Vigil could hear the bull grumbling as he unlocked the cell. "C'mon," he was sharply waved down the hallway. "Stupid fucking kids, coming today of all days…"

The human was shown to the visitation room, passing by the police desks that were noticeably emptied. Only a handful of officers were around, tapping away at their computers or getting cups from the water cooler. Vigil's eyes flitted over… and he felt a wave of relief as he saw Jack and Haru waiting for him.

Minutes later he was biting into a savory red tomato. The way the fruit dribbled against his chin made him hunch his shoulders, quickly trying to wipe the juices from his face. "Sorry," he mumbled with a full mouth.

"Heheh, don't worry," Haru waved it away as he struggled to clean himself up. "Good though, right?"

Vigil nodded, eagerly taking another bite. Jack watched with his ears cocked. "So how many of those can you eat," the labrador asked, "before you get too sick?"

"Hm?"

"Or are they another thing that humans can just… eat just fine?"

It clicked in Vigil's head — tomatoes were a nightshade plant, stomachache-inducing in significant quantities. "Oh, yeah, we love 'em," he chuckled. "You can have one too, right?"

"I guess, but we brought them for you…"

"And if they're mine then I get to decide what to do with them. Have one!"

Jack gave a breathless little smile as he accepted the fruit. Haru helped herself to one as well. "We did a good job growing these, if I may say so myself…"

Vigil smirked down at the rabbit. "I mean, you did most of the work really. I was only there a couple weeks…"

"Yeah but you still helped!"

He pressed his lips together in a thin smile. Closed his eyes, looked down. There was something… patronizing about the way she said it. But he could tell she meant it with good intentions. "Thank you, you're very kind. How's the rest of the garden?"

"Oh you know, the usual stuff…" She kicked out her legs, looking far away as she considered her work. "I did get some money for more copper tape, put that around all the pots on the left side of the roof, when you come in?"

"Yeah?"

"No more snails hopefully. Even saw one get zapped myself," she gave a fiendish little grin at the memory of that little pest getting shocked away from their precious plants. Her glee was interrupted by Jack giving her chair a bump with his knee.

"Hey, don't talk about things getting zapped," he hissed.

Vigil blinked. "What? I don't, mind…" he trailed off as he saw the horrified realization in Jack's eyes. "...What's going on?"

The dog gulped. Haru stared up at him, expectantly. "Ah…" He nervously scratched behind one ear with his claws. "Last night, Ardi was… there was a storm, and a lightning strike. The news this morning said that the crypt was burned down."

"Crypt?"

"I know that's not what it's called, that's what the news said. The, the rectory I think? The big building on the hill, that we weren't allowed into..."

"The… yeah, that's the rectory." Vigil leaned forward, slowly zoning out. He lightly bit at his finger. "How bad was it?"

Another gulp. "...I-it's gone. I'm sorry Vigil, I thought they'd told you."

Gone. The rectory was gone. Rebuilding it would take time they couldn't spare, money they didn't have, materials they couldn't get. Not unless… no, his dad wouldn't cave in for this, would he? Asking himself that question he could already tell how stupid it was. Dad, why did you have to do this?

"Vigil?"

He blinked his eyes open, moving again. Doing his best to wear a smile he looked at Jack. "Sorry, I just… no you're fine, really. I'd prefer to know, which is… probably why they didn't tell me!" He weakly chuckled. "I guess I… my hands are tied anyways. Not sure what I can do about it, so, just… try to see how it ends up I guess."

Awkward silence filled the gap between the three. Then Haru broke the silence pointedly, "I've been wanting to get some hanging planters for the club office? You ever use them before, I'd like to figure out what kind of stuff to put in them."

Grateful for the change in subject, Vigil took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm not familiar with them, but could think about something that could go inside. Maybe some more vegetables. Jack, you have anything in particular you'd like to maybe see in the garden? Jack?"

But the dog was pointing his snout at the entrance to the police station. His ears perked up. His whole body froze.

Haru furrowed her brow up at him. "Jack?" She tapped her wrist against his thigh.

"...Something's going on outside."

Juno glid around the ballroom by Yafya's side. Every now and then he stopped and introduced her to one animal or another, and she shook their hand, smiled, talked about her classes at Cherryton and her role in Drama Club and how she helped tutor other animals, practiced pleasantries that she recited perfectly.

Inside she felt she balanced on a knife.

A single slip-up in front of any of these people, and her chances at being Beastar were ruined. There was something terrifying about shaking the hands of judges, commissioners, the local All-Species Trade Union secretary. They controlled the future of thousands of animals, and yet here they were just… smiling at her, as corporeal as any other person.

As they idled around the edges of the room, her following Yafya, she took a chance to whisper, "Hey?"

His ear flicked as he stopped and turned, looking at her with a single eye.

"I'm… doing okay right?"

He just stared for a moment. "Confidence," he muttered. "You need more of it if you want to be a good Beastar."

She trembled inside. Looked down - then chastising herself, met his gaze again, and gave a nod. With that he turned back and continued the way he'd been going. Shit, she shouldn't have spoken up! But still, the way he'd said it… it wasn't a disqualifier, right?

Juno composed herself again as Yafya was approached by a large stag. They shook hands and exchanged greetings. "How's business been?" The stallion looked him dead in the eye.

"Terrible," he huffed. "We're looking at one percent growth. One percent, Yafya! These change agents did nothing but sit around and eat up my money." He sighed and took a gulp from the champagne swirling around his glass. "You think they got anything stronger here?"

"Hmm," Yafya smirked, before stepping around. "Oguma, this is Juno, an academy student who's accompanying me tonight. Juno, Oguma: the president of the Horns Conglomerate."

"Pleasure to meet you," he muttered. But Juno's eyes had already snapped wide.

"Mr. Oguma! Sir! Pleasure is mine, I know your son, Louis!"

That prompted a pause. Yafya suddenly cut in, "I'm sorry, she didn't mean to bring up a subject that's very personal right now," his voice flared with danger.

"It's alright Yafya."

Juno had been about ready to die. Just turn inside out, crumple into the ground, and die from the faux pas she had unknowingly blundered into. But those words were like the flapping wings of an angel. The stallion gave him a look, before sighing and looking away, accepting a glass of wine from a server. Then Oguma turned to her.

"You knew Louis at school?"

"Yes, I… I did." She had to watch what she said. Yafya knew about her rendezvous with the deer, but given that she'd accidentally wandered into taboo conversation here she didn't want to bring up anything that might be the least bit suspicious. "We were in Drama Club together briefly. But even in that short time, he made a huge impact on me. I…" she thought for a moment, "hope that wherever he is, he can come back to the academy soon."

"Hmmm." It was a deep grumble in Oguma's chest. "Sooner or later he will. Just gotta get this fit out of his system. These kids think they always know best. No offense," he nodded at Juno. "I'm sure he'll be back soon."

Yafya nodded along, "I'm still surprised by it. The kid always seemed to be right on track to be Beastar and suddenly…" He sighed. "I don't mean to speak ill about your son Oguma."

"No by all means, he just needs to finish his self-centered tantrum, and then he'll realize how good he has it. But the kid's not gonna be Beastar now," the deer huffed.

Juno's blood ran chilled. Hearing her arguments spelled out through Oguma's mouth made them seem… a lot less charitable. She couldn't outright confront him, but... she had to say something. "I'm sure that he'll come back," she agreed. "But even if he can't be Beastar… he's so good at anything he does, so determined, he'll be great anyways."

Oguma watched as she spoke. "You really think so?" He finished his flute of champagne, before tapping the empty glass onto the tray of a passing waiter. For a moment he stared after. "A good father just wants his son to succeed. And that's why I set him on the rails to success - and look what happened. What am I supposed to do? I've failed him as a father it feels like."

Juno nodded along, "I see your point. But, if I may, I don't think you failed him." She shifted her head. "I think he's just trying to succeed in his own way. He's… he'll come around again. I'm sure of it."

"Hmph… sounds like you think you know him." He plucked another glass of drink from a passing tray. "Only time will tell which of us is right. But you're bold, and optimistic… could use a splash of that around here more." Juno's heart lifted. "Maybe you and I can keep in touch, and see… if…"

He trailed away, staring over her. Juno turned along with all the other guests. The music stopped. All noise died away.

Father Reed stood at the front door in his usual tuxedo with his hands clasped, shoulders stooped, eyes downcast. "Yafya?"

He dared to meet the stallion's eyes.

"I accept your terms."

Juno was breathless. She didn't dare move; Yafya, on the other hand, had no such inhibitions. He gestured for her to stay put before turning to Father Reed. He swirled the wine in his glass. "No more little secrets? No more meddling in meat markets?" Whispers rippled out; to even mention that horrible place here was taboo.

The human nodded. "Of course. No more secrets."

"And my men will no longer be harassed inside your walls?"

"N-no, sir. They're… more than welcome." Juno could see how hard it was for him to say it. She felt so strange inside. This should have been a great moment! The settlement of Ardi, so long out of animal control, so isolationist, was finally going to become more open and integrated with the rest of the republic. She had always pictured it as either a diplomatic triumph, or at least the deposition of petulant human leaders raving insanely. But this… there was no triumph of fellowship or triumph over folly here. Reed looked like he was about to be sick.

"And…" Yafya posed another question, "you'll accept responsibility for Sage X, and the damage that he's caused?"

The human blinked, struggling to speak up. Nobody else dared to talk, even move. The only noise was the commotion outside. "Y-Yes…"

He raised his brows. "Yes what?"

"Yes, we… accept responsibility for the actions of Sage X."

"I'm sorry?"

Reed lifted his eyes. "I said… we accept responsibility? For the actions of Sage X?"

"Mmm," Yafya shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Why don't we…" He motioned at the stage and its podium on the other side of the room, starting to walk.

The human cast a glance at the stage; what little color could be seen in his skin drained away completely. "Yafya please, I didn't mean to interrupt anything, but I thought it was urgent to tell you—"

"Well if it's so urgent then you can tell all of the fine people here." He gestured around. "I'm sure they'd love to know that Ardi's going to finally admit to sponsoring terrorism and unrest, the same unrest that's just outside the doors you came in." As if on cue there were enraged shouts in the distance. The stallion's face was terrible and severe. He glanced over at a nearby table, plucking a small fork off of it. "We'd love to hear it."

Reed shook his head pathetically. He whispered something breathlessly; Juno could read his lips, "What… what more can I give you?"

There was no smile on Yafya's face, no joy. "Well if you're not going to tell us all about the terrible things you've done then I don't know why you're here. Security," he rang the fork against his glass, "remove him from our festivities."

"No! No wait, Yafya! Okay I'll say it! I'll tell you everything you want!"

"I can squeeze you in for an appointment in a week or so," he turned in place, stepping away with a swish of his tail. "We can talk more then."

"Yafya please! Wait!" He desperately tried to wave off the suited moose that was coming to show him out the door. "Yafya, we did it! We did everything! Ardi did everything!" He shouted the last part. It echoed through the ballroom, so loud that it nearly drowned the popping that came from outside.

But Juno was too entranced to look at the sound. The horse turned in place again, and she felt a jolt of fear at the look in his eyes, the kind of overbearing contempt that he kept composed within himself. "Colluding with the restorationists? Making our streets and our schools unsafe? You admit all of it?"

"All of it!" He shuddered as the guard's heavy hand landed on his shoulder. "I worked with Sage, I had my son carry messages and material for me! But he didn't know, it was all me!" The shouting grew louder and louder.

Yafya narrowed his eyes… and finally, a thin smile crossed his face. "Very well. I won't make you speak here… but please stay until I'm finished, because I'm sure the Council will be very keen on hearing your testimony." He nodded. The moose's grip slid down to the human's arm, before beginning to lead him away. Reed's eyes were frightened as he looked to the hulking creature, then back at the Beastar.

"My son?! My son, where is he?!"

He brushed it away, "I'll let him out when I'm done here."

"He's innocent! I tell you he's innocent! I gave you what you wanted!"

Yafya jerked his head, motioning for the guard to carry off Reed. Juno watched with her mouth slightly hanging open as he started harshly directing the human away. All that could be heard was the man's protests and pleas.

"I'm glad you were here for that," Yafya rumbled. Then he raised his voice, "Right everyone! On with the ball, we have an extra reason to celebrate today—"

The door into City Hall splintered open.

Mason shouted, "Free Vigil! Free Vigil! Free Vigil!" His fist pumped the air alongside hundreds more, every species shouting down the cops. Already some had tried to break the barrier; through their plexiglass shields Mason could see a human on the other side of the road, who had somehow wormed through the line. Four officers had pinched off and surrounded him, clubs swinging down to beat him to submission.

Regular police were coming through now, in their blue shirts and peaked caps. Their hands rested on their guns and it was clear their eyes were frightened. Boos and hisses jeered at the display. A cup of soda flew overhead and splashed open just behind one of the cops, an Alsatian. The dog whirled around and jabbed his finger. Shouting. His partner kept moving to cuff the human curled up on the street now. What few cars still came through the area routed around the scene.

"Shit!" Clement got knocked roughly by someone's elbow. He dropped the flag and it fluttered hard to the ground. "Sorry! Sorry!"

"It's okay!" He had to shout to be heard. Mason grabbed the flagpole and made to lift it — but there were already a dozen shoes trampling it thanks to the mad shuffle of the crowd's confusion.

"Get off it!" Grace started trying to push and pull people away as Mason slowly lifted the fabric out from underneath everyone's feet. He was trying to be careful not to tear it.

There was a blow in his back.

The human stumbled as a peafowl bumped into him from behind. Some serious commotion was erupting now with the Alsatian cop and a jackal… the same jackal that had been singing arm-in-arm with him earlier. Both canine faces were furious, teeth bared. The peafowl moved into his line of sight. Mason lifted the flag more, it was just free now.

A great crack split the air.

Everyone screamed and cowered down. The riot police whirled around. All eyes focused in. The Alsatian had his gun drawn, a look of terror on his face.

The jackal lay on the ground with a wound in his chest, choking on blood.

"MURDERER!"

Mason screamed the word the moment he thought it. As in one motion the crowd reacted. Five hands grabbed the dog and dragged him inside, beating him down. His partner drew his own weapon and rushed forward. The animals in riot gear drew batons and gas from their belts. Screams of murder kept erupting, rippling through the gathered masses. "They shot someone! They're opening fire!"

Officers stepped in to rescue their own, only to be grappled by the frenzied mob. That left the line open. People rushed into the streets. There were more gunshots. Mason could feel Clement grab his coat in fear. Shouts of outrage tore the air apart. It was not the normal anger a lone person might feel from a single slight; it was a raw fury only possible in the collective nature of a mob, having been dealt a thousand wounds for years.

It was the chance that they had waited for.

"Fight back!" Mason waved the flag high. "Take their guns! This is it! This is it!"

By now the line had dissolved. Human and animal alike rushed the park. They grabbed bits of gravel and started to pelt the officers with it. That sparked the opposite line of cops to turn. They realized they were surrounded, only for the crowd to push them over as well.

A tidal wave of revolt flooded the road, engulfing the car driving through. The marten inside crawled to the passenger side door, his face in terrified desperation as he tried to force it open into the crowd. Eventually he managed to slip out just as they yanked the driver door open.

"The hall!" Mason began to move towards the steps, motioning with the flag, "Charge City Hall! The Beastar's inside! This is it!"

People began to charge the steps, with riot police desperately trying to intercept them. News spread out from the square down through the gathered crowd. "Things are getting violent!" "Police are gunning people down!" "It's a bloodbath, we need to do something now!" The streets of Cherryton electrified into action.

Mason stormed up the steps, holding the flag high. But he heard Grace, "MASON!" He paused and turned. She was panting, holding a club and a taser. "They got enough people here! Precinct One! We need to go there!"

He could feel his breath burning his chest. She was right… he knew exactly what she was getting at. "Market ring! MARKET RING! To me!" His eyes snapped wide. "LOOK OUT!"

The car had been hijacked and now revved wildly up the steps to City Hall. It knocked a human and two officers over its hood before finally smashing through the door of the building, shattering the statues that stood around it.

"Go! Go!" Mason cheered on, before calling his compatriots to his side. "Market ring! The police headquarters! We're getting Vigil!"