A/N: I was unsure of when to end this chapter. Part of me wanted to end it after the feast but I think it would of been too short. So, I decided to try a longer than usual chapter for a change. Double the normal word count.
Chapter 4: Not Cruelty, Just Survival
Lightbringer signals the feast to begin. I see all the predators begin to undress the prey in front of them. I watch with horror. They bite into the prey while it's still alive. Blood flows upon the wooden table. I need to think of something, anything to stop this. I shout," ZPD you're all going to be arrested for eating children."
Everyone turns their heads towards me and watch in stunned silence. Nick says, "Carrots, are you crazy? We don't even have a way to contact Bogo."
I respond, "I had to think of something that would stop this madness."
Nick urges me to run out of the room, the kits follow too. We are stopped by two tigers. Animals in the room get up to surround us. Nick says, "I have a very bad feeling, you should not have done that."
Lightbringer soars into the sky and says, "Everyone, STOP! Everyone, return to your seats. NOW!" One of the wolves decides to stay around. Blocking our path preventing us from going back to our seats. "This is not a request. Do as your told." The wolf claws at me scratching my face. Nick lunges at the wolf to keep him off me. Lightbringer sees this and draws his sword. The armored wolf is about to kill Nick. Lightbringer flies towards us swinging his sword in arc decapitating the wolf. "Now, that's over, does anyone else want to try something? Whitebreeze, tend to our guest's wounds."
Whitebreeze grips her staff and points it at me. I can feel my wounds closing, it's incredible, it's as if the wolf never scratched me at all. We all return to our seats. The predators have not continued eating. There's a bunch of prey with missing limbs now with blood freely flowing on to the table. Lightbringer says, "So, the bunny from beyond speaks. Let me be clear, you have no authority here. You intrigue me though, why do you think it's wrong for predators to eat? What does your fox friend eat, if not prey?"
I tell him that in Zootopia predators eat insects. Predators and prey live in harmony in Zootopia, not like this. Lightbringer says, "That, might be how you do things in Zootopia. We've never heard of insects here. We must eat something to survive. We can't subsist on vegetables forever. Now, bunny from beyond, do you have a name?"
I say, "I am Judy Hopps, Officer in the ZPD. The kit beside us is called Alim."
Lightbringer says, "Judy, what do you propose we eat if not prey? If you can find an alternative, we will consider it."
Nick says, "Am I required to eat this kit? What happens if I don't?"
Lightbringer answers, "Nothing, will happen if you don't eat the kit, keep it if you wish. I don't know why you would do so. You know as well as I that you cannot subsist on vegetables forever."
I ask, "Why are there only children here served as food?"
Lightbringer responds, "We eat children since it was discovered that it was most beneficial to do so. Parents must live to keep order within the prey hierarchy. I believe, we've reached enough of an understanding. Everyone resume your meals. We'll talk more after this feast is finished. "
I was unable to prevent any of this, all the prey are eaten alive, screaming and crying while it happens. The table is covered with blood now. Everyone has finished their food. Nick, myself and the two kits eat the carrots in front of us. Lightbringer says, "Now that everyone's finished eating, it's now the time for conversation. Do you have any questions? We will have questions for you."
I ask, "What happened to the cellphones me and Nick had before we got captured?" Maybe, we can use them to contact the ZPD and our family.
Lightbringer says, "What is a cellphone?"
"It's a rectangular shaped item that allows you to talk to animals."
"We have given those to our crystal weavers to try to discern their purpose, we can give them back to you, if you want"
Nick says, "Why did you order my captors to try to make me eat a kit earlier? You're seemingly fine with me keeping the kits alive right now." Maybe, we'll finally get some answers here. This is our chance to ask everything.
Lightbringer says, "This will be a long tale. You have a right to know. I have mentioned the cultists to you before, yes? This has everything to do with the cultists and what they are. The cultists are led by the Prime. The Prime is a tiger and stronger than all the other cultists. A cultist when killed will simply attack again at a future time. It's unknown how often they can do this. We have seen one instance of a cultist being killed. A wolf and the Prime fought over the chasm for hours. We simply observed it from afar. They fought each other until the Prime was able to obtain the upper hand. That was the last time we've ever seen of the wolf. It is assumed, the wolf died. It's the only time a cultist has ever been killed.
"It was rumored that the cultist did one thing wrong. The cultist had eaten live prey and the Prime killed him for his actions. Our intention for you, was to make you eat live prey so that the Prime would execute you himself. We thought that we could not kill you or the rabbit, only the Prime could. So, our plan was to capture you. Make you eat live prey. Set you free then let the Prime deal with you."
Alim says, "That's a legend in my village. You actually saw it? You see mister fox? That story is true! The blade the animal uses is still in my village. But that happened ages ago."
Lightbringer says, "The power of the Everlight grants some of us really long lives. Our lives are filled with conflict, we live day to day as can. There's actually a blade? Ever since that rumor, we've been trying to claim the weapons they use. They vanish upon the cultist's death. When the cultist dies, they simply vanish, leaving no trace that they were there at all. We must see the weapon for ourselves."
Alim says, "Please kind lion, spare my village."
Lightbringer says, "You think of me as kind?"
Alim says, "You saved mister fox, that makes you kind in my book."
Everyone watches this exchange with Lightbringer and Alim at a loss for words. The kit is completely unafraid of the lion.
I comment, "But you said, earlier there was nothing else to eat within this place, so you eat live prey instead. Are you lying? What do the cultists eat?"
Lightbringer responds, "It is not a lie, we don't know what the cultists eat or what their motives are. They seemingly, attack at random we repel them and survive. Long ago, we did try to attack the cultists base in force, we were repelled with heavy losses, we have not tried anything like that ever since."
Nick says, "So, the wolf I killed earlier isn't actually dead?"
Lightbringer says, "If, history is anything to go by. The wolf is not dead and will return sometime in the future."
Nick says, "Should I be glad that I didn't kill someone?"
Lightbringer says, "Death is a part of life." After a few moments of silence. "It seems, you have run out of questions, now it's our turn. Anyone who has a question for our esteemed guests, may ask it now."
One of them asks, "Why is a fox and bunny together? How does such a thing happen outside of the valley or the cult?"
Nick and I tell them of the story of how we met, how we stopped a sheep mastermind and saved the city. These locations are completely foreign to them.
Nick asks a question, "When I was freed, I saw fire given form trying to attack animals, what are they?'
Lightbringer says, "We don't know how the cultists control them, they are elementals. They come in more forms than just fire. The one that attacked us today was one of their weakest members. "
I say, "Weak? If that's weak, what do you call strong? He alone killed many animals and was able to control an army of fire."
Lightbringer says, "Weak, trust me. The strong ones are far more dangerous. Luckily, they seem content in keeping to their own most of the time."
Nick comments, "It's clear that the cult has many secrets and is rather powerful, how does one become a member? Have you tried infiltration?"
Bloodstorm says, "It's not known how one becomes members of the cult. What is known is that cultists are really good friends with prey. Everlight is in serious trouble when the prey attacks along with the cultists."
Whitebreeze says, "During their last incursion, they killed everyone en route towards the light. None of the cultists seem to leave, they reach the light then turn upon our defenses until they are all struck down."
Lightbringer concludes the feast, "And so we live, while trying to survive from these cultist attacks. I've decided, we're not to harm the kit's village, we will send a team to look at the weapon. Maybe it can be of use to us. Nick Wilde, since you did not eat a kit today, one will no longer be provided for you in the future, we will provide you with more carrots. If you want to eat a kit. You can simply ask anyone within Everlight. They will give you theirs. Furthermore, as long as these visitors do not cause us harm. No one shall harm them. I will also have the cellphones Judy asked about earlier delivered to your residence. Everyone is dismissed."
Everyone leaves to return to their homes. We return to the green crystal building we've been given to live in. Alim asks the kit, "What's your name?"
She says, "I'm Minty." The kit's fur is white with patches of black. Her eyes are green. Finally, taking note of her attire, her outfit is entirely pink. "You have beautiful blue eyes."
Alim says, "Thanks. How did you get taken here?"
She says, "A fox took us there. He said that we were going to go to a better place. I didn't expect all the children I was with to be eaten alive."
I say, "You're safe now, with us, we won't eat you. Unfortunately, we can't seem to prevent other animals from being eaten."
Nick says, "It's been a long day, why don't we go to sleep?"
I note, "There's only one bed, how will we sleep?"
Nick tells us of the sleeping arrangements he has thought of. I am sleeping to the left, the two kits are in the middle, and he's on the right. Sleeping just like a family.
In morning, I've thought of a few questions to ask Lightbringer. We go towards the building with gold crystals again. I ask Lightbringer how baths work and if they have any. He tells us to go to a massive building made from blue crystals. We step inside there's a rather large basin that's empty. There's a staff with a blue crystal on each of the corners. The wolf inside the building greets us. The wolf says, "How this works is that you press the button on the staves, water will come out. Enjoy. When finished, simply sit in front of the chair here, someone will press the button on this staff and you will be dried off." That staff has a red crystal I noted.
So, one of us has to stand outside for the water to run. Nick and I take turns in being the one to fill the basin. We haven't had a bath in a long time. We sit in front of the staff to dry off. The power of the staff creates an extremely warm and comfortable wind. We return to Lightbringer's place. We ask him about food. He says, "Food will be delivered to your place." We return to the place we were assigned to live; the carrots are already there. We each eat our portion of carrots.
We return to Lightbringer and ask what there is to do for daily activities. He says, "I am tired of your constant questions, I'm assigning Whitebreeze to be your guide. She will live with you for the duration of your stay. Wait outside this building, she will show up."
We go outside of the building and wait for Whitebreeze to show up. She tells us, we can learn the properties of the crystals, there's also school for the kits, if we so choose. She gives us the guarantee that the kits won't be harmed. We drop the kits off at school. The school is made from different colors of crystal. A wolf greets us and tells us not to worry about them. We go to a building made of red crystals to learn about the crystals. A timber wolf clad in red crystal armor meets us. The room has tons of different color crystals placed upon a wooden table. The wolf says, "Welcome newcomers. I have been instructed to teach you about the properties of the crystals."
The wolf holds a purple crystal and says, "The purple crystal you see here has properties of negation and communication. Any bolt of energy directed towards the crystal will simply disappear. The warriors you've seen earlier with purple crystal armor are all part of a hive mind, they can hear each other's thoughts while being fairly far apart."
The wolf reaches for a red crystal, "This crystal has control over the power of fire when tempered differently it does various things. You've been to the bath, you've seen the warm wind it can produce. When forged into armor. It gives the user limited control over fire. BEHOLD!"
The wolf breathes fire into the air. The wolf reaches for a yellow crystal and says, "This crystal gives us the ability to heal. You've seen this when Judy was struck by the wolf. Whitebreeze here, used her staff to heal Judy and the wounds completely disappeared. This is also sometimes how we spar and improve our abilities in combat. All wounds that aren't permanent can be healed by this crystal. We haven't discovered what green crystals do yet. They seemingly do nothing."
The wolf reaches for a blue crystal, "These crystals give us control over the power of water. You've seen this with the first staff you've been given. You've also seen it at the bath. The crystals when tempered differently has different effects."
The wolf reaches for a gold crystal. The color is extremely similar to yellow. The wolf says, "These are extremely rare. They have the power to heal us and if made into armor gives the owner control over lightning as well as the power of light itself. That's why Lightbringer is able to fly like he is."
The wolf says, "It's time for lunch." Carrots arrive for us; two rabbit kits arrive for the wolf and Whitebreeze. They eat the kits slowly. I say, "I can't get used to this, there simply must be a better way to live."
Whitebreeze says, "Innocent child, there's no better way, if you can think of one, I will be glad to try."
Nick says, "While, we're stuck here. I kind of want to have some fun. Would it be too much to ask to have a suit of armor crafted for me and weapons as well, so that I can spar?"
I say, "This is just a game to you Nick? Why would you want to do that?"
Nick says, "We're stuck here for the time being Carrots, why don't we have some fun while we're at it. It's supposed to be a vacation after all."
The wolf says, "Comical, I will have complete armor suits made for you two and then you can spar together. My name's Firefang. Whitebreeze can heal you of all wounds. Give me an hour." Firefang then leaves the building for parts unknown, we're here left with Whitebreeze.
Firefang comes back and tells us to follow him. We're led this time to an arena with spectators. Whitebreeze leads me to a room with three suits of armor and two steel swords. She tells me to pick one, I notice one is made of red crystals, another with blue, and a third with purple. She says, "I highly recommend you not to choose purple, the experience of being part of a hive mind can be quite jarring." I tell her that only Nick wanted to fight and that I didn't. "Think of it as a competition, don't you want to be better than the fox at something?" My competitiveness takes over, I think of the time I was back at the academy in the boxing ring. I put on the red armor and take the two swords. The swords are a bit heavy, but the armor is amazingly light. I am able to move a ton even though the armor is covering my entire form.
I walk out of the room and into the arena, I note there's tons of spectators. Lightbringer is in the middle of the arena. I see Nick on the other side of the arena, he has chosen blue armor. Lightbringer says, "Behold, a competition between our two guests from beyond. Let's see how they fight with our weapons and armor. Don't worry, no one will be permanently harmed. Fight as if you were fighting for your life." He flies off into the air and shouts, "BEGIN!"
These swords of mine, how do they even do this? It's so unwieldy, I can't land hits well. Nick seems to having similar difficulties at least. I try to strike Nick, I nearly ended up hitting myself with all his dodging. Nick says, "Aww, is the little bunny having trouble?" I decide to throw my weapons at him upon hearing this remark. He dodges them easily. They're embedded into the wall now. "What's the little bunny going to do now?" His slashes strike the armor, I can feel some pain as it hits. It's unable to cut through the armor at all. I bounce away from him and decide to try a different tactic. The wolf did say this armor has limited control over fire. I opened my mouth to try to breathe fire.
I breathed fire at him. Nick ends up screaming in pain, what have I done? Have I gone too far? Nick collapses to the floor. Four tigers walk into the arena and carry Nick away. Lightbringer flies down to the center of the arena he takes my hand and raises it. He says, "Winner, Judy Hopps!" I am crying if I wasn't wearing a helmet they would be able to see my tears. He tells me not to worry, Nick is okay. I am led out of the arena back to where I came in. I take off my armor, my eyes still stained with tears. Whitebreeze says, "Don't worry, Nick is fine." I am led out of the room and back towards the main entrance of the building. I see Nick there completely unharmed.
Nick says, "Aww, did the little bunny thought she really hurt me?"
"You, stupid fox I saw you scream in pain before my eyes, was that just an act?"
"Oh no, that was all too real, but it also disappeared in a flash. Sparring was rather fun. We should do it again sometime."
"FUN? YOU CALL THIS FUN?" I throw punches at him over and over.
"Ouch Carrots, stop. Mercy, please." Nick looks to Whitebreeze with pleading eyes.
Whitebreeze watches this with amusement and comments, "I am not getting involved." My rage subsides after I felt like Nick has suffered enough. We leave all the armaments at the arena. We go back to our residence, Whitebreeze follows us. I notice the kits are already home. Whitebreeze puts her staff at a corner of the room.
I ask the kits, "How was your day?"
The kits replied, "it was fine except for lunch. They ate other children similar to us. We were given carrots to eat instead. We had a lot of fun otherwise. This is way better than life in the valley."
Minty says, "I saw other bunnies similar to me being eaten, you won't eat me, will you?"
I reply, "Of course, Nick won't eat you."
It's time for supper. We all eat carrots except for Whitebreeze. Whitebreeze eats a rabbit kit that was delivered to our house. I note, "there's a lack of beds for the five of us to sleep on."
Whitebreeze says, "Don't worry about it, we'll figure it out."
The kits now tell us more about their school day and what they learned in there. Many of their class mates didn't mind being friends with prey even though that's what they've eaten alive at lunch. They learned about the history of Everlight the uses of the crystals. The great deeds of animals that lived before. They've also have basic math and language courses. The kits say the things they enjoyed most about this school was that they were treated as equals instead of something inferior like life within the valley. To them, life here was an improvement, precarious as it is.
Our cellphones have finally been delivered to us. Nick and I use them to try to contact animals we know. There is no reception. Nick decides to sleep early today and takes his place on the bed. I decide to use my phone as a journal.
Journal entry:
What started as a romantic camping trip with Nick has landed us in this crazy world of Everlight. We have seen stuff we never knew before. We currently live within Everlight, they eat children for food. I am unable to stop it, they don't seem cruel however. I have seen things I've never thought possible, magical crystals that can manipulate the world around us. I myself have used them to breathe fire. There's tales of immortal cultists that simply want to kill us all. Are the animals I live with evil? I don't know anymore. They have been willing to share their secrets and have no qualms with me leaving even though there's not a path outside. Whitebreeze, who recently has been ordered to move in with us, said she's willing to give up on eating prey as soon as an alternative can be found.
I don't know what I would do if I had the power to arrest these animals now, would I simply let them go? Are they wrong for simply just trying to survive? They have also let us keep the two kits Nick was supposed to eat. I guess that means they aren't all that evil.
End of entry
I note that my cellphone is one of the only ways to tell time. It's rather late and time to sleep. I tell her how we normally sleep at night. We take our positions. Whitebreeze lays across our legs and decides to sleep there. Pleasant dreams for us all in one crowded bed.
It's morning already, I notice Nick asleep still. Whitebreeze is up and about. Giving Nick a few more hours, he wakes up briefly and says, "I am tired." He goes back to sleep. Whitebreeze sees this, whispers a message to me. I shout, "That's evil, how can you possibly consider that? You're wrong."
Whitebreeze says, "You know what must be done. The only question is, what do you value more?"
I refuse to entertain Whitebreeze's idea. I run out of the house alone. In the distance, I think I can make out a lion with blue markings and wings jumping across the chasm.
A/N: Posting as I write where this tale ends up even I don't know. I do have a general idea of what I want to tell though. I do like to thank the guest that left : "holy crap this world is MESSED up. judy is going to be scarred for life, can't wait for more updates" as a comment. Originally, I was going to tell this chapter from Nick's point of view but that comment gave me the idea of doing it from Judy's and considering her actions and emotions in more detail.
