Chapter Text
That night, I had a sudden encounter…
“Come on, wait!”
“Are you seriously going to eat a classmate?!”
“What happened to all the time we spent in class together?!”
“In the eyes of you carnivores, are we really nothing but food?”
…And lost the battle of control, to my instincts.
“You carnivores are all monsters!”
“Extra! That’s right, extra!” The members of the journalism club were giving out papers to as many animals as they could, spreading the unfortunate news all around the school.
“Someone got eaten?”
“Oh my goodness, who was it?”
“You haven’t heard? The victim was Tem, an alpaca from the drama club.”
The chatter going on outside the building he was hiding in made Legoshi uneasy. But he couldn’t let his uneasiness get the better of him. Not now. Not when something so horrible happened. Especially when he couldn’t control himself. He needed to do this.
“You've even got a gray wolf in the club, right?” His ear twitched.
He couldn’t become a person of interest so soon. Not before he made up for his mistake. He looked down at Tem’s love letter. He had to give it to Els. Unfortunately, her friends’ (rightful) suspicions would make it much harder to get her alone. Not to eat her. He receded into the shadows. He would have to find some other time to give this to her.
But no matter how hard he followed her he couldn’t get her by herself. She was always with someone else. She was flocking with others to avoid it, it seemed. But eventually he got her alone. Not to eat her. Her lemur friend had eventually left to go back to her own dorm.
He ignored the itch to follow the lemur. He mentally slapped himself for that thought. He came from behind the tree he was hiding behind to confront Els. She turned around and looked at him with a fearful face. ‘She knew, didn't she? I should just eat her here.’ That voice in his head growled. That damn voice wouldn’t stop interrupting his thoughts. He mentally slapped himself. He needed to focus.
The alpaca slowly backed away. “Stay away!” He walked closer until he was right in front of her. “You pretend to be our friend, and then you treat us like food when you're hungry?” She pulled out a pair of scissors. “I’ll use this! We may not look like it, but both Tem and I are way more—” He snatched the scissors from her hands. She flinched and cowered. He reached his hand out to give her Tem’s letter.
“Here. It's a love letter from Tem. You should have it. I-I waited until we could be alone.” She took the letter into her hands. She moved to sit on the nearby benches to read it. He moved to sit on the next bench further from her as she read. Eventually she looked up from the letter.
“You just wanted to give me this?”
“Yeah.”
“I knew that Tem had never been able to give it to you.” Because of him. “I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything to you.” I’m the wrong animal to have done so.
“No, I'm glad you did.”
“Well, see you tomorrow.” He got up from the bench he sat on and walked past her.
“Wait!” He stopped. “I just badmouthed you to a friend. But you're such a kind wolf…I'll take it back tomorrow. So, will you forgive me?”
He sighed. He was not a good animal. “No need to take anything back.”
“Why not?”
“I'd feel bad for Tem if everyone found out about his crush after he died.”
“But still…If I don't do anything, I'll feel so guilty.”
“Don't worry about it, it's nothing new. I'm used to constantly being feared and loathed.” This time he walked away, out of sight.
The next evening, he visited Tem’s memorial. He thought back to when Tem was still alive. When his only life conflict was whether he would give that love letter to Els. That chance to be together was taken from them. He was the one who took that opportunity away from them. A monster like him shouldn’t have the chance to mourn the life they took.
‘Tem... I told her. I hope that you can forgive me.’
He was knocked out of this calm state by a girly shriek. ‘It's Louis!” Footsteps were getting closer to him. No. The memorial. The animal halted beside him and placed down a bouquet of flowers. He turned to see a praying deer, Louis, the shrieks made much more sense now. He stared at him in awe. His mannerisms, his voice, his gaze... He was sure Louis put careful thought into all of it. He's just one year older than Legoshi, but he's a star actor, and at the top of the school. Not to mention a contender to become a Beastar. Louis was everything he wished to be.
“What are you looking at? Are all wolves this poor-mannered?”
He quickly looked away “Sorry.”
“You're that pup from the backstage team. Perfect timing. I have a favor to ask. Come with me.”
“Sure.” He got up and followed Louis to his office. There, a goat waiting inside. Zoe, he thought. He was an actor.
“Oh, Louis.”
“Fix this up to fit him in time for the rehearsal tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
“Zoe will be replacing Tem. We decided during yesterday's management meeting. Right?"
“Yes.” The goat nodded.
Tem was being replaced that quickly? It had only been a day. But someone had to, or else there wouldn’t be a play.
“How ironic that I'd meet you here, Oddie the Water Spirit.”
“W-Wha?”
“We're practicing. What's Oddie's next line?
Did he really need to be in here if they were rehearsing right now?
“I-I'm sorry, I still haven't memorized…” Louis walked over to Zoe and grabbed his jaw.
“What's wrong? Open your mouth.”
“L-Louis…”
“Say, did you chew up the script? Eating paper is about all goats are good for, right? I'd rather you spared us that particular talent.
“I-I promise I'll have it down by tomorrow…”
The door burst open as a mongoose, Kai, stormed in.
“Louis! Why is Zoe replacing Tem? During the auditions, I was runner up. So—”
“Learn to knock.” He turned to Zoe. “Get out. And pound that script into your head.”
“U-Understood.”
The mongoose turned to look at him. “Hey, what're you doing here? You're that underling from the backstage team.”
He took that as his que to leave. “Uh... I guess I'll leave too.”
“No, you can stay. Kai. Make sure you get along with Legoshi. You'll be working together backstage.”
“Ehh? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“We've formally decided you're no longer welcome as an actor. From now on you'll work with PR and the rest of the stage crew, and support us from backstage.” Kai looked like he was going to pounce on the deer at any moment. Louis only walked closer to him.
“The Spring Wind act 2 footwork. The Winter Safari Tournament's final dance. You know better than anyone else that I didn't just recite an incantation. Right, Kai? You've been acting here for two years, and your only substantial accomplishments are the two on-stage blunders I mentioned.” Legoshi looked down at Kai’s clenched fist. “No, I'm the one who'd like to ask. Why did you ever think you'd get to be Tem's—”
Kai threw his fist out to punch Louis. He jumped in front of them and blocked the punch.
“Actors' safety first. That's an important part of our job as stage crew.”
“Wah?”
“He's the lead actor, Kai.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?!”
Legoshi growled and showed his fangs. Kai backed away quickly.
“Uh… well, I guess I'll let you off the hook this time.” He looks at Louis “Must be nice being rich, nothing can ever hurt you.” He opens the door to leave. “The hell are you staring at?!” He screamed before he slammed the door behind him.
“You showed your fangs to avoid fighting… I'm surprised. You're usually about as intimidating as a houseplant, but it seems even you have some ferocity within.”
“Excuse me.” He made his move to leave but before he could he felt a sensation in his tail. Usually someone touching his tail wouldn’t bother him. But in this moment he felt rage flow through him. He turned back to Louis and let out a low growl while showing his teeth.
Louis gave him a curious look and he quickly stopped. “Ah, I’m so sorry! I won’t do that again. I don’t know what came over me.”
For some reason Louis seemed pleased. “Excellent, you seem like you’re going to fit right in. Come on. We're sneaking into the auditorium tonight so Zoe can practice.”
“What? But if we get caught—”
“That's why I need you to keep watch. You're not planning on refusing to try to play the good guy, are you?” The deer grabbed his tie and brought him to his face. “How disappointing. What if I promised you one of my legs in return, you'd come drooling to accept my proposal, wouldn't you?” Legoshi flinched. Louis smirked. “You're a wolf, right? Why don't you act like it for once? You know, like when you showed those fangs at me.”
“I-I said I was sorry.”
“If you’re really sorry you’ll be there.”
Why did he agree to do this? If this gets out, the drama club is doomed. And then he’ll probably get suspended. He continued to pace back and forth. ‘Come on, hurry up.’ The teachers have been patrolling more frequently since that incident. Sneaking around like this as a carnivore especially, would get him in some serious trouble. Even if no one knew it was he who devoured Tem.
He heard a noise and looked around. He heard the sound again and looked down. It was only a grasshopper. “What are you doing here, little buddy?" he sighed. "I guess you could ask me the same thing.” That’s when it hit him. That scent. It was coming from around that fountain. He took a deep breath in, taking in the scent. An herbivore. A familiar feeling flowed through his veins. The very same that flowed through him on that night. It was impossible to fight it.
He ran and leapt forward towards his prey. Their bodies crashed together as Legoshi landed on the poor creature.
‘So small and warm. She’s moving a lot, and my arm is getting damp from her breath. Beneath this cloth… Beneath this soft fur, just how much… No, I have to stop this not again. Just how… Just how… How much mouth-watering, warm…My body… My hand… They won’t stop. It’s just like before.’
‘You’re doing the right thing.’ The voice whispered. ‘You’ve done this before. It’s easy. You feel it, don’t you? You’re overjoyed, from the bottom of your heart. Go on. Do it in one bite.’
Legoshi dug his claws in the animal’s flesh and opened his maw ready to devour it. ‘Give it to me! I’ll eat you… I’ll eat you…I’ll eat you…’
Before he can sink his teeth in, he’s startled by a shout. “Legoshi! It’s urgent.”
The rabbit beneath Legoshi breaks free from him. His claws scratch her arm, and she runs away. Legoshi stayed in place and looked down at the blood on his claws. He took a deep breath in to take in the scent before he licked the blood clean.
Zoe grabs his shoulder. “Come on, inside. Quickly.” Legoshi nods and follows behind Zoe. Inside the auditorium Louis is crouched on the ground. He walks over to crouch besides the fallen deer.
“Are you all right?”
“This is nothing.”
“Uhm… He was trying to help me. It was dark, and I couldn’t see my feet well… If Louis ends up unable to perform, I don’t know what I will do…”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. It should be fine tomorrow. It’s only temporary. Just for now, lend me your shoulder, Legoshi.”
“Sure.” Louis grabbed onto Legoshi’s shoulder.
“Thanks for keeping watch.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Did everything go alright?” Legoshi’s hands twitch.
“Yeah.”