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Broken Pieces

Chapter Thirteen

By Roofles

“There are a few places I can check with you tailing me,” Logan said after washing up and washing off in the bathroom. He stunk of Domino and desperately needed not to smell like wolf nuts during the job the two had ahead of them today.

Still in the small, ugly apartment Logan rented out when he needed a chance to get away from everyone else, the human was busying himself cleaning up in the small disgusting side bathroom attached to the one room apartment. He kept hitting his knee against the open door and the wolf heard Logan curse yet again.

Domino found the whole thing to be extremely amusing.

“That implies there are places you want to go without me…” Domino glanced up from the paper he’d been reading from a nearby chair, waiting for Logan to finish freshening up. The human came out of the bathroom smelling saccharinely sweet, like jasmine that had been soaked in sugar making the wolf’s nose wrinkle.

“I know, I know. The smell is terrible. I need it to mask your scent,” Logan gave him a look. He had perfected the art of masking scents over the years. It could be a death sentence if, say, a wolf smelled a lion or vice versa on the human in his line of work. “And also, the place I have in mind needs a bit more… flowery scent. You’ll see why soon enough.”

Logan paused in the doorway.

He had a towel around his waist and nothing else on as he looked at the wolf sitting in the only chair in the room. Domino looked as he normally did. Fully suited up with shoes and tie on. He had one leg over the other, a newspaper open in his lap as he looked up at the human with his snout pointed down at the paper.

“What?” Domino asked with a warning growl. Warning Logan not to get on him. Wolves did not liked to be stared at like this. Plenty of fights had broken out in the city when someone refused to break eye contact with one of them. It was a challenge to wolves to make eye contact and they weren’t known for backing down to those who weren’t pack.

The person might as well have been calling them out and egging them on to fight.

“Where the fuck did you get a paper?” Logan pulled the towel from around his waist and tossed it aside. Stark naked, he walked into the room to find a clean pair of clothes to wear. Like most his things, he kept them in sealed packages to make sure no stray scent, or bugs, got into them in this scummy apartment.

Domino enjoyed the show of it.

Logan had lost some weight over the past year, but he still had that lean, fit build that allowed him to fight or run when necessary. The thing that caught Domino’s attention were the new scars Logan had gotten. He was riddled with scars. His arms were cut, his sides slashed at one time; one of his legs had a bite mark and his shoulder had a gash mark. The sight made Domino feel uncomfortable. The twin claw marks on Logan’s back weren’t the only ones he was sporting these days, making the wolf question just what kind of shit Logan had been getting into this past year.

He'd gone radio silent for several months and shows up out of the blue for the party. Another thing Domino needed to ask the Alpha about. Seeing as how Logan wasn’t about to divulge any information to the wolf.

“Next door neighbor.” Domino grunted, lifting the paper back up and going back to reading it. “Stocks are up in meat. Go figure. Controlling the flow even now. Profiting off our suffering…”

“The neighbor…? Did you… did they just give it to you?” Logan asked as he began dressing, glancing towards the door.

“What they don’t know, won’t hurt them.” Domino said and Logan wanted to laugh.

That was such a very wolf-like response.

Despite their close affection for one another, Logan was still able to take a step back and look in on Domino as well as the other wolves from a third person view. They were wolves. They cared little for anyone outside the pack. It was a miracle that Logan had gotten as close as he did to the pack being an outsider.

Only those within the pack, and those they were connected with, mattered.

The rest of the world could go up in flames and they wouldn’t even bat an eye as long as it didn’t affect the pack. It was somewhat remarkable how wolves managed to adjust to society as much as they had with that kind of mindset. Everyone else could get fucked for all they care.

“Not like I buried them.” Domino snorted as if laughing at the notion.

“Never mind.” Logan didn’t have time to try and correct everything that was wrong with this scenario as he put on a cheap looking suit and poorly done up tie. He looked cheap, which was exactly what he was going for.

“Do you, uh, need help with that…?” Domino asked, having been watching the human from the corner of his eye the entire time. An unnerving feeling. Having a predator like him watch every move the human made.

It was the same feeling he got when being stalked.

“Believe it or not, I did this on purpose.” Logan really wasn’t used to working with someone else. He always did things solo. Made things easier.

As a human, he was extremely adaptable to different situations and habitats that others, like Domino, wouldn’t be. If they went somewhere cold that those like polar bears and artic foxes needed to live? Logan would be fine with putting on some extra layers of clothing. If it was somewhere overwhelming hot that the cold blood people needed like lizards, Logan could just undress.

Cultures, languages, scents, outfits, settings… Logan could adapt and change himself as needed to blend and fit in to be inconspicuous.

Domino wouldn’t.

Even now, the wolf looked like he was about to throw down the paper and stand up to correct everything wrong that Logan had purposefully done. Be it his wolf pride or his instinct and nature, Domino wasn’t about to just roll over for anyone that wasn’t his mate or Alpha. Not looking like a slob.

And that… that was going to make things extremely complicated.

“Do you know why humans are on top of the world?” Logan asked the simple question so little people seemed to know the answer to, but everyone had thoughts and theories behind.

“Uh… because they back stabbed every one of their allies throughout history?” Domino took a second thinking that over to what his old wolf pack had taught him. “They even betray their own.” Domino spat the word out to the side making Logan grimace.

Betrayal was taken as the biggest insult in a wolf pack. To betray the pack was amount to pissing on one’s entire history and culture. Most wolves would rather die than insult the family or pack.

“Well, that too.” Logan laughed though at what the wolf had said. “It’s because we have learned to adapt over the years.” He looked at himself in the full-length body mirror to make sure he looked like a down on his luck salesman in a moth eaten off-tan suit with a white and red striped tie. It looked hideous, like a used car salesman, and it would be perfect.

“Adapt?” Domino frowned at the word as if not understanding what it meant. “We adapt. We make sure no one enters our territory and protect our own. We survive.” The wolf grunted as if answering the question. Logan rolled his eyes at the reply he got.

A very wolf-like response.

“Humans live around the entire globe, with every other species.” Logan motioned for Domino to follow as he headed for the door and the wolf did getting up from the chair and folding the paper under one arm to take with him. “See, everyone thinks you’re rooted to where you’re born. Stay with your own kind. Unable to cooperate with others. That’s a bunch of bullshit people, and governments, push as propaganda to keep others out. Lock themselves away behind their borders and refuse contact with the outside world.”

Like wolves, but Logan didn’t mention that.

“Are you saying humans don’t use others…? That, what, we should just trust people because?” Domino wasn’t sure what this was all about but listened anyways. It was that strange mate-bond that wolves had, like a pack-bond, that let them put up with them no matter what they said or did.

While cutting everyone else out.

“No, no. Not that. See humans, they can live anywhere. We craft and create and make the things we need to, to do so. We aren’t born like you,” Logan gave the wolf a wink at the snort he got in return for the comment. “In the coldest of places? To the warmest. Sure, we can’t live under the sea like aquatic species can but we’re working on it.” He laughed.

“Why would you want to live under the sea…?” Domino was frowning now, unsure why anyone would want to live in such a stupid place.

The wolves would often make fun of the other species of the city and the places they chose to live in. Birds and squirrels like high places and badgers and moles liked to live in houses underneath the ground, far below the surface. Wolves tended to live on hilltops, in expanded areas with a lot of territory and some access to underground systems but nothing compared to the burrowing species.

Anywhere else, outside of that? Was a mystery that Domino had never once, in his entire life, thought about living in. And that in itself was telling. Something the wolf missed until Logan just pointed it out.

“Humans are dumb. We will want for things when we are told we can’t have them. Greedy and dumb. You read or hear about it all the time. Humans going to space,” Logan mentioned and Domino visibly shuttered. “To the tallest peaks? To the deepest parts of the ocean, that submarines can take us. We are kind of… stupid but we do it anyways.”

“Very stupid.” Domino snorted with a shake of his head.

“Anyways, my point is simple. Humans can learn and adapt and change, where a lot of others… can’t.” Logan paused, watching as Domino fixed the tie on his suit and brushed his shoulders off.

“What?” The wolf growled again, always jumping to anger when someone got on him about something he did.

It was so easy at times, Logan felt bad about it. If he was flirtatious with a wolf, they wouldn’t at first think he had ulterior motives. They were such a prideful people it was… astonishing they had survived as long as they had. Refusing to break from tradition, to only trust in other wolves. It had nearly led to their extinction at one point in history…

“You look good, Domino.” Logan just smiled at the wolf and Domino’s ears perked up before lying back, one flicking as he looked away with a faint blush creeping into his ears.

“I want to make sure I look good.” Domino grumbled and Logan did appreciate that. They did like looking their best when they went out. Not wanting shame to fall on them or on their pack family.

“Humans also aren’t afraid to pick sides.” Logan brought up as the two got into his Impala. Domino in the passenger seat, with Logan driving. They both were armed as they headed towards the big city.

“Betraying their allies.” Domino felt the need to bring up.

“Willing to side with those they feel are right and just… or will win,” Logan couldn’t deny.

History was an unorthodox thing. While the general view was right, the firsthand experiences weren’t. Every single species, every single nation, every single group and faction and breed and… Every single person out there had their own history to go on.

It wasn’t just geological, it was cultural. Why would a cat trust the history of a dog? Why would a wolf believe the “lies” a faction of rabbits claimed against them. There was so much misinformation out there and half-truths, and half-lies in this melting pot of the planet they all lived on together.

Logan didn’t say anything more on the matter as he thought about it. Thought how humans were one of the very few people out there willing to side with wolves or foxes or lions or bears or rabbits over the years. There was very little to no history of carnivores working with herbivores. Most of the wars and world wars were about the two groups fighting against each other; one side, the herbivores, coming out on top in later years when technology allowed them the chance of fighting back. Using their overwhelming numbers to win before the old nations broke apart and reformed mixed and together as they were nowadays.

Omnivores, like humans, were kind of just stuck in the middle of it all. Leaving them with a third person view of history and how things went. Where humans fell in the matter. They were just one of the few groups that decided to take advantage of this and profit from others wars. Wanting to control history…

“And how we could put our hands into it…” Logan muttered, and Domino glanced over at him.

“What?” The wolf asked.

“Oh, sorry, sorry. Just something my Aunt once told me…” Logan paused, and it was clear the wolf wanted him to elaborate and explain and so Logan did. “Most people are happy with just being part of their own people… or pack,” he added for the wolf’s sake. “Humans… human tend to want to put their hands all over everything. Be a part of it all. It’s very…”

“Greedy?” The wolf thought aloud.

“Entitled.” Logan laughed though. “My Aunt has a very interesting view of things… It was making me think about the disappearance going around the city.” Logan said and Domino gave a single nod to let him know he was listening in. It was a very subservient act, the wolf cowing down to the human as if Logan were higher in the pack than he was.

He was still unsure what to make of that.

Unsure how he felt having that kind of power over someone else…

“Who would want to kidnap predators?” Logan said very detective like, trying to fill the role he had come into that year.

“Uh… humans?” Domino said, thinking about how Logan was mentioning them.

“I highly doubt it. Believe it or not, humans love predators.” Logan stopped at a red light.

“Only you and Alpha-mate do.” Domino frowned at him. Logan shook his head.

“Sorry, that’s not how I meant it. What I meant is that humans love using predators. It’s easy to do. Making them out to be the bad guy. Using them to solve their problems while they stayed out of harm’s way. Over the centuries, humans have always loved using predators for their benefit… or as the scapegoat.” Logan didn’t add on that he did the same thing.

Domino grunted.

“Yeah, you and everyone else.” The wolf grounded his teeth. Logan waved that off.

“No, no. I meant that human would hate if all predators just up and vanished one day. Why do you think that, over the years, we sided with you guys over others? We wanted to make sure that predators stayed around.” Logan said.

“So, you could use us.” The wolf snorted in annoyance.

“Uh, yeah. Basically.” Logan chuckled. “My point being is that I highly doubt that humans would be the top of the list. There are groups out there that are interested in getting rid of all non-humans, sure…” he nodded. “Sorry,” he added, and Domino looked out the window. “My point being,” Logan repeated again speaking slightly louder now. Domino could be so dramatic at times. “Is that these groups also target herbivores. Who aren’t going missing, at the moment.”

“Just preds, huh?” Domino mulled that over.

“Correct. Reese already knows this as well. We’ve been exchanging information on the matter back and forth. He didn’t care until…” Logan didn’t need to mention it but did. “Until a wolf went missing.”

“Makes sense.” Domino said casually as if, to him, it did. Why would a wolf care that other threats, other predators, went missing? A wolf going missing on the other hand was a big deal for all wolves even if they weren’t part of the same pack.

Wolves looked out for each other. Sure, they fought and killed each other in turf wars but when other species got involved, they would band together and fight against them. Uniting as one. It was how they’d survived throughout history with everyone else using them as the boogeyman that stole children away in the middle of the night.

“Anyways, yeah. A lot of random predators have gone missing in the past year or so. Construction workers, security guards, students… anywhere a carnivore might be. Now, I looked into each of the spots around the city that have gone missing.” Logan pointed out.

“Using one of those mind maps, right.” Domino nodded. He was easier to talk to when he was in agreement like this, their interests aligned to find the missing wolf. Just like in history. Humans siding with wolves when their interests aligned before breaking off after.

“Right. So, I marked down the locations. The thing about them was? Well, carnivores aren’t that popular.” Logan admitted sheepishly. “I never really thought about how few you guys are these days compared to other groups. In numbers, I mean.”

“Reason why pack Alpha wanted us to breed so much.” Domino grunted and it took Logan a second to realize he’d been talking about Reese’s father, Mauler, and not the current Alpha. The previous Alpha’s mindset was to breed and expand their numbers as quickly as they could while weeding out the weaker members.

Like Alan’s friend PB…

“He got you guys to breed…?” Logan frowned at that, hearing the horror stories involved with such messing coupling. It wasn’t about love or enjoyment; it was all about one thing. The pups.

“To increase our numbers.” Domino nodded. “His father, the uh… previous, previous, previous…. Previous Alpha,” Domino had to count it out. “Had a turf war with a group of bears. Nasty bunch for omnivores. They wanted wolf territory, and it was a huge feud between the two groups. We of course came out on top,” Domino added proudly puffing out his chest.

“Suffering great loses…” Logan rolled his eyes. It wasn’t common history unless you were a wolf.

“We regrouped, licked our wounds, and recouped our losses.” Domino shrugged as if it hadn’t been a big deal. So long as the pack survives, the losses are justified.

“Crazy…” Logan shook the thought away. “Herbivores.” He just stated and got a blank look from the wolf.

“What?” Domino asked.

“Herbivores are the ones I’m thinking about.” Logan said jumping straight to the conclusion. “It’s something that’s been itching in the back of my mind for a while now. Herbivores are-,” then there was a loud snort.

Domino burst out laughing and shook his head.

“What? You think a bunch of grass eaters kidnapped a wolf?” The very thought made the wolf roll around in his seat as he laughed. “What did they do? Moo at them? Maybe they began cowering and the wolf felt bad and tied himself up for them?”

“Domino…” Logan couldn’t begin to state how offensive all these things were.

“Shit, Logan. I thought you were supposed to be smart!” Domino sighed, wiping a tear out of his eye. “Fuck. I needed a good laugh, thanks. So, where are we really going?”

Logan took a moment before smirking.

“The Burrows.” And the wolf howled the rest of the drive there.

If you take a left off the first turn from main street, you begin entering the herbivore district within the city. Though it was illegal to limit access to housing based on your diet, no carnivore would be stupid enough to buy or rent a place in such an area. Just as no herbivore would be stupid enough to do so in the carnivore districts.

Between two neutral zones, that were mostly used for city offices creating a neutral ground that carnivores wouldn’t dare interfering with or fear the law coming down on them, sat on either side of the stretched street was the herbivore district. It expanded the further you went down it. On a map, Logan had marked off numerous blocks as the herbivore zones. It sat far away from all the key locations that had been targeted over the past several years.

Safe and boring. Just how herbivores preferred things.

Highlighting the area in green, Logan discovered something one could only do if they mapped it out. Turning the map on its side, Logan saw that the entire area the herbivores claimed as their own looked like tunnels. Burrows. Burrows that dug into the city and created homes, housing, and businesses for them. It was sheltered between government districts and zones that created artificial protections that carnivores wouldn’t dare to cross.

It was so simple and yet brilliant. The streets looked like any other. There were people out and about this afternoon even with the gray clouds hanging threateningly overhead. Rabbits were the most numerous amongst the deer, elk, sheep, and a group of bison out this day.

To an untrained eye, one would think everyone here were in equal standings with each other. But just like with other communities, there were always clear telltale signs that things weren’t equal. Rabbits and hares, with their numbers, claimed the best spots on the streets while elephants with their size and strength and the needs that came along with it were allowed to do as they pleased.

Sheep were usually walked all over and pushed aside, no one worried that they would step up and do something. Although heavily populated by all herbivore species there were clear signs of clicks and groups of the same species. They just naturally congregate together.

Logan wasn’t as familiar with herbivore groups as he was with the others. The police force didn’t really come to this area, not needing to. They had their own… working law enforcement that would handle domestic problems. Something Logan couldn’t help but notice as a rhino and a hippo dragged off what looked to be some sort of Mustelidae, a wolverine possibly, who was kicking and screaming his rights while everyone else ignored him.

It was spooky and made a chill run-down Logan’s spine.

Everyone had frozen, like a deer in headlights. Standing there, perfectly still, and unmoving, until the threat had been taken care of. Then they began moving all within unison and the act made Logan feel increasingly uncomfortable as he watched the wolverine dragged off the street and for everyone to go back to normal as if nothing wrong had occurred.

Everyone here had blinders on when it came to disruptions in the community, like severe tunnel vision.

“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others, huh…?” Logan shuddered as he pulled up to a spot off to the side and looked over at Domino. They had driven down through this area without stopping, only slowing down when need be. Everyone was staring forward, ignoring the wolf in the vehicle. So long as Domino didn’t step out, there was no need to worry about him. As if he were in a cage, harmless. “Things are going to get a bit… strange from here, Domino.”

“You brought me to this place…” Domino swallowed loudly, and it was hard to tell if it was out of nerves or something else, like hunger. “They’re all so… weird, here. It unsettling. Like they live in their own little… herds.”

“Of course, they are. They’re communists.” Logan smirked at the look he got. “That’s a joke, Domino. Though, kind of true still…” He waved off the complicated political issue with how herbivores did things.

Due to their vast numbers, herbivores had their own ways of doing things over the years. With business, living situations, their expenses and how they allocated goods to each other… all treated equal and yet, not. It was an uncomfortable situation Logan tried not to put himself in the middle of.

Sometimes it was easier going after someone who was willing to rip your throat out instead of all of this…

Domino just snorted, flashing his fangs.

“We aren’t here for the street goods. Promise.” Logan took a breath. “Where we are going, I need you to pretend not to know me… okay?”

Domino frowned on that.

“You want to split up.” The wolf asked and it wasn’t a question as a low growl filled the car.

“Yes and no.” Logan quickly went on as that growl increased. “I need you to go in and act like a customer. They’ll know exactly how to treat you if you tell the man at the front you want The Red Room, TRR. I’ll follow shortly in behind you. Just pretend to sit down, get a drink, and relax while I slip into the back to talk to my contact.”

“You mean the guy you slept with.” Domino frown only grew, and Logan rolled his eyes.

“I don’t sleep with herbivores.” Logan said and that made the wolf’s ear twitch.

“What?” Domino had to ask.

“Look. It’s complicated.” Logan waved that annoying factoid about himself away. “We have a job here, right? We’re looking for a missing wolf.”

“And you think,” Domino glanced out the window to read the sign. “The Lucky Rabbit Foot has the intel we need?”

“Trust me. If anyone in The Burrows knows about missing preds, it’d be these guys. They have connections everywhere.” Logan explained quickly. “Rabbits and hares breed like crazy,” Logan went on.

“Like rats.” The wolf snorted in amusement. Logan chose to ignore that. He didn’t want to mention that Vinnie’s family, rats part of a colony, were looking into things for him on that side already near the docks.

“They have friends and family in almost every single business within this place. They keep their ears to the ground,” Logan went on and Domino still felt the need to cut him off.

“Rabbits keeping their ears to the ground, heh.” The wolf laughed in amusement. It really wasn’t hard to see why a rabbit or hare, half Domino’s size, would want to string the guy up by his toenails for all these barbs and remarks he made about them and their people.

“If!” Logan said loudly. “If a wolf went missing here, they’ll know. So, play along. And be nice!” Logan warned. “Or I will tell Alpha.” It was at that, Domino shut up.

The wolf got out of the car first. Logan had parked around the corner in a gritty alleyway, away from the main foot traffic. After Domino left, Logan waited a good fifteen minutes before following after. Logan got out of the car, fussed up his hair and headed towards the front of Lucky’s.

Lucky’s was short for The Lucky Rabbit Foot, a business that was known for serving carrot-based ales, beers, and ciders. It had steps up the front, leading inside the nice-looking bar. Off to the side were several steps leading downstairs that looked like an employee entrance. In front of the steps stood a large hare with his hands behind his back, not making eye contact with anyone there.

“Declan, how you doin’?” Logan walked over to greet the man and stumbled in front of him, up against the hare’s thick chest. He was one of the largest hares Logan had ever seen and the man easily braced the impact, not even budging after the human collided with his chest. “Oh shoot, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Logan stepped back, brushing his front off several times as he stammered out the words. The hare was still staring forward, not even wiggling his cute button nose or whiskers as the human groped and fondling him up. He did, however, shift one leg open letting Logan get a better feel of his front.

The hare was sporting a large bulge and Logan felt him up for another good ten seconds before backing up. What anyone on the street might’ve missed was the fifty Logan slipped into his front.

“It’s fine.” Declan grunted as he stared forward, needing to adjust himself after and tuck the bill further into his pants, out of view.

“Will you be on stage tonight?” Logan leaned closer, whispering in one of his ears. Declan had his ears brushed back and kept together with a metallic clip making him look as if he had a long ponytail instead of two ears resting back.

“If you got the cash flowing,” Declan glanced at the human, giving him a smirk. “Password?” The hare asked in a far more professional voice than before.

“TRR,” Logan said as he stood up straight and tried to clumsily fix his suit.

“Proceed left, sir.” The hare nodded; Logan turned to go that way.

If Domino followed what Logan said without making any remarks, Declan would’ve guided the predator the same way. Maybe he should’ve warned Domino a bit more about this but knew that, since he hadn’t, the wolf would look like an easy mark, allowing him to blend in better.

Lucky’s was a special place that catered to those outside those within The Burrows. It was located on the edge of the district, allowing those not within it easy access to it through back channels. Logan had purposefully not used these do to one very annoying reason.

“You’re a cop, huh?” Declan spoke up behind Logan who froze, not even halfway down the steps. “Never would’ve figured. Had me completely fooled.”

For a second, Logan worried the hare had pulled the piece from his side out on him. Declan hadn’t. The hare just making a remark to warn the human that his secret identity was exposed and that he needed to watch his back because of it. Logan appreciated that, just wishing that hadn’t been the case.

There were days when he thought it would’ve been easier if he had just died down there in those tunnels when The Market went up in flames.

“That’s my day job,” Logan glanced back, and Declan looked up towards the sky.

“Still day.” Declan said before looking straight ahead again.

“Still a cop.” Logan offered a weak smile. “De,” he began but the hare lifted a hand.

“Watch yourself.” Declan warned and it was clear he meant that, if need be, Declan wouldn’t hesitate to shoot if Logan did something that risked their safety. “I trust you,” he added when Logan turned his back. “If there were more like you on the force, I wouldn’t need to be standing here.”

“Maybe someday, De. Maybe someday.” Logan nodded before heading down the steps quickly.

He hated this. Hated the fact he put on this ratty, moth-eaten suit. Trying to pretend to be someone that he wasn’t. What was the point of being someone you weren’t when everyone knew who you really were. He’d been exposed and everyone saw the man behind the mask he wore.

Logan hated what he saw. Just wanting to be someone else, to pretend not to be the man he was when he entered Lucky’s hidden business, tucked underneath the first.

Where the above was a bar, the bottom was something else entirely. It wasn’t a gambling den, even though a lot of people who came down here did gamble. It was a cabaret, a club specializing in live shows, performances and even singing events.

But, it was never that simple.

The room was red, for starts. The carpet was a lovely shade of maroon, the velvet seats and booths were crimson and the flowing silk dividers were scarlet. All different kinds and shades of red. The counter tops were a dark shade of cherry and the cushioned bar stools in front were the color of apples.

Numerous booths were tucked to the side of the central walkway that led up to a stage up front. A metal bar jutted from the center, up towards the top. A rabbit, or possibly a hare, was dancing on it with fluid if sensual movements. They, like everyone else working here, were wearing black leather leggings and a bunny suits with masks that covered their ears and exposed the white fluff of their cheeks.

“Table for one?” A rabbit came up holding a menu in front of their chest. They batted their eyes at Logan, looking him up and down.

“Is Barnes in?” Logan said after a moment, contemplating if he should still be the down on his luck salesman he had gone here originally as or if he should be the detective that everyone knew him to be.

There was no point in pooling the wool over the eyes of those who already knew, and he stood up straight, trying to have an air of authority to him as he adjusted and fixed the suit he’d worn.

“Not yet, officer.” The rabbit gave him a wink, moving past him and brushing their side along Logan’s. “He’s been waiting for your visit. Been so long since you came in,” the rabbit wiggled their puff ball tail at Logan. “We thought you forgot all about us.”

“Crystal…” Logan sighed. “I can explain,” Logan started up, but the rabbit just laughed.

Their voice was deep, manly, ruining the illusion they were trying to create. Like everyone else working today, they had a strapless corset teddy on, with black sheer-to-waist pantyhose, a bow tie, collar, and black high heels.

To call them drag wouldn’t be fully correct. While they dressed far more feminine, they didn’t try to hide their assets and the large bulge that pushed against Logan’s rear end reminded him of how very male everyone here was.

“We all appreciate all your hard work, officer…” Crystal breathed against his ear. Logan didn’t even shudder making the rabbit smirk as they brushed past him, striding forward and shaking their plump round ass as they went. “You really are a cold man, aren’t you? Not that I mind. I like a challenge…”

“What else have you heard? I’d love to know what people are talking about me behind my back these days.” Logan adjusted his collar and strode forward with purpose. He glanced around as he followed after the rabbit, never once looking in the direction his eyes dared to see.

There were plenty of customers, even this early in the day. Several were drunk, while others had their shirts open allowing their fur and skin to breathe. One man even had his pants open, proudly displaying as he jerked himself off as he watched the stage with a fixation.

The one thing Logan did recall about Lucky’s was that the clientele here weren’t herbivores, this place catered specifically to the meat-eating variety. For one very specific reason…

There was a scream to the side, like a startled Leporidae crying out in pain. Logan stopped, if only for a brief second, as he glanced over.

“Are you going to do anything, officer?” Crystal asked from the side of the bar, watching him closely.

Logan wasn’t looking at them, he was looking over at the canine, a coyote from the looks of it, biting down hard on one of the hostess’s shoulders. Hard enough to dye their snowy white fur red as they bled. The coyote had a strange look in his eyes, like he’d just snorted a rather powerful drug. Lapping and licking at the blood there as two other hares came by to watch over the scene.

All to make sure the customer didn’t go too far as they bit and drank the sweetest of red…

“Does it taste that good?” Logan asked and, for a second, the rabbit before him shivered. It was a clear sign of sexual arousal as Crystal adjusted himself after, before going back to the coy rabbit boy he was trying to pretend to be.

“Would you like a taste, to find out…? It’s pricey but worth it.” Crystal leaned over the counter, lifting up his round bunny rear. His rear end, Logan had noted, had several old bite marks on it. Scars that had long since healed, leaving patches of fur missing. “Fair warning, I’m worth my weight in Crystal.”

“That was terrible. Just. Just god awful,” Logan shook his head and let out his breath as he turned away from the scene of the coyote mounting the host to their side.

The canine was just licking, lapping at the wound he had made as his tail wagged faster and faster.

Others around them drank in the sickening sweet smell of blood in the air as they tasted their drinks of red, letting it parch their thirst. Rabbits kept them company. Sitting in the booths with them, laughing at their jokes, pouring them more wine as they snuggled up close and intimate with carnivores and predators alike.

There was always a business for this kind of thing.

There were many places like this around the city, around the world. They were often referred to as P and P dens. Predator and prey. There were several people out there that enjoyed the sensual play of mauling or being mauled by someone else. Maybe it was a dark desire born from their ancestors centuries ago, but there was a customer base for it.

So, these places existed.

Dark underground dealings that let you give into your darker, animalistic desires that society shunned and made illegal. Places you could slink into and get a taste of the “sweetest of reds” out there. Nightclubs that would have full events and plays, sometimes even letting audience members participate in them while everyone else watched.

Lucky’s catered to a richer clientele that could afford participating in even darker forms of pleasure in the backrooms. Something Logan tried not to think about.

Even Domino’s old club, Diamond’s Den, had a place. The red room. A room that was reserved for…

Logan suppressed the shiver trying to crawl up his spine as he followed after Crystal, around the corner and towards the back rooms where the offices were. The human paused long enough to spy Domino, sitting off in the corners, within the shadows, as a flirtatious bunny boy was trying to get him to order a few drinks to loosen up.

Their eyes met, from across the room. Logan gave him a single, quick nod before moving on.

“I can come back when Barnes is in.” Logan brought up the owner of the bar. An older hare that had seen better days. He had won Lucky’s in a hand of poker, something Logan was sure Barnes had cheated at. Ever since he’d taken control of the place, it had begun to earn a hefty profit.

Of course, back then, Lucky’s wasn’t known as a P and P party place. It was interesting. Seeing the people on the street pretending that everything was fine. Then seeing those like Barnes, willing to sell out his own kind for some green.

Rabbits did love their green.

“No need for that,” a heavy gruff voice said as if they’d smoked far too much.

Logan stopped in the hallway, his hand brushing the side arm hidden at his side as he looked down the hallway. Unlike predator places, the hallways were brightly lit, and Logan spied Crystal vanish around the corner as a door was open for them and that voice came out.

Of course, the old hare had heard them coming a mile away.

Logan took a moment, collecting himself, before entering the office. He hated how claustrophobic it was. And that was the point.

In the small room was a desk, a bodyguard, Crystal, and an older graying furred hare that was sitting on the other side of a nice desk. The old man must’ve had to jump over the thing to get to the other side with how cramped it was in here.

It was like a hole. A hole Logan desperately wanted to crawl out of. A place that burrowing species would thrive in while everyone else would sweat, worrying about the amount of oxygen in the room, unable to feel the cool breeze on their skin and needing to get out.

A fear tactic that worked on most people.

“Barnes. They said you weren’t in today.” Logan brought up, ignoring the guard standing far too close for comfort. Even if the large hare had a cute button nose, Logan knew the guy wasn’t friendly.

“You know how I like to do things. My apologies for not rolling out the red carpet for you… I didn’t realize we’d be having such a special guest visiting today.” Barnes looked up at Logan and the human was always taken back by his face.

Barnes had a massive scar over the front of his face. Where a predator, a feline from the look of it, had clawed him. It left one of his eyes blind and the other marred beyond recognition. It was a wonder he could see out of it at all.

The scar reminded Logan of the ones on his back.

One of the older hares ears were missing, leaving only a stump behind. It was the same side he’d been clawed. As if the feline had clawed his face before ripping off his ear with its fangs. Chewing and devouring his ear as a tasty treat before going for the main course.

As the story went, Barnes shot the bastard in the gut six times after being jumped in an alleyway. Logan heard otherwise.

Getting the bartender drunk off his ass, Logan had pried out that the old hare, during his youth, had fallen for a cute tigress that had teasingly flirted with him. Until her boyfriend found out and scarred him for trying to steal his girl.

The tigress had laughed about it, wanting to see how far her boyfriend would go to defend her. There were always such stories of predators and herbivores getting back at each other. Playing these sick, twisted games. Making it impossible for either side to fully integrate with each other due to all the bad blood between the two groups.

“I know. I should’ve written,” Logan shrugged making a joke of the matter. It was nice to be able to put on some airs than being the hardheaded, no-nonsense detective he’d seen in one too many crime noir movies. “Been busy.”

“I’ve heard.” Barnes said and for a second, the older hare smiled. It was just as unsettling as his frown and Logan tensed. “A police officer, who would’ve figured…” The hare glared at the human as if trying to see him for who he truly was.

“Detective.” Logan corrected. Somehow, being a detective was better than being a police officer despite working at the same place.

“Oh?” Barnes laughed then and it was quickly followed by a coughing fit. “Get promoted? For one so young, you must’ve been a huge assistance for the force…” Logan could see the gears turning in the hares head as Barnes calculated the worth Logan had.

Like everything else, Barnes only ever really saw dollars signs and how much he could profit from it. After all, who else would hold a P and P den in the herbivore district if not a man who saw the value of a dollar more than that of a life.

“I’ve done a few things.” Logan nodded.

“I heard you’ve done a lot more than a few things.” Barnes chuckled. “No need to be so humble, we’re old friends. Please. Take a seat.” It wasn’t an offer Logan could refused and he moved further into the cramp room and took a seat.

Logan hated sitting. It was such a simple thing and yet made one almost defenseless. The hare behind them, the guard standing in the corner, moved behind Logan and with a nod from Barnes, began massaging his shoulders. Those strong fingers rubbing his shoulders hard enough to make the man wince. Such fingers brushed over his soft, exposed neck and Logan tried not to sweat in the hot room.

“You see, I’m very good to those who are good to me and my people.” Barnes rested back, looking the human over for a full minute before continuing. Logan didn’t dare to interrupt. “The Market.” Barnes snarled the word out, a vicious sound coming from a herbivore. “That place has taken far too many of us over the years. I’m glad to see you had a hand in tearing it down.”

“Yes, sir.” Logan just nodded when he knew Barnes was waiting for the acknowledgement. Men like Barnes needed that. They loved having people agree with them, respond when spoken to. But never interrupted.

Even though he was a hare, the guard behind Logan was most likely stronger than the human was. Sitting down like this, the guard could easily catch him around the neck and strangle the human to death before Logan could do something. Crystal was standing close by, most likely planning on grabbing his gun, or jumping in the front of it, if Logan tried something.

So, Logan didn’t. The human didn’t try a single thing and, at that, as the tension left his shoulders, and he rested back into the massaging fingers. As the tension bled away, so too did the others begin to ease up and relax.

Prey species had an innate sense for danger. Like a sixth sense, they could see it coming a mile away. It was one reason why they did so well in direct confrontations if they didn’t freeze up on the spot. You had to ambush them or take them by surprise. Far easier said than done when they traveled in groups, even in the middle of the day.

“I wanted to give you a gift. For that and for warning us about that tiger roaming our streets.” Barnes got up and, at that, Logan was allowed to stand.

“A gift, sir?” Logan asked, keeping his head slightly bowed forward as if he worked for the guy. Barnes enjoyed seeing the man, this officer, give him this amount of respect.

“Please, show him the way. You know the one. The one I’ve been saving for him.” Barnes motioned and it was clear he didn’t want any one of them seeing him hop over the desk like the hare he was. Some men were so prideful, wanting to hide what they were while others embraced it.

With another nod, Logan headed out of the room after Crystal who skipped ahead of him. The rabbit was all smiles, skipping along as if they hadn’t planned on stealing Logan’s piece and ending him with it if he’d overplayed his hand.

“This way, this way.” Crystal motioned bounding ahead and Logan struggled to keep up. Reminding him of a certain white rabbit. Bunnies were always quick on their feet, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. They were also a pain in the ass to catch when they decided to run.

That wasn’t the issue. His speed, although far faster than Logan’s, wasn’t what was making the human begin to worry.

There were just so many hallways. Corridors on corridors. Tunnels. That’s what these hallways were. Tunnels dug throughout the building, underneath it, to areas and rooms that didn’t exist on any blueprint or map. Rooms that only they knew about. An entire group of outsiders could storm this place and end up missing half the building.

It was a brilliant and efficient strategy if you were expecting to be raided. Logan just needed to figure out why they would be. And how to get around this.

Blood play was a common underground practice that the darker parts of the city liked to toe the line with. There was something so animal about it. Blood. Seeing it, causing others to bleed… tasting it. The smell could drive some carnivores up the walls and with the shortage these days, Logan was surprised the doors to this place were still open.

Logan could use that to his advantage. Pausing for a brief moment, he flipped open the switchblade he kept tucked away, a gift from Domino. Using the point of it, he pricked his finger until he bled. Stashing the knife away, he used his thumb to coax out a hefty drop of blood and let it fall behind him as he continued to walk.

Drop by drop, the blood dripped from his finger. Drop by drop the breadcrumbs were left behind him. Drop by drop, Logan hoped his partner would be able to catch up in time. There was a lot more going on here than Logan had suspected.

Everyone was on edge and yet these rabbits and hares, these prey species seemed so… relaxed. With The Market destroyed, prey species should be even more worried and aware of their presence within the city. Not skipping along happily like this. It made Logan sweat as he followed after his guide, following the white rabbit down the tunnels and feeling a hell of a lot like Alice right now.

He turned another corner and came to an abrupt stop. It was a dead end. Or at least, he thought it was until he saw the parted seam within the wall. Reaching a handout, he pushed against it, and it opened inwards, the entire wall turning just enough for him to slip by.

Secret tunnels within this maze, lovely.

“Chris?” Logan called ahead, using Crystal’s real name now that it was just the two of them. He walked through the opening and was met with a flight of stairs leading downwards. Human’s weren’t made for living underground like others did and it left an unsettled feeling in his stomach as he began to descend further into the bowels of this building.

Step after step down the dark stairwell. Small lights hung overhead providing just enough light for him to make out when the steps turned from wood to metal and finally to cement. Cement steps that led to a basement deep within the earth.

Logan paused, glancing behind him, before looking around the corner into the room.

There weren’t any windows being this far underground. The air was stale and a vent nearby pumped recycled air into the small room. Logan’s claustrophobia was coming back, and he had to take a slow, deep breath to keep calm in such a place. Ever since his time within the sewers of the city, Logan had been struggling with tight spaces.

It just brought too many things back when he was forced to endure them like this…

The room was larger than Barnes office was at least. It allowed him plenty of room to walk around in. He stayed off to the side, away from the middle of the room. Even in the dark, Logan could feel a presence there and didn’t want to disturb whoever it was waiting for them.

“Chris?” Logan asked and another light was suddenly flicked on, and he had to shield his eyes from it.

The bright light hung from the middle of the room. Logan blinked, orienting himself to the new place. There were metal tables around. Various assorted farm tools were laid out on them. A strange choice, Logan had to admit but didn’t comment on it as he spied the dressed-up bunny standing in the middle of the room, holding the light switch just staring at Logan.

Standing right next to someone in a chair.

Tied and bound up, they sat facing away from Logan. A dirty burlap sack had been pulled over their face and twine had been used to keep it tied around their thick neck. They had large shoulders, a broad back and muscular arms tied up behind the chair. Logan could see signs of abuse from where he stood, dried blood on their wrists and staining their clothes.

It wasn’t the blood he noticed. It was the orange flash of fur, the black stripes and white markings that made Logan breath catch and his heart thunder in his chest.

It must’ve been the reaction the others were looking for as, with a coughing laugh, Barnes announced his presence. Slipping into the room from a door Logan hadn’t seen, Barnes and his bodyguard stepped into the room from the hidden passage.

“Is that…?” Logan felt his voice catch in his throat, making it hard to breathe as he stared at the tiger strapped to the chair. Tied up, bruised, bloody and helpless before him. A rush of emotions flooded his system and Logan touched the switchblade at his side.

He was breathing heavily, and it was only at the hare’s voice that he snap back to reality from the dark place he had gone.

“You did warn us to keep an eye out.” Barnes said as if reminding Logan of how he’d warned them, along with several others, about who The Butcher of Seattle was.

“Milo?” Logan hadn’t even realized he stepped closer, walking towards the bound prisoner in the room. The others watched with gleeful delight as the human full focus centered in on the predator in the room.

He looked so helpless. They had really did a number on the feline. The ropes tied around his wrists had been tightened to the point they were cutting into the tiger’s hide. There was a smell of something foul and it was hard to tell if this man had been here long enough to soil himself or during the torture he’d broken down and just…

“Go ahead,” Barnes said, and Logan hesitantly did.

His heart was racing, palms growing clammy as he reached out with a shaking hand for the burlap sack. His fingers brushed the tiger’s neck and they flinched, and Logan jerked back, his other hand dropping to the switchblade he always kept on his person. Ever since Domino had given it to him.

“P-Ple…ase…” The tiger groaned and Logan felt his heart fall from the sound. “No more…”

Logan wasn’t sure why he felt so relieved when he should’ve felt disappointed that this man before him, though a tiger, wasn’t the one he was looking for. They were a stranger, but Logan had jumped to the conclusion of who it was. Who they were.

“Who is this?” Logan asked Barnes, recollecting himself as he looked up at the old hare watching him.

“We found this kitty poking his nose where it doesn’t belong.” Barnes shrugged as he placed the diamond studded cane in front of him. It was clear it wasn’t just for decoration, the old hare needing the assistance to stay standing.

Logan had heard Barnes’s thigh had been torn open after an incident at Lucky’s. Just like with his face. The hare poking HIS nose where it didn’t belong, seeming to have a death wish wanting to mess with predators. That sick satisfaction of stealing something that belongs to one of them, a predator… Logan understood. He might’ve been one of the few people who understood Barnes to that level. Even having matching scars…

“I-I told you!” The tiger thrashed suddenly, and Logan took a step back, making sure the ropes held. “I was j-just here with my college friends,” the tiger’s voice was hoarse, and it sounded as if he hadn’t had a drink of water in days.

“Look at this.” Barnes pointed out without addressing the tiger as if he weren’t even worth treating like a person. “After all we’ve done to try and pry information from him,” Barnes smiled and the look in his eyes told Logan he’d have done this even if he didn’t want information from the feline. “After everything, he’s still so… strong. Able. It’s very, impressive.” The rabbit coughed into one hand. “Their bodies are wonderous things, aren’t they, Logan…? Unlike ours.”

Logan didn’t say anything as he stepped closer, reaching out and undid the twine around the tiger’s neck. Pulling it loose, Logan took hold of the top of the bag and gave a tug. Pulling the bag off, Logan stepped back with the same motion to stay away from the tiger’s jaws.

He was young, old enough to have just entered collage.

“Please. No more…” The tiger repeated, cringing away from the bright light above. His story was believable enough and Logan stared into those forest green eyes staring back at him now.

“Kid. Who the hell are you?” Logan asked harshly. Even only a couple of years older than the tiger was, Logan could tell he had years more experience than this naïve kid did. Even if they were nearly twice his width and taller than Logan was.

“T-Troy, Troy Stalling.” The tiger swallowed, wincing after doing so. “J-just a student. A-at the university! Promise. I swear, I wouldn’t,” he winced again and squeezed his eyes shut.

Logan took a second on that, glancing around them until he spied it. Up on the wall, hanging there almost within reach, was an old leather waterskin. Logan felt it, hearing and feeling the slosh of water inside before bringing it over.

He waited for one of the others to say or do anything, but they never did as he popped the top open and took a sniff of it. It smelled like an old shoe, but it was better than nothing he supposed as he offered it to the tiger who didn’t even hesitate to open his mouth for him to pour a splash in.

“Harsh,” Logan said, glancing over at the old hare. “Keeping water so close.”

“And yet so far.” Barnes smiled. “Like a dying man in the desert, crawling towards an oasis just out of reach.”

“I prefer Tantalus. Every time he tried to drink from the water nearly drowning him, it would flow away.” Logan took a second. “Did you put anything in this?” He asked, shaking the water and the tiger startled at that, his eyes going wide as he stared at Logan.

“No. No. Though, that would be amusing to do in the future.” Barnes chuckled at the thought. “We had to set this up rather quickly for your arrival.”

Logan figured that someone saw them enter The Burrows and reported it to Barnes, allowing the older hare to get the tiger tied up like this and waiting.

“True… Making them trip their balls off during torture might hinder your progress more than help,” Logan took another second. “What are you planning to do with him?” Logan asked as he offered more water to the tiger who happily lapped it up, not even caring if there was something in it. It soaked his furry cheeks and splashed onto his chest. “I can take him to the police station, make sure he doesn’t talk.”

Barnes face turned at that and Logan felt the room grow heavier as the old hare spoke once more.

“You plan on letting him… go?” There was a moments pause, and Logan noted how Crystal had headed out during their conversation. It could’ve been to go back to work, but Logan feared it was something worse.

He just hoped his trump card would take care of that.

“He’s a dumb, innocent kid. He won’t know anything of use or value to you or anyone. No one will trust a tiger reporting on a group of rabbits in The Burrows...” Logan tried to reason out, appearing bored about it. He unconsciously stepped between the tiger and the two hares watching him.

His movement hadn’t gone unnoticed, and Barnes lifted his cane, knocking on the door behind them. It swung open and two more hares joined them. Logan was sure there were even more on the other side, just waiting to be called out.

Rabbits. There was no end to them.

“I see…” Barnes sounded disappointed. “I was hoping, after hearing what you did to their market, that you would see reason with our methods…”

“Our?” Logan’s hand fell back to his side, touching the switch blade hidden there.

“He’s a predator, Logan.” Barnes said and, grasping the top of his cane, he began to twist the diamond off its base. “Even if he hasn’t hurt anyone yet, he will in the future. It’s in their nature, Logan.” Logan didn’t move as he watched the guards next to Barnes closely. “Besides, there’s always a way to find out if he had…”

“Barnes.” Logan warned, not about to let the hare do as he pleased. Knowing where this would lead.

“Come now, Logan. We all knew that. We still did it. Even humans did it. Back in the day. When a mutilated body was found, they’d round up all the predators in the area and,” Barnes reached over to brush one of the rusty saw blades on the table. “They’d have their very own little… game, to figure out which one it had been. Which one had killed and eaten their friend, neighbor, or family…” Barnes face went cold then as he stared not at the blades but at an old, scarred over memory of something in the past.

“That was a witch hunt then and you know it! Those in the past specifically targeted wealthy carnivores or omnivores with large amounts of land in order to get it after they died.” Logan recalled the bloody history lessons well enough.

“Sometimes they did it just because… Less predators out there, the safer a community is.” Barnes laughter broke off into another fit of coughing. “Disgusting,” he wiped his hand on his handkerchief. “This old body of mine won’t last much longer. Not after what they’ve done to me.”

“The ones who did that to you are resting at the bottom of the sea or, knowing you, buried alive.” Logan glared back.

“They’re all the same, Logan.” Barnes voice was cold and impassive.

“He’s just a kid!” Logan spat back.

“No matter how young or how old they are. They are the same. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when, Logan. Something you’re still too young to see. He’ll do it. Like all the others. Kill someone they see as prey.”

“He’s just a kid…” Logan still tried. “Even if he is a tiger, he’s just…”

“Innocent?” The old hare laughed. “This bastard came here, wanting a taste of us! A taste…” Barnes voice dripped with bile as he tried not to throw up at the thought. “He came to play. Just like all the others did…”

“I-I didn’t want to do it. I swear! My friends made me. It was for his birthday, promise.” Troy desperately tried to explain the situation. He was ignored by everyone in the room.

“Barnes. You have the chance to stop this now…” Logan asked of him. “Please.”

Barnes sighed, shaking his tired old head side to side. “I was hoping you’d be the one to understand. After what these things have done to your family. To you. After what he has done…”

“I do understand! And I’ll hunt the ones responsible down, no matter the cost.” Logan was the one to beg him now. “You can’t just put all tigers in the same box as Milo.”

“A tiger can’t change its stripes, Logan. No matter the cost.” Barnes said. “You’ll change your mind once you see. See what I’ve seen. Here, let me give you a preview of what’s to come… before we remind the world what they really are.”

The old hare pulled off the diamond crown of the cane and tucked it safely in a pocket of his vest before reaching inside the small, hollowed opening underneath. He pulled out a glass bottle and held it up. In the bright light, Logan saw the liquid shine like gold.

“The hell is that?” Logan asked but his eyes never strayed far from the large hare. The guard smiled back at him, cracking his knuckles in front of Logan threateningly before slipping on a pair of brass knuckles as the other two stayed close to Barnes.

“Truth.” Barnes took a limping step forward and Logan tried to step in his way. The second he moved, the guard did as well, and Logan had to dodge to the side as a fist came swinging for his face. He felt the rush of air as the brass knuckles barely missed.

Logan back pedaled as the guard followed it up with two more quick jabs, both aiming for his head. The human hit the wall, but the hare stopped there. A cocky smile on his face as he now stood between Logan and the tiger as Barnes hobbled over to his side.

“W-what’s happening?” Troy asked as he struggled against the bindings, trying to see behind him.

“Showing the world who you really are,” Barnes pulled the rubber topper off, using the dropper to collect a decent amount of the liquid inside.

“T-the fuck did you get that!” The tiger shouted as his eyes widen. “I d-don’t do that stuff. I swear. I swear! I don’t take Primal!” The tiger thrashed against his bindings as one of the other two guards approached him and held Troy’s head with both his strong hands. He tilted the tiger’s head upwards, staring into the light as he struggled against the hold.

“It’ll be… enlightening for our friend here. I was hoping we could settle this without violence, Logan. Hoping once you saw what my present was for you, you’d be on board. It would be so helpful to have someone like you working with us.” Barnes shook his head as he limped closer. “I had such high hopes for you… but you’ll see. Just like they all will see.”

“Barnes,” Logan shouted at the old hare before the bodyguard got in his way.

“Try it, shortie.” The hare grinned, showing off his buck teeth as he lifted up two muscular arms getting ready to duke it out.

“Any time now Domino… for fuck sake.” Logan cursed. This was why he hated working with others. Then you’d have to rely on-,

Just then, the door above was kicked open and a heavy weight hit the stairs. Thumping and rolling over itself as whatever it was tumbled down the stairwell. It made everyone in the room pause and look over as a bloody rabbit came crashing down the steps and against the wall with a sickening wet thud as the back of Crystal’s head hit the cement wall.

“Crystal!” The bodyguard shouted, looking away for a split second and never saw Logan close in.

His switchblade flashed and the hare pulled back, holding the side of his neck as he bled a second after. Logan ignored him, letting the sudden attack force the guard away as he locked onto Barnes and ran at the old hare.

The second guard stepped in his way and Logan had to dodge under the first punch, pushing in close before pressing the knife’s blade into the side of his rotund gut. The hare pulled back with a startled jerk, the look on his face replaced with one of fear as he stumbled backwards, bleeding.

Logan turned on Barnes and the last guard, but he had underestimated the other hare’s reach and felt his other arm grabbed as they held him back, pulling him off his feet and swung around and tossed aside.

Logan hit the ground hard, skidding back as he looked over towards the older hare.

“D-do something!” The tiger yowled as Barnes held the dropper over his eyes. The other hare holding the back of Troy’s head as he forced the tiger to keep an eye open.

“One. Two… and three.” Barnes said before stepping back. “A little extra to make sure it takes hold.”

For a second, everyone just stood there as if time had frozen. Then. Nothing.

Barnes took a step back, placing the glass bottle on the table as he backed away from the tiger. There was a heavy set of footsteps on the stairs before Domino came around the corner. The larger wolf snarled at the wounded hares who instantly jumped back, distancing themselves from the angry wolf and standing to protect Barnes.

“Sir?” One of the hares asked, a wave of fear falling over their face at seeing the large predator entering the room.

No matter how hard one tried, you could never fully fight your instincts.

“W-what did h-he do to me?” Troy asked, his voice shaking as tears ran down his face as he looked at Logan. Pleading for help. “I just want to see my mom… and my sister again. I’m sorry. For, for whatever I did. I was just trying to have fun with my friends. I swear! T-they said it was cool to experiment in college. That was all. I swear! I swear…” The tiger head slumped forward. “I just want to see my family…”

“We’re leaving,” Barnes motioned to his guard as he placed the vial back within his cane. “I hope the next time we see each other; you’ll be on our side. Fully.” The hare looked towards the wolf. “Without relying on these mongrels.”

“The hell is going on down here?” Domino demanded to know.

“Dom,” Logan said as he got back up. He spun the knife around as he pulled out his gun. “Don’t let them leave. We need to question the old gray hare.”

“Only him?” Domino chuckled as he took a step further into the room. “Guess we don’t need you lot then.” Domino rolled his neck as he faced off with the three guards.

The tiger shook suddenly, and his raspy breaths filled the room as he began to howl in pain. Pulling at his bindings and shaking the chair he was in as his mouth began to foam.

“It hurts,” Troy yowled. “It feels like my fucking skin is on fire! What did you do to me you bastard! That wasn’t… what was…” He roared out, baring his fangs. “I’ll fucking kill you!” He shouted, huffing, and panting as his eyes contracting thin slits as he snarled. “Rip you apart. Tear you to shreds. Taste your warmth on my lips…” The tiger huffed and panted as drool ran down his face.

“Not so fast.” Logan warned Barnes as he lifted his pistol up. “Don’t…”

“Logan, we both know you wouldn’t,” Barnes said until the shot fired. The sound echoed around them making their ears ring as Logan fired a single shot and the old hare dropped his cane.

Blood dripped from his wrist from where Logan shot him and the cane hit the ground, rolling away from the old hare who grabbed his arm as all hell broke loose.