Chapter 24

The school day ended at the usual times. Though, about half of the club rooms remained empty thanks to many taking part in the Meteor Festival's preparation.

It was pretty normal when it came to large events, but this was the first time Rob noticed how quiet and a little lonely it really was in the hallways.

With not much to do these past few afternoons, the liliger elected to spend his time at the library to study and finish all the school work he had missed and focus on his workouts. It was a decent distraction from any thoughts that'd lead back to what had occurred the week before, but they would always return in between his forays from the classroom, to the library, the gym, and back to his dorm room.

Rob sighed.

No matter how hard he tried, the feelings of guilt and embarrassment could not be stifled. And it only became much more difficult with each step.

It was only after noticing Haru carrying two medium-sized potted plants to a small cart at the base of some stairs that his bout of despondency dissipated.

"...Oh! Hey there, Rob." the dwarf rabbit greeted, straightening the pots in her small arms. "Surprised to see you here."

"U-Uh, y-yeah I guess…" he responded hesitantly. "D…do you need s-some help?"

"Nah, these little ones are the last of them." Haru said with a smile

.

With a small heave, she carefully placed the flowers next to about half a dozen others upon the low cart before dusting her arms and uniform.

"Hmm, come to think of it…I don't think I've seen you at all at the park this week," she remarked, pausing her hands for a quick moment. "Were you out sick or something?"

The liliger winced. Of course someone would question where he has been.

"...Alright, what happened?" Haru asked, peering into the predator's wandering eyes with an almost interrogative gaze.

Rob lamented how he was not savvy enough to hide his emotions or redirect a conversation. Seems that was simply his lot in life…

"I…I was…" he breathed out in almost a whisper, causing the rabbit's ear to turn more towards his voice's direction. "I-I was sus…s-suspended from club…"

Haru clocked her head slightly, being silent for a few moments before her dark-brown eyes widened in shock. "Wait—you got what!?"

"I got s-s-suspended, okay?"

"Wh—B—H-How!?"

The liliger grumbled, knowing he had to recount the unpleasant incident: from being bullied by Richard and his posse, his spat with Baako, and the subsequent punishment he received by Louis' hand—namely, a two week suspension.

"Hmm…I get it now," Haru said thoughtfully as she rested her cheek in one hand.

"...H-he said I w-would've been out of the c-club for good if B-B-Baak—Baako was s-seriously hurt."

"Yeah, no kidding. Plus, you'd be expelled from school, no question. Definitely got off easy. Still…that friend of yours must've said something totally out of line if it made you, of all people, turn aggressive."

Though he dared not admit it, he could still feel a small bit of anger dimly radiatin within him whenever he would recall Baako's snide remarks.

"Ah well. At the very least, I doubt those bullies will bother you anymore seeing what could happen if you're pushed over the edge," Haru said with a shrug. "Though, you'd think it'd be obvious with how your body is bu—"

"H-How can you be so…c-casual about it…!?"

"...Huh?"

"I could've…k-k-killed Baako!"

The liliger looked down at his claws and then let out a frustrated growl as squeezed his fingers tightly.

"I've always…h-h-hated these claws. I c-cut and f-file them c-const—constantly, but they always…g-grow back so f-f-fast. I just d-don't see the point of…h-h-having them..."

The scar on the side of his muzzle tingled whilst he briefly recalled his face being gashed by that unknown carnivore.

"I d-don't see the point…of h-having a b-body that's o-obviously meant to…to c-cause harm…!"

The large cat huffed as he pressed his closed hands over his eyes and face while his head lowered. Shame and frustration filled his mind as his whole frame began to quiver. He almost wished the police had locked him up so he didn't have to worry about hurting anyone.

"...You have no idea how much I envy you right now."

Wait, what?

Rob lowered his fists from his eyes to find Haru's gazing down, a look of slight annoyance and sadness painted across her face.

"Must be nice worrying about being too big and dangerous all the time."

"I…I-I-I don't—why do you m-make it…s-sound like it's a g-goo—good thing?"

"Ugh, you really don't get it, do you?" the small herbivore scoffed angrily. "So many people actually respect a carnivore's strength just as much as they fear it—probably a lot more."

She then turned her head slightly as she gently rubbed her left forearm. "You should know by now how weak and fragile us herbivores can be. Unless we're talking about a rhino or elephant or something, we will always lose to a predator. And honestly…it always ticks me off seeing you not owning up to that strength."

Rob recoiled slightly as several unpleasant memories resurfaced: Lorde's so-called lectures on a lion's pride, the sparring match with Joe, his argument with Bill, and Baako's biting words.

Again and again, everyone was always telling him to actually accept being a carnivore. He kept pushing back against this sentiment, especially after witnessing more atrocities at the hands of other predators. And yet…seeing someone as small and fragile-looking as Haru fearlessly staring up at him, echoing those same words, his resolve completely failed him…

"B-But...but how?"

"Huh?"

"How…d-do I accept me b-bein—being a predator? Being…th-th-this?"

Haru briefly scanned the large carnivore up and down as if trying to ascertain his meaning.

She then sighed quietly after a few moments. "I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask. I am a rabbit, after all."

"Then…h-how did y-y-you accept me?" Rob asked.

Haru blinked.

"I-I mean…d-do you th-think of me as a f-f-friend…? Or…am I th-the onl—only one that th-thinks that?"

The white rabbit's brow knitted even more as her cheeks began puffing slightly. "For the love of—of course you're my friend! You're robably my only real friend! It might have started out with us working out a deal, but I always looked forward to us chatting and taking care of these little ones! Honestly, how dense do you have to be that I need to spell it out for you!?"

The liliger found himself going a quarter-step backwards, a bit astonished.

He has always known how headstrong and frank with her words Haru can be, but this was the first time he's seen the white rabbit so angry.

The large hybrid cast his gaze to the ground, his ears flattening slightly

.

Seems I have a knack for always pissing people off, Rob thought, rubbing his forearm.

Noticing this, Haru took a few deep controlled breaths and stepped forward, peering directly up into the liliger's eyes.

"Look, I get how frustrating it is to be in a body you wish you didn't have—I really do. But standing around feeling sorry for yourself isn't gonna accomplish anything. Besides…you still have a lot going for you, more than most."

"...Hm?"

"Guess I better spell it out again," Haru sighed. "From how you talk about them, you've got a really loving and supportive adoptive family. You're also well on your way to getting into med school, you have a good girlfriend…"

Rob winced.

That's right: girlfriend.

He hasn't spoken to Lily for over almost two weeks after he…closed the door in her face. The large carnivore wondered if she would even want to talk to him again after that.

He then noticed Haru craning her head a little to the side of him, her ears rotating a bit forward.

"Um…w-what's wrong?" he asked.

The white dwarf rabbit said nothing, her attention still fixed in the same direction.

Then, she chuckled quietly as her lips creased into a gentle smile.

Rob tilted his own head. One minute Haru was angrily lecturing him, and now she's suddenly happy?

"...It's nothing," she answered rather blythely. "Anyway…the point I was trying to make was you have a lot of help and support, but you gotta decide for yourself what you're going to do."

"...Y-yeah…"

Haru nodded.

"...Alright, I better take these to the park." She motioned behind the cart of plants and began pushing it past mildly forlorn liliger.

"You'll be fine," she said, slowing down as she gently patted the side of his leg.

"Besides, just because you're big, have giant fangs and claws, or dealing with predatory instincts…doesn't automatically make you a bad person."

It was strange. A statement such as that would be somewhat generic and obvious as moral in a children's show, but Rob found great relief and solace in Haru's words.

The liliger turned to give her thanks to the white rabbit, but then saw her facing sideways as she walked, mouthing something while giving a wink.

He couldn't tell exactly from her distance, but it looked to him that the small herbivore was saying…"Good luck?"

The large cat briefly wondered if that was directed at him, but it didn't seem that Haru was actually looking at him.

Soon after, Rob's ears shot straight up as a familiar striped female meekly stepped out from the corner Haru passed by.

"L-L-L…L-Lily…!?"

"...Hi there, Rob," the tigress greeted nervously, wringing her hands a bit as she gave an uneasy smile.

Crap! I don't know what to do now, he thought as his eyes frantically darted around the hall.

He told himself he was fully prepared for Lily to tell him off and say she was through with him. Now that the liliger was seeing the tigress standing right in front of him, beads of sweat began eking out of his pores and he was struggling to keep his knees from quivering.

Neither cat was speaking so it only made Rob even more anxious. He knew he must say something to break the tension before his nerves began to fray.

"U-um…!" Both he and Lily interjected simultaneously.

"O-oh, sorry! Go ahead," the tigress offered.

Rob groaned inwardly. He wasn't quick enough to have her speak first.

"...U-um, I, w-w-well—" he fumbled over his words. "I-I heard a lot of p-people are…l-l-looking forward t-to the c-cooking clu—cooking club's concession s-stands!"

"Oh, right….! Yeah, we already had some classmates making requests on what they want made at the festival," Lily said, shyly scratching her cheek. "I'm sure it'll be a hit this year."

The larger carnivore struggled to smile, but his stomach was still in tight knots and he was struggling to know how to keep up—or end—the conversation.

"Oh, c-come to th-think of it…d-don't they need you a-at the park now?"

"Um, actually…I think they can manage without me today. Truth is…"

Rob could feel the drops of sweat coalesce on his brow, getting ready to run down his forehead while she paused.

"...I actually wanted to check up on you. See how you were doing."

"Oh…r-really?"

Lily nodded. "Would it be okay if we take a walk together? I mean…if you aren't busy?"

Now it was the liliger's turn to pause. Was he feeling relieved? Indifferent? More anxious? He honestly couldn't tell.

"Um, s-sure...I-I'm not doing a-anyth—anything."

It was very small, but Rob could hear a small sigh escape the tigress' lips as her shoulders began to relax. "Alright. Shall we?"

The liliger was still a little hesitant to move, but he eventually took one tentative step forward, and then another. Soon he was able to walk at a normal pace, with Lily smiling gently as she matched his stride.

…

With the walkways around the open courtyard being relatively empty, it was a rather quiet and serene stroll, more so than usual for Rob.

The gentle stream of the fountain in the middle of the circle of the path helped to further relax him.

He and Lily spent their walk chatting about this and that, and swapping small stories of anything of interest that happened during the days or weeks prior. It was no different than what they have always done with each other.

Of course, the topics shifted towards the upcoming Meteor festival and inevitably focused on him not taking part of the Drama club's own preparations at the city park.

To his surprise, and embarrassment, the tigress had already asked some of his clubmates for his whereabouts and got the news of his suspension.

Knowing that there was absolutely no way to avoid it forever, Rob decided to explain exactly what had transpired last week.

At that point, the two big cats had already sat down upon a nearby bench while Rob recounted his altercation with Baako.

"I see…so that's what caused you to get angry," Lily said quietly with her eyes almost shut, as though she was visualizing the events. "Though, I have to wonder: why were those other lions picking on you in the first place?"

The young hybrid squeezed his hands while scrunching up the fabric of his dress pants.

"I…Th-th-they…"

Lily waited patiently while Rob struggled with his words.

"I-I was…t-taken to the b-black mar—black market…"

Lily gasped quietly as she placed her fingers over her lips. "Oh, Robbie…"

"I-It was horrible…e-everyone just c-c-casually ate meat…l-like it was c-complet—completely normal…"

The memory of the scents of cooked flesh and blood soon overtook him as his stomach began to churn, with his whole body starting to quiver.

"I c-c-couldn't take it…s-so I ran away…but i-it was no use."

"What do you mean?" the tigress asked.

Rob slowly clasped his hands together, attempting to keep himself steady. "I…w-was told right a-after that…th-that my i-instincts are g-gonna ex—explode one day, a-a-and that I'll end up…"

The image of mangled flesh along with a palm coated in blood flashed across his mind. Try as he might to quell the shaking, Rob's whole frame trembled as the beating of his heart began to drum loudly in his ears.

"I d-d-don't want th-that…!" he cried as more memories of death and violence mixing together, clouding his vision, along with the echos of a young alpaca resonating with them. "I—*GASP!*—d-d-don't want to be a m-m-mon—monster—!"

The liliger jolted as he suddenly felt a warm hand with small claws gently clasped the top of his closed fist.

He was about to jerk it away, but a second came upon the first a bit more firmly.

"Robbie…"

The anxious liliger swerved his head towards Lily, whose gaze was firm yet loving. He hadn't realized earlier, but Rob found himself struggling to breathe and was already becoming lightheaded.

"What's thirty-three times seventy-two?"

"H-H-Huh…!?" he gasped.

"It's okay…breathe," Lily said soothingly.

The larger carnivore wasn't sure how she knew to give him multiplication problems, but he was too preoccupied with trying to controlling his breathing as he struggled to speak.

"T-T-Two…th-thous—thousand, th-three hun…hundred s-sevent—seventy-two…!"

"Wow…you really can solve equations super fast," the tigress exclaimed happily. "Okay, another…! Forty-eight times fifty nine?"

"...Two th-th-thou…thousand, eight-h-hundred th-th-thirt—thirty two…!"

"That's right! Alright, next one."

For about a dozen minutes, Lily rattle off equations while Rob slowly answered them as he took deep, controlled breaths. Throughout the whole time, the tigress held fast to the liliger's hand.

"Haa.. Haaaa.. I…I th-think I'm o-okay now…" he sighed.

"Phew, I'm glad," said Lily as she slumped a bit on the back of the bench. "I actually just ran out of equations that I memorized."

"...How d-did you…kn-know I needed…"

"Oh, that. Your sister told me. She's been teaching me different ways to calm you down in case you start getting panic attacks. It took me all week to remember all those multiplication problems, though."

"S-Sis did?"

Rob was pretty astonished to learn Maria and Lily had come in contact with each other, but even more so that the tigress went so far as to seek advice on how to calm him.

"B-But, y-you could've just used a c-c-calcu—calculator, you know?"

Lily's gentle expression immediately became blank. Her face then slowly became a darker shade of orange as she straightened her posture on the bench and cleared her throat.

"R-Right, I guess that would make it a lot easier."

The liliger couldn't help but smile, seeing how earnest and single-minded she was in helping him, and in just about everything she sets out to do. It was probably why he started falling in love with her…and why he started feeling so guilty and inadequate.

"Hm? What's wrong?" Lily asked, noticing Rob's crestfallen expression.

"...I…I'm sorry."

"For what,your little episode? It's okay, really. It might take some getting used to, but I can handl—"

"N-no, not that," he said, shaking his head.

"I-I've been…tr-treating you so b-b-badly these p-p-past fe—past few weeks: a-avoiding you, ignoring your t-texts…e-everything…"

"Robbie…"

Lily softly placed her hand on his upper arm, gently stroking his fur. "You were going through a lot at the time, so I understand why you acted the way you did."

"Th-That still d-doesn't give me…th-the right to act l-like a—like a jerk to you…! Wh-Why do you still b-bother being w-with someone as…as m-messed up as m-me?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

With her free hand, she then touched the side of his muzzle and turned his face more towards hers. "It's because I love you. I don't need any other reason to still 'bother' with you."

Elation, surprise, anguish, a strong desire to kiss her…too many feelings grew and threatened to burst from his chest as Lily said those words. There was much he wanted to say back, and yet all he could do was silently weep.

Lily remained silent while only pressing her palms on either side of his face, gently wiping away his tears with her thumbs.

About a minute or two passed before the liliger was able to get a handle on his emotions and was able to speak again.

"I'm s-s-sorry," Rob gasped. "I kn-know I have a h-habit of…cr-cr-crying too mu—too much."

"I don't really mind," the tigress replied, shaking her head. "Rather you be too sensitive than an uncaring and clueless jerk. Not like the last guy…"

"Hm…?"

"Mm, it's nothing—just thinking out loud. Anyway, if something is ever bothering you, please let me know. I rather you cry or vent about it than keep it all in and leave me in the dark. Promise me at least that. Okay?"

"Okay…*Sniff* I p-promise…"

The tigress smiled and then softly kissed his cheek, making his face slightly hotter. "We'll work through this. You'll see."

Lily really was too good for him. He knew that. Despite that, he now had a burning desire to become the kind of man worthy of her.

Rob was still unsure exactly how to go about that, or how to properly handle his predatory instincts that will resurface eventually, but for the first time in a while, the liliger finally felt like himself and not just a monster.

Lily gasped a bit and then giggled as Rob began lightly butting his forehead into hers. Soon after, he started slowly rubbing his snout over her face and slowly wrapping his arms around her back.

She blushed a little, but then brushed her own nose against him in kind, chuffing gently.

Rob also let out a chuff—though it was more akin to a low, gravely grunt—which surprised both of them.

Lily just laughed and encircled her arms around his neck, giving him a soft kiss upon his black lips.

It was nowhere near as hot or passionate as it was with Sara, but the tigress' tiny peck filled his entire body with such a great warmth, no different from the warmth of sunlight—something he's never experienced with his ex.

Rob wanted, needed, to bathe in that warmth. Always.

The liliger pulled Lily closer to his body, her head buried in his chest and his thick arms almost completely covering her entire back torso.

"Lily…" he sighed, gently pressing his snout on the top of her head and taking in her scent.

The tigress trilled ever so slightly as she buried her face into the larger carnivore's chest.

For a long while, the two remained in each other's embrace, neither one even attempting to move. Of course, with the sun beginning to sink down and adopting a more orange hue, Rob knew he would need to let go least for now.

"Hey…" he said almost in a whisper.

"…Hmm?" she sighed, looking up at him as he rested her chin on one side of his pectoral.

The liliger momentarily became lost in her gaze before composing himself a little.

"D…Do you wanna g-get something to e-eat?"

"Why?" she replied before softly caressing his chest down to his stomach. "I already have a perfectly good meal right here."

Rob flinched, grunting slightly as his face became hot and the tip of his tail twitched.

"Hehehe, just kidding! You're just too cute not to tease."

"Mh—! R-Right, l-let me ch-check time…r-real quick…! G-gotta make sure th-th-the cafe—the cafeteria isn't c-closed."

He speedily reached into his pocket for his phone, doing his best to keep his arousal in check—though Lily was making it difficult with her head resting on him and her fingers gently caressing and pressing against his chest muscles.

It wasn't until his eyes rested on the screen that it began to disappear.

He had kept his phone silent most of the past few days, not wanting to talk to anyone, so it wasn't a surprise seeing several unread text messages on his lock screen. Unfortunately, seeing fourteen messages along with a missed call was far too unusual to simply brush off.

What was most startling was the fact they all came from the same person: Lorde.

"...What's wrong?" the tigress asked, noticing his confused and worried expression.

Before he could open his mouth, he became startled when a second incoming call silently appeared, almost dropping his phone.

The liliger wasn't sure how to react to such an unusual circumstance: Lorde of all people trying desperately to get a hold of him? He was almost afraid to find out, but in the end he allowed a shaky thumb to hover over the green button and lightly press down.

"Um…h-hell—?"

"ROB! Oh, thank & #%$ Rex you picked up! Please, you gotta hurry! I don't know how much longer he'll last—!"

"S-S-Slow down! What's g-going on!?" the liliger cried, his ears ringing from Lorde's initial scream.

"C'mon! Didn't you see all the texts I—!? N-Nevermind, no time! You gotta get over here now! Richie took your pig friend!"

Rob's ears immediately flattened as horror completely darkened his face. "B…B…Baako's been…?"

"I swear, I tried to stop 'em, but…h-he knocked me out before I could do anything…! I'm really sorry—"

"WH-WHERE IS HE!?" Rob bellowed, causing both Lily and Lorde on the other end to let out a yelp.

"U—wel-uh-p-h—Th-th-they took him to the old condemned building down the street from scho—"

Rob hung up. He then promptly hopped to his feet and was prepared to sprint, but a pair of hands clamped around his wrist.

"Hold it! What is going on!?" Lily cried, pulling hard on the liliger's arm.

"B-Baako—! Baako's been…k-kidnapped! I g-g-gotta go!"

"Baako…? By who!?"

"R-Richard…! Wh-Who knows what h-he's gon—gonna do to h-him! P-Please, let me go!"

"Do you even know where they went?"

"Of…c-c-course I do!"

"I'm going with you."

"No, it'll be t-t-to dangerous! I said…l-let me go!"

"Absolutely not!"

The liliger grew angry and impatient, and was just about to pull Lily's hands from off his wrist. Before he could turn around, however, he felt her grip on his release and she had already rushed in front of him.

"L-Lily! I said y-you're not com—!"

Fwap!

The tigress slapped her hands on either side of Rob's muzzle and then pulled his head down close to her face.

"I am not asking, Robbie…!" she snarled. "You and I both know how horrible your sense of direction is, and there's no way you'll find it in time while you're anxious like this. Besides… I'll be d*mned if I let you leave me behind to worry for your safety—never again."

The larger carnivore was completely stunned. Despite being smaller than him, Rob wasn't sure if he had the power to stop her. It could have been because of her bright, hazel eyes seeming to burn fiercely and refusing to let his attention go elsewhere.

So beautiful, he thought.

"Uh—o-o-okay, okay! You can…c-c-come," Rob cried, shutting his eyes in an attempt to not be completely trapped by her fiery gaze. "J-Just promise you'll st-stay back if things g-get to—too dangerous…a-alright?"

"I promise. So, where to?"

"L…Lorde said in a c-c-condemned building d-down th—down the street f-from here."

"...Oh right! I remember that place. I sometimes pass by and use the alley next to as a shortcut to the station sometimes," she remarked as she relinquished her hold on Rob's muzzle. "Alright, let's go!"

As she hurriedly trotted towards the direction of the school's gate, the liliger stood flabbergasted. How in the world could she be so fearless? And why did he find himself even more attracted to her because of it?

Rob shook his head. There was no time to be worrying about that.

With a loud snort through his nostrils, he sprinted towards Lily, only slowing down enough that she was able to keep up with his beside him.

Author's Note

Geez Louise, that took longer than I wanted! Had to take a hiatus do to work and other responsibilities, plus I was making sure this important chapter was just right.

Got a little inspiration again from Chimera the liliger and his playmate, Katrina, with their dynamic a bit. The smaller tiger tackled him from behind in play and he fell over on his back, defeated. The big baby was almost 500 lbs heavier and he just let her walk all over her! XD