The Choice

[Minerva]

Alternatively Titled: Rain



...Sometimes while I've sat here, I've thought about the choices we made together. Even while our crops withered, I remember how hard it was for you to tell Artie that we would have to pull him from school. There were tears in his eyes when you told him, but there was also understanding. He accepted it without a complaint, and put aside his own wants and needs, to help us when we needed it. No doubt, he got that from you. 

Do you remember that day, seasons ago, when Old Clarkson threw out his back? We were struggling then with our own worries, and yet you chose to spend extra hours every day to help him around his own farm. You spared him a few coins, coins we could have used, but you knew he needed more. Sometimes, I worry that you regret that choice, but if we could do it again, I would urge you to make it, again and again.

As we live in such a selfish world, I've thought often about how much you, Artie, and Heidi gave, just as you were giving now, trying to pay our debts. You are so selfless that, truly, I believe if it came to it, you would give your own life for another in need. It's this selflessness that I've always loved about you, Silas, and was what made me feel so privileged to say that I was your wife. I love you. Always.

Yours evermore,
Jubilee.

Like a stray arrow, a drip of rain fell upon the letter in Minerva's paws and stirred fresh life into the long dried ink. Before any of Jubilee Hetherton's final words could bleed, Minerva folded the parchment safely back under her vambrace. She looked to the open roof of the arena where dark storm clouds loomed threateningly above.

As a farmer, rain was a blessing to Minerva. It caused her crops to grow, the flowers to bloom, and gave her an excuse to spend the day happily indoors baking scones with Fable. However, in the stories told to her over the seasons, rain was different. It was ominous. It was a sign of cold, of a hero's misery, and of darkness to come. It was a harbinger in either case, but here, whether it was for good or bad, Minerva didn't know.

"Ooh-ooh, what a terrible day for rain." Lady Eve let out an exaggerated sigh as she took her place in the seat next to Minerva's and adjusted her absurdly, wide-brimmed hat. A vole sitting behind them coughed in annoyance as the hat nearly blocked his view of the arena. When the vixen ignored him, he scowled and stomped towards a different seat with a better view.

Eve waited for the beast to be gone before turning to Minerva and giving her a sly wink. With the two alone, the vixen held her gaze fixed forward on the battle in front of them and spoke quietly in between the crowd's cheers. "Thank you for meeting me here. You look tired. Are you well?"

Minerva nodded. "There was a storm last night. 'Parently the 'pumps' were broken and the whole place was floodin'. Nire had us bailin' out water with buckets. Was that yer doin'?"

"It was Mister Timberfell's idea," Eve explained. "Without those pumps, the sluice can no longer handle the waterflow and the tunnels will flood. That beaver may be a rude scoundrel, but if there's one thing he's good at, it's knowing how places work and what keeps them that way."

"Aye, that seems t' be that 'rude scoundrel's' specialty." Minerva recalled only a week before Silas' death when they first joined FTN, and how he grew enraged at the mere mention of Blasio Timberfell. It was only after she followed the rat and tried to help him, that he told her what the beaver did. Damming up the river so the snow runoff wouldn't come to his farm, then breaking it down once he owned the land himself. Despicable. "Why work with a beast like him?"

"Without him, I don't think we would have gotten this far. He's given us the money, the resources, and even some of the best ideas. Your friend Komi Banton is being tasked with releasing the boars from the Crater. That was his idea too. If she does that, then Nire won't have riders to fend us off with, and many of his forces will be distracted trying to catch them in Northvale," Eve said quietly. "For once, I believe we actually have a chance."

"But in Northvale? Beasts would die," Minerva said. No, Blasio wasn't just helping them. A beast like him didn't help others for free. What was his game?

Lady Eve opened her mouth, but it was Nire's voice that reached Minerva's ears first. ?AND hailing from the barbaric kingdom of the Rapscallions, the one they?re all here to wreak their vengeance upon, a chilling nightmare made flesh and blood, the sovereign of suffering...Prince Thrayjen the BLACKWHISKERS!?

Minerva covered her ears from the crowd's roar. Turning her gaze back to the arena, the otterwife watched as the rat, Thrayjen the Blackwhiskers, strode into the arena, a trident in one paw and a net in the other. Opposite of him, was Thrasher, the massive monitor lizard Minerva had seen take on three beasts at once, as well as a wildcat and shrew. The battle began without warning as Thrayjen suddenly hurled his trident through the air and skewered the shrew in his smiling mouth, killing the beast instantly.

From there, Thrayjen entered the fray with the two other combatants. Eventually they grew distracted with each other, and the large rat skulked around and took the wildcat by surprise, slicing her throat open. Thrayjen and Thrasher were more evenly matched, but even as Thrasher's strength seemed to prove more than Thrayjen could match, it was the rat's brutality that brought his opponent's downfall. Thrayjen's jaws closed around the monitor lizard's neck, and then it was over.

Lady Eve covered her eyes from the bloodshed. "Of course, even with this chance, there are still beasts like the Blackwhiskers or Commander Nix. Beasts who want to be here. Beasts who'd rather be selfish monsters than show an ounce of bravery."

"Aye," Minerva said as the guilt weighed heavy in her chest.

Thrayjen took a bow for everybeast before turning to leave the arena, and Nire stepped forward on the podium.

"Friends, neighbors, visitors to our humble Crater. Are you not entertained?!"

Nire let the crowd's roar die down before he continued with a grin on his face. "I'm happy to hear that, but while we set up for the next match I would like to talk about something serious."

Lady Eve raised a brow.

"For seasons, our humble Crater has served at the pleasure of Northvale. It is a partnership that has brought wealth and prosperity to many, many beasts. But, in recent weeks, a rebel faction of our beloved city has struck out against our arena, against the values we hold dear. They would tear down all that we have built! But, are we afraid?"

"No!" the crowd roared.

"We are not afraid! We will not be intimidated, bullied by the few who seek to oppress the many! Not even the
weather can close our doors! To commemorate our solidarity with Northvale I have commissioned a new tapestry for this tournament. Now, our brave gladiators will not only fight for personal honor, but the honor of Northvale itself! We will show those who threaten us that we will not cower against-"

"Oh my goodness!" Eve's eyes suddenly darted upward towards the rafters as a pine marten in blue tumbled down with an earsplitting scream and a dagger in his chest. The beast flailed in midair, before landing with a crack upon the stone podium where Nire stood only a moment before. The lynx stared in shock at the twitching body as the crowd around him screamed.

It was in that moment that the banner unfurled. Like the rain above, it cascaded to the floor revealing the image of Northvale and the Crater, conjoined together as one. But carved into the top were words. It took Minerva a moment to read them, but they soon became clear.

Hope Lives.

The arena was in chaos as Nire screamed along with the crowd, his gaze shooting upwards as he searched desperately for the culprit. He looked through the audience, and Minerva saw that familiar look, that same crazed look in his eyes he had that day in the Hall of Greats. And then those eyes met hers.

And his snarl twisted slowly into a smile.

Nire pointed a claw towards her and raised his voice louder than the din of the crowd. "Guards! Bring me the Monster of Mossflower!"

Eve turned worriedly towards Minerva. "What does he want with you? He couldn't possibly think you had something to do with this?"

"No," Minerva murmured, shaking her head. The otterwife fought back tears as she met the vixen's gaze. "I'm sorry, Lady Eve, but... I'm not as brave as ye think I am."

Lady Eve's eyes grew wide in realization. "You're... No. No no no."

"He has my daughter, Eve. I'm sorry," Minerva said. "Run. While ye can."

Eve shook her head. "I'm not a coward like you."

Minerva tensed as the guards grabbed her and forced her arms roughly behind her back, but she didn't struggle. She cast a glance back to her sponsor, but Eve said nothing as her gladiator was marched away. The otterwife didn't need words though. Like writing on a page, Minerva could read the vixen's disappointment and her hatred by her eyes alone.

And the rain began to pour.

~~~?~~~

Nire's office was in disarray when Minerva arrived, a stark contrast to the lynx himself. The Lord of the Crater cut an impossibly calm figure as he stood amongst shards of shattered vases, quills and strewn paperwork, and a fallen bookshelf. Slaves hurrying to pick up the mess scurried to leave at a wave from their master's paw as Minerva was pushed roughly into the room.

"Please. Please. There's no need to be so rough with her," Nire said patiently as the guards marched Minerva
towards the center of the room. One of them pulled a chain from his waist, but the lynx shook his head. "No need to chain her either. The Monster of Mossflower is a guest."

The guards released her with a nod and took positions by the door.

Minerva looked back at them for only a moment before turning towards Nire. The lynx absentmindedly plucked a quill off of the floor and dipped it into a jar of ink, not acknowledging the otterwife's presence any further as he scribbled at a stray piece of parchment.

Minerva opened her mouth, but the lynx raised a claw to stop her. "I appreciate your eagerness, but you'll have to
wait. I'm still expecting other guests."

"Other guests?"

The door opened and Hargorn strode into the office with a grin on his face, and leading Fable by the paw.

"Mummy!" the young otter called as she broke from the weasels grip and rushed towards Minerva, but, at a look from Nire, Hargorn intercepted the child by the scruff and pulled her away. Looking towards her mother in confusion, Fable's eyes started to water as she was dragged away from her and towards Nire.

"Hello, young one." Nire patted Fable's head with a smile and a look towards Minerva.

The young otter followed the lynx's gaze and Minerva smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Everything's okay. Everything's gonna be okay. Just stay quiet."

Fable nodded hesitantly and rubbed her paw across her eyes.

In the weeks since Nire gave her his offer, the idea of simply lying had come to her head on many occasions from herself and others as well. But, standing in front of him now, and watching as he stroked the young one's head, that idea seemed even more impossible. One wrong word, one betraying glance, could end with both of their deaths. She would have to tell the truth. If seeing Fable grow up in a collar meant seeing her grow up at all, then it was the only option.

Minerva opened her mouth just as the door did the same.

The otterwife froze as another one of Nire's guests limped slowly past her and took his place beside the lynx. The beast rolled the aspen stalk in his mouth as he grinned at her through his devilish, buck teeth.

"Ah, is this the Monster of Mossflower?" Blasio Timberfell asked Nire. He chewed his twig in the pause. "I don't believe we've had a proper introduction. I'm Blasio Timberfell. I've seen your work. Truly remarkable. In fact, you did me quite the favor killing the Reaper for me. Some beasts just don't know to respect their betters." The beaver clutched at the bandage on his thigh.

Even without the introduction, the otterwife felt like she had already met the beast many times before. This was the beast who called for her head for daring to survive, doomed a family to rot in prison, and commanded others to send beasts to their graves. And for what? Measly, worthless coins.

But what was he doing here? What game was he playing? Shouldn't he be...

And then realization hit Minerva. Blasio was a member of FTN. He was funding FTN. If she told Nire the truth, she would have to tell him what the beaver was doing, and that he was double crossing him. And what would a beast like Blasio, who held so much influence, do then?

"Oh, is this your daughter?" Blasio said, placing a massive paw on the young one's shoulder. Knowing full well of her plight, the beaver looked towards Minerva and narrowed his gaze ever so slightly. "She's just as pretty as you are, my dear."

Minerva felt faint.

"Right, shall we get to business then?" Nire said, setting aside his scribbles. Looking straight towards Minerva, he continued. "You know why you're here, Monster. Tell me what FTN is planning and who they are. Now."

Minerva hesitated, her eyes moving from Nire, to Blasio, and to Fable. She thought of Nix and Marik, before finally shaking her head. "No. Not until you promise me my freedom..."

"I've already promised-"

"...and my daughter's."

Nire narrowed his gaze. "I don't have time to argue. Fine. Yes. You may both go free, I promise, but you will tell me everything. Now. You will not have another chance."

Minerva thought of Komi, daring enough to wrap a chain around a scorpion. She thought of Kali, brave, innocent Kali who spoke of hope to Nire himself. She thought of Kentrith, who came back to this hellish place to try and put a stop to it. And she thought of Eve, who refused to run even when the odds were stacked against them. She thought of the vixen's words.

"I'm not a coward like you."

She was right. Nobeast was a coward like her.

Minerva spoke.

"FTN is plannin' on releasin' the boars from their pens int' Northvale. They think it'll cause enough chaos that ye'll be forced t' send some of yer beasts t' round 'em up. While yer guards are distracted, a guard named Tegue will unlock the gates of the Drag. Meanwhile, one beast will be tryin' t' sneak the young 'uns out of the Crater, in hopes that with them safe, other beasts like me with children, will be able t' fight without fear of ye hurtin' them. The gladiators will charge t' the third floor of the Crater t' get as many weapons as they possibly can. From there, they'll storm through every ring of the Crater, freein' anybeast with a collar, until they find you. And well... some of the ideas beasts had t' do to you, I don't feel comfortable sayin' next t' my daughter."

And with only a few words, Minerva had doomed any hope of rebellion.

Nire stopped to consider before asking. "And who is their leader?"

Minerva paused, feeling Blasio's gaze hot on her flesh. "Lady Eveneda Persa," she said. "That's all I know. Now, I want t' take my daughter, and I want t' leave this place."

Nire held up a claw. "Not so fast. We're not done yet." Minerva could only stare in confusion as the lynx turned slowly towards Blasio. "And what say you, Mister Timberfell?"

"What?" Minerva said.

Nire rolled his eyes. "Please. You didn't possibly think that you were my only spy, did you? My friend Blasio here had several of his beasts keeping an eye on things for me. So, tell me, Mister Timberfell, if you'd be so kind, is the Monster here telling the truth?"

The room was quiet save for a low rumbling noise, something that took Minerva a few moments to realize was the sound of Blasio's quiet laughter. Only a moment later, the beaver slapped his knee and launched into near hysterics. "Of course not. Lady Eveneda Persa? That ditzy vixen, the leader of FTN? Do you take Nire to be a bloody fool?"

Minerva froze in disbelief as the beaver continued.

"No, she's lying through her teeth," Blasio said. "The real plan is much more heinous. Like the Monster said, they'll be releasing the boars straight into Northvale- that much is true- but it's in the hopes that they can blame it on you. Innocent beasts will die in that stampede, and with you taking the blame, Northvale will turn against you and the Crater."

"That's what everybeast keeps saying. That Northvale will turn against me. We've had accidents before. Nobeast has turned against us yet."

"Perhaps not. But they will when they find out you've killed all the children you were holding hostage. At least that's what FTN is going to have them believe after they do the deed themselves. And if not then, then certainly after beasts in the audience find themselves with daggers in their backs, or poisoned from your food, or fed to your creatures. How will they feel safe if they think you can't handle some measly rebellion? FTN needs numbers to destroy this place. A hundred gladiators is hardly enough and Northvale will supply the beasts they need."

"I see."

It was a lie. All of it... was a lie. And yet, Blasio was playing Nire for a fool, convincing the paranoid lynx of invisible assassins and nonexistent poisons. But while the beaver was simultaneously saving FTN and the revolt, so too was he damning Minerva.

And he knew it. Because as Nire turned away from him, and towards the otterwife, Blasio Timberfell only smiled.

"Guards, if you would please detain the Monster of Mossflower."

Minerva screamed, scratched, and clawed as the guards descended upon her with chains and weapons drawn. She struggled against them. Fable cried. "He's lying to you!" Minerva shouted as a rat pinned her arms behind her back. "I told ye everything!"

"I don't believe you. I believe you're lying, even now," Nire spat. The lynx crossed his arms as he paced around the restrained otterwife. "Do you remember what I said when you first came here? I told you that a good show requires cooperation. And yet, you seemed to have forgotten that, just as you forgot what would happen... if you didn't."

Minerva's eyes grew wide. "Please. No. I'm tellin' the truth."

Nire ignored her plea as he turned to Hargorn. "Hargorn, please take the Monster and her daughter to the Inquisition Chamber. The young one is a distraction, so I want you to kill her and make her watch."

"NO! PLEASE!" Minerva yelled.

The lynx ignored her and continued. "And prolong it. From there, I don't care what you do to her. Have fun, just, please... leave her intact," Nire said, turning his gaze from the smiling weasel to the otterwife. "She has many more battles ahead of her and I'll need her to be able to still hold a spear."

"O' course, sir, it'd be me pers'nal pleasure," Hargorn said with a chuckle. He looked down at the terrified, young otter before grabbing her by the scruff and yanking her into his arms. "Come along, me dear."

"Get yer paws off o' her!" Minerva snarled.

"Shut up!" The butt of a guard's spear cracked hard against the otterwife's skull, and she fell hard onto the floor.

Dazed, Minerva was pulled back to her feet and forced towards the door. She looked behind her. Nire hardly acknowledged her, too busy talking with Blasio and too evil to even care. As the door to the lynx's office was shut behind her and the guards led her through the tunnels, Minerva looked ahead of her into the eyes of her daughter.

Tears fell from Fable's eyes as Minerva smiled at her reassuringly.

"Everything's goin' t' be okay."

"Everything's goin' t' be okay."

But the rain continued to fall.