AN: Hi everyone. This chapter took a bit longer to get out, because there's a lot to talk about. With this chapter complete, The Odyssey is now entering the final story arc, which means the end will be coming. I need to get this right, as there is a lot I've been building up to, both plot and character wise. I know a number of you have been waiting for this chapter, and I hope I do not disappoint you. Let me know what you think in the comments section. As always, constructive criticism is wanted.

Again, I've put this through Grammarly, so I apologise for any spelling or grammar throughout the story.


First Chapter: Act I
Next Chapter: Act XVII
Previous Chapter: Act XV


***

SYNOPSIS:
Jason Sankowski did not expect to live an exciting life. Not even in a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for food by the giants that roam the lands. Yet, upon arriving in a new city, to begin a new life, he is suddenly removed from his comfortable surroundings and thrust into a fight for survival.

***

“The Odyssey”
By MrNelg

Act: XVI

Despite the situation, Jason did manage to get some sleep that night. The problem wasn't the tongue that constantly shifted whenever the Oryctolagus girl swallowed, nor the hard surface of her teeth which his back rested against. Instead, it was her saliva, constantly dripping down from the roof of her mouth to splash all over his face. Jason muttered unpleasantly before wiping the spit out of his eyes, granting him a view of the dark void of Glitch's throat once more. Unfortunately, he was unable to suppress the shiver that ran down his spine. Every time Glitch swallowed, Jason, whimpered in fear, his whole body stiffening. Even though his friend was a herbivore, he still couldn't stop envisioning himself sliding down that dark, wet void.

The teeth parted, all of a sudden, and Jason tumbled out into Glitch's open palm. After he managed to get his bearings, he looked up into Glitch's concerned eyes. For a moment, she said nothing, then {Jay-sun? Are you okay?} Jason moved a few of his joints.

{A little stiff,} he answered, {and soggy, but other than that, I'm fine.} He felt her sigh of relief.

{A servant just knocked on the door. It's time for breakfast.} She then placed him down by the table, beside the washbowl, before turning her back. Taking off his clothes, Jason gave himself a quick bath, splashing his whole body before drying himself with the rag. He then stared at his clothing, dripping with saliva.

{Umm, I'm going to need those clothes you made me,} Jason said. Glitch's ears twitched with excitement, and she jumped for her travelling sack.

After he dressed and stored the surrexerunt petals, he turned his back so that Glitch could dress. {The servant asked me to wake Shique,} Glitch explained, {she couldn't wake her.} After splashing her face in the washbowl, she collected Jason and left the room. Jason expected to find the servant and guards, but the hallway was empty. Glitch was now suspicious, and she pounded her fist loudly on Shique's door. What sounded like feline snarls exploded from the other side, causing Glitch to take a step back, ears flat.

The door swung open to reveal a rather unpleasant looking Shique, fur bristled. {I told you-!} A moment of surprise passed across her features before her face returned to its usual pleasant expression. {Oh, hello Jay-sun,} she said. She then frowned before looking both ways. There was a moment of unease that crossed her face before turning back to Jason with a smile. {You came to see me?}

{We came to wake you up for breakfast,} Glitch answered in a flat tone. Again Shique glanced both ways.

{Where is everyone?}

{We don't know,} Jason answered, {A servant told us to wake you-} Then he did a double-take as he realized she wore no clothing. He quickly averted his eyes. Shique swooned dramatically against the door frame.

{Do you find me hideous?}

{Yes,} Glitch answered.

{No!} Jason cried. He then began to calmly explain the whole notion of Sapien's finding nakedness a social taboo. Like Glitch, Shique found it hilarious to the point where she had to support herself against the door frame. When she finally managed to catch her breath, Jason asked, {Are you finished?} She giggled a few more times before nodding. {Let's get something to eat.}

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they found the servant girl waiting for them. She beckoned for them to follow. Glitch asked her why she left, but she kept motioning for silence. They followed her to the same room where Trix had hosted them the evening before. Food was already waiting on the table, still covered in surrexerunt petals. Unlike last night, the dining room was empty of Vulpes', save for Mahx. The servant girl vanished out the door.

The head of security briefly stared at Jason before indicating the seats. As they sat down, Jason realized that Mahx had been staring not at him but his clothes. {Is something going on?} Jason asked. Mahx looked puzzled and asked why. {Last night, this building was packed with Vulpes, now the place is like a tomb.} There was a brief flash of anger in the Vulpes' eyes.

{After what Cella did, the mistress thought it best that your contact with Vulpes' is limited for the duration of your stay.} Jason simply nodded and went back to eating his breakfast. When they finished, a different serving girl removed their dishes. Mahx approached them but kept his distance. {If it pleases you, the mistress would like to continue your talk from last night.} All eyes turned on Jason, who nodded. If Trix was taking steps to ensure his safety, he still believed it wise to play things cool and do his best to be a respectable guest.

Mahx motioned for them to follow and then left for downstairs. The sun was just above the horizon as they exited into the courtyard. The first thing Jason noticed as they entered the outside were the many Vulpes'. They had stopped their work to create as much of a bubble around him as possible. As his small entourage passed them by, they moved back to what they were doing previously. As he looked around, he spotted the cattle pen. He was about to move on when something made him turn back.

A lone Vulpes female resided in that pen, wearing nothing but wrist and feet wrappings. She rested against the fence, a shovel beside her and looked extremely worn. What caught Jason's attention was the colour of her mud-stained fur, Grey. His eyes widened as he recognized Cella. Just as he did, another female Vulpes leaned over the fence and shouted angrily at her. Cella jumped to attention, and she hastily returned to scooping dung into a pit. Jason's surprise increased as he realized the female who'd shouted at Cella was the same one who'd been doing that job the day before.

He turned to Mahx as the male gave an unimpressed grunt and saw he was looking in Cella's direction. {Is that a punishment job?} Jason asked. Mahx turned to look at him, genuine surprise in his eyes. His expression dimmed as he realized that Jason probably didn't understand.

{No,} he answered. {That's her new position. She is now at the bottom of the household's social structure.}

{But I thought Ms Trix valued her skills?} Again, Mahx graced him with that confused look.

{She humiliated the mistress,} he said as if that were an answer in itself. When it was clear Jason didn't understand, he continued. {We Vulpes are a caste society. You earn a higher position through hard work and talent, but you can lose it through stupidity.} He turned to look back at Cella, still shovelling. {Cella started her life at the bottom of her caste and worked her way to the top. There is no higher position for her than the head of a Guild's household staff.} He paused. {However, the further you climb in Vulpes society, the more trust people have in you and, thus, the more responsibility is entrusted to you. We all had respect for her, but the mistress's caste was higher.} His expression turned dark as he spoke. {Cella not only failed with her responsibility to the mistress but broke her trust.} He was silent as he let that sink in, before adding, {and that is unforgivable.} Then he turned his back on Cella as if dismissing her from his mind and continued in silence.

To no one's surprise, their destination was Trix's sapien museum. The lone guard at the door quickly ushered them inside, where Mahx knocked politely on the entrance to the right; Trix's workshop.

{Enter,} Trix called out in a sing-song voice, and Mahx opened the door, indicating for them to go on in. Trix had her back to them as she sat at her workbench. She was drawing on a large sheet of papyrus paper with a charcoal stick. Looking around the shelves once more, Jason saw something he had meant to talk to Trix about last night. Trix interrupted his thoughts, though, calling out, {Come, come,} beckoning with one hand, and Glitch moved to her left, though he remained out of reach. She turned to Jason with an excited smile, which momentarily vanished as she spotted his clothes. It quickly returned as she held up the sheet she'd been working on, showing it to him. It was a side view drawing of a Sapien city. It was the one from the movie, 'I've Got You.'

{It's lovely,} Jason said. {You're an incredible artist.} Trix squealed with joy.

{I've been creating references for future alterations to my city,} Trix said, as she showed another drawing; This one was an isometric view. Jason praised that one, too, eliciting another excited squeal. Next, she displayed more for him to see. They were from individual sections of the city. A street corner, another of a suspension train station. A factory and a school. A park and, finally, a row of houses and apartment buildings. Jason expressed his admiration of her drawing skills for all of them. When she placed down the last drawing, Trix was exuberant.

{How long did all those take you?} Jason asked.

{All night,} Trix said. Jason's eyes widened. Trix noticed this and shrugged. {After witnessing Sapien civilization for the first time in my life, I was too excited to sleep. So, I came down here to draw everything I saw.} Eyeing her, Jason couldn't see the slightest sign of fatigue. She looked more well-rested than him. Trix placed them aside in a specific order but paused at the last one. {I've been meaning to ask you,} she said, holding it up. {Why are your cities structured like this?} Jason asked her to elaborate. {Your cities are structured like buildings; They have multiple levels.}

{We construct them that way to maximize space and for structural integrity,} Jason explained. {The way buildings are built into and around treetops is based on the Square-cube law. We do this so that the canopy doesn't become too top-heavy. The result resembles something like an Anthophila hive.} He pointed to the drawing. {As you can see there, we structure our cities in layers, but each layer has a function. That city was five layers deep, a typical medium-sized city. The top two layers are residential, with the third reserved for industry and commerce. The fourth layer is for transport. That's where you find roads and "trains."} Trix's ears flicked back to the drawing at the mention of trains. She had no train tracks in hers. {Finally, the bottom layer is for sewage and power cables.}

Jason then indicated another drawing. Trix held this one up, revealing an avian eye view of the city. {As you can see there, Skyways not only connect multiple communities but also act as structural integrity. It prevents the treetops from swaying in high winds.} He then pointed off the edge of the drawing. {You don't have it there, but the further out you go, you get mini-communities that are usually just one or two layers deep. These are the suburbs, where sapiens live in houses rather than apartments. They use the roads and "Trains" to get to the industry and commerce.} He then indicated even further. {And beyond that are farms, which are just one layer. However, some of the larger cities are ten layers deep and have farms of three layers.}

{How does that work?} Trix asked. Jason opened his mouth but quickly closed it as he tried to think up a way to translate Hydroponics.

{It's complicated, but it's a way of growing plants without soil. Instead, they use mineral nutrient substitutes.} Trix looked stunned. A quick glance around the room showed Jason she wasn't the only one.

*********** Trix muttered. When Jason asked for a translation, she waved it away. Instead, she turned her attention back to the city. She wanted to know what smokestacks were and then power plants and foundries. {Ahh, yes,} Trix interrupted as Jason explained metallurgy, {It's known among the Guilds that Sapiens have developed a metal with greater durability than Bronze.} She gave a sad sigh. {Although I admire your kind, there are moments when I find myself as small before you, as you are before me.}

Jason only nodded in response. While he'd taken enjoyment from hearing this during his journey, it no longer amused him, not after his encounter with Ssith. Jason then said, {our predicament forces us to invent new ways to survive every day. Sapien's have no friends.}

{Just like the vulpes,} Trix replied. Jason said nothing. Although the vulpes was responsible for the sapiens situation, he felt it wise not to bring that up. Trix picked up all of her drawings and rose to her feet. She beckoned for all to follow her. Their path led them back to the diorama, where Jason saw that Trix had made some adjustments. The most notable was that she had finally placed the mannequin with her favourite dress out in a full display.

It stood in a park, alongside a male mannequin dressed up in a suit that resembled Sam Baldwin's tuxedo from the ballroom scene. Now there was a crowd of mannequins gathered around, watching the two of them, frozen in a dance pose. Jason could see Trix, watching him out of the corner of her eye to catch his reaction.

{Do you wish for me to play that "movie" for you tonight?} he asked. Trix hesitated for a moment.

{No,} she said softly. {If I do, it might tempt me to keep you here so that I could watch it forever.} Jason tilted his head.

{But you want me to,} he said. For a flicker of a second, Jason saw her whole body tense, then relaxed.

{Please don't push the issue, Mr Sank-cow-key.} Her words were low but harsh.

{You know,} Shique suddenly piped up as she wandered over to the diorama, {Something has been bothering me.} She stopped not too far away from Trix and stared down at the ballroom re-creation. {You're rich and powerful.} She paused to let that sink in. Trix's tail flicked in a manner that said she'd been down this road many times before. {I find it hard to believe that you've wanted all your life to talk to a Sapien, but you never got one for yourself.} To her credit, Shique didn't flinch away from the look Trix gave her, although he felt Glitch tremble slightly.

{I invite you into my home, provide you protection, and you have done nothing but insult me.} Trix's voice was calm despite the apparent anger in her words. Shique shrugged.

{It's not insulting to ask a valid question,} she replied. {Especially given the history between your kind and his.}

{We're both predators,} Trix answered coolly. {I may not know much about Sapien culture, but everyone knows for them, the difference between predator species doesn't matter.} She then deliberately cast her gaze upon Glitch. {Nor does it apply to herbivores.} She then looked to Jason for a challenge to her statement.

{Let's not point fingers while we are all under the same roof,} Jason said, trying to defuse the situation. He steeled himself by sucking in air, then letting out with a great gust, added very quickly, {though I must admit I am curious to know the answer to Shique's question.} For a brief moment, there was a slight lapse in Trix's professionalism, and Jason saw a look of shock and hurt.

{I thought after last night that the answer was obvious,} she said slowly. {But since you asked nicely, the reason lies with the failure of the Sapien farms-} her voice cut off momentarily as Jason saw a flash of rage in her eyes. {And Cella's actions.} She turned back to face Jason. {The reason I have never gotten a Sapien is that I don't trust myself. As the Neovision pointed out, I am a vulpes. Like the farms, and Cella, my fear that I too will lose all control has prevented me from doing so. That is why I do not intend to keep you here for long. As soon as the time is right, I will see to your safe passage out of Megalopolis.} She turned away from the group, hiding her expression as she said, {so please, don't offer to show me the Moo-bee again.}

{Ms Trix,} Jason hastily added. {I apologize for pushing this issue on you, but I need reassurance.}

Behind him, Glitch's ears sagged, But Shique's expression didn't alter. Trix noticed this too, but before she could utter one syllable, Shique preempted her. {It's not that I don't believe you,} she answered, {It's that my experience has taught me, never put all your faith in a promise until proven true.} Jason saw something Shique's her eyes as she spoke. Trix must have seen it, too, for the vulpes didn't respond. Poor Glitch, on the other hand, didn't know what to make of anything. From within Glitch's cupped hands, Jason hesitated. He was about to demand that she apologize, but something in both her tone and posture told him any apology wouldn't be sincere.

Instead, he decided to change the subject by returning to that item he saw earlier. Pointing back to the storage room, he said, {There's something I would like to borrow from your collection.}

+++

Five minutes. Even after five minutes, they were still staring at him with absolute confusion. From the moment Jason started to prepare the shaving foam to when he applied it to his face, they continued to stare at him in silence. Finally, Glitch, Shique and Trix were gathered around him but almost afraid to get too close. Jason couldn't remember the last time he shaved. It had been, what, over nine months since New Kaleth had resulted in his hair growing out and a good growth on his face. Ever since he saw the shaving kit, he'd wanted to grab it.

Trix had given it to him because she wanted to know what it was. He'd told them it was a face trimmer. While sapiens didn't know much about mammalian culture, they did know that the word for a shave was a form of torture. The ultimate punishment and humiliation, in many cultures, was for the victim to be shaved entirely of their fur, leaving them bald.

He'd begun the show using the scissors and mirror that came with the kit, shortening his hair to a respectable length; Though it still looked butchered. Trix had asked if he could keep his cut locks aside for her, for she wanted to add some hair to her mannequins. Finally, he was ready for the shave.

{You look funny,} Glitch giggled at his foam-covered face. Jason said nothing. Slowly, he pulled out the straight razor. Trix's fascination went to obvious concern.

{What is that?} she asked. Jason inhaled before letting out a loud gust of air.

{This is a razor,} he said, pulling out the blade. {I'm going to use this to cut off my facial hair.}

{Stop right there,} Glitch cried out. {You're going to put that on your face?}

{More importantly, are you shaving yourself?} Shique asked, her voice a noticeable octave higher. Jason gave a single nod. Every pair of eyes widened. Then came the protests, cries of surprise and opposition. Finally, Jason had put his foot down, telling them he wanted to do this, as, unlike mammalian fur, sapiens didn't stop growing. That still didn't stop the protests, but Jason had just folded his arms and refused to listen. Trix then insisted on bringing in a few of her trusted aids to observe. When Glitch questioned her why she informed her that she wanted witnesses so that everyone in her household would know that Jason did this to himself.

{Wouldn't they believe you if you told them?} Jason asked.

{Shaving is the most severe punishment in any culture, Mr Sank-cow-key,} she answered. {Everyone is going to see that you've shaved your face. I want everyone to know that you did this because no one would believe a rational creature would do such a thing willingly.}

When the five aids arrived, they were astonished. Two thought this a joke. Only when Jason explained once more, what he intended to do, did they quiet down. The expressions on all of them were ones of those forced to watch what they knew would be a messy execution - though they said nothing.

Shaving in front of eight mammalians was the strangest thing Jason had ever done up to that point. The moment he brought the razor up to his face, he could hear them take a sharp intake of breath, hold it, and rerelease it when he scraped the foam off. After that, it increased during the entire phase of shaving his throat. Even when he dipped the razor into the water bowl to clean it, suspense followed it.

At some point, seeing as Jason wasn't going to cut himself, the tension seemed to leave them, allowing Jason to concentrate on the task at hand. With a few more scrapes and flicks, his face was clean-shaven for the first time in over nine months. He cupped his hands and splashed water on his face before drying his face off with a towel.

All eight Mammalians looked horrified. {You… **! You shaved yourself! Voluntarily?} Shique squeaked. Glitch was horrified. Trix, despite her professionalism, was disgusted, while her five aids looked like they wanted to vomit. {Why would you do that?}

{It's sapien culture,} Jason answered. {Remember how I told you we consider public nudity a taboo?} Shique nodded. {For sapiens, it's fashion. Male sapiens grow fur on their face, not females, and while some males like to have fur on their face, others don't.} He then went on to point out examples from the movies he'd shown them last night. He could see it in their expressions that they remembered such sights. While that did calm them down, they were still visibly unsettled by the display. Trix dismissed her aids, and they fled the room simultaneously, comically jamming the doorway with their bodies until they extricated themselves and vanished.

For a moment, all three mammalians stared open-mouthed at him and ears folded back. {And you call our culture barbaric,} Trix muttered, just loud enough for him to hear. Although his travelling companions heard the vulpes, neither of them reprimanded her. Trix then turned to everyone. {For diplomacy's sake, I suggest we all forget about this… unpleasantness and move on.} Glitch and Shique didn't respond, as they continued to stare with disgust at Jason's face, unabashedly.

{So, uhh,} Jason muttered sheepishly, {is there, umm, anything else I can help you with? Your diorama, I mean. Anything I can translate for you? Help you fix it?} Everyone continued to stare silently with uneasiness at his face.

After a full minute, Trix slowly said, {I could use some help identifying certain items in the storage room.}

Jason clapped his hands together. {Then let's go.} He walked up to the table edge and waited for Glitch to lower her cupped hands for him to climb into. She didn't move for five seconds. Then slowly, she extended her hands out to the table as if she were afraid he might contaminate her. Jason put his hands on his hips as he shot the Oryctolagus girl with an unimpressed look.

{I'm sorry, but… ***! It's just...} She trailed off, unable to find a diplomatic way to finish her sentence. Shique wasn't.

{You look less civilized,} she said. {You know, I used to think you looked cute, like new-born babies,
with the lack of fur and all, but when you shaved it all off-}

{Did I shave this off?} Jason interrupted, pointing at his head.

{-You look like a freak.}

"Awww, come on!" Jason cried. {You "laughed your ass off" when I told you we wear clothes all the time, but this is where you draw the line?} He paused. {You saw lots of sapiens in the "movies," how come you never said anything back then?}

{Because I thought that was natural. Did I know that your fur doesn't stop growing...} Shique trailed off as she seemed to think hard about something.

{Enough,} Trix said in a low, sharp voice. {I don't want to repeat myself for a third time when I say let us move on. Come, Mr Sank-cow-key, I require your knowledge.}

+++

Glitch had held him at arm's length as they returned to Trix's storage room. She deposited him up on the shelves a tad bit hastily, but Jason didn't feel like pressing the issue. Instead, he hoped that he could find something to wow them with that would make them forget about his face.

He did notice that Trix had taken advantage of Glitch's unease to move closer to him. Whenever she had stood near, Glitch had strategically positioned herself between them. Now she allowed the Vulpes to stand beside her.

{And that? What is that?}

{We call it a "mailbox,"} Jason said. {When you want to send someone a letter, you put it in here, and the courier collects it. From there, it goes to a large building, where many Sapiens sort it to the right destination.} She asked the usual questions, like how did the system work. Trix appeared fascinated and a little envious of the long-distance communication system Sapiens had.

{What about that, **... that thing you hold up to your ears to talk with other Sapiens? Do I have one of those?}

{It's called a "Telephone," and I think I saw one somewhere.} Jason started back down the length of the shelf. Trix followed, but Glitch stayed where she was, ears back and her eyes still transfixed on his face. Shique lost a little of her disgust as she noticed this. {We also have another device we use to communicate even further, called a "Radio." I'll check to see if you have either.} As he walked down the shelf, scanning the many items, he stopped. Then, with a smile, he turned to face Trix and asked, {Would you like to hear Sapien music?} To his relief, all ears perked up.

After collecting what he needed, Glitch deposited him on Trix's desk. Jason placed the box down and checked the gramophone. The hand crank was still attached, and the records in the crates were undamaged. He pulled one out and held it up for all to see, then placing it down, he powered up the gramophone. Everyone leaned in closer as they saw the record spin. Standing back to give them a good view, Jason lifted the needle and placed it down.

They jerked back at the vinyl scratch that followed but leaned in even closer when the tinny sound of a soft marching waltz flowed forth from the horn. While the movies had brought the sight of sapiens to the mammalians, the gramophone brought their sounds. They all watched, memorized as the needle bobbed up and down with the spinning record, as their ears were now forward, almost straining to go further. Unlike the unmarked movie reels, the record covers were still intact. So, Jason had picked something smooth sounding, as he wasn't sure how the mammalians would react to the fast-paced swing and dance bands.

When the song finished, Jason put on another. The next record had a young woman singing the blues. Everyone's ears twitched at the sound of a sapiens voice, singing in her native tongue. They were as still as statues as they listened to her voice, almost hypnotized by the alien lyrics.

{So that's how sapiens sing,} Trix said once the song finished. {You sound like avians.} Jason smirked. Tac had told him that when he'd sung for the lupus child. Shique wiggled her ears.

{I could listen to that all day,} she said. {It's almost therapeutic.}

{Can you sing?} Jason asked. Shique smiled and then let loose a succession of loud and sharp gargling squawks. Jason tensed as the noise assaulted his eardrums like sandpaper. He had to fight the urge to slam his hands over his ears out of fear of offending the neovision. Both Trix and Glitch listened with curiosity at the sounds of singing from another continent. Unfortunately, from their expressions, they appeared to find it curious rather than enjoyable.

When Shique finished, she gave a theatrical bow to Jason. The others didn't applaud, so Jason decided to anyway. Only Trix realized what he was doing, as she had seen this multiple times during the movies last night. At the time, she had asked him, but other questions quickly sidelined that one. Like Tac, they were confused about how Sapiens were supposed to know you approved of their art if you didn't voice it. Making sounds to show approval seemed illogical, confusing, and according to Trix, rude. Still, Shique was pleased as punch that Jason appreciated her singing, while the others didn't.

Trix wanted to hear all kinds of Sapien music, so Jason put on a dance song. The fast-paced jazz music that flowed out of the horn confused Glitch. Trix didn't like it, telling him that it sounded like the band was in a hurry to finish the song so they could leave. Shique was the only one who loved it. He could see her body bending to the beat as if made of rubber, which attracted the others' attention.

{It's addictive,} Shique commented as her tail swished with the saxophone solo. {It reminds me of music from the Lynxes' homeland, particularly the *.} She then had to translate, and it turned out it was an instrument. It was a hollow copper tube, and you produced sounds by tapping, scratching and flicking your claws along different locations as you also spun it. The spinning was mainly for show, performed by those considered masters.

{Would you like to hear me sing?} Trix asked. Jason gulped nervously. The last time she'd sung, it had been that children's song about eating sapiens. He needed to change the subject without offending her. It was then that he spotted Glitch.

{You did sing for me last night. Though I just realized that I've never heard you sing, Glitch,} Jason said. Glitch's ears perked up even higher than usual. Trix said nothing while Shique cast a look her way. Glitch looked nervous as yet again, her ears folded back.

{I-**! I've never sung before. ***! I don't know if I'm any good.} Glitch wrung her hands as she spoke.

{Let me be the judge of that.} Glitch gave a small smile at Jason's words of encouragement, then, clearing her throat, started to sing.

Glitch was a terrible singer. She sounded like she was drowning. Both Shique and Trix stilled their tails and flattened their ears against their skulls, and Jason could even see the fur on Shique's tail bristle. Nevertheless, he kept up a wide smile for her sake.

When she finished, nobody said a word. Instead, Jason burst out into applause, more vigorously for her. Shique frowned at this but said nothing. Glitch's embarrassed smile showed she was aware of her abilities, but Jason could see the warmth in her eyes at his enthusiastic clapping.

{You sing very beautifully, Glitch,} Jason lied. The expressions of everyone told him he wasn't fooling them; Though Glitch did appreciate the gesture.

A knock at the door brought a servant who announced that the kitchen staff had prepared lunch. Trix then suggested that they proceed to the dining hall for something to eat. Glitch hastily leapt forwards at these words and scooped Jason up in her cupped hands, almost crushing him to her chest. Only when he grunted loudly did she relax her grip.

{Oh for- ***! Have I eaten him yet?} Shique asked with annoyance. Trix said nothing as she led the way out.

{It's not that I don't trust you, it's just...} Glitch trailed off. She was silent as she stared at Shique before flatly stating, {I don't trust you.}

{After everything I've done for the both of you?}

{The last time I trusted someone I just met, they stole Jason! It took me months to track him down.} Trix flicked an ear towards her. {Your good deeds earned you the right to travel with us; nothing else.} She then scrunched up her muzzle. {And you still haven't told us why you wanted to journey with us.}

{To journey across the fabled Middle Continent,} Shique answered, {where the items are more valuable, and the gold more abundant.}

{Well, here we are,} Glitch said, {Good-bye!}

{What does he want?} Shique asked, pointing at Jason.

{She has proven helpful more than once,} he said to Glitch. Glitch's muzzle scrunched in annoyance while Shique beamed. Jason put a hand on Glitch's right thumb. {Glitch, I know you're trying to protect me, but we have to face reality; We need allies.} Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw a sudden spring of emotion from Trix. It was quick, but he managed to catch it before she hid it away. {Glitch, there's not a day that has gone by that I haven't thanked you for what you've done for me, everything you've sacrificed. But it's still not enough.}

{But what if she-} Jason cut her off by patting the thumb reassuringly.

{That's what you're for,} he said warmly, {my guardian. There's no one in this world that I trust more than you.} Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw a flash of something on Trix's face, but it was gone as he turned towards her.

{See, there's more to me than my beautiful looks,} Shique struck a pose as she spoke. Nobody said anything, and the neovision only chuckled before the group continued their way into the house.

Arriving in the dining hall, they found no servants present despite the table still covered in surrexerunt petals. Only one servant brought their lunch, and she cringed at the sight of Jason's shaved face. He rolled his eyes as she hesitated serving him, as if afraid he might contaminate her. She didn't stick around long, and left after completing her job. So the only people in the room were Glitch, Shique, Jason, Trix and Mahx. As usual, Trix watched Jason while he ate, but he could tell there was something on her mind.

When he finished his meal, he asked her, {You wish to ask me something?} One ear flicked with curiosity. {When I mentioned we needed allies, I saw your expression. It was one of hope.}

Trix didn't even budge an inch as eight seconds passed. Then she darted her head forward so abruptly that Jason jerked his head back despite being at the opposite end of the table. {If I told you everything, you wouldn't believe me. I'm positive you'd think it a trap.} Jason hesitated too long because as he opened his mouth, Trix preempted him. {Your hesitation proves me correct,} she said. Jason caught a slight lapse in her professionalism as Trix balled her hands into fists. {If only Cella-} she cut herself off, uncurled her fists and calmed down. Then she said, {instead; I will say this. I will answer that question, but not here and now. Why? Because you don't trust me. What I want must be proven. I need to show you, to earn your trust before I can tell you what I want.}

{Can you at least give me a hint?}

{Three days from now, I will begin to win over your respect,} Trix said. {Until then, no matter what I say, you will not believe me.} She leaned forward, looking him in the eyes. {I am no fool. I know that your politeness comes from your desire not to anger me because I am still a sapien eating monster.} Again, Jason hesitated too long. {Watching your reaction to me, my people...} her words trailed off. {The deep-enders.} She was silent again. {When Cella first leapt at the bed sheet, I was watching you. I saw the expression on your face. That was why I was slow to act upon her outburst.}

Jason thought back to the movie night. He hadn't thought about that. Why hadn't Trix yelled at her the moment she jumped at the screen. Instead, the former housemaid tore the screen in half and tried to eat the sapiens before Trix finally put a stop to her rampage.

{So what do you propose?}

{Just as I said, let me show you. Three days from now, I will begin to win your trust. When I am confident I have it, I will let you know what I want.}

{What's happening in three days?} Shique asked, head tilted.

{When you arrived, you noticed a large amount of ship traffic in the harbour?} All three nodded. {Three days from now, there will be a great assembly taking place within the halls of the Tower of Exousía. Every guild will be present to discuss whether or not we should undertake drastic action.}

{What type of drastic action?} Jason asked.

{Sapiens,} Trix answered without hesitation. {Whether or not sapiens should be exterminated once and for all.} Nobody moved or made a sound.

"What the hell did we do?" Jason cried out. His outburst needed no translation.

{There was an incident that took place on the shores of the High Continent,} Trix answered, and Jason groaned. {Is something wrong?}

{We were defending ourselves!} Jason cried. Trix held out a hand to quiet him.

{You destroyed half the city of Baile an Chósta,} Trix said. {The reason why you did it isn't the argument. The point is that Sapiens have demonstrated a level of power projection we never thought possible. Everyone knows your flying machines have limited ocean travel, but now…} Trix trailed off as if the impact of what she was about to say finally hit her. She licked her lips nervously and then continued. {Now, one of your flying machines has crossed the Emerald Sea, flown right into the heart of the most powerful city on the High Continent, and devastated its forces without a signal loss.} She paused to stare intently at him. {Did you honestly think such an act would go unnoticed? Or not warrant panic? We live on the Middle Continent with you. If you have no trouble delivering such destruction there, it would be all too easy to do the same thing here and on a grander scale.}

{But we don't want to wipe you out!} Jason cried, standing up from his table and taking a few brave steps towards Trix. Glitch moved to protect him, but he waved her off. {We have no intention of wiping you out.} Taking a deep breath, Jason launched into explaining the 'Vulpes Factor' to Trix. As he talked, he noticed that both Trix and Mahx listened with interest. When he finished, Trix and Mahx gave each other a quick, sidelong glance. Trix then turned back to Jason, an unreadable expression across her face. She appeared to want to say something but held her tongue.

After a few seconds, she leaned back into her chair. {Vulpes scholars have wondered why you never tried to attack us once you merged your thunder staffs with your flying machines.} She scoffed before leaning back in her chair. {Only now, you've exposed a fatal flaw with that thinking. You can't continuously expand while at the same time, call any provocative action self-defence. All you've accomplished is showing the whole world that you're now too powerful to the point where no one can afford inaction.}

{We just want to be left alone!} Jason yelled. {Mammalians forced us into this position. What are we supposed to do?}

{You can listen to my suggestion.} Jason gaped. Trix had mentioned she intended to win his trust over in three days.

{What do you have in mind.}

{All species of mammalians who wish for an audience before the Guilds Council need a sponsor. Mammalians who live beyond the Middle Continent's shores often do this because they have no guilds, and the guild doesn't recognize their primitive form of government.} She paused, a look of distaste momentarily crossing her features, {if you can call it that.} Mahx stifled a snort of laughter.

Shique frowned but said nothing. She did cast Jason a quick glance as if saying, 'Did you hear what she said?' Jason didn't want to hear it, so he steered the conversation back on track. {And where do I fit into all this?} Again, Trix gave him a surprised look.

{Isn't it obvious?} she asked. When Jason shook his head, she pointed at herself and said, {I will sponsor you.}

Silence filled the dining hall before Glitch said, {You, a Vulpes, will sponsor a sapien?} This time, both Glitch and Shique burst out laughing.

{It's true, I will,} Trix called out over their laughter. {it's the only way Jason will be able to present his case before the Guilds Council.}

{I understand,} Glitch said, calming her laughter, {but the idea is so absurd.} Again, Trix and Mahx glanced at each other.

{If what you say is true,} Jason said, {I am going to have to trust you.} There was a flicker of something in Trix's eyes. {I'm taking an enormous gamble - not just trusting a Vulpes with my safety, but the safety of my entire race.} He paused to let the irony sink in. {And in return, I ask that you make sure I don't regret it.}

{You're trusting me?} Trix spoke as if she weren't sure she heard him right.

{No,} Jason said but quickly held up his hand. {While everything you've done shows you are indeed genuine, you were right; I still don't trust you completely, not with the fate of my entire race on the line. However, what you've done for me has convinced me enough that I will give you what you want—the chance to gain my complete trust.} Mahx twitched nervously while Trix's eyes grew wider. {You still terrify me,} Jason added quickly, {but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed the opportunity to prove yourself. Even if you are a vulpes.}

Slowly, she leaned forward, and despite his bravery, Jason did take a step backwards. {Thank you, Mr Sank-cow-key,} her voice was almost a whisper. {I promise you this, you will not regret your decision.} Looking behind him, Jason was surprised his two companions remained silent. Trix rose to her feet. {Please, you must forgive me, but I have to leave. Now that you've agreed to my proposal, I need to organize everything. I have to move fast if I am to prepare for our day before the Council.}

Jason watched as both Trix and Mahx left the room in a hurry. When the door closed, Shqiue held up a hand to silence everyone. Then, quickly and silently, she hurried over to the door and listened. Finally, satisfied, she returned to her seat. {You're either very brave or stupid if you ask me.} Jason turned to Shique.

{You're saying that, after I defended you?}

{I’m not a vulpes,} Shique countered. Jason opened his mouth, but she preempted him. {Haven't you been paying attention to her behaviour? Or what she's said?} Jason indicated for her to continue. {For starters, let's go back to her sob story. Do we really know that the zookeeper was an Oryctolagus?} She purposely looked at Glitch. {May I remind you, I'm a merchant, and as such, I have to have a keen eye. She's been very attentive to the bond you two have.} She levelled Jason with a hard stare. {She's jealous of the trust you've placed in her.}

{Considering her fascination with my people, it doesn't surprise me.}

{Look,} Shique interrupted. {I know you don't completely trust me because...} her words died in her throat. The internal conflict raged across her features as she appeared to debate her following words. Finally, she said, {all I'm saying is be very careful in what you do next.}

{I'm trusting my life with you,} Jason said, {but if you harm Glitch, I will do everything in my power to make you regret betraying me.} Shique didn't appear offended, as her expression showed she expected him to say that. Folding his arms, he asked, {So what do you suggest?}

{Be careful,} she answered. {Even before you arrived in Port Beag Mara, I heard of what happened from the Lutrinae sailors of the attack the sapiens made in Baile an Chósta. A universal saying goes like this, 'If the Lutrinae knows, the whole world knows.' So everyone in every corner of the known world will have heard about Baile an Chósta. The point I'm trying to reach here is that everyone wants something from sapiens.} She leaned back in her chair to let that sink in.

Jason felt uncomfortable. He knew precisely what she was saying. Throughout his journey, Jason had encountered the inner workings of many mammalian species, and all of them did indeed want something from the sapien race, particularly the Cervidae. He silently snarled as what they'd done to ensure he ended up in their hands returned.

{Exactly,} Shique said. {While I'm not telling you to distrust her, I am telling you to be careful with yours. Trix has made it clear that she wants something from you. When the time comes, will you be willing to grant her what she wants?} Shique held up a finger as if reminding him of an important fact. {As I stated in the beginning, she's a vulpes. Other mammalians distrust the vulpes for a reason. Her story about their history was tragic, but how much of it is accurate. Her story could've been carefully edited. It wouldn't be false; it might not even be a misrepresentation. She could have omitted some words in such a brilliant way that it could appear to be tragic to anyone who didn't know anything about the vulpes.}

{Well, what do you know?}

{What has been told to me,} Shique confessed. {While I've never encountered the vulpes, my personal experience has told me, listen to everything and believe no one. Face to face experience is the only way to learn the truth.} She turned as if looking towards Trix. {And what my face to face experience has told me is that she's jealous of Glitch. And a jealous woman is something you shouldn't take lightly.} At this, Glitch's ears folded back against her head.

{Are you a jealous woman?} Jason asked. Shique didn't hesitate.

{Yes.}

{So what do you want from me?}

Shique gave a sad sigh before muttering in her language. Then, before Jason could ask her to elaborate, she rose to her feet. {Just like Trix, I have to earn your trust before I can tell you.} She was silent, and Jason could see the sadness in her eyes. Then it was gone as if blown away by a sudden wind. {I'm going to take a beauty nap,} she said, her voice returning to its usual cheery tone. {I'll leave it to you to discuss your next move.} Then she was gone. Both Jason and Glitch watched her close the door; Glitch kept her ears aimed at it before turning back to Jason.

{What do you think?} she asked.

{She's right,} he said. {We can't trust any of them, including Shique.}

{So what's the plan?}

{We are in the most dangerous place in the world,} Jason answered. {For sapiens, that's just another day. We've learned that you need to do whatever you can to survive. If there is even the slightest chance of success, grab it with both hands, no matter how insane the risk.} He grunted with annoyance. {But it seems that tactic has backfired. We are now in a situation where we have no choice but to trust those who want it.} He smiled. {Still, I would be a fool not to have a contingency plan. For the first time, we have the opportunity to plan rather than make it up on the fly. We can take a stroll around Trix's compound and look for possible escape routes should we have to flee at a moment's notice. Learn about the city should we find ourselves on our own. What's the quickest way out? Should Shique betray us, we can find a way to use our strengths to exploit her weakness. Just as Shique said, believe everyone and trust no one.} He paused. {Until they've proven themselves.} He smiled warmly at Glitch. {Just as you've done.} She smiled back and reached out a hand to gently stroke him, but her smile quickly faded.

{So you're still going to trust everyone?}

{We have no choice,} Jason said. {As I stated before, in regards to Shique, we need all the allies we can find. There's an old sapien motto in regards to strength in numbers that goes, 'Surround yourself with a sea of friends, and your enemies will never touch you.' We not only need friends but powerful friends, and Trix fits that perfectly.}

{And Shique?}

{She's an unknown. That could prove to be either our greatest asset or our most dangerous vulnerability. In that regard, we need to make a huge gamble.} Jason paused. {And I'm going to take it.}



First Chapter: Act I
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