Moments Prior:

"Hey, Leon!" The gate door opened as another animal entered. Two large Black bears walked forward to meet Leonard and Serena. The male had a small tuft of hair that looked like a shark fin, while the female had two long strands of hair on her forehead. He noticed the speaker plug chewed out beside the two and an un-moving raccoon. "I can only guess the talk with forest rodents didn't go so well?"

He growled annoyed at the putrid smell lingering in his nostrils. "Oh no, that was fine. Aside from the terrible music… and dead animals. So, what took you so long to get here?"

Mono looked back at his mate Varuna she walked past him and smiled as she went to talk to Serena.

"Never mind, I think I can guess."

Mono placed his paw under his chin and rubbed it. "You know jealously isn't a good trait in a king."

They both glared at each other.

"And is lust any better?" It lasted for seconds as they laughed together briefly. Their wife's noticed and spoke.

"Can't they act like their respective animals?." Varuna said coyly.

Serena rolled her eyes at them."Were going to near the old cage near the showers to chat. Don't wait up." Both the males waved to their mates as they walked out of the play area.

"Did they come through?" Mono asked about the rodents.

"Yes, they brought us some food and clothes. For what it's worth." He pointed to the pile left by the forest residents.

Despite the life of luxury the food was never good, it wasn't nourishing as the food they had in the wild.

Mono growled as he looked at it."How much longer do we have to stay here?"

Leonard sighed as looked at the bear. "Do you really think we can leave here without them searching for us, again?" He felt bitter as he spat out.

"It's better than living in these dull quarters. We've lost our roots. I want Pit to live in the forest and truly be free." He shut his eyes tightly and clenched his paw. "I miss... How's your child?" He looked around and noticed none of them were in the cage.

It's still bothering him. Best keep his mind off it. Leonard thought.

"Well, Locke is still his proud, smart self. But, good news your child didn't lose to my son." Mono smiled proudly. "Although he almost won due to outside sources…"

"What do you mean by that?" Leonard avoided his gaze like a child avoiding his parents eye contact.

"I'm saying that given the circumstances. I know without a doubt your son's victory hinged on him using a human move."

Mono faked wiping a tear from his eye. "I'm so proud. My son is learning from my teachings."

Leonard scowled in response as Mono wagged his finger from side to side. "And your still jealous my son is resourceful. Instead of your book smart son?" Leonard sighed.

"Do you always have to have the last word?"

Mono smiled proudly. "Only when you make it so easy...That reminds me where are they?"

"At the tent." Leonard replied. Mono's smiled was wiped clean from his face as his eyes bulged out. Worry was the first thing on his mind followed by fear. "What? What's wrong?" Leonard was genuinely curious as Mono grabbed him quickly and whispered in his ear.

"Find them. Find them Now."

"Right your mate will kill you for letting him go near the tent again."

"No. Death would be easier. She'd let me live to regret it."

….

Present

Locke peered into the distance and a saw a lion and another figure walking towards them. He recognized who they were.

"Hello Father, and Pitch's dad!" They both looked at the three with stern expressions. "Soooo, I'm gonna go help mom..." Locke tried to walk around his father. He pulled him right back beside Pitch. "Alright I'll stay here it's more fun that way."He cowered under his father's watchful gaze.

Mono looked at his son intently, he noticed the mouse resting on his head and scowled. "Get off my child's head, you vermin." His voice dripped with malice as he said the last word.

Mike quickly got off his head. "What have we told you about going to the tent during a performance?" Pitch frowned and responded quietly. "Don't. The ringmaster won't tolerate it." He sighed.

"Pops, I want to make a deal with ya here."Mike decided to speak despite the hostile aura Pitch's father was giving off.

Mono violently jerked his face toward Mike's. "...Go on."

Mike gulped and continued. "Your son showed promise while trouncing the lion over there." He pointed to toward Locke, to which he stuck his tongue out at him, his father chuckled, A rare sight indeed. "I'd happily train the kid for you."

Mono stared at the mouse in silence. "Ok."

"Now I know-wait, what?" The mouse looked confused.

Mono smiled knowingly. "If you convince my mate then, I'll let you train him."

Mike was in disbelief, he looked around suspiciously. "I have a feeling you aren't telling me something?"

"Just go to my wife at far end of the trailers and convince her. Deal, rat?"

Mike frowned he knew this wasn't going to be easy. "Deal." He walked past the bear and ran.

"Am I in trouble?" Pitch piped up awkwardly.

His father looked at him sternly. "Only if your mother finds out." Pitch walked to his friend with a grin. Locke knew what was going to happen.

"Don't. Say it." He gritted his teeth in anger, Pitch's grin resembled a Cheshire cat's.

"No, I wasn't going to say it. I just need a book from you."

Locke frowned and rose an eyebrow dubiously. "Really now? He sighed. "Fine. history book again?"

"No. something new."

Locke's ears perked up. "Do you want to read Shakespeare?"

"No, I need a phone book."

He scowled. "Don't you d-"

"To find your number cause I callled it!" His grinned widened.

Locke rose his paw and stick out his middle finger from his paw.

...

The mouse traveled past a few trailers but hadn't found the bear's wife yet. Wish he'd been more specific.

"... I feel like he doesn't care about our son." Mike's ear's perked up as heard a conversation.

"I'm sure he does, he loves you both." Mike slowly crawled behind a trailer tire to listen further.

"Even so, I worry that he..." Varuna sighed as she rubbed her temple, she was trying to find the right words. "Stuck in the past."

Serena narrowed her brow, she would've asked more, but she was sure she'd tell her anyways. She had a nack for...unloading things unto her.

Mike rolled into a small patch of grass and poked his head out to get a better look at the animals.

Varuna ears perked, but made no effort to show she noticed. "Ever since Pitch was attacked by the rodents in the forest. I've had to keep my eye on him more."

Mike rose his eyebrows dubiously. Serena placed her paw on comfortingly Varuna. "Don't worry we'll keep on eye on him. It's nice you let Locke and him go watch the circus today." Varuna looked at her friend's paw.

"Really now?" She replied coolly as started at her.

Serena looked concerned and placed her paw down. "Yes, today they went to the circus performance. I'm sure that my husband has grabbed them by now."

Varuna smirked as she heard her this new bit of information. Serena unfortunately didn't catch it, she quickly returned to her neutral expression. Mike paused seeing a brief glimpse of it. Damn, now I feel sorry for the poor sap.

"How long are you going to sit there and listen to our private conversation?!" She stared at the bush Mike was in.

Shit!

Serena rose her head and sniffed the air. "I did hear something over there. now that you mention it. Smells like a mouse."

The bear smiled. "Huh. A rat, how fitting."

"Hey! what's that supposed ta mean?" He jumped out of the bush with his fists clenched and to his sides. Mike clearly didn't think this through as he realized he just revealed himself. He could see the smirk on the bear's face.

Congrats, you played your self. She thought.

Mike sighed and walked forward toward the two. Oh boy, here go. "Sorry about that. Sometimes my mouth is quicker than my-" He rolled to side as Varuna tried to crush him with her paw, she just barely missed him.

Hmm quick on his feet. She addressed him.

"Any reason why a vermin is ease-dropping?" She tilted her head to the side cautiously.

"I came here to ask you something." He decided it was best to go straight to the point.

She clearly wasn't going be friendly here. "Go on. You aren't going anywhere." And it turned out he was right.

Just Perfect. Mike looked up at the bear, he noticed an odd scar near her front leg, it looked like jagged teeth marks, He continued. "I wanted to train your son to box, you know defend himself since his claws aren't quite there yet." His mind wondered to his own family.

"And why should I-"

"I know that I'm stranger to you and it takes a lot of blind faith to place in someone like me. But we both have something in common." She rose her brow dubiously as he continued, "We're both parents and we'd do anything to protect them. I promise that if you let me train your son, he would gain more the experience than just sitting at home. He would gain confidence in his own ability."

He looked into Varuna hazel eyes, his eyes wondered to the bear's chest instinctively, she had a white crest across it. She narrowed her gaze at him.

She didn't look pleased at his attempt to sway her, or the fact his wondering eyes went to her chest. She lowered her head to him, she smiled showing her fangs.

This is how I go, huh...I'll see them soon.

"Mike...You may train my son to box or whatever." Mike's ear perked he gave a half-smile, "But if my child is hurt, you won't see your family again. Are we clear?" He gaze was stern and cold as she looked down at him.

"As clear as Lake Ontario." he muttered.

"What was that?" she replied.

"As clear as the sun tomorrow!" He smiled ignored it for now.

"Your kind better not hurt him again, Varuna's been through enough." Serena added.

He decided not to question their reasoning. "I don't… fine. Nothing will happen to him. I'm just glad I got your approval instead of his."

He quickly walked away from the duo, then grinned cheekily. I think I pasted the elephant showering...

Later that Night

Pitch came home dragging a cardboard box about his side into the trailer. He struggled to fit it through the door. "Grrr. Come on, you stupid box!" He pulled on it with his teeth and tried to pull it in but he just couldn't get it to go into the door. He placed his feet firmly in the trailer to gain some footing.

"Ugh Gahh!" He finally was able to pull the thing through the door but he fell backward into the trailer wall. The box flew into the air as well and landed on him.

"Well, at least I got it." He wanted to try to surprise his mom and dad by jumping out of the box when they least expected it. Maybe his cuteness would lessen the punishment he got? It was worth a shot.

His mother arrived first and waited not caring about the box in the room. Then father walked into the room moments later, she spoke first.

"Hello, Mono." Her voice was monotone as she addressed her mate. Mono knew this wasn't good.

...

The orangutan threw the cub into his living quarters. At least he landed on his bed, hay fell around him. He was still charred a bit from the previous excursion with added presents from his act, a scar was left on his arm. He scowled annoyed at the simian in question. "Just be thankful for today, I made you like good."

The cub growled in response, he didn't want to be here, he hated the circus and everything there. Especially the clowns and the...children he was forced to entertain. He tried to stand tall defiant to the jailer. But that only lasts for so long.

"Keep up the good work and I might give you a present..." He exclaimed grimly. The bear scowled and his eyes wonder to the materials around his tent. A red tank was close by to his cage. He remember the clowns using this on him, but something was missing? He frowned and rolled into to bed wondering if he was going to get some sleep...

In Django's Trailer

Why? That was the thought that ran around the orangutan's head as paced in his dressing room. "Just why does that little runt make me so frustrated?' he stopped as looked at the mirror, maybe gazing at his roguish good looks would ease him.

He cupped the bottom of his chin and pouted, No. Then it hit him, he gave an ugly scowl. "They had to be the same species. I glad that this one wasn't as good as the other one." He remembered the black bear progress, at first he didn't seem at all interested he fumbled around like a clown as expected no one could top his elegance and grace. But whenever there was an audience, his family and friends the boy's competence level grew to that of nearly his own. He cursed himself knowing that he let his mother sway him with her kind, flattering words. At least he knew what to do when they got ahead themselves. He smiled grimly.

They never knew what hit them.