AAAGH! So many people to respond too! Thanks for the reviews guys! I'll get through this quick! But just a heads up, there will only be one more chapter to close out this uh... "Season"? Idk, finishing this arc with one more chapter before I potentially take a bit of a break to prepare the next arc and find out how exactly I want to execute it.

animegal1998: I'm glad you're enjoying! I don't plan on having a lot of fighting in this story, so I want to make sure the fights that do happen are important!

Deku: I do love the sassy rabbit I created XD

Mr-Pebbles: Yeah, gotta get out of the habit of hospitalizing my characters...

Firestar5277: No YOU'RE awesome! Thanks for reading!

Guest: Well, as she said she's been reading a lot about animals and trying to understand different species better. And *Small manga spoiler* Legosi does mention at some point later that birds are known for having voices that can rupture eardrums. Really, she didn't "Know" it would work lol it was all a gamble, one that paid off and also mutilated her vocal chords.

Anyways, on with the story! Next chapter will likely be out sunday or monday!


I remember fading in and out of consciousness after I collapsed on the street. There were police, maybe an ambulance, people were swarming around me. Eventually Moxie and I were separated, likely so she could be questioned by police. I ended up at the hospital a short while later, sent straight to intensive care. My arms were both put into casts, while bandages and stitches were frantically applied across the lacerations he'd left me with. As well as the bandages wrapped around my ribs.

I was given a hefty dose of painkillers and antibiotics for the damage to my throat, and was soon fast asleep.

Everything was sore when I finally opened my eyes again, it hurt to breathe and I didn't even want to try talking. The sun was high in the sky, the beams barely making it through my window. It must have been some time in the afternoon by now, though I wasn't sure if it was only the following day or if more time had passed.

I'd have my questions answered soon, I think. "Hmm, you're finally awake I see," A familiar voice, not the one I'd been hoping for though. Deep and stern, "I won't ask you to speak, I'll keep it to simple yes or no questions."

The black stallion, Sublime Beastar and guardian of society, Yafya, rose from him seat just out of my fixed field of view. Walking around in front of my bed, I had no intention of speaking so I simply nodded my head as best I could.

"Good, I'll keep the interrogation short," Oh, how nice of him. "Did you know the bear that attacked you?" I nodded. "Interesting, was he from the Pit?" I nodded. "As I figured, was he working on direct orders to bring you back?" I shook my head. "So he acted of his own volition, good to know." He kept his sharp, intelligent eyes on me as he committed everything to memory. "I'd figured most of that for myself, but I wanted to be clear on the key points... Your friend Moxie seemed intent on concealing the truth." Wait, what did Moxie do? "Said you were attacked by a blood crazed bear, and neither of you had any idea who he was." My surprise must have been visible, because he smirked in amusement. "Seems she wanted to prevent you from being implicated in a police report, fear not though I have no intention of revealing the truth."

But why would he do that? Yafya had made it clear in our first conversation that he didn't like me.

He loudly cleared his throat, holding up a small notepad. "Young Carnivore Protects Herbivore From Attempted Devouring." Was he reading that off? "That will be the headline hitting papers and the evening news, sound good?" I think he was enjoying my confusion, "We'll be keeping the details about your mixed blood out of the news of course, as far as the public knows you're just a Red Wolf." He shrugged simply.

I was really starting to get tired of him talking at me.

"You're confused, I know, I'll keep things simple." About time. "You put me in a tight spot, as my investigation throughout the day has revealed that you have a price on your head placed by the Madaragumi, in reality this attack was meant for you specifically." He surmised easily enough. "Normally, I'd lay the blame and your own injuries as a result of your own presence outside the market... However, despite Moxie's blatant lies about the circumstances of the attack, I believe wholeheartedly that she told the truth about one thing." He said, holding up a single finger before pointing it at me. "You fought tooth and nail for her safety, first and foremost, over your own survival."

That was supposed to be simple?

"I hate the Black Market, and would see it destroyed in my life time if possible," He went on, long winded as ever. "I'm not even very fond of carnivores... And perhaps I was a bit hard on you during out first encounter because I saw you as nothing but the spawn of the Black Market, I find myself both pleasantly surprised, and annoyed that I was wrong."

It's a lot easier to see everything as black and white, eh Yafya?

"You'll spend the next few months recovering here," He continued, "Under guard of course, during that time I advise you to formally resign from your position as Lady Maria's personal guard." What? Why? I quirked my eyebrow at him in confusion, "Is it really not obvious? There is a bounty on your head, and there is a good chance you will be targeted again." He scoffed, shaking his head. "You were lucky this time, next time you might not be."

He was right, I'd never even considered that. Orgo might have just been the first in a long line of animals that could try to take my head.

"It will be tagged onto the end of your article, that you've since cut ties with the band for the sake of recovering you health," He added, "I've already talked things over with Maria, you'll be given a severance pay so you might find some place to live... But I suggest you cut all contact with Unity afterwards." He finally stepped back, tucking away his notes. "I'll be going now, before the others arrive."

I watched him turn his back, move towards the door. But just as his hand reached the knob, he paused for a second.

"One thing about you still perplexes me, though I have an sneaking suspicion you don't have the answer I need." The Black Stallion stated, not bothering to look back at me. "You have... A remarkable will to live, despite all the trauma you've been through..." He explained, "You come off as numb to the world around you, yet you fight ferociously to stay a part of it... And I would like to know why." He turned his head slightly, shooting me a look with only his right eye. "I know you don't have that answer, you're still stumbling and trying to gain your footing in our world... But when you've figured it out, let me know."

He left me to consider his musings in silence. I tilted my head back, staring at the ceiling as I considered what he said.

I think he was right, I didn't have an answer to that question. Maybe I needed to question what I was doing with myself now, what I'd actually become since leaving the Black Market almost two months ago. And, well... The answer was that I hadn't really changed at all. I wasn't fighting in the pit, and I'd expanded my knowledge of other animals but... I was still the same person.

Is that a bad thing? Hard to say.

"The doctors didn't say anything about her being a vegetable now," Huh? "HelloooOOoOoo? Sven?"

I blinked, tilting my head a little and looking to the left. Moxie and Maria were both standing there, while Bruce remained by the door at the other side of the room. "There she is," Maria giggled lightly, "Glad to see you're awake."

"Spacing out like usual," Moxie added, her smile was soft but... Also halfhearted, it seemed to me. "Glad to see a bear mauling didn't change you too much, how are you feeling?"

"The Doctor said she won't be able to speak for some time," Maria reminded her, "She's got weeks or maybe even months of physical recovery to go through, and therapy for her arms." Her smile turning to a frown, "But, I'm glad you're alive, thank you for protecting Moxie."

"What were you two even doing out in that side of town?" Bruce questioned, "It's dangerous at night with all those back alleys."

"Just going for a walk," Moxie answered, shrugging her shoulders. "We were bored after the show and it was a nice night..." Still lying, for my sake or her own I can't say for sure.

She probably hadn't even told them the truth, but Maria had to know right? Based on what Yafya said before, "Anyways," Maria's eyes darted back to me. "I've already paid for your recovery, and the therapy you'll need... And you'll be getting a bonus so you can find somewhere nice and quiet to rest until you're in good health again." She assured, "I'm sorry this happened to you, I'll make every effort to see you return to us in perfect health."

So, he'd left out that part at least. Or she was trying to keep up an act, it was hard to tell. So for now I simply nodded, maybe the only way I could show thanks.

"Excuse me?" All heads turned as the door was pushed open, a canine of some kind stepped in. He had deep, chocolate brown fur, intelligent eyes and a friendly smile. "Sorry if I'm interrupting, but we have an update on your friends medical situation."

"Update?" Moxie questioned, clearing the way as he approached Maria. "Is something else wrong?"

"We wanted to be thorough," He explained, "So we went over the internal scans a few extra times, the physiology of a hybrid is tricky, we have to look through medical information on all species mixed in." That made sense, reptiles, mammals and birds didn't exactly all tick the same. "Unfortunately, we did find something you need to know about."

I nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue as the tension settled in.

"I assure you it's nothing life threatening," Well that was a relief, "But it is cause for concern... It's about your vocal chords." Uh oh. "The damage sustained was... Extensive, it'll be weeks or maybe even months before you can speak properly again," That wasn't the worst of it, I could tell. "In addition, you need to refrain from doing something like that again, if you sustain that kind of damage to your vocal chords too much... Well, you might damage them beyond repair and be rendered mute."

So no more shrieking, "Well," Oh boy, Bruce has input. "She never spoke much before, so that shouldn't be a problem..."

"Actually," I blinked in surprise, as Moxie spoke up. "She's pretty talkative, once you get to know her." Wearing a faint, sad smile. "You should try it some time."

Bruce looked down at her, staring for a moment before the doctor cleared his throat. "Ahem, anyways I just wanted to give you that warning, and obviously you should avoid fighting any more bears... Lady Maria, we have a bit more paperwork we need you to sign off on for the payment."

"Right of course," She nodded, looking back to me briefly. "I'll be back in a little while okay? Don't strain yourself, use that button beside the bed if you need anything." She said, quickly stepping out.

As the door closed behind her, Bruce pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning against. His eyes were locked onto me, filled with frustration different than I was used to seeing. "... Nice work." Wait, did he just-

No, I didn't overthink things. I gave him a nod of appreciation, before he made his way out... Leaving me alone with Moxie. Just as the night before, she had that look like she wanted to say something.

After a moment in silence, she sighed heavily. Walking over to my bedside, and hopping up into a chair. I couldn't turn my head all the way to look at her, so I settled for a sideways glance. "You know, I feel like I spent all night trying to think of what to say to you... If you survived anyways," Her eyes weren't on me though, she stared down at her own hands as she spoke. "I was... Scared, relieved... Angry," Wait, angry?

I cringed in pain, as she swatted my arm with her own hand suddenly. My eyebrow quirking in confusion as I looked at her.

"I don't have to pretend that I still want you around?" She scoffed, mirroring my words from the night before. "What the hell is that supposed to mean!? Just because we had one little argument, you think I hate you or something? I'd understand if I were Bruce but..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "Have some value in your own life dammit, don't throw it away just because you think the world or I don't want you." That same fire in her voice, the fire that set me off during that fight. Before she sighed and slumped back into her chair, "Sorry for hitting you... That just really pissed me off," She huffed, shaking her head. "Maybe its a new concept to you, but friends can fight and still be friends, you know?"

Wait, what did she just say? Friends? Is... Is that what she considered me?

"What happened was scary, with that big bear... But, it made me think about some of the stuff you said." She continued, while I was enthralled by her words. "It was a shock to hear about what you'd done in the Back Alley Market... The Pit is evil, but you didn't end up like he did, you're a good person." Moxie stated, smiling faintly, "In fact, I think I can safely say you're the one good thing that came out of that terrible place."

If only I could speak right now... I tried to open my mouth, to say anything if I could but- The pain was so terrible, even the slightest vibration through my vocal chords was agony. I chose my words carefully. And though they were bound by casts, I managed to move my left arm ever so slightly towards her. My fingers were twitching, as I held my hand out to her.

Did she really not understand what happened in that moment? How close I came to dying as well? Neither of us would have lived if she hadn't-

"Hey, what are you doing?" She asked, blinking in surprise. Before, she got out of her chair and moved closer to my bedside. I think, maybe she understood what I was doing. Reaching out, she took hold of a few of my fingers with her small hand, looking back at me and staring me in the eyes. I was only just barely able to grip her hand.

"You... Saved me... Too." My words were raspy, voice barely even a whisper and every syllable was agony on my throat. But it was enough for her to hear, as her eyes widened.

But... I think I did something wrong.

After a second of processing what I'd said, she pulled her hand back quickly. She broke eye contact, almost turned completely away from me. "R-Right, cool, glad to know you're doing okay I'll just uh..." Her confidence vanished in an instant. "I'll just... I'll see you later okay? Feel better soon!" She practically ran from the room, leaving me in silence and confusion as she door closed behind her.

Having friends is... Strange.