FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Broken Pieces

Chapter Twenty-Five

By Roofles

Reese and his wolves were gone by the time Logan got Sloan up out of his seat and towards the exit he had planned out in an advanced. Towards the side of the open restaurant were the wait staff only area. Logan had mapped out several routes for them to take depending on how things went. He calmly and quickly got Sloan away from the windows and towards the door.

Thankfully, Sloan didn’t put up a fight. The lion trusted Logan enough to listen during the crisis and the human didn’t have to argue with him or any of the other lions that quickly joined up with them.

The large lion tried not to look as nervous as he felt, even going so far as to take the time to adjust his tie and smooth out the sleeves of his suit before following after the human. Sloan trying to appear calm and confident in front of the others, trying to appear like a leader that he was supposed to be to them. One that The Pride members could come to while still keeping their respect.

It was something Sloan had been working on this past year. Logan teaching him how things worked in this side of the world and what he needed to do not only to get by, but to survive it. Logan had spent countless hours teaching Sloan the basics of things. Going over each of the gangs and everything he knew and was willing to tell the lion.

When it was just the two of them, naked, in bed it had been one thing. To be here now, knowing what failure would cost them was another. Sloan dragged his clawed fingers through his thick, luxurious well-trimmed mane. Wanting to look the part.

Dress how you wish others to perceive you. And it worked, for the most part.

Logan knew otherwise.

Sloan might’ve been part of the Kincaid Family, but he was still a civilian when it came to these kind of things. His father, the previous Mane of The Pride, had made sure to keep Sloan away from these kind of things. This side of the world, the underworld everyone pretended wasn’t there. Not wanting Sloan to follow in his father’s bloody pawprints. To give Sloan a chance to choose the kind of life he wanted.

Or at least, that was how Sloan had told Logan. That was how the lion perceived his fathers negligence, choosing kindness over the other options Mr. Kincaid, the old family head, could’ve done such things with. Sometimes, it was easier to believe in the kindness and good will of others instead of the harsh truth.

Logan didn’t correct him about it, letting Sloan believe such final, happy thoughts about his now deceased father.

Another lion, one of Sloan’s many brothers, had been set up to take the position anyways. Only after the old man croaked his last dying breath, Logan was sure about. Mr. Kincaid, Sloan’s father, was a man that would hold onto things even after death. They’d have to pry the title, the mantle of Mane from his cold dead fingers.

At least Sloan didn’t have to go that far to inherit the name.

His sister Lorrell Kincaid had done the dirty deed for him. Paying someone to kill the previous Mane of The Pride and usurping the title from their murdered father. Hiring a man that Logan was intimately familiar with…

Thoughts for another day. He needed to focus on the task at hand and drink away any lingering regrets he had about what had happened.

Logan’s plan was straight forward and impossible to fuck up.

They’d use the “servants” exit to leave Golden Gate hotel. Not wanting the very place to become their entryway to the “heaven” for them. It was the safest and closest escape route Logan could come up with. He’d known about it thanks to a prior connection he’d been in with. Most of those on top of the food chain overlooked those serving them, his ex had explained to him. Looking down and, at times, utterly ignoring their existence. This served two purposes really. One, it kept the lesser carnivore species safe and in check, keeping them in line and useful.

And the other?

“Pride?” Sloan asked as Logan checked to make sure the side room was clear of hostiles before proceeding inside the kitchen set up here. The cutting boards were still bloody from the fresh meat they’d brought in for the three gang leaders. Going so far as to keep whoever or whatever it was alive until the very last second to get the freshest kill...

To make sure it was still warm, dripping with fresh blood as someone like Sloan liked to enjoy his meals. The sight made Logan’s guts twist up and he had to look away. Not wanting to know more than he needed to. He didn’t sleep as it was at night. This wouldn’t help.

Two lionesses moved ahead of them, securing the area before Sloan was allowed to join them.

The heavy doors were shut behind the group, only after every member was inside. Sloan refused to leave someone behind to save his own ass. An admirable quality, yes. But it would only complicate things for Logan who was trying to keep the lion alive.

Several shots fired from down the hallway, and everyone ducked their heads until it stopped.

“Wolves,” one of the lions snarled hearing the howl that shortly followed after. Reese would be fine. He wasn’t worried about using his wolves to save his own skin as Sloan was about his lions. It was another reason why Logan chose to follow after Sloan instead of Reese.

To keep the lion alive, yes. But also. the fact that, for Reese, Logan’s life wasn’t top priority. The wolf would give him up in order to save his mate. It was a risk that Logan didn’t want to take. Not from someone else choice and decision. It was his choice, his life to choose what he did at the end of the day. He was no one’s pawn to be used and tossed away.

“What do you mean pride?” Sloan asked, trying to distract himself from what was going on. Focusing in on the human, listening to every word he said as if it were a fresh breathe of air to fill his lungs with.

“The only way you can be on top of the world, sir. Is if you are standing above someone else,” Logan just explained as he looked through various cabinets. “Those on the top tend to ignore those on the bottom. If you’re aware of this, though, you can use that to your advantage. Hiding in plain sight, as it were. Going overlooked and unnoticed…” Logan got several looks from the others before he pulled a set of drawers open and stepped aside. “Shit,” he said cursing as he stepped aside to show them what he found.

Within the cabinet was a hole. A tunnel. That led straight down. If Sloan didn’t know any better, he’d have thought it was a laundry chute. It was an escape hatch that several of the long-bodied predators could escape from, such as the stout and weasels serving them. Disappearing right under their noses without even Reese noticing. The tunnel was too narrow for someone of Sloan’s size, and it was beginning to dawn on the large predator.

Logan could’ve escaped through the tunnels, being smaller and thinner than any of them were. It gave him the advantage here.

Smaller predators had the advantage in such areas. They could easily make their escape and flee when there was a threat or danger. While a large predator stood a better chance standing their ground and fighting, it wasn’t a choice. They had to fight. They would have to stand their ground and fight until the bitter end. And, nowadays, that wasn’t always the wisest of options. Those who run might be seen as cowards but at least they’d live to fight another day. When people could poison you, blow the room your in up, or just pull a gun out… escape was the most viable way to survive this harsh world where everyone was against you.

“Shit,” Logan cursed. “I knew this would be the case but still, I needed to check.” He motioned for two of the lionesses to move out, through the next room and secure the next escape route. “Plan C then.” Logan just sighed, hoping he didn’t have to go through the whole god damn fucking alphabet.

Glancing over at Sloan, Logan knew that the lion wouldn’t agree to some his other… plans. The options where they would have to give up some of their members to keep him alive. Logan just hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He’d force Sloan if he had too.

To keep him safe…

Sloan had given Logan power over the others, commanding them in his most domineering voice he could muster and sum up before they came out this evening. Trying to appear what they expected of him to be. An arrogant leader like his father had been. Telling them to jump and expecting them to do so. Mimicking the man, he both idolized and hated.

It was, at times, hard to look at himself in the mirror. Knowing what he was becoming. A shadow of what his father had been, striving to be better. A better man. A better leader to the family. Leading them towards salvation instead of prideful destruction.

Sloan wasn’t a fighter, not like the others were. He was large and his body was naturally stronger than most. It was genetics. He had fangs and claws because of his lion heritage but little to no experience using them. As a leader of a lion’s pride should be... or at least that’s what Logan had been coaching him on. Imposing, looking the part… but with little bite in the end. Only needing to fight off another male to keep hold of the others.

To make the appearance of it all. A perfect symbol, a sun for the others to gravitate towards and bow before.

The lionesses were the hunters in any true pride. The predators here and they took to it like a fish to water. Bodies lowered, they moved with finesse through the small hallways the wait staff were forced to use. The smaller predators would prefer the lack of space. Allowing them an easier escape against large predators, once more, down these narrows halls away from the larger species they’d assume would try to hunt them down if things turned south.

They hadn’t expected the lions to take to it so naturally.

Moving in coordinated groups, the lionesses easily made their way to the end of the hall. One by one, filing in close as if they were holding the person’s tail in front of them. Securing the next room, only then was Sloan allowed to move forward. Being escorted out as the VIP he was. Surrounded by guards.

“They’ll expect you to go out the front door or lower-level doors.” Logan continued as he checked the ammo he’d brought with him. Noticing he was short, a lionesses handed him some extra and he gave a single nod to her. She stepped back, covering their flank. Lorilei was Sloan’s personal guard and wouldn’t leave his side. “They won’t expect a lion to cower away in the staff only areas and run away with his tail tucked between his legs. Pride and all that bullshit.”

“You know feline’s don’t actually tuck their tails, right?” Sloan chuffed out in amusement. He was sweating but, like always, tried to appear in control of the situation in front of others. Even Logan. It was one reason why he made such a great lawyer back in the day. Able to bluff through most the cases put in front of him.

“Too bad. I think you’d look cute if you did,” Logan gave him a wink before stopping Sloan at the corner. Without a word, he moved forward to join the others. Scoping out the area before motioning for them, for Sloan, to follow.

Everyone else here were just nameless pieces on the board to be used and placed around Sloan, the objective, of this sick game. To defend him at any cost. Only the king mattered at the end of the day. It was game over if the opposing team took him out. No matter how many other pieces they had left after.

Once Sloan rejoined them, Logan continued as if he hadn’t stopped.

“Then again, maybe I’m just into that kind of thing.” Logan shrugged a shoulder casually as if they were taking a leisure stroll through the park instead of these cramp hallways.

“Into what?” Sloan asked, focusing on the human distracting him from the building fear inside. It could be suffocating, like drowning. That fear. His heart was beating so fast it made it hard to hear anything else. Being pulled underneath the surface by clawed fingers, grasping, and dragging Sloan down into a helpless state of fear… and it was only thanks to Logan, touching his hand now, was Sloan able to keep his calm in this situation as they heard more gun shots.

This time far closer than Sloan would’ve preferred.

Shot fired ahead. Several popping sounds that made the large lion jump. Smoke rose from one of the lionesses guns as she nodded towards Logan who pulled Sloan aside, into another room. Another route. As if the human had memorized the entire floor plan of this place. Mentally marking everything off as they went. Trying to find the perfect, safest route through this maze.

“I was thinking,” Logan was breathing heavier now as he quickened his pace. “I would buy you those colorful long-sleeved socks for your arms and legs, right? Get you to wear a skimpy red pair of undies with white lace for valentines day as you hold your tail in your mouth, waiting for me on the bed-,”

Logan came to an abrupt halt, pushing Sloan back with an arm as he turned the corner and fired.

Three hares. Three shots. Three dead bodies. One after another. No hesitation, no remorse. Firing his gun at the three approaching hostiles. They weren’t people. Only targets to be taken out. Like in the firing range. Three objects to shoot at. They weren’t people in that moment. They didn’t have names or families or lives outside of all this… They were a threat and Logan took them out one after another. They charged in carelessly and lost their life because of it.

Most likely hoping to surrounded the fleeing group, expecting the lions to stand their ground until the bitter end. Logan made sure none of them got that foolish notion into their heads. Now was the time to tuck tail and run.

One thing Logan knew about the Noble Hares was that they weren’t lacking pieces to use, in this game. In chess, you had a certain amount of pieces that you had on the board. You needed to be careful, wisely choosing each and every move you make. Making sure that if you lost a piece? You would get two in return. Whittling down their numbers or strategically entrapping the king to take down…

That wasn’t the case here. What if you could just turn the box over and dumb countless more pieces onto your side of the board? What then? If you lost three, four, ten pawns? Just replace them with twenty more.

The Noble Hares had endless numbers. They bred like, well, rabbits. If you took the piece off the board? They’d replace it with three more. There was seemingly no end to them. Like cockroaches. No matter how many you got rid of, stepped on and crushed… there were more burrowed away waiting to come out of hiding.

Two more jumped out at Logan and he gave one a swift kick to the side. Thankfully Lorilei was there to take out the other as they moved through them. Two lions came up to double tap each hare. Making sure they were taken out of the equation.

The only thing Logan and their group had had on their side was the inexperience such new recruits came with. What was the point in training each and every hare if they were just disposable pieces to be thrown away? It took time, effort and more importantly, above everything else, resources.

Having a massive family had it’s benefits but also had it’s draw backs. Most of these hares weren’t armed as they were. They came at them with knives instead of being armed to the teeth. They were quick legged, and, from experience, Logan knew they had a nasty bite. Don’t underestimate a person with buck teeth.

It wasn’t like with lions, though. They weren’t even in the same playing field. If they were chess pieces, then these hares were checkers.

The lionesses of The Pride were the foundation the family was built on. Each and every member had gone through grueling, back breaking, mind shattering training. They were ruthless, trained killers that wouldn’t crack even underneath the threat of torture. Because, for them, that was all they had. There was no replacements. They didn’t have an endless reserve waiting for them after this as so many groups of herbivores did. Nameless members of the group that were thrown at the problem, hoping that numbers could solve everything.

Lions were different. The very mothers that took care of the cubs were also the very same people who went out night to hunt. For them, who was on the board was what Logan had to work with. He was not expecting them to be as skilled as they were.

And neither did the hares.

Logan magazine emptied faster than he expected it to. There were just so many coming through the doors. From every side. He’d swear they were dropping from the damn ceiling. One after another. Logan took them out. Round after round he fired until the pistol in hand clicked empty and he cursed, taking cover while he reloaded.

“Reloading,” he called out and a flash of white fur in his peripheral vision made him jump. Unaware how fast a hare could move in a dead sprint through the room.

Leaping over those fallen, the hare landed on the table. Bolting across it with unnatural speed the human hadn’t expected. Shielding Sloan with his body, Logan got in the way of them. Already attempting to pull out the brass knuckle knife he’d gotten from his boss, the hare was on him before he could slip his fingers inside the holes in the handle.

A swift kick to his gut left Logan coughing. The hare had lowered himself down, dropping to all fours before balancing themselves on their hands before delivery the swift blow. The kick felt as if a horse had just drove it’s hoof into his stomach and Logan was sent backwards, away from Sloan. The lion turned to follow Logan with his eye as the hair moved in from behind with a hidden blade in his sleeve, aiming for the back of the lion’s neck.

Lorilei was there.

The lioness came from the other side, claws out. She caught the hairs arm with blinding speed. Grabbing his arm like a hawk would with its talons from a swift dive. Blood was drawn as the hare looked up at her, just in time to watch her other hand come swiping down at his face.

Blocking the blow with his right arm, the hare jumped backwards. Pushing off with both his bare feet on the ground, legs flexing, the man built for jumping distant himself from her quickly. Her nails tore apart his arm and bloody streaks were left behind, blood oozing from the wound as he held the arm glaring at her for getting in the way of his kill.

Logan had reloaded, lifting up his gun and aimed at the hare. He retreated as quickly as he had come. A flash of brown and white fur that darted away. Bouncing away with a strong kick of his legs and was lost in the flood of white, gray, and brown fur hares pushing through the far doors.

“Shit,” Logan could only curse seeing the ever-growing numbers against them. They had made it farther than he expected. He just wasn’t expecting that. The others either let them past or the hares had paid off members of the staff to come this way.

He could only imagine what Reese and Marrow were dealing with on their ends. Logan just hadn’t expected an elite amongst the hares ranks.

Where the hares would neglect the training of most, they seemed to have wised up over the years. Training only a few individuals to be above the rest. If all these other Leporidae were pawns in the game, then that hare had been a knight or bishop. Filling in the roll needed to take down the king when your guard was let down.

“Dammit, there are too many.” Logan was already checking his spare magazines as he pushed Sloan out of the way they had just come.

“A-are you okay?” Sloan could only ask, glancing back at his personal bodyguard. Lorilei followed behind them quickly. Not about to be taken out here. They weren’t pawns to be tossed away. Sloan had made that very clear to those left in The Pride, his family.

They were the only ones left and needed to survive this.

It was why Sloan had and was willing to risk all of this. He knew if they metaphorically tucked tail and hid away like the smaller predator wait staff here did? They’d survive. But that wasn’t the same as living. He needed to change things. For them. For every predator in the city. To make it so that they had a future to raise their cubs in.

Instead of hiding away out of fear as the smaller predator species did.

Logan shut one of the twin doors before reaching out a hand. Sloan wasn’t sure what he expected until Lorilei placed a metal object within it.

“Grenade out,” Logan called as he pulled the pin, tossed it inside and then shut the door. Quickly he moved Sloan and himself far away from the door as within one… two… three seconds it went off.

The explosion shook the floor they were on and the crumbling sounds from the other room told them that the floor had given out, falling to the floor beneath them.

“Didn’t want to do that,” Logan groaned. This was still neutral territory and Zhong was going to be pissed off that Logan had blown up a portion of his hotel.

Sloan was shocked, jaw hanging open as Logan talked with Lorilei.

“How many left? C4? Okay. Change of plans,” Logan looked at Sloan. “Good thing lions aren’t afraid of heights, huh?” Logan gave him a cheeky smile and the lion was left confused as ever with the human who began to lead the way.

Logan moved towards the way they had originally come from before cutting down another hallway. Two more shots were fired before his head appeared from around the corner.

“Coming?” He asked the lion just staring at him.

“Logan,” Sloan asked and even before the question left his lips Logan was explaining. The human was far more open with him these days, not trying to hide things as he normally would from the lion.

“Plan D. Or was it E? Whatever,” Logan just said waving that off. “If we can’t join the wolves or escape through the wait staff exits or make it down the other way I had in mind… that only leaves one route left.” The human gave him a wink. “Well, the route that gets all of us out of here.”

“And that would be?” Sloan asked.

“Up,” Lorilei was the one to explain. A single word that left Sloan speechless. He glanced at Logan who was pointing upwards. Neither of the two bothered to explain any further as they reached their utility stairs.

“No elevators,” Lorilei explained, and Sloan was still left speechless about it all. When did she and Logan get close enough to talk about such plans with behind his back? “Too risky.”

“Two first, Sloan next. Up the stairs. We’ll cover the rear.” Logan ordered out, explaining to Sloan in the process. “Their shouldn’t be any hostiles above us. Just in case, let the two go first.” Logan motioned to the two lionesses who resembled each other. The sisters nodded before heading up to clear a path.

The entire group moved into the stairs before shutting the door quietly behind them. Hoping they’d gone unnoticed. Who’d ever think they’d head for the roof?

Logan was about to let out a sigh of relief before he, and everyone, heard it.

Everyone paused, for a brief second, as they heard it. Dozens of feet pounding against the stairs below, echoing upwards towards them and what it meant. Logan hoped they were just piling out of the stairwell onto every floor. Flooding the place from the bottom up as if the building were sinking into an ocean of white, brown, and gray spotted fur.

“Go, go, go!” Logan practically shouted. No need to keep hidden if they had already been found. He doubted the hares below knew they would take this exit, no. It wasn’t that. It was the simple fact that they planned to flood the entire building with members and wash the lions, and everyone else, out.

This entire thing was clumsy and poorly executed, telling Logan that it was most likely Barnes in charge of this attack instead of another. The hare was old and feeble these days, losing his mind. Barnes was a businessman, not an executioner. If Logan had been the one planning this… he doubted any of the three gang leaders would’ve left here alive.

He’d have taken the entire building out if need be.

The chance of all three leaders meeting like this only happened once a decade, at most. It was too good of an opportunity to miss, and Barnes had jumped on the chance to take them out once the hares vast network of spies had informed him of it. Forcibly joining their game in the most violent way possible.

Or at least, for a hare to think of.

“Lore,” Logan called over to Lorelei. “Execute plan rat trap.” He said and the lionesses actually smiled at him.

Taking a thin wire from her coat, she paused at the turn of the stairwell. Crouching down she began to set up the trip wire, adding plenty of grenades to the mix to make sure it would be one volatile explosion.

“Only a couple,” Logan corrected her. “We still need to get out of here ourselves. Can’t take down the entire stairs on us,” he laughed as he covered her. Taking one of the extra grenades, he pulled the pin and dropped it down the middle of the stairwell before pulling back.

The metal grenade fell, bouncing off the metal railing several times before getting lodged in the corner of the stairs. It exploded, taking the floor out with it. Fire and smoke rose from the spot as Logan and Lorelei turned and ran up after the others.

The explosion had left a gap within the stairs.

“With me,” the hare from before ordered several of the others. Bouncing off the steps, he hit the far wall. Kicking off it, he leapt up to the next floor. Looking back, he motioned for the others to try and follow. Most of them wouldn’t make the jump, even being hares. Not that it mattered.

The only thing that mattered was the target. If he could get ahold of the others on the radio, he could call in back up and explain what was going on. Block off their exit and surround them. Even a lion would be taken down by a thousand hares. He couldn’t. Like everyone else in the building, the radios and cellphone service had been cut. The walls of this place blocked signals but something else had triggered here preventing radio contact.

Hendricks wasn’t even aware of what was happening to the other teams that had been sent in.

It was hard enough to control the masses of hares in his charge. Hendricks could barely keep those with him in line. They were inexperienced but expendable. Disposable tools for him to use. So, he did. Unleashing them like a tidal wave against every entryway and exit of this place. He flooded the bottom floors, encountering the hyenas first.

They weren’t his target and so he abandoned the others, regrouping with this warren and moving out for the target after sniffing him out.

Each down of hares were led by a lead hare that would guide the others. Most were fresh from the warren. Inexperienced members that would be baptized in blood this day. Those who survived anyways. With their numbers, they needed to weed out the weak and only keep the strong. Resources was limited, especially when you were fighting everyone else for them. Those who survived would be the members who could rank up in The Burrows and become true members of the colony.

The others? Not even their names would be bothered to be remembered. There were just too many of them to care for those who died during their first raid.

“And wolves thought they had it bad,” Hendricks scoffed as he made his way up the stairwell. His feet carried him quickly, three steps at a time. Bounding up them before jumping up, kicking off the wall and shortening the distance even further.

He jumped over the wire, glancing back.

“Trip wire,” he shouted for the others to hear. Their long ears made it easy, at least, to communicate in such narrow surroundings. He still wish they had their radios. This place was dangerous. Like walking into the maw of a sleeping beast. Waiting to devour them.

Hendricks just hoped it didn’t wake up while they were still inside. He’d only heard rumors of Zhong, but the small-clawed Asian otter wasn’t a man he wanted to be on the bad side of. He, like most the others here, would blame the man in charge. Planning to throw Barnes to the wolves after all this was done.

It meant there was an empty seat waiting for him in the future on the council.

The hares hadn’t been the one to trigger the radio silence. Those who ran this place did. As if expecting them to come willingly in. They would lose hundreds of hares today, at least from this poorly executed gambit. Hendricks just hoped that once he finished here he’d earn his place in the top ranks of the colony, one day planning to kick Barnes off a cliff and take his place.

All he had to do was bring the head of a lion back home to achieve such glory.

There were many vying for the position, after all. Hundreds. Thousands? Maybe more... Wolves would complain and bitch and moan about their packs all fighting to become Alpha. Their numbers were in the double digits, at most. Hares were in the triple digits, sometimes more…

Hendricks liked to think of himself as someone. Someone important. Someone that could get things done. That he wasn’t like the others. He had been specially chosen. To become an elite. Handpicked to be trained, unlike the others… but at the end of the day he was still just a hare.

Another face in the masses. Being lost in the crowd.

Unless he made a name for himself this day, he’d always just be another blank face in The Burrows. But, with this kill, he would be someone. Someone to be noticed. A name to be remembered!

Kicking off another wall, he turned around to face towards the human taking up the rear. Their eyes met once more, and Hendricks sprung the hidden blade from his sleeve. Aiming for the slow, stupid human’s throat.

To target and pick off the weakest members was the way of wolves and lions, but Hendricks had adopted such practice, realizing the usefulness behind them. The slow, the weak, the old or young made such an easy target at the end of the day…

They turned his fur such a beautiful shade of red.

The least he could do was make it quick for the non-predator that had gotten in his way. Most likely a nobody, another face lost in the crowd. Picked up and toyed with by these lions. A human. Used as some kind of amusement for their leader to play with. Like a cat batting at a toy, playing with it’s food before getting bored with it, tossing the human away.

Or simply devouring them…

Hendricks lifted his hand up as the hiltless blade sprung from within his sleeve. Going in for the kill. Eyes locked on the human, focusing entirely on him as Logan faced him. Abandoned. Left behind. Hendricks knew what that was like. Leaving him behind, not even bothering to look back.

Who would look back at a nameless, weak man that was only holding the rest of the group back…?

“Die a swift death,” Hendricks begged him. Pleading with the human to let go and let the sweet kiss of death end his miserable life as the lion’s pawn…

Then, at the last moment, Hendricks noticed it. A thin wire that glistened in the light like a golden thread. It had been lowered from above like a spiders web. Waiting. Waiting for Hendricks to blindly charge in before checking his surroundings.

The wired noose tightened around his throat, and he had to bring his knife up to cut it before it took his head off. His jump had been ruined, the momentum carrying him forward, but his balance was off. Trying to correct himself, Hendricks through his legs out, opening his arms so he didn’t end up crashing face first into the cement wall of the stairwell.

It left him open and vulnerable. Like a hare outside it’s burrow. Sitting in a field, unaware of the danger lurking above.

From behind, on the stairwell, a lionesses claws sprung out as Hendricks shoulder was gripped. He squealing in pain, a horrible sound only a wounded hare could make as those nails dug deep into his shoulder as Logan flipped him off with both hands.

The bait had been set and Hendricks had willingly taken it like a fool. Blinded by his own pride and greed he hadn’t expected the human…

Twisting his body, Hendricks pulled free and came crashing down against the stairs. One of the steps bit painfully into his ribs as the hare cursed for letting his guard down. Focusing on the human, the easy target, and not noticing the lioness lurking above.

“You piece of,” Hendricks held his shoulder. His arm was bloody, his shoulder was just as bad. Unable to use his arm as he glared up at the two. A swift kick sent him back against the wall. His head hit it and sparks burst in front of his eyes.

Logan stepped down, pulling an object from within his coat.

“Traitorous filth!” The hare opened his mouth, trying to speak but Logan shoved the object within it.

“Shush,” Logan warned placing a single finger on his lips as he crouched down to his height. “If you keep talking, you’re going to go… splat.” Logan pulled back and, as he did, he pulled the pin from the grenade he shoved into Hendrick’s open mouth. Using the hares buck teeth to keep the latch held tight as the human placed his foot on his bad shoulder. “Tell Barnes I send my regards,” and Logan kicked him down the stairs.

Hendricks rolled back over himself, down the steps painfully until he hit the concrete wall of the stairwell. Again. Smacking his head again against it, eyes watering from the blow as stars burst in front of them. He kept his buck teeth clamped shut around the foul-tasting metal explosive shoved into his mouth, not about to let go. Not about to die here, not before he could crawl up the bodies of the other hares to reach the top.

He glared after the two. Watching them retreat. Watching as other hares came back. None of them even bothered to check on him. Some glanced at the fallen hare, smirking at his blight. Smirking at the fact that he, Hendricks, could be used as a stepping stone for them to climb ever higher in their ranks.

For how does one sit at the head of the table? A table as large and long as The Noble hares? You have to first remove someone sitting in a seat. Remove them from the table, take their spot. But, when you are at the end of the table… you might as well not be sitting there at all.

It was just a harsh reminder of just how faceless, nameless you were in the masses.

So, then, how do you climb higher on that table, that ladder? To be noticed, to be someone? You must first take the next seat. To remove the one sitting within it before replacing them. One by one, you need to pluck them out of their seats like overgrown carrots in the ground. Pull them from their roots, their ears, and throw them aside like a bird of prey swooping down from above.

So that you may sit there.

Pluck them, one by one, stepping on them, climbing over them, abandoning them… until you were the one sitting at the head of the head of that table. Looking down on the rest fighting tooth and nail to reach the height you were able to climb to. No matter how bloody you need to get your hands.

Otherwise, you were just another pair of ears, lost in the masses. Another faceless individual following the orders of someone that had stabbed and betrayed their own kin, willingly sacrificing everyone else just to get a single point across.

Like a man in a crowded street. Shouting at the top of their lungs to be noticed, to say, “I am here” and not having a single person turn to look at you. To remind you that you were born as a nobody. Just “another rabbit.” To be ignored like that? You might as well be dead.

Not until you start firing…

Logan lagged behind the lionesses. Not because he was exhausted or tired, that was just how things were. He wasn’t as physically strong as she was. She made easy work of the stairs, distancing herself further and further from him after catching that hare in his trap.

Logan figured the lead hare would catch up before the others. He wasn’t fully familiar with their ways but had heard enough from Barnes over the years to piece the rest together. After what Barnes had gone through in order to reach the spot he was in The Burrows. Logan had been sure the top members would want to get the glory of the kill above the others.

Sloan had such a pretty face. He’d make a wonderful stuffed head, mounted on the wall of Barnes’s office.

Logan actually laughed at the thought. The dark humor getting him through this, knowing how true that would be if they got their grubby little hands on the lion.

It still had taken some convincing to keep Lorilei with him. To help out with the ambush. Now that her job was done, she was heading back to The Mane. To watch over Sloan. Leaving Logan alone… he almost liked the idea of it. It would’ve been easy right there and then to ditch the group. They would reach the roof where Logan had a helicopter waiting to take them home and Logan could just… vanish.

To meet up with the wolves? Hell, he was sure he could meet up with the hyenas and start winning their trust over. There were numerous escape tunnels in this place for the wait staff to use. Logan could just use one of those and no one would notice.

The hares wouldn’t check the tunnels. They’re objective was the head of the gangs. Reese, Marrow and Sloan. All three were too large to use the tunnels and their gangs would follow them wherever they went. Logan could be a nobody in the crowd and be lost in the masses easily enough…

Just another one of his backup plans in case something like this happened. He figured it would. It was too tantalizing for someone like Barnes to pass up. All three of your most hated enemies gathered together in one place? Logan would’ve just blown the damn building up if that was the case.

Or poison. Bosch had taught him that one. A simple sprinkle of something “extra” on a succulent piece of meat, placed before a predator? A man like Sloan really needed a poison tester in the future…

Barnes was far too… direct, though. He wanted to send a message, to make the largest splash. To say that his people could go anywhere. That they “were here too” and not to be overlooked any longer. Even this attack? To go within the neutral zone, into the aquatic gang turf and cause trouble? All to send a message. Just because you had an endless supply of zealous soldiers to use, didn’t mean you should carelessly do so.

“Dammit Barnes, the fuck is wrong with you.” Logan could only curse, pausing to look down the steps. The other hares were catching up but were nothing like the one previously. If it had been a fair fight, Logan doubted he would’ve gotten away unscathed as he had against that man.

That hare… he was trained far better than the others. Far better…

Logan grimaced, trying to shake the thoughts away. He needed to check into this but first, he needed to get out of here.

To his surprise, the others were waiting for him up above. Or rather, Sloan was.

Logan had been conflicted over it. If he should stay or if he should leave. Maybe he should try and get back on Reese’s good side by helping the wolves out? Though, he doubted Reese needed it. The wolf was already worked up into a frenzy after what they, or rather Logan had forced Sloan to show Reese.

To warn Reese that Alan was in danger…

“Logan!” Sloan called as the human caught up to them. “There you are,” and before Logan could say anything in response, Sloan hugged him. Sloan had scooped him up into a strong full body hug, nearly crushing the human against the lion’s body as he nuzzled down at him with a whiskered face. “We couldn’t leave until you got here…”

Sloan was shaking and Logan patted his back, trying to calm him down.

“I’m fine,” he said as he motioned for them to step outside. Once they did, Logan quickly secured the door to the roof behind them. Using the wire Lorilei pulled from within her jacket to tie it shut. The wire was thin but strong, reminding Logan of piano wire… it cut his hand just attempting to use it as a tie.

“Did you set this up?” Sloan asked, motioning to the large military grade helicopter waiting for them. The carrier was waiting for them on a clearly marked helicopter pad.

Logan had taken some creative liberties using Zhong’s helicopter pad and hoped the short-clawed otter wouldn’t take offense to it. He was sure, or hoped, Zhong would be far too busy getting revenge on The Noble Hares for invading his territory to worry about some human briefly using his personal helicopter pad… or at least hoped.

Zhong could carry a grudge and Logan didn’t want the otter finding out about this.

“In, in, in.” Logan motioned and the lions piled inside the large craft before Logan was about to join them.

Now that he was outside, he felt it. A buzz. His phone buzzed in his pocket and Logan paused, telling the others to wait before looking down at it. Outside the building, he was able to get service. Thankfully.

A text from Domino, doing his usual check in. A text from Tony, funnily enough. The tiger asking if there was in soda in the fridge. Logan ignored both seeing the final text.

“Call me. ASAP.” It only said. So, Logan did.

“This is Alice,” Logan said into the phone, calling them back. Holding up a finger to tell Sloan to hold on as he moved away from the others. “In kind of a sticky situation here.”

“Logan,” a voice growled from the other side not even bothering to use his codename. It told Logan just how pissed off he was. “We have a problem.”

“Yes, I’m dealing with it now.” Logan explained quickly what had happened there. “Idiots tried to ambush us. No plan, just rushing in.”

“Yes, the white rabbit has gone off script.” The voice snarled.

“Sir? What’s the plan then? This wasn’t supposed to happen…” Logan was just glad the helicopter started then, making it impossible for the others to hear him even with the distance he kept. “He just threw stones at three hornets nests, pissing them off without actually doing any real damage…”

“Barnes got annoyed that I was taking my time dealing with them, the predators of the city…” They explained. “Couldn’t wait and behave like the others.” The feline rested back in the tinted window van, glancing out the window towards the café they were parked out from of. “You know how much I hate it when people don’t follow the game plan, Logan. He could’ve ruined everything for us...”

“Yes, sir. I understand, sir...” Logan said, swallowing nervously before asking. “What’s the plan going forward from here…?”

“It’d be best to cut our losses. I’ll take care of things on my end, just make sure to cover yours.” Bosch said, stepping out of the van as he saw the human and a nutty brown furred wolf leave the back of the café. “I’ll have something to use against Big Bad soon enough…”

“Sir?” Logan covered his other ear as the helicopter blades began spinning faster and faster. “What are your orders…?”

“The Marche Hare invited himself to the tea party to take out the king.” Logan tensed at that. He knew that hare wasn’t just some nobody. That hare had been a well-trained assassin and that could only mean… To think he worked for Bosch as Logan did. How many others were under his thumb? What did Bosch have on them all to keep them in line…? “Without my orders…” Apparently not enough. “It is what it is… If he doesn’t succeed? Take care of it yourself, Alice. You’re the only one I can rely on these days.” Bosch said as he walked across the street, letting out a bitter sigh and a shake of his head. “So many loose ends to clean up these days. Be better to just… wipe the slate clean. Start fresh. Everyone just keeps going off script.”

“Kill him?” Logan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had to know if that’s what Bosch meant. No tip toying around this. He’d been ordered to get close to Sloan, to watch him, the king… not this. He hadn’t been told to hurt or kill Sloan and now, Logan wasn’t sure if he could. “Sir, he’s not…”

“Do not fail me as the others have, Logan. Tweedledum and Tweedledee have already been sent in to capture Little Red. They made a mess of things, those brainless idiots… There is no one left for me to use, for the time being.” Logan could hear the jaguar tapping a clawed finger on one of his large fangs. “Other than you, Logan. You really are the only one I can rely on these days. Everyone else just keeps… forcing my hand to correct their mistakes.”

“Bosch,” Logan tried to plead. To reason with him.

“I am not asking you to take care of it this very second. Just keep it in mind. Don’t forget our deal, Alice… I’m the only one who can help you find him. Where Mikhail hid himself. To keep this city safe, I’ll do whatever it takes. As will you.” Bosch reminded him coldly. “The king isn’t needed any longer. Not with the plans I have for the future. The Pride has served their purposes. The body will die without the head. Off with his head and the problem will be solved... as simple as that. Just wait for my signal.” The jaguar growled, an amusing smile crossing his face as he stopped at the entrance to the alleyway. Looking in on Alan and PB. “Then you can come home. I’ll finish up where the others failed…”

And with that, Bosch hung up on Logan. Leaving him speechless about it all as he ran back towards the helicopter and jumped into the back. The door slammed shut behind him and he took the seat Sloan offered him to his side. Always by his side. Right there next to him.

Unaware that Logan had just been told to put a target on the very man checking on him.

The large lion patted the spot before scooting over, apologizing about it. Apologizing about what had happened to today. Apologizing about his size, that he was in the way. Smiling down at Logan and even offering to help the human buckle in as the helicopter took off. Lifting off the ground, shaking slightly as it did so.

Logan felt Sloan’s hand on his leg then. Steadying him as the helicopter shook. The lion, even though he was afraid, was still trying to make sure Logan was okay. Even now. Underneath all the pressure he must be under, the stress of his choices and dealing with both the attack and his family… Sloan was making sure Logan was alright.

“We’ll head back for the time being.” Sloan told him, talking to Logan while speaking to everyone else there. “Regroup. Check our losses and keep in contact with the other two groups. If they made it… This isn’t a setback; this is exactly what I had wanted.” Sloan assured them, assured Logan. Still his large hand was on his leg. “Half the time in a courtroom all you need to do was badger the witness, get them all worked up into a frenzy, like tossing chum into shark infested waters,” the large lion chuffed a laugh. “Then they’d end up doing half the work for you! A bit risky there at the end. Nearly lost my whiskers!”

“You planned this?” Logan asked, as if unsure about that. Unsure about a lot of things these days. His thoughts were all over the place. Unable to keep the usual façade up, his mask slipping as he stared blankly forward.

The words Bosch had told him still ringing inside his skull. “Off with his head.”

“No, no. I just figured that… if the opposing team want to stay hidden away, to keep their cards close? We just need to lure them out of their little holes! It was very nice of The Pack and The Cackle to run interference for us,” Sloan chuckled, eyes glinting as he smiled at that wicked thought. “A pity I couldn’t figure out things with Jerome… I would’ve loved to have known the truth behind that. Him. He was…”

Sloan tapped a finger on Logan’s leg, looking away. The look of his eyes, on his face, belayed the lion’s age. He wasn’t the young spry youth he had once been. Sloan was in his forties and his fur was beginning to lose it’s luster. Tail tip flickering as he sat there, hand on Logan’s thigh as he just stared outside. At the setting sun in the distance. Thinking about… all the lives lost.

His guard was down, and Logan could see how much it had hurt Sloan once more, as if he had lost his brother all over again today. Unable to find out the truth what happened that day. Knowing the truth behind such things could be as important as knowing if they were alive or dead itself. It gave one closure. Something most people ever got the luxury of knowing.

Closure was, at times, more important than anything else…

Placing a hand on Sloan’s, Logan rested back in the seat. Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift off. Not offering a word of comfort but being there for the lion as he stewed over his thoughts. Maybe Sloan had agreed to take up the mantle of Mane in order to track down the truth behind his brother and the other dirty laundry his family chose to hide away from him?

That’d make sense. That was something that Sloan, a prosecutor, would do. Wanting to know the truth to such things. He was foolish enough to try and make amends for them, Logan was sure. To try and fix what had been done in his family.

Knowing the truth of things could lead to an early grave, though. People were willing to keep such secrets hidden. Even if Logan was doing the very same thing. Making a deal with a devil in hopes of finding out that truth of what had happened to that tiger. His old friend, his old lover… and the man he swore to kill with his two hands. A truth that could let him sleep again at night. These insomnia spells he’d been suffering from were taking it’s toll and Logan was already passing out beside the lion.

Unable to stay awake any longer. The pressure of it all was too much and Logan, not even thirty yet, was feeling the weight sinking in. It was easier to just drink. To close your eyes and stop. Stop thinking, stop worrying, stop plotting and planning…

Just stop.

Sloan carefully reached up and over him, pulling Logan closer. Letting him rest against his side as he continued to look out the window, pondering his own problems and the issues to solve in the future. The two together in that moment as they flew to safety.

It was hard to keep his eyes open. To keep focus and Logan gave into the warmth and shelter that Sloan’s body offered him. A comfort that he could sink into and forget, if only for the time being, the problems of the day. Of tomorrow. And their future.

Just like sex had once been for him. Pleasurable bursts that would override and cloud out everything else. Helping Logan… forget, what had happen. Forget about his scars forever seared onto his back. A cruel reminder every day of what had happened.

And the brother he had lost.

Logan just hoped he wouldn’t have to follow through with Bosch’s plans and that, maybe, he could enjoy these brief, fleeting moments together with the lion without worrying that his fangs would sink into his neck just as quickly as Logan’s knife would sink into his.

Holding each other close, one last time, as they embraced each other in the sweetest of deaths. Red rivers flowers around them, like dripping red rose pedals. For Logan knew if he had to follow through with such an order, he’d die as well…

Two lovers in a final embrace.

“All to make sure to keep the city safe…”

It was just what one was willing to sacrifice to know the truth.