Author's Note: Hello lads and ladies

As my life devolved into Stardew Valley, Back4Blood, and mostly on-track for my birthday in December I've been also writing this story at a steady pace for my standards. But as I am only half awake most of the time due to my life being on autopilot as it seems, I sometimes lose track of my on-track story plots, which is why this story focuses on one thing for a period and then another for a period because I can so hardly juggle doing multiple things at the same time.

That is exactly why I forgot both Louis's and Legosi's family ark, and with a little waiting period before certain things mentioned below (you'll understand once you get to it). I decided to use the said waiting period to wrap up as much of Legosi's family ark and have the Riz conflict finale be the tie on the whole package.

(Also a small side note. Happy late Birthday Haru! It's really funny I finished this chapter on the exact same day as the story is currently taking place, the 19th of October)

(Second Side Note for you guys, my friend Tirein is running a server for all Beastars Writers/Fanfiction fans. It's a place where you can both get writing updates on my story and others including Bloody Fangs and Broken Antlers, The Hands of Time, The Adler, boiling about, about, and various other works. The writers of said stories are on the subreddit on the same name and on the discord. So if you are looking for a place to get updates on my story and writing discussions you might want to join. /UC5hpeTDXq ) [There is NSFW on that server so please be advised if you are sensitive to such things]

Edited by: SuperAverageFoxyboy, Some Random Reader 32

Enjoy!

-Portal

Chapter 26: Preparing for the masquerade

Legosi held up his arms straight to his side, his limbs being oddly stiff as the owl tailor expertly maneuvered around the large wolf. Louis and Bill were standing off to the side, the deer dressed in a shirt-tie-sweater combo that made him look like a scholar of the past century while still upholding the modern sleekness. Bill on the other hand wore a simple shirt and jeans, not looking much different than he did any other day. The same went for Legosi, who was still awkwardly posing for the sophisticated tailor.

"D-Do we really need suits?"

"Do you want to show up to a mansion in casual clothes? We'd be out of place, and keeping up appearances in those circles is important," Louis answered the wolf standing in the middle of the room.

If anyone knew how to behave in higher circles of course he would be the one to know, so Legosi accepted his fate and continued to stand still as the owl whipped the tape measure around his waist, catching it on the other side expertly. The bird didn't mind the nervousness of his customer, obviously being experienced in the arts of his trade, including the craft of taking measurements of larger animals with anxiety.

"That's that sir, you may step aside." The owl noted things down on his clipboard and laid it aside. Legosi walked back to the few luxurious seats on the side of the room, Bill standing up from his seat.

"Right in front of me like your friend there, sir." The owl said to the tiger who followed the orders without much of any reaction at all. Since yesterday Bill hadn't uttered more than a few words, his face freezing up to an emotionless husk. It wasn't hard to see just what Bill was hiding. The popping of veins, his strained face, and any lack of response at all. The Tiger was burning and boiling about with rage, struggling to keep himself under control as time passed.

Legosi was clueless as to how to deal with something as monumental as rage, he knew just as well that he himself would be in no way controllable when his own beast emerged. He was simply unsure and fearful of whatever reaction it might entail if he did speak up about his obvious rocky mental state

"You think we should talk to him?" Legosi whispered to Louis beside him. The deer reacted completely opposite of the wolf. Cool, calm, collected.

"He needs a bit of distraction. It'll take something, but he needs to take his mind off it and calm down… Go do something with him where he can take his mind off it. B-strike or a round of fencing in the drama club." Legosi stared at the deer with fear in his eyes, the timidness clear in his voice when he answered.

"M-me, why-"

"-Because you're the carnivore that had the idea of single-handedly barging into a mafia's headquarters to save a herbivore, went through with it and you and your friends lived to tell the tale… or at least have a tale to tell when the time is right."

That made Legosi go silent again as the memory of yesterday's hallucination came to mind. That version of himself prophesying that very moment. Legosi was disappointed in how little he trusted himself, how little he cared to admit that his bodily strength wasn't the only strength he had. Do as he might, he had to do just what the deer had told him. Take Responsibility for his strength.

"Mister Louis, would you come to the counter for a moment?" The owl called for the deer, Bill sitting back down beside Legosi. Louis followed the request and left the wall, leaving the two alone.

"Do you have suits for those two, in house?" Louis asked, the owl calmly turning pages in his quite large inventory book. The high society stores all seemed to have that in common, using old technology in favor of computers just because that's how they always operated. He looked up and swiftly pointed at the two carnivore gentlemen sitting on the couches of the side of the store.

"For the wolf, I have one in stock. The tiger needs one specially made. His build is stronger than the average tiger. It'll take two to three business days. We'll give you a call."

Louis looked over at the tiger while being none too surprised about the Tiger needing a specifically crafted suit, knowing just how his muscles had increased over the last few weeks.

"You do have my email address, correct?"

"The one of your father and yours, sir." The owl answered.

"Just send me an e-mail. It's for a special occasion my father doesn't yet know about." The owl nodded to Louis's request and noted the details onto a sticky note. Afterward, he looked at the deer and smiled a kind customer support smile.

"Any specifics for the suit?" He held the note and pen in front of him, awaiting instructions.

"A black suit should do the trick. No vest is needed but a tie, definitely"

"Pocket square?"

"No need"

The owl noted down the details and placed the sticky note in his order folder, afterward once again looking at the deer.

"Anything special for the wolf, sir?"

Louis looked at the wolf and suddenly got a spark in his eye and a cheeky smile on his face. If either of them looked over they would see an expression, not unlike the boastful sheep they had now accepted among their ranks.

"Midnight blue, the same color as the tie. The shirt is light blue."

"Night colors are quite popular among wolves." The owl commented and folded through his inventory page.

"Though I'm afraid we'd have to order those ones in. We'll have it ready when the tiger's suit is finished." The owl informed the deer, Louis nodding in response.

"That's fine. We should at least have a little time."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Legosi was fidgeting his fingers wondering how to start a conversation with the tiger beside him. He mulled over it as much as he had mulled over his first talk with Juno. But how more different could the situation be? He was among his best friends, not with a severe crush. He knew these people, and he knew them enough that he trusted them to follow him into one of the most foolish missions he ever went on. Why did he feel like he could lose something? Where was that fear coming from? Was he simply used to being afraid of conversation… had he simply gotten used to his meager behavior?

Legosi straightened his back and looked coldly ahead.

You told your mate of your family history even if you were horribly scared of what she'd think of you. You befriended the most arrogant deer on the entire campus simply because you didn't give up and persisted in proving to him that carnivores are no monsters by heart. And you and your friends fought through a nightmare of a situation that the police didn't even dare to touch. You are so much stronger than you think you are.

To his own amazement, Legosi didn't shudder as his mother's voice spoke in his head, but it made sense after all. She would be the one to tell him to own up to his own strength, to his own physical state. To him being whole.

"Bill." The voice of a different wolf sounded out from Legosi's muzzle. The tiger looked out from the corner of his eye, holding eye contact with an intensity that in all senses sent multiple conflicting messages. Besides anger and even sorrow, in fact, there was a sense-able 'back off' message to be read. Yet the wolf was a different one now.

"Tell me how you feel."

There was quiet and muted astonishment from the tiger as no submission came from the wolf. Bill turned out front, his face still a dead husk, his elbows on his knees as he sagged together, struggling to keep the emotions under control.

"You know how I feel." The carnivore muttered through barely open lips. The wolf's eyes still remained on him.

"I know that you're worried. But-"

"You know jack-shit, Legosi" Bill straightened his back and threw his fist at his leg. The anger was openly bubbling now.

"Do you know how it is to have herbivore friends walk away from you because they think you are that monster walking around and eating people? Do you even have herbivore friends besides Louis? Do you know what it's like to be a freak that no one likes to look at because of fear?" Bill's open anger came crashing against the wolf who was still unsettlingly calm.

"Yes," Legosi answered with a straight face. Bill's anger broke up partially by the absolute coldness coming from the wolf. but in a defense mechanism, he waved him off and leaned on his knees again, looking off into the room.

"What's normal to you-" Legosi yanked him back against the wall, grasping his collar while exposing his teeth in a quiet snarl.

"Hey, what are you-"

"You listen to me, Bill. You're not the only one suffering here. We can lose just as much as you, so stop pretending it's all on you. You need to stop sulking and act reasonably. We're not gonna make it unless you grasp yourself." Legosi let go of his collar but remained with his ice-cold focus on him.

"You know why I feel like a freak, why I always act like a socially inept idiot?" There was no need for an answer, as Bill wouldn't be able to guess it anyway, but Legosi let it sink in either way.

"My grandfather is a komodo dragon. I'm a hybrid. All my life since my mother's death, I spent in complete fear of what people think of me if I reveal myself to them. I live scared of what a bite of my jaw can do. I live scared of what my claws could cause if I were to lose control. But I live on, and I trust myself and the people around me… I trust Juno."

A tear made its way down the wolf's cheek. Bill was left completely quiet.

"And even in the face of me being different-" a backbreaking sob broke the sentence for a moment "-she loves me unconditionally. And I am grateful for that."

Legosi grasped himself again.

"The point is that… don't you ever forget that you have us! And we're here. We know your anger, and we can feel it too. And if you share it we can beat it together."

The last of the sentence left the wolf's mouth, the carnivore seemingly having lived a full life even at his age.

Bill was left in complete silence for a moment, the information needing a moment to properly compute.

Bill looked across the moment again, his tail twitching in the seat from left to right. He turned his head from left to right, visibly struggling with the new information.

Bill stood up and left the store in a quick and concentrated strut, passing by Louis, who was just returning to the two from the counter. He looked after the tiger for a moment then looked over at Legosi, his expression of hurt and release.

"What happened?" Louis asked the wolf who shook his head ever so slightly.

"Louis… sit down please." The deer did as he was asked, awaiting words from the wolf.

"Like you told me of yourself, I am gonna tell you my story now. It'll take a while, but then you'll understand it all better."

And then Legosi began to explain, and Louis got every answer to every question he had ever wanted to ask.

Haru watched the she-wolf walking among the many rows of dresses entranced by the complex assortment of colors and patterns, feeling like a little girl in her wildest and happiest dreams.

"You really like those dresses, don't you?" Haru asked the wolfess in the hold of the dresses.

"I LOVE them!" Juno spun around among the rows, her eyes being affixed by every single difference in color and pattern. Frills, silk, pink, white, purple, cloth, fur imitation.

"So many choices, I don't even know which to choose…" Juno's head darted between the different rows without really lingering on anything.

"You wolves are always so easily excited." Laughed the rabbit, getting off her seat and walking over to the wolfess.

"How abo-oohaa" Haru felt her feet dangle in the air as Juno snatched her up and held her back to her chest, spinning around.

"Just look at these colors!" Juno squealed more than she talked, the rabbit in her arms simply awaiting the spinning to end.

"Is that wolf hurting you, miss?" A guard appeared out of nowhere, bringing Juno to stop spinning, surprise on her face. Before she could put the rabbit down Haru spoke up, bringing the wolfess to freeze.

"Oh no, sir, she just gets overexcited" She explained. The guard remained looking at the two, obviously skeptical over the truth in her words.

"We have no problem calling the police if-"

"-I said I'm ok!" Haru shouted back, the guard's eyes narrowing.

"Just doing my job ma'am".

"Then do it somewhere else," Haru shouted behind the guard wandering back to his position.

"Idiots…" Haru mumbled while Juno was still in shock, her face red in embarrassment. She lowered Haru to the ground and let her straighten her clothing.

"I'm sorry, I sometimes forget that I can't do that here." Juno looked sheepish, avoiding her eye contact as if knowing it would be full of judgment.

"You don't have to excuse yourself for your species. This is just how society has been taught to view carnivores… like always." The white rabbit had the look of a veteran when it came to the theme of being judged. It wasn't that hard to see why knowing just what awful names the girls at school threw at her.

"It's alright, Juno." Being an adult came naturally with the white rabbit, Juno had to admit that. There was something wise about her that made the whole interaction seem almost motherly from time to time.

"Now, what kinda colors do you like?" Haru's question brought the attention back to the matter at hand. Juno looked around and was overwhelmed for a second. She closed her eyes and sniffed the air. There was the smell of the security guard, wearing overbearing deodorant. The smell of the cashier pumping hormones in the air as she talked with her boyfriend on the phone. The smell of Haru, a small herbivore with just the touch of flower fragrance. And of course, the smell of fresh fabric under laced with components of industrial cleaning agents.

She envisioned herself in front of the drama club mirror, wearing a dress as dark as the night itself. It looked too dark for her taste so the color shifted. The bright striking red of her meteor festival attire seemed too eye-catching for a dinner situation. The color changed for a third time, now looming on a mystical-looking purple that married the style of the two previous dresses perfectly. And as she saw, it would fit well with her reddish fur.

"Purple," she said, opening her eyes.

"Purple it is." The small rabbit walked up to another aisle, looking at the wolf who was still darting from one article of clothing to the next.

"Juno, over here." Haru's command got the wolfess to turn and follow her, her eyes still on the many rows with her tail madly swooshing behind her.

Haru laughed at the adorable wolf and walked ahead to the row of clothing she was interested in.

At first, the reflective property of the purple dress seemed too tacky for Juno's tastes, but holding it up to her arm and seeing her fur color right next to it showed her that it synergized at least partially.

The next dress was made of a silky material that Juno didn't want to let go from when she first touched it. The cut was rather simple in the time, with the front dipping well enough to give a tasteful tease of the cleavage. Juno felt that even with Legosi by her side the gazes she would bathe in would surely make her uncomfortable.

"I like this one… just the cut is too low. I don't want to reveal myself to those-" She looked for a proper word for a moment without finding a proper substitute. "-gentlemen."

"How about that one right there." Haru pointed two further down the racks. Juno grabbed for it and held it up, and felt a moment of introspection.

She saw it clear as day in front of her, The wolf of her dreams guiding her hands in a rhythmic slow dance. He would, of course, be bashful, seeing her in a dress such as that, but she thought that neither would she keep herself from staring at him in a suit.

Juno checked the dress size, seeing it was a tad bit small for her. She looked over the rack and grabbed a few more sizes up.

"I'll try this one!" Juno exclaimed. Haru looked up at the wolf and thought that canines had such joy about them that not even the jolliest of people could replicate. To be a dog meant to be excited and joyous.

"Sure. The changing rooms are over there."

Juno slipped into the dressing chambers and began to undress. Trying clothes on was definitely the most fun activity of clothes shopping. Being able to see herself in new outfits she yet had to wear was exhilarating. Her combo for today was her usual coat and scarf, a combo she had worn since getting a scarf for her fifth birthday. Modest Jeans for the quiet colder day than usual, which wasn't as surprising knowing they were in the middle of October.

Juno quietly remembered a little surprise for the day and quickly grabbed for her phone, texting away a message to Louis.

When she looked up to the mirror again she saw a wolfess in nothing but her undergarments, her tail swishing wildly behind her. She put her hand on her hip and examined herself for a moment. She had made it a habit to methodically comb her fur after every shower, mostly because Legosi loved to comb her back, giving them both moments to just relax alone in their cabin. But most of all she noticed that he could smell his faint scent still lingering over her.

After smiling like an idiot for a moment too long, she finally grabbed the dress and put it on. She had to get used to the idea of wearing long gloves, but the classy look definitely grew on her. Her mind immediately jumped to a dance floor of the previous century, women in extravagant exotic dresses shipped from overseas dancing with their respective partners all clad in stark majestic suits handcrafted by high society tailors.

Even though she had to admit that the memory was going much further back than the style of the respective dress she was wearing at the moment. A strap dress coming with respective fingerless gloves for the carnivore lady. She had to smile at that wording, but it was true.

The skirt was a circle skirt ending just below her knees. Juno felt protected enough against the prying eyes she was sure there would be, yet it left her enough room to properly run in the case they needed to. Even if Louis took the lead, it didn't stop Juno from feeling at least somewhat nervous about the event. She had been just as nervous in the darkness of the black market.

She posed with her hand propped on her hip, smiling coyly against the glassy copy staring back at her.

"Haru?"

The rabbit looked up from her phone at the changing rooms. The She-wolf walking out of the dressing room looked entirely different than the one entering it. This one was no princess in a frilly dress waiting for her handsome prince. This was a woman of graceful battle prowess, letting any challenger taste her fearsome claws striking through them. Haru decided that Juno looked good in purple.

"You look amazing." The words of encouragement had an effect of pride and joy in the she-wolf. She twirled towards the rabbit and stopped in front of her, presenting her dress colors with the excitement of a child.

"I really love it!" Juno looked down at herself, and suddenly Haru felt the eyes of hers pointing directly at her. A carnivore would rarely ever understand how deeply fear was rooted in the naturally weak. Anything as simple as eye contact could sometimes cause beating hearts… never was my own body more wrong than right now.

Juno snatched up the rabbit and pushed herself against her. Haru, at first surprised, warmed up to the gesture and tried her best to return the hug. The security guard of before poked his head around a row of clothing watching the two with suspicion, opening his mouth already. Haru pressed her finger to her lips, shooting a warning glance against the lanky maned wolf in his blue overalls. He shut his mouth again and trotted away.

"Thank you for going clothes shopping with me." Juno lowered the rabbit again. She anxiously whipped around keeping an eye out for the security guard. Prying eyes had the effect of being noticed even if you didn't see them stare. Haru felt her face tug into a frown for a second. Even without talking those idiots still manage to sour the moment.

"Juno?" Haru got the she-wolf's attention again, getting an almost guilty look from her.

"You look amazing. The dress fits you like a glove!" The encouragement, and distraction, did their job well. The she-wolf looked down at herself again, lifting the hem of her skirt slightly in order to see it better.

"Come on then, Let's pay for it and then go to the others."

A few minutes later, the two left the store with a big shopping bag in the wolfess's hand. Haru shivered for a moment, getting the attention of Juno. Suddenly the rabbit stopped as she felt the large scarf bound around her neck in a tight yet gentle fit. It was already warmed from Juno wearing it for most of the day.

"Thanks." The rabbit showed gratitude at first feeling a bit of pride flushing up, her first instinct almost wanting to give the scarf back, but just a second later, before she could act on it, she felt grateful for the warm article of clothing enveloping her tightly.

Haru had been asking herself over the whole situation with Oguma what the true definition of weakness even was. Was she weak for needing help from others for completing tasks her species was simply not made for? Was it showing strength in looking for help? Was it perhaps that strength was measured by a matter of character and not physical form? Against all these other creatures in the day or night so confident in their ability she asked herself if she was the only one doubting herself or if everyone was playing pretend.

Haru looked up at the she-wolf. A creature twenty times stronger than she would ever be, yet so careful and most times even scared of what her strength could do. Maybe the answer to her question was right here. Even animals so much taller and stronger than her were fearful of their ability, scared that they would never have the ability to show kindness to those they love. That their claws would prohibit a careful caress on their lover's cheek, and their teeth would split the tongue of whoever kissed them. They were fearful as she, just on the other side of the spectrum. You just rarely ever got to see through other eyes than your own. That was what empathy was for.

"Haru?" The rabbit suddenly locked eyes with the she-wolf, not noticing how long she had stared at her.

"Everything ok?" Juno asked. Haru simply nodded and smiled.

"I was daydreaming. I'm alright." The rabbit felt content and satisfied, knowing that they were gonna do just fine. For one reason and for one reason only. Because they had each other, and that was what really counted.

The two walked on feeling content for both their separate reasons, walking through the cold outside air of the year slowly heading for the winter.

They didn't need to walk long until they reached the tailor that the other three of their pack had visited. To the wonder of both Bill and Legosi, Pina had told them he already had a suit. A fact that Louis expected, knowing just how pretentious actors could be.

The three gentlemen, on the other hand, looked a bit distraught, to say the least. Louis looked wondrous, exuding the energy of having learned a detail of a puzzle he wanted to solve for very long. Legosi's eye looked a bit irritated, bringing Juno to worry instantaneously.

"Are you ok? What happened." The She-wolf walked up to Legosi, already grabbing for a tissue, dabbing at the wolf's eyes. He wiped his eyes and smiled.

"It's nothing. Just a little emotional."

While Juno tended to her wolf and Louis stared off into the distance, though stricken like Haru ever so rarely saw him, the rabbit's eyes turned to the sole feline of the group. Bill looked taken out of his anger and situated in a place of tragic recollection. He was lost in a different way than before.

"Bill?" Haru's words got met with Bill's eyes switching over her to her.

"Yes?" He spoke monotone, obviously needing the energy to compose himself from revealing his emotional state.

"Are you ok?" The question was met with a breath of laughter that stopped halfway through. He froze up, the smile slowly going back to its melancholic tug downwards.

"I'm alright, Haru. Just shaken up by the situation." He looked away, obviously being evasive. The rabbit just looked up, unwavering.

"Just let us know if you're hurt. We can help you."

The tiger cryptically looked over at the grey wolf and cracked a small smile.

"I think I know that now. I'm doing fine Haru, thanks for worrying, though." Bill looked at Haru for another moment and continued to smile. The rabbit eased up and left the tiger with his thoughts.

"We're always here for you."

Louis, on the other hand, still looked at the distance. His face, still that of wonder and interest in the world itself.

"And what about you, Louis?" The deer looked down with pure appreciation.

"What should be wrong, my snowflake?"

"Nothing, it's just you all seem like something happened while we were gone." Louis smiled in response, something that didn't clear up the situation at all for the rabbit.

"Perhaps the wolf wants to tell you himself." Louis looked over at Legosi. The wolf in question, looking at the two now, his mate standing there, as confused as the rabbit. A little bit of comfort for Haru, knowing she wasn't the only confused one.

"Well…" Legosi looked at the Deer, who was giving him strong looks of encouragement. He also Glanced back at the tiger, finding him patting his shoulder. He looked forward, Juno still holding his side in a protective gesture.

"I'm a Hybrid."

After a long conversation about the sudden revelation of the wolf's uniqueness, the group bunched up and continued back to Avon, waiting in the car. Haru's reaction was about in line with everything that Legosi had learned about himself that he horribly misjudged the severity of their reaction. Instead of disdain or shock, it was merely surprise and curiosity by the end of it. Bill apologized for his rage outburst not a few moments later, with Legosi telling the tiger that he won't ever judge him for his rage, but that awareness of those around yourself was equally as important.

"What made you decide to tell them now?" Juno asked, unknowing about the conversation he had had with Bill.

"Louis rattled me awake, I guess. He told me that I should talk to Bill about his anger, and of course, I asked why… And then he told me that I should do it because I was the one that came up with the plan of saving Haru, and actually survived it… I just wanted to tell him that I was just as scared as he was and that he should know that we're here for him." They walked on, Legosi's line of sight jumping from person to person.

Louis was a shining light leading the ship that Legosi had, even if he didn't give himself credit for it, assembled.

Haru was a tough cookie that knew how to stay level-headed even in a pinch, proving invaluable to their group.

Bill was a diamond in the rough, a soul that needed guidance but had great potential, enough strength and determination to beat anything standing in his way. And of course, there was-

He felt a warmth on his cheeks, Juno kissing him tenderly, looking up at him with complete and utter love.

"I'm so proud of you. That must've taken courage." -There was Juno, the love of his life. The wolfess he would go to the other side of the world for.

He held her face with one hand and kissed her, stopping them both in their tracks, taking time with the tender moment between them. They broke apart and just gazed at each other, Juno in stunned silence of her Legosi.

"I would have never got so far without you, my love." After another period of silence they walked on to catch up with the group, arms intertwined and tails rhythmically wagging in a slow, love-stricken way.

When they all reached the car, a larger limousine than usual, the group settled into their seats. As Louis closed the door and the car started rolling the deer lit up.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He grabbed into his coat pocket and got out a small box, the others in the car looking around Haru all grabbing their own small packages from their pockets.

"Happy birthday!" Said the group in unison, the rabbit feeling a warm feeling in her chest.

"Thank you…" Haru had no idea how to cope with the sudden surprise. She had forgotten her own birthday in the turmoil of the whole situation.

Legosi's present was a book she had been eyeing for a while, of course, Juno being the one to have told him about it. Juno's gift was a small silver case with engraved Letters on them. [Always By Your Side] - [ H]

"You said you needed a case for your coins so you don't forget them…"

"Thank you so much. This is beautiful."

Bill's gift was a new pair of in-ear headphones, something she had needed now that her old headphones had started breaking down. She thanked him as well.

Lastly came Louis' present, it being placed in a small box. Upon opening it she was stunned by the beautiful Silver necklace. She displayed it in front of her, the small centerpiece being a sapphire heart. Louis kissed her head.

"Happy Birthday, Snowflake."

"Thank all of you." She looked around herself, seeing the assortment of friendly faces, one with flat teeth and three others with fangs. Weakness here nor there… she was home.