A/N: Well, this turned out rather twisted. I started off thinking what would happen if Judy wanted to acquire more clothing.
Chapter 5: Over the Edge, Into the Chasm
I watch the lion leaping across the chasm. The lion has landed on Everlight's side now. It jumps into the air again then it becomes a ball of ice that smashes itself against a building made from purple crystals. I suppose I should be happy? That building was the one Nick and I were held in. The building is destroyed by the impact. It has been spotted by animals now. They're gathering to form a resistance.
The lion continues onwards carving a path of destruction through Everlight. He doesn't seem to care about animals trying to hit him. He looks invulnerable when he becomes a ball of ice that smashes downwards. The only periods of vulnerability is when he jumps into the air.
I notice Lightbringer hasn't moved or shown himself yet. I decide to go to the throne room and see what's happening. I walk past the two tiger guards with purple crystal armor. I see Lightbringer completely uncaring about this incursion. I ask him, "Why do you not kill the cultists yourself?"
Lightbringer responds, "My power is far too great to be wasted upon the likes of him, although this is unusual, he's not here for combat. I don't know what his purpose is, as long as they stay out of his path, no one should be killed. I don't need to use my power to prevent casualties today. Restraint is important, my power mainly exists to combat the Prime or larger incursions.
This lion is one of the stronger cultists. He's able to kill a lot before he's dead. He has earned the name "The Comet" because of his combat style. He's also able to control a large army of water elementals that he hasn't decided to use this time."
I decide to switch to a more casual topic of conversation. I ask the lion, "Is there any way for me to obtain new clothing?"
"We don't make clothing for prey only predators, they won't fit you. If you want new clothes, you must get them from the chasm, which is also the source of all food. As soon as this cultist is dealt with, you can join the next team of gatherers in order to explore the chasm yourself."
Exploring the chasm, maybe I will find a way back to Zootopia or an alternative for food. Why not? "I will gladly join the next team of gatherers."
Lightbringer says, "It's settled then, you will part of one of the next gathering teams. We must first wait for the cultist to be dealt with though." He tells the guards to get a symbol of his authority crafted for me. I assume they're to relay that message to someone else because of their purple armor.
I waited in Lightbringer's room in silence after what seems three hours, the cultist has finally been killed. I walk out to see a trail of destruction through Everlight all the way to Lightbringer's palace. It stopped just before that.
I note it takes about six hours to walk to the edge of Everlight near the chasm. A wolf and a tiger wearing purple crystal armor guards the way out. A foreboding blue building is on the other side. I arrive there finding nineteen predators of various species, they're all in civilian clothing. A tiger called Saberclaw gives me a golden necklace with a gold crystal. Saberclaw's just wearing a standard blue shirt and green pants. He's the leader of this team of gatherers. He tells me, "with this you can take any children or items from the chasm. Animals with black collars around them are off limits. Our quota is a hundred children, you may take anything else if you wish. The children must also be in class." I put the necklace on. What have I gotten myself into? I suppose it's better that I participate in this and possibly make a difference rather than just turning a blind eye and watching it happen.
I suppose I should have seen it coming. The chasm awaits, let's see what secrets it has. We set off to the chasm. I notice the flora here is rather similar to Bunnyburrow. Verdant grassland with a few trees dotting the landscape. If it wasn't for the giant orange stalactite in the sky, it would seem as if I was back home. This landscape bears a stark contrast to the rocky terrain of Everlight. Walking to the first village takes about an hour. I notice only bunnies living here.
The bunnies of the village pay us no mind at all. I note the architecture here is completely made of wood and bricks there's no crystals at all. We stop in front of a school, they tell me their intention is just to pick animals all from a class. I ask them, if I could choose who gets taken instead. They agreed. In this moment, I held fates of children in my hands, I get to choose, who lived, and who got eaten. They tell me, I have two hours to choose, if I don't pick out a hundred, they will simply take enough so that they reach their quota.
They stay outside of the school, I go inside and meet with the principal. The room contains a desk and many pieces of paper and laid on top of it. There's photos hung up on the wall displaying various predators with black collars and blue markings alongside a bunch of bunnies. The photos are shot in front of the school. The principal is a brown bunny wearing a standard business suit. The principal sees me and says, "How could you be with them? To take children away from their own families? How can you betray your own species?"
I respond, "It's not the life I choose, or the life I want, it's simply how things are. I right now have the power to choose who to take, is there anyone you want gone in particular? My quota is a hundred."
The principal says, "How could you even ask that? I won't be choosing for you! Ridiculous! I pray the protectors will be able to save them this time."
"What are the protectors?"
The principal points to a photo on the wall, a fox with a black collar and blue markings standing behind a bunch of bunnies. He says, "Look at this photo, that day, a group like yours came to us. They took a bunch of kits out of school, the fox brought back everyone that was taken. He is a hero that has saved many lives that day. I know what awaits children that you take away from class. I won't be choosing. Retribution comes if we had a hand in your demise, thus we stay complacent and pray for protectors that can save us. Protectors only save them some of the time. Now go, choose your hundred and get out of my sight!"
The photo reminds me of one of the precious blackmail material pictures I've taken when Nick was over at Bunnyburrow. An adorable sight, if only I didn't know the dark meanings of the photos on the wall. That's not how the meeting was supposed to go at all. The principal wasn't helpful at all and stirred up feelings of guilt within me. What is right? Are the cultists evil? Regardless, I have a task to do. A hundred will be taken regardless, it might as well be a hundred of my choice.
I frequent the many classes of the school. The teachers show fear if I approach their class. I observe the classes. No one makes a move to stop me. I notice that not all the children are getting along well. I took note of who caused trouble in class and which. I walk into the classes pointing at who I wanted to take. The teacher tells them they're going to a better place. Some of them eagerly follow me, their eyes are full of hope. Some of them are afraid and don't want to be chosen by me. They come along regardless as if knowing what would be at stake. Some of them apologize profusely for their behavior and tell me to pick another. One of them cries enough that it moves my heart. Her green eyes are filled with guilt as if reflecting my own emotions. It doesn't help that her attire was similar to mine, pink shirt and blue pants. I chose another that was sitting beside her. The kit tells me, "Thank you for not choosing me, I will change I promise. My name is Olivia Jumps". I tell the kit that my name is Judy Hopps. I come out of the school with a hundred children following me and thirty minutes to spare.
I lead the hundred children to the group of predators waiting outside. I was the one the who chose their fate even though a hundred were going to be taken regardless. It's not malice, it's survival. I look at the other buildings nearby. I find a clothing store. I walk in and take a few outfits for myself, some for Alim, some for Minty. The other customers of the store give me wide space displaying fear or reverence. The store owner puts on his happiest face. I walk out of the store without paying with a bag of clothing in hand. I walk really far away from the store and I can hear the sound of the store owner's cries.
Saberclaw asks me if I'm ready to leave. They have gathered a few carrots for me and the kits. We leave the chasm and walk back to Everlight with all the kits in tow. I bring the bag I took from the village back to my residence.
I look at my cellphone, it was 3 am. I open the door. Whitebreeze hears it open and ushers me out of the house. Whitebreeze says, "You finally came back, did you? I'll tell you that Nick got up to eat carrots. He asked where you were. I told him you ran off because you couldn't face the truth. He was too tired to argue and went back to bed. He got up again, ate carrots then went back to sleep. I've also sent your two rabbit kits to school and was here when they came back as well." She's looking after Nick at least. Arguing with Whitebreeze probably wouldn't be much use. I tell Whitebreeze about my day and what I ended up doing. "Good, it should be easy for you then. You know what must be done. He's too proud to ask, you know. I won't force it on him, that's not my role."
I tell her, "I refuse to believe it, you're wrong. I'm tired and I need to sleep." We walk back in the house, I see Nick and the two kits asleep on the bed. I put the bag of clothing I took from the village in the room. I take my golden necklace off and put it on the table. I lay on the bed myself as does Whitebreeze. I hope Whitebreeze was wrong. I thought of what I ended up doing today, was it right? Was it wrong? Is there a better way? Did I betray my own species? Am I worse than the principal who allowed everything to happen? What can I do to change the status quo? I went into a troubled sleep; plagued by questions of morality.
Morning came, I notice Nick up and about. Whitebreeze was wrong you see? We all sit at a table. We all eat carrots. Whitebreeze's food hasn't arrived yet it seems. I ask Nick, "Are you okay? Whitebreeze said you only ate carrots twice yesterday and didn't do much else except sleep."
Nick says, "Yes, everything's fine, I'm tired that's all. I just need rest."
Nick asks me, "Where did you go Carrots? Whitebreeze said you disagreed with her about something then ran off." I tell Nick that I had a pleasant conversation with Lightbringer about the cultist attack yesterday and that I calmed down and came back here.
A rabbit kit stops in front of the house. One of the ones I picked from the chasm yesterday. The kit points to me. He says, "That's the bunny that picked me. The teacher told me I was going to go to a better place."
Whitebreeze eats the kit alive.
Nick asks me, "How does that kit know you? What did you really do?"
I tell Nick, "That kit is lying. He doesn't know me." In the middle of my explanation I notice Nick has fallen asleep. Nick's facial expression looks like he's been betrayed. I carry him to the bed and cover him with blankets.
Alim says, "Mister fox was asleep all the time yesterday."
Minty says, "His fur is rather comfortable."
Alim notices a bag in the room that wasn't here before. He says, "Yay, new clothing I like these very much." Minty picks out clothing from the bag as well.
Whitebreeze leads me out of the house and says, "You know what must be done. How you choose to do it, I don't care." I tell Whitebreeze that I thought of something I must do today. "Have you finally come to your senses? Regardless, if you wish to spend another day gallivanting off to nowhere, be my guest. I will take care of things for you here."
I walk back into the house. I tell the kits that Whitebreeze will take care of them for the day. I put on my golden necklace. I walk out of the house. Whitebreeze's message echoing in my mind. I set off for the chasm alone.
A/N: Each step of the chapter it feels like Judy is in character even though these actions seem completely foreign to her. Reviews appreciated, I want to know what people think. I think I've enough foreshadowing to imply what Judy will do.
