A/N: How exciting, Quickpaw gets to hunt. I guess things are turning around for him.

Chapter 12:The Prime's Gamble and Quickpaw's Hunt


"Wake up, I have been thinking of what to do with you. How would you like to hunt?" I open my eyes and see the tiger from before. "Good, you have opened your eyes. Now, how would you like the chance to catch live prey?"

Finally, this tiger has shown some sense! I knew it, he hunts just as well as I do. I eagerly respond with, "When do I begin?"

"There's a condition that you must agree to first: If you fail at catch your prey, you will eat vegetables else there will be no hunt for you. Are the terms agreeable?"

"Are you going to muzzle me or prevent me from using my claws or shock me if I get close?"

"Absolutely not, we will get rid of these protective gloves. You will also not be muzzled. You won't be shocked either. Show me the predator that you can be."

"This is agreeable. When do I get to hunt?"

"In an hour, I will set everything up. This is splendid." Finally, I might get to eat meat within this foreign place.

After an hour, I'm led outside of the cavern and I see a shirtless marked lion. His pants depict images of icicles. Maybe, he's sympathetic towards me. I see a gigantic track made from ice encircling the village as far as I can see. There's bleachers on the outside and tons of prey in attendance. There's a wall of ice separating the track from the village. I can see tons of prey on the other side watching as well. Looking into the village itself, I can see a giant throne of ice in the distance. The prey watching this are horrified or afraid. This place might not be so bad after all. A door made from ice is right in front of me to enter the track.

The tiger leads me inside the track. He says, "You are allowed to hunt and feast on this deer and none of the prey will stop you. If you can catch it within a lap or less. Do not move until I say begin." His blue eyes meet mine, I feel like I should not disobey.

A deer is also guided inside the track. His choice of clothing is odd. It's black in front and red in the back. The deer steps perilously close in front of me. If I lunged I could have easily grabbed him and eaten him. When is the tiger going to signal this to begin?

The tiger leaps into the air. I can see his wings. He says, "Take your positions." The deer uses a hoof to poke my nose laughs then moves a few steps in front of me. "Begin!"

The deer doesn't even move. He just stands there doing nothing. Time to eat. I lunge at him. I miss and it turns out he has moved a few steps stopping right in front of me. He turns around and laughs. I decide to chase after him. He moves enough to just stay slightly out of my reach. The deer says, "Come on, wolf. Can't you do better than that?" I run faster than before but he stays just slightly out of my reach. "It seems like savages can only catch prey that do not run, a pity."

I say while chasing after the deer, "Your job is to feed me, just stop and let me eat you."

"Is that what you really think? oh my poor confused wolf. You have no idea what's going on, do you?" The deer then slows down a bit but still remains out of reach. "Oh, come on can't you move faster? This isn't really fun you know." I open my mouth to reply. The deer stops completely and sticks his hoof in my mouth. I try to bite it, he moves his hoof out of my mouth faster than I can bite. I bit nothing. "You're not even fast enough to bite me. You call yourself a predator?" The deer then moves slightly ahead of me again.

The deer stays just slightly out of reach. I don't know how long it has been. I still haven't caught my target. A very angry looking tigress jumps on to the track and knocks the deer away blocking my path. I ask, "Can we share him?" The deer stops and moves behind the tigress. I try to move past the tigress but she blocks my path. The tigress is wearing green and white clothing and has a collar just like me. No blue markings, we should be in this together.

The tigress says, "Lasan you DIDN'T even tell me that you were going to do this. The Prime simply told me he had a surprise waiting for me and I find out that you're doing this! Something could have happened to you!"

The deer replies, "Kindleheart I didn't tell you because you always stop me from having fun."

"You're too reckless. You just think about yourself."

"It's perfectly safe you see? This savage can't even hunt."

"You didn't even see him hunt before you agreed to this deal. You're going to get yourself killed. Then what about me?"

I sit here observing their argument unable to do anything. The tiger with wings enters the track. He speaks, "Kindleheart, I did give you permission to jump in and stop this. Lasan, do you wish to continue?"

Lasan answers, "Yes I do. This is rather fun. I get to show this savage that he can't hunt."

The tiger replies, "Very well. This will continue. Kindleheart I won't tolerate any more interruptions from you."

Kindleheart questions, "You're just going to allow this to happen?"

"Why not? It's what he wants."

"Don't you see the risk in this?"

"It does not matter. It's what he wants to do. You two came here seeking power to defend your friends and family from the savages. This incident just proves you are not ready. Now, this event will continue. You two can work out your differences later and to think he thought both of you were ready to undergo the rite. Now, let's get off the track and let this continue. Quickpaw don't move until I give the signal." The tigress is reluctantly led off the track.

They leave the track. It's only me and the deer now. The tiger says, "Resume". I chase after the deer again that just says slightly out of reach.

I refuse to be a failure that can't catch prey. I manage to claw his back leaving marks through his shirt and part of his skin. He bucks me off and keeps moving again. The crowd watching shouts in disapproval of me catching the deer and cheers when he bucks me off. He turns around and laughs, "I guess you aren't a complete failure after all too bad you won't get a second chance."

I run, I chase focusing on a singular task. I need to catch that deer not just to feed but to make him pay for laughing at me. I manage to push him. His momentum and my push knocks him somewhat far away. I hear a voice, "Get up! GET UP!" Yes, he's finally down and not moving. Now, it's my turn to eat. That same voice says, "NOOOO!" It does not matter, I have won.

I slowly approach my prize. I can savor the moment. No one is going to stop me. I'm nearly there then the tiger from before lands in front of me. He says, "That's enough. You've done one lap around this ring and haven't caught him. I expect you to uphold your bargain." The tigress from before enters the track again and carries the deer away as if he was the most precious thing. No, torn away from my prize right before it was in my grasp, why? I collapsed to the floor and cried.

Prey throw vegetables in front of me. He says, "Eat." in a cold uncaring voice. Exhausted and hungry with implied threats if I don't comply. I hesitantly take a bite out of a tomato. I try to imagine that it's blood. It doesn't taste that bad after all. I eagerly devour it in a few bites.

The tiger says, "I guess you've made progress. You've eaten a tomato. Now, I have a proposition: I can let you be free in the sanctum or if you're determined to hunt and kill the prey that live here; I will simply end your life right now. What do you choose? You've had your chance to hunt today and failed."

I reply, "But what about real food? You said yourself that I can't eat vegetables forever."

"You just have to find true love before you die… it shouldn't be difficult after today's performance, right? Life or death it's your choice."

"I choose life. You don't have to worry about me trying to eat animals anymore."

"Enjoy your life while it lasts, next time you try to eat someone, I won't hesitate to kill you."

"How do I go about getting more vegetables around here?"

"Beg, find someone willing to give you food." With that final comment, he left me alone. I look at the scattered vegetables around me, I eat them all. They aren't as fulfilling as the tomatoes but food nonetheless. The entire track simply just melts now that the event is over. I returned to the house that I was given initially, I just climbed on the bed and slept.


I don't know how long I slept. I wake up no one is in the house. I go outside and the first thing I see is a tigress carrying a wounded deer. I thought this was a sanctuary for prey, I have to try to save that deer. I tackle the tigress to make her drop the deer. The tigress says, "What's the big idea?"

I yell, "Wake up, RUN! Now's your chance." The tigress simply just laughs as if I had said the world's funniest joke. This is not the reaction I expected at all.

The tigress barely manages to say, "You thought I was going to eat him?" between all her laughing. "He might actually end up enjoying that."

"Now, I'm completely lost, what were you going to do?"

"Simply, trying to carry him to the place we've been assigned to live temporarily."

"How is he wounded then?"

"He was out having fun nearly being eaten in the process. The usual."

The deer wakes up and says, "Kindleheart, I wasn't close to being eaten. It was part of my calculated plan! I knew the rules."

The tigress responds, "Plan? Lasan you, nearly gave me a heart attack. If the Prime didn't step in that wolf would have eaten, you and all I could do was watch!"

I ask, "My name's Judy Hopps. Wolf? What has he done now?"

Lasan says, "The Prime asked if I wanted to race against a wolf with the risk of being eaten if I was caught. I don't think highly of savages, so I agreed. He set up a race track encircling the city. I had lots of fun humiliating the wolf."

Kindleheart says, "Only he would see such activities as fun. I didn't even find out that he was doing this stunt until they were about half way. He doesn't even consider what could possibly happen to him if something goes wrong."

Lasan replies, "But nothing went wrong see? Everything is fine and I had some fun in the process. I didn't tell you because you always try to stop me from having fun."

Another couple it seems. I wonder if they came here by choice or if they were simply taken. I ask, "Tell me, how did you come to this place? Was it willingly or did they force you and how much do you know about this place?"

Kindleheart says, "That will take some time. Come, let's get to the house first."

We walked to a house that just contains a bed and a table nothing else. I guess it's intentional that these houses are lacking in basic necessities to attempt at forcing integration with the locals that live here. It's not like the bunnies' farm where it there was running water as well as facilities. I ask them, "Now, that were here. What's your story?"

We sit on the bed. Kindleheart says, "Lasan, here was my pet since childhood."

Lasan says, "You're going tell her about all that? I can reveal your secrets too."

"Fine, be that way. I'll just tell her about the important parts then. We came to regard each other as more than owner and pet. Our relationship grew and we started falling in love."

"Love? Is this what this is? You simply prevent me from doing anything that I find fun."

"Your ideas of 'fun' aren't exactly safe or normal. Regardless, we came to know one the protectors rather well. I have seen them fight to save children that were taken from our village. I have also seen him die once no one was saved that day."

"He still killed a lot of them though, it was pretty cool."

"Cool? Plenty of children were taken away that day and we couldn't do anything!" Kindleheart moves her arms around Lasan's neck as if wanting to strangle him.

I say, "Wait, you've actually seen them die?"

Lasan says, "Oh yes, the lion and sheep died one of the times they fought to save us."

Kindleheart lets go of Lasan's neck. Kindleheart says, "So, times were a bit dark since then raids were more frequent. They returned several weeks later and started protecting us again. One day, he asked if we would like to join them to become one of them. He said that we would have powers like them."

Lasan says, "Powers, think of what we can do if we had them. He didn't rush us or anything. He made the offer a few weeks ago. A week ago, we said yes."

Kindleheart says, "We were blindfolded and taken here just a day, ago. The Prime told us all we had to drink was desire's embrace and then we would be on the path of becoming one of them. Apparently, without my knowledge the Prime also asked Lasan if he wanted to race a wolf. Lasan said yes, now all I want to do is strangle him."

"it's not quite like that, he said if I raced the wolf I could drink it right away. It's of my choosing when to drink anyway. He highly recommended that I raced the wolf first. So, I took part in this extremely fun and completely safe race. You had to leap on to the track and stop it right in the middle of it. I'm thankful he allowed me to continue."

"You forgot that he also highly recommended that we should live here a week at least before drinking. Funny, how you didn't care for that recommendation at all."

I ask them, "Do you even know what desire's embrace is?"

Lasan says, "It should give us their powers and makes us immortal what's not to like."

Kindleheart says, "I would give anything for the power to defend my home from the savages."

I note, "So, neither of you know what it is… gee, that's helpful. At least, you're here by choice instead of by force."

Kindleheart says, "So, why are you here? what's your story?"

I respond with, "Well, let's see. I lived in Zootopia, I went on a camping trip with my fox friend, we got captured by 'savages' or Everlight as they call the place they live. I lived with them for a few days. I was going to learn how to navigate the chasm across a sheet of ice.

That wolf was teaching me how to, his instructions weren't clear. It crashed, we got surrounded by wolves. The cultists saved us, they thought we were mates and now I'm here in a foreign place with an arrogant wolf."

Lasan says, "You lived among the savages? Why do they raid our villages?"

I reply with, "Survival, what else? There's no alternative for predators here."

Kindleheart says, "You're from beyond the light. I thought there was nothing out there. Legends say both the savages and protectors have a special interest in way lies beyond the light and nothing has ever been found."

Lasan says, "I'm rested enough, let's go ask The Prime so we can drink desire's embrace and become one of them."

I notice Kindleheart is reluctant and unwilling but gives in regardless she says, "Fine."

I accompany them to the cavern. The Prime greets us. The Prime says, "What do you want now, Lasan?"

Lasan says, "I want to drink desire's embrace and become one of you. I am ready now. I have raced the wolf around the track and succeeded."

The Prime says, "Such a careless request. You just lost the right to decide when to undergo the rite. You two are not ready."

Lasan says, "But, you said it was my choice."

The Prime replies, "It normally is, but not anymore. Such a careless request, I can see the outcome of it already. We can forgo the rite if you want to drink it right now. I will simply kill you and feed you to our troublesome wolf. I'm sure he will enjoy that. Do you still wish to proceed?"

I decide to ask, "What kind of insane rite is this? How can you tell the outcome already?"

The Prime entertains my question, "We act out our hearts desire during the rite."

I respond, "What about me? Am I going to have to undergo the rite with the wolf at some point?"

"You are a rather peculiar case. You are part of the only two taken here by force instead of coming here by choice. You can undergo the rite with the wolf and leave at any time. At this point, I predict one of you will kill the other. Either both of you survive or none of you do. Drinking and surviving is only the first step, you'll find out more once you choose to undergo the rite.

My policy still is only the ascended can leave an exception might be made for you. If we come to trust each other more. I know well enough that you aren't from around here. You won't be required to undergo the rite with the wolf at all. The option is available to you at any time however. It's your choice. You can simply live in the sanctum for the rest of your life."

Wait, there's more than one step? How many steps are there? If one of us kills the other, that means someone must be alive, right? "You said something about one of us killing the other. Surely, that means one of us can live. I probably wouldn't mind undergoing the rite killing the wolf and becoming free in the future."

"Ah, some brutal honesty from you at last. The truth is we kill the other, if only one of you survives."

"Why?"

"At first, we didn't. Everyone that survived by killing their partner proved to be more trouble than it was worth. They were fine at first but without someone that understands them completely, let's just say many eventually fell into madness. An immortal without someone to keep them in check, someone to give them hope when they feel despair. What happens if you decide to use your power for the wrong reasons? Therefore, we kill the other, if only one of you survives.

When both of you survive. You will balance each other and guide each other throughout the rest of your life."

Kindleheart says, "I'm sorry about what Lasan has said, we will go back into the sanctum."

The Prime says, "But, I want to hear it from him. Not, you."

I can see that Lasan is rather proud and unwilling to say the required words. Kindleheart is full of concern. The Prime simply watches. I can't read anything from him. After a few tense moments, I wonder what Lasan will say and what will happen. Lasan finally speaks, "Fine, we will return to the sanctum." His voice is filled with grudging acceptance.

The Prime says, "This shall be the new rules for you two. Kindleheart, you can ask me for both of you to undergo the rite at any time. Lasan, the next time you make the request, I better find it appropriate or I will kill you outright. If neither of you are willing to ask for the rite yourselves, I will simply call upon you when I think you are ready. Now, you may leave."

We leave the cavern. We walk back towards their house. Lasan says, "Kindleheart, this is all your fault. You're always holding me back. You could go there and tell him that we want the rite, right now. Then, we can be done with all of this."

Kindleheart says, "My fault? I didn't even do anything. He's the one that stopped you."

"You simply didn't ask for the rite in my place. You're holding me back again."

"I don't think we're ready and we didn't even live here a week yet. We don't even know what the rite is. You always rush towards excitement regardless of the danger."

"I can't imagine one of us killing the other. You should have asked for me. I'm pretty sure I won't kill you and I think you're too weak to kill me."

I suggest, why don't we stay at the bunnies instead. We head towards the bunnies' home. They greet us. I learned they're called the Swiftpaws and they were all outside watching the event. I guess I must have slept through it all. I did learn that Quickpaw actually ate vegetables at the end. The burrow has plenty of room to accommodate guests. It's rather fun watching Lasan and Kindleheart banter. I wonder what the rite involves and what will happen to them when they take it. Surely, someone must know.

I haven't seen Quickpaw at all today. I guess he's not causing trouble anymore.


A/N: Judy meets animals that willingly come here. Will she be satisfied just living inside the sanctum forever? Will Quickpaw find true love? What has Nick been doing? Speculation and feedback welcome.