This is prolly my quickest update for any story I've ever made. Told y'all I had the finale worked out already. Please enjoy the chapter. Also term for "Bessie" refers to a female herbivore. Just thought I'd let you guys know.

-Malik Syv

CHAPTER 15: Why Must We Suffer for Our Hubris?

"Louis are you alright?" Legoshi asked the red deer who held a shoe in his hand. "Louis?"

The wolf received no answer from the buck who stood frozen. Legoshi looked at the shoe and caught its scent.

"That's Haru's-"

"Be quiet. We need to go find the mayor." Legoshi followed behind the deer as he took off towards a large tent off to the side of the festival grounds.

"Ah, Louis I was just about to come find you." The mayor greeted the two at the entrance. "Would you mind excusing us?" Louis showed the shoe to the mayor.

"There's been a kidnapping on the festival grounds, a white rabbit. She runs the flower stand by the-"

"Come inside. Both of you." Legoshi and Louis followed the older lion to a small room separate from the rest of the tent. "This is the doing of the Shishigumi. They've been doing this for years because of their protection thanks to politicians and unforeseen circumstances on part of law enforcement."

"Why does that matter?" Legoshi asked.

"Were you not listening? They have protection, not to mention if a stir begins now then the public will panic and everything will be out of sorts. I hope the two of you weren't close friends with her."

"Ye-" Louis placed a hand in front of Legoshi.

"Why are you telling us this?"

"As a future Beastar prospect, you will have to deal with the Shishigumi sooner or later. You need to understand this is what they are capable of. So this matter must remain under lock and key." The mayor reached into a bag on a nearby table and handed a book to Louis. As the buck opened it he quickly understood the contents of it and just as quickly closed it. He threw the book to the ground and backed away with fear in his eyes. The mayor picked up the book, dusting it off.

"That is your incentive. Keep quiet and the contents of this book do not go public." Legoshi watched the scene unfold speechless. He'd never seen Louis look as vulnerable as he did now. He looked at the lion in front of him as his blood began to boil.

"What is in that book?"

"Nothing you have to concern yourself with. Just something between him and I."

"You're threatening the ace of my club and I'm supposed to just let it happen?" Legoshi stepped closer to the mayor who raised a hand in a defensive manner.

"That alpaca was killed by a large carnivore wasn't he? The major suspects were the carnivores in his club which he was close to. Especially a gray wolf in the art department." Legoshi stepped back. "Assaulting a government official with that suspicion over your head is not a gamble you want to take. Now that the both of you understand the situations you've found yourselves in, I need confirmation that this information will not get out." The mayor tossed Haru's shoe in a nearby garbage can. "Do we have a deal gentlemen?" A hand sat in front of the two boys.

"There's no way we would agree." Legoshi hissed. "Haru is a friend of ours."

"Use your head." Louis spoke up. "Do you really want to take the fall for Tem's death while the killer goes free? Are you that dense or a fool who lacks foresight? Shake his hand." Louis glared at Legoshi, his frustration evident. The two swallowed their feelings and shook the hand presented to them.

"Please have yourselves a good Meteor Festival." The lion smiled before dismissing the boys.

"Louis, what is in that book?"

"Nothing for you to concern yourself over." Louis walked away from the wolf.

"Whatever it is, I hope it's worth Haru's life." The buck's eyes pierced Legoshi and he walked towards the wolf. "Don't you at least care that she is in danger?" Louis turned and swung at Legoshi

"What right do you have to ask me that?!" The wolf swatted the punch away with ease, knocking him off balance. He kept attacking each punch was desperate and self-loathing but none of them could connect.

"She cares about you. Every time I've seen her she smells like you. Why did you just give up? " Louis held his knees, his breath heavy in his throat and sweat began to appear on his face.

"You think I wanted to?!"

"I… I have a role to play. I don't give a damn about you or anyone else! None of you will get in my way!" Louis took another swing at the wolf who heard his cry. The punch connected and he stumbled back, catching himself on a nearby tree.

"Wh- are you underestimating me?! I don't need your pity!" Legoshi regained his posture and wiped his mouth. Louis' shouts attracted their clubmates and bystanders.

"What are you guys doing?!" Dom questioned. Louis turned to face the peacock at a loss.

"We didn't agree on something, that's all." Legoshi walked past Louis. He gave the buck a look of pity before moving towards Bill.

"Bill, I need your help." The look in his eyes told Bill all he needed to know.

"I'm right behind you." Louis looked at the two in surprise, never in his dreams would he think Legoshi or Bill would ever feel superior to himself.

"Bill, Legoshi! What's this about?!"

"Sorry Els, but we can't tell you." Bill patted the goat's head softly.

"We're sorry for the inconvenience. Excuse us." Legoshi said before moving towards the festival grounds exit.

"Hey! Wait, you two!" Dom called. "What is going on with those two? Louis, do you-"

"Let them go… just… let them go." Els looked at the deer then ran away.

"Els!" Dom called to the goat.

"I'm gonna find Juno! She'll be able to talk some sense into them!" The goat responded, searching for the wolf. She found her speaking to Aoba.

"Juno!"

"Els, what's wrong?" Els took a moment to catch her breath.

"Legoshi and Bill, you have to stop them. I don't know what they're about to do but something doesn't feel right. P-please you ha…ve to stop them." Juno caught Els' in her arms. The small goat's face burned bright red, she overheated.

"Aoba, please look after her." Aoba complied. The goat's face had gone completely red and the eagle could feel her temperature rising. Juno turned her nose to the air, quickly chasing after Legoshi's scent once she caught it. She followed his scent, passing by multiple civilians and turning different corners until she saw the two boys just a turn ahead of herself. She turned where they did and froze.

"The Black Market?"

A myriad of meat stands stood in front of her, scents of countless seasonings and carnivores invaded her nose all at once. She covered her nose but her eyes began to water with the strong smell of spice. Juno quickly wiped the tears and moved into the market. Her nose twitched at every second, this was both voluntary and involuntary. It twitched at the scent of meat but also to locate Legoshi. However, the strong scent of meat made her head stir and stomach churn.

"Could Legoshi and Bill have come here to…" Juno shook off the thought and walked further

"Hey, you look like a hungry girl." Juno turned to face a male fennec cook. He stood on a stool that sat behind a grill with steaks on them.

"It's sheep. Oh, don't worry if you ain't got money. First meal's on the house." His country accent wrapped itself around Juno's ears.

"Um.. no I'm not… I'm not hungry, thank you."

"Really?" The fox pointed his spatula at her mouth as she drooled. She quickly covered her muzzle but her stomach growled. The well seasoned meat entered her nose. Her mind rejected the thought of consumption but her stomach yearned to consume.

"Go on, take a bite Junie." Juno looked to her left and saw a dark mass. Black swirls constructed its body as if it had been drawn by a child. Its light melodic tone felt welcoming. Juno's hands fell to the front of her body.

"Go on Junie, let's be like real carnivores" The black mass stood behind Juno, its face next to hers, its armpits cupping her shoulders. Its fingers intertwined with Juno's finger, its palms on the back of her hands. "Why do you think Legoshi came here? To eat, to be a carnivore, you want to get closer to him right? Then let's eat and be just like him." The black mass opened its eyes and they were a piercing red. Crimson and bloodier than a red moon. Its eyes began to lose their color and that color began to fill the girl's. "It's time to eat."

Juno approached the stand, she stood straight and smiled. The fennec could see instinct had begun to take hold over the she-wolf.

"I would love to eat." Her smile made the cook feel more uneasy. The idea of a carnivore's instincts becoming calm and polite when in control is particularly dangerous. Juno was now approaching the point of no return. Instinct is going to win.

"Sorry sir, this is my sister's first time in the Black Market." Legoshi placed a hand on Juno's shoulder. The black mass faded away and took its eyes with it. Juno blinked and looked at him, his eyes still forward.

"I-it's alright."

"Again sorry for the trouble. Let's go, I'll start you off with something small." Legoshi took Juno's hand. They walked to an alleyway where Bill stood in front of a large doctor's office.

"Well, it looks like you were right." Legoshi rolled his eye at the tiger while Juno regained her bearings and once she did, one question came to mind

"What are you two doing out here?" Juno freed herself from Legoshi's grip and frowned. "This is the Black Market, why would you guys be here of all places?" Juno's worried voice washed over the two who shared a look.

"We're here to save a friend from the Shishigumi." Legoshi stated.

"The Shishigumi?"

"They're a gang of lions that work in the Black Market." Gohin came out the building behind the three with a backpack, a crossbow and bamboo shoots attached to a sash around his chest. Seeing the doctor Juno came to a realization.

"You're not planning on fighting them are you?!" Bill and Legoshi's stern expressions told her the answer.

"Stop wasting time you two." Gouhin turned his back to the trio and started down the alleyway.

"Go home Juno, it's not safe." Bill told the girl before walking away.

"You can't be serious." Juno asked Legoshi with a sense of weakness.

"If we don't do this, that girl is going to die." Legoshi remained strong.

"Who are you talking about?"

"It's the girl who runs the garden club, her name's Haru. She's a friend." Juno thought for a moment, the Haru she knew of in the school was the small white rabbit. A likely victim for other carnivores, especially larger ones.

"Why are you going after her? She's an herbivore! Carnivores shouldn't be involved in herbivore problems, it's not right!"

"Why does that matter? I can't just let her die, not when I can save her! You should want the same, don't you want to unify both carnivores and herbivores? For all of us to stand on equal ground?" Juno's mind went blank for a moment. Of all the time she spent with the man in front of her, only once did he feel beyond her. The strength of his resolve weighed on her. It made her falter before, now it began to shake her. Legoshi was truly beyond her.

"This… no!" Juno staggered back, Legoshi stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Can you make it back okay?" The worry from Legoshi's mouth silenced the girl. "Look. Behind this building there is an alleyway. If you keep following it straight you'll get past all of the food stands and to another exit that is closer to the festival grounds. Do you understand?" Juno gave him silent confirmation.

"You're gonna get out of here perfectly fine, okay?"

"... Will you get out of here perfectly fine?" Juno choked on those words.

"I'll see you tomorrow at the festival… both of us will. Please get back safely. I'll see you later." Those words were heavy. Legoshi left the she-wolf under the oncoming rain. For a moment, she reached for the wolf in front of her whose figure grew smaller and smaller, further and further.

"He's… beyond me." Tears began to pour with the rain. The heavy drops' warm presence did little more than amplify the burning sensation in Juno's chest as she turned to run from the scene as well. She looked for the path out and ran for it. Her mind began to think sporadically, Legoshi, Beastar, Louis' words, her instincts. None of it made sense as to why things crumbled right here and now. Legoshi was the perfect support and yet he thought differently from her. He did not give a pleasant face to herbivores or anyone to save face as she did. He genuinely meant it, he was honest. A Beastar is meant to be a unifier, inclusive, sympathetic, yet she was not.

"A girl in love with someone far away from them." Those words echoed as Juno entered the festival grounds. Her breaths were heavy, the tears that stained her cheeks were invisible and she moved under a tent to get out of the downpour. There she found Louis standing alone. She stared at him, his weak appearance made her feel a bit of pity for him in spite of her "distaste" for him. He and her were worlds apart, but he seemed just as defeated as her.

"You couldn't stop him?" Juno gave no answer to that question, her silence answered it well enough.

"He beat me completely. He asked questions I couldn't answer, it's like he tried to save me from myself." Louis' grip tightened around his sleeve.

"That… sounds like something he would do." Louis turned to her and his face softened. His attitude and philosophical mind left him. Juno's face drooped with her fur, her cheerful smile nowhere in sight. The two looked at each other, they were both at a loss. Louis moved further into the tent, grabbing a small towel.

"Here, wipe your face." Juno hesitated for a moment, but took the towel and stepped back. She slowly wiped and wringed the water out of her fur. Louis watched her, he could only see Haru.

"You were right." That statement brought him back to reality. "He's way beyond me. How can I be a Beastar if I can't save one carnivore? If I can't help anyone who needs me?" Juno's body curled at the question. Louis' eyes widened, he complied with the mayor for the sake of "peace". He lied to himself for the sake of "peace". He fought Legoshi for the sake of "peace". He let Haru die for the sake of "peace". For the sake of his peace. Louis grabbed Juno's left hand and swiftly removed the towel from her hands. Her eyes were glassy but their amethyst beauty refused to fade.

"You can't. You can't become a Beastar because you lack understanding. You're too near-sighted, too self centered." Louis squeezed the she-wolf's wrist tightly. Juno's eyes reflected his own, the face of an animal wrought with despair.

"Shut up! How could you even begin to understand what I feel?!" Juno barked.

"It's the truth isn't it? You're nothing but a wolf that sees what she wants, who sees opportunity. Too foolish to understand the world beyond her own reasoning and acceptance. Don't act like this epiphany is anything more than your selfish attempt at redemption for your ignorance!" Louis spoke in a disgusted tone, his muzzle turned up slightly. A stinging sensation to his cheek forced him back.

"I'm right aren't I?" Louis knew the truth ever since that night. However, his smile quickly vanished as he looked at Juno's face. Her eyes were leaking.

"You don't know anything!" Juno knew Louis was right. Part of her wanted Legoshi for nothing but a show, to use his "perfection" for her own ends. Another felt angered by him because he was not what she expected. Yet like the rain, her tears meant something. The heavy rain drowned out their conversation from the surrounding tents. However, hubris drowned the two animals at that moment. Louis questioned his motive for abandoning the girl he cared for so deeply after Legoshi pushed him to confront it. Juno questioned her motive for the feelings in her chest because Legoshi upended her expectations. The same wolf sliced open their hearts so they could bear witness to their flaws.

"Legoshi is in the darkness and that isn't where you belong." Juno looked at Louis with confusion.

"A Beastar is the light and everyone else follows their shadow. Abandon him, he'll only chain your pride and freedom. Find them for yourself." Louis looked at the girl once more before running out into the rain. Juno instinctively reached for him but quickly stopped herself. Why should a carnivore who gives in to instinct try to save an herbivore willing to die?