I am back. I've been busy for quite a bit doing other things that took me a bit to do. However, while I haven't posted in a while I have the finale for this season somewhat finished. I have to add more scenes amongst other things. The next chapter will be longer than this one. Thank you for your patience and please enjoy the chapter.

-Malik Syv

Chapter 14: Choke Point

"Hello there… um can I help you?" A small elk looked up from his desk to be greeted by a rough looking lion with a poorly done tie, slick backed mane and claw marks over his right eye.

"You sure can, me and my partner who's about to come in have an appointment with the mayor."

"I'm sorry sir, but I doubt the mayor would meet with someone of such loose tongue."

"Whaddya mean by loose tongue?!" A well dressed lion quickly covered his coworker's mouth.

"Sorry Mr. Sauri, he ran ahead of me to get this done quicker. He's new and trying to make a good impression by working fast and efficient. Please excuse him."

"I understand that quite well Mr. Dolph. It's always nice to see the old guiding the young to become exemplary animals, especially of your species. Exactly like our mayor!" The elk's cheerful response irked the young lion. "I'll notify the guards of your arrival. Please take the elevator." Dolph dragged his coworker along. Once the elevator doors closed he released his hold.

"Watch your mouth in public, Free. You already look rough as is."

"Shut up. That herbivore doesn't deserve respect when he talks shit. Heh, I bet he thinks I didn't understand what he was sayin' because of my "loose tongue"." Dolph looked at the camera above them briefly.

"I understand how you feel. However, we are businessmen, professionals. We are above trivial taunts and off handed comments from the ignorant. It'd do you some good to remember that." Free took note of the camera as well. He sighed and leaned against the wall behind him.

"Wasn't this Sony's job?"

"Initially, he got assigned a different task for this morning."

"Can't say I'm mad about that. He gives me the creeps. We're still going out drinking tonight with everyone else, right?"

"Of course, there's a new club in the deep with some good lookin' women. Heard there's even a Bessie supposed to be serving there as well." Dolph explained.

"A Bessie? That's rare. I can't wait." The elevator came to a stop, opening to a long, well lit hallway with a desk by its entrance.

"Morning."

"What's your business on this level?" One of the two buffalo security guards responded rudely to Dolph's polite greeting.

"Official business with the mayor, go ahead and call Sauri, he'll tell you." Dolph's curt response coupled with Free's rough appearance gained the suspicious looks of both guards.

"Sauri, we've got two lions here. Did you send them up?... Hm… understood. Alright the two of you can go through." The buffalo then motioned for his partner to pat down the lions while he made another call. Soon a jaguar accompanied by two other guards arrived to guide the lions to a pair of silver doors.

"The two of you have five minutes." The jaguar said before leaving the two guards to accompany the lions into a moderately sized office. A marble tile floor, silver colored walls that the doors, a soft black rug in between four cushioned chairs, leading to a desk with a wall sized window showing the city behind it. A lion with a slicked back mane and beady eyes sat in between the desk and city outside.

"Thank you for escorting them here. You two can wait outside." The two guards left at the mayor's behest.

"Have you come to a decision, Mayor?" Dolph asked the old lion in front of him.

"Could you not find anywhere else to find prey?" The mayor asked.

"We scouted for a few days and found the perfect target. On the festival grounds for the Meteor Festival A white rabbit girl working the flower stand, near the back exit by some trees." Dolph answered.

"Find someone somewhere else."

"You know what happens if you turn us down. The festival is tomorrow so we're in a bit of a time crunch. Boss wants his meal tonight." Dolph responded.

"Do you have any idea what your actions do to the name of lions? Innocent, well to do law binding people, OUR people are feared more than normal because of the Shishigumi's actions. Have the two of you ever felt a shred of guilt for the disarray and problems you cause?"

"We sleep fine at night if that's what you're asking. Don't you too? I mean you and the mayors before you have been doing this little dance and jig with Shishigumi long before I ever joined. I may be new blood but I've thirty years under my belt. So, why the cold feet alla' sudden, mayor? I voted for ya, hell everyone in our gang did. Don't you wanna show out for your supporters?" Free stepped closer to the mayor with a cocky smile.

"The matter at hand is the devoured alpaca. That is why you need to go elsewhere, the school has a lion headmaster. Another devouring on campus reflects on him as well as lions-"

"Cry us a river already, why don't you? Like you give a damn about another herbivore dying or that headmaster's reputation. Careers end everyday and herbivores die everyday, with or without your knowledge. What's another added to those lists after you've been letting this fly for three years?" Free followed up. "You reject us here, then we can go public with your relationship with us, then you won't only lose your mayor position but maybe see some jail time. Ain't no one gonna come to your aid either. I mean herbivores are already scared of us like you said." Free mouth spread to a toothy grin. "You're in a burning building, and we've got the extinguisher." The mayor's hair stood on end. The Shishigumi could disperse and flee whenever they wanted. The authorities ignored any criminal records of the members thanks to a positive relationship between Nikushi and several commissioners across the city. Legally, they were bulletproof. The mayor knew this all too well.

"... Do what you will." Those reluctant words filled the office.

"Pleasure as always mayor. We'll be counting on your help in the future." Dolph said before he and Free left. The mayor sat down behind his desk, angered by the leash around his neck. The two lions arrived at their car with Dolph in the drivers' seat.

"I'm glad the training paid off. You really impressed me."

"I try my best. All this excitement keeps me young or at least makes me feel like I am."

"It sure does." Dolph responded, getting on the road. "Free, do you understand what the mayor was saying?"

"I understand full well, living a normal life ain't for me though. I get how herbivores look at me but I don't live for anyone's approval except for those who care about me. That's all I need after all." Free said with a slight frown.

"Well said. That is the only answer I would've accepted from you."

"Stop testing me already."

"Understood." Dolph said.

"Good everything is finished." Haru wiped the sweat from her forehead. She'd finished tending to the flowers. They were pruned, watered, and repotted, all within an hour. Haru picked up her baskets of stems and leaves. However, a sharp snap stopped her stride, she looked toward the sound and held her shears in hand. She peaked behind a building made of bricks where the sound came from.

"Blood?" The red trail led to a red deer in front of her, his head dripping blood.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, My antlers shed sooner than I thought." Louis replied with a disgruntled look on his face. "Are you in the gardening club?"

"Yeah."

"Then promise me something." Louis quickly approached Haru with a desperate look on his face. "Promise you won't tell anyone about this. I'll give you money if that's what you want-"

"Give me your wallet then." Haru quickly extended her hand demandingly.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Your wallet. Now."

"I'm not giving you my wallet! I said I'd pay you money!"

"Exactly and your wallet has money in it. Hand it over." Louis was fully against the demand but handed his wallet to the rabbit. Haru grabbed the deer's arm instead, leading him to a wooden shack.

"Where are you taking me?! Unhand me!"

"For someone who wants to get free, you sure aren't resisting all that much." Louis blushed at this observation and remained silent until he was sitting comfortably on a soft bed under a wooden roof. Haru stood on a stool to grab a First Aid kit on her wall.

"I don't want or need your help."

"Aww is the fawn gonna cry?"

"Do you know who I am?"

"Nope." Louis looked at the rabbit confused. "Now hold still." Haru carefully dried the blood on the deer's head, applied ointment to the antler stubs, and wrapped it in soft bandages. "Alright, that should be good." Louis carefully felt his head.

"Hm…You did a good job."

"Of course I did, I've spent the better part of my life patching up my younger siblings." Haru spoke with a loving pride.

"You're the oldest?" Haru gave a boastful nod. "Shouldn't you be a bit taller?"

"I'm a runt, and I'm only older than my siblings by a few years, but they are my younger siblings nonetheless. I always take care of them more times than not." Louis smirked at the rabbit.

"I understand why you'd need my wallet. Your parents must spend a lot of money on you and your siblings."

"No that was a joke, It was an excuse to drag you here. Also my mom and dad are pretty well off."

"Excuse me for my assumption then."

"You're really proper, you know that? It's pretty cute."

"You're quite honest aren't you?" Haru winked at Louis who blushed slightly.

"Mind telling me your name?"

"My name is Louis, heir to the Horns Conglomerate."

"I'm Haru, heir to nothing." Haru extended a hand towards the red deer. He took her hand and shook it.

"As payment for the treatment, do you mind if I tell you about myself?"

"I'm all ears. Literally." Louis chuckled aloud at the terrible pun.

"My father told me to never let anyone chain my freedom. It's something I live by to this day despite our relationship. I soon came to realize that his philosophy doesn't apply to everyone, so I thought of an alternative. Never let fear chain your freedom, always fight no matter what." Haru looked at the deer who smiled to himself.

"I'll remember that if I ever need it." Haru put away all of the equipment she used and hung the kit on the wall. "Use this shack for as long as you'd like."

"I didn't-"

"I can tell you're pretty self conscious so don't sweat it. Will I see you again sometime?" Louis looked at the girl stunned. His cheeks became flushed as did Haru's when she noticed.

"Yes, you will." Louis responded. A soft wind blew past Haru as she left the shack and deer behind.

"Why did I remember that now?" Haru blinked her eyes. She was in her school uniform on a train to the festival grounds. "Where did the life in us go? I wonder…" Those thoughts left Haru's mind once she stepped onto the platform and made her way out of the subway. Many other students from her school entered the festival grounds, talking amongst themselves. She walked alone with her school bag on her shoulder. Louis was the only person who crossed her mind, he was the only one from school who was ever important to her. Though something about that felt off, as though he was not the only one to care. No one else came to mind when she wondered who the other person could be. Haru, lost in thought, arrived at her stand, but left to sit under the tree she and Louis met under. The rabbit sighed to herself.

"I wonder… how did things end up like this." In that moment a hand cupped her mouth, another squeezed her body tight. The strong arms of a lion held her close, so close the squirms of her body were almost impossible to enact. Haru knew she could not escape, so she kicked off one of her shoes. All she could do was leave behind some evidence that she had been taken, even if only one little shoe would give it away.