The following day, the campus was packed. "What's the matter, Speckles?" Dahlia smiled at her lover. She noticed how downtrodden he looked. She led the way through the crowd, and offered a stack of posters to each table. It wasn't long before her supply ran out. "Well?" She asked when he didn't answer.

"Hm? Oh, just disappointed that my friend can't make it. Expen. He usually comes to campus whenever he can. But uh, he has to watch his kids." Noah fumbled with his paws in his pockets. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. That all eyes would be on him at the end of the day.

"Well, the good news is that your girlfriend is here, Speckles. So why don't you stop being so tense? Enjoy the day. You need to just be calm. I will only accept blue or green auras today from you, mister. Maybe pink." She stroked his cheek. He feigned a smile, but it was still anxious.

She sighed, disappointed. "Alright, well, I'll be at the gardening club booth. I want to talk to someone who understands the tree-hugging business. Maybe I can recruit some part-time coworkers." She pressed her nose softly against his cheek as a farewell, then waddled her chubby body through the herd.

Noah didn't know what to do now. He didn't want to be here anyway, just in case. Now especially, though, that he was alone... He honed in on a flash of movement by the stage. In his striking blue vest, with a big red bow-tie, was Cooper. He sat at the base of the stage. He spoke to a few different animals that Noah could barely make out. So, he began his peradventure.

He braved through the suffocating crowd, swam across the sea of games, bounded through the labyrinth of unsupervised children. Soon, it was all over. He reached the final obstacle. The gazelle, skunk, and elk who spoke to Cooper.

"As long as you follow my guidelines, you'll be alright. I advise you stay true to the notes the first time, then find your style as we carry on with speeches such as this one." Peony offered a pawful of notecards to the deer.

Cooper smiled at the three of them. He didn't notice Noah approach. "This is going to be great, guys. I'm kind of nervous, but it's about time someone gets up and shares this with the public. I didn't know half of this before I met you." He spoke to all of them, but his eyes honed in on Chanelle. He was fond of her. She was confident, beautiful, and taken. Everything a young man craved in a woman. Plus, he knew it was best that she was an herbivore, rather than his own specially-acquired taste.

"Hey, Coop." Noah's voice caused the group to separate. James' eyes narrowed at the carnivore. He was muge larger than Noah, but still felt threatened. It was that way with most herbivores. Noah ignored him. "I'm excited to hear your speech! I came to support you, you know. As your friend." He placed a tentative paw on Cooper's shoulder. He wasn't afraid to break the deer. He was afraid of the reactions that the others might have.

"Hey, paws off." There it was. He scowled, but erased the expression as soon as it came on. He glanced down at the little gazelle in front of him. He couldn't help but notice she was a total babe, just like the first time he saw her and tried to set her up with Cooper. For both of their sakes. How it'd backfired. "Nobody invited you to come up and get touchy-feely." At the same time, what a pleasant surprise to get told off by a tiny herbivore who's neck he could snap at a moment's notice. Usually, they weren't so bold. Perhaps that was what made her special. "I'm serious. Back off, kitten. Before James here takes matters into his own hooves." Okay, maybe it was what made her a brat.

Noah held his paws back in innocence. He glanced down at Cooper, who looked a little ashamed. He waited for his friend to correct the behavior. Fortunately, Cooper got up the nerve to speak aloud. "This is my best friend, Noah. He's alright. He's always welcome by me. I'd prefer if you don't disrespect him just because he's a panther." The deer forced his back straight. Noah could read the nerve in his eye. Nobody wanted to be left behind by new friends.

At the same time, the panther was relieved. For some reason, he'd tricked his mind into thinking he'd get betrayed today. Now the anxiety finally flooded away from his body. His tail curled. His lips pulled into a tight grin. "Hey, no worries, Coop. I'm here to listen to you talk, not a bunch of specists."

The look the buck gave him told him to be quiet. "They're not specists. They're just cautious. They- they actually like carnivores more than most herbivores."

"Yes, this is true." Peony barely rose past Noah's legs. "I'm completely comfortable right now. I do not mind your being here. In fact, I think you would be great for the image of our cause. If we only have herbivores, it will seem like a specist cause. But the case is, carnivores don't want to work with us just the same." The skunk held her paw as high as she could. It reached his sternum. "My name is Peony. I presume you are the best friend panther we've all heard about." She shook his paw when he offered it.

"I, uh, yeah." He was surprised by the behavior. Especially from such a tiny herbivore. Then again, skunks were braver than others. Because of their spray glands. "Thanks. I'm just going to watch today, though. I know there are a few hours before the speech starts." He gestured to Cooper. "I know you'll do great."

Now that he'd found peace with everything, Noah ventured away from all the fuss. He had to rest before the speech. He jogged to the open campus gates. Worn, the panther dropped by the nearest bush, nestled against the leaves, and shut his eyes.