tears of mercury | beastars

chapter 15. WARM PROOF OF KINSHIP

𖤣𖥧.𖤣𖥧𓆏𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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As the play unfolded, the backstage atmosphere grew increasingly tense. (Name) stood on the sidelines, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. From her position, she could see Bill and Legoshi on stage, their towering forms dominating the scene.

At first, the scene followed the script, their exchanges brisk but controlled. But something about their movements began to shift.

Legoshi leaned in closer than necessary, his growling lines taking on a sharper edge. His retorts were quieter but carried an uncharacteristic weight, like he was holding something back—something dangerous.

The first sign that things were going wrong came with a harsh swipe of Legoshi's paw, his claws grazing the fabric of Bill's costume and completely slid off Adler's mask. The audience bustle in murmurs, wondering if it was a part of the act.

But (Name) knew better. She felt the rising tension like an electric charge in the air, every word and movement between the two carnivores crackling with unscripted animosity.

Her heartbeat quickened. She glanced around at the others backstage. The stagehands exchanged nervous glances, and Sanou whispered frantically into his headset, but no one seemed willing to intervene.

She gritted her teeth. "They're going to ruin everything." she muttered under her breath.

She looked back at the stage just as Bill lunged forward, his claws narrowly missing Legoshi's chest. Legoshi countered, his stance lowering into something primal, his fangs bared. The audience gasped, uncertain if this sudden ferocity was part of the performance or something more.

Do something, a voice in her head screamed.

(Name)'s mind raced, scrambling for a solution. She couldn't stop the fight outright—it would break the illusion for the audience—but she could steer the play back on course.

Her eyes darted to the costume rack nearby, and an idea struck her like lightning.

She grabbed a cloak from the rack, her hands trembling with urgency. It was Adler's, a duplicate costume meant as a backup for Louis. Her eyes landed on a wide-brimmed hat lying nearby, one that had been discarded during rehearsals. It wasn't part of the original costume design, but it could work.

Sliding the cloak over her shoulders, she adjusted it quickly, leaving one of Adler's mask behind. The hat's shadow would obscure most of her face, giving her an air of mystery. She tightened the cloak's clasp and stepped toward the mirror.

She caught her reflection and froze.

For a moment, the face staring back at her felt foreign. The costume transformed her, making her look like a ghost of Adler—an echo of Louis but stripped of his commanding presence and confidence.

(Name) clenched her fists, willing herself to push past the unease. "A shadow," she murmured to herself. "A reflection. That's who I'll be."

Her thoughts raced, piecing together her character's motivation as she hurried toward the stage.

"I'll be Adler's reflection," she whispered. "A lost soul—someone trying to find their place but trapped in someone else's shadow."

The idea hit her harder than she expected, tugging at something deep inside her.

A lost soul.

Memories of her brother flickered in her mind, the warmth of his voice, the way he had been her anchor. Without him, she had felt like a wandering spirit herself, unsure of where she belonged or who she was meant to be.

This isn't about me, she told herself firmly, shaking off the thought. "This is about the play."

But even as she stepped toward the stage, the lines between her and the character she was about to create blurred.

(Name) stood at the edge of the sidelines, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. She could hear Bill and Legoshi's growls escalating, their movements may grow more erratic.

She glanced at Louis, who was watching at the two carnivores on stage. His expression was tight, his usual composure fraying as he watched the chaos unfold.

I'll fix this.

Just hold on.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the stage.

The cloak billowed around her as she moved, the audience's attention snapping to her immediately. The hat cast a shadow over her face, masking her identity and adding an air of intrigue.

"Enough!" she declared, her voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

The audience fell silent, the weight of her unexpected entrance pulling them into the moment.

✅ EDITED