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This was the latest commission I completed for R_jinx1, about his tasmanian wolf Jupiter. Jupiter flees his college campus after a rage-clouded assault on a fellow student, only to be taken in by a hare named Rick who runs a gym. Under Rick's tutelage, Jupiter becomes a big name in underground fighting. He meets a kickboxer named Sammie and begins falling for her, though she shows no interest in him. Word of his success reaches high ears, and a plan is hatched to coerce him into fighting Al-Aga casino's greatest champion.

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Jupiter grimaced as his parents handed over his luggage. His mother threw her arms around his neck as though it was the last time she would see him and planted a slobbery kiss on his cheek. Embarrassed he pushed her away, glancing around to make sure no one had taken notice. The other students milled about them, oblivious to the typical display of parental affection. College was time-consuming enough without stopping to gawk at the new arrivals.

"C'mon, mom, stop."

He tried to push her away, but the doting woman would not be cowed. Thin and tall, Jupiter's mother was approaching her forty-fourth birthday and seemed as though she weren't a day over thirty. She was dressed in a very fine gown, her black hair pinned atop her head. She was quite the sight, outshining Jupiter's father like a star. His old man was dressed simply, in a pair of dress slacks and starched button-down top. They were attending a wedding that afternoon, and as such had severely overdressed for a simply college drop-off.

"I'm sorry, Jup, I'm just... I'm going to miss you so much!"

For a second she seemed to totter on her heels, but as he was used to his wife's theatrics David rushed to catch her. She fell into his arms and sniffled, content to mourn her child's education and absorb the comfort from her husband's embrace. Jupiter turned his gaze to his stoic father, wise in his years even though he was the polar opposite of his young son.

"Dad? Do you really think this is going to work? Do you really think I can do this? I'm not really the academic type..."

David smiled at his son and patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Jupiter, I think you'll do just fine. You should go get your classes registered, you mother and I have to get going. We'll drive your car up later this week."

When a final teary goodbye the couple left, Jupiter staring after them with a grimace on his stern features as their Bentley pulled away. This was not how he wanted to spend his year.

Jupiter carried his suitcases up to the Registration tables lining the outside of the core campus building. Eyes followed him as he walked- they knew who he was, and they knew how strong he was. Women whispered as he passed, men refused to cross his path, and professors raised their eyebrows warily.

Behind the table for the sports section sat a rather dumpy-looking badger girl, her frazzled brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. The summer sunlight glinted off of her spectacles as she smiled up at him.

"Welcome to Harale University! Would you like to take some sports classes?"

Jupiter scowled down at her.

"Obviously. That's why I'm here. Do you guys have a football team?"

"Of course we do! Just sign right here."

She offered him a clipboard with a list of names and he slapped a hurried signature down.

"If you don't mind me asking... ah, Jupiter, what courses are you going to be taking? Medicine? Philosophy? History?"

"Look, I don't know, and if I did I wouldn't share that information with you. Can you tell me where I can find the dorms?"

The badger woman sighed and pointed towards a large building across the street.

"Yeah. In there. Good luck at tryouts..."

But Jupiter had already left.

Once Jupiter's classes were squared away he headed off to his dorm. He had a room all to himself, a stroke of luck that came from his parents plucking strings. He set down his luggage and collapsed on his bed, eager to begin the partying he had seen so much on the cinema screen.

A few hours later he awoke to the sound of knocking on his door. He grumbled as he stood and stretched, moving to answer the frantic thumping. A tall wolf with gray fur was standing in his doorway, dressed simply in a white shirt and jeans. He had a very athletic build that Jupiter, as a quarterback, noticed right off the bat.

"Hey, man, tryouts for the football team are in twenty. Be down at the field by then."

Jupiter quickly pulled on his shoes and headed down to the field where Harale alum tossed the pigskin around. There were about forty students in all, some of whom obviously didn't belong anywhere near a sport of any sort. Jupiter took his place in the lineup, towering over some of the other candidates.

A tall stallion dressed in the familiar colors of the university paced along the students, a clipboard in his hand as he looked over the assembled team hopefuls. He frowned as he looked down the line, obviously annoyed by the appearance of the scrawnier freshmen. Behind him stood five guys, large and broad, obviously members of the team left over from the previous year. They, of course, would not have to prove their worth.

"Half of you need to leave, now. I'm sure you can tell who you are. Bulk up some and maybe you can join us next year." A few moans and complaints rose from the crowd, but about fifteen people walked away with their heads hung low. The coach watched as they left, then turned his eyes to the remainder.

"Alright, you lot. We're going to start out by gauging your level of physical endurance. Line up at the end of the field. When I give my mark, I want you to begin running. Don't stop until you're at the opposite end. Go on, get ready."

The students jogged down to the end and gathered themselves to run. Jupiter leaned forward, one leg before the other, his hands on the ground beside him. The coach blew the whistle, and he pushed himself forward. The wind whipped against his striped fur as he ran, pumping his powerful thighs as he measured his breathing. He was oblivious to the others as he raced forward, the white-tipped spikes of his hair laying flat against his skull and the silver tags around his neck jingling pleasantly as his body moved. His claws dug at the earth beneath him while the line drew ever nearer.

As he crossed the white line, panting, he turned to look back toward the starting line. A few of the men were across the field at varying intervals, some a few yards behind Jupiter and others closer to the middle. Some people had left the field altogether, watching from the sidelines while they caught their breath. He was the only one that had made it.

The coach approached him, grinning and clapping as he neared.

"What's your name, boy?"

"My name's Jupiter."

"Do you have any sports experience? I'm guessing the answer's yes, but I'm just making sure."

"Yessir. I was a quarterback in high school."

The stallion nodded thoughtfully.

"We'll see how you do in the other exercises, but I'm pretty sure you're going to make the team. Follow me. We'll get you suited up for the tackles."

The rest of the tryouts went wonderfully in Jupiter's favor. He went back to his dorm several hours later, exhausted. He was confident that he'd made it, though, and as he smoked a cigarette before bed he felt a rush of pride in his abilities. He had no dreams, and when he awoke the next day he was ready to tackle his first class.

Jupiter was not very smart. He had no mind for memorization and he absolutely loathed books. Making quarterback for the team, though, coupled with the fact that his father was the foremost contributor to Harale University, ensured that he always scraped by with barely a passing grade. He hated knowing that he was receiving handouts, but at the same time his growing popularity made him forget his disgust. The cheerleaders loved him, the jocks loved him, and everyone else stayed out of his way. His nights were filled with drinking binges and rough one-night stands, and he wouldn't change it if he could. As the months passed and they racked up wins, he stopped caring about his schoolwork altogether.

The music pounded as he threw back another beer, sending the windows of the frat house rattling. Fog and colored lights filled the front room, giving the place a very club-like feel. The boys had outdone themselves this time. Jupiter stood in the kitchen, chatting with a few other members of the football team. He did not see the short badger girl watching him from the foyer, sipping at her Everclear with shaking hands, until his friends took their leave and she began walking toward him.

"Hey, Jupiter, I'm not sure if you remember me, but I helped you sign up for tryouts when you first arrived. I was wondering if you'd... well, I think you're really handsome, and..."

She trailed off, taking a large drink from her glass. Jupiter raised an eyebrow, watching her struggle to build the courage to finish her sentence.

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to go out with me sometime. We could catch a movie, or stay in and I could cook you something... It'd really mean a lot to me. I know I'm not a cheerleader or anything, but I think you'd like me if you took the time to get to know me..."

"I'm sorry, um..."

"Leah."

"Yeah, Leah. I'm sorry, but I'm not even the slightest bit interested. If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to drinking in peace."

He turned away from her, doing his best to be polite as he shot her down. The woman grew more insistent, slurring her words worse as she begged and pleaded with him. Finally he shouted at her to go swallow a razorblade, his eyes burning with anger and frustration. She tossed her drink at him, covering his face and chest with the near-medicinal strength alcohol.

Jupiter's face twisted into a snarl as he rounded upon the drunken badger, swinging a powerful fist toward her snout. As he connected with her he heard a crunch, as of bone shattering. She fell to the ground, screaming, cowering from the powerful man as he rained blow after blow down upon her. Blood and fur flew with every hit, until her mangled head was resting in a pool of crimson. Jupiter was unaware of the other team members grabbing him, six of them dragging him away for the twitching form of young Leah. All he could see was a dark red mist, all he could hear was the blood pounding a battle anthem in his ears.

Red and blue lights flashed on the edge of his vision. He snapped back to himself almost instantly, his rage immediately replaced by a crippling fear. He pulled himself away from the men restraining him and began to run, focusing his breathing and racing off down the road toward the nearby city of Sauldry. He was dimly aware of the students calling after him, but he couldn't make out their words. He was focused entirely on escape, the blood on his knuckles damning him for his actions. Every inch of him screamed at him to get somewhere and lay low, and he understood that he could never go back. Some part of his mind wondered if he had killed the poor girl- the image of her body twitching, her brown eyes locked on him like a terrified animal, refused to leave him. He had really fucked up this time.

The watch on his wrist marked the passage of time as hours as he ran, before the city lights began to loom into view. A stitch began to form in his side as he passed the Sauldry limits, and he knew he had reached the end of his endurance. It was easy for him to find an alley and duck into it, as the outer ghettos were riddled with the tiny side passages. He sunk to the ground, his back against a dirty brick wall, his buzz completely gone. His dark fur was matted with sweat and blood, and as his heart rate slowed he became painfully away of the chill autumn wind freezing his wet fur to the bone.

He sat there for half an hour, still and silent in the dark, straining his ears to pick up the sound of sirens. Jupiter could hear them in the distance, but they did not seem to be drawing closer. He loosed a sigh of relief and got to his feet, determined to find his way to some form of bar. After the night he'd had, he felt the only remedy was more excessive drinking.

He didn't have to walk far to find a seedy little dive bar, in the form of the cleverly-named "Sportz" roughly a block from his hideout. He went through the glass door and cut immediately to the bathroom, to was the blood from his body. It was no easy task, but somehow Jupiter managed to get the most visible areas clean. When he felt he was sufficiently presentable, he left the restroom and took a seat at the bar.

"One Jack and Coke, please."

The bartender looked at him with piercing eyes, scrutinizing his haggard and wet appearance, but obliged him the drink. Jupiter tossed back the drink in a single gulp and offered his glass for more. When the bartender appeared skeptical, Jupiter pulled out his wallet and slapped a fifty down in front of him. The drinks would flow well that night.

As Jupiter sat drinking in silence, a shadow towered over him. He turned his head to find himself staring at a large black bear, his green eyes glaring down at the spiky-haired Tasmanian wolf. There was a large ruby ring on the man's right hand- it sent pinpoints of light flashing in Jupiter's orange eyes. They did nothing to help his mood.

"If you're going to be flashing around that kinda cash, maybe you better buy us all some drinks."

The bear's voice was low and rough, almost gravelly. It carried a tone that seemed to say he was used to bullying his way into things. Unfortunately for him, so was Jupiter.

Jupiter turned on his stool to eye the large man, drinking his Jack with a calm demeanor.

"I might, if you asked politely. Go on, big man. I'm sure your momma raised you right. Ask me nicely, and I won't have to get rough with you."

Their eyes locked, a combat of the wills ensuring that neither could back down and retain their dignity.

The bear swung first, catching Jupiter off guard. The glimmering ring collided with the left side of Jupiter's face, splitting the skin and opening a jagged gash across his visage. The wolf was having absolutely no more of that.

He threw himself at the bear, tackling the giant to the ground and digging his knees into his opponent's ribs. He drew back his already wounded fists and began pummeling the other man's face. Blow after blow landed with sickening accuracy, breaking the beat's nose and jaw as teeth and blood flew. Jupiter's vision has clouded red again.

Wounded and bleeding, the bear was not giving up without a fight. He lifted a dangerous claw and dug it into Jupiter's side, using it to fling the wolf away. He collided with a nearby table, sending drinks flying. It was around this time that two large crocodile bouncers came and seized him around the wrists. The bear was being handled by a third, and was being treated infinitely more gently than Jupiter. The bouncers kicked the door open and tossed the buzzed student outside. Ignoring the blood gumming on his face, Jupiter screamed and shouted profanities after the pair long after the door was shut against him.

Drunk and angry, Jupiter stormed down the street, looking for any excuse to beat the ever-loving hell out of anyone he laid eyes on. Luckily for the denizens of Sauldry, no one was out on the walkways that late. With no went to vent his rage, the bleeding Jupiter eventually sunk to the ground and began beating his fists against the concrete. Fresh jolts of agony shot up his hands, reopening the cuts he had made brawling earlier. He did not care. He was so absorbed in trying to break the sidewalk that he did not ear the soft approach of feet behind him until a large hand was placed on his shoulder.

Jupiter turned. Through his swollen, blood-caked eyes he could see a tall hare, his white fur gleaming beneath the street lamps. He was wiry and muscular, obviously an athlete of some form. He had a look of pity on his face that enraged Jupiter, but before he could speak the man had rapped him on the top of the skull.

"There'll be none of that, boy. I know you're strong, and you obviously have a temper to boot. My name is Rick, I'm a boxer, and I run my own gym. Wanna take a walk with me?"

Jupiter looked at him, not sure to trust this man or run for the hills. He always wanted to be a fighter- his powerful attacks were the fruits of many years of self-training. This could be the chance he was looking for. He took the hare's outstretched hand and got to his feet, limping a little as they headed west.

They walked in silence for what seemed like ages, until Rick held up a hand and stopped Jupiter in his tracks. They stood in front of a gray-and-white building with two windows near the door. The only sign was two crossed boxing gloves expertly painted on the wall. Rick smiled at the young fighter and motioned for him to follow. He led Jupiter inside and flicked on the lights, revealing a pristine white interior loaded with workout equipment. In the very center of the large room was a padded ring lined with red ropes. There were speed bags, punching bags and weight lifting equipment to the north of the room, strength training and treadmills to the south, and two branching rooms to the east and west- obviously men and women's locker rooms and showers.

Jupiter looked around with an eyebrow raised, impressed but skeptical.

"Why bring me here?"

Rick looked at him, no expression on his fine features.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Jupiter."

"Jupiter, you need training. I can offer you that. When you came into the bar tonight, you reeked of trouble. I don't know what you did, but I saw the blood. You need a place to lay low, and I can offer that as well. I can shape you into a damn fine boxer, Jupiter. You've shown you have the raw strength, and the endurance, but you need the discipline. If you do choose to take my offer, it will be hard. You will start at the bottom, like everyone else. You will follow orders, and you will check that temper of yours. DO you understand?"

Jupiter nodded weakly.

"Good. Let me ask you officially, then. Jupiter, would you like to train here?"

"Of course."

Rick smiled at him, obviously pleased.

"Let's get you cleaned up, you look like shit."

A week into his training and Jupiter was ready to quit. The laps around the gym weren't that bad- he was used to running himself ragged during football games, and his endurance was fantastic. The hardest part for him was training with the heavy bag. He was fast, and he was a hard hitter, but after three days of slamming his fists against the resistant sack of sand his entire arms burned with pain. Taking pity on him Rick moved him on to the speed bag, which proved to be difficult in the fact that Jupiter wasn't used to the lightweight tool after so long at its heavier cousin. It took some getting used to, but once he learned to check his power he was able to master the fast-flung punches quite readily.

So, it stood to reason that by the end of that first week, every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he pushed himself to the very edge of his physical limits. It was a Monday, as he sat soaking in the Jacuzzi tucked away into the men's locker room, when he first laid eyes on Sammie.

Rick was sitting along the edge, his feet resting in the boiling water, chatting to Jupiter about moving on to sparring when the snow leopard placed a slender hand on his shoulder.

"Rick, I need you to unlock the showers for me, unless you want me to take up lock-picking."

She smiled at him, her pearly fangs showing. The action seemed to light up her icy blue eyes, and Jupiter found himself hard-pressed to look away. The woman was dressed in tight nylon shorts and a sports bra, showing off her exquisitely toned figure. He crossed his legs unconsciously and cleared his throat.

"Oh, Sammie, this is Jupiter, our newest fighter."

Jupiter smiled, an expression foreign to his facial muscles, sending the jagged scar down his eye wrinkling comically. Sammie glanced at him, her smile fading, and nodded.

"Welcome."

She turned to leave, without so much as a glance back. Rick exited after her, throwing Jupiter an apologetic shrug as he disappeared around the corner.

There was no denying it. He wanted her.

The sparring was more difficult than Jupiter expected. Brawling against drunk kids and inexperienced fighters was one thing; pulling punches and dodging blows from experienced fighters was an entirely different world. On more than one occasion he was laid flat, usually by Rick himself, although sometimes the other fighters pulled one over on him. Sammie never sparred with him, though he often watched her practicing during his bouts. Staring at her body while she unleashed powerful kicks on the heavy bag was the most common cause of his injuries. It was hard to stay focused with her around.

His training continued for months, with his skill improving remarkably as time wore on. By February, not even Rick could land a blow on him. He had noticed Sammie watching his spars more recently, and it filled him with pride and recklessness. He began showing off more, pulling flashier moves in hopes to garner her favor. It didn't seem to work, though. She remained as distant as ever, content to simply ignore Jupiter's existence at all times, save for his sparring matches. He knew he had to make a move, or he'd never win her over. Jupiter endeavored to speak with her one Friday evening, as they were both leaving the gym.

"Hey, Sammie, wait up."

She turned her indifferent gaze to him, one shapely eyebrow raised skeptically.

"Do you have any plans tonight? I'd like to take you out for a drink."

She shook her head.

"Sorry, kid. My night is booked full. Maybe some other time."

Sammie pushed past him and began heading to her car, her white hair blowing in the chill winter air. Jupiter watched the shapely woman leave, vowing silently to himself that he would win her, somehow, no matter what it took.

Jupiter's first fight came that April. Rick approached him as he punched at the heavy bag, clearing his throat to announce his presence. Jupiter tuned his scarred face toward the hair, one eyebrow raised quizzically.

"What's up, coach?"

"You have a fight lined up, Jup. Thursday, at the Underground. Think you're up to the challenge?"

Jupiter's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hell yeah! I've been itching to fight!"

Rick smiled at his student, happy for his enthusiasm.

"Good. We'll head out of here at six. You've got three days to prepare."

The rest of the week couldn't pass faster for the striped wolf. He threw himself headfirst into his training, his gusto eliciting a deep sense of pride in his hare trainer. Everywhere he went, the other athletes whispered about his odds, placing bets whenever his scowling gaze was turned elsewhere. His ego was obviously inflated by the whole deal, but it didn't bother most. They were used to Jupiter's mood swings by then. His energy, though, was contagious. The only person who seemed immune to the fever was Sammie, who went about her normal regimen as usual.

As Thursday dawned, Jupiter found himself a nervous wreck. He sat outside the gym, smoking with shaking hands as he watched other fighters enter and exit Rick's sanctum. The nicotine wasn't calming his nerves. As he leaned against the wall, lighting his third cigarette in ten minutes, Sammie's familiar car pulled into the lot. She got out, her gym bag slung over her shoulder, and approached the exit. As she passed by the nervous Jupiter she placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered a simple 'Good Luck' before walking through the door. Jupiter found that the prospect of the fight seemed less scary, somehow. He crushed out his cigarette and headed back inside, eager to find Rick and get this over with.

Rick was easy enough to locate, a small white towel slung around his neck. He was watching a young jackal boy practice his punches, and giving him advice when needed. At Jupiter's approach he excused himself and beckoned the Tasmanian wolf over to his office. Jupiter took a chair and waited.

"Are you ready, Jupiter?"

He nodded, the action sending his dog tags jingling.

"Good. Grab your things, it's time to go,"

The Underground, as it turned out, was an underground parking lot that had fallen into disrepair over the years. The painted lines on the concrete were faded beyond recognition, and the whole place smelled damp. Jupiter didn't care, though. He was too full of energy to be disgusted. He could feel it- this was where he belonged. He exited Rick's Toyota and began wrapping his fists with the athletic tape stored in his bag. It was to be a bare-knuckle fight.

He found his opponent almost immediately. It was a tall, wiry ferret with ropey muscles and deep red fur. He sat wrapping his fists, oblivious to the new arrivals. His brown eyes remained resolutely focused on the task before him. Jupiter saw the faint chalk outline that marked the ring etched on the floor. Two chairs were set up, on in either corner of the north and south sides of the ring. Rick directed him to his and faded into the crowd. The ferret stood and took his seat, eyes locked on Jupiter.

The referee came out, a graying badger in a black polo, and raised his hand. Silence fell over the crowd.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight we welcome newcomer Jupiter to our ring! Weighing in at 225 pounds, the Tasmanian Terror is itching to dampen his fists! We also welcome returning fighter Nicolai! Weighing in at 180, this ferocious ferret is a speed demon when backed into a corner. Fighters, are you prepared to begin?"

Both nodded at him grimly.

"Then let's get this started! On my count. One... Two... BEGIN!"

He rapped a small piece of wood against a cowbell, and the ferret rose with ridiculous speed. In an instant his fist was flying toward Jupiter's face, but the wolf recovered from his surprise fairly quickly. He held up his forearms to block the blow and ducked down, aiming an uppercut at his opponent's chest.

Nicolai leapt backward and lashed out with his feet, kicking toward Jup's knees. He made contact and Jupiter went down, snarling. He brought a fist up and made contact with the ferret's groin. Nicolai hissed and fell to his knees, bringing him down to Jupiter's level. Jupiter fell upon him, punching as hard as he could, smashing his fists into his opponent's face and chest. Bleeding, but not out, Nicolai, bucked his hips and flipped the wolf off of him. He whipped around and brought his foot down on Jupiter's wrist. The sound of snapping was audible even over the frantic screaming, cheering, and jeering of the wild crowd. Jupiter bit back a scream and narrowed his eyes at the unsmiling ferret.

He howled and pounced, keeping his broken wrist close to his body as he lashed out with his right arm. He brought the ferret to the cold, hard cement and resumed punching, saliva dripping from his snarling, rage-clouded visage. Hit after hit landed with a sickening thud, blood and teeth flying, until the red-furred ferret slapped his hand weekly against the concrete.

The badger rushed in and pulled Jupiter off of the ferret, simultaneously raising his unharmed hand in victory.

"Ladies and gentlemen! WE HAVE A WINNER!"

The sound of cheering was loud enough to hurt Jupiter's ears. His arm was on fire; the pain was nearly unbearable. He didn't care, though- winning was pure ecstasy, shoving the pain to the back of his mind as he exulted in his victory.

He had won. He came out on top. He was the best.

Fights racked up beneath Jupiter's belt as time passed, and come September he was being heralded as the greatest underground boxer in Sauldry- at least of the last decade. Rick never let his training slide, and regardless of his reputation Jupiter trained harder than ever. Sammie began to warm up to him, ever so slowly, until he was at least able to hold short conversations with her. He quickly learned that she hated braggarts. It was hard for him to curb his tongue, especially considering his recent successes, but he worked diligently to make sure he did not set her off.

It was a Thursday, as he watched her sparring with a tiger man, when he was finally able to ask her out for a drink after the gym closed. Sammie was leaving the ring, her soft fur matted with sweat, when Jupiter snaked in front of her. Knowing he was blocking the exit, he was confident that she would not get away from him this time.

"Hey Sammie! Got any plans this evening?"

The snow leopard placed a hand on her hip and grinned up at Jupiter.

"Well I didn't, but I assume you have a proposition?"

"You, me, drinks at the Underhill. What do you say?"

Sammie rolled her eyes and heaved a rather fake sigh, but she nodded.

"Alright, sure. Let me grab a shower. Let's take your car, rich boy."

Jupiter couldn't hold back his smile.

Jupiter raced toward his car, taking a small leap and sliding across the hood as Sammie watched and laughed. The cherry red GTO was his baby; he had gotten it for his 15th birthday, a gift from his father who knew just how much the young wolf loved cars. It was old, one of the '69 models, but Jupiter kept his prize looking just as good as the day it rolled out of the dealership.

The top was down, and Sammie nimbly jumped inside over the door. Jupiter cringed a little but didn't say a word- he was afraid he'd jinx his good luck if he did. He started the car and it purred like a kitten, flaring to life after a quick turn of the engine. He pulled out of the lot and headed toward the bar, the wind caressing his spiky hair and sending Sammie's flying like a banner of silk. Over its roar he could hear her laughing, enjoying the ride.

He parked outside of The Underhill, a high-class little joint he had found through his family many years ago. It was still a bar, there was no doubt about it, but it was much fancier than, say, Sportz. It was definitely a great place for a first date with a woman like Sammie, and he was sure of that. The music inside was pounding, as much as jazz can pound, and Sammie had to fight to keep a straight face. Jupiter led her to a comfortable booth and headed up to the bar to secure their drinks. He returned with a whiskey and soda for himself, and a tequila sunrise for the kick-boxer.

Empty glasses began to pile up on the table as they whittled away time, talking about fights they had fought and injuries they sustained. Their speech slurred, but they did not stop, laughing and having a blast as they both came out of their shells.

She was beautiful, and Jupiter could not keep his eyes off of her. For the first time since his drunken beating at the college, he felt free. He felt happy. He felt... right.

Being quite the experience drinkerd, Jupiter was able to drive the pair back to Sammie's house around two in the morning without any trouble. He half-sat on the hood of the GTO, watching her fumble with her keys with a smile on his face. Finally the woman had the right one and she unlocked her door. Before her feet had crossed the threshold, she looked back at Jupiter and jerked her head towards the inside of her home.

"Come on in, Jup. There's no reason the fun has to stop. Let's watch a movie."

Jupiter got up and moved toward the door. His heart was racing. This was it.

As he entered her home, he was greeted with the sight of her lounging on the couch without a shirt. Her body was tightly toned and muscled, her abs solid and her biceps bulging. She wasn't built like a body builder, but her athletic nature was reflected perfectly in her slender frame. He could contain his lust for her. She smiled at him and beckoned him over, kissing him deeply when he closed the gap between them.

Jupiter awoke with a pounding headache and a sense of personal accomplishment. It had been quite a while since he had been intimate with a woman. He rolled over to hold Sammie close, only to be met with an empty bed. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he could see that the bedroom was a wreck. He sobered quickly, crouching low to the bed and crawling to the floor.

He followed the patch of destruction through the house to the front door. The wooden portal hung loosely, split in half down the center. He was alone. He flicked the lights on and saw a small pool of blood in front of the door.

There was a note attached to the wooden frame.

'Fight for us or she dies. Come to the Al-Aga casino downtown tomorrow at eight.'

Jupiter's orange eyes burned with fury. He got dressed and headed back to the gym, the scrap of paper clutched in his shaking fist.

"I know the owner of Al-Aga, Jupiter, he's not the kidnapping sort of fella."

Rick studied the paper, frowning deeply. One of his star fighters, and a good friend, missing. He glanced up at Jupiter and passed him back the only clue.

"Well, boy. Looks like we're taking a trip. Come with me, I know where the owner hangs out. We can speak to him, maybe clear this whole mess up. What do you say?"

Jupiter ran a hand through his white-tipped mane.

"You're driving."

The pair climbed into Rick's ancient Toyota. Jupiter remained silent through the short trip, glaring out the window as if he could set the world ablaze with his anger. Rick made sure to keep his eyes on the boy whenever he could, knowing the wolf suffered from rage-control issues. To his credit, Jupiter was doing a fine job of bottling the emotions roaring inside of him.

Rick rolled to a stop in front of Sportz. Jupiter couldn't help but suppress a snort of derision.

"Really? The owner of the largest casino in Sauldry hangs out in a joint like this? I don't believe it."

The hare shook his head, smiling.

"He's a real salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. Jup. You might like him. Come on, let's see what he knows."

Rick turned to face the young fighter, the joy draining from his face as he saw Jupiter's size 13 workboot collide with the white wooden door.

"Son of a bitch, Jupiter, Wait!"

Jupiter burst through the door, channeling all his hatred as he roared.

"The owner of Al-Aga! Where the fuck is he?!"

He brought his thick fists down on the bar, cracking the polished wood for a good two feet. Everyone in the bar backed away from him. They were terrified. He liked it that way.

A large elephant man sitting in the corner stood, and Jupiter's anger faded for a split second as he took in the sight. The man was easily nine feet tall, and as such he had to stoop to keep from smashing his skull against the ceiling. His red eyes were calm and assertive, definitely an alpha male. He looked down and Jupiter disapprovingly.

"Hey. You better pay for that. The owner of this fine establishment hasn't done anything to you, boy. What's all this rage about, anyway? What's the owner of Al-Aga done to you?"

Jupiter hated being talked down to. The rage was back, filling his vision with deep crimson.

"He kidnapped my friend, Sammie."

He threw the note at the elephant. The giant man produced a pair of eyeglasses from his pocket and read over it twice.

"The owner of Al-Aga is no criminal, and certainly no kidnapper. If this is real, it was not done at his request. Behind his back, though... it's highly possible."

He seemed to mull over an idea in his head, ignoring Jupiter and the mortified Rick.

"Son, I happen to know your opponent, and I have an idea. Come outside with me, we will talk this over."

He placed a powerful hand on Jupiter's shoulder and began leading him toward the door- stopping only to throw a clip of crisp bank notes to the man behind the counter.

"By a new bar for yourself, Joe. Just not one of the marble ones, they get cold in the winter."

The barkeep nodded his wide-eyed thanks as the three men exited the building.

The bright spotlights outside the pyramid-shaped casino were almost blinding, but Jupiter forced his eyes to stay open. He entered the clear glass doors with his head held high, walking proudly through the crowd as he approached the main office area. A tall gorilla dressed in a crisp black suit stood guard outside the door, surveying the muscular Jupiter with disdain.

"Sir, customers are not permitted past this point. I'm going to need you to return to the designated areas, please."

Jupiter dropped his bag and scowled at the ape.

"Your boss has my friend Sammie. My name's Jupiter, and I'm here for the fight. If you don't let me through, I will tear your head from your shoulders and beer-bond your lifeblood. I am in no mood to play games."

The gorilla stepped aside and waved the striped wolf though. Jupiter couldn't help but grin a little.

Inside the office, three jackals dressed in fine black suits sat around a polished mahogany table, facing him.

"Ah, the famed Jupiter, scourge of the underground fight scene. Welcome, welcome, have a seat. I believe you owe me five grand, Boris."

A red-furred jackal scowled and passed an envelope to the gentleman in the middle. He pocketed it smugly, and turned his attention back to Jupiter.

"Look, kid, here's how it works. You fight our best fighter, Atma the Unrelenting Mountain. If you win, you get ten grand in cash and your precious leopard is returned to you. If you lose, she will fight for us until she dies, but you... Well, you won't survive the encounter. Are we clear, Jupiter?"

Jupiter forced himself to nod, swallowing his rage. The head jackal smiled wickedly at him.

"Excellent. Boris, show the strapping young lad to the changing room, please."

The red jackal nodded and rose, motioning for Jupiter to follow him. Shouldering his bag he followed the suited man. They passed a table surrounded by a thick crowd, every spectator holding their breath silently as they observed the game going on. It was poker. Jupiter caught sight of a tawny-furred wolf, her ears tipped the a rich chocolate color. He perked up and waved, glad to see a familiar face. The woman glanced up and smiled widely, returning his greeting.

"Jup! Hey, are you fighting tonight?"

He nodded at her.

"Sweet! We'll stop by after the tourney. Is that alright? You don't mind, do you, Apollo?"

The fox sitting across from her smiled.

"No, that sounds like fun. We'll watch it after I kick your ass back to Solitaire."

"Oh whatever, you're going down. See you later, Jupiter, I have to beat some humility back into this fox."

"Good luck with that, Nell."

"And good luck with your fight, man. I hear you're up against the Mountain. You need all the help you can get."

The jackal placed a hand on his shoulder and dug his claws in, just enough to sting the wolf. He pushed, and Jupiter began walking with one last wave to his friends.

Every seat in the house was packed as he hovered outside the ring an hour later, shaking with adrenaline and anger. Cameras flashed and colored spotlights danced across the seats. The noise was deafening.

The referee came out, a white-furred ferret, and began announcing the fight. Jupiter was weighed in and given the clearance to enter the ring while the crowd cheered. He lifted a fist into the air and they went wild. He saw no sign of his opponent.

'Weighing in at three hundred and thirty-six pounds, the nine-foot tall fighter known as the Unrelenting Mountain has never been defeated! Owner of the fabulous casino you're all watching from, I give you Atma Ki Aga, the Unrelenting Mountain!"

Jupiter had though his cheers were loud. When the ref finished announcing his opponent, the noise reached a supersonic scream. People lost their minds. He trusted in what the elephant had told him back at the bar, but he couldn't help feeling a tiny bit afraid. Unbeaten and gigantic, the man sounded like a terror.

Across the ring the Mountain entered. He was indeed a giant, but when Jupter's orange eyes met the man's reds, he knew. This elephant was the man at the bar. This man was going to ensure that the underdog prevailed.

The pair touched their gloves and placed their fists up, eyes locked as they stood poised to begin the fight.

Ding.

The moment the bell chimed, the elephant swung a massive fist toward Jupiter. He ducked nimbly and came around behind Atma, punching at the giant's back. The blows didn't seem to faze him. He turned and struck Jupiter in the ribs. He could hear a crunch when the blow collided, and pain shot through his torso. He growled and aimed a blow right at the elephant's skull. His fist collided with bone, and he could feel a shudder travel through the elephant's body.

Atma turned and trumpeted, rushing toward the comparatively tiny Jupiter. AS he neared, the wolf caught a playful wink from the giant. He dropped to the ground and brought his leg around, sweeping it beneath the large elephant. Atma crashed into the ropes and tore them clean in half. He caught himself before he hurtled over the edge and rotated his body back toward the ring. He nodded his head to the left slightly and threw a punch. Jupiter ducked to the left and rained blow after blow into the elephant's side. Atma took a knee and let loose another trumpet, swinging toward the wolf again.

In his heart, Jupiter knew how embarrassing the fight would be for Atma, but the man had a heart as big as his body. Hearing Jupiter's story, he could not sit by while a woman was in danger- especially when she was in danger in his name. His defeat would hurt, yes, but he would help the young man at any cost. And, as an added bonus, this would be the perfect way to get rid of the hovering jackals running the casino in his stead. Jupiter could not help be feel affection for the man, and he swore in his heart that he would find a way to repay his kindness.

The blow missed Jupiter by a mile. The wolf lifted his leg and lashed out, striking the kneeling elephant in the skull two, three, four times. The massive creature reeled and tried to stand. Jupiter punched him in his sculpted abs, stringing together a combo of blows that might have destroyed any normal fighter. Atma clutched as his gust and collapsed again, struggling to rise. Two swift punches to the skull and he lay still beneath the harsh glare of the spotlights.

Sweat soaked Jupiter's fur, and his cracked ribs hurt like hell. As the ref counted down, Atma opened his eyes and winked slyly at Jupiter. The young wolf raised his arms into the air and pumped them twice. The crows went absolutely nuts. It wasn't a true victory, but Sammie was free. That was good enough for him.

The three jackals were at their table once more, teeth bared in anger.

"Take your money and your whore and leave. We know the pussy threw the fight for you. Vacate the premises and watch your back, wolf. We will end you. We have connections, and we dislike being cheated."

Jupiter clutched the sobbing Sammie to his chest and glowered at the trio of men sitting at the table before him.

"The mountain's fury is great. Gentlemen, perhaps you should worry about your own backs. Atma was not happy to hear about your extracurricular activities, and I hear he is as wrathful as he is massive. If you come near me, my fights, my friends, or our gym again, I will destroy you- unless Atma beats me to it."

No one noticed the elephant slip in through the side door; no one except Jupiter, that is. He placed one hand beside Boris' head, and laid his free hand against the silent jackal sitting on the other end. With a roar he pushed his arms together, catching all three men in his crushing blow.

Their heads cracked like coconuts, sending shards of bone and flecks of gore splattering to the table beneath them.

"Elias, please fetch a mop."

The intercom crackled as a voice replied to the elephant's request. He wiped his blood-streaked hands on his jeans and turned toward the unfazed couple waiting patiently.

"I'm sorry you folks had to see that. I cannot abide cruelty beneath my roof. Jupiter, you're a fine fighter and I'd love to truly fight you someday."

He extended a hand toward the white-striped wolf. Jupiter took it readily, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

"I... Jesus, man. You're a lot scarier than you let on, aren't you?"

Atma smiled at him.

"Everyone is, Jinx. It's how fighters keep their opponents on their toes. I've had my suspicions about the Wafsa triplets for a while, but... Kidnapping? Assault?"

He shook his head, his eyes downcast.

"I'm not a crimelord. I'm not a mob boss. I'm a man trying to make a living through entertainment. There is absolutely no excuse. If I had fired them, they'd be free to hurt more innocent people."

"I... Atma, Sammie did nothing wrong. All she did was associate with me. I'm not innocent. I've done... I've done something horrible. If they had just come after me, I might have sat and taken a beating from you. But Sammie... No. I couldn't stand it."

Atma raised an eyebrow.

"A true fight between us, with you refusing to fight back? I would kill you. Not on purpose, but because you would not resist. Be glad we met that night, young man. I am."

Jupiter forced a smile.

"If your past bothers you, Jupiter, make amends. Be strong. Pay your penance. Sometimes, it's the only way to live with yourself."

A thin otter entered the office with a bucket, his eyes widening at the mess and bodies.

"Ah, Elias. This stays between us, yes?"

The janitor nodded and began cleaning, his hands shaking slightly as he ran his mop across the hard wood floor.

"Jupiter, if you ever seek sustained employment, then please come see me. You have my word you will be well provided for. Fair fights, now that these foul creatures are gone."

"Maybe later, Atma. I'm not quite ready to leave Rick just yet."

Atma smiled and walked the couple out to the car lot, where Jupiter's GTO sat idling.

"Take care, Jupiter. I wish we could have met under happier circumstances."

They shook hands once more, and Jupiter drove off in the direction of the hospital.

Once he had secured a room for the injured Sammie, he set off to find the room of young Leah. A year had passed, but the girl remained in a deep coma. He felt shame welling up inside of him, shame and sorrow for the grievous injuries he had dealt the young badger. As he entered her room, her parents raised their heads. Their eyes were red and swollen, fresh tears matting their fur.

"Can... can I help you?"

Jupiter took a deep breath and pulled a thick manila envelope from his bag.

"My name is Jupiter. I'm... I'm the one who beat your daughter. I'm going to turn myself in, I just... I need you to have this."

He handed her mother the envelope.

"I cannot apologize enough. I have anger issues. I'm trying to work on them. I know that's no excuse for what I've done, but, please, I hate myself for the attack more than you ever could."

As they stood there, gaping in equal parts horror and shock, Jupiter turned and left. He stopped to give a kiss to the sleeping Sammie, and left the hospital. There was a sheaf of paper resting atop the snow leopard's end-table.

_Sammie. I care for you, so much. I know I've been an ass in the past, I know I have issues with my rage. I couldn't live with myself if I lost you. I did a terrible thing before we met. I put a woman into a coma. I gave her family the money I won from the fight, I hope you understand. I'm turning myself in.

Get better and come see me, will you? Tell Rick where am I. He deserves to know. When I get out, maybe I'll be easier to live with.

I love you, Sam. I really do.

-Jup_