Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A horse's vision encompasses nearly a full 360 degrees. There's just a single 10 degree blindspot directly behind them. 

But when seven year old Yafya ran, he didn't bother looking behind him, because his parents were right there. They had his back. 

Yafya's whole world was lost in that 10 degree blindspot.

They were a normal family, out on a normal day. Years later, Yafya wouldn't even remember what they were doing, or what they were talking about. 

All he'd remember was the roar that suddenly shattered the calm atmosphere, and the panic that ensued. And the glimpse of a massive form lashing out with huge claws as his parents told him to run. 

So Yafya ran until he couldn't anymore. It wasn't until he stopped that he realized he was alone. 

At the time, the grownups didn't bother to really explain what had happened. All they told him was that a large carnivore, a brown bear, had gone berserk and attacked the crowd. No one ever talked about why. But he heard a lot of people talk about the terrible strength and devastation large bears can cause.

For years, people would talk about the Aspen street massacre. Over a dozen injured, 5 killed, and several gun clips emptied before the police were finally able to put the bear down.

Yafya's parents were among the dead, which grownups always seemed to talk about whenever they met him. 

Having no other family, the young colt was put into foster care. Due to his good breeding, as he often heard, the government paid a decent stipend for his care. 

For some reason, that pissed Yafya off. 

But then again, a lot of things pissed Yafya off. But being reminded of what he was ‘worth’, seemed to top the list, right along with how lucky he was to have survived the massacre.

It was also made abundantly clear that neither his ‘worth’, nor their pity translated to actually caring about him. It also turned out that his black coat could hide a lot of bruises, something of which a few foster parents seemed to be acutely aware. 

It didn't matter. Nobody cared. He was just labeled as an angry kid that caused problems and got into fights. And the truth was, Yafya was angry. He hated the smelly mattress he slept on. He hated the old hand-me-down clothes he had to wear that never fit, the fact that he was almost always hungry and was never given any fresh produce to eat. He hated the smell the black garbage bag left all over his scant belongings whenever he moved foster homes.

Most of all, he hated his own weakness and inability to do anything about any of it. 

The world was cruel and lonely, and to be honest, Yafya was pretty much always looking for an excuse to fight. And didn't really care about what happened to him.

So taking his frustrations out on bullies was a no-brainer. He didn't care how many there were, how big, or if they were herbivores or carnivores.

Whether it was his current foster father bullying the little mule boy who was the other foster kid in the house, or kids on the school yard, he'd jump right in, swinging full force. 

So, when he saw a group of older kids throwing rocks and insults at someone who wasn't even fighting back, he didn't hesitate. 

“Knock it off!” The pre-teen colt landed a punch directly to a cheetah's face. Before the rest of the kids could react, Yafya swung his leg into the stomach of a teenage boar. 

“What the hell?!” A badger snarled and lunged for the horse. 

Yafya let loose a flurry of blows. Hitting anyone within reach, and not caring about the minor scratches and bruises he got before the pack of bullies ran. 

“That's what I thought! Cowards!” Yafya yelled as he kicked dirt after them.

“I hope he eats you! You freaking psycho!” The boar called back. 

Yafya snorted, wiping the sweat and blood from his face. Only once the others were out of sight did he turn his attention to the one they'd been assaulting.

All the horse could make out about them were green scales covering their arms, still shielding their head, and their tail that was wrapped around them as they stayed curled on the ground. 

Based on the boar's last comment, it was probably a carnivore. The bullies had included herbivores and carnivores, which was odd.

Oh well. 

“Hey, you okay?” Yafya walked over to the cowering reptile. 

There was just a muffled whimper. 

“They're gone now; you can get up. Are you hurt or anything?” After a moment of nothing but some whining sounds, Yafya reached out to touch the kid's shoulder.

“No! Stay back!” The young reptile pulled away quickly, still covering his face. His voice sounded muddled, like maybe his mouth was bloody. 

“I ain't gonna hurt ya. But if you're hurt-”

“It's not that!” He scrambled away again as Yafya, again, tried to reach for one arm to pull it away from his face. “It's my venom!” The reptile turned and finally looked at him, still sitting on the ground and clasping both hands over his mouth. There was clear liquid oozing out between his fingers.

His mouth was full of venom, not blood. And he looked terrified. 

“Oh…” Yafya leaned down with his hands on his knees to get a better look. His scales had a few scuffs and scrapes, probably from being hit by rocks, but otherwise he didn't look too hurt. “So…you're a komodo, right?”

“Mmhmm.” He nodded. “And my venom starts to flow really bad when I get upset…”

He wasn't kidding. Yafya had never seen a komodo dragon up close, but he was pretty sure they didn't walk around with venom pouring out of their mouths like a fountain all the time. 

“Ok…so you just need to calm down…then we can clean you up.” Yafya looked around. 

They were by an underpass that was between the middle school campuses for herbivores and carnivores. The athletic field was just on the other side of the dry canal they were in. Yafya could jump the fence pretty easily. 

“Just wait here, I'll be right back…”

“Okay…” The komodo nodded, still looking uncertain and sniffling a little as he tried to keep his venom from spilling out. 

Yafya ran as quickly as he could. It took a few minutes, but he returned pretty quickly, considering. The komodo was still huddled on the ground, taking some deep breaths. At least it seemed like he wasn't crying anymore. 

“Heads up.” Yafya unceremoniously dumped a bucket of water over the komodo's head. The water was cold but it was a pretty warm summer day. “There. How's that? The water should've diluted the venom right? At least enough that you can walk home?”

The other kid blinked a few times, staring up at the horse. It was kind of hard to tell since he wasn't very familiar with reptiles, but Yafya was pretty sure he was a little older than him. 

“I'm Yafya, by the way. I'm a first year in middle school. How ‘bout you?”

“I'm Gosha. A third year.”

“You live around here?”

“Kinda…”

“Do those guys bother you a lot?” He thumbed over his shoulder in the general direction the bullies had fled. 

“Not…too often…”

So, yeah. 

“Well, you good to get home on your own?”

“Yeah…” He glanced around, “but I better clean this up better…it's not good to leave venom all over the ground.” He stood up carefully. 

“Oh…alright, come on. I think I saw another bucket near the spigot by the track.” Yafya gestured and started heading back towards the fence with his bucket. 

“You don't have to help!”

“It's fine. Got nothing better to do.” Yafya spared a glance back to see the older kid hesitantly follow after him. 

“But, don't you need to get home? It's getting late…”

“Foster family don't actually give a crap. And I don't care if they get pissed.” He shrugged. 

“Foster…family…?”

“Yep.”

“Oh…I lost my parents too…”

That made Yafya look back. 

“What could happen to venomous carnivores?”

The other boy's head lowered. 

“Sorry, stupid question.” Yafya didn't mean it like it sounded. 

“It's okay. There was a fire…”

“Sorry.” Yafya could see the question on the reptile's mind, so he went ahead and answered. “Mine were killed in a carnivore attack, years ago.”

All the color drained from Gosha’s green face.

“Don't go gettin’ upset all over again and spilling more venom.” Yafya commented as he started climbing the fence. 

“Aren't you…scared…? Being with a carnivore?”

“Nah.” He jumped down on the other side and waited. “If you try to eat me, I'll just kick your ass.”

“I'm a venomous reptile! Don't you understand how dangerous that makes me!”

“And yet, I'm the one who saved you from a bunch of pathetic bullies.” Yafya smirked. 

“Well…I didn't want to hurt anyone…”

“Exactly. I think I'm safe. Come on.” He gestured again as he started walking.

Eventually, Gosha did catch up. 

“So, you with a foster family or you got other relatives?”

“Not family, exactly…but there are other komodos who knew my parents…I kinda bounce around between their homes. I'm grateful…it's just…not…”

“Like a real home?” Yafya filled in. 

Gosha nodded. 

They found a second bucket and filled both with water (getting back over the fence with full buckets was easier with the two of them), and they washed the affected area. There was actually visible erosion where the most concentrated venom had dripped.

“Impressive.” Yafya looked up at the komodo and nodded. “I didn't know dragon venom was that potent…”

“Yeah…” Gosha ducked his head. “We gotta be really careful.”

“So it's hard to fight back because you might actually kill someone.”

The dragon nodded again. 

“Okay. Well, if those guys mess with you again, I'll just fight ‘em for you.”

“You don't have to do that! It's dangerous! What if you get hurt?”

Yafya shrugged as he stood up. “I'm pretty tough. Which way you headin’?”

Gosha gestured. 

“Alright, I can walk that way for a little ways.”

They ended up chatting on the way home. Yafya had never really talked to a carnivore before. Well, he didn't really talk with anyone very often. Yet with Gosha, it just felt…easy. 

After that, Yafya made it a point to be on the lookout for the komodo and his bullies. It turned out, there was more than just the one group. Over the course of just a few weeks, Yafya learned that it wasn't uncommon for random animals that didn't even know Gosha to be rude or even throw rocks at the ‘dangerous venomous monster’ just for being near them. 

Yafya had no idea that kind of treatment was so common for animals like Gosha. 

“Why don't you just hang out with other komodos? There have to be some at your school?” Yafya asked one afternoon, fresh bruises on his knuckles and face after getting into a fist fight with two third year bovines for dumping ice water on Gosha. 

Stupid jocks. 

Now they were sitting in the sun so Gosha could dry off and warm up. 

“There are a few others…I just…don't want to…”

“They jerks, or something?”

“No…it's not that…” 

Yafya looked over at the dragon. He was a little lethargic because of the ice water, but this seemed like a little more. “What is it?”

Gosha looked at him with a nervous expression. “It's just…as a komodo, because of the way we're treated…everyone just expects me to…live a certain life. Most komodo in the city do…because there is safety in numbers…”

Yafya wasn't stupid. Or ignorant. They lived in a pretty shitty neighborhood, not too far from the back alley market. 

“They want you to join the Dokugumi, right?”

Very slowly, Gosha nodded. 

“So why don't you want to? You'd be protected, right?” The horse snorted. “And you are a carnivore. You'll have to use the back alleys eventually, right?”

Gosha's eyes went wide. And his face turned a paler shade of green. He suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth

Yafya rolled his eyes, taking off his shirt and handing it to the dragon. “Use this. It's already torn pretty bad.”

“Thanks…” Gosha tentatively took the shirt and dabbed his mouth dry. 

“It's not like I don't know how the world is.” Yafya stated plainly. He had no illusions that the carnivore next to him would be some sort of anomaly or pillar of righteousness and never turn to eating meat. 

“I know…but I don't want it to be that way.” Gosha sighed. “I don't wanna eat meat. But even more than that…I don't wanna have to fight in stupid, endless gang wars…” There was a low growling undertone to Gosha's words. There was real anger there. The kind that comes from hurt. 

Yafya recognized that kind of hurt. 

“Is that…what started the fire?”

Gosha's head lowered. “Yeah. My folks were Dokugumi. There was a turf war. They were fighting in this old warehouse. Maybe a shot hit the old wiring or something, but the place caught fire.” He sighed. “It took forever for the fire department to even show up, and when they did…well, they were worried komodo venom would corrode their protective gear…”

“So, they just left your parents to die?!” 

Gosha shrugged. “My mom ran in to try and get my dad ‘cuz she knew no one else would…but the smoke must've got to her…I dunno if either of them were alive by the time the firemen went in…but they pulled out some of the other animals that were there, and they lived…but all the komodos were left.”

“I'm…sorry. That's beyond messed up.”

Gosha shrugged. “Our venom is dangerous. It can burn through clothes…” He held up Yafya's shirt, which now had sizzling holes in it. “I can't really blame the firefighters for not wanting to risk themselves even more…”

“But still…” Yafya shook his head. “There has to be material that would be resistant to stuff like your venom. Why don't they use that, or treat the firemen's suits somehow so they won't erode?! I swear, grownups are stupid! They don't even try to fix problems that should be easy!”

Gosha just…smiled at him. 

“Why aren't you more angry!?” Yafya spread his arms wide as if gesturing to the world at large. 

“I am angry. But that's why…I want to do something different…maybe when I grow up, I'll be a fireman. Or design new materials that won't corrode as easily…or work in construction so buildings are safer…or something.”

Yafya stared for a minute, then a small smile tugged at his lips, for the first time in who knew how long. “Yeah…maybe we can do something to actually make a difference.” He snorted, almost amused by the idea. 

“You definitely can!” 

The komodo's bold declaration made Yafya stare at him again. “Huh?”

“You're an herbivore, but you actually bother to help…well, someone like me. There's a lot you could do!”

Yafya scoffed. “I dunno about that.” Yafya definitely didn't see himself as a hero or a particularly good or righteous person. He wasn't even a very good student. All he was good at was fighting. But the least he could do was throw his fists at those who were hurting others. But how much could a single horse really do?

*

Months went by. Summer turned to fall. The fairs grew shorter. And yet Gosha found himself spending more and more time with the younger black horse. 

Yafya was a good fighter, but it didn't take long for the komodo to realize there was a lot of pain and anger behind his actions, or to realize that he didn't seem to value his own life very much. 

He never hesitated to jump into a fight, no matter who it was against. 

A couple high school moose harassing a girl? Yafya did give them a warning, but when one guy shoved him against a wall, he came back swinging. It didn't matter that he was half their size. Once the girl ran off, at least he was willing to run when Gosha ran in and grabbed his hand to pull him away. 

But one day, they came across a group of canines that were beating up a much smaller fox behind a convenient store. Before Gosha could think, Yafya was landing a flying kick to the back of a dingo. 

These were not school kids. These were adults. And they were pissed, and ready to take chunks out of the young herbivore, if not worse.

Gosha's tail connected with the right side of a jackal's face as he lunged for the back of Yafya's neck while the colt was dodging a coyote's claws. Pulling Yafya back from the fray, the komodo spun around to face the group, fangs bared, venom dripping. 

“You damn punks!” The wild dog snarled.

Gosha wiped his mouth and flicked a bit of venom at his feet. The drop that landed on the canine's shoe sizzled.

“Oh shit!”

Gosha gathered more venom on his fingers with a hiss.

They ran.

So did the fox. 

“Wow…you're a badass!” Yafya chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder, while he still had venom on his claws. “Thanks for having my back.” The horse smiled at him and casually walked off. “Come on, let's go wash up.”

Even after seeing him fight, the young horse still wasn't scared of the komodo. Not even a little. 

From that day on, Gosha never hesitated to jump into a fight right alongside Yafya. He didn't want to use his venom on anyone, but sometimes just the threat was enough. But for good measure, he started practicing how to fight so he wouldn't need to rely on his venom. 

Yafya trained and even sparred with him. They'd spend hours after school running around, building endurance, and practicing moves. It was actually kind of fun. They even started doing these breathing techniques they'd seen on tv that's supposed to help martial artists stay calm and in control during a fight. 

Yafya thought it might help Gosha control his venom. Gosha thought it might help Yafya control his temper.  

And it seemed to work, for both of them. 

Gosha found that he wasn't getting upset as easily and his venom wouldn't start pouring out of his mouth nearly as readily. And Yafya…seemed…happier. Lighter. Not always looking for a fight, and actually willing to just relax sometimes. 

It got to where they were spending all of their free time together. Sometimes they'd even do their homework, though it wasn't either of their strong suits. And sometimes, especially when it was raining or really cold outside, they'd just go to the public library and read manga where no one would bother them. 

It was nice, but it was hard to ignore the fact that Yafya never wanted to go home. He didn't really talk about it, but it wasn't hard to piece together that his foster father was cruel. But he said it wasn't the worst foster home he'd had, which was its own kind of disturbing. 

Gosha's homelife, if you could call it that, wasn't bad. No one was technically his legal guardian, so nowhere was technically his home. He was already enrolled in middle school when his folks died. For high school, he was sure someone would sign his transfer papers. But there was a pretty set culture in his community that Dokugumi take care of their own, and don't involve the government or anyone outside their community. 

That meant no legal adoption, foster care, or any official paperwork that required government oversight. He was just invited to stay with different members of the gang. He pretty much had free range. Reptiles tend to expect their youth to be pretty independent, so no one seemed to think it was strange. He'd just go wherever he felt like he wasn't being a bother. And no one really kept tabs; if he wasn't at their house by a certain time, they just assumed he was at someone else's. 

Which meant it wasn't a big deal for him to stay out with Yafya as late as he wanted. Which also helped him avoid the individuals who were pressuring him to join the gang. That wasn't the life that he wanted, and as naive as it may have been, hanging out with Yafya, it actually felt like he could choose a different life. 

And he wanted to hold onto that, for as long as he could. 

Chapter Text

Things at home were the same, but Yafya didn't care as much. He was hardly there anyways. And with Gosha, he was actually getting into fewer fights…well, most of the bullies in their neighborhood were certainly keeping lower profiles.

He and Gosha had even gotten a bit of a positive reputation, which was weird…but there were kids from both their campuses who talked about how an herbivore and a carnivore pair had saved them from being bullied or harassed. 

Honestly, Yafya didn't really care for the attention, but it was nice seeing the change in the neighborhood, small as it was. 

But what bit of peace he had found all came crashing down one night when he got back to his foster home. 

He had stayed out fairly late with Gosha, but it had been a chilly day and even chillier evening as it got dark, so he didn't want to keep the reptile out even later. The guy never complained, but he was definitely looking a little sluggish, so Yafya bid his friend goodnight and they parted ways. 

He was walking down his block when he saw them: large carnivores. 

Tigers from what he could see, were throwing Martin, the mule boy he shared a room with, into the back of a large van in the alleyway behind the house. 

He only saw a glimpse, but Martin was bound, gagged and clearly terrified. 

“Hey!” Yafya shouted, trying to get their attention, anyone's attention, as he ran full speed straight at them. But the tigers that had been carrying the young mule were already in the back of the van, and whoever was in the driver seat took off as they slammed the doors. Yafya tried to catch them, but quickly realized he wouldn't be able to. 

Breathing hard, his heart pounding in his chest, he turned and ran back to the house, bursting through the door, yelling what had happened and that they needed to call the police.

What he saw, took a moment to comprehend. His piece of shit foster father was leaning calmly against the kitchen counter, counting a stack of cash that looked way too large for him to have. 

“The fuck are you doing here? Figured you'd be out for a few more hours at least.” The large horse, Amos, scoffed. 

“Carnivores took Martin…” It only took about half a second to see that the bastard didn't look shocked or disturbed. “What did you do!?” Yafya would've been growling if his vocal chords worked that way; his fists were clenched and his whole body was shaking with rage 

“None of your damn business. Just go to your room and shut the fuck up.” The bigger appaloosa stallion stood to his full height, pocketed the cash, and smirked at him.  

“YOU SOLD HIM!” Yafya flew at the stallion, but the taller man was ready, his fist colliding with the colt's face, and then he caught the collar of his shirt.

“Nobody gives a shit about some dimwitted hybrid brat!” The stallion shouted, sneering in Yafya's face. “But don't worry, you're a pureblooded friesian! You're worth a lot more alive, as long as you don't cause too much trouble! So go to your room and SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP!”

Yafya grabbed the man's wrists, fighting to stay on his feet as he was roughly shaken with each word.

“You won't get away with this! Social services-”

“Oh, please!” The stallion laughed. “You think they actually care? I'll report the kid as missing in a few days. Just another runaway. You know a lot of those hybrid kids just ain't right in the head, and that one clearly wasn't all there.” He scoffed, “They'll put out a notice to keep an eye out, and that'll be it.” The bastard snorted his Yafya's face, looking sickeningly smug. 

“I'll tell-!” Yafya's threat was cut off as he was slammed backwards against the counter. 

“You think anyone will believe you? You've been nothing but trouble since you got in the system! Always starting fights…hanging out with that venomous reptile…” The stallion's face took on a wicked grin. “A Dokugumi kid? Hey, maybe you're the one that sold out your poor, little, mentally challenged foster brother, trying to get in good with the gumis like the delinquent you are.”

Yafya's blood was boiling. The bastard looked so freaking smug, like he was untouchable. Like Yafya was powerless. 

There was no point arguing with this asshole.

Yafya clamped down on the stallion's wrist as hard as he could with his blunt teeth, earning a yell and string of curses. But once the grip on Yafya's collar was loose, he put all his strength into his legs, then channeled it all into an uppercut right to the bastard's chin. 

Despite the size difference, that had the stallion stumbling back. 

As much as Yafya wanted to pummel the guy, there was no time. He bolted out of the door, jumping the front steps to the sidewalk and tearing off down the street. 

There was no point going to the police. Chances were, by the time he could convince them to take him seriously, it would be too late, even if they actually did go to look for Martin. 

And then he'd have to deal with that asshole trying to frame him and Gosha. Who would the cops actually listen to? 

No. Trying to get anyone else to help would be a waste of time. If Martin was gonna have a chance, he needed to find him, quick! The carnivores took him alive, but who knew how long they'd keep him that way? 

“Gosha!” Yafya yelled as soon as he reached the block where the komodo usually stayed. Neither of them had ever bothered to invite the other over, so they didn't have each other's addresses. But Yafya knew there were a couple apartments and a small house around here somewhere that Gosha referenced on occasion. “GOSHA! WHERE ARE YOU!?”

“Yaf!” A very nervous voice hissed at him and the young horse could see a figure heading towards him at the edge of his vision. 

He whirled around to his friend. “Gosha, I need your help!”

The komodo grabbed his wrist and dragged him down the street. “Are you crazy! This is a carnivore neighborhood a block from–” He grunted, “It’s after dark, what are you doing here?” He pulled him into an alley and turned to him with a very worried expression. “What happened? Did…your foster dad…?”

“I'm fine! But that asshole sold Martin!”

“What?!” The komodo's eyes went wide as his face paled.

Yafya quickly explained what he'd seen, and the stack of cash and his confrontation with Amos. “I'll deal with that bastard later, but I need to find Martin!” He grabbed the komodo by the shoulders. “Cuz that asshole is right! The police aren't gonna raid gumi territory for some hybrid foster kid!”

“You can't go into gumi territory to look for him either! What are you gonna do!?”

“That's why I need your help! You don't have to come, but you know where the black market is, don't you?! You have gumi ties! Surely you can find out something! Someone has to know something about who would buy an herbivore kid! Or maybe saw the van going to the market! Anything! You at least know who to ask! Where to start!”

Gosha took a deep breath, looking torn between angry and hopeless, “I can ask…but…it's too dangerous-”

“They're gonna devour him! He's not even ten years old! He's a freaking elementary school kid, and no one gives a crap!” Yafya's vision blurred behind his stinging eyes. “Somebody has to care! Somebody has to be willing to at least try! Or what good is this world! What are we even living for if we're just gonna accept shit like this happening!”

Streaks were burning paths down the sides of Yafya's face. He couldn't accept this. He couldn't just go about his life if he didn't at least try. He couldn't live with himself if he was just going to be a useless bystander. 

If no one else was willing to fight, he would! 

Gosha's face was set like stone. “Alright, come on.” He grabbed Yafya's wrist again and began pulling him down the alley. “For the record, I wasn't gonna do nothing! I was gonna go look for him myself because it's safer for me, but knowing you, if I leave you alone, you'll just go off on your own, half cocked like always!”

Gosha was gonna go look on his own. He didn't even hesitate to decide to put himself at risk for someone he barely knew. An herbivore, no less. Somehow, that seemed to lessen the vice gripping Yafya's chest. 

“You're right! There's no way I'd let you go alone. It's better if we have each other's backs!”

The komodo briefly smiled back at him. 

En route, Gosha let go of his wrist and leapt up to grab some things hanging down from a clothes line. 

“Here. Put this on.” Yayfa was confused, but obeyed, pulling the large black hoodie being offered over his head. 

Gosha helped pull the hood up. It was baggy enough to almost completely cover his muzzle. Then the dragon grabbed the horse's tail. 

“Hey!”

“Keep your head down and try to keep your tail hidden.” Gosha wrapped a scarf or something around the horse's tail and then tucked it under the elastic band of the hoodie. “If we're going into the market together, you can't let anyone see you're an herbivore or it'll be big trouble and we'll be too busy saving our own hides to save Martin's!”

Yafya nodded. 

Gosha stepped back and looked him over. “Agh, that'll have to do. Just stay close to me, and don't say anything!”

Yafya nodded again, wiping his face and pulling the hood as low as possible to hide his features as he followed Gosha out of the alley. 

“We're heading into the market…” Gosha whispered, “where they sell meat…it's gonna look…bad. Try not to react…”

With a silent nod, Yafya tried to steal himself. He knew about the market, but he really didn't know what to expect.

As they rounded a corner, and headed down a narrow alleyway, his senses were assaulted with an array of new smells and sounds, all of which were making his instincts to run scream at him. And then they left the alley, entering the lantern lit street, lined with booths and dozens of people bustling about. All carnivores. 

And Yafya saw meat for the very first time. Hanging from hooks under the booth awnings, laid out on counters. Raw meat, still red with blood…some still with enough fur or unique shape to identify the species, some cut into strips or chunks that were hard to believe came from a living person. There was also meat cooking over fires, on grills or in pots, coated in various spices that created a mixture of alien scents. And carnivore teeth were ripping and chewing some of those pieces…

It was an herbivore's worst nightmare. But Yafya couldn't afford to react. Couldn't afford to think about where all that meat had come from…if Martin was already among the wares being sold here…

No. They still had time. They had to. 

Gosha glanced back at him frequently, but Yafya kept his expression hard, his eyes forward. 

Did Gosha…eat here? Or would he, someday? 

No, now was not the time to think about that. His friend would never be okay with kidnapping and murdering innocent people. He didn't even have to ask to know that. Any other questions could wait. 

They made their way through where meat was being openly sold. No one seemed to notice them. Then they finally reached a building that was Gosha's destination. 

“Just wait here. Head down, don't talk to anyone or even look at them!”

“What are you-” Yafya began to ask. 

“I know a guy here who might have some intel on who would be dealing in live kids, or maybe mules, specifically…but he won't talk if there's a stranger present, especially if he realizes you're an herbivore! So just stare at the wall and pretend to be deaf or something if someone talks to you! I'll be as quick as possible.”

Yafya gave a curt nod and shifted over to stand next to the wall. He couldn't bring himself to keep his back to the street full of meat eating carnivores, but he angled himself to be as inconspicuous as possible, even crouching to the ground to make it less likely for a shorter species to see under his hood, and to hopefully pass as just someone resting for a minute. 

Carnivores of all shapes, sizes, and ages passed by. Even families with small children. Many were chatting casually. Some were even laughing. 

It was hard to know if that was reassuring, like these were just ordinary people, clearly not involved in anything nefarious, or…if they were all psychopaths who didn't care where their food came from…or who was killed for them to eat.

Did they know that kids were being bought to be devoured? Did they care if the meat they were buying and eating off a stick was a child like Martin? Or someone's parent, loved one, or friend? 

Maybe they did care…maybe that's why kids like Martin, who no one supposedly loved or would miss, were the ones that ended up here. 

It was a lot to take in. A lot to process and consider. 

Thankfully, Gosha returned after only a few minutes. 

“Come on, I got a lead.”

Yafya got to his feet and followed, pushing all other thoughts aside for the time being. 

When this was over, he would ask Gosha to explain everything he knew about the meat market. For now, he needed to focus. 

They ended up in a much less crowded area. 

“What did your contact say, exactly?” Yafya whispered when he was sure no one else was around. 

“He's heard some rumors…” Gosha replied in a hushed voice. “Dokugumi don't traffic livestock, but there's been rumors that the Toragumi have held auctions…that MIGHT include live bait…”

“Live stock? Live bait?” Yafya's nostrils flared and he clenched his fists. 

Gosha winced. “Those are the typical terms…this sort of thing isn't common or widely accepted, so it's not talked about openly. People use euphemisms…Most carnivores wouldn't be okay with people being hurt! It's just…there really isn't anyone who stops the ones who are. For the most part, the gumis are the ones who police the market. Dokugumi and Shishigumi have fought with Toragumi for years over this kind of thing, sometimes even forming alliances to try and take them out or at least limit their activities. But the Toragumi are well funded and well armed…” Gosha caught the horse's eye with a serious expression. “Do you understand what that means?”

“They will almost definitely have guns. And if they find out who we are, they might come after us.”

Gosha nodded. “It also means that the Dokugumi aren't willing to get involved…they can't afford another big gang war right now. It's barely been over a year since…they lost a lot of members.” There was a sadness to Gosha's voice, but he shook it off. “So we're on our own, and if we get caught…”

“We're dead meat. And can't give away your source so the Dokugumi don't get blamed.”

Gosha nodded once. “I don't want to join the gang, but I don't want to get them killed, either.”

“You don't have to come. Once we find the place-”

“Don't start.” Gosha rolled his eyes. “I'm your upper classman! I can't let you go alone! Besides,” The komodo grinned at the black horse, “You're tough, but hardly invincible, and you still need someone to watch your blindspot.”

“Thanks.” A small smile tugged at Yafya's lips. It felt good, having someone he could count on. And while he was generally pretty reckless, this was different. And it wasn't only his life on the line. 

“No problem.” Gosha smiled back and continued to lead the way. 

They were approaching an old building that used to be a bar but was closed down. Supposedly. But Gosha explained that it was in Toragumi territory, and rumored to be used in their smuggling operation. 

It seemed like a good guess to check out, based on its proximity to the foster home and the fact that it was accessible for vehicles. So they carefully crept around the perimeter, hoping to spot some sort of clue…

“That's the van!” Hidden in an alley behind the bar, parked facing away from a backdoor. Yafya practically growled near Gosha's ear. “He has to be here!”

Gosha nodded. “Let's find a way in. Quietly.”

There were no guards outside.

Why would there be? Not like they had any reason to expect someone to come looking for the kid sold to them by his own foster parent. Who else would care enough to bother? 

Yafya huffed quietly to himself as they found a boarded up window they could reach by climbing on top of a dumpster. Yafya wasn't sure how to make an opening without making too much noise, but Gosha took care of that: a fair amount of venom on the nails holding the board. It only took a few moments for them to corrode enough to get the board off, revealing a broken window big enough for middle school boys to slip through. 

They entered a disused restroom. The door was unlocked and they made their way into a hallway. They could hear voices so made their way in that direction.

There were crates of booze and other merchandise, and Yafya spotted a crowbar that was likely used to open them. Going up against large, adult, carnivores, Yafya decided a weapon would be useful and carefully picked it up without letting it hit anything. 

“Sure we can't just have a bite? If we just take an arm, we can still auction off the kid for a pretty good price.” A deep male voice was complaining.

“No, we're to keep the kid intact. Last time you got greedy, they bled out and we lost good merchandise!” Another deep voice growled. 

Yafya got low to the ground and peeked around the corner with Gosha.

Two tigers were sitting at a table near a door behind the bar across the room from them. 

“Well, how long do we just have to sit here?” The first asked. 

“You know how these things go. Now that we have the merchandise-”

Martin!

“- the boss sent messengers out to the potential buyers. They'll start arriving any minute. We let them take a look, and make sure NO ONE tries to take a bite until the boss arrives and starts the auction.”

They were running out of time. Other carnivores were going to start showing up. 

“I'm just bored…and hungry! When's Raul gonna get here with the food!”

At least one more tiger was also due to arrive. Now might be their best chance, their only chance! 

Gosha seemed to know it too. Yafya could feel the reptile tense, and saw in his periphery that his friend seemed to be looking around for a path to take, to sneak up on them. 

But there wasn't much of a chance of that working. The bar was a fairly open room. Very little cover. No way they'd be able to get close without being noticed. The longer they waited, the bigger the chance of the tigers smelling or hearing them, or of more enemies arriving. 

Gripping the crowbar tight, Yafya made the only move he could see, and charged straight for them, head down and without a word.  

The two tigers turned at the sound of footsteps rushing towards them, but seemed too stunned or confused to react instantly.

Yafya took the opportunity to kick a small table at the tiger on the left. He could deflect it, but it distracted him and his companion, delaying him momentarily as he reached for his gun.

That was enough time for Yafya to close the distance and swing at the tiger on the right. Swinging up to catch him under his jaw, then back down to knock the gun he was just pulling from his holster out of his hand. 

The other tiger roared as he threw the table that had hit him to shatter against the wall. 

Apparently foregoing his gun, the tiger slashed towards Yafya with his claws. One solid strike would probably be enough to kill the young horse, but Yafya saw it coming and dodged out of the way. He was also able to see Gosha approaching quickly, on surprisingly quiet feet. 

The two tigers were more focused on the enemy who had just blindsided them and didn't notice the second one charging in. 

Yafya side-stepped and leapt backwards to draw their attention further from Gosha and prepared to swing again. 

“A fucking horse!?” The first tiger roared, then laughed. “Dinner is served!”

The tiger lunged. 

The komodo collided. Sharp, venom coated fangs clamped down on a stripped arm. 

The two hit the ground. The second tiger, having already recovered, lunged for the reptile biting his comrade. And Yafya leapt forward, landing a second blow to the back on his head. The tiger stumbled but didn't go down. 

Yafya jumped away, his back now against the door Martin was hopefully behind. Gosha leapt to his side, spinning to face the two tigers with a gravelly, hissing snarl.

“Better get to the hospital if you wanna live! Even then, you'll be lucky if you only lose your arm!” Gosha snarled wider, venom and blood dripping from his fangs. 

“Dokugumi?!” The second tiger growled. 

The one Gosha had bitten, writhed and yowled, horror draining any anger or bravado from his face as realization dawned. 

“Dokugumi wear masks to keep their venom at bay! They believe in fighting fair, with honor! I'm not so nice!” Gosha roared, brandishing his claws and his venomous fangs.

He looked truly terrifying. 

Amazing…

The bitten tiger, the one that had so callously mentioned wanting to eat Martin's arm, scrambled away, looking like he did intend to run for the hospital or something. The second hesitated, glancing between the komodo and his companion.

Yafya wasn't going to wait for him to make a decision. He sprung forward, bringing the crowbar up to the tiger's jaw again, aiming for the same spot as his first strike. The tiger stumbled, bringing his head into range for a roundhouse kick. 

The large feline went down. It looked like he would stay down, at least for a while. 

“Come on!” Yafya ran passes Gosha to the door. It was locked. Horses have strong legs, so even at 12 years old, it only took two kicks to break it open. There were stairs. It was dark. Yafya found a light switch and ran down the steps two at a time. 

He could hear Gosha right behind him. 

They reached the bottom of the stairs and found a basement with rows of folding chairs. And at the front, a cage with a brownish figure and familiar old pajamas curled up. 

The little mule flinched at the sound without looking up, but he was alive and conscious. 

“Martin!” Yafya shouted and crossed the room, going straight to the padlock on the cage door. 

The young boy peaked up at him, big brown eyes wide with terror and wet with tears.

“Gosha! We need to get the lock off!” Yafya shouted without looking back. He didn't know if he would be able to break it…

“Here!” Gosha joined him and immediately bit down on the lock. His venom was something else, but it wouldn't melt an iron lock that quickly. 

Yafya turned to watch the door, crowbar at the ready. “Try and weaken it, then we need to bust it! Martin, get ready to run, there's no time to hang around!”

“It's corroding, but not breaking!” Gosha shouted, sounding frustrated. 

“Move!” 

The komodo jumped away and Yafya swung with his full might. Then took aim and swung again at a downward angle. The lock clanged to the floor. 

“Yaf!”

Yafya didn't need to look, he could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. 

No time to waste. Throwing the cage door open, Yafya reached in and grabbed the smaller boy and dragged him out. There were a couple small basement windows they should be able to reach and fit through.

“Duck!”

Yafya pushed Martin's head down and covered him with his own body as the gunfire started. They had to get to the window.

“Kill the komodo! Try to keep the herbivore brats alive!” Somebody shouted.

Gosha hissed and there was the sound of a metal folding chair being chucked, and angry roars in response. 

Yafya needed to focus. They needed a way out. He got Martin to the back side of the basement, behind some crates and another cage. 

He chanced a glance back. Gosha had charged into the group of three tigers. At least they couldn't shoot him without risk of hitting each other, and they were too preoccupied avoiding his fangs and venom to focus on shooting at the herbivores. But their claws and fangs were also dangerous and Gosha was outnumbered by adults who were likely experienced killers.

Yafya jumped up on the cage and broke the window with the crowbar.

“They're getting away!” A tiger shouted and raised his gun, to only be tackled by the komodo. 

“Run! Get out of here!” Gosha yelled. 

Yafya yanked Martin up by his arm and gave him a boost to the narrow window. 

“Go! We'll be right there!” Yafya ordered as the trembling, crying boy climbed out into the night air. 

“Come on!” Yafya shouted back to Gosha. 

“Go! I'll cover you!” 

There was no way Gosha could run without being shot in the back. 

Yafya leapt from the top of the cage and ran full force into the fray. Swinging with the crowbar, and kicking with his powerful legs that connected with carnivore bodies that felt like solid muscle. 

Getting caught by those claws would mean death. Those fangs could shatter his bones or crush his neck. It was hard dodging so many dangerous enemies at once. But Gosha somehow seemed to keep his back to Yafya's, allowing the horse to focus on the terrain and form a plan in the chaos. 

They managed to move the fight nearer to where they needed to be. The agile youth dodging and keeping their foes at a disadvantage. 

Then Yafya managed to grab one of their guns right from their holster.

He only had one ally to worry about and could keep track of him easily.

BANG! 

A tiger yowled as a bullet hit their shoulder. 

Yafya had never fired a gun, but it didn't matter. Gosha was at his back. Their exit was behind them. Yafya fired the gun several more times, forcing their enemies to dive for cover. 

“Go! Now!” 

Gosha apparently didn't need more instruction. He leapt for the window as Yafya took cover. Their opponents were now firing as well, but he just had to keep them from being able to aim. 

“Here!” Gosha was out the window and reaching his hand to Yafya. A bullet ricocheted off the metal window frame. Yafya fired back wildly as he jumped. Gosha caught the wrist of his free, outreached hand. The gun in his other hand began clicking uselessly as the clip emptied.

Dropping that, Yafya focused on getting out the window. 

“Run!” He shouted as he got his feet under him on the pavement. He spotted Martin huddled against the opposite wall and grabbed him as they went. 

“This way!” Gosha led. He knew the area better. There was shouting and roaring behind them, but getting more distant. The big tigers couldn't fit through the small window; they'd have to go all the way back up the stairs to get outside. 

“Where should we go?” Yafya asked, his own mind racing. 

“How the hell should I know?!” Gosha shouted between heaving breaths, “Outta Toragumi territory! Away from the market!”

“We can't go back to our place…is there anyone you know who could help?”

“Not really! They can't…not without risking a gang war…everyone…everyone will have to disown me!” Gosha breathed heavily as they ran. Yafya hadn't considered that. 

“I'm sorry…”

“It's fine!” The komodo looked over at him. “I'll be fine, but we need to figure out our next move! They will be hunting for us!”

Yafya could only think of one idea. “We have to go to the police!”

“What?!” Gosha's eyes went wide. 

“What choice do we have?” They paused next to a building, checking their surroundings and catching their breath. “They wouldn't have been able to help fast enough before, and that bastard said he'd pin it on me and you if I reported him, but now that we have Martin, we can prove we rescued him, and obviously didn't sell him! And if we go fast enough, maybe they'll be able to find that stack of cash or some evidence to prove Amos was involved!”

Yafya knelt down in front of the young mule who didn't look like he could keep up much longer. “Come on, get on my back.” 

The boy obeyed, and Yafya stood back up, adjusting him. “And like you said, those gumis are gonna be after us. So we can't just run and hide and what? Live on the street…the three of us?” He glanced back at Martin. There was no way they could keep him safe on their own. 

“Okay. Let's go.” Gosha nodded. Checking the street again, they continued their mad dash to the police station. 

A few times they had to change directions because they thought they heard voices looking for them, or saw suspicious cars they didn't want spotting them.  

Other than that, they ran as fast as they could, especially once they got to the main streets. They got a few odd looks and people shouting after them, but they kept running. 

“I think that was an officer!” Gosha called as they continued to run after a big shepherd dog shouted for them to stop. 

“I don't care! Everyone knows there are crooked cops! We're going straight to the station where there are the most witnesses!”

“I think…you're a little paranoid!” Gosha chuckled.

“With good freaking reason!” Yafya didn't slow down. They ran full speed the last few blocks. 

“Hold it right there!”

“Freeze!” 

There were officers outside the station, walking in from patrol cars. One held up his hands at the running boys, the other drew his gun.

“Whoa! I'm not chasing them! I swear!” In his periphery, Yafya saw Gosha put up his hands and stop.

“He's with me!” Yafya yelled, running back the last few steps to grab Gosha's hand and pull him along with him. “They're after him, too!” He barreled straight passed the officers, who looked dumbfounded.

Once they were through the station doors, they finally stopped running. Yafya put Martin down, but quickly put his arm around Gosha again as they were approached from multiple directions.

“We need help!” He shouted between breaths, his lungs burning, but he wanted as many people as possible to hear. “Our foster father, Amos the appaloosa, sold my foster brother to the Toragumi! My friend and I just saved him and barely got away!”

“Now hold on, if this is some kind of prank…” A tall hippo approached with her hands out, looking nervously between him and Gosha. 

“It's not a prank!” Yafya shouted, his legs were trembling. “We probably have gunpowder and tiger blood all over us! At least one tiger probably went to the hospital for a komodo bite to his arm! It was self defense! I got one of their guns and shot at least one before we got away!”

“Alright, alright, come this way, and we'll get your full statements…Ming, call social services and get a minor advocate here.” The hippo called to a stork behind a desk as she ushered the boys down a hallway.

Yafya kept hold of Gosha and Martin as they followed the hippo to a briefing room of some sort. 

There, they all gave their full testimonies. Martin struggled…he wasn't very talkative…but he confirmed that their foster father had called him from his room, and had stood by while the tigers took him. 

A police car was sent to the foster house. Neither Amos the appaloosa, nor the money, was there. But there were signs of a struggle. Yafya wondered if the asshole had run, or if the Toragumi had been pissed enough to go after him for information on the kids that had just stolen their ‘merchandise’?

Afterall, it was quite a coincidence that a young horse had rescued the kid they'd just bought from another horse. It wouldn't take a genius to guess the two were connected somehow.

Yafya didn't care what may have happened to Amos. All that mattered was what would happen to them next. 

Chapter Text

After their raid on the Toragumi, the authorities, thankfully, didn't have much interest in Gosha. They released him without looking much into his living situation (the police didn't really care about how the komodo community raised their children).

The main thing that changed for Gosha, was that he had been right to worry about a potential gang war. It was good that he wasn't an initiated member of the Dokugumi, but the rival gang still suspected their involvement given the presence of a komodo. And it didn't take great detective work to find out he did have ties to the Dokugumi.

As he suspected might happen, the gang disavowed him and insisted he had acted of his own accord, and luckily the gangs didn't go to war. 

Gosha was relieved. 

Another upside, was since he had been disavowed, that meant he couldn't join the gang within the foreseeable future, which meant the pressure was off! 

The downside was that it also meant he technically couldn't stay with the people who had been taking care of him anymore. People he had known his whole life. The last ties he had to his parents. 

That stung a bit. But the young komodo had no regrets. 

At least he still got to see Yafya. The black horse was insistent on that. 

Contrary to how Gosha had been dismissed right after the incident, Yafya got a lot of attention. Including newspaper and tv interviews. He was even given a commendation by the mayor. 

Apparently, an herbivore, especially one so young, facing the black market to save his foster brother, was very inspirational. 

Not that Yafya cared. Gosha was a little surprised that Yafya didn't seem to care for the attention at all. And even though everyone seemed to ignore it, Yafya never failed to mention Gosha's part in it all: that his komodo dragon friend was the only reason he'd found his foster brother and survived the fight. 

But no one wanted to hear that. Especially not herbivores. Which was fine with Gosha. He didn't want the attention any more than Yafya, and needed it even less. 

“You should use it to your advantage…” Gosha nudged the horse one afternoon after school while Yafya was complaining about an upcoming interview he was being pressured into giving. It had been a few days since the whole affair “You're worried about where they'll send you and Martin to live right? Maybe, with all this attention…you can make sure it'll be somewhere good?”

The horse's ears pricked up and he seemed to consider Gosha's words. 

Yafya didn't really explain the details of how he managed it, but essentially, he agreed to make some appearances in exchange for Martin being sent to a better foster home for kids his age, where someone would actually keep better tabs on him.

Gosha got the impression that the young horse may have suggested how bad it would look for the city if something happened to the little mule a second time while he was in the system. 

In the end, Martin actually ended up being adopted thanks to all the attention, by a mule couple who couldn't have children, and had experience in special education and were arranging for a speech therapist and other evaluations for the young boy. 

The way Yafya talked about the updates he got from the family made Gosha smile. It was too bad that they couldn't adopt Yafya, too. Interspecies adoptions were illegal, and it was especially frowned upon for hybrids to adopt pureblooded children. 

But Yafya insisted that that was fine by him. He waved away Gosha's attempts to suggest that maybe a special exception could be made, saying that he didn't want to move that far away, and that he didn't need new parents. 

There were a couple horses who apparently expressed interest in adopting him, but he blatantly refused. He said if they only wanted him because he was currently famous, what was the point when the fame would eventually die down.  

Gosha was pretty sure he was sent to live with a family at one point…but he just met up with Gosha after school and said anyone who told him where he could go…or who he could see…could go to hell. He refused to go back to wherever they'd sent him, camping out with Gosha until a police car picked him up. 

Yafya ended up in some sort of group home, but was about as likely to crash wherever Gosha was staying on any given night. 

Things were a bit rough, but the komodo managed to work some odd jobs to earn money for food, and some of his jobs let him (and Yafya) crash on a cot in a backroom or office. Technically, it wasn't legal for middle schoolers to work, but at least Gosha was a third year student.

When he graduated in the spring, attending high school seemed pointless, so he was finally able to find a real job as a maintenance worker at a hardware store. Finding a place that wasn't worried about his venom causing contamination (or all the antiseptic spray on their merchandise) was a relief. And by mid summer, he managed to rent a very crappy apartment in a very crappy neighborhood, but it was home! 

Yafya was still a frequent visitor. At first, the komodo tried to warn him away. His run down apartment building not only had exclusively carnivore tenants, predominantly reptiles that were not exactly what society would call respectable, but many were also venomous. 

A young horse frequenting the area definitely drew attention, but he was undeterred. And after the two of them beat the crap out of a huge anaconda that grabbed Yafya, and saved a female caiman from her abusive (now ex) boyfriend when they heard her distress through the thin walls, most of the tenants seemed to know better than to mess with the black horse.

In fact, Yafya's fame…and in some cases infamy…only seemed to be growing more and more. 

They ended up in the news again…or, well, Yafya did…when they stopped a pair of king cobras who were extorting several residents. It was actually a gila monster neighbor that warned Gosha about the pair. It was Yafya's idea to set up a trap to record them when they came to the komodo's apartment to threaten (or possibly recruit) him. They were pretty pissed and tried to bite the horse when they found him hiding in the closet with a recorder.

Cobra venom is extremely dangerous, which had Gosha extremely worried for his friend. But they had discussed strategy (very loosely) beforehand, so they were ready. 

Yafya dodged the first strike and landed a kick to the back of the snake's head. Gosha caught the second behind the head so she couldn't bite. Yafya then leapt on to the back of the first, larger snake, also pinning his head, and both snakes were stuffed into large buckets (with airholes) and taken, along with the audio recording, to the police station. 

The news reported that Yafya the young black horse had apprehended two venomous snakes that had been terrorizing a neighborhood. 

“For Rex's sake! We apprehended them together!” Yafya snorted as he tossed the offending newspaper into the trash. 

“Yeah, but an herbivore being willing and able to take on two cobras is more newsworthy than a komodo dragon being involved.” Gosha shrugged as he dumped the trash bins from the store into the back dumpster. Yafya held the lid for him even though it wasn't his job. 

“But it's stupid that they didn't even mention you! We told them the whole story! You were the one that got them to explain their whole scheme for the recorder. They didn't even mention that your neighbor had tipped you off, or even the name of the apartment complex where it was happening!”

That wasn't surprising to Gosha. Venomous reptiles shaking down another, larger, venomous reptile in a building full of carnivores, many with criminal records, wasn't really interesting to the general public. That was just par for the course. But Yafya's involvement, a young herbivore hero taking on more dangerous criminals, now that was headline news. 

“Species shouldn't matter! We saw a problem and WE stepped up to help. TOGETHER! If everyone is so focused on species, why aren't they talking about how a horse and komodo dragon are able to work together! We're a team! Shouldn't that be something people are talking about?!”

Gosha smiled at his animated friend. “Some people are…just not the mainstream media. But a lot of carnivores are talking about us both. Though, not necessarily in a good way…though most of my neighbors are cautiously optimistic that you're actually a good guy, who seems willing to help carnivores, too, not just fight them.”

“Well…yeah. But that's still mostly talking about just me…” He huffed again as he held a large mop bucket Gosha was rinsing out with a hose. 

“Well…I get mentioned. Everyone in the neighborhood seems to know I'm your friend, which makes them more optimistic that you aren't just out to punish carnivores.”

“Obviously.” Yafya set the bucket aside and helped lay out the floor mats Gosha was to rinse next. “There are shitty herbivores and shitty carnivores in the world, I'll stop them all. I don't care who is being hurt or doing the hurting.”

“You're gonna stop them all, huh?” Gosha laughed. “All the bad guys in all the world! Yafya, savior of all!”

Yafya didn't appreciate his friend's sense of humor and flipped some of the water off the wet mat at the komodo. 

“I'm not some savior! And I don't have a hero complex or anything! I ain't scouring the world for bad guys.” He snorted. “But in this world, it doesn't seem like you have to do much looking to see shit happening. Imagine if more people actually bothered to help? Besides, you're literally doing just as much as me!” He flicked more water at Gosha, who was still chuckling as he went about cleaning. 

“Yeah, but I'm mostly just following your lead.”

“Pfft.” Yafya rolled his eyes, then got within arm's length of the komodo's face with a mischievous grin. “Admit it! You may not stand up for yourself, but if you see someone else in trouble, you can't just walk away! Otherwise,” He raised his chin smugly, “you wouldn't keep sticking your neck out to have my back.”

“Maybe I just like YOU, and don't want to see YOU get hurt.” Gosha chuckled, pleased by the dumbstruck expression on the horse's face. 

Yafya just didn't want to admit that his drive to help was unique. But Gosha could see past the bravado and the temper. At his core, Yafya was simply an exceptionally good person. There was no doubt in the komodo's mind that his friend was destined to do great things. 

Gosha's ambitions weren't as grand, but helping Yafya was certainly good motivation. 

*

Yafya couldn't understand why Gosha, of all people, seemed to think he wasn't just as worthy of whatever praise Yafya received for the things they both accomplished. 

Honestly, he didn't really think it was that big of a deal, regardless. But he also knew without a doubt that Gosha was the only reason he was still alive. But the way everyone acted, you'd think the komodo was a passive observer or a minor helper. 

Even Gosha seemed to underestimate himself. Not only was he physically stronger and nearly as good at fighting, but he was also a much kinder person.

“Maybe I just like YOU!”

Those words seemed to play in the young horse’s mind, over and over. For weeks. Maybe longer…

Gosha was his friend, but Yafya wasn't special. Gosha had a good heart. The only reason he ever hesitated to help anyone was because he was afraid of hurting or scaring someone.

And it wasn't just in dangerous situations.

Gosha had a habit of noticing things that Yafya didn't. 

Like that one time he saw a squirrel trying to get a book from a high shelf in the library. Getting to the book wasn't an issue, but Gosha was worried they'd fall and get hurt because the book looked too heavy. He was the one that urged Yafya to go help, because he knew a squirrel would be spooked by a komodo approaching them. Yafya got the thanks, but Gosha was the one who cared enough to notice. 

Things like that happened a lot. If Yafya found himself helping an elderly goat who dropped her groceries, or changing a flat tire for a tortoise, it was only because Gosha had urged him to do so, or perhaps had started to rub off on him. And if Gosha hesitated to help, it was only because he felt his presence would cause more harm. 

Which was stupid. 

Not Gosha. He wasn't stupid. Everyone else was stupid for not being able to see what a great guy he was and that he was obviously only trying to help. But so many people only saw the komodo's species. 

It was frustrating. 

Perhaps that was part of his motivation. Regardless, by the end of Yafya's third year of middle school, the young horse had a better idea of what he wanted to do with his life. 

A career that might suit him. And an area of society that could use some reform.

“We should apply to the police academy.”

“Huh? You wanna be a cop?” Gosha's mouth hung open slightly as he stared at the younger teen.

“Well, maybe we could do some good. Cops are useful, when they're not lazy, prejudiced, or corrupt.” Yafya snorted. “We could be some good ones. And maybe even help change the way the police are run.”

“Officer Yafya, huh? I like that!” Gosha laughed lightheartedly as they looked over the city, leaning on the railing of an overpass. 

“And Officer Gosha.” The horse smirked at his friend. “We're partners, remember?”

The komodo's smile dropped slightly. “Yaf…I…don't think they allow venomous reptiles to be police officers.”

“But just imagine, people trust people in uniform. As an officer, if you stepped in to help, everyone would recognize that you were one of the good guys.”

That brought a smile to the komodo's lips. Yafya knew his friend liked the sound of being a trusted member of society, even if he didn't want to admit it. 

“That would be nice. But, it's no use if I'm not allowed. My venom is too dangerous.”

“You control your venom much better these days.” Yafya grinned and held his arms out wide, “So if they won't let you, we'll just have to change their minds! Make them realize how lucky they'd be to have us both! As a team! A package deal! Besides, once they see what you can do, they'll be begging you to join the force!”

Gosha's deep, gravelly voice boomed as he laughed out loud. At fifteen years old, Gosha had gotten much taller, and his voice had gotten much deeper than when they'd first met. And, whether it was just because he was older or because his confidence was better, he didn't try to shrink himself as much. Like he was more willing to take up space. To be seen and heard. It made Yafya…happy.

“Yaf, you make it sound like changing the world is so easy! Why don't you just become the Beastar while you're at it!” The komodo threw his head back and laughed even louder. 

Yafya snorted. “Don't be ridiculous. I never said it would be easy. But it doesn't matter. We'll do it anyway.” He raised his chin defiantly. “And you know what? Maybe that's not such a bad idea…”

Gosha stopped laughing and looked at him confused, like he didn't know what the horse meant. 

“If we became beastars, we might actually be able to change the world!”

“I said you! Not me! Carnivores can't-”

Yafya snorted and waved him off. “I told you, we're a package deal!” He smirked. “I haven't paid it much attention…but a few people have mentioned I could become a Beastar…” He turned fully to his friend with a playful scoff, “They love the idea of the black horse hero, fighting the city's dark underbelly. But if they want me, they'll have to accept you too!”

Gosha was quiet for a moment then his face split into a smile that showed all of his serrated fangs. 

“You know what? I'm in! Might as well do something worthwhile.” The komodo chuckled and playfully shoulder checked the younger horse. “Besides, someone's gotta have your back! And who else can keep up with your crazy ass?”

Yafya laughed and fully body checked the komodo. Gosha barely budged.

“You sure you can keep up?” Yafya threw a few playful jabs and kicks. 

Gosha blocked and countered, grin only growing wider, brighter. “Obviously! I've managed this for a long!”

“We'll, we're gonna have to work even harder! It's not enough to just qualify for the academy. We're gonna have to be the best if we want to be taken seriously! And if we want to become beastars, we'll have to win over all of society. So we need to train harder and be ready for anything!”

“Deal! Don't worry, I'll be right there with you!”

“Oh, yeah? Let's see how well you can keep up!” The horse threw a final jab to the komodo's shoulder, then turned on his heels and ran. “Race ya!” 

Yafya was already jumping the fence to run down the hill and along the canal. 

Gosha landed with surprising grace right beside him and they both took off. Yafya was faster, but Gosha was pretty close and admittedly had even more endurance. So when the horse pulled ahead, the komodo wasn't far behind. And that was a comforting thought. 

Gosha had his back. Together, it really did feel like they could do anything. 

Chapter Text

Time passed quickly. And Yafya had been right, they really didn't have to look very hard to find trouble. 

Well, it helped that trouble started actively looking for them. Especially once they officially earned themselves a spot on the Toragumi's shit list. 

The tigers already had it out for them after their first encounter, but they didn't seem to be actively hunting for them…

That changed after Yafya's declaration that they would become Beastars.

Gosha had told him everything he knew about the back alleys, the meat market, and the gumis that ran the place. The Toragumi seemed like the most pressing problem. 

Most of the gumis got their meat from hospitals, morgues, funeral homes, etc. It was illegal, and there were families that may not have known their loved ones' ashes were…supplemented with other materials…but it was basically victimless. And there was all kinds of bio waste from hospitals that was considered edible, and was totally discarded without any care. 

That was the kind of meat predominantly sold on the open market. Many sellers even showed receipts and death certificates to anyone who asked. 

That information made Yafya sigh quietly in relief. And anytime they had to walk the market, it didn't seem as horrifying. 

But the Toragumi were the largest gang that was known to kidnap and kill. They usually sold their victims alive. It was a massive trafficking operation that spanned the country, not just the city. 

That needed to stop. If they could take out the main hub in the city, that would be a good start. 

Together, Gosha and Yafya began patrolling around Toragumi territory and managed to stop two potential abductions.

That was when the tigers started coming after them…

One night, Gosha caught a suspicious scent a moment before a tiger leapt out from a hiding place next to Gosha's apartment building. Yafya must have seen them out of the corner of his eye (his vision really was impressive), because he was able to dodge just in time. 

“Gosha, down!”

The komodo dropped to the ground without hesitation as bullets whizzed over his head. Yafya charged the second tiger that had fired. But there were four more, plus the one the horse had dodged initially. 

Five tigers! 

“Take the horse alive!” The first tiger roared as he pulled his own gun on Gosha. 

No time to second guess. They'd kill Gosha and take Yafya to be tortured and devoured. The komodo's jaws clamped down on the tiger's hand before he could get a shot off. 

“Fuck!” The tiger roared again, this time the sound colored with pain and terror.

Gosha's serrated fangs left the poisoned hand mangled and the komodo charged the pack of tigers overpowering the horse. 

“Watch out!” 

The tiger's warning came too late for his comrade. Gosha bit down without mercy, piercing the thick, muscular neck from behind. 

The bitten tiger dropped Yafya's legs, which he immediately used to kick the knee of the tiger holding him. With the other tigers shocked by the komodo's attack and clearly more concerned with that threat, Yafya was able to pull his arms free and wasted no time attacking with his full strength. 

Gosha also didn't hesitate. 

Another tiger grabbed him from behind. His scales were tough enough to minimize the damage of the claws digging in, but the fangs coming for his neck were a concern. He had plenty of venom flowing, so gathered some on his fingers and shoved them back into the tiger's open maw, gathering more venom on his fingers as he lunged forward (he was immediately released as the poisoned tiger gagged and stumbled).

Two tigers left…

One. 

That last kick to the head from Yafya had that tiger laid out. 

The last tiger still on his feet reeled back at the sight of the komodo and barely managed to dodge the poisoned claws swiping at him. 

One glance around was enough for that guy to turn tail and run.

The one with the bitten hand had already fled (maybe he survived). The one with the bitten neck was clearly dead. The one that gagged on Gosha's venom was now lying face down and presumably dead on the ground. 

Yafya lifted the head off the dazed tiger, who probably had a concussion trying to get up from the ground. Gosha had his poisoned coated fingers in front of his face. The smell seemed to help bring him around.

Gosha hesitated then. Killing a wounded and defenseless opponent was different from killing in the throes of a life or death fight. 

“Seems we've gotten the Toragumi's attention!” Yafya sounded almost triumphant. “If you tigers are smart you'll seriously rethink your life choices, because your days preying on this city are numbered.”

Yafya roughly shoved the tiger's head down to the pavement before stepping away. “Go ahead and run along home, unless you wanna wait for the police to arrive? Hell, we'll even call you an ambulance!” The young horse smirked as the cat scrambled away, running on unsteady feet down the street. 

“Let's go inside and call to report this.” Yafya gestured at the general area, pausing to look more closely at the dead tigers. “Damn…I knew your venom was no joke, but your fangs are gnarly, too.” There was no judgment or repulsion in the comment, but Gosha still felt self conscious. “Come on, let's get cleaned up.”

Gosha was pretty sure Yafya was looking at the blood on Gosha's mouth and down his front side. 

He would really prefer to avoid biting as much as possible in the future.  

They reported the attack, were thankful they both only had minor injuries, and started packing. Staying where gumis know you live is just plain stupid. 

Going forward, they were more discrete. Gosha used a fake name on his lease and they tried not to advertise who they were. 

Yafya was still technically in the foster system and his official address changed fairly frequently. He wasn't easy for even social workers with his records to track down. 

All the extra precautions were definitely prudent because, unfortunately, the Toragumi didn't decide on a career change. So between the tigers hunting for them, and their determination to be a thorn in their every operation, trouble was never in short supply. 

But their activism wasn't all fighting gangsters.

Sometimes it was little stuff, like just scaring off some guys they saw stocking a girl down the street, or helping pull someone out of a car crash…or helping that crazy old parrot who definitely would have fallen and broken his neck. His wings clearly didn't work anymore but he was absolutely determined to put a fresh coat of paint on his old house. He just looked way too wobbly on that ladder, so Gosha convinced Yafya to spend the afternoon helping the guy out. Not that Yafya minded, but the young horse did have a good laugh, and spilling that pink paint on Gosha was definitely on purpose. 

Yafya really had become much lighter. Metaphorically. Physically, he had quite the growth spurt over the three years since they'd first met, and was even taller than Gosha now. And was probably just as strong. Which made Gosha worry less, because Yafya was as quick as ever to run into danger without hesitation. 

Like when Gosha smelled that fire. They rushed down the street and got there right as the fire must have hit an accelerant or something, because there was a big explosion and the whole house went up in flames. 

A female capybara came running out with twin babies in her arms, sat them down and immediately turned to run back inside. 

“Felipe!” She cried as Yafya and Gosha caught her. 

“Someone's still inside?” Yafya shouted. 

“Upstairs! He's only three!” The woman sobbed frantically trying to pull away. 

Yafya pushed her into Gosha's arms (which probably didn't help with her panic, and Gosha was glad he had some antiseptic on him), and the horse ran straight into the burning house. 

By then, neighbors had come to see what was happening. A large tapir woman came to grab the frantic woman, looking unsure if she should be more concerned about Gosha or the fire. Gosha gave her a very quick spritz for his venom, then dropped the bottle. 

“Get her and the babies back!” The komodo shouted as he ran inside after his friend. 

The smoke was thick, but he could still see well enough to find the stairs. Thankfully they weren't completely blocked by fire yet, but debris from the burning ceiling above was already falling and the rug and banister were catching.

“Yaf!” He shouted as he dashed up the stairs.

“I got him!” The smoke was even thicker up here, but the horse came running down the hall with a bundle in his arms. The fire was burning the insulation inside the walls, going all the way to the roof of the house. Part of a support beam was coming down. Gosha leapt and hit the beam, knocking it out of the way for Yafya to pass. His scales were tough, he'd be fine. 

“Go, hurry!” Gosha called, his eyes stinging in the smoke that was starting to clog his throat. 

The horse was already moving, but stumbling slightly. His eyes probably couldn't handle the smoke. Gosha stayed right on his tail (it was probably good he kept his tail wrapped or the loose hair might've caught fire). The komodo did his best to shield his friend and the child from debris and used his nose to help them find their way back out to the fresh air. 

They made it out to the steps and across the yard. Sirens signaled that firetrucks and paramedics were on the way. 

The little boy was alright. Crying, but unhurt. Paramedics still gave him oxygen and checked his lungs for smoke damage. 

Yafya insisted he was fine. Gosha was pretty sure he was just being stubborn because the paramedics refused to give Gosha oxygen until last (his venom could have corroded the mask! Not to mention simply contaminating it! They had to wait until they knew they had enough to spare one). 

After a few moments of his stubborn refusal and indignant ranting about paramedics being ill equipped, Gosha grabbed the horse and held the oxygen mask to his face. That seemed to help his cough. 

Gosha really was fine, but Yafya still grabbed the mask from him and ended up sacrificing it to give Gosha a few deep breaths…that horse was freaking strong…but thankfully only the two of them and the boy needed the oxygen so there wasn't an issue. The rest of the family had gotten out quickly enough and we're cleared.

News spread pretty quickly, and given he already had a reputation, it wasn't too surprising when the mayor awarded Yafya a medal for his bravery. 

“Come on! Just take it!” Yafya tossed the medal to Gosha as he passed the komodo on the bridge. They were riding a pair of old motorcycles they'd fixed up together. 

“Don't just throw it around!” Gosha shouted, mortified as he caught it.

“This is all so stupid! Why am I the only one to get a medal?”

Gosha smiled to himself. Typical Yafya. But he was the one who ran into the fire first. He was the one that carried the kid out. Gosha just had his back. 

“Don't get mad! That's just the way it is!” Gosha tossed the medal back.

“Well, ‘the way it is’ can kiss my ass!” The horse tossed the medal into the river below. 

Gosha shook his head. In the komodo's humble opinion, if ever there was someone worthy of the title ‘Beastar’, it was Yafya the black horse. He was practically the embodiment of justice and selflessness. Nothing he did was for fame or accolades, or to empower or prop himself up. He just wanted to help. 

To Gosha, that made him all the more deserving of all those awards. The komodo was perfectly happy to stand in his shadow. It felt warmer than the sun. 

*

Animals skinned alive. The fur trade was a horror story as old as history, but this still should've gotten more attention. 

Whoever was behind this latest string of murders was truly sadistic. They may have drugged their victims, but there was no reason to skin them while they were still alive. 

This should have been a top priority for the police. So why did it seem like so little manpower was being dedicated to the matter? Why was there so little public interest? 

One guess: The victims were all carnivores. Several spotted felines and two wolves were already dead. 

Some herbivores even seemed relieved that it was carnivores being targeted. 

“Let them live with the fear of knowing you might get snatched at any time! We herbivores live with that fear our whole lives!”

Yafya wanted to punch the loudmouth goat right in his stupid, bigoted face as they stood in line at the coffee shop. But Gosha had that look in his eye, practically begging the horse to just let it go. 

But it pissed him off that people could talk or even think that way! No one should live with that fear! The carnivores being targeted by this killer weren't likely the ones targeting herbivores. No, psychotic criminals tend to target the innocent, not other criminals. Nor would those deaths mean fewer herbivore deaths. It just meant more suffering for everyone! 

So, since the police weren't doing much, Yafya and Gosha did their own investigation. They figured out the area where all the victims had been found, and seen last. There was a pattern. The victims were likely all drugged at either a bar or a popular coffee shop. A leopard or jaguar (many couldn't tell the difference, one witness even said it may have been a cheetah) was spotted a few times talking to or even walking out with the victims. 

There was also a pattern to where the bodies were found. Dumped. Not where they had been killed. The fact that they were dumped and not sold to the meat market was also telling. Definitely not gumis. This was likely a lone psycho.

They found a location that seemed fairly central in the hunting and dumping grounds, that seemed like a good spot for a serial killer. They even had a suspect.

The police said they'd look into the matter.

Helpful.  

Yafya and Gosha decided to patrol the area and stake the place out. 

They spotted a leopard leading a young wolf girl into the building. She looked drunk. Possibly drugged.

They made their way to the roof, trying to get a better view. They needed to be sure this was the right guy. 

It didn't take long to see and hear enough. He wasn't wasting time. She was already stripped and tied to a chair. 

They broke in through the skylight. Yafya got the guy away from the girl, and Gosha used his venom to put him down. The komodo usually wasn't so quick to rely on his venom, but this guy was definitely a psychopath who clearly took pleasure in this and they didn't want to take any chances. 

There didn't appear to be anyone else there. 

Mission accomplished. 

The killer was taken care of. The girl was safe. The room they were in had all the tools to skin someone and tan their hide. The police wouldn't have any problem wrapping this one up. 

“Whoa…your scales…” The wolf girl mumbled as she was coming to, “they're so shiny…like jewels. You're so pretty…”

She was staring right at Gosha. 

Yeah, his scales always shine like that in the right lighting. 

Of course it was pretty. But guys don't like to be called pretty…

…Right? 

But Gosha looked all flustered and embarrassed. 

Oh…

Maybe it was because she was a pretty girl.  

Well, it was nice that for once someone they saved was showing Gosha some appreciation. Even carnivores tended to be standoffish because of his venom. 

Maybe it was because she was still dazed from the drugs. Maybe she didn't recognize his species. 

The komodo and the wolf talked the whole way as they walked her home. 

Gosha looked…Surprised…infatuated?

Happy. 

The girl, Toki, asked Gosha if he'd go out on a date with her. He stammered out a very embarrassed reply and agreed to pick her up the very next day. 

“Yaf! W-what should I do? Where should I take her?” Gosha asked, still looking all flustered as they left the girl's apartment building. 

“How should I know?” Yafya shrugged nonchalantly. 

“Come on! You're popular with girls!”

Was he? Sure, girls talked to him. But it's not like any of them knew him, and he didn't know any of them. Nor was he interested.

“I'm not really into dating, so I don't know what to tell you. But you do what you want.”

“Oh…okay.” Gosha deflated a little. 

They were quiet the rest of the night. Yafya decided to go crash at one of the group homes to give Gosha some space.

The young horse had never really thought about dating. He was fully focused on his and Gosha's mission. But…he didn't want to get in the way of his friend having some fun. Maybe they'd been a little too focused on their vigilante work. Plus, Gosha had his actual job that paid the bills, so they hadn't really been enjoying any time off.

Yafya could give Gosha space, let him have fun on his own and not monopolize all his time. They'd still have plenty of time to keep helping the city. 

Nothing would change in regards to their ultimate goal. 

Nothing would change between them. 

At least…that's what Yafya thought. 

…

…Until 6 months later. 

…

“My girl is pregnant. The kid is mine.”

Those words hit like a punch to the gut.

How was that even possible? Gosha hadn't really talked about his relationship with Toki much, and Yafya had decided to just let him keep that part of his life to himself, but he had no idea they were so serious.

But even so…

“...You're oviparous, she's viviparous. You shouldn't be able to get her pregnant!”

A miracle baby. That's what the doctors said? 

What bullshit!

A miracle she got pregnant, maybe, but that doesn't mean there's some divine blessing! Hybrid pregnancies are dangerous! Survival rates for mothers and infants are really low, and that's between different mammal species! Between a mammal and a reptile?! Has that ever happened? Let alone with a good outcome?

And that's still before factoring in all the discrimination and bigotry! Medical care for hybrid pregnancies was notoriously poor! So you have nature and society working against you! 

Yafya hated the thought of his friend going through that…of losing Toki and the baby…he didn't want him to get hurt! 

It felt like a vice was gripping Yafya's chest. It felt like his heart was being crushed and he couldn't even fully grasp why. 

There was so much running through Yafya's head. They were a team, they were trying to fix the world! To make it better…but it's dangerous…to start a family now…

Yafya was trying to organize his thoughts, to articulate that, and then the worst blow yet:

“...I'm done.”

Yafya's fists were always faster than his mouth. His brain was still playing catch up as he looked down at his friend on the ground. His knuckles stung but that was a welcomed distraction…

“...She's the most important thing to me.”

So that was it. 

Someone he'd only met a few months ago was more important? More important than their friendship? Their partnership? Their plans and dreams? They'd had each other's backs for years! Put their lives on the line for each other! Did none of that mean anything to Gosha?!

Was any of it real? Did he actually care at all? Was he just humoring Yafya? Was it all just a joke to him? The countless days and nights they'd spent imaging what the world could be like, how they could make a difference. Together…

Had Gosha meant any of it?!

Was Yafya just naive to think he'd actually found someone he could trust and rely on? Just to be abandoned the second someone better came along? 

A pretty girl…? 

Why does that hurt so much? 

Don't think about it…

Was it because she was a carnivore? Was there just too big a difference between them? 

Did he not actually share Yafya's dream? Or was it Yafya he just didn't care about? Did he ever actually care? Or was Yafya just convenient company until he found someone else? 

Gosha knew Yafya wasn't going to give up. He couldn't. How could Gosha? Was he just gonna be like everyone else who turns a blind eye to the evils of the world? They had talked so many times…Gosha knew Yafya couldn't bear to be a bystander. 

That he'd be a hypocrite if he stopped now! Someone still had to try to make the world better! Someone still had to care enough to try!

Gosha knew Yafya would keep trying. He had to. 

“... So, you're saying you're gonna leave me on my own?”

The look on the komodo's face said it all. 

Yafya couldn't bear to look at him. He turned and walked away.

He should have known better than to think anyone would actually help him…would care about him…would choose him…

…Would love him…

*

Gosha couldn't blame Yafya for feeling betrayed and angry. But he couldn't abandon Toki and their child. He also couldn't risk constantly making enemies that might target his family. 

But that also meant he couldn't risk his life so readily. Toki and the baby needed him to come home and to be able to provide for them…knowing that might make him hesitate in a fight, and that could cost Yafya, too. 

It felt like an impossible decision, but it was also the only one he could make. 

What good was making the world a better place if he couldn't give his own family a good life? And he and Yafya knew better than most what it's like to go through life without a parent…he couldn't do that to his kid. Especially knowing the extra challenges a hybrid would face…

And he couldn't let his obligations bring Yafya down. The young horse was amazing all on his own. And maybe without a venomous reptile hanging around, that he always felt the need to defend, he could make other friends and allies to help him. 

Yafya didn't actually need Gosha. Not really. But Yafya had every right to be angry. And Gosha had no right to ask for forgiveness…

Chapter Text

Yafya was officially nominated as a Beastar just before he turned eighteen.

He'd been on his own for nearly two years, and was doing just fine, thank you.

He had to play things a little smarter, but had continued to fight for the greater good as always.

He even managed to infiltrate the Toragumi's trafficking ring, slipping into a container of other animals being smuggled into the city.

When the container was opened, the head tiger himself happened to be there to inspect the ‘merchandise’. That's what he had been hoping for. The leader of the Toragumi was a hard man to find.

The old tiger walked right up to Yafya with a detached, casual air as he remarked on the quality of meat standing before him. No one was expecting ‘the black devil’ to be standing meekly in line.

Once the cat was in range, it only took one powerful kick to the chin to stun him, and a second to smash his skull.

Shots were fired, but the rest of the gumis there were in a panic. Yafya took out a few more. The rest fled.

Eleven missing persons, from preteens to adults, were rescued.

The Toragumi effectively disbanded, with only a few diehards attempting to rebuild it. A futile attempt. Yafya barely even had to do anything more with the other gumis moving in when they sensed weakness.

They could sort that out amongst themselves, as long as they didn't start causing more trouble.

Along with his official nomination, Yafya was also given another commendation, but this time, it was presented by the Sublime Beastar himself: Eitan the banteng. He was an impressive figure. About the same height as Yafya, but much broader, with his sharp oxen horns curling up above his head. He was famous for his golden fur and inspirational disposition.

“Well, done, young man.” Eitan's deep voice bellowed as he shook Yafya's hand in front of all the cameras. “You have truly distinguished yourself as a protector of the people. As someone not afraid to stand up to the monstrous carnivores plaguing our city.”

“Thank you, sir…” Yafya's ear twitch slightly, a little twinge in the back of his brain and a bitter taste in his mouth at Eitan's wording…there was a time he would've boldly declared he fights against all monsters to protect all the innocent lives, herbivores and carnivores alike, but the moment passed quickly in the flash of the cameras, so he bit his tongue and bowed.

He'd made his position clear enough in the past. No sense being self-righteous with the Sublime Beastar. If Yafya wanted to get further, he'd need his support in the future.

It was a brief meeting, and not much really changed. Except, as a Beastar, Yafya was given a stipend for housing and other living expenses so he didn't have to worry about getting a regular job and could instead focus on helping the city.

It was nice actually having his own place. It was nicer than any foster or group home. Nicer than where Gosha used to live…

He didn't want to think about that.

He hadn't seen or heard from the komodo since their falling out.

He had gone by Gosha's old apartment once, a month or so after their fight…just to look, he hadn't even decided if he'd go to his door…but the komodo had moved out.

Of course. That was no place to raise a family…

…It didn't matter. It was done. All in the past. They'd both moved on. Yafya was managing just fine, even without his partner…

And it's not like Gosha had no way of reaching out if he wanted to. The horse was pretty damn famous. Even if his new home address was private. There were ways he could have gotten a message to him, or found him. He knew where Yafya hung out and patrolled.

Gosha's family was clearly his priority.

It would be better to just forget him…

Yafya kept his new living space clean. No more smell of mildew or garbage bags on all his clothes.

He even had a couple little planter boxes so he always had fresh veggies on hand, even if he couldn't get to the store. And it helped keep him busy when he wasn't working.

It was hard to know how to fill his free time. He wasn't the type to just sit at home…alone.

So he kept busy with his little hobbies and his work. There were always criminals to fight. People to help.

The Toragumi were gone, but the black market was still rampant with crime. The city was rife with corruption. Not to mention the random devourings.

There was so much to do. And only so much ground a single horse could cover…

And then something wholly unexpected happened, that shook the entire city.

Literally.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit.

It was…devastating.

Yafya was home, asleep in his bed like usual during the late mornings given his nocturnal activities. The shaking nearly made him hit the floor. But it stopped for a moment…then the worst hit.

Yafya had to scramble for cover, unable to stay on his feet as windows rattled, his lamp shattered on the floor, dishes fell from the cupboards…

It seemed to last forever. It felt like the whole building might collapse. There was rumbling and cracking in the distance. Yafya's blood ran cold.

When the city was finally still, Yafya rushed to put on shoes, avoiding the glass on his own floor, and immediately ran outside. He knew there would be people injured.

His block looked alright, just minor damage. But there was a plume of debris in the distance…

Several buildings collapsed. A section of road collapsed. A train derailed…

So much destruction. So many lives were impacted…lost or changed forever.

Rescue teams worked around the clock, even through the following shock waves, to clear debris, look for survivors, and get the injured medical attention.

Yafya did what he could to direct efforts, but he wasn't a leader…he was better at jumping in and helping with his own hands. He was strong and had good stamina. He went from disaster site to disaster site.

He occasionally slept for an hour or two leaning against the hospital wall. He'd lost track of how many he'd helped carry to the trauma center. With all the road damage and blockages, medical transport was limited.

Then he was back on his feet, doing…whatever he could for as long as he could.

It was the third day, maybe? Hard to keep track.

“You can't be here! No venomous reptiles near the wounded!” Someone shouted in the distance.

That caught Yafya's attention.

“You komodo get out of here!”

Yafya weaved his way through the wounded laid out on cots in the hospital parking lot.

“Please…he's hurt…”

“We can't risk venom in this area! Look at all the open wounds! You need to get outside the perimeter. And Ddon't block pathways!”

“What's going on here?” Yafya yelled as he approached. His eyes fell on a pair of komodo. One half dragging the other with an obvious head wound.

Neither were Gosha.

By their masks, they were Dokugumi.

“No komodo! No venomous or poisonous animals! We have enough to worry about with the regular carnivores around so many wounded herbivores!”

Yafya was tired. In so many ways. This wasn't the first time he'd encountered resistance from an herbivore refusing to help a carnivore. But this…hit close to home.

For a moment he'd thought…

“They're injured too!” The horse shouted at the doctor, grabbing him by his shirt collar. “You're a doctor for Rex's sake! This is a hospital! They're even wearing masks to contain their venom…!”

“Well the last one wasn't!” The doctor shouted back, rage and disgust in his voice. “The damn good it did for him to carry in wounded just to poison them! Then he tried to steal supplies! We don't have the resources to deal with that kind of crap right now!”

“The wounded he carried…did you help them?” Yafya felt the heat draining from his face.

The doctor looked at Yafya like he had two heads.

“She was unconscious, covered in dragon venom! Do you think I or any medical personnel here can afford to suit up and then decontaminate ourselves just to check for a pulse on one person? And then we'd have to determine if they even can be saved from their injuries, or if it's worth even trying if they're poisoned on top of that! We are swamped! We don't have the time or the resources. That's just the way it is.”

It felt like a vice was tightening on Yafya's heart.

“Who…who was the woman?”

“I don't know.” The doctor brushed the shaking horse's hands off of him. “I've seen hundreds these past few days. It was a mammal. Grey fur. That's all I saw.” He gestured to the two komodo still standing meekly by. “At least these two stuck to their own kind. That woman and infant would've been better if that other one had left them for the rescue workers.”

“A baby…?” Yafya felt like he couldn't breathe.

The kangaroo nodded briskly. “I heard it crying.”

“Was it hurt?!”

“I don't know.” Kangaroo rolled his eyes. I told you, we couldn't risk the komodo venom! It may seem harsh, but look around…!” He gestured to all the injured. “We have to prioritize.” He turned back to the two komodo. “So you two, get out of here! Find a venomous doctor at one of your hospitals.”

Yafya's fist collided with the bastard's face, catching him by the collar again before he could hit the ground. “Half the city is in shambles! Roads are blocked and closed. You think anyone can afford to just go to a different hospital?!”

The horse gestured to a small area off to the side that wasn't occupied. “Set up a triage area for venomous animals! You can spare one fucking medic to stay suited up and help them!”

“You can't just-”

“Like hell I can't! You gotta problem with that, take it up with the mayor!” Yafya got right in his face, challenging him to argue further.

A moment of anger and confusion shifted to recognition on the kangaroo's face. There was a curt nod. “Very well.” The kangaroo took a steadying breath and tried to shift back to a professional air. “This way, gentlemen.” He gestured to the komodo, then began calling out directions to set up the new triage area.

“Thank you…never thought the Black Devil would help the likes of us…”

Yafya looked back at the komodo man holding his injured comrade. For some reason, that stung.

“My quarrel has only ever been with the villains who harm the innocent…” He walked over and helped lift the injured komodo, “Someone's species has never mattered to me…and I know how the Dokugumi run their business. As long as you continue as you have, we won't have any issues.”

The komodo just stared, dumbfounded. The injured one looked even more confused, as if trying to figure out if he was hallucinating the horse who had wrapped an arm around his middle and was practically carrying him.

His scales were cold. “I'll see about getting a heat lamp or two. I've seen they already have some set up for other reptiles.”

“Thank you…”

Yafya nodded. The feel of the komodo he was holding was almost nostalgic. Though he was much slimmer than Gosha. Had he ever even held Gosha this way? No…they weren't shy about touch, but Gosha was always wary of his venom…and neither of them was ever injured enough to need to be carried by the other. They were playful, not…intimate.

Yafya shook off the thought and helped the injured komodo down onto a cot that had been carried over.

“We're wearing our masks, but still…”

“I'll be fine.” Yafya answered automatically, turning to the less injured komodo. “I know the smell of komodo venom. It's not bad right now.”

“Unless you've built up an immunity, I'd still recommend washing your hands before touching your face or any cuts.”

“Immunity? Is that possible?”

The komodo shrugged. “Probably not. But some komodo aren't automatically immune to every other komodo…but we seem to be able to build up immunity to each other. But I meant it more like a joke…since…you know…who you are, and everyone knows about the black devil's venom…”

“Do you know Gosha?” The question slipped out without warning, but suddenly Yafya's heart was racing again.

“Used to…haven't seen him in years. Not since, well…I'm sure you know. I'm pretty sure only the Dokugumi suspect who the devil's venom is…and we keep that to ourselves.” He shrugged.

“So…you have no way of contacting him?”

The komodo slowly shook his head. “So it's true? He hasn't been seen with you for a while…”

Yafya clenched his jaw and his fists at his sides. “I need to go.” Yafya spun on his heels.

He had to know. He had to find out…

Was Gosha okay? Was…was it him? And…Toki? And…the baby?

Damn it! He didn't even know if the child or Toki survived the birth! If so, how old would the baby be? A year? Maybe a little more? Was…was it a komodo? Would it be immune to Gosha's venom?

…Was it a boy? Or a girl?

Were they even alive, now!? After this!?

Yafya was running.

Damn it!

He had no way of even checking! Someone had to know. There were volunteers and medical staff keeping track. He had to find out!

Yafya spent the next two hours asking every medical staff he saw that was free, until he finally found someone who remembered the komodo that had brought in a woman and baby…

The komodo had left. They had made him leave before they'd even examine her. And even then, they'd only agreed because he grabbed supplies to try and disinfect and bandage her wounds himself.

Otherwise, what? Would they have just ignored them?!

A nurse had done the bare minimum and checked that the baby…A WOLF PUP… was alright! There was some confusion because he'd refused to give the pup over to them or a social worker volunteer, claiming she was his daughter and that she was immune to him…

They had still tried to take her, or to be more accurate, they tried to make him leave her on the ground to be disinfected and treated…when they could get to her.

He left with the baby.

The female wolf was declared dead sometime that day. No one could (or would) tell him how long it took for her to even be examined. No one took down any names.

The female wolf's body had supposedly been ‘removed with caution’ and placed with the other bodies to be decontaminated and identified later.

That still wasn't a confirmation. He needed to know for sure.

It took several more hours of scouring the security camera footage, but he figured that would be faster than searching through all of the unidentified bodies.

Yafya finally found what he was looking for.

He already knew it was them. Or course, it had to be. How many other wolf/komodo pairs could there be in the city?

But he still wanted to see. To confirm with his own eyes.

And his heart fucking shattered.

There he was. Even with the poor camera quality and distance, Yafya would know his friend anywhere. Gosha was shouting, crying, begging for help…a limp form in his arms and a carseat in one hand. He'd carried Toki and the baby to the trauma center, and stopped on the outskirts of the other patients. He laid her down and began begging.

Everyone rushed passed as if they were invisible. No one would help. No one would even go near. He could see Gosha and Toki talking, so she was alive, but not moving much. Then Gosha grabbed some medical supplies, and was chased and reprimanded by staff. Security guards were called. There was some heated discussion but no audio on the tape.

It looked like they wanted him to turn the baby over…he set the carseat down and moved away. No one would get close, only looked from a distance and continued to gesture for Gosha to leave.

He looked torn…because of course he fucking was! Those assholes were more focused on making him leave then helping! They were just leaving the baby crying and squirming in her seat. No one was moving to get her…

Finally, Gosha grabbed his daughter…

…his daughter…

…and very reluctantly left, clearly gesturing towards Toki, begging for them to help her.

Yafya had to fast forward the tape. They put a caution cone by her body and left her for nearly an hour before a doctor (a collie) finally checked her pulse. There was a visible shake of the dog's head and her body was covered and eventually carried away by two turtle orderlies.

But she might have been able to survive! If only they had actually done something! They didn't even try!

Yafya wanted to hit someone. He punched the wall of the security room. He wanted to punch every single one of them! If he had been there-!

If he had been there…

Tears fell from his eyes and Yafya punched and kicked the wall some more.

What was the point of making the world a better place, if he couldn't even help his friend? His FRIEND!

His friend, who just wanted to live his own life. To have a family! To be happy! Didn't he deserve that? Gosha deserved that as much as anybody! More!

It wasn't fair to ask him to give that up…and it wasn't fair that he had to face this shitty world alone!

Yafya didn't know when he stopped hitting the wall, or how he'd ended up on the floor sobbing against the fractured paneling, or how long he stayed like that.

When he finally got back to his feet. He felt hollow.

He couldn't fix this. He couldn't punch or kick this tragedy away.

But he could make sure Toki's body was identified and released quickly.

Did she have any other family? He didn't think so…

So who would be next of kin?

She and Gosha couldn't legally marry…would they release her body to him? Their daughter was too young to claim her…

He'd figure it out. Yafya had some pull. That had to be useful for at least this much.

He didn't know where they lived or how to contact Gosha…not that Gosha would want to hear from him now…

No.

Too little, too late.

But Gosha would certainly be trying to contact the hospital about Toki.

Rex…did he even know?

Yafya gave explicit instructions to the hospital administration. If Gosha the komodo dragon called or came for Toki the grey wolf, they'd at least be able to tell him she was gone. And Yafya did find and identify her body so she could be laid out with some fucking dignity.

Yafya could smell the antiseptic they must have sprayed on her body. There were signs of Gosha's venom…who knows how far he'd had to carry her. But she was still alive when they got to the hospital…

The coroner determined she had internal bleeding that would've been fatal without surgery. It didn't matter if the venom might have killed her slightly faster. She would've been dead anyways by the time they actually checked her.

Yafya made sure the cause of death was recorded as a result of her injuries.

He did want it noted that care was delayed due to the hospital being concerned about komodo venom contamination. They needed to have equipment and procedures in place to deal with this sort of situation!

They needed to be held accountable!

The medical staff's lack of training and preparedness to handle venomous animals was Rex damn disgraceful!

In the weeks and months following the disaster, Yayfa spent pretty much all of his free time gathering stories and proof of how many lives were lost that could've been saved because of the rampant discrimination and lack of regulatory procedures.

Not just venomous animals (from komodo dragons to tree frogs), but a number of carnivores, tiny species, and non-purebloods were repeatedly denied, or given delayed or subpar care.

What good was fighting gumis, if even more people were suffering and dying from society's fucked up systems!?

That needed to change.

But it wasn't going to be easy…Yafya barely even knew where or how to start.

Chapter Text

When you become the Sublime Beastar, you are granted one wish. Anything that you desire…

…

What bullshit.

…

Eitan the Sublime Beastar announced his retirement. Many were saying he still looked good and strong and could serve a few more years…but many more were saying the time was right.

Because Beastar Yafya, the black horse, was primed to take over. Eitan could retire and enjoy his golden years. He had been less active the last few years anyways…

Yafya was not a public speaker like Eitan had been…but by the time Yafya was 23, he'd gained such a reputation that every time Eitan did make an appearance, the press asked about Yafya. Everyone assumed the older bateng was mentoring the young horse. He never exactly confirmed or denied the claims, but he would speak of Yayfa's latest exploits, the ones most well known and popular among the general public, as if they were no surprise to him.

Eitan expressed satisfaction and pride. That must mean he approved! Yayfa had made headline news at such a young age, and then continued to make a name for himself, it only made sense that the Sublime Beastar, getting up in years, had taken the young herbivore under his wing, which explained how capable the horse was.

So not only did it feel natural, it was practically a foregone conclusion that Yayfa would be Eitan's successor…to the point that people were just wondering what the banteng was waiting for to make the announcement.

Then there was a bank robbery. Hostages were taken. The armed robbers were birds of prey: eagles and owls. They were in a bank that catered to smaller animals. Not exclusively herbivores, but there were many among the hostages…

A shot went off.

The swat team started to move in with their riot gear and tear gas.

Yafya moved faster.

The crowd saw the black horse jump the police line and run ahead of the swat team as they shot tear gas cans into the building.

Yafya took advantage of the distraction to surprise the robbers.

The story was that he took them all out single handed.

The reality was, when they saw him, they didn't really put up much of a fight. After he disarmed the first two, sending one eagle across the room with a kick to the chest, the others surrendered.

The first shot had been from one of the robbers getting nervous and firing accidentally when waving his gun to scare the hostages. No one died, but the ricochet hit an otter in the arm.

The public was certain the blood sent the carnivores into a rampage. Yafya was pretty sure at least a few of them were scared they might lose control with the smell of blood…they seemed nervous and surrendered readily. Yafya would testify as much.

But most didn't seem to pay attention to that part, while others praised his modesty…

Regardless, after such a public affair, everyone was prepared when Eitan called for a press conference with Yafya in attendance. The dignified old banteng spoke of the honor he felt in serving the public for so many years, his pride in the safety and prosperity they had achieved. And the sense of peace he felt, knowing he was leaving the country in good hands.

The crowd cheered and the reporters burst into a cacophony of questions as Yafya was summoned and presented with the medal the banteng had carried for over fifteen years.

No one had ever earned the title of Sublime so young.

Yafya was asked many questions, about Eitan's mentorship, about his plans for the future…

The black horse had never been particularly talkative. He simply thanked Eitan for his support, and expressed his desire for the country to be a safer, more welcoming place for all animals.

“It is my most sincere wish that we all learn to work together, to achieve not only coexistence, but coprosperity as well. When we work together, we all thrive.”

The crowd cheered. So did many at home. Some were more skeptical…

The reporters asked questions, clamoring for details and clarification.

Yafya stepped away from the microphones as Eitan stepped back in to express his confidence in his successor’s dedication to the safety of their nation's citizens.

If only things were as simple as expressing a wish…

Behind closed doors, in the mayor's office following the press conference, Yafya stood before the mayor, the retiring Sublime, and several prominent herbivores from the Council of Animals.

Yes, he did note that only herbivores were present. Not a single carnivore.

“Not a bad speech. It is important to put on a good public face. A Beastar, especially the Sublime, is supposed to represent all animals.” Eitan remarked as he poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter on the mayor's desk.

“As opposed to…? Only the herbivores?” Yafya looked pointedly at the old banteng. They'd really only ever met a handful of times, and only very briefly. That had been enough for Yafya to ‘politely’ but adamantly decline any offers of mentorship.

There was a snort as the former Sublime moved to take a seat on the couch on the left side of the room.

This was a surprisingly relaxed and informal meeting given who was present.

“Exactly.” The mayor, a tall moose, smiled broadly at him. He had one of those warm faces that felt friendly to everyone. “It is very important for those of us in positions of influence to be symbols of unity…even when we know that isn't always possible.”

Uh huh.

Yafya bit his tongue.

“And you have certainly established yourself as a beloved symbol of our city, and beyond.” The mayor continued with the same smile. “You extol the virtues every animal strives for: strength, perseverance, selflessness, and courage. You are the very embodiment of every herbivore's hope for a protector…”

“And an absolute slap to the face of every carnivore who thinks we herbivores are weak.” Eitan chuckled. So did the ostrich and the pinto horse from the Council of animals. The tortoise council member was sipping his own drink quietly.

“I like to think I scare the entire criminal class. I also exposed that rhino who was using small carnivores as slave labor in his factory. And stopped that lemure who was using her textile business to smuggle fur pelts…mostly young snow leopards and white tigers.”

It still grated against Yafya that she only got time for smuggling contraband, and no time for the murders themselves since there was no evidence she was directly involved with that part, and claimed (very smugly) to believe the fur had come from those that died of natural causes.

“Yes, of course. Also notable achievements.” The mayor smiled.

Funny how those achievements didn't get the media attention. No press conferences. No commendations.

The blatant bias was infuriating.

But no point arguing about it now. He needed to keep his cool and stay focused. They had told him he would be granted one ‘wish’ after the official announcement.

Hints had been dropped for the last year or so…whenever he made waves…sent another report or case to the mayor's office about an obvious injustice.

…Like when he protested the leniency of the fur trader's sentencing…

The mayor lamented the limitations of the laws (which felt like empty placations) but it was implied that if he kept up the good work…earned the title of Sublime…his reward would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to ask for something without any red tape.

He had expected something a little more formal…to have to state his wish before the entire council of animals…for there to be a notary or something…

This felt more…like a backroom deal.

Oh well. As long as they were serious.

“So, I'm sure an ambitious young man like yourself has many things you'd like for yourself…” The mayor began with a shift in his tone, but the same smile plastered on his face, “and you've certainly earned a boon…so, what is it that you want most?” The moose folded his hands on his desk, his smile never wavering as he waited for Yafya's reply.

“Anything that I want?”

“Your heart's desire, kid.” Eitan chuckled, taking a swig from his scotch glass.

“Fine. What I want most, is for protections against discrimination to be enshrined into law. For every animal, regardless of species, to have equal access to housing, education, work opportunities, and medical care.”

Yafya looked between the handful of individuals in the room, especially the council members. The council of animals were the lawmakers.

The room was silent for a few moments, then there were a few soft, breathy laughs.

“A…noble…aspiration, to be sure.” The mayor replied, still chuckling lightly.

“But that's not a wish, that's a dozen! More!” The ostrich chimed in. “Do you have any idea of the logistical nightmare of what you're asking? You can't just write a single law, and, POOF! No more discrimination. There would have to be regulatory laws for every industry, for every species! And even then, we can't just order animals to disregard their own safety!”

“Yeah, are you gonna force a squirrel to serve as an in-home tutor in a house full of lions?” Eitan scoffed.

Yafya rolled his eyes, “That's a little extreme-”

“Exactly!” The pinto continued, “Now you're getting it. There would have to be laws stipulating exactly what ‘equal’ access entailed…and more laws to ensure there were safety rails to protect the most vulnerable.”

“The discrimination you're so concerned with,” the tortoise joined the conversation, “doesn't come from a place of hate, but of well earned fear. The species that have been barred from certain establishments or situations could, and have, killed, whether by intentional devouring or a mere accident, animals like those who are now barring them.”

“You can't grant equal access to all, when for some that would mean such a huge risk to their safety.” Eitan added more sternly, “There absolutely would be carnivores that would take advantage in order to prey on smaller herbivores!”

Yafya didn't know how to argue that. He didn't doubt there could be some common sense safety regulations, but he had to admit, he didn't have it all worked out.

Fine. But there was one thing that could prevent plenty of tragedies.

“Alright, then just make it mandatory for hospitals and first responders to have safety equipment for all species so they can't deny care. Many ambulances have muzzles and restraints to deal with carnivores that are acting out in distress, they could also carry antiseptics and anti-venoms, special masks and gloves, so they can care for venomous and poisonous species.”

Yafya thought of Toki…and Gosha's parents…and so many others.

“That wouldn't put anyone at risk.” Yafya continued, “It would make things safer for everyone! I've done the research on this. The protective gear for firefighters, paramedics, medical staff, etc, exists. It's just a matter of standardizing care and procedures.”

Yafya looked between everyone in the room, then focused on the mayor. “I have given you the reports following the aftermath of that devastating earthquake. Dozens died because rescuers and medical personnel simply didn't have the equipment to save them. The trauma center turned away venomous animals because they had no procedures in place to handle them. But all it took was setting up one area with the proper supplies and safety measures. No staff ended up injured, and lives were saved. If they had just done that from the beginning…”

Yafya took a breath, running a hand through his mane. This wasn't the time to make it personal.

“With the proper regulations, lives will be saved, both sides will be safer and better off.”

Yayfa glanced around the room again. Surely they couldn't deny that!

The pinto quietly scoffed and shook his head. “Again, noble. But you aren't considering the cost!” The smaller stallion threw his hands up. “The equipment, the training, everything that would go into an endeavor like that…not to mention the liability if the equipment is faulty or ineffective!”

“That's not just a matter of passing a law. We'd also have to get the approval for funds, and the manpower to mass produce the required materials…and to retrain all the workers…” The tortoise shook his head. “It's just not reasonable.”

Yafya grit his teeth. He was starting to get the idea. He wracked his brain. “Fine. Then there is one thing you can do that won't actually affect anyone other than the individuals it would benefit.”

“Let's hear it.” Eitan gestured to Yafya with an almost amused grin.

“Pass the marriage equality act.” There were a few iterations that had been in circulation for a few years. He turned to the ostrich, hoping for a lifeline. “Many bird communities already allow for same sex and polyamorous marriages…why not extend that for interspecies relationships?” He looked around the room. “For all species. It would allow those individuals the same personal rights and protections legal marriages ensure.”

He thought of what it took to get Toki's body released to Gosha.

And of Martin, and so many other unwanted children.

“And it would destigmatize having hybrid children. Not allowing interspecies marriage doesn't prevent hybrid births, but it makes it harder for the parents to build a life together, to raise any children together. So many end up abandoned and left for the foster system to care for. And far too many end up on the black market.”

Yafya grit his teeth and took a breath. “Allowing their parents to marry would result in fewer abandoned children, and it would also make it easier for those married couples that can't have children to adopt, taking more kids out of a shitty and overburdened system.”

He looked around the room, challenging them to argue the point.

When they didn't speak immediately, he pressed on, “And it wouldn't cost anything but the extra paper and ink to sign the marriage certificates, while saving the government and tax payers millions every year by reducing the number of children in the foster system.”

Surely they couldn't argue with that!

Eitan slowly stood from his seat, swirling his glass and walking to stand in front of the more slender horse. “You really think it wouldn't cost anything else?” He held Yayfa's gaze as he took a drink.

Yafya just glared back, unflinching.

“How about the trust and respect of the citizenry?” Eitan raised an eyebrow at the horse. “The Sublime, above all else, is supposed to stand as a symbol of unity and protection. To make the people feel safe! So how do you think people would react to the Sublime spitting on their traditions and values? There would be riots in the streets!”

The banteng scoffed, shaking his heavy head, emptying his glass and setting it down forcefully on the mayor's desk. “You are supposed to be taking up the responsibility of leading society in the way that it wants to go…not to selfishly tear it apart and shaping it to your own liking.”

Eitan crossed his arms. “You can't force people to accept your views, and abandon their own values.”

“So the one leading society must bow to small minded bigots intent on enforcing their views on everyone else?” Yafya huffed, not backing down an inch.

Eitan gave a scoffing laugh, turning to the mayor and grabbing the decanter again. “I told you this one was going to be trouble.”

“Yes, well, it can't be helped.” The moose sank back against his chair. “He is incredibly popular. Everyone has been clamoring for his ascension. If we delayed any longer, or chose a different successor, there would've been outrage. And suspicion…”

“I told you years ago to make him your apprentice.” The pinto scoffed at Eitan. “Back when he was just a kid making a make for himself. I told you he would be popular. You should've been helping direct that…passion…and teaching him about how the world really works.”

Yafya grit his teeth.

“The people love his humble beginnings.” The mayor chimed in with a heavy sigh. “But I suppose it would be too much to expect a young man with hardly any formal education or proper mentorship to be able to navigate society's complex and…delicate…nature.”

What a condescending prick.

“He certainly would've benefited from your guidance early on.” The ostrich shook his head, also looking towards Eitan.

They meant the former Sublime should've been manipulating him. Molding him to their liking.

As if.

“Yeah, well…honestly I didn't think he'd make it this far.” The banteng scoffed, walking back to his seat with his scotch in hand. “He used to hang around with a fucking komodo for Rex's sake! Not to mention his campaign against the black market. It's a damn miracle he didn't get himself killed.”

Yeah, he didn't sound happy about that ‘miracle’.

Don't punch him…

Yayfa took a breath and kept his fists clenched at his sides.

“Well, sorry to disappoint.” Yafya smirked.

Eitan scoffed, sitting and crossing one leg over his knee while taking a drink. “Yeah, well, too late to change things now. So, how about we put our heads together and figure out what it is you really want, because no one is as driven as you without a personal vendetta."

“Yes,” The mayor chimed in, sounding infuriatingly chipper as he pulled a file out from his desk.

Do not punch him.

Or kick his desk into the bastard…

“Let's see…I have looked into your background. Certainly a lot to drive a young man such as yourself…” The moose lifted his wide antlers to look at the black horse. “You're been wronged by so many in your life. That would certainly explain the anger…perhaps there's a particular person you'd like to see brought to justice…let's see…” He looked through the file.

“Your first act of heroism was saving your foster brother after your foster father sold him to the Toragumi…you've effectively gotten your revenge against the gang…but your former foster father was never found…perhaps we could help with that?”

Yafya actually laughed.

“You really think I give a shit about that asshole? Pretty sure you're a little late and he ended up taking the kid's place on the menu, but even if he managed to slip away, I'm sure I could track him down myself, if he was worth the trouble.” The horse scoffed and crossed his arms.

“On that you're probably right.” Eitan chuckled. “You've proven you're capable of cracking skulls on your own. You even managed to get that striped piece of trash at the head of the Toragumi.”

“Something you never managed. If you ever even bothered to try.” Yafya snorted at the older man.

“Watch your tongue kid.” Eitan raised a finger towards him. “You should be grateful for things I've accomplished.”

Yafya scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“I'm serious! You of all people should appreciate the work I've done…being a survivor of the Aspen Street Massacre.”

Yayfa's ear twitched.

“And what does that have to do with anything?”

“Tell me, how many bears have you tangled with in all your vigilante escapades?”

Yafya flinched slightly.

“A few…”

“And you think you really could've survived fighting them, hand to hand, if they were at full strength? Like that grizzly was? One hit was all it took for that monster to shatter a grown stallion's spine…and still nearly disembowel a mare in the same slash.

Yafya's parents were the only horses that died that day.

“Now, we can't offer revenge on that monster. It took an insane amount of bullets to put him down, but he is dead. However, you want to talk about making real change and saving lives…I'm the reason something like that hasn't happened since then.”

“What do you mean?” Yafya tried to keep his voice level. His heart steady. He genuinely had no idea what he meant.

“Large carnivores like that are now given vitamin supplements that are natural strength suppressants, at the government's expense. See, that monster wasn't some gumi. He wasn't even an athlete. He was just a regular office worker. Can you believe that? An office worker. Just a regular guy…until one bad day, when he got pissed enough to hit someone. Did he mean to kill the first victim? Maybe not. But with that kind of strength, he nearly decapitated a chicken that happened to offend him. Then, with all that blood and panic, he went nuts, killing and injuring so many with ease, and he was so damn hard to stop…”

Eitan blew out a deep breath and took a drink before continuing. “Now, bears are able to control their strength better. They're less mentally unstable, and when one does go nuts or chooses the criminal life, someone like you can stop them.”

Yafya tried to organize his thoughts.

“Now, that wasn't just a simple wish. I had to do the leg work to accomplish that.” Eitan raised his head proudly. “So who knows? Maybe you can make headway on some of those things you want, but given their unpopularity, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.” He chuckled, shaking his head and taking a drink. “No, you're better off sticking to being a lone vigilante. I'm thinking this whole ‘social justice warrior’ shtick isn't really your thing.” Eitan clicked his tongue and looked at Yafya pointedly.

Do. Not. Punch. Him.

Feet stay planted on the floor.

Yafya slowly took in a steadying breath.

“Alright…” It was a struggle to keep his voice level, but he couldn't afford to lose his temper, “...what did you ask for? Maybe if I have an example, I'll understand my options better.”

If horses had claws, Yafya's palms would be bleeding from how tight he was clenching his fists.

The older bateng's mouth quirked into a satisfied smile. “Good, now you're getting the idea.” The man stood to his full height. “For me…I have certain…vices. I figured that, considering how much of my life I was dedicating to others, I should be allowed those vices. Even if they're…” He tilted his hand back and forth in front of him, “not exactly legal.”

Yeah. Yafya was getting the picture.

“For instance,” Eitan continued, “you seem to care a lot about interspecies issues…” the older man smirked, “you got a girl or something?”

The question threw Yayfa for a moment. “What? No…”

“Perhaps it's that komodo friend you mentioned.” The ostrich commented. “He mentioned homosexual and interspecies…”

“Oh…” Eitan chuckled, looking Yafya up and down with a smirk.

Yafya bristled. What were they suggesting?!?

“You wanna marry your dragon friend? That would explain a lot…”

WHAT?!

Yayfa's face was suddenly on fire, his heart pounding in his ears.

How could they even suggest such a thing?!

Gosha lost his love! He was likely still mourning! He would never…

Gosha would never choose him…!

…Wait…

Yafya's blood froze, his heart suddenly sinking in his chest.

What was this feeling?

He…hurt for his friend's loss…for everything he'd suffered…for all the struggles he'd faced and would continue to face…

Because he was his friend!

Not because…

“I'm sure an exception could be made?” Eitan nodded, looking around the room with his arms out. “If you want a taboo marriage…that could be allowed…”

“It would be troublesome if it was public…but yes, all the legal rights could be afforded.” The pinto nodded.

No.

This line of conversation needed to stop.

Yayfa shoved down all the emotions threatening to boil up.

Now was not the time.

Yayfa gathered himself. “I get it. So, an exception can be made for me, but not for the general public.”

“There you go! Now you got it! This is a reward. For you!” Eitan gestured to him with satisfaction. “So? Did we guess right?”

Yafya took a breath and steadied himself. “No…”

Of course he loved Gosha.

“...I have no idea how you managed to come to such a bizarre conclusion…”

Maybe more than he'd ever realized.

In a way he had never even let himself consider.

“The individual you're referring to was a childhood friend, yes, but we went our separate ways years ago.”

And he wasn't about to drag him into this mess…

If there was a single ‘wish’ that could guarantee Gosha and his daughter a good life, maybe it would be worth it. But with the way this was going…he didn't want Gosha or his daughter on these people's radar.

What they needed was real, systemic change.

“He turn you down?” Eitan chuckled with very thinly veiled derision.

Yayfa rolled his eyes. “Nothing so dramatic. We just realized we had different goals in life. We parted amicably…”

He wished…

“...but we never really bothered to keep in touch.”

Too late now…

“And honestly, I've always been a bit…single minded.” Yafya scoffed. “I'm driven, as you've said, and have goals I want to accomplish…but I've never been particularly interested in personal relationships.” Yafya crossed his arms, taking a few steps, and then turning back, slowly pacing as if lost in thought. “But I get the idea now…”

Yafya turned back to the banteng with a little smirk. “You're wish intrigues me more…you said you like my vigilante work, right?” He looked around the room for confirmation and saw several small nods.

A plan was forming in his mind.

“Fine.” He let his smirk widen, looking back at the former Sublime, then turning to the mayor. “You want me to do the dirty work? Take on the monsters plaguing this county?”

Though they may not agree a hundred percent on who the real monsters were…

“Then untie my hands.” He held his wrists in front of him as if they were in cuffs. “Let me fight with impunity. I've had to defend my actions, justify the force I've used…held back just to see criminals walk after a slap on the wrist or a fucking technicality.”

Yafya let his real frustration show, putting his hands on his hips. “You want me to focus on protecting the people? Then let me work without worrying about towing the line. Let me punish criminals as I see fit.”

The room was quiet for a few moments. Yafya held his tongue, but glanced around to gauge reactions. Then Eitan chuckled in his deep bass voice. “Man, kid, you don't go halfway for anything, do you?” The banteng looked around the room. “He's proven to be useful in that area…I don't see a problem with it, within reason, of course.”

“Yes…” The mayor was slowly nodding. “If you keep your actions discreet…” He glanced at the others, who also began nodding. “We could ensure you have…minimal oversight or legal interference…”

“So basically, as long as no one knows what I'm doing behind the scenes…? And I don't do anything to…upset the status quo?” Yayfa let the question hang in the air.

Tentative nods became more resolute.

“Alright! That's settled then!” Eitan walked over and clapped the horse on the shoulder.

Yayfa huffed and subtly shirked the hand off.

But did not punch him.

“Good. I can live with this.” He ignored the banteng and focused on the mayor. “So how does this work? Do I get this in writing?”

“We'll make the arrangements. No need for you to worry.”

“So I just trust you lot to hold up your end?”

“We're trusting you not to abuse the free reign you're being granted.” The pinto huffed a little laugh.

So his only guarantee was their word. He just had to make sure not to upset the powers that be.

At least not collectively…

“Fine. Then if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way.” Yafya turned to leave.

“Won't even stay for a drink?” Eitan's smug tone threatened to break the last of Yayfa's patience.

“Just think of it as: my best quality is also my worst.” He waved over his shoulder, not trusting his facial features to remain neutral if he looked at them. “I'm a regular workaholic. Never had much interest in personal vices. I also have no need for any more of these awards or public appearances. As long as you don't interfere with me, you won't really hear from me. Let me work, and you won't have to hear my ‘social justice warrior shtick’ ever again.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Yafya let the door close on the former Sublime's haughty remark.

…

It had been a long, hard road.

Fighting the criminal underclass in the shadows.

Just openly enough to convince everyone that was all he was doing.

The faces occasionally changed, but the real power structure never changed.

But Yayfa took at least one lesson from the old bastard, Eitan:

Popularity is the real power.

Well, at least for someone in his position whose wealth and status had been granted to him by those with real power.

So, he made himself popular among the majority and the ruling class. The dark horse doing what the police couldn't. Fighting against the most vile amongst them.

Although, privately, there were a few in the ruling class who weren't so fond of him.

He had free reign to punish criminals as he saw fit. They didn't specify which criminals. Some of the worst monsters were businessmen and politicians. And he didn't just mean for the systemic oppression they perpetuated.

Drugs. Prostitutes. Illicit affairs. All manner of abuse…those personal vices…not to mention all the embezzlement, fraud, etc.

Sometimes he made anonymous tips for the worst offenders so they'd end up behind bars. For others, he'd just give a choice: do as you're told or your life will be ruined.

Nothing egregious…

You don't want your purist base to know about that interspecies affair? Make an anonymous donation to this cause.

Don't want to go to jail for embezzlement, donate to this charity, or support this bill…

In other words, do a little good to balance out what a piece of shit you are.

But that was only half the work.

Because popularity is power. Not just an individual's popularity, but the popularity of any particular cause.

It wasn't enough for the Sublime Beastar to simply say, “Hey, stop being bigots and actually give a crap about others!”

No…

It needed to be from the ground up.

So Yafya learned to don disguises and craft alliasis. He found others who wanted the same things, and helped them organize. Helped hold protests. Helped gather signatures. Helped go door to door and plaster flyers.

Never as the same person. Never as Yafya. Sometimes as a horse, with fur and hair dyed to look like different breeds. Sometimes as a zebra or similar creature. Sometimes he even painted himself as a hybrid, just to see how differently he would be treated.

Yeah, there was a difference.

Under the alias of a tri-paint, he wrote about his experiences posing as a hybrid with goat horns for a month trying to work at a fast food place. Emphasizing that he behaved as always, it was merely his appearance that affected how he was treated…so no excuses that hybrids are inherently more violent, or incompetent. It's just pure bias.

He may have blackmailed a newspaper editor that had been taking bribes to print false stories to get it published, but at least it got out there. And other hybrids wrote to the p.o. box he'd included to share their stories. And some people…actually cared.

Even more people actually cared about the stories of those who died due to negligence in the earthquake. A lot of people had been affected that day. So a lot of people could relate, and liked the idea of being better prepared for such a disaster, in any way possible.

Progress was slow, but eventually, public pressure led to real change:

First responders were equipped with personal protective equipment so they could safely assist species with ‘hazardous features’.

Hospitals could no longer discriminate and also had to have equipment and procedures to provide care for everyone.

And hybrids couldn't be denied service or access that would be granted to their parent species. That would still limit some, but that was also getting better.

And even before those things became law, there was simply more support in society. And charities to help fill gaps, like funding special programs to help hybrid children and their families that needed extra social, financial, or medical support.

Yafya hoped Gosha and his daughter benefited from those programs…

He may have searched for Gosha's name on a few registration forms…

And found them.

He didn't reach out. It wasn't his place. It was enough to do what he could to make sure there were resources in their area…

The spread of social media really helped things along. It was a lot easier to get information out.

And along the way, Yafya did make allies.

Few knew who he actually was. No one really knew the extent of his work.

And that was for the best. Because he did make a lot of enemies.

There were rich and powerful herbivores that wanted him dead or brought to heel just as badly as the most violent carnivores in the black market.

So it was best to keep everyone at a distance. To keep to himself.

And things were getting better. Progressing. Slowly, but surely.

And with this newest development, things could really jump forward…

Someone like Oguma the red deer, CEO of the Horns Conglomerate, had the money and influence to affect real, lasting change.

And he might actually be a genuine ally…

Perhaps…

The information Yafya had managed to gather was certainly interesting…and painted a very curious picture.

Yafya was very eager to meet with the man in person. Him and his former gumi lover…

…

A few months after the Hanayaka Festival, Yafya sent a letter. Two letters, actually.

One to Oguma the red deer. One to Ibuki the maasai lion.

He ensured both were simply slipped in with the rest of the mail being delivered to the Horns estate.

They were essentially identical: formally written dinner invitations. Date, time, location.

Signed, Yayfa.

In deference to Oguma's position and busy schedule, he gave a week's notice. He figured that was enough time to schedule in a personal invitation from the Sublime Beastar. He also figured that the roof of the first police precinct, would have enough security for a man of his stature to feel secure.

Still, he offered to allow two ‘attendants’ (one apiece) that would be permitted to wait just outside the penthouse entrance.

Now, all he had to do was wait and see if they would show.