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I faded in and out of consciousness for what must have been days. I was surrounded by white, with bright lights shining down on me at all times. Different people, animals surrounding me and prodding at my body. I barely felt anything but dull throbbing pain. I didn't recognize any faces, I don't even know what kind of animals were taking care of me. But I noticed a tightness around my wrists, and something latched down over my face.

At first, I thought it was some kind of drug or just my injuries keeping me from moving well. But... As days rolled by, I realized I was being restrained. My hands cuffed to the bed, and a muzzle of some kind over my mouth. I guess I shouldn't be surprised...

It was dark, the first time I opened my eyes and felt fully aware of my senses. The lights had been dimmed, and there wasn't more than faint starlight through the nearby windows. I think... I was in a hospital. I'd never been in one before, any injuries I got in the pit were treated on the spot. I was actually in the outside world... The world beyond the Back Alley Market.

I didn't bother trying to sit up, moving my wrists at all clarified that I was indeed hand cuffed to the bed. Maybe I could break them, but I didn't want to cause any trouble... I could do without the muzzle though. I was surprised to find they hadn't restrained my tail at all, aside from the bandages around where it had been shot it was free to move beneath me.

I was sore, only in the places I'd been shot, where bandages and medicine had been applied. My nose was twitching like crazy within the muzzle, taking in all these new scents and memorizing them on instinct. My ears twitched at the faint sounds of footsteps outside, the distant hum of vehicles in the streets below, I must have been put in a room a few floors up. I wanted to move, not to break my binds but to see the world below.

My ears twitched, footsteps drawing closer before the door handle turned. "Morning sleepyhead," A short, fluffy male animal I didn't recognize entered. He smelled like... sheep wool, and he wasn't paying much attention as he stepped in. "Time for another IV change-" Before he realized I was awake, staring back at him. "Oh my gosh!" He stumbled back, dropping the fresh bag. "Y-You're... Awake," I could smell him starting to sweat, what was the problem? I was practically immobilized here... "H-Hi there," Kneeling down to grab the bag, but never taking his eyes off me. "H-How do you feel?"

How exactly did he expect me to answer that? "Mmm." I hummed against the muzzle, my expression remaining blank.

"Right... Stupid question, I'll just uh..." Tentatively, he made his way around the bed. Lowering the stand that held the bag my IV was connected to. Quickly swapping them out with trained efficiency. "O-Okay, nice meeting you, bye bye!" Before he beat feet like an animal on the run.

I always knew I was going to scare people, but that was... A bit much.

I released a long sigh through my nose, leaning back on the bed and resting my head on the pillow. It was soft, softer than I was used to. I wonder if everyone slept on nice beds like this in the outside world...

"Mm?" I noticed something, a faint light peaking in through the window. It took me a moment to understand what exactly it was, remembering the sheep's words as he entered. It clicked for me, what this brilliant golden light had to be, an almost immediately I started pulling on my restraints. As if I'd lost all reason, desperation for a fleeting moment taking control. My heart starting racing causing the monitor at beside to ping rapidly. The chains on each cuff creaking, the metal rings digging into my fur but I didn't care.

*Snap!*

They finally came loose, as I rolled out of the bed. Cringing in pain, my weak legs unable to take my weight landing on them. I fell to my knees, banging them against the hard tile floor, before I lunged for the window. Pulling myself up against it, eyes wide with a childlike wonder.

Yes, I could see it. The warmth hitting my face as the light grew brighter, heating my fur and the scales of my hands. The sunrise, breaching the horizon before my eyes. Lighting up the city skyline below, a view I'd never gotten from back alleys. This warmth, I'd never felt it like this before. Cutting through the cold morning, washing over me. It felt so different from the waning sun I saw falling beyond the buildings every evening, when I was finally allowed to leave the pit for the day.

I heard the door open, several sets of footsteps entering. But I couldn't pull my eyes away, "Hands up!"

"Hmm?" I blinked, finally looking back. It was a group of male animals, two short and stout bulldogs and... Was that an ox of some kind? It was hard to tell, but he had long horns on both sides of his big head, a broad and thick body. They were dressed in blue uniforms, I'd seen members of the market hand money off too people dressed like this, or sell meat to. Both of the dogs had handguns trained on me, not taking any chances I suppose. "Mmm..." I lowered my head submissively, making my way back over to the bed.

"Hey!" One of the dogs barked, "He said hands up!"

"Tex, knock it off," The oxen grunted, pushing past them. "Don't get comfortable, if you can walk than it's time to move." He ordered.

Move? Move where? I signaled my confusion, tilting my head at him. "Hmm?"

"We've got questions for you," He explained, "I'm officer Bolk, we aren't leaving the hospital because you aren't exactly in good health yet, but we're going to have to cuff you again." He added.

I understood, I was in their world now, rules were different here. I nodded, raising my hands and putting them together. Allowing him to slap a new pair of cuffs around my wrists to keep my restrained in any way they could. Before he waved for me to follow, the bulldogs remained behind me but were kind enough to put their guns away.

They lead me out of the room, and down a hall towards an elevator. I saw others, nurses and patients eyeing me from their rooms. Many seemed more curious, than afraid. That felt... Good.

Once we were inside, and the doors closed, we started moving to a lower floor. "Yeah, we've got her and are on our way down..." The oxen said into a small communication device, "Right, we'll meet you there." Who was waiting for us?

I wondered where exactly I was being moved to, but the answer came moments later as the doors opened and we were in some kind of basement. Gone were the sterile whites and open windows, I was surrounded by dark, cold, unforgiving concrete foundation. A few lights hanging overhead, and a table waiting near the center along with another officer waiting for us.

They lead me to the table, forced me to sit down. "You're awfully calm," The new face in the room, another canine. He was tall and broad with pointed ears, black fur muddled with grey and whites around his face, a great dane maybe. "Not what I expected from a carnivore caught outside the Black Market." He added, sliding down into the chair across from me. "So what's with the poker face?"

My expression remained blank, as one of the bulldogs removed my muzzle. Undoing the pin on the side, freeing my jaw. I had to resist the instinct to open and stretch it, fearing that it might be seen as a sign of aggression. "I've never been good at showing emotions on my face..." Besides anger, but that's just how they trained me. "I just... I guess I'm happy."

"Happy... But you're not smiling." He pointed out, crossing his arms. "But okay, I'll bite... Why are you so... Happy?"

"I didn't think I was going to wake up at all," I answered, "After being shot so many times..." But, there was something else too. "And... I got to see the sunrise for the first time today..."

The dane nodded his head, "Interesting... So, that tattoo on your right foot, product ID number I'm assuming?"

"That is correct."

"Usually animals branded with product ID numbers don't live to adulthood." He pointed out, "So why did you?"

"Could be because she's a freak." One of the bulldogs grunted, "I certainly wouldn't eat meat that came from... That."

"Tex I swear," Bolk scoffed, shaking his head. "Can you just shut up for a few minutes?"

But the dane never took his eyes off me, and I never broke eye contact. Like he was reading me, trying to see if those words actually meant anything to me, if I would get upset because of them. "It is because of my... Unique, species." I answered, "Instead of eating me... I was thrown into the underground fighting pit."

"Interesting, you're awfully well spoken for a pit dog," He noted, "Most that find their way out of the back alley market are basically rabid beasts."

"I am... Not like most." There really wasn't any other way to put it. "If I knew why they decided to educate me... I would tell you."

"Hmm... And I'm assuming you've consumed meat at the Black market, is that correct?"

"They only ever gave me meat."

"Cooked or raw?"

"That depended on their mood..." And my performance.

He leaned forward slightly, "Have you ever killed and eaten a herbivore in the that fighting pit?"

"No," I shook my head, "I only ever fought other carnivores."

"Have you eaten herbivore meat?"

"Probably." They weren't exactly always open about where my food came fro- "Hmm?" I blinked, my nose twitching as I looked around the dark basement. It was hard to see beyond the light, but... I could smell something else, was somebody else here?

"Do you have a desire to eat meat?" The officer slammed his hand down on the table, demanding my attention return to him. "To hunt!?"

I thought back to that night, when everyone went wrong. When I left the pit, I didn't even take a scrap of my kill. Why was that? Was I just tired of meat? Cats tasted terrible anyways... But, there was something else. "I've only ever eaten dead meat... Never live prey... And, I can't say I really crave meat," I shrugged my shoulders slightly, "It's... The only thing I've ever been fed, it became like water... I never ate out of desire, or for the flavor, I just had to eat to survive."

"Tch," He clicked his tongue, leaning back once more and crossing his arms. His eyes narrowing suspiciously, "You expect me to believe you're sick of meat? A mixed carnivore like you?" But before I could answer, a loud coughing noise sounded from beyond the light. Like someone clearing their throat for attention, it was enough to get the Dane to look away from me for a moment. "Erm... Right..." His attitude dropping in an instant. "Let's talk about the girl."

"Who else is here?" I asked, looking around me. "It's... Your boss, isn't it?" The way he reacted to that noise, it was all but confirmed. This Dane wasn't the animal in charge here.

"You rescued an elk girl, why?" He demanded, sweating as he desperately tried to keep this... Interrogation going on track.

Oh, that's right- "Is she alright?"

"Answer the damn question!"

My ears twitched, "I guess... I don't really know for sure." Even at the time, I hadn't been sure. "I grew up around meat, I killed so many other pit fighters that would become my food... But-" Wait, maybe... That was it. "In the pit, you know its you or them... Challengers that enter the ring have a conscious knowledge that losing means death and devouring." I explained calmly, "But, she didn't consciously accept that... She wanted to live."

"How noble," He scoffed, mocking my words. "I'm sure you've eaten plenty of meat at the black market that would have preferred to live."

"You're probably right." He was absolutely right. "But... This was the first time I'd... Seen innocent meat, while it was still alive."

"Innocent meat?" He repeated, ears twitching. "Explain what you mean by that?"

I figured that part was obvious. "No one that steps into the ring is innocent." Eyes drifting down, over the razor sharp talons I'd used to rend guts from so many animals.

"Including you?"

"Especially me." I looked up at him, "I just told you I've killed other animals, didn't I?" My words maybe coming out sharper than I intended, "I don't have a problem with taking life... It's easy, when the only other option is your own death." Though, sometimes I did question why I wanted to keep living.

He opened his mouth again, likely to bark more questions. Before he blinked in surprise, looking past me towards the elevator. My own ears twitching as the door started to open, "Who the hell-"

"There you are," My eyes widened, hearing her voice. "Yafya you bastard, you said you were gonna wait for me!" I turned my head, but she wasn't looking at the Dane or me. She was staring into the darkness around us, off to the side. She was dressed in jeans, a leather jacket with a red shirt underneath that read "Punk". She looked so much different than the helpless girl I'd seen that night.

A low chuckle sounding from the darkness, heavy footsteps echoing throughout the basement. "You weren't here, and I just couldn't risk this one getting skittish and trying to run off." As a tall, black equine man stepped out of the darkness. He was tall, strong bodied, he carried himself like a carnivore more than any horse I'd ever seen. Wearing a fine suit, and though it covered his entire body, I could tell he was strong. "Then I'd have to kill her." His last words, pointed towards me rather than her.

"Don't be an ass," The elk girl huffed, approaching the table. I watched her silently, blinking and staring without realizing it. "Have they been rough on you?" She asked, placing a hand on my shoulder, it was so soft. I felt my feathers start to ruffle a bit, "I know not all officers can be as tactful as Yafya."

Something was wrong, "No... I'm fine." Why did I feel... Different, about her now? I'd been so angry when I saw what was happening before, so driven to protect her. But, I felt nothing. Expect, maybe relief that she was doing alright.

"You four can leave," The horse suddenly commanded, "I'll take things from here, and forward the report to your chief later." He added.

The dane nodded his head, rising from the chair. "We'll remain on the premises in case anything... Happens."

Yafya, the stallion, his ear twitched. "Are you presuming I couldn't handle this child myself?"

"No offense intended, sir." He held up his hands defensively, "But, you can never be too careful with these types..." Before he and the other officers filed out to the elevator, leaving the three of us alone.

"Cheery bunch," The elk mocked, crossing her arms. "So why the private chat?"

He shrugged casually, "I figured you'd want a moment to chat with your savior." Amusement coloring his voice, "I'll get to my part in a moment."

"Right..." She didn't sound too convinced, but still turned her attention to me. "So, nice to see you're doing alright." She offered, flashing a friendly smile. "I'm Maria by the way." Offering me a hand. I extended my own cuffed hands, doing my best to shake hers with one of them. But, I was also incredibly careful with my talons, knowing a slip up could slit her wrists right open. "Huh, the bottoms of your hands are so soft." She noted with a chuckle. Before she looked up from them, back to my silent... Expressionless face. "So, are you always this creepy?" She asked, retracting her hand. "You're really shattering my image of knight in shining armor right now."

I blinked, "I- What?" Did I do something wrong?

To which she rolled her eyes, "I'm just joking, why don't you start with your name, what's your name?"

My name? Right, "I don't really..." Have one. "They always just refereed to me as Number Seven." I admitted, "It's my product ID number."

Her eyes widened with realization. "O-Oh, that's-" Before an amused chuckle sounded from Yafya. "Thanks for the warning! Dick!" She barked at him. Her eyes quickly darting back to me, "Okay, lets start over before I put my foot any further into my mouth... I'm Maria, an Elk." She was talking quickly, "I'm one of the Beastars, those cats were probably going to ask for a big ransom and then eat me once they got it so... Thanks for not letting that happen." Releasing a short breath, "You didn't even know me, but you still got yourself shot up protecting me... That was pretty cool, and stupid of you."

Her tone was lighter, playful. Was she praising me or making fun of me? It was hard to tell, I'd hardly had experience with the former. "Yeah I uh... Am not entirely sure why I did that..."

"Maybe it was just love at first sight," Yafya chimed in, "Or maybe you were just sick of being a pit hound." He added, circling the table slowly. "But I wouldn't put much stake in such imprecise answers, I have my own theory... But I've got two questions for you, Seven." He stopped behind Maria, standing over her and staring down at me. "Do you still feel that same urge to protect her? And, have you ever actually enjoyed fighting in the pit?"

"No... On both accounts," Before Maria quirked an eyebrow, "Sorry... Like I said, I don't know why I acted the way I did that night."

"But I do," Yafya stated simply, "Thank you for clearing that up... The answer, is that it was purely instinctive for you to act that way."

Instinctive? "What do you mean?" Maria questioned for me.

"A blood sample taken during her treatment revealed her genetics are split between three different species," Yafya explained, "25% Black Caiman Alligator, 25% Red Bearded Vulture, and 50% Red Wolf." He'd done his homework, what was this strange herbivores interest in me though? "All three animals are known for their incredibly aggressive maternal instincts, yet female wolves are known to hate fighting in general."

Maria blinked, looking back at me. "You... Had a motherly urge to protect me?" She asked, before releasing a snort of laughter. "Man you really are a weirdo!"

"You told Officer Brand that she was the first innocent meat you'd seen alive," Yafya went on with his deductions. "As opposed to your pit fights, where you were fighting other violent carnivores, you witnessed for the first time a helpless creature being dragged away against her will... She probably looked like a frightened child in your eyes, triggering latent instincts." He shrugged, "Hence, why you feel nothing now that she is safe."

I leaned back slowly in my chair, processing that information slowly. "But... We aren't even the same species..."

"No, not even close, but such behavior isn't unheard of." He noted, "Both felines and canines have been known to adopt children of different species after the loss of their own pups or kittens, cross species defensive instincts are more common than you'd think, but the media prefers to give the credit to those individuals having a good nature rather than instinctive desires." He wasn't telling me this just to clarify things, he wanted Maria and I to know I didn't save her because I'm a good person.

Even so, lot of that went over my head, but Maria seemed to understand and nodded her head. "Right, I got you... So what were you thinking happens now?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Good question," He crossed his arms, "We have before us, an undocumented hybrid, who has admitted openly and unashamedly to police that they've killed and eaten other animals." Yafya pointed out, noting Maria's shift in expression. "Right, you missed that part... But, circumstances are certainly unique, given her upbringing in the black market as a pit fighter so perhaps some allowances should be made... To be honest, I don't expect much from a carnivore of such diluted blood," He shrugged, "As far as I'm concerned, her actions so far have already blown my expectations out of the water."

Maria sighed heavily, "Man I forgot how long winded you are... Okay," Her eyes darting to me. "Seven, you don't want to go back to the Black Market do you?"

Was that even a choice? I'd likely angered one of the big four gangs that ran the area, probably pissed off the pit being gone for so long. And since leaving, I'd gotten to see more live herbivores than ever before, and actually watch the sunrise. "No, not really..." But what was the alternative? The horse had said himself, I was undocumented and a known killer.

"Great," Maria grinned, "Then you're hired!"

H... Hired?

I blinked, "What?"

Even Yafya looked confused, "Excellent question, what?" He repeated incredulously.

"Hey you said it yourself," She shrugged, "She's undocumented, if she were to become a documented citizen now she could be given a clean record."

To which he scoffed, "That would be a complete abuse of my power as Sublime Beastar." He stated, "And what use do you have for her anyways? I doubt she knows how to play an instrument."

"I'm not gonna put her in the band, dumbass." She waved him off, "But we could use a new bodyguard, since the last one let me get kidnapped by Jaguars." Oh, so that's how that happened. "Besides, if she's going to enter society she needs some form of stability."

"And you can provide that while on tour?" Yafya questioned, placing one hand on his hip.

"I mean, what better way to see the world beyond the market?" She shrugged, "And I can use my money to help her get adjusted," Her eyes turning back to me. "It's the least I can do for saving my life."

"Mmm," He hummed, considering the idea. "Perhaps... But I would recommend monitoring her psyche closely, bi-weekly check ups..."

Her ears perked up, "So you're going to help?"

"Sure," Yafya answered simply, "If your misplaced sense of gratitude gets you eaten, its not my problem." Before he looked to me as well, "Assuming that's what she wants."

It would be stupid to say no, right? "I... Would be grateful for the opportunity to see more of the world outside."

"Then it's settled!" Maria beamed, grabbing my hand and shaking it. "There, we shook hands, no take backs, welcome to the crew! Any questions?"

Uh... Yeah, actually. "Just one." For now, anyways.

"Go ahead."

"What is a... Beastar?"

I didn't realize it in that moment, but my life was about to start changing rapidly. I was about to start changing, to fit into a society I knew so little about. This morning wasn't just my first sunrise, it was the first light shining on my new life...