A/N: Has it really been 13 chapters? how fitting 13 is an unlucky number for some.

Chapter 13: A Means to an End


A lot has changed these past two weeks. The villagers have been rather helpful towards us. Unfortunately, none of them know what the rite involves. They do revere all of the marked and hope for us to become one. Quickpaw has changed it took a day but he ended up begging me for food. I gave him some tomatoes. I guess eating tomatoes is a start. He tries to imagine as if tomatoes were blood though. At least, he isn't harming anyone.

Quickpaw has been trying to improve. He was rejected by most of the animals that lived here, others hesitantly helped him out of pity. Considering, who he was, it was a radical improvement compared to his past. I came to … care enough for him to ask if he could live with the Swiftpaws just like we were. He was allowed to live with us.

I got to know Lasan and Kindleheart more. I told them more about my past and they told me more about theirs. A place like Zootopia is unthinkable to them but it's something they prefer to see for themselves one day. A place where predator and prey lived in harmony and prey weren't eaten for food daily. I told them what I knew of Everlight. Seems crystals are just possessed by Everlight and the cult.

Lasan spends time doing dangerous stunts like leaping off buildings. Kindleheart would always watch in fear when he does that. Lasan was overjoyed at first when Kindleheart became less and less active. I've seen this before when Nick decided not to eat any meat because he didn't want to eat anyone. Kindleheart didn't think anything was wrong. She just thought she was tired but I knew what was going on.

I noticed that both Quickpaw and Kindleheart aren't getting any meat at all. I have seen this happen once before. I went to see the Prime. I told him that they needed meat or they wouldn't live much longer. He asked in turn, "Who should feed them? Who would you sacrifice so that they can live?" To which I had no answer. He told me I had the power to save the wolf if I decided to go through the rite with him. I left he gave me that to think about.

Quickpaw has become accustomed to … "living" here. He's no longer trying to hunt but now spends most of his time asleep as Nick once did when we were taken to Everlight. I regard him with pity and give him friendship. I no longer wish to kill him. He in turn seems to eager accept the offer of friendship. He's been trying to change although most of the animals still hated him. Despite lacking energy most of time, in the past few days he was awake he spends time helping the locals. Every day though, he helped less and less due to lacking energy. It seems soon I'll have to make my decision.

Lasan has started becoming concerned due Kindleheart's increasing lack of energy. He started realizing that it wasn't much fun doing death defying stunts on his own without her to watch over him. He now spends every moment when Kindleheart is awake with her together. Treasuring her presence.

Today, when the four of us are awake. The enforcers told us that the Prime wanted to see us. We arrive in the cavern. The Prime looks at me expectantly, "What is your decision? Do you love him?"

I open my mouth to reply, "I". I don't exactly know what to say. It takes a while to organize my thoughts. I don't feel any love towards Quickpaw but that doesn't mean that I wanted him to die. I'm quite certain that if I don't accept, he will die from lack of meat. I know that in my heart, I don't think I will kill him even if I did what I deeply wanted. I don't think he's capable of killing me, he barely has any energy at all. I realized I was standing with my mouth open after uttering a single word. They just look at me expecting me to continue.

If I let him die, so too do the chances of me returning to the outside world. I would miss them too much. This might not be love, it's simply something I need to do. It's simply a means to an end. He's not the one that I would choose, if I had my choice. I would pick Nick if I had to undergo the rite at all. it's simply the hand I was dealt. He has shown that he can change, maybe living together with him forever wouldn't be so bad. It should be better than living inside the sanctum forever away from everyone that I care about.

It must have been a few minutes. The Prime speaks again, "Think well, this decision is not to be made lightly. Remember, all that I have told you about the rite. Lasan and Kindleheart, you too will need to make a decision soon."

I've considered both the positives and negatives. I can't simply allow this wolf to die if I can do something about it. My face has a look of resignation and acceptance. I hesitantly reply, "I will undergo the rite with him."

The Prime asks Quickpaw, "Now, would you undergo the rite with her?"

He eagerly replies, "Yes!" without any hesitation at all. I suppose it's only fitting since I was most accepting of his attempts to change.

The Prime delcares, "Now, that both participants have agreed. The rite can begin." Quickpaw is led back to the sanctum. I wonder why? I move to follow him. The Prime stops me. "You will be coming with me. But first, strip all of your clothing."

"In front of them?" At least, there's only four of us in the room.

"Yes, is that a problem?" His tone implies that I shouldn't disobey. I took off all my clothing. Lasan and Kindleheart just simply watched. They didn't comment at all. I'm thankful for that I suppose. The Prime doesn't think anything of me naked. I guess this is normal for him. He puts a blindfold on me and guides me. I can't see where I'm going right now. I hold his paw. It feels like I'm being led to another path out of the central area. I feel like I'm walking down a set of stairs. He leads me to a wall "Please try not to move during this." I still can't see anything. I am cuffed to a wall and unable to escape. "The rite will start shortly." I can hear him leaving. I wonder what's going to happen.

The rite is simply a means to an end.


A/N: My twisted imagination led me here. I have no regrets. Largely undecided how to proceed from here though.