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The thick snow outside had grown significantly by the time the Shishigumi recovered from the withdrawals. When they got better, it was as if they all suddenly realized how cold it was in the cabin and grabbed for jackets, blankets, warm soup and lit fires in the fireplace.
They slowly fell into a lazy, dream-like pattern. Wake up, get warm, set up the fire, stay warm, sleep, repeat.
Today was no different. Jinma was wrestling with the fireplace again-he was getting much better at it-while Hino made ramen noodles in the kitchen, and Dolph, Free, Miguel, Melon, Agata, Dope, and Sabu sat in the living room, bundled up in every blanket they could find in the cabin.
“Does it ever stop snowwing around here?” Free asked as he stared out the window. He had to wipe the with his sleeve just to see out of it.
“Probably not for a while.” Replied Dolph. “It’s the middle of winter.”
“Should we find a movie to watch?” Dope asked as he flipped through the TV channels. “The news sucks everywhere.”
Miguel rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. ‘Blah, blah, blah, Hybrid Project this, Hybrid Project that, blah, blah, blah’.”
“Guys.” Agata gave them a look.
Though they haven’t discussed the topic since they left, they all unofficially agreed to not focus on the Hybrid Project or whatever was going on in the city.
Despite this, they still caught some details here and there. Protests, riots, make-shift memorials near the sight of Hybrid Project locations, virtual battle grounds on social media, countless arrests, death threats…
The news had become a dark abyss. Look at it long enough and sucks you in.
Melon was dozing off next to the Congo lion. He didn’t actually care if the lions followed what was happening in Beastropolis or not. They only avoided it because they thought it would upset him.
Thoughtful, but not necessary.
To the world, he was dead. While he may not actually be dead, knowing most believed he was felt very freeing to Melon. Like he could separate himself from it all. He could not control what happened now, how the world reacts to the Hybrid Project or whatever outcomes lay ahead, but it didn’t matter to him.
He was free of it. Free from it. And he was more than happy to let it burn and never look back.
Just as he started to drift off to a warm nap, the faintest of sounds tickled his ears.
A car outside. Maybe it will pass by. They sometimes do.
Except it didn’t. It turned the corner and-
“I think someone is coming.” He said as he sat up, forgetting all about sleep.
“What?” Agata asked just as the sound of a vehicle approaching came from outside.
Free narrowed his eyes. “It’s not John.” He turned to the others. “The driver is a dog!”
“WHAT?!”
Melon watched in bewilderment as every lion went from relaxed to poofy. From the way their faces twisted in disgust, one would think Free said they were about to be attacked by an army of cockroaches or something like that.
“What the heck is a dog doing here?!” Jinma asked with a scowl. He must have been too close to the fireplace as he was squinting a bit.
“Should we fight them?” Dope sounded almost hopeful at the idea of a fight.
“It’s been a while since I tasted dog blood.” Miguel got up from the couch and, comically, cracked his knuckles.
“Good grief, you guys.” Melon cringed. “We’re supposed to stay out of trouble.”
Is fighting a canine more important than that?!
“Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Dolph was the only one who didn’t look disgusted. Well, not as much as the others were anyway. “It’s probably just a neighbor-“
It wasn’t
The knock on the front door pretty much confirmed that.
That one sound set off a firestorm of angry lions. Melon didn’t have a chance to react before all the Shishigumi practically charged at the front door. Miguel, Dope, Free, and Jinma prepared for battle while Dolph, Hino and Agata were trying to stop them. Sabu seemed to just want to see what would happen.
This is bad. Reluctantly, Melon ran after the lions.
Miguel practically yanked the door open, immediately startling the poor animal who stood on the porch.
Everyone froze. The dog and lions staring at each other while Melon and Sabu waited for something to happen.
The dog, a female saluki, was much shorter than they were. Not a small canine but definitely smaller than Legosi. She wore a long, tan trench coat with a light magenta scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. Her arms held a wooden box.
She blinked at them a few times before straightening herself. “Nice to meet you.”
“Who the hell are you?!” Miguel growled, ignoring Dolph’s hand on his shoulder. “What are you doing here?!”
The tension was paused, but it was very obviously bubbling.
“I brought you food.” She nodded at the tightly shut box still in her arms.
Miguel, Free, Jinma and Dope frowned suspiciously at the box and even Dolph seemed hesitant at what to do. Sabu and Agata exchanged an awkward glance.
Hino stared at the box before turning his head. “Melon, can you smell what’s in there?”
What am I? A bloodhound? Out loud, he said: “It’s rice, bean burgers and various cans and frozen meals. No meat or poison.”
He felt eyes on him and realized the saluki was staring at him now. “What?”
“I’ve never seen a hybrid before, that’s all.” She replied matter-of-factly, looking at him in the same way one might look at a Rexmas decorated house. Not quite shocked but intrigued.
The Shishigumi, apparently, didn’t like that. “Who are you?!” Miguel demanded again as Agata pulled Melon closer and Sabu stepped in front of them, acting as a shield between the saluki and them.
Their behavior was a little over the top to Melon but, considering the fact that this saluki somehow knew they were here, it was hard not to blame them for it.
“I’m Annie.” The saluki answered. “I’m Yahya’s friend.”
Right as she said that, the Shishigumi all visibly relaxed.
“John, and my other ally Annie, moved to Arbordale years ago. I only asked them to assist you because they are former residents of the Black Market. They know exactly what position you’re in.”
Annie. Yahya’s other ally here.
She’s like John. Which means she’s like them.
“Sorry about earlier.” Dolph apologized as he handed Annie a mug of hot tea. “We got spooked at a stranger knowing about us.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Replied Annie. “I get it.”
Most of the lions went upstairs, mostly because Miguel kept grumbling about her being a spy for Yahya. Most of the Shishigumi didn’t share that opinion of her or of John, but they weren’t quite ready to trust them either.
Who could blame them?
It was only Dolph and Free in the kitchen with her. Melon, Agata, and Dope returned to the couch. Partly to not seem like they were avoiding Annie but mostly so they could be Dolph and Free’s backup.
The Shishigumi’s behavior was weird but Melon thought he sort of knew where it was coming from.
Salukis were often praised as the ‘most beautiful dog of the canine species’ by society and were often featured in fashion shows and beauty pageants. Some considered a female saluki as the unofficial rival to a lioness.
It was stupid and petty but it seemed to only add further tension between felines and canines.
Melon had never seen a saluki up close before but he could tell Annie didn’t come from that world. Let alone fit that crazy mold.
She was in her forties, no older than forty-seven he guessed though her tired, dark eyes made her look older. Her light black fur was turning grey and had tiny, white furs in some spots. When she stepped inside, she walked with a noticeable limp and when she took her gloves off, noticeable scars covered her knuckles.
There was nothing about Annie that said she came from the Black Market but it was easy to picture her in that place.
“How do you like Arbordale so far?” Her voice sounded forced, like she didn’t quite care one way or the other.
Melon only recognized that tone because he used to use it. She’s either not good at small talk or she’s using it as a cover.
“Cold.” Replied Dolph. “How do you stand it-“
“Did Yahya hire you and John to spy on us?!” Free snapped.
Dope sucked in his breath and Agata gasped.
Dammit, Free! Melon cringed.
To their surprise, Annie laughed. “Ha! That’s rich. John and I haven’t talked to Yahya in over twenty years. I couldn’t believe that he remembered John’s number. Let alone the fact that he thought of us after all these years.”
“But you’re friends with him, right?” Free pressed.
“Was.” Annie corrected. “But that was a different time. Besides Yahya doesn’t care what you lions do as long as you stay out of trouble.”
Dolph gave Free a look that meant ‘Are you satisfied now?’ and knew to drop the subject. Even if Yahya did ask Annie and John to spy on them, that horse had bigger issues in the city and likely would pay more attention to that than he would to a former criminal organization.
That 'was' stuck out to him though.
“So” Dolph started, changing the subject. “What’s it like here in Arbordale?”
That was the most important thing on his mind. The Shishigumi hadn’t left the cabin since they moved in and didn’t know what to expect with this new town.
Annie shrugged. “Quiet. The locals keep to themselves. They wouldn’t bother you if you don’t bother them.”
That sounds promising. “Would they be suspicious if they saw us?”
“I don’t think so.” Replied Annie before furrowing her eyebrows in thought. “…Although, it might raise suspicions to see eight lions together. It might be better if, when in town, act as if you don’t know each other. If more than one of you go, you can say that you’re brothers or cousins.”
Dolph hummed in thought.
“Never go out alone!” Oscar’s angry voice reminded him. An old memory of a different time.
The Shishigumi lions have always been free to wander the Black Market on their own. They knew they were safe there but it was an entirely different story in the city. With their names and faces known and wanted by police, it was dangerous for them to go out there without backup.
Annie’s suggestion was technically breaking that rule but she was right that it might help avoid attention.
“What about Melon?” Free asked in a hushed voice.
Dolph’s eyes went wide. Rex, I hope he didn’t hear that!
Annie thought about it for a moment, frowning before shrugging her shoulders again. “I don’t know. Harassment is considered shameful in Arbordale so I doubt they’d be hostile towards him…But I’ve never seen any hybrids in Arbordale either.”
“Would they try to hurt him?” He was startled when Dolph elbowed him. “Oof!”
“Keep your voice down!” Dolph whispered at him.
“I don’t think so.” Annie sounded more sure this time. “Remember when I said Yahya wants you guys to stay out of trouble?”
What does that have to do with anything?
“Uhh, yeah.” Answered Free.
“Why?” Asked Dolph.
“I really meant it. Arbordale does not take crime lightly-especially murder, predation and sexual violence of any kind. Those crimes are capital crimes here with an automatic death penalty if convicted.”
Ok, that was news to them!
“Even if the locals did look down on Melon, they wouldn’t be able to harm him without risking their own lives.”
That wouldn’t be too surprising on it’s own. Even without Yahya, most places did have execution as a possible penalty for murder and predation but they rarely handed them down or carried them out. Usually, most animals given the death penalty would have their sentence changed to life in prison with no chance of parole or simply pass away before their execution date.
What did stand out was that Annie said it with absolute certainty, much like if she were talking about the moon coming out at night or what would happen if a shaken soda can were opened. As if it were a non-negotiable outcome, an expected and unquestionable thing. A death sentence for an animal, for killing or harming another. Not a matter of ‘if’ but a matter of when.
It echoed Yahya’s philosophy on killing carnivore criminals but it was one thing for the Beastar to do it in secret and another for a town’s entire justice system to do it.
…In hindsight, it should have been Dolph’s first clue that something wasn’t right.
“Are you sure you want to stay home?”Agata asked, turning his head to look at him.
“It’s not that I want to…I just think I should.” Melon replied.
They were laying in their bed, staring up at the white ceiling. It was late but neither of them felt like sleeping yet.
Not after what they overheard anyway.
“I can protect you.” Agata offered. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“That’s not what I’m afraid of.” Melon focused on the paint-shapes in the ceiling. Not wanting to see the worry in the Congo lion’s eyes. “I know Arbordale is isolated but I don’t want to risk someone recognizing us.”
Agata felt a lump in his chest. “…I see…”
Before, Melon could easily hide his hybrid status. He’d squint his eyes and wear a mask over his face and no one suspected anything. But now that his body changed, that wouldn’t be enough.
If news about the Hybrid Project is as big as they thought, than it wouldn’t be much for someone in Arbordale to recognize Melon. Even if the media didn’t have current pictures of him, just his name, age, and hybrid status would be enough.
And if Melon could be recognized and identified, so could the lions. Exposing them. Destroying their cover and putting them in danger.
If Yahya wouldn’t kill them, others would try. The Shishigumi have made tons of enemies over the years. Rival gangs like the Madaragumi, old vendors and clients. The relatives of the animals they’ve killed and eaten could want vengeance.
Pureblood supremacist who sympathize with the Hybrid Project could try to hunt Melon down. Seeing him as one of the faces of the project but, unlike Belle or Jessica, the most likely they could get to.
Arbordale may be an isolated small town but bits and pieces of the Hybrid Project could still reach the ears of the citizens. Unless the town only heard vague details, and few and far in between, there was no way Melon could safely leave the cabin.
That was probably why Sabu refused to pick any of the jobs offered to them. Agata supposed he and the other lions were recognizable too but scars and face markings were very common for lions. Usually, if they wanted to go into the city without being recognized, they’d change their mane style, maybe wear a little make up to hide scars or markings, and wear different clothes.
But Sabu would never leave the Black Market unless he absolutely needed too and even then he’d wear his bandana.
Come to think of it, Agata had never seen Sabu without his bandana and he never thought to ask why either. That cloth was just a part of Sabu, like an overgrown beard made of fabric, and everyone was used to seeing it.
“Then I’ll stay home with you.”
“What?” Melon turned to look at him. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.” Agata replies, rolling to his side as he looked back at him. “Besides, not to be ungrateful for the jobs John found, but none of them felt like me.”
That sparked Melon’s curiosity. “Well what job would you like?” He could not, for the life of him, imagine Agata or any of the lions having any job that didn’t involve guns or violence. Free, Dolph, and Miguel picked jobs that was sort of close to that-security guards at John’s bar, but Dope and Hino chose to work at a pizza place when the closest to that Melon had ever seen them do was the time Dope ate an entire pizza on a bet.
“To be honest, I always imagined myself working at a library or a bookstore.”
“Really?” Melon wasn’t sure what he was expecting but certainly not that. “You like books that much?”
Agata gave a surprised laugh. “Not really! The library was my favorite place when I was in school. The only expectation I had there was to be quiet.”
Melon snorted and playful shoved the Congo lion’s shoulder as they laughed. The humorous smile on his face masking the thoughts in his head.
He kind of already sensed this with Agata but now he was sure of it.
Agata had always known who he was or, at the very least, who he wanted to be. He knew what he liked, what he didn’t want, the type of animals he didn’t want to be around. And he knew this even before he ran away, before he met the Shishigumi.
Melon supposed this was true for everyone. That their sense of who they were started at an early age, beginning with their favorite toys, snacks and what they liked watching on TV, and continued to develop and changed as they grew up.
He thought some things he knew about himself were from his childhood…He didn’t like spiders…Or cereal that was too wet…He did use to like watching TV.
But, for the most part, everything felt…Mixed up. He thought he liked killing animals and doing crimes, but that was only because he was brainwashed into liking them. He thought he couldn’t feel guilt for those things but he programmed not to. He thought he liked harming himself in order to feel alive but not even that felt like him anymore either.
As if reading his thoughts, Agata asked him the same question. “What about you? What kind of job would you like someday?”
Someday? As if time could just magically erase the past.
Melon shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Now it was Agata’s turn to be curious. “…You’ve had many jobs before.” He started to say.
“All crime-related.” Melon pointed out.
He didn’t have to say more for Agata to know he meant. “Yeah…But not the university. You were a history professor there, right?”
Melon sighed and rolled back onto his back. “Yes, but I only took that job so I’d have a distraction. I don’t know if I even liked it.” He blinked before adding. “I think I lied on my resume and when I applied there.”
Somehow, that didn’t surprise Agata at all.
He was, however, torn between being surprised and not surprised to see Melon like this. Not surprising considering everything that’s happened, but surprised because it was like talking to a completely different animal than the one he once knew as his feared boss.
Despite all of his craziness, Melon was unique as a Shishigumi boss as he blatantly did not care about what others thought of him and he wasn’t afraid to put that lack of care on display. He posted a weird sense of confidence-not quite arrogance, but like he approached situations like a puzzle or mind game. Crafty. Shifty.
He knew who he was back then. Or, at least, seemed to. But now that the truth was out, that that was never the real Melon, it was like comparing him to a ghost.
No. It was as if someone hit the reset button and now no one, especially not even Melon, knew who he was anymore.
“…Let me ask an easier question.” Agata suggested, changing the subject slightly. “What’s something you always wanted but thought you couldn’t have?”
His eyes went wide. Good grief, Agata. Did you have to pick something as big as that?!
The truth was there were tons of things Melon always wanted! The chance to redo his childhood so he wouldn’t have so much trauma, being able to taste something, feel alive without having to hurt himself, not having to be afraid every time he was in public.
Rex, and if he added things he wished had happened instead of the Hybrid Project, the list would only get longer!
He stared up at the ceiling, as if the shapes in the dried paint held all the answers. Trying to think…
Then it came to him. Something that couldn’t change the past but still filled the boxes. Something small but would mean everything to him.
The most basic thing he wanted but was always too afraid to ask or seek it out. Believing it would be ripped away from him the moment it was in his grasp. That he’d never get the chance to feel it.
The one thing every animal should have the right to feel. What he felt that day after their date at the carnival.
“…To be happy.”