Mao Mao was curled up on the dojo floor, his stomach gnawing at itself from the inside. He had just yacked up his dinner before telling his deputies he was going to train. They hadn't suspected anything, just like always. They never suspected because Mao Mao hid it so well.
The sheriff hated his body enough as is it was, it was so small and pathetic. It had taken him years to build up the muscle he had, and he wasn't going to loose it just to eat well. If he had to starve to stay in shape, so be it.
It was so much harder to do this with Badgerclops and Adorabat around. Mao Mao used to just skip meals and that was it, but now he had to be careful. If either realized he wasn't eating properly, that could open up a fresh can of worms the feline wanted to stay closed. They didn't need to know what he was doing to himself.
"Mao Mao! You almost done training, it's time for bed!" Badgerclops's voice called from the house.
Badgerclops. That badger could eat all he wanted, and yet still remain strong and proud. Why couldn't Mao Mao be that confident in himself? Everytime he looked in the mirror, he saw nothing except his imperfections. The sheriff knew he was past the point of growing any taller, but if he could fix the other flaws, maybe he could be legendary.
"Mao Mao?" The bionic badger called out again. The cat snapped out of his grim thoughts so he could answer.
"I'm coming!" Struggling against the hunger, the feline warrior managed to find his footing. He then stood up tall and headed into the house, as if he hadn't just been curled up on the ground do to stomach pains.
"Dude about time! What took you so long?" Badgerclops crossed his arms. Mao Mao was usually on time for bed.
"I was just cleaning Geraldine." Mao Mao faked a yawn and stretched out, feigning sleepiness, "Anyway, I'm heading to bed. Goodnight, Badgerclops." The sheriff left without another word. A few minutes after, Badgerclops followed him to bed. Adorabat had already been sleeping for a solid half hour.
"They can never find out."
The thought passed through Mao Mao's head grimly. He'd had this thought many a night. If his friends found out he was harming himself to suck a degree, they would freak out on him. After all, he hid it so well.
"No. They'll never find out."