Chapter 26
Who "We" Used to Be
"Farshawn, please, I do not want you to do this."
"Kallius, come on, I'm just trying to keep you safe."
Kallius Placent sat on the armoury's sofa, trying to avoid looking at the cleaver in Farshawn's paws. "But murder is going too far."
Farshawn Iriswind pressed her ear against the door leading downstairs, checking if she could hear snoring or not. "It's not, though. Borsen and the wildcat want to kill us. It's not as if we haven't tried getting out of this tower peacefully," she pointed out. As it stood, Farshawn was the only one who could get down. Tiviko had gotten rid of the vines and plants near the window which meant that Kallius couldn't climb down. Art had slashed through the ropes earlier which only left the front door. However, it was barricaded. Going out that way would make a lot of noise and alert the resting Tiviko. "He put us here, Kallius. If he wants to kill us, well, then we just have to kill him first."
"I… I don't like this," Kallius murmured. "Do you have to do this?"
"Kallius, I know you don't like this, but trust me, this is for the good of us all," the squirrelmaid reasoned. More importantly, it means that you're safe.
Farshawn picked up the chains attached to her neck and coiled it around her shoulders. She paced around the room to see how noisy it was and then walked towards the door. She took a deep breath. She clutched the cleaver that Tiviko had hidden earlier with one paw and pulled the door open with the other.
Farshawn's ears twitched as she crouched at the top of the stairs. Although she tried to move quietly, the amount of blood she lost meant that she kept stumbling. She slipped on the last few steps, nearly dropping the cleaver and landing on the kitchen floor. After pushing herself up, she walked past the kitchen and down another set of steps to finally reach the main room.
She slowly opened the door. Tiviko was sound asleep on the remaining cot. He was facing the kitchen stairs, so Farshawn was able to see the scowl on his face. The wildcat growled and his ears twitched rapidly.
This is it… For Kallius, I have to do this.
Farshawn's already shallow breathing hastened as she padded as softly as she could towards the wildcat. The squirrelmaid slowly raised the cleaver, staring at the wildcat's head.
She swung the cleaver down.
Tiviko's eyes shot open. His paw lashed out like a snake as he grasped Farshawn's wrist faster than she could comprehend. The squirrelmaid's eyes grew wide as Tiviko slowly sat up in his cot with a steely gaze. "No…" Farshawn croaked.
Tiviko twisted Farshawn's wrist down, eliciting a yelp from the squirrelmaid as she dropped the cleaver. Bleary-eyed, Tiviko growled and kicked the weapon under his cot. "You should just stop trying. How many times has it been now? This makes it the third time you've tried to kill me?"
Farshawn nodded, defeated. Tiviko pushed her away, causing her to stumble. The wildcat crossed his arms, not willing to lie back down until Farshawn left the room. "Dear lord, if I knew you'd be such a pain in the tail, I might've gotten rid of you earlier. Just go back upstairs. Now."
She didn't. Tiviko expected Farshawn to disobey him, but what he didn't expect was for her to break down crying. Tears streamed down her orange fur and the wildcat could only stare in bewilderment.
"Why? What did any of us do? Why are we even here?!" She wept. The squirrelmaid hugged her arms around her body as she glared up at the wildcat. "You're a… you're a monster. What gives you the right to play with our lives like this?"
"Hm." The wildcat tilted his head. "I don't know what you're expecting by asking me this. You do know that I don't care, right?"
"Of course, I know. That's why you're fine doing any of this!"
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious. If you know, then why do you even bother talking to me right now?"
"Because I…" Farshawn looked down at the floor, shaking with what Tiviko presumed to be anger. "I don't care. You will listen whether you like it or not because I… I can't fight, I was never good at running, and Martin knows I'm not smart. Words are the only thing I have right now."
"Huh." Tiviko raised a brow, curious as to where this was going. "I will say you aren't the first beast to try this, but nothing you can say will save you."
Farshawn's eyes burned with determination. "I know," she spat. "But I don't want- I just- please… Do you care about beasts' lives at all?"
Tiviko narrowed his eyes. "Generally speaking, the beasts I get hired to kill have some sort of value to the client. Otherwise, there'd be no point in asking me to kill them. If the amount I'm getting paid for this is indicative of anything, some of the prisoners are important… Even if I still think he's underpaying me for ten captures total," he grumbled the last part.
"Oh really?" Farshawn asked, not taking the wildcat's words seriously. "What do we mean to Borsen then? He wants to kill us." She paused, suddenly remembering most of the rumours she spread about Borsen (and a few others, but that wasn't important).
"What do you think I am? A mystic? I can't read that otter's mind." Tiviko paused as if he were genuinely pondering the question. "I can only assume he knew the four of you well."
Farshawn paused. She never thought about it like that before. They had kind of grown up together, so it made sense Borsen knew some things about her, but the moment she thought about the implications of that, she felt her blood boil. More tears poured out as she slumped against the wall, defeated. He knew. He must have known about that. He knew and he still decided to kill us. Wait, if he wants us to suffer, is one of the reasons why he decided to kill us?
Farshawn wiped her face with an arm. "Have you ever fallen in love with anyone?"
"Me?" Tiviko immediately shook his head. "No. What are you getting at with all of these questions?"
The squirrelmaid's body quivered as she looked up at the wildcat's unflinching gaze. "Please, I just want you to save Kallius. I don't care what happens to me. I'm… No. I may not die, but I want to make sure Kallius lives no matter what. I love her too much to lose her."
"Uh huh. I still don't see why that's my problem. Many beasts have friends and family but that doesn't stop me from putting a knife in-"
"No, you don't understand. I… love her. I don't know what I'd do without her. Please." Farshawn's body felt heavy. Everything burned as she quivered with desperation. She instinctively glanced back at the stairs to see if Kallius had heard. The hogmaid didn't know. Kallius did love her, but Farshawn knew she didn't love her in the same way.
Tiviko rest his chin on his paw. "Ah. Listen, what you're-."
"No, you listen to me." Farshawn spat, her eyes burning with determination. "You're keeping us stuck here so you'll have to hear what I say. I'll do anything to make sure she gets out of here alive. She doesn't deserve any of this and you know it. I don't know what Borsen is giving you in return for us, but I'll do anything. I don't care if I die. Kallius needs to live. Please."
A vague sliver of amusement flashed in the wildcat's eyes for a brief moment, but it was gone before Farshawn could blink. "There's not much you can do to change my mind here. Borsen's only giving me his entire life and his service in exchange for your lives… But listen, you two aren't getting out of here alive. That's final. The best I can do is kill Kallius now before Borsen gets his paws on her. Trust me. If you really do love her, you do not want her to suffer at Borsen's paws."
Farshawn hesitated. "No. I won't let you kill her. There may be a chance we can live."
"I doubt it."
Farshawn sighed. "There has to be something I can do, right? You said it yourself. If all lives have value, there has to be something, anything I can do to save her."
"No. Borsen is giving me a lot here and I doubt you out of all beasts have anything of note."
Farshawn sat there silently as she glared daggers up at the wildcat. She slowly stood up, eyes landing on the cleaver underneath the cot. "Fine. But I'll keep trying. Kallius means way too much for me to just stand by and do nothing."
"You're going to fail."
Farshawn narrowed her eyes before turning and heading back up the stairs for the night.
Tiviko sat still as the sound of Farshawn's pawsteps receded up the tower. If only the armoury had a lock.
The wildcat got up, reached below the bed, and tossed the cleaver into the closet. As he got back into the cot, he couldn't help but think about Farshawn's request. She wants Kallius to live even if she dies… I know beasts think like that, but I never personally understood it. Farshawn and Kallius, Borsen and Durkfor, Marlus, Kajiir, and Ayers, Vhynias, Tornear, Gurnilal, Crookedfang, and Bolgash. What is it about these beasts that makes you willing to put yourself in harm's way for them? Heck, why does my crew even go so far for me? I mean, I know why, just thinking rhetorically.
Tiviko got back into bed, resting his paws beneath his head. The only "friends" he could remember making were his classmates in that academy he was forced to attend as a kitten. Even then, he could never see himself getting into trouble for them.
A sudden thud at the front door brought Tiviko out of his thoughts. The wildcat sat up. Somebeast was unsuccessfully trying to get in. The barricade set up at the entrance shook with every attempt. The wildcat growled as he got out of bed and walked over.
"Tiv. Let me in. It's me," a familiar voice called out from outside.
"Yes, I know what you sound like." Tiviko pulled away the furniture blocking the door, allowing none other than Borsen Stonetail to walk inside. The sea otter stretched his body and yawned, evidently tired from the walk over (among other things, Tiviko thought).
Tiviko shut the door and began pushing the furniture back in front of the entrance. "Did you do what I asked?"
"Oh aye," Borsen enthusiastically replied.
"You strangled him with a rope, right? No blood was spilt?" Tiviko asked sceptically.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Aye."
"Good." Tiviko let out a strained growl as he pushed up a cot in front of the door. Borsen silently walked over and pushed it up for him with ease. "Alright," Tiviko sighed, "now that you're here, can you please kill the two upstairs, so I don't have to deal with them anymore?"
"Who?" Borsen asked with mild interest.
"Farshawn and Kallius. So just go ahead and skin them or whatever it is you like to do."
The sea otter yawned and stretched his arms. "Maybe in the morning. I've had a long day."
"Oh, have you now?" Tiviko's face flashed with annoyance. "Tomorrow? Really? Just get rid of them right now and… fine. You know what? I'm tired too." He doubted Farshawn would try anything with Borsen in the room, anyway.
Borsen gazed around, pausing when he saw only one cot in the room. "So-"
"I'm taking the bed," Tiviko said immediately.
Borsen crossed his arms. "Fine." The otter walked to the far corner and lay down there, muttering a few words before closing his eyes. Tiviko curled his lip in mild irritation and got back into bed. At least now Farshawn might stop trying to kill him. Maybe he would finally get some sleep. Tiviko pretended to shut his eyes. The wildcat's yellow eyes were slits as he stared intently at the door. After a few moments, he couldn't help but turn towards the sleeping otter on the floor.
His vision went back and forth between the otter and the door. You're sleeping near a monster, except the monster is beholden to you. Great.
He continued to look back and forth as Borsen slowly started to growl in his sleep. The sea otter's paws batted the air in front of him. As the night progressed, Tiviko would hear the otter snarling and scraping the wall with his claws. Tiviko didn't shut his eyes for a while.
Art Swiftpaw clutched his sickle tightly as he and Durkfor Ventultro walked through the dark woods. Night had fallen, the moon had risen, and Art could barely see through the trees. In his mind, anybeast could attack him at any moment and he wouldn't know until it was too late. Durkfor would maybe hear it, but he wasn't counting on it.
But that wasn't what got Art nervous, no. As the two headed closer to where they were supposed to meet up with Ahlrath's group, he felt everything get colder. His heart pounded madly in his chest, and he winced. For the entire walk, he tried to psyche himself up for what he was about to do, but as he got closer, his resolve dissipated, and it finally hit him what he was doing. His gaze slowly landed on the hare walking next to him.
"Do ya think they're here?" Durkfor mumbled, gazing around nervously.
"I think so. At the very least, it shouldn't be too hard to find Ahlrath."
Durkfor nodded in agreement. Art turned out to be correct when he noticed a large mountain hare heaving over by a large tree. Durkfor and Art ran over and greeted the other hare.
"Good evening, Ahlrath," Durkfor greeted.
"Aye, good evenin'," Ahlrath Palaechia replied in kind. Next to him, Toran Firepool was curled up on the grass while Midwyng Coeptigo was sitting against another tree.
Art's eyes immediately went to the bat, but first, he had to ask, "did you guys run into any trouble?"
Ahlrath snorted. "Aye, ye bettah believe it. One o' th'bloody prisoners, a stoat, tried tae rob us."
Durkfor's eyes widened. "Huh? Why?"
Midwyng shrugged. "Dunno, dunno, dunno. Anyway, the kid pointed to her footpaw and it was all big and stuff, stuff, stuff. I bit her ankle and we got away, away, away. Ew."
"Eh? He did?" Ahlrath raised a brow.
"It was infected," Toran mumbled. Ahlrath sat down next to the otter who then curled up next to Ahlrath.
"Oh, that's scary," Durkfor said nervously. "Now we have to worry 'bout the other prisoners?"
Midwyng cackled. "Yeah, looks like you may not be as invincible as you thought, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit."
Ahlrath shot Midwyng a sharp glare, but Art couldn't help but silently agree. With that out of the way, Art walked up to Midwyng and asked, "hey, can I talk to you for a bit?"
Midwyng very audibly groaned. "Ughhh. Why, why, why?"
Art scowled and leaned in close. "I need your help specifically. C'mon," he whispered.
The bat's face grew serious, and they sighed. "Fine, fine, fine."
Art picked up Midwyng, supporting the bat on his shoulder with a strained grunt. "We'll be just a moment," Art clarified. "Do the rest of you want to find someplace to sleep in the meantime?"
Ahlrath nodded. "Aye. I'll get a start on it."
"Cool." Art turned, carrying a confused Midwyng as he led them away.
Durkfor watched as the pair left. He didn't know why, but something felt off with Art. Actually, something felt off ever since they separated to head to the docks earlier. Granted, anytime something bothered Art back home, he'd just go hide in the attics or trees, so maybe this was just what he was like whenever he hid. Whatever the case, Durkfor wanted to ask what was wrong, but Art had left before he could.
"Hey," Ahlrath spoke up, "didja get intae trouble on yer way here?"
Durkfor shook his head and sat down. "Nope. Quiet as a church mouse."
"Hmph. Lucky."
"I uh, I guess I am." Durkfor chuckled awkwardly as Ahlrath glared at him.
The mountain hare sighed. "Ah, tae hell wit'- erm, tae heck wit' it," he muttered, glancing down at the otter lying next to him. "Oh. He's asleep."
Durkfor tilted his head. He waved a paw in front of the otter's face experimentally, before having it batted away by Ahlrath. "Dinnae wake 'im up."
"Sorry."
"We should look fer a place tae sleep fer the night." Ahlrath gazed down at the otter's sleeping form hesitantly. He reached his paws underneath Toran and picked him up, hoping he didn't wake up as he did so. "Aye, let's get movin'. There're… five o' us, so this'll be a lil' harder."
"Aye."
Durkfor stood up to follow Ahlrath, but the mountain hare didn't move. He stayed sitting down, staring apprehensively at Toran. "This is wrong," Ahlrath mumbled.
The other hare nodded silently.
"Durkfor, are ye certain that those maids at the tower know a way out?"
Durkfor chuckled nervously, "why're ya askin' that again?"
"Ah dinnae wanna waste our time on somethin' that'll just get us killed," he growled. "If yer leadin' us tae death, I'll just save the trouble and clock ye intae the ground, how 'bout that?"
"I mean… even if they don't, the more the merrier…" Durkfor trailed off as Ahlrath's glare seemed to burn into his soul.
But the mountain hare's expression melted into guilt and then exhaustion as they listened to Toran snore. "Why'd he have tae be here?"
"I dunno," Durkfor replied, "I can't imagine him havin' done anythin'."
"Ah dinnae think he did," Ahlrath mumbled. "Sorry if ah've been a bit crabby today."
Durkfor chuckled. "Ah, no worries. 'Tis perfectly reasonable under the circumstances." Ya didn't extend the same courtesy to Thaddeus, though. Remember?
Durkfor waited for Ahlrath to stand up so they could scout out the area, but Ahlrath stayed in that same spot. "Are ya alright?"
Ahlrath realised Durkfor was waiting for him and got up. He did so slowly as to not wake up Toran. "Aye. Just… nevermind. Can ye promise me somethin'?"
"Of course."
"Help me protect 'im, aye right?"
"Sure thing." Durkfor raised a brow as he looked up at Ahlrath's face. The mountain hare's expression was a grimace as if he were worried about breaking what was in his arms. "Any particular reason?"
"Whaddya mean? He's just a kid… when ah first saw the lad back on the ship, it just made me wish that… y'know what? That's a story fer another time. Maybe in the mornin'. C'mon."
Midwyng glanced toward Art, wondering how they could be useful in any way. Yeah, ask for help from a bat that can't walk or fly. Genius idea, Art. What next? Are you going to ask for lightning to conveniently strike the wildcat dead? They were about to voice that thought when two things caught their eye. One, Art seemed unnaturally dour. To be fair, he had been for the entire time since they first met up, but something seemed to be especially bothering him right now. Two, the night sky was absolutely gorgeous. Although Art might've found it depressing given that it was mostly clouds, Midwyng looked up in awe at the view stretched out before them. They had only ever seen the night sky once before, and they were too distracted with what was going on to notice.
"Midwyng?" Art spoke up, his voice oddly flat. "Can I ask you something important?"
"No, no, no," they replied jokingly.
Unlike usual, Art didn't react. Midwyng giggled awkwardly and clarified, "yeah, yeah, yeah."
"If…" Art hesitated and glanced behind him to make sure the others couldn't hear. "If I had a plan that might save us but also may just result in one or both of us dying, would you help?"
Midwyng grinned. "That's it? That's the question, question, question?"
"Midwyng, I'm serious. If this goes wrong, both of us might die, and it probably won't be quick considering who we're messing with and what we're doing. I need to know for sure that you're okay with this. Please, I don't want you to do this if you don't want to."
"Oh ho, interesting. So, what're we doing, doing, doing?"
Midwyng waited for Art to answer, but he didn't. Confused, Midwyng turned towards the squirrel only to see that he was quivering. Violently. Although his face was calm, the way his mouth twitched clued Midwyng in that something might not be right. "Squirrel, squirrel, squirrel?"
"Yeah?"
"What's going on with you, you, you?"
"Nothing. I'm fine," he replied, though his tone was anything but. "Midwyng, remember what I did at the barn?"
"Yup, yup, yup."
Art swallowed. "I feel sick."
Midwyng nodded slowly. They understood what Art was getting at, but they were confused. "Why? You seemed just fine killing that rat earlier, earlier, earlier."
"I don't mean the rat, I don't give a damn about them, but… oh dear Martin." Art stopped and turned away for a moment before continuing. He relayed the plan and the risks that came with it while Midwyng nodded.
"Huh. Alright, alright, alright." Midwyng wasn't convinced though. The plan relied on two beasts who were willing to protect each other with their lives. There was no way they could see anybeast caring about someone that much for the plan to work. Still, something else bothered them. "What's going on with you, you, you?"
Art's breathing grew heavy. His body shook as he thought about what he was planning- no, what he was going to do. "Nothing's going on."
"Oh, right, right, right. C'mon, squirrel, you haven't acted like this before, before, before. Look, I don't give a damn what happens here, because as far as I'm concerned, I'm not leaving this island anyway, so you can tell me, me, me." Midwyng frowned. Why did they even care about what was going on with Art?
"Stop it!" Art snarled, catching Midwyng by surprise. "Stop saying you're fine with dying here. I can't let that happen, I just can't! I need to be the one to save everyone! And… screw it. You're a damn nuisance, but you're… alright. You shouldn't die here!"
Midwyng flinched. Why do you care so much? What value does a bat that can't even fly have? "Squirrel, you're a moron, moron, moron. Look, all you need to know right now is that I'm fine with your plan and the risks that come with it, it, it. Now, I do have to ask, you clearly hate this plan so why don't you just, not do it, it, it? I personally don't have anywhere to go if we leave and honestly, this place isn't so bad, bad, bad."
Art's flat expression quickly fractured. His face twisted with grief and his voice exploded as if a dam was broken, releasing waves upon waves of pent-up sorrow. "Because I have to! I feel awful thinking about what we have to do, but I can't let his memory go to waste! If I fail this, then all the time he spent with me would be for nothing! I've just been a burden on everybeast since he died and this is the only way I can see myself helping! It can't just amount to nothing! I don't want everything he's done for me to just be a waste!"
7 seasons before the ship's crash
Arthur sat on the walltops, gazing out into the cold autumn night; leaves falling gently to the grass as a cool breeze ruffled his fur. The squirrel stared blankly at the sky, stroking his hood pensively as the moon shone high above him. It was close to midnight; he never said anything to him.
He sat on the northwest section of the walltops. It was the farthest away from the abbey and he didn't want anybeast to know how he was feeling. He didn't want others to know. It terrified him. Especially for something as pointless as this.
Pointless, huh? If it's so pointless, why are you sitting up here avoiding everyone? Arthur thought to himself. The squirrel sighed longingly and lay down on the stone. Why did he care so much? This wasn't a big thing. It's been happening for many seasons already. Why wasn't he over it yet?
Arthur sat back up, glancing back at the red sandstone abbey behind him. Maybe he'd stay out here longer, he didn't want to chance seeing him right now.
But as he was debating, he heard pawsteps coming towards him and turned. A slim smile crossed the squirrel's mouth as he saw a friendly face. The Librarian and Abbey Champion, Ravi, walked up and sat down next to Arthur. The mouse smiled warmly, "Good evening, Art. Peaceful night, hm?"
Arthur couldn't help but agree, "Yeah, it's okay."
Ravi nodded. Arthur was sure the mouse knew how he was feeling. He usually did, but unlike with every other beast in the abbey, he was fine with that. Arthur was always glad that Ravi didn't press him and waited until he was comfortable talking about it. And so, they sat in silence, listening to the gentle sounds of an autumn night. Arthur looked up at the moon once more. His face fell as he realised the moon was directly above him. It was officially midnight. He felt his eyes twitch as his face grew uncomfortably warm. He felt a tear run down his face and panicked, forcing himself to focus on something else. Redwall Abbey was created with Abbess Germaine's vision, combined with help from Martin the Warrior. Over many and many seasons, red sandstone was extracted from a quarry to help build this home for anybeast who needed it-
"Art, are you alright?" Ravi finally asked.
In a quivering voice, Arthur responded, "Yes, I'm fine."
"Hey, Art, I'm not going to make fun of you, remember? If you have something on your mind, I'm willing to listen if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, I can stay here if you want."
Arthur sniffed, hugging his knees to his chest as he leaned his body against the mouse. Taking a deep breath, Arthur finally spoke, "I don't- I just don't know. Tibbins- My uncle loves me, right?"
Ravi nodded. This was something Arthur had asked him before. "Without a doubt."
"I know he does, and I know he's trying. He's trying a lot, and I feel terrible for even thinking this when he'd done so much for me. I can't help but… he doesn't know sometimes. He never expected to take care of me. I don't think he ever wanted a son or a nephew."
Ravi stayed silent, choosing to listen as Art's voice quivered more and more. "But I know he loves me, so why has it never felt like he did? When was the last time he felt proud of me? Why doesn't anything feel right? I just wish it did. I feel awful, and I just- am I doing something? Did I do something wrong?"
Arthur wiped his eyes with his habit sleeve, hiccuping as he continued. "He forgot my birthday again. I know, stupid thing to get all sad about, but I just wish we'd do something together for once. He got caught up in something important, so I understand, but just once, I wanted…"
Ravi pulled Arthur in close, hugging him with an arm. "You know, you and your uncle are a lot alike. You both struggle to show you care, even when you want to. He does love you; he just has a hard time showing it."
I tell myself that every time, Arthur thought to himself. It doesn't make me feel better.
"Oh, that's right, I've got something for you." Arthur looked up as Ravi pulled something out of his bag. The mouse held up a steel dagger. It was relatively plain, with a simple, polished handle wrapped in twine and a slightly grimy blade. Arthur stared at it wide-eyed as Ravi handed it to him. "Bought it when I visited the otter holt today. Happy birthday, Art." The mouse looked up at the moon and chuckled awkwardly, "Well, guess I was a bit late, huh?"
Arthur trembled as he turned the dagger around in his paws. It wasn't new, and he'd definitely seen better weapons just from walking around Mossflower Woods, but…
Tears began to flow freely down the squirrel's face. Arthur sniffed, his breathing heavy as he wrapped his arms around Ravi, burying his face in the mouse's chest. "Thank you."
Ravi hugged Arthur back, patting the trembling squirrel comfortingly. "No problem, Art. No problem."
22:32, Day 1
"I have to do something. I was his apprentice, so what does it say about him if I don't do this!? I've been nothing but a waste of space ever since he died and I-" Art coughed, wiping his face with a free paw as he whimpered. "I miss him so much. I felt like I could be myself around him. The last season has just been a blur to me. Whatever it takes, even if it kills me, I need to do this for him. I'm nothing if I don't."
Midwyng didn't know how to respond. Situations like this were never their thing, but they wanted to say something to make Art feel better. "Squirrel, you're not nothing. If you want to see nothing, you're carrying them right now, now, now," they chuckled. "But seriously, you saved me when I know no one else would, would, would. So, in my opinion, that makes you really bloody stupid and you need to rethink your priorities, but it also makes you pretty nice, nice, nice."
Art sniffed and looked over at Midwyng. "I'm not."
"Look, Art, I trust you, you, you. Mostly. I don't know how this plan of yours is going to go, but I'll help you every step of the way, way, way."
"You're for sure fine with potentially dying?" Art mumbled.
"Always have been, been, been," Midwyng grinned. "At least this way, I can actually be useful, useful, useful."
"You helped Ahlrath and Toran by biting that stoat, didn't you? You're not useless," Art muttered. "At least, when you don't want to be."
"Huh. Guess I did, did, did." Midwyng said with a bit of a grin.
Art put on a wry smile. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
Midwyng stared down at the ground. Vivid memories of getting kicked out of their cave- only a day or two before they were captured, actually- flashed through their mind.
"Whatever happens to you out there, happens."
"Who are you to think that you can change anything?"
"With the way you are right now, you're destined for a slow, painful death."
"You can't escape it, you shouldn't. Because the only thing your existence has caused is suffering for everyone around you, you selfish waste of life."
Oh, am I now? Well, guess what? The bat that can't fly might actually do something good, which is more than some of you losers. All of you can go to the gates of hell for thinking I'd never do anything. Even if this doesn't work, I still helped Art, didn't I?
Midwyng grinned. They pulled Art closer with a chuckle and stared into the squirrel's eyes. "You're not nothing, Art, and I guess I might not be nothing either, either, either. But I trust you to pull this off, and even if we don't? Who cares, cares, cares? Let's show everybeast what we're worth, worth, worth."
Art shivered as he stared into the bat's eyes. His mind was a dark cloud of uncertainty and self-loathing, but he felt a little better getting all of that off his chest. Art wiped his face, hardened his gaze, and nodded. "Alright, let's do this. For the good of us all."
