G-AME5: Thank you so much! Glad to know people are enjoying, really helps me keep the drive to write going! So long as people are letting me know they like it, I'm happy to keep dedicating time to this :D


Things started to change after that night, the days began to go by faster. A tension I'd felt throughout the entire band and stage crew, it all seemed to vanish after that first successful show. I guess that made sense, their return had been a success, something to be proud of. The news was buzzing about Lady Maria's debut, the return to the stage with a brand new song.

But she wasn't going by the title of "Lady" anymore. Following her new song, she'd inadvertently bestowed upon herself the name of "Miss Divine."

It spread like wildfire, through the news outlets and online apparently. Of course, Maria had no qualms with the title, embracing it eagerly.

I'd never heard that word before the show, "Divine".

Divine, an adjective, describing something is from, or like, a god.

What unbelievable arrogance.

The more I watched Maria bask in the light, the more I began to dislike her. Though, her dedication and good intentions couldn't be questioned, her methods and the way she got carried away with her own fame was... Concerning. I found myself at an impasse, between respecting, and despising the woman that dragged my bullet filled body out of the Black Market and let me see the outside world.

The outside world, that I was starting see wasn't all that great...

I avoided her in my spare time, when I wasn't working. Unless I was tasked with protecting another member of the crew, I'd return to my room and simply continue studying the world. I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do beyond work anyways, the news wasn't something I cared much about, neither was anything else on TV. Maria did suggest I start looking into finding a hobby but... I wasn't so sure if I had any real interests.

I thought about my options, as I prepared to depart for the night. Leaving the performance center and heading for my own hotel after another successful show. I'd stayed behind to lock up, as we'd gotten a lot more people attempting to get close to the other members of the crew recently. I had to be sure everyone was out, and that the building was secure before I could leave.

It was late, almost 11:00pm now, though I didn't feel all that tired. I took a deep breath as I went, enjoying the cold December air. I remembered this month in the Black Market, when the cold settled in, and we had more festive, jovial visitors. It was the only time of year people were allowed to compete in the pit without it being a Death Match.

Though, I was never afforded the same choice.

"Yo, you just gonna ignore me?" I blinked, raising my head and looking back to see Moxie was sitting on a bench. "Still rude as ever."

I'd walked right past her without realizing it, "What are you still doing here?" I asked, "I thought everyone went back to the Hotel already..."

"They did," She shrugged, hopping off the bench. "But I was bored, felt like going for a walk and noticed you weren't back yet." She looked past me, towards the empty streets, "So uh... Where are you going? Hotel's that way." She added, hiking a thumb over her shoulder.

Right, nobody else really knew that I was staying in a different hotel. Work required me to be the first one at the performance center in the morning, and the last one out at night. "I was just going-" I stopped, not just my voice but every movement and thought running through my mind. "Huh..." Eyes drifting down to my hands.

Moxie tilted her head confused, both hands stuffed into her coat pockets. "Something wrong? You're being extra weird right now..."

"I almost lied to your face," I said simply, looking back down at her. "And I would gain nothing from it... Why did I do that?" I questioned out loud, shaking my head. "I was never given a room at the same hotel as all of you," I've never lied in my life. I've told half truths, but never was lying a necessity or something that would gain me anything. "Maria has been paying for my room at a hotel about ten minutes from here." I wasn't going to start now, just to save face for a liar.

"Oh," Moxie blinked, "That's... Why?"

"Ask her yourself," I shrugged, before starting to turn away. "I'm heading back to my hotel, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm sure she'd have plenty of excuses," Moxie's tired sigh did catch my attention. "Yeah, Maria hasn't always been the most honest person."

So not everyone around her is blind, "So I've noticed..."

My ears twitched, as Moxie's footsteps grew closer until she was standing beside me. "Wanna walk with me for a bit?"

I wanted to question why, but something stopped me. I nodded back at her, "Sure... I'm not that tired anyways." It was the first time someone had actually... Approached me about doing something after work. Every other time, I'd just been ordered to guard members of the band or crew after hours.

We began walking along in silence, in the general direction of my hotel but I started talking alternate routes. Passing by the many closed down buildings, evading the occasional passing car. And getting plenty of strange looks from those few we passed in the street. Of course, a small herbivore walking with a massive carnivore like myself, they probably thought I was going to devour her.

All the while, Moxie didn't really say anything. But I could tell she had something on her mind. She had something she wanted to say, it was the reason she'd come out here looking for me. The reason she'd risk being out after dark with a carnivore. I wonder if she'd spoken to Maria, learned more about my past... Though, if that were the case I doubt she'd want to come out here alone with me.

"Not very talkative are you?" She said suddenly, breaking the silence between us and shaking her head. "Not sure what I expected... I've been racking my brain trying to figure you out."

I quirked an eyebrow, "And what exactly are you trying to figure out?"

Moxie paused briefly, coming to a stop at another street corner. "Just what kind of carnivore you really are." She said simply, "You're quiet, but not grim and analytical like most wolves." She explained, "Intelligent, but not happy and overly friendly like most canines in general actually." Shaking her head once more, "You're blank, but not cold like most reptiles I've met..."

So she was trying to understand me based on my species, I guess that made sense. "Well, do I act like any birds you've met before?" It might have come off as sarcasm, but I meant it.

It earned a short laugh from her, "I uh, actually don't know that many birds so... Not sure." She shifted nervously, rubbing her arm. "Do you... Resent that you were born a hybrid?" The hesitation, the worry in her voice. "It's just... A few weeks ago, when you had that argument with Bruce."

"Maybe I missed something, did you get the choice to be born as a moose?"

This is what she wanted to ask me, "I'm not sure." It was a difficult question to answer, so I knelt down and began taking off my shoe. Exposing my scaled, and talon tipped foot. "My hybrid nature is... The only reason I'm still alive," I explained, showing her the product ID number on the bottom of my foot. It was a gnarled, savage looking foot, meant for ripping and tearing flesh. "I would have been sold as food stock otherwise instead of-" The words catching in my throat for a second, but just like earlier I had to resist the urge to lie. "Instead of... The fighting pits."

As expected, her eyes widened as she registered what I was suggesting. "Oh... S-So that's where you..." She trailed off, staring back at me. It was the first time I'd been at eye level with her I think. "Was it... As bad as it sounds?"

"Worse." I looked away, and began putting my shoe back on. "As soon as I my fangs and talons grew in, they put me in the pit against other children." I wasn't going to hold back a single piece of the truth. "That was... Maybe sixteen years ago?" I rose back to my feet, turning my head I could see my hotel just up the street. "I fought at least three to five times a week, every match was to the death." I added, staring down at her, unflinching in the confession of my sins. "That is why I don't feel any hunger for meat, or a desire to hunt... Or anything at all."

She was speechless for a moment, processing the notion that I'd likely killed hundreds of other animals. No small amount of which were children. But after that long moment of silence, she looked down and her brow furrowed. "If you don't feel anything, then why did you almost die saving Maria?"

That was... Not the response I was expecting. "The Beastar told me it was just instincts."

"Maria said that?"

"No," I shook my head, "Another one... Tall, Black Stallion named Yafya."

"Oh, right..." She looked bewildered by the revelations I was giving her. "That Beastar..."

"I guess... To answer your original question, I don't hate my mixed blood," Looking back, I think I could safely say that. "And... I'm not ashamed of what I've done in the Pit."

Her eyes widened, "B-But you've killed other people!" Her words cutting through the quiet night, a sharp edged accusation. Something about it hurt, more so than those police officers, more so than anything Bruce had told me.

"Would not fighting back, dying a cold gruesome death alone in a pit have made me a good person?" What is this? Why is my heart starting to race? "Am I so terrible, because I didn't want to die any more than the person standing in front of me?" I was raising my voice, I felt a rush of aggression. It wasn't aimed at her though, it was aimed at this entire damned society.

"Take it easy," She was shrinking under my harsh gaze, sweating. My reptilian pupils narrowed to slits giving me a terrifying visage. "I-I didn't mean t-"

"Everyone out here talks about how I'm supposed to act, Bruce says terrible things at every opportunity, people in public that notice my appearance stare like I'm a monster." I had to resist the urge to advance on her, she was the only one that took the time to listen. I couldn't risk scaring her away. "It's like I'm supposed to feel bad just for being born like this, not just as a carnivore but as a hybrid... Tell me Moxie, what did I do wrong? What was I supposed to do?"

The fear in her eyes told me she didn't have an answer, or that she didn't want to risk provoking me further. So, I drew back in my aggression, my frustrations with this new world. Sealed them back up, as my eyes returned to normal and I stepped back. "Sven... I'm sorry." She managed to whimper out. "I didn't realize you were so frustrated..."

"I'll see you at work tomorrow." Was all I gave her, before I turned my broad back to her and made my way to the hotel.

It didn't matter how much I played by their rules, how well I did my job, or how familiar I tried to get. They accept my company when I'm quiet, expressionless and passive. But to all these herbivores, I'm just...

A terrifying.

Carnivorous.

Monst-

"SVEN WATCHOUT!"

Snapped back to reality by her scream, I didn't even notice the shadow lurching towards me from the darkness beyond the streetlamps light. It was so fast, closing the distance with one massive arm drawn back. I hesitated, my sense of smell couldn't register my assailant, I had no time to react before-

I cringed in pain, stumbling back as a clawed hand swiped me across the chest. I'd leaned back just enough, the powerful claws at the end of an arm covered in black fur barely pierced my skin, just grazing the surface.

A second swipe followed, but this time I managed to evaded completely. Jumping back with my powerful legs, towards Moxie. "Tch, damn rabbit, should have kept your mouth shut." I recognized his voice, one I never wanted to hear again. Stepping into the light, was a massive black bear. His body was covered in rippling muscles, my blood on one of his claws. "That's fine, you'll make a good snack once I finished killing this lost pup."

"Orgo," This was the last thing I needed right now. "I should have smelled your stink from a mile away..."

"I know you've got a canine nose," He chuckled in amusement, rolling his shoulders. "So I used some sprays to hide my scent, but you seemed pretty distracted after your little... Argument." His eyes darting past me to Moxie. "The outside world isn't all you thought it would be huh?"

"S-Sven," Moxie stammered out, frozen in place behind me. "Who is this guy?"

"A handler from the fight pits," And also the animal that trained me, beat me, and broke me. "My former boss' second in command you could say... So what's the deal Orgo? Did Sloan find out I was alive and send you to catch me?" I hated him.

"Heheheh, actually I'm here to collect a bounty," He sneered, licking some of my blood from his claws. "The Madaragumi were pissed when they learned you were still alive, and put a nice price on your head for interrupting their plans."

Those beady little eyes, so focused and sharp, it was hard to read him. "If you wanted to kill me, you shouldn't have come alone." I couldn't tell if he was lying, but I couldn't chance it. Even if my nose wasn't reliable right now, my ears were sharp as ever. "You know better than anyone, what I'm capable of in a one on one fight..."

"That's right, I do," He sneer twisted into a wicked glare. "I've watched you for years, I watched you take my place in the ring," Anger filling his eyes, "I was forcefully retired by Sloan, to make way for his new rising star... You're supposed to be the undefeated champion? Well you never defeated ME to take that title!" He roared, slamming his knuckles together, "I'm going to enjoy putting you in your place, you hybrid bitch."

His stance, his movement, it was so well trained. Unlike the wild animals I usually fought in the pit, rarely did I ever get put up against a real master. "Moxie," I never took my eyes off of him. "Keep your distance... And keep your phone ready, I'm going to need an ambulance once this is over..."

"H-How about I skip the middle man and just call the police!?" She questioned.

"Because then he'll just run away," I answered, the toothy grin spreading across Orgo's face told me that I was right. "And attack again at another time," I reached one hand up and started to remove my coat, it would only restrict my movements. "Considering how fast he is for his size... I'd say I got off lucky with just a scratch in his ambush." I couldn't run away, I might never get the chance to turn the tables on him again. At least here and now, we were on equal footing. "But... If I do start to lose, run away as fast as you can." I threw my coat and overshirt aside, leaving me in just a black tank top.

"Enough talking!" Orgo snarled out, charging me head on. He was so fast, I had to be careful how I dodged him.

I was incredibly strong thanks to my mixed blood, but I wasn't quite sure I wanted to test that against a black bear. So as he closed the distance, I crouched down and jumped. Flinging myself over his head, talons out and ready. As I came down, they were raked across his back in an X shape. It caused Orgo to hiss in pain, but the receipt for my attack was swift and unforgiving.

"Hraagh!" A brutal backswing, his knuckles slammed me right in the jaw and nose. The blow was enough to knock me back, both my nose and mouth bleeding. "That's right, you're spry because your bones are light like a birds, your skeleton doesn't weigh you down much, no wonder you're so agile." He surmised, ignoring the blood running down his back. "I've always found your mixed blood so interesting, the times I've wondered what sound you'd make if you in pain," I was already on my feet, ducking and dodging around more swipes from him. "Will you whimper like a dog? Will you hiss like a lizard? Or maybe squawk like a bird!" His swings were getting faster, the smell of my blood was sending his instincts to kill into overdrive. "Lets find out!"

There was no denying it, I'd been out of the the fighting pits for over a month now. My body had gotten weaker, I was slower than before.

"Gah!" Another blow, knuckles cracking me across the jaw. I was thankful for the moment that it hadn't been his claws, but as I recoiled he took the opportunity to barrel into me. Driving his shoulder into my chest, and slamming me spine first into the wall of my own hotel. Forcing the air from my lungs, and sending cracks through the stonework.

"Seems your time out here has made you soft," He mused, using one powerful arm to hold me in place. "I thought you were BETTER than this!" He drew back his free hand, fingers clenched into another fist. "I thought you were the undefeated champion! NUMBER SEVEN!"

My eyes bolted wide open as the fist came down, "HRAAGH!" I opened my mouth, catching his incoming fist between my teeth. Making him wince in pain as I bit down as hard as I could. I was snarling and hissing out against his hand as he struggled to pull it out of my jaws. But I wasn't going to let go easily.

"Grrrngh! Is this the best you've got?" Orgo demanded, as his hand leaked blood into my mouth. "A little love bite?!" He finally began to relieve the pressure on my chest as he pulled back his other arm to help wrench his hand free of my jaws.

That was exactly what I'd been hoping for, and I acted the instant I could breathe properly again. I threw my knees up into his stomach, driving them into his ribs hard enough to make him lurch forward. As he did so, I slammed my head into his nose smashing it and splitting my own brow open. Orgo yelped in pain, stumbling back only a single step.

He was more stalwart than I'd predicted, and I wasn't given room to escape even as blood ran from his broken nose. "You're gonna regret that you hybrid freak!" He threw another mighty swing at me, this time aiming wide on my right side. I brought up both arms to try and block it, but on impact it felt like my bones were cracking. I wasn't able to hold my ground, and let him throw me to the ground with the brutal swing as it hit the side of my face. "You wanna know the difference between us? Why you're so inferior, besides your impure blood?" He questioned, standing over me as I began to rise on shaky legs. "Because you've lost your instincts, you don't crave the kill, you can't ride the high that comes with the thrill of the hunt," He sneered, "Every drop of blood you spill, every wound you inflict on my body makes my heart race, drives me to move faster and hit harder!"

Well, at least all his gloating gave me time to catch my breath. "My heart's racing pretty fast right now..." But he was right, I was completely on the defensive, I didn't feel that same hyper aggressive lust for blood that he had coursing through him.

"A shame you didn't get the chance to grow up as a real carnivore," Orgo snorted, sending a bit of blood shooting from his nose. "You never got to feel the thrill of your first predation, you were de-sensitized by the Pit, and now you can't feel anything at all." His legs bent ever so slightly, he was about to attack again. "Without instincts, without those desires, why would you even want to keep living?"

When he charged, I brought up my hands. I managed to catch his wrists, but he was pushing me back instantly. Forcing me inch by inch across the concrete sidewalk. "Gnnngh! Sh-Shut your mouth!" I growled out at him, wincing as my arms struggled to hold him back. Whatever fractures had already been created were being exacerbated by his overwhelming strength. But I dug in my heels, "HRAAAGH!" I turned, using his forward momentum and all the strength I had to throw Orgo, taking him by surprise as he was launched and smashed into the corner of the next building.

As I was freed of his onslaught for the moment, I collapsed to my knees panting for breath. My left eye was swelling shut from the previous swing, my arms were sore and hurt to move, I was bleeding all over. "Sven!" Moxie, right, almost forgot she was here. "I-Is it over? Did you get him?" She asked, standing beside me now.

"Doubtful," I replied, spitting some blood onto the ground. "I think he's just stunned." I shot her a sideways glance, "You should run away while you still have a chance." He would kill me in the next attack I think, I no longer had the strength to fend him off. The beast began to move again, Orgo was rising to his feet again. "While he's distracted with me, run as fast as you can and find somewhere to hide or an open building."

The black bear shook off any debris still on him. "Heheheh, not bad, I let my guard down." He said, rolling his shoulders. At the same time, I was pushing myself back to my feet. On shaky legs, I stood as tall as I could manage.

"You're going to try fighting him again!?" Moxie demanded, "You can't do that!" Her voice was trembling, her body shaking. "You barely managed to fend him off before, and you can barely stand! He's going to kill you!"

"That's okay, you don't have to pretend you still want me around," I was surprised, that she'd try to lie just to make me feel better even now. "I don't think the world wants a freak like me anyways..."

"I can't wait to see what you taste like!" Orgo prevented us from exchanging any kind of goodbye. "Time to fulfill what you were born to do! And that's BE MY FOOD! Number Seven!" The moment he charged, I used my tail to throw Moxie towards the hotel entrance behind us. She landed somewhere near the cracked section of the wall, where I'd been slammed into earlier. Orgo and I met one final time, slamming into each other with all our power. It took everything I had just to hold my ground, teeth grit and my one good eye wide with fury. "What's wrong Number Seven!?" He mocked, eyes filled with savage fury, "Did you run out of gas!?" As I was pushed back, my legs starting to bend under his overwhelming power. "You're so weak now! Don't you even have the instincts to put up a fight before you die!?"

"Sven no!" Moxie cried out from somewhere behind me.

Why was she still here? "HrnnnAAGH! I will not let you get past me!" I shouted in Orgo's face, "Moxie! RUN!"

Orgo laughed back at me, "Looking after some pathetic little rabbit at a time like this? You're really are a lost cause aren't you?!"

He was forcing me down, trying to drive me into the ground. "Sh-Shut up! AAGH!" I screamed back at him, as my arms felt like they were starting to break. All my muscles screaming at me, like at any moment my entire body was going to give out.

I'm sorry, Lady Maria. I guess I wasn't meant to be in your service for very long. Maybe I always had this coming, after all the lives I've taken. Maybe I should have known I couldn't just leave the pit without suffering consequences. Dying like this, alone in a cold street to be devoured, it's the kind of death fitting for a pit dog like me I think.

"HRAAAAGH!" With one final, brutal drive forward, Orgo smashed me into the sidewalk. My back hit first, my arms gave out and he slammed both of his fists into my torso punctuating his final attack with the snapping of my ribs. "H-Heheheh, hAHAHAHAHA!" His horrible, mocking laughter echoing into the night as my eyes started to go dark. Before I heard what sounded like a dull thud. "What the..." His head tilted up, towards where I'd thrown Moxie. A small piece of rubble from the wall rolling off of Orgo's fur, "Did you just throw a rock at me you stupid little rabbit?"

No, Moxie what are you doing? "Just stop," Her voice, as if she were riding the edge between blinding fury and a breaking into tears. "GET OFF OF HER RIGHT NOW YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

I managed to tilt my head back enough to see her standing there. Another rock in hand, ready to throw. "Well, I was gonna save you for desert," Orgo chuckled lowly, raising his fist from my body. "But if you're so eager to die, I'll get rid of you now!"

"Then do it you fat bastard!" What is this? "I promise I won't go down easy!" She was so... Fierce, like a carnivore.

This energy, this aura emanating from her. It shook me to the core, stirring up my tired muscles and making me forget all about the pain I was in.

"Ngh!" I grabbed Orgo by his wrists before he had a chance to move off of me. "Shit, you're still ali-" His words hitching as he looked down at my blood covered face.

My heart was suddenly racing, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My eyes narrowed to slits, fur standing on end and feathers flaring up. I'd felt this before, in the Back Alley Market, on the night that I met Maria. A surge of energy, an overwhelming desire to... Protect something. But, Moxie looked so much different than Maria had that night.

"She probably looked like a frightened child in your eyes, triggering latent instincts."

Right, Yafya explained that to me before. My powerful, hyper protective maternal instincts. But in that moment, Moxie hadn't been watching with desperation or fear in her eyes. For the briefest of moments, even I believed she could kill Orgo with her bare hands. So why were my instincts triggering now? And why... Why did it feel so much stronger?

"Hrrrngh! I won't let you TOUCH HER!" I started to rise, pushing Orgo off of me as I fought to my feet. Even as pops and crackles throughout my arms told me they were coming apart.

"Dammit! Where the hell did this come from!?" The Black Bear demanded, gritting his teeth and trying to drive me back. "How are you getting stronger!?"

I was already well beyond my limit, and I wasn't stupid enough to believe that this adrenaline rush wouldn't run out before I killed him. So, it was time to gamble.

"Moxie!" I called out urgently, "Cover your ears NOW!" But I didn't have time to waste, and inhaled deeply.

Orgo's eyes widened, confusion clear on his face. "What the hell are you doing!?"

He'd asked earlier what kind of noises I could make. Well, I'd learned a lot about my mixed species since coming to the outside world. Specifically, that some birds had very, very powerful voices.

With Orgo's hands locked with mine, he couldn't protect his ears. I opened my mouth and released a horrifying cry. It started off low and guttural, some mix between a snarl and hiss before rapidly increasing in pitch and volume until it was an eardrum rupturing scream, right in his face. The sound was like something out of a nightmare, like the scream some terrible monster would release in its death throes.

But, I wasn't a completely avian. My vocal chords were torn to shreds by my own voice, my throat was on fire and I struggled not to cough up blood. The scream only lasted a few seconds, before I lost my voice under a tide of blood in my throat. Even so, in just those few seconds the damage was done.

His eyes clenched shut, and Orgo reeled in pain losing all leverage he had against me as he stumbled back. "Aaagh! Aaagh my ears! Gah! D-Damn you!" Blood ran down the sides of his face, as he gripped his head.

I took the chance to attack, lunging at him. Aiming for the upper body, I dug my claws into his shoulders, anchoring myself in place. He took swings up at me, they were wild and frantic. I felt his burly knuckles slam into my ribs, claws dick into my side. Before I opened my jaws wide, and brought down every single pound of bite force I had in me right on the side of his neck. Crushing his windpipe, and tearing into the most vital arteries he had.

Before pulling it away with a violent jerk, ripping out his throat and spitting the chunk of fur and meat onto the ground.

Orgo collapsed beneath me, bleeding out and suffocating on the pavement. I stood tall over him, stumbling back a few feet on shaky legs as my arms fell limp at my sides. My breathing was haggard, blood running from my mouth. I turned slowly, looking towards Moxie. I could only maintain my composure for a second, before a cool breeze hit me and I collapsed as well.

Moxie appeared above me, as I stared up at the sky. She was saying something, pulling out her phone. But I couldn't hear her, my head was throbbing and my ears ringing. Even if I could, I wouldn't be able to respond with my vocal chords in such disrepair.

As she frantically called for an ambulance, at least that's what I assumed she was doing, I passed out on the cold hard ground.