Chapter 15

Arthur was sure to confront Legosi about his warning about the Black Market. He noticed that whenever he uttered it out loud, some of the animals recoiled back, as if the bat was finally going to feast on their blood. He deducted it as something only carnivores know, since the animals who recoiled near his clicks were mostly herbivores.

Maybe he'll find Legosi later during lunch. In the meantime, he could finish up his homework before his next class which was Marine Languages where the students were supposed to take up languages spoken by the fish and other marine life.

For Arthur, he was mediocre at it because it was difficult to hear fish when his ears are clogged up with water. Back in Gryphon Cross, the animals that are naturally bilingual in the language would be those of the Ceteceans and Otariidae family since they can live in water yet breathe the same air just like any other animals.

The homework he enjoyed doing while listening to music would be mathematics and geography. He believed those two go well hand-in-hand plus geography helped him to imagine himself in different parts of the world and what sort of music do they play. In fact, he knew all too well that music is a universal language all animals can communicate with.

Once he was done with his homework, he head straight for his Marine Languages class with his braille textbook in hand.

From there, he bumped into a figure. "Oh, I am really sorry! I hope you are alright."

"I'm fine, Arthur," the gravelly voice of Legosi surprised the Honduran white bat. He had almost forgot that Legosi has attended this class because they were both seated according to the alphabet of their names. Unfortunately, Aoba had not taken up this class which the bat understood why.

Marine animals and predatory birds have a dark history with each other.

"Legosi," Arthur tried to call the grey wolf's name, hoping he's still around before sitting at his designated spot. "Can I talk to you during lunch? It's important and I would really appreciate it if we discuss it so that I could lessen the burden."

Legosi's eyes were wide at the urgency in Arthur's voice. He wondered if it had to do with the bat's outing in town with his friends. The grey wolf just confirmed with a tap to Arthur's shoulder.

There's just something about that bat.

...

This time, lunch at the cafeteria wasn't as crowded as before. Both the grey wolf and Honduran white bat got today's carnivore set for lunch:

Spaghetti and wormballs with garlic bread served with a drink of grape juice.

Arthur had put more cheese on his pasta compared to the sauce and wormball ratio as the two of them made their way to a table to settle down to eat. Legosi noted that the bat's cloudy storm eyes had a brightness to it when he inhaled the smell of his food.

"Oh, I haven't had spaghetti for a while," said Arthur as he twirled his fork around the weaving mess. "You're enjoying your meal, Legosi?"

Legosi ate his quietly but observed how Arthur eats in slow chews as if the bat was savouring a fine dining meal despite it being from the cafeteria. "You like cheese a lot, don't you?"

"I'm just craving crackers about cheese," Arthur answered through a mouthful before swallowing. "Just as much as tea. If I had my way, cheese can be use in anything but I doubt it would taste lovely in a cup of brewed tea."

Both of them ate in silence until Arthur decided to break the ice. "I went to town last weekend and I didn't stumble upon the Black Market. Now, I might be cautious about your warning but I can't help but be curious. What is the Black Market? Is it a carnivore hideout?"

Legosi leaned his head close to Arthur's face. "And how do you know about that?"

The bat shrugged, unaware that Legosi's expression was that of panicked. "I just assumed since I accidentally uttered it out loud and the animals close to where I was walking recoiled as if they were about to be eaten."

"That's exactly what the Black Market is," the grey wolf's voice almost rattled Arthur's hearing at how close his muzzle was to the bat's ear. He told the Honduran white bat in detail on his encounters in the Black Market during his outing with Bill, Aoba and Tao for the drama club. From there he experienced horror, hunger and the worst of his predatory instincts because he couldn't bring himself to eat meat.

"I see," Arthur's ears drooped a bit. "I'm glad you and Aoba didn't. It would be unsettling to do that since we have herbivore friends. Well...You, I suppose with Haru."

"Yeah..."

"I almost forgot," Arthur tapped Legosi's clawed hand. "Do you like Haru?"

Legosi almost chocked on his food when Arthur asked a rather intrusive question. He was glancing around, hoping no one else heard their conversation. Arthur had a small toothy smile on his face.

"I mean, she talks about you a lot and you sometimes visit her at the gardening club despite me being around. I might be wrong but I almost thought that the both of you are a couple."

Arthur had expected the silence. "Sorry, sounds too personal, isn't it?"

Legosi said nothing because he was stunned at how Arthur knew about it. Did anyone tell him? But knowing Arthur even by a fraction, it must be something he knew ever since he became a member of the gardening club.

Arthur decided to drop the subject by talking about music he thought would be satisfying for the flowers. At least that would take Legosi's mind off of the rather too personal question he had confronted the grey wolf with.

He hoped Legosi doesn't take it as an offence.

...

Later that evening, Arthur was just walking around campus trying to clear his head. All of the lessons and homework today in class had given him a block in the mind. He couldn't think of what to play later at night.

So he decided to wander around campus, until he at least calmed down.

"Hello!" a sweet voiced was heard and Arthur felt someone tugging at his wing.

"Yes?" he tilted his head. "I don't think we've talked or interacted before."

The was a small giggled, Arthur noted it sounded harmless rather than patronising. "I think I've seen you but you're right, we haven't talked. I'm Els, from the drama club."

Ah, the drama club. Arthur's heart dropped because he remembered what he did that almost got him into trouble. He turned around to gaze at where the source of sound was coming from. He felt the hand that touched his wing was soft like wool.

"Oh, I'm sorry for biting Bill."

"It's okay, Arthur," the Angora sheep assured him. "I...was wondering if you're doing anything later."

"Nothing much aside from homework, really."

"Well..." Els said sheepishly. "If you are free, would you like to help us at the drama club for a bit? Our music was off due to a problem with our sound system. I was wondering while the system is being fixed, could you fill in for a bit?"

Arthur was hesitant about helping the drama club since all of the members knew he was the one playing the music every night. But he wondered if any one of them had spread the word about his virtuosic talent. He was not the one to take huge crowds well...

"Um...are there a lot of animals there practicing?"

"No, it's just the dance team for our rehearsal. And no one knows about you playing those songs except us. There are a few instruments you can test out but we can tell you what to play."

Well...that's reassuring to say the least. Arthur pondered if this is a way to make up for head-butting their president and biting Bill.

"Alright," Arthur finally nodded. "Lead the way."