Chapter 2: Two sides of the mirror

"Visitor for you, Bellwether." The gruff voice of a jailer interrupted her train of thought, yet again. Seriously, how many mammals are going to come and throw their hatred in her face? Sure, she got why they would do that, but it truly wasn't necessary to come everyday!

"Fine, come on in." Turning from the wall to face her visitor, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Leodore, but soon slanted into a glare. "Leodore Lionheart…." She hissed, her eyes never leaving his emotionless face.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Greetings, Miss Bellwether." He appeared to ignore her question, and continued with his formal talk. "I have chosen come here, on this day, to discuss something with you."

"Aw, cut the slagging formal talk, Leodore, you're in no position to talk like that." Dawn sneered, taking the pleasure of making him feel worthless and small, like what he did with her.

"But Dawn, I want to apologize." Whoa, that came out way faster then he planned, his voice sounding so rushed and so….unorganized! If his father was here…he would get the end of the stick for that.

Dawn had to say, she wasn't expecting that to happen. She thought he would want to come and complain about how she had ruined his career and all that slag. She wouldn't forgive him though, no matter what.

"Yeah right, stop messing with me. What are you really here for?"

"No, I'm being honest! I'm so sorry for all the pain I caused, and your future I ruined. I am an asshole, and I completely agree with that. I was a terrible classmate to you, and a even worse best friend."

"STOP IT, LEODORE. JUST STOP. Can't you see? I'm not gonna believe you again after all the times I foolishly did listen to your lies. Stop trying, you're just wasting air. Why do you have to make things so complicated? I just wanted to be here, all by myself, ALONE. You should know by now just how much you hurt me, beyond repairs. I don't want to care about you again, I truly don't…." Finally breaking her stare, Dawn massaged her temples trying to stop a onrush of tears once more. She wasn't gonna cry again, not now.

"Okay then, don't forgive me. I can live with that. But I want to help you at least get a shorter sentence, not to death. I know deep down you are still the kind lamb I loved to play with, and you wouldn't ever do something like this so willingly like that. So may I least try to help?"

Dawn pondered the idea for a second. She did want to get out of this hellhole as fast as possible, and this seemed like the only valid option. Leodore would have to know the truth then, about the Prowlers that put her here. She was willing to take that risk, if it meant she could finally get out of here. So she told him everything, from her parents to the POTN, and to this mission she was pretending to be the mastermind behind. It felt like a weight had lifted off her, and she felt so light afterward. He wasn't necessary the first choice she had in mind, but who is she in the position to be picky, yeah?

"Wow, they're harsh….I knew you weren't that bad! But this just makes it so much harder to work with…" Leodore frowned, sitting down on the red plastic chair, the only one in the room.

"Yeah…but you promised to help, so you can't back off now." Dawn reminded him, tilting her head to stare at him emotionlessly. Working for the government before this had her perfectly mastering every poker face and full of boredom and nonsense eyes.

"I didn't say I was backing off, I was merely stating a fact. Now, before we start planning, I want to tell you about my past, I feel like you should know why I hate the night howlers and drugs so much, more than the average mammal."

"Okay then, a truth for a truth."

"Exactly."

"…..continue?"

"OH, right! Everything I do, all links to my father in some way. And that's not a good thing. I have never told anyone this before, scared they were gonna mock me. So here goes…." Leodore took a deep breath and started telling his past.

"My mother left us when I was four, leaving behind a confused and innocent son with a drunk and temperamental father. I didn't understand what was right and wrong then. so my mind was fresh and clean for my father to brainwash and taint with the wrong facts. That changed when I met you. You brought the only actual happiness into my childhood, and showed genuine care instead of the barf-worthy affection my father-ish mammal would show when the social workers came around. You were the first and only mammal to challenge my father's ways, and I thank you for it. I am so much more than a typical asshole to do all those things to you, and to come now after all these years to apologize and expect you to forgive me. Dawn, part of me still remembers the old you from when we were friends, all those years ago, and it breaks my heart to see you still suffering for what I caused. I want to help you, so you don't have to be like this anymore. You don't have to forgive me by the end of it, I'll be happy just knowing I'll have somehow made it up to you. Just think of it like another job at the office, only I'm actually going to be doing the work this time, okay?"

Dawn wasn't sure what to say next. She didn't know that Leodore had such a dark past, but it felt like if she forgave him now, it would feel like she's only forgiving him because of his past. She was done with all the judging. It was high time to start fresh and new.

"I will forgive you," Leodore brightened up. "On one condition." He slumped forward again, then remembered who he was and straightened up once more.

"Should have seen that coming.." He muttered, making Dawn show the ghost of a smile.

"If you do help me, which is what you want to do, correct?"

"Yup."

"Lovely. Then I have some info that you might want to know." She told him everything, from the beginning to the end. Even the parts when she was at her weakest because of him, she told. Dawn had to tell someone everything, or she was sure she'll burst soon. Leodore was not the first choice in her head, but now was not the time to picky, not to mention she had no other choices either.

"Wow Dawn. That's terrible, I really should've known better than to treat you that way."

"I'm willing to put off the past for now, so you should too. And yes, I'm still mad at tiy deep down, but I really do wanna get out of this fragging jail and teach those slagging POTN's a thing or two!"

"I still can't believe it, Dawn." Shaking his head, Leodoee let a look of wonderment cross his face. He'll let his emotions go, just this once. "You shocked us all by revealing it was you who was the masteind behind all this, and now you're really just a pawn? I really don't think I should believe you, but I can tell you're not lying, either. Is that why when you surrendered, you didn't say anything?"

"Actually, no. My mind was too caught up, and I barely had time to register anything in my mind before they put hoof cuffs on me. But it would have made sense, though. I'm truly not lying, I promise you."

"Call me crazy, but I believe you, and I still want to help you. So, what's the plan?"

"The plan... BRRRRIIIIINNNGGG!" Dawn was suddenly cut off by the sound of the emergency alarm screaming like a banshee.

"Attention all mammals. This is a CODE RED. I REPEAT, A CODE RED. Please stay in where you are, and stay in a quiet and orderly manner." The intercom cut off leaving both of them confused with miles of questions unanswered.

"Hold on, I might be able to see what's happening on my phone." Pulling out his silver IPhone, he tapped at it with his sharp claws, read the latest news, and suddenly
paled.

"Leodore? What's wrong? Let me see!" Grabbing the phone, Dawn caught it just in time before it hit the ground. "Geez. Pay attention mor-" Blinking quickly, she reread the article, trying to make sure that it was real, what was happening before her. "No no no no... This cannot be happening again...

BREAKING NEWS

AFTER SIX MONTHS OF PEACE, THR NIGHTHOWLER ATTACKS HABE STARTED AGAIN. WHO IS AT FAULT THIS TIME?