Paper documents, the smell of freshly made coffee and the constant clicking of keyboards. These were the things that would always calm the seasoned detective down. Today, however, there was nothing that could make the officer relax.

After the adrenaline rush of having met such a peculiar animal he could barely sit still. This is what I live for, the dog thought. The case of the park devouring never once leaving his mind.

The witness wasn't joking when he said: "It was the biggest fucking animal I've ever seen."

Nobody saw the case how Jan did. A bear and a wolf attacking an animal at once while the witness testified there was only one? No sane animal would've come up with the theory of a hybrid.

I truly have found my way into a goldmine. That lead with the wolf's son was so appetizing, I couldn't possibly ignore it. I mean a hybrid? That would explain the bite marks at the scene, but the confirmation of the perpetrator himself? That birth certificate effectively solved the case itself.

The dog hummed a pleased tune not having been in such a good mood for a very long time. He clacked away at his keyboard while taking a sip from his coffee. Even this dreadful drink tastes decent today. I am so lucky I got this case assigned to me.

He mused further about the case. Using that kid to enact justice on those that got away is the perfect solution. Normally I would arrest the killer and throw away the key, but this is just too interesting. The shepherd pressed print on his faux interview with the hybrid; confirming the dad's alibi. This alone could get him fired.

"Hmm, you're in a good mood today, huh, Jan?", a Hyena asked startling the dog. Detective Marcus Looker, naturally, he picked up on the usually gloomy shepherd's good mood. "Do they have those spring tea blends you like so much on sale again?"

Jan rolled his eyes and tilted his head sideways. "Do you have a habit of sneaking up on and stalking people? I should file a complaint against you.", the shepherd joked.

Marcus laughed boisterously. "We both know you wouldn't do that. Without me, this place would probably bore you to death." The hyena gestured wildly. Jan nodding in the affirmative with a smile, tail wagging.

Marcus grabbed a chair and sat beside his colleague. The hyena looked over Jan's shoulder, staring at the screen. He gave a surprised huff. "Ah, so you interviewed the son, huh? I don't even know why you felt the need to. The dad's been having a clean slate for 21 years."

The shepherd hummed softly. "You can never be too sure. Just putting the dots on the I's. The saliva test cleared the dad already, but I just wanted to be sure he wasn't involved somehow. Old habits die hard.", Jan lied.

Marc chuckled and took a gulp from his coffee. "Right back at you. You're as immaculate at ever. You follow up on every breadcrumb until the well dries out."

Jan sighed deeply. "Yeah, and it seems my leads for the Park Devouring have dried up too." The hyena patted him on the back. "Such is life."

When Jan got home he couldn't contain his excitement anymore. Being able to finally get rid of the dredges of society who escaped his grasp was absolutely liberating.

Using the kid as his personal soldier was by no means morally sound, but he didn't see another way. He would let the kid off the hook, eventually, maybe. The kid was by no means a monster, from the eyes of society he was, to Jan he was a godsend.

Because the hybrid had morals and ethics; he could be easily steered. He basically fell right into his lap. Letting the kid rot in prison would help nobody. If he wasn't a carnivore he would've never been condemned at all. The German Shepherd was giving him an opportunity to clean up the streets and also get a shot at his freedom.

"So, Sam, who will we have fun with on Sunday evening? Will it be the mountain lion who got off on a technicality or will it be the alligator whose lawyer got him off the death penalty?", he sang to himself.

A magnificent idea crossed the detectives mind. Why don't I let you choose? Let's gauche your sense of justice. His fingers flicked over the burner's keyboard. Anticipation rising in the dog's chest.

J: "Who is worse: 1. The mountain lion who stalked, killed and devoured a herbivore family in their own home and got off on a technicality."

J: "2. A serial killer alligator who drowned and ate his victims, got off the death penalty and paroled because of a good lawyer."

The dog let the message fester in his mind. He put the phone on the counter and decided to take a good, long shower.

After making a good meal for himself and watching some tv on his couch he finally heard the phone beep. Finally. It took you long enough.

The dog jumped off the couch and calmly made his way to the kitchen counter. He picked up the phone took a seat at the dining table and flipped it open. His brows raised in surprise and his tail was wagging aggressively.

The eyes of the dog gleaning over the screen with ecstatic satisfaction.

S: "They're both pieces of trash. Neither is worse than the other. They should both be discarded off."

S: "Why is my input so important though?"

The detective's face was permanently contorted into a smile. He never expected the kid to have such a profound sense of justice given that he did the same as them. Fast nails flicking over his keys.

J: "You're smart enough to figure that out for yourself, aren't you?"

J: "I think it's pretty obvious. Make sure you're ready to leave campus Saturday morning. Meet me at Wie 's Ochtends Stond Café, 7:30 AM."

J: "This last part is kind of obvious: don't be late."

Sam looked at the phone disillusioned. He had no idea what the detective wanted from him and why he wasn't in cuffs already. In the darkness of his bunk he looked over those messages again.

Why does he want me to answer these questions? He's using me for something. There must be something he gets out of me being not in prison.

He hid the phone deep in his mattress and looked at his timer. Friday, 00:34 AM. All of this stress is bad for his health. He can't sleep a wink. Like at any moment a police squad can burst through the door to take him away.

Sam wouldn't like to see his friend's faces once they realize they've been bunking with a killer. At any moment his life could be over. People will know what he is and who he is.

The hybrid ponders how he could even call those close to him his friends, given how many times he had to lie and twist the truth. The only true connection he ever made was with Khyra.

The Brown Sheep would never leave him alone, not even in his dreams. She was the only person who knew aside from his father that he was no bear. He wasn't in love with her; she was in love with someone else.

She never had the courage to fess up to the horse in question. Not until that night: when she finally decided to pull through only to have her life ripped away from her by her ex. Even now, Sam cannot get that taste out of his mouth.

The blood, the meat, the viscera. In that moment he truly felt elated and not even three seconds later: horrified. It was the best thing he ever tasted and the worst feeling of his life. Khyra paid the price for his indulgence.

All she ever did was being a good person. She saw the being for who Sam was and accepted him with open arms, only to be repaid in negligence. Sam was on the verge of a breakdown only to clam up.

Small tears being brisket away faster than they can appear. He took a deep breath and huffed all his baggage out. Like Khyra taught him.

No, she wouldn't want to see you this way. Wallowing in self-pity. Disgusting.

Sam turned on his stomach. Slightly dazed from his small emotional outburst. He's lucky that all his roommates are asleep. He throws the sheets off himself and tries to close his eyes. Sleep not reaching him for several more hours, until finally his body gave in.

Friday was absolutely horrid. Not only did Sam get around four hours of sleep, he just had to also have a bunch of tests around specifically marked for today.

By the time the day ended every fiber of his being was screaming at him to get some rest and fill himself to the brim with food. He was so hungry he took double his usual portions to compensate for his lack of sleep.

"Aren't you hungry today? You looked like a walking corpse all day, no wonder you're hungry.", Higoro joked. If only he knew. The bear thought.

"Yeah, I had a rather rough night. Couldn't get a wink of sleep. The tests they had planned today weren't helping.", he said with his mouth full.

The Bernese Mountain Dog sighed. "Yeah, I totally screwed up German today. I just had to spend all my time on history."

Zach grinned. "By screwing up you mean getting a B instead of an A?", the coyote heckled.

Higoro gave him an incredulous stare. "Screw you! You don't have to work nearly as hard as me."

"Yeah, because I am not an academic weapon, unlike you. I actually enjoy my time here." Zach held his tail high in triumph. The Bernese gave him a snicker.

Higoro took his next bite of potato stew. The bear was about to stand up to discard of his second portion of food. "Wait, Sam, have you seen Theo? I haven't seen him return from his classes and his scent in our room was kind of faint."

The bear scratched his head and muzzle. He frankly had no idea where he was. "He's probably holed up in the library depriving himself of basic needs. I'll go bring him some food if he's there."

The canines nodded in agreement. "Alright, sounds good. Uh, hey, while you're add it; could you please tell him to clean his bunk? That place reeks.", Zach jabbed.

The bear gave him a hearty smile. "Sure thing! See you guys later." Sam waved them off Theo's lunch in tow.