Hello everyone here's chapter two. Sorry for the delay, in between school and making YouTube videos it's hard to keep this consistent but I'm doing my best! Hope you guys enjoy nonetheless!


CHAPTER 2: Fountain's Flow

Legoshi sat quietly outside of the gymnasium. He sat on the stone stairs in between giant columns fairly spaced out. In front him, a fountain that had a gentle hue of blue as it lit up the water. Trees were a far distance away from the fountain as brick pathways and a cement circle spaced them apart. Legoshi could faintly hear Zoe and Louis rehearsing their lines. His senses mainly focused on the nature around him. He could feel the trees, wind and fountain all of it flowing in relative harmony. The wind's gentle movements and the fountain's steady flow granted their observer comfort. The day had been quite taxing on Legoshi's mind. Herbivores avoided him and every other carnivore, the divide feeling more tense than yesterday. Although he'd cried and came to terms with Tem's death, it remained stuck in his head. However now, he felt at peace. Then he noticed a small grasshopper jump next to him. He allowed it a place in his right hand and he slowly moved it to his face.

Smells of grass and dirt tickled Legoshi's nose. True to its name, the grasshopper granted further consistency to the environment. This calm was something Gohin had taught Legoshi about. Connection with nature is the most rewarding relationship for carnivores and herbivores. It returned them to their primal origins, making any beast feel at home.

Legoshi's nose twitched once more, an unfamiliar scent approached the area. He sat the grasshopper down and smelled more intently. He didn't smell an herbivore. Legoshi's mind shot straight to Tem's killer. His body tightened at the thought and his heart began to beat faster.

"Calm down." Legoshi told himself quietly then he took a breath. The scent he picked up was a faintly perfumy aroma reminiscent of roses. Then a familiar scent to his own.

"A wolf." Legoshi concluded. He rested back onto the stairs. His diligence never waned as he did so. He made his presence smaller, calming his heart rate and breathing to a crawl. The animal got closer and closer.

"A girl." Legoshi observed the female wolf. She wore a light red shirt with a pair of light brown pants and brown sneakers. She walked down the path on Legoshi's right. The girl stopped in front of the fountain. He watched her intently, feeling her presence even from so far back. Legoshi acted like a predator ready to kill prey but no bloodlust emanated from him. The wolf tilted her head to the full moon and smelled the air quickly. When she realized no one was around she placed her hands at her side. She closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

"Please don't howl." Legoshi projected his voice which surprised the girl.

"O-oh! I'm sorry! I didn't think anyone would be out here!" A feminine voice rang into Legoshi's ears but he waved off the apologies. The girl's eyes locked onto Legoshi and she noticed his clothes.

"Um, are you a student here?"

"Yeah."

"Do you mind if I speak with you?" Legoshi thought before responding. He had to reveal himself or she might've alerted Louis.

"So long as you keep your voice down." Legoshi answered politely. He decided to play along for now. The girl approached him, he studied her closely. Her posture remained straight if not slightly hunched. She seemed innocent and embarrassed which made Legoshi feel slightly guilty. Legoshi got a closer look at the wolf and he noticed she had an undeniable beauty about her.

"What are you doing here so late at night?" Legoshi asked.

"I wanted to see the school, I wasn't a part of the tour early this summer unfortunately." The girl answered nervously.

"Why at night?" Legoshi questioned again.

"Since the devouring became public… I thought it was better to tour by myself at night. I didn't want to make the herbivores nervous." The hesitation in the girl's voice made Legoshi study her closer. She made eye contact before answering the question and she didn't smell of anything but a light coat of perfume. He could tell by her body that she was just embarrassed.

"Well a stranger on campus in regular clothes might get you in trouble if the police or anyone would see you. The devouring happened at night by a large carnivore, so you should try and be careful." Legoshi advised.

"Yes, I understand that I just thought it best to see the school before I'm officially a student."

"You're a new student?"

"Yes, I'll be an academic first-year." The girl answered "I'm supposed to be a second-year student but a lot of my credits didn't transfer over to this school from my old one."

"I'm sorry to hear about that. Isn't there something you can do?" Legoshi asked with genuine curiosity. The girl shook her head.

"No, there's no way."

"Hey chin up. At least you get to experience Cherryton fully, it's a really good place here." Legoshi spoke with an air of pride.

"That is an upside I guess. What year are you?"

"I'm a second-year." Legoshi responded.

"Ah it's nice to meet you. My name's Juno!" The girl smiled brightly, her fangs showing in a pristine white.

"She doesn't seem like a killer. Then again if the killer is from the black market, would they really return to the crime scene so soon? There's plenty of herbivores trapped in the black market due to debts and things like that. They haven't been disappearing, only ones around there. She has perfume on, even still it's so little that you can tell she's a wolf by her scent. I doubt she's the killer." Legoshi thought as he stared at Juno for a short while.

"Is something wrong? You've been staring at me for a while." Juno spoke cautiously.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was thinking a little bit." Legoshi responded as he looked away.

"You said your name was Juno right? It's nice to meet you." Legoshi stood up and extended his right hand.

"Nice to meet you too. What's your name?" Juno reciprocated with a question.

"Legoshi! Hurry and come in here!" Legoshi whipped his head to the door behind him. Zoe's voice sounded panicked and scared.

"Crap! Look, it was nice meeting you, please have a safe walk home."

"That sounded bad, are you sure you won't need help?" Juno's concerned expression bounced off of Legoshi's back.

"Yeah, don't worry about it! Just act like you didn't see me!" Legoshi responded as he began opening the door to the gym.

"It's Louis he's hurt! Please, Legoshi!" Zoe called.

"Okay, goodnight-" Juno could barely finish her sentence before the wolf in front of her disappeared into the building.

"Legoshi." Juno repeated the name she heard before heading to the exit of the academy's campus.

Inside the gymnasium Legoshi spotted the two herbivores, Louis laid on the ground holding his leg.

"What happened?" Legoshi asked Zoe calmly.

"We were practicing but in the dark I couldn't see where I was going and then…" Zoe trailed off.

"It's not your fault." Legoshi gave the goat a reassuring smile. The wolf reached out to Louis, he helped the deer to his feet. Legoshi could tell Louis leaned more onto his right side.

"Louis are you alright?" Zoe asked. Louis' eyes turned to the goat.

"I didn't save you, I just didn't want you crying over a minor injury."

"I landed on top of you though. What will we do if you can't m-make it to rehearsal tomorrow?" Zoe questions worriedly.

"Shut up Zoe! I'll be fine, your voice is annoying me." Louis softly took his arm from Legoshi's grip.

"Thank you for keeping an eye out. Did you see anyone?" Louis said with a soft expression and placed a hand on Legoshi's left shoulder. The wolf didn't reject the deer's touch this time. He simply remembered the girl from before.

"No, no one." Legoshi said with a reassuring tone. Louis smiled with gratitude.

"Good, well this should be good enough for tonight. Continue memorizing your lines for tomorrow's rehearsal and show, Zoe." Louis' stood straight and spoke with his normal tone of superiority. Zoe silently nodded. "Let's get out of here before someone finds us." Louis suggested as he walked for the gym's exit. Both Legoshi and Zoe followed behind him silently.

Louis awoke the next morning. He made small careful movements to sit up. He carefully moved the blanket off his lower body revealing his left ankle. Swelling doubled its size and any movement hurt. Louis hardly slept last night thanks to the injury. The deer swung his leg over the edge of the bed and planted his feet firm to the ground. Louis winced in pain and tumbled to the floor, he gritted his teeth.

"I just had to save that useless goat didn't I?" Louis thought to himself. He barely managed to get back to his room from the gymnasium and the condition of his ankle got even worse now.

"No, I did it for the play. That is all that matters. I have to endure this." Louis stood to his feet again, he placed his left leg forward and used it as leverage to stand. His mind and will stood in defiance of the body's weakness. A body needed for today's play, he walked to his bathroom and looked in the mirror. A face of pain turned to one of content and then silent confidence. Louis smiled at his reflection and stood straight. He closed the door to his bathroom. There was only one bed in the room with a window to its left that allowed the morning sun and wind to fill the room.

Legoshi sat at lunch with his roommates. Jack sat to his right, Miguno to her left, Voss across from him with Durham and Collot at his sides. Legoshi just listened to his friends speaking to one another. He typically enjoyed their conversation, they were like a group of brothers more than friends. They experienced everything together since they got to school. In spite of that, Legoshi felt he was going down a road none of them could dream of. The wolf got absorbed in his head. Louis' injury, Tem's murder and exactly what he wanted swirled in his mind.

"You alright? You've hardly touched your food." Jack nudged his friend lightly.

"Just a lot of stuff going on. Tests are coming up."

"You didn't study for the math test today did you?" Durham asked with a smile.

"I did a few days ago, it's just those formulas are difficult to apply."

"Wish you would've said something sooner. I'll teach you before class alright." Durham asserted.

"Thanks." Legoshi smiled.

"Hey you stepped on my tail!"

"I said I was sorry alright!" Everyone in the cafeteria turned their attention to its center. Under the large tree stood a fox and hyena. They were arguing with one another and it began to turn physical.

"Ow! Stop biting me!" The fox yelled out angrily. Everyone watched the confrontation play out with surprise. Legoshi simply studied them. He didn't care about the fight so long as blood wasn't drawn.

"That looks fun." A dark mass of swirls appeared behind Legoshi. The dark thick black lines constructed a body reflecting Legoshi's. Its body looked like a child scribbled crayon on a sheet of paper.

"Why don't we get involved?"

"Shut up." Legoshi muttered to the figure.

"Come on now. We've deprived ourselves of meat since that night, now you wish to deprive us of the ability to show our strength. To prove their strength is meaningless so long as we exist in this school?"

"I didn't eat meat." Legoshi muttered again this time far more angrily than before. His body began to tense up as his fur stood on end.

"Precisely, Stop denying our wish for meat and dominance. We're an apex predator, a gray wolf is meant to show their strength. Let's show the world how to dominate and then how to consume." The figure placed its hands on Legoshi's shoulders.

"Shut up already!" Legoshi yelled loudly. Everyone's head turned to him including the two fighting. The black mass giggled as it faded into the air. Legoshi noticed the eyes staring at him.

"Hey! You got a problem, wolf?" The fox called out to Legoshi which he simply sighed and stood up.

"No, I'm not looking for trouble. I wasn't talking to you guys." Legoshi softly dismissed the pair. His face expressed his disinterest in the fight at hand.

"You looking down on me?!" The fox retorted.

"I didn't say that. I'm not looking for a fight that's all." Legoshi told the fox with a distinct bite behind his words.

"Sounds like an attitude to me. Come here."

"Could we not do this? I haven't done anything to you."

"Shut up!" The fox charged at Legoshi. The wolf stood from his chair. He quickly yanked Miguno out of his chair by the collar of his shirt. Legoshi spun to his right with Miguno in his arms to avoid the fox's punch. He sat Miguno down next to Jack and then grabbed the fox. He softly threw the carnivore back.

"Watch where you're swinging, you almost hit my friend!"

"Then don't dodge!" The fox had landed safely and pressed Legoshi again. Legoshi stood his ground and put his hands up. The fox's punches were slow and unrefined, Legoshi blocked and dodged each with ease. His passive self disappeared which took his roommates by surprise along with everyone else in the cafeteria.

"How about you fight me!" The fox yelled angrily.

"I told you I didn't want to. We can stop right now." The fox growled at Legoshi and took a tray from a nearby student's hands and threw it at the wolf. It missed, so he went for another tray but Legoshi grabbed his hand. Legoshi tripped the fox and slammed his muzzle into the floor while he twisted the arm he captured.

"Don't throw around other people's food." Legoshi told the fox sternly who struggled under his grip. He couldn't get loose and the more he squirmed the more Legoshi's grip tightened.

"Hey get off of that fox!" A teacher's voice sounded throughout the cafeteria. A Meerkat teacher appeared in front of Legoshi. The wolf sighed and stood to his feet, placing his hands in the air.

"The two of you should be ashamed of yourselves! Fighting is strictly prohibited on campus, carnivores of your size should know better than to fight in front of herbivores!" The small teacher reprimanded both students.

"I want the both of you to report to the administration office immediately."

"There's no need for that." Louis came from behind the teacher. "The wolf defended himself from the fox there. He and the hyena sneaking away now are the true culprits." Louis turned to point at the hyena behind him. The carnivore stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"The wolf here not only saved his friend from being hurt but also stopped the fox from desecrating the cafeteria any further." Louis spoke confidently. Legoshi felt surprised by Louis' defense of him.

"I-I see. Well then, the two of you will be accompanying me to the administration office!" The teacher's voice changed from one of judgment to obedience. The two carnivores left the cafeteria with the teacher and the cafeteria marveled at both Legoshi and Louis. Louis mainly gained all the shine thanks to his status. The crowd talked amongst themselves while Legoshi and Louis got a moment of privacy in the public space.

"You dodged the entire time and when he started using objects you forced him to stop. Why?"

"If he throws trays and food it might've hit other people. That's all." Louis smiled at the wolf.

"Seems you need justification for your actions when it comes to physical affairs in particular."

"Everyone should. Same way you stood back and watched despite knowing you could've stopped the problem before it got so big." Legoshi shot back much to Louis' amusement.

"You've got a sharp tongue. It'd be wise if you used that for your protection rather than insults." Louis turned his back to Legoshi. "Consider this little save as payment for your help against Kai." Legoshi didn't say anything. He only watched Louis walk away, the candidate for the next Beastar himself. A beast made to lead both herbivores and carnivores to a new era of peace and equality. Legoshi noticed Louis' small wobble. It was slight but noticeable only to those who watched him closely. Louis masked his pain well.

"Thanks for the save, Legoshi! I had no idea you could move like that!" Miguno patted his friend on the back.

"Seriously, that was awesome! Where'd you learn how to do that?" Collot asked eagerly. His anticipation of the answer was replicated by his roommates and nearby students. Legoshi looked beside him at Jack who knew the answer already. Jack met his friend's gaze.

"When we were younger Legoshi was able to move crazy fast too!" Jack answered. "He's actually a little slower than before, you should've seen him back in the day. He could react to anything without even seeing it." Jack's roommates smile wide with their mouths agape.

"Thanks for answering the question. Jack." Legoshi spoke through gritted teeth.

"Of course, they deserve to know the truth don't they?" Jack responded lightly. Legoshi wasn't fond of lying to his roommates, so he relied on Jack on the very rare occasion he wanted to. Legoshi sighed and felt a bit weak.

"You alright?" Jack asked his friend. Legoshi simply shook his head and stood up straight.

"I'm gonna head to class now." Legoshi said with a wave to his friends. He cleaned up his tray and left for class, feeling a bit sick.

After the event in the cafeteria all anyone could talk about for the rest of the day was the play happening later that night. The drama club formed up after classes concluded and rehearsed one final time in the gym. Louis played his role as Adler with his usual intensity, his lines were delivered with confidence and emotion. However, the same could not be said for his movement. Every action he made looked sluggish and forced. Sanu took notice of this and waited for the fifteenth scene to be completed.

"Alright everyone, let's take a break."

"Why, we've still got a bit more to go." Louis complained.

"We've gone through several scenes as is, so let's take a break for the moment. It won't be long, just fifteen minutes. You're all getting along quite well and no one has messed up their lines." Sanu explained a bit cautiously. Louis sighed and walked backstage out of sight from everyone. He sat behind a large curtain and checked his damaged ankle.

"Well that's something." Louis' head shot up to meet Bill.

"What are you doing back here?!"

"I was covering for Legoshi with the spotlight since he went to go get some flowers." Bill answered

"You're on the actors' team so why?"

"My scene isn't for a while not until the end so I thought doing this would be better than sitting around watching you star boy." Bill laughed. He knelt down and looked at Louis' injury closer. "That looks pretty nasty, are you sure you'll be able to perform?"

"If you're hoping this injury will allow you the lead role, you can forget it." Louis lowered his pant leg over his ankle. "It will take far more than an injury to stop me." Louis' gaze met Bill's with a sense of disgust.

"Always talk down even when you're not trying too." Bill stood up and looked down on Louis.

"I'm not sure what your problem is with carnivores but if I've gotta play nice with herbivores then you should try to play nice with carnivores."

"Why? Carnivores fail to control themselves and lead to the death of herbivores and other carnivores. I have no reason to respect any of you." Louis stated coldly.

"Hate us all you like but you can't just say we're all meat crazed killers."

"Really? Then let me ask you something." Louis stood to his feet and stepped closer to Bill.

"Have you eaten meat in the black market before?" Louis' eyes were deep and oppressive as though Bill's answer to the question would decide his fate.

"Why the hell are you asking-" Louis placed a finger on his own mouth, Bill quieted himself.

"No, I-I didn't." Bill gestured with his arms defensively.

"You are a liar." Louis concluded. Bill's eyes widened and he felt at a loss.

"How did you know?" Louis smirked at the question.

"I didn't until just now."

"You lied?" Bill's shocked expression made Louis feel powerful.

"It takes a good liar to know a bad one and that trick is the oldest one." Louis spoke with arrogance. Bill could feel his heart burn with anger and frustration.

"A carnivore eating meat. Although expected, I find it fascinating that carnivores, like yourself, can speak and befriend herbivores when you eat their kind. I wonder how you balance such a thing." Louis didn't make eye contact with Bill, almost as if he wasn't worthy of his attention any more.

"I feel you should manage that feeling. I don't care if you eat meat, that is of no consequence to me. However, if you bring that problem to this Academy or club, I swear to destroy any hope of a future for you." Louis resolved with a gentle smile. His presence is sinister and malicious. Louis' words strangled Bill and his threats were never empty. Louis has gotten several students expelled both herbivores and carnivores alike. He is revered, hated and loved at this academy, a triple threat that is in equal doses amongst the student body. Bill hated and revered Louis. His mind conflicted between the two and now Louis knows his secret.

"Everyone! Break over!" Sanu announced.

"Hey guys. Something going on?" Legoshi greeted the two. Louis sighed with satisfaction.

patted Bill on his shoulder.

"No, I was just telling Bill how well he did with the spotlight. Get up their Legoshi, the rehearsal is about to resume." Louis returned to his stoic face and turned to the exit from behind the curtain.

"Bill, are you okay?" Legoshi placed his hand on Bill's shoulder. The tiger lightly swatted the hand away from him.

"Yeah I'm fine." Bill's low tone was the only way to channel his anger and he began to walk away. "I'm gonna get ready for my scene." Legoshi looked at his friend and remembered something.

"Bill."

"What?" Bill stopped.

"Thank you for covering the spotlight. You should go see the flowers before the performance with Dom." Legoshi advised, which made Bill turn to him.

"I'm not a fan of flowers."

"I know but their sweet scent might change your sour mood." Legoshi delivered the joke bluntly and with any finesse. Bill couldn't help but sigh.

"Alright I'll check out the dumb flowers just don't ever joke like that again." Bill remarked with slight annoyance. Bill walked from behind the curtain and went to a small hallway to the left of the stage in the club. He saw Els, Kibi and all of the other herbivores. The anger he felt from Louis was stagnant in his heart.

"Why should I change who I am? I'm a carnivore so I should eat meat and act like what I am. Everyone has secrets and this is just another one of them." Bill thought to himself. "Who is he to judge me? He's just some rich kid with too much time on his hands. Who cares if I eat herbivore meat it doesn't matter! I'm never going to kill anyone!" Anger began to eat away at Bill. He's being tested by an herbivore who knew nothing of his instincts. He wanted to roar as loud as he could.

"Bill, are you okay?" Bill looked down to see Els. Her small hand tapped his forearm lightly. The anger in his body dissipated and he smiled.

"I'm alright just a bit nervous for the play tonight."

"You don't have to worry. I know you're gonna do great!" Els smiled happily. Her optimism washed over Bill.

"Thank you." Bill's face showed gratitude but his heart felt conflicted.