The Departure

A while ago...

Mr. Hyena's  POV

I let our little embrace last as long as she needed. Such an intimate touch is rare between Precious and I; I treasure it. 

Such a precious treasure she is...

It's a shame I'll have to let her up after this is over. It just makes her even more-

"Mr. Hyena." She interrupts my thoughts and, finally, releasing me. 

"Hmm?" She's being formal again.

"I want to stay in contact with you! No matter how far apart we are!" Her tears make her less believable. "Nothing can keep us apart — we can exchange letters. In due time, this'll all be over, and we can see each other again."

I didn't want to crush her optimism by saying this situation we live in will never improve to the fact that she won't be hunted anymore.

I smile, in awe of her determination. It reminds me how much of a pet she still is. How cute.

"Of course, Princess." I wonder how long will I be able to hold this love for her. Once she leaves, how long will she have a place in my heart? It's almost suffocating — I've never felt such feelings with anyone else before. "But letters will jeopradize our safe, regarding if someone decides to read."

"Then... I'll always remember you, Nigel."

"As so will I." I take her hand to bring it to my lips for a light kiss. "And, if I may, I want to compliment your choice of outfit style. You're quite beautiful as a hyena."

"Nigel!" She slides her hand away from my grasp to cover her face from revealling her rising blush. It's clear she doesn't get much compliments. Surprising.

"Now, you must get going before time's up."

She nods. I sense something still weighs on her, but then she darts off.

I watch her leave. But then I remember I still have my half of the plan, looking back at the high rooftop of the barn where Mr. Fox and Kayate were fighting.

I have to help him. I quickly climb over the fence to the other side of the field.

But I can't get far before I hear a voice.

"Sent the pretty doggy away, huh?"

"How'd you know?"

"Ol' Mac's got better hearing than his vision." He crosses his arms. "My owner will strangle me dry if he finds out a retriever been walking on his soil."

"I know I'll deliver you an egg, at best. I'm kind of in a hurry."

"Egg and a date with the spotted lamb. Chicken, and I'll let you and her go."

"Are you serious, Mac? I thought we were buddies."

"Buddies would share."

"What a toxic friendship I find myself in. As always."

"Ever heard of currency, Hyena?"

"We both would get caught if you don't let me go." It's pointless trying to negotiate fairer terms. I walk off.

The quickest way to catch a chicken is to use my special technique.

Two meters in front of me is the chicken pen with chickens pretending like they're safe in their enclosed quarters. But I've killed lots of their brothers and sisters, just to feed the whole zoo and as a sacrifice for one dog.

My technique is quite simple.

I remove my hyena mask. And my eyepatch, which I never like removing since people fright when seeing my empty eye.

I raise a hand and all the chickens in my range of vision levitate with a blue aura surrounding them.

I call this technique 'Telechicking'. For an egg, I'd just leave the chickens in the air to easily grab a few. But for chickens, it could get messy. 

With the same hand squeezing into a fist, the chicken I pick, it's heart explodes out.

And this is why I protest chickens against Mac. My own technique rats me out.

In addition to that, my talent has a few disadvantages. It leaves a blue orb floating in my empty eye socket and me feeling a bit woozy. Squeezing the heart out feeds me to reduce that and gives a red tint to the orb, making it purple. This tattletales that I've used my abilities, putting me in danger.

I release the chickens and they all flock back to their little houses. Except for the dead chicken.

Grabbing it, I quickly head back to Mac.

Kayate's POV

I pant, standing a good distance from Mr. Fox.

"Agh!" Mr. Fox exclaims, renewing his balance. "You almost made me stagger. And break a sweat."

His ego... it's almost as intense as his magic sword wielding. It's annoying.

It's a shame the Rabbit Hole trusted such a bounty hunter into their ranks and even gave him talents. Fighting against him is probably even harder, especially just using my talent of deduction.

"Lillianna wouldn't approve of this, would she?"

Lillian? My eyes widen. I haven't heard of that name in a long time.

"Don't you dare." Hearing my wife's name from this fox is disrespectful in my eyes, and even disheartening.

He snickers. "... And Zane, Trigger, Sammy, Wendi..."

"I know what you're trying to do. It's the past for me now."

"Come on, I confess, we all thought you were dead."

Nothing I've never heard before.

"You are supposed to be dead, I thought it was a promise."

"I... business, something left to finish first." Why does it seem like everyone's pressuring me to commit?

"You weren't supposed to come back, not after you failed me. As someone I looked up to, someone everyone looked up to." His hand, holding the sword, glows purple. "But because of you, it made me think — what's the point? If my hero lost hope, then is the Rabbit Hole really worth it?"

"The Rabbit Hole is to protect those who are harrassed. I never lost sight of that purpose until you murdered my only family." I shudder. "You lost sight first by joining the Red Frescos."

"Hah, you're a traitor!" He dashes at me, the purple aura trailing behind.

Quickly, I dodge, as I've been doing this whole time. Predicting his actions.

We swapped places, but this time he doesn't stagger. Instead, he peeks behind him at me, with his signature snicker.

Suddenly, a hole forms on the roof, making me fall into the barn. But quickly, a magic chain grabs hold of my neck, leaving me dangling. He jumps down, in front of me.

"It's over, Mr. Coyote." He snaps his fingers and the chain disappears.

I fall onto my knees, coughing.

"The zoo will pay handsomely for all the chaos you've caused." He points his gun at me. "Just have to find Mr. Hyena and the treasure."

"Fantasy..." I mutter. "Once they find out you lost sight of Precious..."

"Do you have a death wish?" He shoves the gun in my face. "When they find I caught you, I'd be praised, and you'll have your wish granted."

Mr. Hyena's POV

"It's too late..." I stand in front the empty barn.

Curse that farm dog! I clench my fist.

With a snap of a finger, I teleport to the entrance of the zoo. But I hear something going on behind Mr. Bear's cave.

To my surprise, all the zoo animals had gathered around the torture tree. Kayate is sitting in front of it with his arms tied around the trunk.

"You're just in time, Mr. Hyena." Mrs. Lion seems rather pleased. "You have the honor of striping this outlaw of his life." She hands me a handgun.

"I put down guns long ago..."

"Surely, old time principles shouldn't get in the way of justice. This outlaw will make all dogs weep and bow down to the superior."

She's testing me! I grab the gun from her, but before she lets go, she mutters, "and this will serve as a lesson."

I look at the gun.

"Don't do it, Nigel..." Kayate warns after coughing out some blood.

I look from the gun to Kayate a few times before finally pointing it at him.

His reassuring smile forms again, he's always so calm... He knows what I'm going to do and just wants to protect me, but it just makes that fire inside me burn.

It was all over in a bang.