"Where's Wolf?" Webs asked Shark.

"I was thinking the same thing," Shark admitted. "Doesn't he know Diane's debate is tonight?"

"Out of all of us, he should be the one to remember it," Webs pointed out as Piranha ran up to them.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked.

"No, they haven't even started yet," Shark answered. "Is Wolf with you?"

"No," Piranha replied. "Besides, Diane probably doesn't want him here anyways."

Webs raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean by that?"

Piranha's eyes wide when he realized what he said. "Um..."

"Piranha, what's going on?"

"You didn't hear this from me," Piranha whispered before answering, "Diane asked Wolf to move in with her, and he didn't say yes."

"Dang," Shark said in surprise. “Did not see that coming."

“So, what?" Webs wondered. “Did they break up, or something?"

“I don't know," Piranha admitted as Diane walked up to them.

“What's going on?" she asked, attempting to sound fine. “Better not be talking about me!"

Not wanting to make things worse, Piranha suddenly said, “Actually, I was just about to tell everyone my big surprise, but only you can keep it a surprise."

“Don't worry, we can keep a secret," Webs promised before muttering, “Well, some of us, anyway."

“After a few weeks of hunting," Piranha said as he opened up a booklet, “I have finally found and bought the perfect house for me and Gabi, only two hours from the beach!"

“Ooh, fancy!" Shark said in awe.

Webs nodded. “Gabi's gonna love that!"

“It's very nice," Diane agreed. “But where'd you get the money to buy a house? You guys don't get paid for being heroes."

“I took a part-time job at Target," Piranha answered. Then, he admitted, “Okay. Technically, I work at the weird in-store Pizza Hut."

“Whatever pays that mortgage," Shark said. “When are you planning on showing it to Gabi?"

“Once we get home," Piranha answered as he swung a key on a chain around his fin. “I would've shown her earlier today, but she's been keeping the boutique open later and later... lately."

“When did this start?" Webs asked.

“About two weeks ago."

“Should we talk to her about this?" Shark wondered.

“Madame Governor, you're on standby," someone said to Diane.

“Sorry, guys, we'll talk about this later," Diane said. “I gotta get ready."

“We should take our seats," Webs decided, and the four animals dispersed.

🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶

It felt strange for the Bad Guys to be in an audience surrounded by the very humans who used to fear them. However, after everything they did for the city, it wasn't too surprising. They finally proved to be more than just the scary monsters they were always told they were. Even Diane, the Crimson Paw herself, wasn't the same tricky fox she used to be! Of course, she still had her cunning, but she was using it to help people.

“I think Diane's got old Georgie on the ropes," Shark whispered. George Welles was a seemingly humble family man from upstate, but a lot of his policies were corrupt and would only benefit people just like him.

“Need I remind you that this is the same man who voted against the Animal Rights Act of 2018?" Diane asked the crowd. “And if it had not been passed, animals across the state would still be denied medical, shelter, and the right to vote? I mean, come on! We're supposed to be making progress here!"

“Four more years!" Webs cheered as most of the crowd clapped in agreement.

“And of course, we all know not even that put a stop to those animalistic crime rates," Welles pointed out. “In fact, ever since you were sworn in, Diane, criminal activity involving animals had skyrocketed. What with the Bad Guys' capers and Rupert Marmalade's guinea pig zombie army... Not to mention, that little freak of nature he made into a serial killer... I'm genuinely shocked you're all still allowed to roam the streets at night."

“Hey, that's not fair!" Piranha protested.

“Let alone, hold a powerful position," Welles added. “My fellow humans, your governor was claimed a few years ago to have been the infamous Crimson Paw, who had once upon a time stolen various priceless artifacts. Of course, there is no evidence it could've been her, just one rodent's word against her own. However, we cannot deny how this little vixen, who came from nothing, didn't become known until after the Paw's last hurrah. Are you sure this is who you want to continue leading you?"

“He's openly attacking her!" Shark whispered as others murmured in suspicion. “What's she gonna do?"

“Don't worry, Diane's smart," Webs assured them. “She'll know just what to–"

Suddenly, Diane ran from her podium, pushed Welles away from his own, and a red and black arrow was shot through her arm! Diane screamed in pain just before she collapsed.

“DIANE!" shouted Webs, Shark, and Piranha simultaneously.

“Sniper!" another person screamed. Everyone looked up to find a shadowy figure hiding behind the stage lights. It seemed as if they were loading another arrow into a crossbow and aiming at the dazed George Welles.

“Shark, get me up there!" Piranha said as everyone else ran.

“Okay," Shark replied, and threw Piranha up to the ceiling. The attacker fired another arrow, but Piranha caught it with his bare fin on his way up. Once he stuck the landing, Piranha busted a light with the arrow and hurled himself at the attacker, who turned out to be a chameleon.

“Okay, chico, you got five seconds!" Piranha growled. “Why'd you shoot my friend?!"

“It wasn't her we were after," the chameleon chuckled. “She just gave herself up for the Oppressors."

“Piranha, what's going on?!" Webs said as she climbed up to see what was happening.

“He said something about some sort of oppressor."

“Not one oppressor, all Oppressors," the chameleon corrected. “Humanity. The Blood Moon is nigh, and the Mother's Hatchling will take flight and liberate us from the Oppressors."

“What's he talking about?" Piranha asked Webs, neither of them noticed him slip something in his mouth with his tail.

“I don't know, ask him," she shrugged.

“What are you talking about?!" Piranha asked the chameleon, whose mouth began foaming as his body slightly shook. Then, he collapsed and the cold-blooded creature was suddenly a lot colder. “He's dead."

“Cyanide," Webs realized. “Whoever this guy was, he didn't want anyone else to know too much."

“But what did he mean by all that stuff?" Piranha wondered.

“I guess we'll never know," Webs figured before noticing something unusual on the chameleon's black vest. “Unless..."

“Guys!" Shark shouted. “The police and paramedics are here! They're taking Diane to the ER!"

“We'll need you two to come down!" Police Chief Misty Luggins called out. “The three of you are key witnesses, so you're coming downtown for questioning!"

“Should we bring this guy with us?" Piranha asked, pointing at the dead chameleon.

“Hold on," Webs said, taking a picture of the red badge on his vest with her phone. “Hmm..."

I told you guys it would come back.

Sorry to keep y'all waiting, but chapter three will include both Wolf and Snake's reactions to this tragedy.

Until next time. 🌈