more serious lion replied.

"Wooo! Lets go get hammered and rack 'em up!" 'Free' as he was called, shouted in an animated fashion as they passed the cloaked llama.

Nothing? San thought as he tried to act casual. Not even a sniff or glance?

He wasn't one to profile, but they totally looked like the type. Thuggish knuckle-dragger hunched-over walk and they both reeked of Silvervine. The slender one seemed a bit exhausted, a bit sweaty, his tongue hung out of his mouth like a wild beast. San even spotted what might be a bit of blood on his white undershirt collar and a bit on his golden fur. The other one, sporting a 'X' shaped scar even appeared to be drooling a bit, as if he were starving or something. Hell, they probably ate meat from creatures his size, yet he didn't warrant not even a glance.

He was honestly a bit offended. He wasn't good enough? He humorously mused. It put his mind more ease though, as that was the desired effect. As far as they or anyone else seemed to be concerned, San was supposedly just some random canine with a flea problem. The same conditioner Kyuu hated was doing its job, masking his scent with that faint oatmeal smell.

Also given his long necked profile, he felt he probably could pull off the look of one of those long snouted European hounds. As long as he kept his soft ears that poked up pressed down under his headphones, he probably could match the droopy eared canine's profile under his hood.

"HEY!"

His train of thought crashed off the rails. San's head jerked up halfway at the call, almost revealing his features. He turned towards. It was the slender one. San looked around, he was the only he could have called out too and now the beast was coming his way. Shit, he thought. Maybe his disguise wasn't so fool proof it seemed. He started reaching for his waist when the lion stopped halfway.

"Say… Fido. You know how to get to the pool hall on Satsuma from here?" The lion asked. "We're not really from around this part of the Market."

A wave of relief washed over the herbivore like a tidal wave. His knees almost became weak.

"Oh, um… Yeah." San said, trying to keep his nerve and not blow his cover. He spoke up in a more gruff voice as to not sound like some soft herbivore. "Yeah, follow the main street and take a right on the alleyway past the mongoose selling the barbequed yak hinds. After that keep going and you will hit Satsuma in no time."

"Mmmm yak. That actually sounds pretty good. It's our time of the month right, Dolph? Heh Heh Heh!"

"Rex... Free..." The other lion facepalmed. "I mean, yeah. Yak sounds good."

"Thanks pal." Free said, giving San a curt wave.

"You know he's a dog too right?" The serious one pointed out, as the slim one joined him.

"Ah, whatever...least he's smart enough to know his directions." Free nonchalantly replied as he stomped down the alleyway with a cheerful demeanor and purpose.

San didn't know if that were true or not, he just wanted the lion out of his wool pronto. He didn't stick around as he scurried down the opposite end, turning the corner. He checked his clock again and he was super late. He had to have missed the first bout.

How the hell am I going to capture this guy's match in time. I got to get in, talk to Pris. Ugghhh. I should have left much earlier. He said, beating himself up. And that wasn't the only thing on his mind either.

He actually wondered, if he had it in him to shoot those guys if he needed to. It's not like he wanted more ghosts haunting him. A crocodile and cougar were one thing, but those were full blown lions! Imagine waking up and seeing their fearsome faces stand over you, he thought. "Give yourself a real nightmare," he tried to joke.

That joke landed flat. It wasn't really funny. In fact he started feeling cold just thinking about it, weak. He didn't want to kill anyone. He slowed down to a crawl by the wall and started trying to breathe.

As he bent over resting his palm on his knees, he almost felt his stomach turn once again. In his state of vulnerability, he instantly looked up, hoping not to see his ghastly specters back for more or anything more real. He imagined just thinking about them might summon them back upon him.

Think of something else….quick! He thought, panicking. Think of something else. Look around you. Listen. He lowered his headphones trying to take in the sound around him. The world was so large around him and loud.

Nothing but the sounds of the seedy nightlife and maybe the nearby street. He faintly heard the commotion from the market not far behind him. He looked and saw the graffiti artwork and tags in front of him on brick and stucco walls of the dark zone. Things like curses for Yahya the Black devil, vulgar phrases, gang signs, solicitations, and slang. Then he saw something that he instantly recognized. Familiar iconography in the form of a scarred panda. Nothing like a photograph or anything, but just a crude drawing.

San's frantic panting slowed to normal respiration as he willed himself closer to nostalgic image. No mistaking it, Gouhin-sama, He thought, thinking of their old mentor and guardian. This definitely was Gouhin, the proportions and features matched.

It was a white flyer plastered on a nearby light post. One of those 'call this line' numbers, he could see an ad for the Big Bear Cat Hospital just under the picture. The panda he remembered had these plastered all around the market for carnivores with meat addiction.

'If you need help, if you are struggling. Call this line! It's never too late. There is help.' It read. Simple and to the point, just like the panda himself. Below the sheet were a few of those tear away tickets with the number written on them.

Need help? San thought to himself. Yeah, I definitely need help. He answered himself as he approached the paper, rubbing his forehead. Probably not the kind you are offering though. I need someone to check this skull of mine, he joked again.

It sounded too good to be true. The herbivore thought, staring at the poster with a bit of skepticism.

Gouhin-sama was a doctor, a great one, yes, it might even be possible for him to help him, but it just didn't feel right to San. Gouhin had other more important cases to worry about. Carnivores seemed like more apart of the panda crusade, than his stupid problems he got himself in. He didn't feel... worthy.

It was true that the panda had always been there for him and Kyuu when they were younger and living at the hospital. But, they hadn't really parted ways on the best of terms after his wife left him. They were a part of that he was sure.

Then what exactly would he say if he knew what they were doing all this time? He'd probably flip his lid if he knew Kyuu was pit fighting. And San himself? The llama had no clue how he could wrap his head around explaining he was talking to a carnivore gangster. Gouhin-sama definitely would be against that, he thought. Call me a fool, just like Kyuu did. Gouhin would probably just tell him to give up on it.

I shouldn't bother. He thought, shaking his head.

Maybe I should though?

Or maybe I should just take the number...just in case? It wouldn't hurt to have his number now that he had a phone right?

He softly pulled and tore the ticket from the sheet. He looked up at the message again. 'It's never too late.' He just sighed, and balled up the paper slip, stuffing it in his pocket.

No sooner had his hand enter his pocket he felt a sharp wind drop around him. A couple of loud thuds fell around him. Then he felt clawed fingers latch onto his shoulder. Self-preservation took over as he instinctively reached for his pistol. Ghost or no ghost, he wasn't going to die. His arm had barely extended before his main hand was arrested and jerked down. A large muscular forearm soon hooked under his neck and locked him into a choke. They easily overpowered him.

He suddenly was met with a sudden and bright flash. Bewildered he blinked. When his eyes opened up he was staring face to face with a tan stoic looking fox holding a smartphone in front of him. Did she just take a picture of me?

"Cheese." The vixen droned in a monotone manner before stowing the phone in her purse.

"Ferro, you were supposed to say that before you take the picture." His captor said as they wrenched his pistol away from him effortlessly. Their voice was husky yet very feminine.

"Am I?" The stoic looking fox asked with little surprise. "Oh." She silently shrugged.

Surprised, San barely noticed smaller hands begin to pat him from the waist down.

"He's clean!" He heard a shrill, but familiar voice pipe up.

San looked down and saw a child-sized orange furred fox with a bad looking black-eye and a couple of facial scars. She also had two long curved knives fashioned around her waist. She frisked him very thoroughly as she ran her hands down his legs. He instantly recognized her as Lùn, the little fox that Kyuu apparently had a crush on.

"Hey wait a minute! I know you guys! You're Inarigumi." San grunted and jerked in his captor's grip, trying to reason. "Hey! I'm friends with your boss! Let me go!"

"Easy! Easy! Don't squirm, Alpaca boy. We know who you are." The husky voice behind him ordered as he tried to wrestle himself free. "We're not going to harm you. Just hold on." He looked over his shoulder and was met with the muzzled grimace of brutish looking vixen. He recognized her too.

"Priscilla-sama sent us to collect you." Said a voice circling from behind him. It belonged to a rustic furred one with tall round edged ears and a dark mark across her face. He recognized her as Priscilla's younger second-in-command.

They were all members of Priscilla's group in fact. The small one, the Tibetan fox, and the big one that looked more like a wolf. The only ones missing were Priscilla herself and her dark gray and black vixen friend.

"She was afraid you stood her up. She doesn't like being stood up." Fa, the tall eared de facto leader of the group said. "You can let him loose, Loba."

"Mmhm." The larger fox complied, finally letting go of his hand.

"Oh, yeah. I'm definitely late." He said relieved as he massaged his wrist. The big one had such a crushing grip especially for a female. "You know you could have just tapped me on the shoulder or called out my name."

"Where is the fun in that? Besides we wanted to make sure you gave our big sister a nice gift." The little one joked. "She's going to die when she sees that terror in your face when Loba grabbed you. "

Oh right... their game, he thought, thinking about Priscilla and his arrangement. Of course she would find a way to get him like she said, even if she wasn't physically there it seemed.

"So Sheep-boy, where's Bitch-Tits at? Huh? Huh?" Lùn eagerly asked, looking around in a hyperactive frenzy. "Where is she?!"

"I'm a llama. Not a sheep." He narrowed his eyes at her as he corrected with an annoyed tone.

"Whatever. Where is she?" She said sniffing around. "Don't tell me she went and died after that beating I gave her." Her big brush tail swayed from side to side like a fan.

"Kyuu? She's back at home recovering." San answered.

He hoped at least. He had told the stubborn rabbit to rest after that little fall she had earlier, but knowing her, he was sure she was probably doing as she pleased.

"Good." The little fox said. San eyes were drawn to her body language, noting how her tail was wagging happily. A smile almost slipped through her rough exterior, before vanishing just as quickly.

"I mean good, I hate he- I mean I hate for her to just die y'know." She said, scowling. "Not before I really put her lights out myself!"

"You really did a number on her already." He said, giving her a side-eyed glance. He picked up on her concern, but didn't say anything to set her off. "She's not going to be ready for about two weeks at least by my guess."

'Well she deserved every bit of it." She barked, clenching her fists. "Bitch had it coming." San was starting to suspect the almost closed left eye she sported was likely Kyuu's doing.

She and his cellmate both shared that unusually violent mindset uncommon amongst most females. Kyuu, he gathered, got it mostly from their master. This one he imagined probably had a hard life herself. Maybe that's really why she likes her so much, he mused.

"What were you doing around here anyway, just admiring the local artistry? The big one asked, snapping him back to reality.

"Huh?" He saw the big one and the tan one, staring at the wall he was standing in front of moments ago. 'Yeah, something like that." He answered, looking at the flyer.

"I really like that one about how they want the Black Devil served. Well-done." Ferro joked, causing Loba to chuckle.

"Yeah like his skin!" The wox commented.

He almost smiled, but stopped. "Say. Um, you guys have...um...Have you ever...killed anyone before? Like how do you cope?" He asked sheepishly, thinking if they might be able to relate to his feelings.

"The hell kinda creepy question is that?" The big one asked, looking at him offended. "What are you some kind of serial killer or something?"

"No...I uh. No, I was just wondering. You know…" He let out a defeated sigh. Stupid, stupid. "Forget I asked." He said, shaking his head.

"Save your weirdo questions for Priscilla-sama," Fa said, behind him. "Now get your soft little butt moving and stop wasting her time."

A half hour later - The Show Arena "Locker rooms"

Back in the old paint factory that housed the infamous Show Arena of the Back-alley Market, two primates were chatting in what used to be one of the old locker rooms that workers used to use to change into their clothes back during the long forgotten days when the building was actually a working factory. Now it was just a back room that some of the aspiring fighters could use as they readied for vicious combat in the illegal fight club's bloody arena.

The older of the two, a middle aged, but muscular bonobo named Gustavo sat on a stool in front of his fighter, an athletically toned White-cheeked Spider monkey named Paulo, wrapping his monkey's hands. The relatively handsome young monkey wore a face of confidence while his rugged and much older counterpart still had a face of worry he was trying to conceal.

"Is that too tight, hã?" The trainer asked.

"Não. Não. Bom o suficiente." The shirtless monkey said cheerfully, his tail coiling and swaying behind him like a snake.

Content, the spider monkey hopped off of the bench and began warming up with a set of kicks and punches. The air blowing off his knuckles and soles of his feet from each mock blow was enough to get him ready and fired up. The young male kept up a suave swagger as fought his mock opponent, an opponent smaller than him judging from all of the low altitude strikes. He rocked back and forth in a sort of practiced and rehearsed dance, as if some unheard exotic musical composition were playing.

"Obrigado, Gustavo. I think I'm ready to show my dance partner a good time now." He said, with a half-serious cockiness. "Me and her are going to have so much fun tonight."

The elder primate half smiled at the hot blooded fighter, but his smile faded just as quickly as it arrived.

The spider monkey soon found his friend's hand placed on his shoulder. He turned to see the solemn eyes of the ape's staring right into his own. They were the epitome of dread. "A bad feeling down in my bones, Paulo. Especially this girl."

Paulo...or Pao as he liked to be called most of the time, just groaned in relative annoyance. "Gustavo. Come oooon!" The ape's talk of dread was nothing new to him, if anything it was almost expected at this point.

"Paulo, it's a bad ache!" The dark pygmy chimpanzee insisted. "I get that feeling. He hastily performed a religious hand gesture and chanted a soft prayer in their native tongue. Pao just looked at the chimp with tired eyes.

"Here we go, every time." The monkey rolled his eyes as he lightly slammed his head against one of the lockers. "Never fails...I feel you end up more hurt from these fights than I do, Gustavo. You know dat?"

"I can feel it, Paulo. I swear." Gus moaned, looking into the palms of his now shaking hands before presenting them to his young fighter. "See my hands?" He said, holding up his grubby paws. "They are shaking. And my back isn't feeling so good either. This is a bad omen. You shouldn't go out there. We should get another fight or something."

"That's because you're an old fart! Your back hurts because you are like a thousand years old right?" The young monkey joked, snickering.

"Watch it!" The ape warned his protégé.

"You should probably see a massagista one of these days then, hã? I hear this city has very good spa centers and bath houses. Maybe I treat you tomorrow, sim? Jajaja."

"I'm forty-three! And I'll still spry enough to knock you right back up into that tree you crawled out of!" He said, flexing his knuckles at Pao.

"Now there is the Gustavo I know." The spider-monkey cheered, blowing off his old friend's little tantrum. "That's who I wanted to train under. Not this naysayer."

"Just listen to me Paulo!" The ape said resting his hands on the young fighter's shoulders.

"I listen to you all the time!" The Spider-monkey spouted, shaking the ape's hands off. "Every fight, it is the same story. Oh Paulo don't go out there because my back hurts. Oh Paulo my liver is on fire! Oh Pao I got a bad headache. Oh no, my bones feel weak. Oh Paulo I got a hangover. It's always the same thing. I have a fight! You get a bad feeling! Then I go out there and then I knock someone out and then there was nothing to be worried about to begin with. You are just so superstitious o velho, sim?"

"Fine." The chimp said, giving up. "Go get killed. I go back home and get another fighter like you, fácil. Maybe one that listens. Just got to buy a good bushel of ripe bananas, that's how easy it is to replace the likes of you, I tell you."

"Oh come on Gus…" Pao said, shaking his head. "It's just you've been hitting me over the head with the superstition stuff ever since we left the barrios of Rio. This is a new land, I get it, but I got this, sim? It's not like I don't have tricks up my sleeves for this girl. She's a rabbit, I outweigh her, I'm bigger than her, and I know just how fast she is. I'm not too worried and the most important part, I beat her already last week and I wasn't even really trying then."

"Sim and you got a black eye for it!" The black furred ape pointed out to his younger simian counterpart.

Pao just sighed. "Look I'm not about to run out on this money, just because you are feeling some bad premonition about this rabbit. Trust me Gus." The monkey begged. "I mean back in your day did your treinador ever give you such a nagging before every fight?"

"Yes." The chimp answered, scowling. "And I actually listened to his advice when he felt it was real dire. It's why I'm still here. Big difference. I knew when and when not to fight."

"Didn't I hear about you fighting a jaguar back in the day that was like twice your size tho? Lucas é de São Paulo?" Pao pointed out. "Wonder what your wise treinador had to say about that, hã?"

"Yeah, well..." The dark furred elder primate had nothing really to say about that.

"Aha!" Paolo said, smugly as he leaned in on ape knowing he had just got him.

"I give up," The bonobo said, throwing in the towel. "Just don't get killed out there. Como um filho pra mim sabe?" He said, patting the monkey on his head fatherly.

A loud thumping smashed into the locker room's door. "Hey, Cyclone. Latest fight is wrapping up, time to go! The boss says the market is waiting for more!" A voiced from outside the room called. "Hey! Ya hear me in there ya stupid monkeys?!"

"Monkey?! Monkey?!" The old chimp screeched offended. "I'm an ape, degenerado!" Gus furiously shrieked at the disembodied voice. "I don't have a tail!" He said in his rough accent.

"You're gonna be dead monkey meat if you don't get your smelly asses out here, now. Stupid foreigners."

Suddenly the door flung open in front of the unsuspecting messenger and a black fist careened through the air with the speed of a cannonball.

The unfortunate recipient, a sepia toned mongoose, was flung hard across the hallway. The beast slammed into the wall behind him, leaving a small crater before flopping to the floor like a potato sack.

"Monte de merda!" Gus shouted down at him, but the beast was completely in la-la land.

Pao laughed so hard his sides began to hurt. "I guess you still got it after all, Jajajaja!" He joked. "You put him right to sleep, Gustavo! Jajajaja!"

"Não te estiques, Aaargh! I hate this estúpido gueto. Can't tell an ape from a monkey..." Gustavo growled, looking down at the mess he made. "Makes me actually miss the favela."

"Eh, it's not so bad." Pao said, propping the unconscious carnivore up neatly against the wall. "Least they pay more than the cheap change we got down in Brasil. I just hope they don't take anything out of my winnings because of this guy tho."

"Idiota like this? Probably not too important." Gus said, folding his arms.

"That said, I think he was right. I think it's time to go. After all, I made a date with someone and I intend to keep it. Jajaja." The cocky monkey said as he headed for the arena floor.

"Você está desesperado." The ape muttered as he shook his head.