Chapter 81 - A Lesson In Meat-Eating

After a long while of cleaning up, everyone settled around the apartment. Hachi stayed, in case Nori needed any more medical attention. Louis sat by his side, constantly talking about how worried he was for the red panda. He had hit him pretty hard...

Legosi kneeled on the ground, arms folded on the arm of the couch and head resting on them, watching for any signs of life from Nori. The red panda's breath came in and out slowly through his nose.

Louis groaned. "He's just going to hate me for what I did..."

Hachi shook their head. "He's not. I think he'll understand. He did start the fight."

"He might not even know who hit him," Legosi noted, voice quiet.

"...I don't know," Louis shrunk back.

Legosi brought a gentle hand down to pet the fur on Nori's head. "So, you're really okay with him now, Hachi?"

The elk looked to the side. "I need to try and understand him before I think anything. I just jumped to conclusions too fast."

Louis didn't look away from Nori, and if he did, he made sure he looked back quickly. "That's rather mature of you, after that display."

"I still feel terrible."

"It's passed."

"Sorry to bother you, but I am feeling a little hungry..." Hachi whispered. "Must be the fighting."

Louis looked to where their half prepared bowls of curry were. "Oh, right. I completely forgot."

"Yeah, all I had at...work today was...melon," Legosi managed to sound not completely suspicious.

Louis blinked. "Uh...?"

"Yeah. I can help, hon. Just tell me what to do." Legosi stood up, his knees cracking.

"Might need to heat each bowl up..."

Legosi walked over and placed his hand on Louis' shoulder. "Do you think we're safe?" he whispered.

The deer looked at him. "I hope so."

Soon, the meals they all should have been eating about an hour ago were reheated and served. Legosi's tail couldn't help but wag slightly at the wonderful taste, but their current situation kept it from moving past a wiggle.

"Hachi, um," Legosi swallowed his bite of food before continuing. "Are you going to talk to Nori? Like, with your voice?"

"I don't know. It feels weird."

"Are you upset that you're talking now?"

"...I have complicated feelings about it."

Legosi sighed. "Rough start to a potential friendship, but if things are smooth from here, I think we can still get along."

"Mm." They stared out the window again.

Louis just kept looking at Nori.

"Where did you learn your medical knowledge?" Legosi asked the elk, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Books. I volunteered," Hachi responded.

"And do you think Nori will be okay without going to a hospital?" Legosi pressed further.

"That's the point of me being the doctor."

"But you didn't get your doctorate, so technically, um..."

"It's the black market."

Legosi let out a huff along with a quiet 'sorry' and it was silent once more. Louis grabbed his hand and Legosi squeezed it back. Seems like they were stuck with these two until Nori's condition changed.

After what seemed like forever, the red panda finally made a noise. "Mm..."

Louis gasped and ran forward. "Nori!"

Nori's eyes opened and they slowly shifted to him. "Oh." He turned on his side, back facing the three animals.

Legosi came forward. "N-Nori! Don't worry, nobody's going to hurt you...again..."

"Whatever," the red panda said, barely audible, his tail curled up around him.

The buck touched his arm. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know what else to do..."

"It's fine."

"It's not, though."

"Just leave me alone." He curled up more.

"We're concerned about you and want what's best for you," Legosi spoke up, quietly. "Even if we just met, I mean it..."

Nori scooted away. "I don't want to talk to you right now."

Legosi backed off. "Th-that's fine. How's your head?"

"Clean out your ears, wolf."

Legosi simply sighed and went to clear out the dishes.

Louis sighed. "Nori, please. Talk to me."

"I know Hachi is still here."

"They are."

"So I won't talk to you."

Hachi came over and kneeled down behind him next to Louis. "I am sorry."

Nori's ears perked at this, but he didn't turn around. "Please don't hurt me anymore."

The elk's ears went back. "I...did not plan on it."

"How would I know? It's not like you would tell me."

Hachi sighed. "If we are going to speak about it, we will speak alone."

"I don't want to be alone with you."

"I understand."

"What will you tell Ichi?" Legosi asked Hachi.

Hachi shook their head. "I don't know."

"I'm not going back," Nori said. "Fuck you."

The elk turned. "Look...I just freaked out because I realized you ate meat."

Nori stayed silent at this.

"I have been wrong in my beliefs. Louis helped me realize."

"Of course he did," Nori said. "Louis is amazing."

Louis blinked. "I am?"

Nori turned around. "Yeah. And Shichi, too."

Legosi spoke again. "Why...didn't he come today?"

"Training."

Louis blinked. "Weird. Usually, they train us together."

"Maybe he's trying to outdo you," Legosi joked, although his tone was completely serious.

"I don't care," Louis shrugged.

"Don't worry. He doesn't," Nori said. "Do you understand why I think you're amazing?"

"Honestly, not really," Louis responded.

"Because you stopped me when I was acting foolish," the red panda said. "I know you didn't do it to hurt me."

"I didn't," Louis said, quickly.

"But...I'm still ashamed as hell," Nori explained.

The buck opened his arms. "You could use one of these."

Nori gave a little smile to him and wrapped his arms around him.

Legosi's tail flicked. "Can I join in?" he asked, quietly.

"Yeah," Louis said, opening his arms further.

Legosi snuggled in, hugging both Louis and Nori, although he was careful to see how much of himself the panda would accept.

Hachi just crossed their arms, continuing to look outside.

Nori sighed in the comfort of the two animals. "So...I guess you know I eat meat."

"I didn't know herbivores could eat meat without getting sick," Legosi commented, rubbing his cheek gently on Nori's head. He was so soft.

The panda sighed. "Well...red pandas eat meat sometimes. But I love it.."

Legosi hummed in thought. "They don't really teach about omnivores in school."

Nori looked at Hachi. "Do you mind?"

The elk stood up. "I'll wait outside." They promptly left.

"I can tell they feel bad about what they did,' the wolf said, softly.

"They should," Nori said. "It was brash."

"I'm glad they saw reason so quickly. Louis really has a way with words." Legosi turned and kissed his husband on the cheek.

The buck blushed. "I just said the truth..."

"And said it well," Legosi rubbed his face on Louis now.

Nori looked up. "What exactly did you say?"

"I said that eating meat doesn't make you evil. They thought you were evil."

The red panda blinked. "Evil? Like, they used the word 'evil'?"

"Yes."

"Weird..."

"But they understand now."

Nori leaned into him. "Why did they think that?"

"They basically used it as an excuse to explain why their adopted parents treated them so badly."

Legosi moved his hand to gently stroke Nori's arm. "How's your head?" he asked again, hoping for an answer this time.

"It's killing me..." the panda sighed. "I deserve it, anyway."

"You and Hachi both with this 'I deserve it' bullshit," Louis groaned.

Legosi carefully rubbed the bandage around Nori's head. "It's in the past, meaning you can come to an understanding now."

"I don't know if I can face them so easily anymore..." Nori whispered. "But I also let my anger get the best of me." He looked toward the door. "Truth is...I'm jealous of Legosi."

Legosi blinked. "Um...you only just met me?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant you're a carnivore. You're so strong and powerful and awesome...I have the claws and I eat meat and everything and it does make me feel powerful...but I'm not and never will really be a carnivore. It's unfair."

Louis blinked. "But why do you want to be something you're not?"

"Because! Then people might really notice me..."

"..." Louis didn't even need to ask if he really cared about that. Of course he did.

Now Legosi spoke up. "Being a carnivore has only ever gotten me negative attention. Herbivores look at me in fear, and they think I'm a danger to Louis. I don't think being a carnivore would truly make you happy."

Louis nodded. "He's right. But what do you want to happen? You become a carnivore...and then what? You eat meat in the black market? And live where? Not with the Branded. Our apartment is too small."

Nori thought for a moment. "W-well...I'd figure that part out!"

"Not to mention it's just impossible. It's not worth hoping for," Legosi reasoned, rubbing one of the panda's round ears.

Nori sighed. "I mean...I do like the taste of meat and the good feeling it gives me..."

Legosi stopped stroking. "Have you...ever eaten an animal you killed?"

"Of course not! I don't have the skill for that and it would take me forever, too!"

Legosi furrowed his brow. "Would you if you were a carnivore?"

"Maybe...It does go well with killing..."

Legosi sighed, looking at Louis. They certainly have never met an animal like this one before.

Nori rubbed his head. "I guess it was kind of pointless anyway, huh? It's not like anyone knew I was eating it..."

"But Hachi just...poked you and seemed to know," Legosi mumbled.

"I don't know."

Louis spoke up, then. "They said they could see it in your eyes."

Nori's brows furrowed. "What?"

"I don't know. They're an interesting animal."

"Bleh..." the red panda said.

"So...now what?" Legosi's question was to nobody in particular.

"We never let Ichi find out about this," Nori said. His ears and tail shot up, then. "What if Hachi is doing that right now?!"

Legosi stood up. "I'll go see if they're outside."

Louis looked at Nori. "I'm sure there's no need to worry, Nori. They promised they wouldn't."

"That doesn't mean anything!" The red panda exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Legosi poked his head out into the hallway.

Hachi was standing next to the door, waiting.

"Nori is afraid you're going to tell Ichi about him," Legosi said with his eyes downcast. "You won't, right?"

"I already told you I won't," Hachi said. "I am still not going to talk there."

"Okay, I'll go tell him." Legosi turned to go back in before doubling back to the elk. "Do you...need some company out here?"

"Are you providing?" Hachi asked.

Legosi shrugged. "I can. Also since you're talking now we can...talk."

"About what?"

"Uh, anything on your mind? I'll just let Nori know you're not up to anything." Legosi went back in to relay that information and asked the two if they'd be okay with him staying outside with Hachi.

Louis nodded. "I'm sure he'll open up more while you're gone."

Nori nodded, agreeing.

Legosi went out once more, offering Hachi a polite smile.

The elk was looking at the ground. "Did Nori say anything?"

Legosi shook his head. "Not about you. Not anything you haven't heard yet, at least..."

"Does he hate me?"

"He's not happy. So, you don't actually think he's evil, then?"

"I think it is bad that he chooses to eat the meat of other animals."

Legosi nodded. "I don't like that, either, but I've learned that most carnivores that do aren't that bad."

Hachi blinked. "What?"

Legosi shook his head, gathering his thoughts. "What I mean is, an animal eating meat doesn't mean they're necessarily bad. Most might not feel like they have a choice."

"I do not follow," Hachi said. "The animals in the black market are terrible and it all revolves around meat."

Legosi nodded along. "I agree with some of that, but they can't be all terrible, I think. I just keep thinking of my friend Bill. He did stop going eventually, though..."

"But that is only one animal, Legosi."

"There's probably more, though," Legosi sighed. "I'm just saying you don't know for sure. Sorry...Probably isn't something you want to hear from a carnivore. I'm still figuring things out myself."

"Why have you not eaten meat yet anyway?"

"I don't want to. Thinking about it makes me sick, even though I have craved it before. I just..." Legosi sighed again and sat cross-legged on the ground. "I love herbivores. I don't want to eat their meat."

Hachi crossed their arms. "Is Louis stopping you? What if you did not know him?"

"I actually never thought about it until..." Legosi gulped. "One night over a year ago, before we were friends, I lost control of myself. I attacked Louis in the dark, but when I realized it was him, I let him go and ran away. Since then I've been doing all I can to make sure my body never does something like that again."

"And you live with him so...that makes sense," Hachi said.

The wolf nodded. "We work toward it together. Last night I felt no desire to eat him at all, even with, uh, his face in my mouth." He cringed, regretting what he shared.

The elk looked at him with confused eyes. "What are you saying?"

Legosi started gesticulating, nervously. "Uh, well we test our instincts with each other. My instinct to eat and Louis' to be eaten."

"To be...eaten?"

"Yeah." Legosi pat the floor next to him, inviting the herbivore to sit. "Louis sometimes gets the desire to be...devoured by me."

The Branded member took the invitation, sitting next to him and looking at the wall across. "You must be joking with me."

"Ask Louis yourself. I'm being serious. We were just as baffled as you are."

"But why would he...?"

"I guess...because he feels so strongly for me." Legosi looked deep into the elk's big eyes. "You don't seem phased by our relationship."

"I guess it's because you haven't eaten meat..."

"I see." Legosi's ears flapped, gently. "Are you going to keep talking after today?"

"No. To you three, maybe. But other than those times, no."

"It's, uh, a nice voice."

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Soft, gentle, yet firm. Someone would feel safe hearing it." Legosi smiled at them again.

"...And yet I hurt someone who needed to hear it," Hachi responded.

"You just have to make it up to him," Legosi assured with a hand on their shoulder.

"How? I seem like a monster to him. I did not have to fight back even if he did throw the first punch."

"He needs time, that's clear. But...I think he'll let you into his life if you show him you're trying." Legosi hoped to himself that he wasn't seeming too preachy.

"I wonder what they are talking about..."

"I guess it's none of our business." Legosi rubbed the elk's shoulder. "It...it'll be okay."

"I keep saying I will make up something up to Ichi, but I do not know what I will make up."

"Say you were attacked? I guess you would have needed a reason to leave with Nori, though..."

"I wonder if Ichi really cares..."

"What's he like, anyway?"

"Ichi?"

The wolf nodded. "Maybe you have a different perspective of him than Louis or Nori."

"He is...a lot of things. Distracted, mostly. I feel like he cannot focus as a leader. Lately more than anything."

"How old is he?"

"He is only twenty-one. Quite the young age for a gang leader."

"Oh...that's actually horrible. I guess it makes sense he'd be young though since he and Louis were raised together." Legosi clutched his chest with his free hand. "Just thinking about it...I hate that they had to go through that."

"But your deer is different. He left and Ichi stayed."

"Yeah...weren't there other animals like them in the Branded? How are they?"

"San and Kyuu, you are meaning. San is cute and Kyuu does not really care about anything."

"So...I wonder why Ichi is different," Legosi pondered.

"I guess he really feels like he can do something about the black market."

"But why does he need Louis for that?"

"Because of his Imaginary Chimera. Only the actual Branded can summon them. That is what he says, at least."

"Oh yeah. That stuff still sounds crazy to me. It's really real?"

Hachi nodded. "Yes. Very."

Legosi went silent, thinking. The whole Chimera thing wasn't even something he could begin to comprehend, but his mind went back to Ichi. Both he and Melon were opposed to each other, yet they were both entirely too young to be in their line of work. Such wasted potential. "So...he thinks having as many animals as he can with this...power...will help him, uh, 'defeat' the market?"

"I do not know what he wants to use it for," Hachi said. "Not one of us does."

"I can agree with wanting to shut down all the dangerous and horrible things in the market," Legosi admitted. "But I think he should do it another way. Do you think there's a way he could see differently?"

"I do not know. What is the other way?"

Legosi shrugged. "One that doesn't harm innocent animals like Louis."

"There are a lot of carnivores that would be against us."

"I-I don't know." Legosi brought his knees up with his arms and tucked his head in. "I just want Louis back. I want him to be able to live his life. I want to plan our future without all of this..."

"I understand..."

The wolf let out a shaky breath. "I hate that I can't protect him."

"Why not?"

"I couldn't protect him from Ichi taking him, and I can't break him out of it. I feel powerless."

"But that is because he is protecting you, no?"

"Yeah...but he shouldn't have to. This whole situation shouldn't have happened." Legosi brought his head up, his eyes wet.

"You are going to cry?" Hachi blinked.

"I've been keeping it back, but with what happened before with you and Nori and now talking about this..." Legosi sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I just want a normal life with him."

"I am sorry..."

"You'll keep him safe, right?" Legosi sniffed, his sad canine eyes on full display.

"I can do my best..."

Legosi managed a smile again. "Thanks."

Hachi smiled and nodded.

Back in the apartment, Nori and Louis weren't talking, as the two outside had thought. The red panda had his head on Louis' lap and he was sobbing, lightly, while again Louis petted his head.

"S-sorry..." Nori said after a few more tears. "This is so dumb, I know. I'm twenty-three but I act like a dumb fucking baby."

"No, it's okay," Louis said. "The way my life has gone, I could never really afford to act like a kid..." He took a moment. "I still can't."

"I'm sorry," Nori said. He then looked up at the buck. "Do you—"

"I already know what you're going to say and, no, I don't hate you for eating meat. I wouldn't even hate Legosi if he did. We would just have to take extra precautions. More than anything, I don't trust the carnivores of the black market because of the lifestyles they live."

"You don't trust the herbivores, either," Nori joked, with a sniffle.

"I trust you," the deer smiled.

"I trust you, too. And you'll get out of the Branded. I know it."

"So...what's it like? Eating meat?" Louis asked.

"Chewy," Nori said. "Well, depending on what kind of meat you get. Ichi gives us money to spend each week for the work we do or just for being part of the Branded. I always save some to buy some meat, whatever kind I can get, or maybe if there are deals on some. There's this little booth that sells this tangy sauce, too. I always get that. Luckily, it's not too expensive."

"Oh..."

"Yeah! You know, I've been thinking about what Legosi asked earlier about eating an animal I had killed and I just think that would be too much work! I mean eating around all the bones and shit, and then all the blood everywhere. Don't get me wrong, that's one of the best parts of killing, unfortunately, but I don't want it mixed with my eating. Having it already prepared for me is great. I usually never try to get raw meat. Where the hell would I cook it?"

"I guess that makes sense," Louis swallowed, the conversation putting him a little on edge.

"Don't worry, I've never tried deer meat and I never will."

"Okay, thank you."

"But eating meat doesn't give me the same feeling as carnivores get from it," Nori said. "I guess for me it's just my own away of standing against my herbivore-ness..."

"But?"

"But...if no one sees it, then what's the point? I mean, it also tastes really good, but I feel like there's more to it than that for me."

"Do you think you'll stop after this?" Louis asked.

"What? No, of course not. In fact, I think you should come with me. I think you'll learn something."

"Learn what?"

"We'll both find out," the red panda said, still laying on his lap. "You could try that sauce. They don't only sell meat there, you know."

"I'm not sure I feel comfortable with it..." Louis mumbled.

"Don't worry, Louis," Nori said. "The animals that are sold in the black market haven't been murdered or anything."

"I know that. It's just weird to think about animals that once had lives being used as food for others..."

"Plants were alive once, too," Nori stated, point-blank.

"That's...different."

"Meat itself isn't bad, Louis. It's just what happens around it. Addiction, withdrawal, the selling of livestock...They make animals do terrible things. Not the meat."

"But they do those things because of the meat."

"M. I. M.," Nori responded. "Meat in moderation."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a saying. Animals who have eaten meat shouldn't eat an overabundance, nor should they eat too little. They should it consistently to maintain a healthy meat-eating lifestyle."

"That's a saying around the black market?"

"With the patrons that go there strictly for eating meat and not all the other shady shit that goes on there, yeah."

"That must be how Bill was able to stop eating meat so easily," Louis scratched the floor, lightly. "What do you think would happen if Legosi ate meat?"

"Nothing as bad as you think," Nori said. "He would just have to eat it consistently which is some money down the drain, yeah, but you'd be fine."

Louis' brows raised. "R-really?"

"Well, yeah! M. I. M.," remember?"

"Huh..."

"But the smell of meat is strong and a lot of animals don't bother to rid of it on them. I always go find a bathhouse before I return to the Tower. I also drink whatever I can that gets rid of the scent on my breath."

"When do you usually get back?" Louis asked.

"It varies. The showers are the longest part."

"Do you...think it would be good if Legosi ate meat? Like, do you think I'm holding him back? Or, he's holding himself back for me when he doesn't have to?"

"I'm not going to encourage anything, Louis," Nori shook his head. "He's your husband. That's a conversation for you two to have. But if he does decide he wants to try it...You both can come with me. Though, he'll need a disguise because if Ichi catches him with us..."

"And if he doesn't want to?"

"Then you and I can go," Nori said, simply.

"And if I don't?"

"I really think you should," the red panda continued. "Just trust me. You said you did."

"O-okay...But if I feel uncomfortable, I'm leaving, alright?"

Nori smiled. "Totally."

"You really change modes fast...You were just crying on my lap not too long ago and now you're smiling like that..."

"Must be because you're such a good friend," the small omnivore said.

"Y-yeah...Maybe. Sit on the couch. I'll go get them."

Nori nodded and did as he was told. The buck stood up and brushed off his underwear and then went to the door, opening it and looking out into the hall.

The buck saw his husband and the elk seated on the ground together. They had been looking at each other but not talking, but they turned to face him when he peered out the door.

"Oh, hey Lou," Legosi smiled, softly, but his eyes clearly showed he had been crying again.

Louis brought his hand onto the door frame. "What were you two doing? Having a staring contest?" he joked. "Don't worry, you're both pretty."

Legosi giggled softly. "How is he?"

"He's doing much better." And, despite his lack of attire, Louis came out and kneeled down in front of his lover. "Everything will be okay." He looked at Hachi. "I promise you he's not mad at you anymore. He was just in his emotions earlier."

Legosi simply leaned forward and rested his forehead on Louis' chest.

The buck kissed between his ears. "Come on, you two."

They both stood up and reconvened inside the small apartment. At least it didn't look torn apart anymore.

The blinds still laid on the floor, but other than that, the trio had done a pretty good job at putting it back at how it was and cleaning up the blood. The couch, however, was still very stained.

Nori sat in a clear spot (the spot where Hachi hadn't been sitting before) and smiled, then looked at Hachi. "I'm sorry..."

"I am sorry, too, Nori. I understand that you could not tell anyone that you had eaten meat because you would have been killed."

"Yeah..."

"It also occurred to my mind that you are not a typical carnivore..."

"Exactly. I still mostly eat non-meat stuff, but I eat meat consistently."

Louis stroked his chin. "So...do you get meat withdrawal as an omnivore?"

"Well, one time, I skipped a week to see what would happen—smart, I know—and nothing crazy happened, I just craved it more than anything. I wasn't even irritable or anything."

"Interesting..." Louis nodded. The world was truly fascinating. There were carnivores and herbivores, but then there was the gray area, omnivores. If what Nori was saying was true, then they could eat whatever they want without any repercussions. Incredible.

Legosi walked over to the blinds on the floor and attempted to set them back up. "When did you start eating it, Nori?"

"Shortly after I started getting paid by Ichi, actually," the red panda explained. "After I discovered that I enjoyed...you know..." His eyes flitted to Hachi when he said this. "I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and I knew that red pandas sometimes ate meat, so I tried it and it's definitely better than anything I've eaten before...But as time went on, I started hating my small body and wishing I could be as strong as the carnivores we were fighting...that spiraled into the desire to be a carnivore which is just stupid. Now I know that."

"That's why you use claws?" Louis asked.

"I chose a different weapon at first. Like these blades you have on your arms? I always liked close combat. After the whole carnivore craving thing started, I purchased those claws custom made and I convinced Ichi to let me use them. He thought it was an incredible idea considering we don't clean up any of the bodies we leave. The claws made it look like a carnivore fight had broken out."

Nori sat back on the couch more. "See...we all have different weapons, yeah? Not just guns or knives, but different weapons unique to us. It's way harder to track that the Branded has committed a crime when there are so many different weapons being used. In the beginning, no one even knew about our existence. Ichi got cocky and wanted the Branded name to be known so he fucked that one up." His eyes moved between the three animals standing before him.

"Can you imagine if he had never done something like that and the Branded stayed in secret now? With our ten different weapons, no one would be able to track us. We could take out our targets one by one, each with a different member of the group..."

Legosi inhaled a bit, laughing quietly. "Well, Hachi told me he's only 21, so it makes sense." It felt weird just openly talking about him with members of the group that had haunted his nightmares the past weeks.

Hachi crossed their arms as they listened.

Louis got closer to Legosi. "That's scary to even think about..."

"So, is there a plan?" Legosi asked the group.

"A...plan?" Nori blinked.

Louis turned. "I'm going with Nori next time he eats meat."

Legosi shook his head quickly. "W-wait, what? What?"

Nori nodded. "Yep! It will be a learning experience for both of us!"

Louis put a hand on Legosi's shoulder. "Don't worry, Legosi. I want to do this so I can understand."

Hachi blinked. "You are not afraid?"

"I don't think there's time for being afraid. I'm afraid of what's coming, I'm afraid of dying, but I'm not afraid of this."

Nori nodded. "You can bring your gun, too."

Legosi caught his breath, finally. "B-but Louis, if you eat meat you could get sick!"

The buck blinked. "What? No, you dumb dog, I'm not going to eat meat!"

Legosi cocked his head, looking relieved. "Oh...so you just want to...see?"

"Exactly," Louis said.

Nori nodded. "You can come with, too!"

Legosi jumped up slightly before drooping down. "I...don't think that's a good idea."

"It's really not," Louis added. "We don't want to take any risks. I know I said I'd talk to him about it but...I don't know."

Legosi's fur bristled. "Why would I want to? I don't want to be anywhere near a place selling meat!"

"Suit yourself," Nori shrugged.

"I will go, too," Hachi said. "To...understand."

"How will you avoid being caught?" Legosi asked.

"Disguises, as always!" Nori said.

"How do you disguise..." Legosi looked between the two cervids and placed his large, splayed hands on top of his head to demonstrate antlers.

"It will be a lot harder to disguise them. Usually, I just wear a hood."

"Oh! Uh, put some leaves in there. They could...snrk, they could be trees!" Legosi obviously thought his joke was funny.

Hachi laughed, a real vocal one this time and thus Louis chortled as well.

This only encouraged the wolf to laugh more, his tail wagging.

Nori laughed as well.