Judith made her way to the weapons room. The building was mountainous in comparison to the rabbit, but she was not deterred. Grabbing ahold of a loose brick that jutted out of the building, the doe tested that it would hold her weight. Confident that she wouldn't encounter any problems, she set about climbing her way up the side of the stone monolith, towards the window located two-thirds of the way up. With limited paw and hind paw holds in the wall, Judith had to play it smart. She was constantly watching where she was going, planning several metres ahead so she wouldn't be caught out. Her efforts paid off though as she successfully climbed the wall without being detected.
Resting on the small outer ledge of the window, Judith pulled a bobby pin from her pocket, using it to pick the window lock, grinning when it clicked open. The doe knew she didn't have much time left before someone noticed her absence, so she quickened her pace and hurried inside the room, making her way to the middle where a large shield used many years ago by her ancestors stood. Grabbing the shield Judith moved into the next room, and the object she came across gave her pause. Surrounded by golden curves of metal, the God Killer glittered in the moonlight, which reflected off of the Latin wording engraved down its center. Picking the sword up, the doe gazed at it with admiration as she raised a paw to feel the sharp edge.
Securing it to her side, Judith turned to leave the room when an open closet caught her attention. Tilting her head, the rabbit stepped closer to reveal an outfit she'd never seen before. The top was gold and red, plated and strong, while the skirt was a dark blue, reflecting both power and beauty. Removing the outfit, Judith pawed the fabric before she smiled, ditching her usual golden clothes in favour of the beautiful garments she held. Noticing that the outfit would make her stand out, the doe slipped on a black coat, covering her body. Grabbing her weapons, the rabbit exited the building, jumping from the window ledge and landing soundlessly on her pad-less hind paws. She opted for walking as she made her way to the beach, both excited about what she was planning and terrified of how furious her mother would be. The thought made her frown in discomfort.
It didn't take long to reach the beach where she'd planned for the fox and her to meet. Judith could see his silhouette in the distance grow larger as she edged closer and he seemed lost in thought if his closed eyes and furrowed brow were anything to go by. Once she'd finally closed the distance between them, the doe stood to his left, leaving a safe distance so as not to disrupt his peace. No sooner had she stood by his side, his eyes opened, gaze shifting to her. Purple and emerald clashed together, reflecting their emotions and deepest thoughts. Judith looked away first, a tugging feeling she did not recognize sitting in the pit of her stomach.
"We should be heading off." Judith spoke softly, not making eye contact with Nicholas as she brushed past him and walked towards the boat that sat by the dock. A paw grabbed her arm, keeping her from moving any further and she looked to the tod who had uncertainty swimming in his eyes.
"Are you sure about this, Judith? A lot is happening in my world right now, things that could kill many, and could kill you. Yet here, you can live your life and be safe. No worries. No destruction." He spoke, offering her one last chance to back out, offering her one last chance to stay.
The rabbit turned to him, determination written on her face. "And what kind of mammal would that make me, if I was to stay? Relaxing by the beach in my perfect little world, while animals continue to die by the minute. I understand your concerns, but as a warrior and a princess it is my job to fight and lead, to protect those who cannot protect themselves." Judith responded passionately. She knew the fox meant well by clarifying with her one last time if this was what she wanted, but Judith had made her mind up, and that was not going to change.
Nicholas stepped back with an unreadable expression on his face as Judith walked towards the bobbing boat. Carefully climbing aboard, she slowly let down the sail, not wanting to damage the fabric, and she waited as the fox jumped in. Sailing had never interested the doe, and now she came to regret that. She was forced to let Nicholas take the lead, and he seemed more than capable and at home on the small boat. Realizing it would be better to remain out of his way while he worked, Judith lay down at the stern of the boat, her head resting on her shield. Gazing up at the stars above her, Judith thought about her aunt who no was no doubt watching over her as she headed towards her new life in a world unknown to her.
As the waves gently lapped at the boat, the doe thought about the life she was leaving behind. She'd left behind her family and friends while she moved forward to pursue what she felt in her heart was right. But was it? Judith knew her mother loved her dearly and only wanted to protect her, but the rabbit couldn't stand the thought of idly sitting by and doing nothing as mammals suffered and sought help. Ever since she'd been a kit, Judith knew she'd been destined to do great things, and for years she had trained and pushed herself as she sought to find her true destiny. When the doe had been nine, she'd stopped a fire from taking one of her friends' lives, and knowing she had helped someone had filled her with a rush of pride and enjoyment. With her interest piqued, she'd set about making it her life's mission to help others, and she had sought out private training with her aunt to help her.
At first the bunny couldn't do so much, even the simple task of holding a sword had been difficult for her given her small stature and strength. However, as the years had passed and she'd grow stronger, learning from her mistakes and how to avoid repeating them, Judith had soon become a more challenging opponent for her auntie and the other warriors. Her aunt had taught her many things about the world and how it worked, more precisely how mammals did, and how most were fighters and not lovers. Her auntie had trained with her harder, hoping Judith would not be seen as vulnerable and would come to understand that the world was not as lovely as the young doe hoped.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling to her, and Judith looked to see Nicholas steering the boat, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "Are you alright? You seemed quite lost in thought." The concern in his tone was palpable, and Judith was struck with the notion that this stranger seemed to hold some level of concern for her.
Sitting up, Judith nodded, though she quickly vocalized her response as she realized Nicholas might not have caught the quick bob of her head. "Yes, thank you. I was just thinking of something." Judith kept her response vague, though the sincerity of her thanks was there.
Nicholas was silent, appeased by the doe's response and aware that she had probably never left her paradise of an island before. This trip would be a lot for her, and if she needed time to think about things, then he would willingly grant it to her.
Feeling like the silence between them was awkward, Judith tried to start up a conversation. She had many questions for Nicholas, and being trapped on a long journey together in the middle of the ocean seemed like the perfect time to start asking them. "So, what is the name of your city?" Her eyes found Nicholas' frame as he stood at the helm.
Nicholas tilted his head, gaze swinging to the doe for a moment before they returned to the horizon. His ears flicked in her direction, though, letting Judith know he was tuned into her voice and the conversation. "Asaldeera. The City of Turmoil." He swallowed, eyes reflecting a tinge of grief that didn't go unnoticed by the young bunny. She wanted to know more, wanted to know why the cities name had pulled such a reaction from the tod, but Judith got the impression that Nick wasn't telling her everything and that getting any more information out of him would be difficult. Shrugging it off, she turned to face the ocean, admiring the way the moonlight spilled across the sea in patches of blue and silver.
"So, what's the deal with the outfit?" Nicholas broke the silence, mind whirring. Though he too had many questions for the doe, the sight of her clad in such a revealing outfit had pushed that issue to the forefront of his mind.
Judith hid her smile, paws dropping to run over the strong fabric of her clothes. "It signifies beauty and power. It reminds us that with such great ability, comes great responsibility and that as a warrior, a princess, and an Amazonian, it is my duty to serve, protect, and fight for those who cannot defend themselves. It has been passed down in my family for many generations, and I intend to make my aunt and mother proud while wearing it." She answered, smoothing her paws over the protective plating of the bodice.
"I have no doubt that you'll do just that, Carrots." Nicholas had seen the way the young bunny had fought on the beach. She was strong and smart, and the fox admired both traits. "I suggest you get some sleep as we'll be heading straight to the city once we reach land." He informed her, knowing the journey would take its toll on her. He was used to being awake for hours at a time, but the rabbit on deck with him would need to build up her strength. Nicholas had a feeling she would be the biggest help in the battle they were riding into.
The rabbit obeyed, her thoughts centered around the events of the day and the fox who currently controlled the boat. She definitely wanted to know more about Nicholas Wilde. Getting comfortable on her back, Judith turned her head, pulling the coat tighter around her as the wind whipped at her ears. Letting her eyes fall shut, the gentle sway of the boat lulled her to sleep.
I am so proud of myself for this chapter. And I'm even more proud because today is my last day of school, an it's Friday so I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement. So, to celebrate this wonderful day, I will be doing a double update. You will get chapter three soon enough, probably around noon. So I hope you all enjoy this! And please be sure to leave me reviews, I eat them up like chips
Chapter revised by midnightopheliac