FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 15: Frustration

Ellie picked up the pace as she took her morning jog through Willowdale. She pushed herself harder and harder until she was sprinting flat out. She heard Jason yell behind her, but she didn't slow. Lungs and muscles screaming, heart pounding like it might burst, she ran.

The news had reported another missing prey this morning. Like all but the first, this one hadn't been a prisoner. They had simply vanished from a city park. The official story was that the remaining terrorists, possibly in collaboration with rogue officer Lily Schulz, were responsible, but Ellie knew the truth. And there was nothing she could do about it!

Finally, Ellie stumbled to a stop, gasping. She sat heavily on the lawn by the sidewalk as she caught her breath. Two weeks and everything's gone to Tartarus! In addition to the missing prey and nonsensical arrests, several members of Maplesburg's police force had resigned in protest over the accusations the vixen had leveled at the missing Lily Schulz. Despite all this, the murderous fox seemed more firmly entrenched as Maplesburg's autocratic "Governor" every day. Ellie wanted to scream; running hadn't helped at all.

Eventually, a heavily breathing Jason jogged up next to her and stopped. He sat down on the grass next to her and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Ellie squeezed his hand back, but neither of them spoke, watching the passing cars in silence. Ellie knew Jason had been trying to do everything he could to comfort her, but the fact remained that he had been the one to insist they put their own safety over the lives of the prey now being murdered by the capricious fox. In truth, Ellie was angrier at herself for not fighting his decision than at Jason for making it. It was entirely possible, if not likely, that they would have been captured by now if they had elected to stay, and then where would they have been? But at least I would know I tried! Perhaps the most frustrating thing was that Ellie didn't know how she could have prevented what was happening, yet at the same time, she felt she should have prevented it somehow. If only she could make everyone know what she knew about the vixen! But few people had believed their video if the comments and ratings were anything to go by, and the media had helped the vixen undermine their story by forwarding her fabricated version of events. Now, people thought they were vindictive and unhinged, and it would be even harder to convince anyone of the vixen's guilt.

"Are you ready to head back?" Jason meowed after some minutes.

Ellie let out a weary sigh. "I'm ready."

They stood, and Jason offered her his hand again. Ellie took it, and they walked the

remaining distance to her parents' house. The warm late summer sun shone on their faces as they plodded down the sidewalk. The start of autumn was only a few days away, and in northerly Willowdale, the first frost wouldn't be far behind. For now though, they were still enjoying hot days, warm nights, and verdant foliage. Ellie did her best to enjoy the pleasant weather, but it was impossible. She could hardly even sit still, stress making her antsy. Even when Jason held her, she felt the need to jump up, to pace, to do anything!

They returned to the teal, two-story house and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Ellie's parents had already left for work, but her father had left some freshly picked vegetables-- collard greens, carrots, and tomatoes--from the front yard garden on the counter. Ellie grabbed some of each and sat at the two-seat kitchen table while Jason fixed his own breakfast; he was

still working through the meat Edgar had bought. Ellie was gradually getting used to the smell of his food, but she still opened the window next to her while the meat was cooking.

Ellie was enjoying the sharp and sweet flavors of the fresh vegetables when Jason sat across from her with his nondescript filet of whatever he was having. Ellie still couldn't identify one kind of meat from another unless it was one that smelled particularly offensive.

"There are more fresh vegetables if you'd like," Ellie offered.

Jason got up and returned with a small tomato and a single collard leaf. Ellie was impressed he'd decided to try the latter. She watched him experimentally nibble the lush green leaf before returning to her own breakfast.

"Is there anything you want to do today?" Jason asked.

Ellie shrugged, focusing on her carrot.

"I thought we could go for a hike and then have a picnic lunch. I looked up some local

parks."

Ellie shrugged again, "If you want."

"I just think it will do us good to get out of the house. I appreciate your parents'

hospitality, but I'm starting to feel cooped up."

Ellie looked up at the cat annoyedly, "You mean you think it will do me good," she

accused.

"Both of us," Jason countered. "What's happening in Maplesburg bothers me too. I wish

there was something more we could do, Ellie. I really do."

"Predators aren't being killed," Ellie returned. It came out more nastily than she'd

intended.

Jason set down the leaf and looked away across the room. "I'm sorry, Ellie. I made the

best call I could," he replied defensively. "What would you be doing as the Duchess' pet? Begging her to stop?"

Ellie looked down at her plate grumpily. She felt bad about how her words had come out; she knew Jason cared about prey dying as much as she did. However, his reminder that they would have been helpless to stop the killing either way didn't help. It also doesn't help to argue about it. They'd made their decision and gotten out while they could. Right or not, they had to live with that. "I'm sorry, Jason. I know it's not your fault. I just hate feeling helpless like this. Even when she'd captured us, we had a little hope. Things are getting worse in Maplesburg every day. Where will it end? How many people are going to die before they kick that witch out?"

"I don't know, Ellie. Someone has to notice eventually, or at least, maybe after the election, they'll send her away."

Ellie scoffed, "As if they're even going to have an election. She'll be Governor for life by the end of the month at this rate."

"The King will get involved if it goes that far," Jason returned, though he didn't seem entirely certain about it. "Or maybe she'll get bored and go home on her own."

"It seems like she likes playing Queen of Maplesburg to me," Ellie replied dryly. "It must be incredible for her ego."

"Maybe that's what will end it," Jason suggested. "She'll decide she prefers the accolades and stop murdering people so that she can pretend she solved the problem."

"I doubt it. It probably helps her to have a boogeyman. I suppose if Lily's captured, she might decide to go that direction."

Jason looked at her uncomfortably, "You're probably right," he murmured. "I've been hoping she'd get away, but maybe it would be better if Lily turned herself in."

Ellie blinked in surprise, "If she wants to keep killing people, she'll find a way to do it. Even I don't wish that on Lily. Can you imagine what that monster would do? If she's turned against that witch, Lily is at least partially on the right side of things now."

Jason smiled wryly, "I never thought I'd hear you defend Lily. You know, maybe she'll be the one to solve all of this. Lily was never one to take a lot of shit. Maybe she'll march into City Hall with a militia and remove the Duchess herself."

Ellie rolled her eyes, "Just because I don't want someone to be horribly murdered doesn't mean I think they're a secret hero. If Lily does that, I'll forgive her for leaving us to die." Jason grinned amusedly, "That's it? She can save Maplesburg, and all she gets is an 'I

forgive you.'?"

"She'll be lucky to get that!" Ellie snapped back.

Jason snorted, holding back a laugh.

Ellie glared at him, but after a couple seconds, she smiled wryly. "You know things are

bad when we're hoping a negligent jerk like Lily is going to fix things. Maybe a meteor will obliterate City Hall with the Duchess inside. If we're imagining miraculous solutions, we might as well get the gods involved."

"However it's going to happen, I don't think it helps for us to spend all our time worrying about it. We need to take care of our mental health. Do you want to go hiking?"

Ellie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't feel annoyed at the cat. He was right that they'd done as much as they safely could, and she knew he was concerned about her. "Alright, Jason."

They finished breakfast, packed lunch, and were soon on their way to a wooded park Jason said had a few miles of hiking trails. They took Jason's car, but Ellie drove. Since their arrival, she had adjusted the seat and steering wheel to accommodate her. She wanted to get there before dark! Jason didn't complain; besides, he had plenty of room in the passenger's seat of the dark blue sedan.

They hiked one trail then had lunch before hiking a second. Ellie had to admit that being out under the trees, only the two of them and the insects, was calming. They walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the musty and sweet scents of the decaying leaves and lush greenery. Flecks of golden sun danced across the forest floor between the thick green canopy of leaves: oaks, beechs, maples, sugargums, sycamores, pawpaws, and a few pines and cedars towered over them, closing them in, shielding them from the turmoil of the outside world.

After they'd been walking for about an hour, Ellie stopped to sit on a mossy fallen tree a short distance from a trickling, rocky stream. Jason sat on her left, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. He reached his arm behind her and stroked her back.

"This was a good idea, Jason," Ellie murmured. "It's nice out here, peaceful."

Jason nuzzled her far ear, his jaw brushing over her head. "I'm glad you think so," he murmured. "I've been worried about you, Ellie."

"I know," Ellie replied, a bit guiltily. "And I know there's nothing I can do; that's the worst thing."

"You're only one person," he soothed. "You shouldn't put the weight of all of Maplesburg on your shoulders. We did what we could to warn people. They have to decide to take action. The two of us couldn't stop her on our own."

"A well-placed bullet could," Ellie remarked. "That only takes one person."

"I suppose so," Jason allowed. "But even if you were successful, you'd be found guilty of murder. I don't want to see you hanged, Ellie. Promise me you won't sacrifice yourself like that."

Ellie sighed wistfully. "I promise, Jason," she murmured.

Jason sat up straight and turned to look directly at her, his sea green eyes intense with concern, "I mean it, Ellie. I don't want to live without you. Promise me you won't do something to get yourself killed."

Annoyed, Ellie rolled her eyes. "I already said I promise," she grumbled.

"I wasn't convinced," Jason returned stubbornly.

Ellie scowled, "I promise I won't do anything stupid, Jason. I don't really like the idea of

being hanged either, as it turns out. You do agree she deserves to die though, right?" Ellie added the question purely to get back at the cat; Jason was against the death penalty, and they'd argued about it plenty of times.

Jason turned away, looking forward again, "I, I suppose so, Ellie. I don't like the idea, but I suppose with the power she has-"

"Ugh," Ellie cut him off. "She's a vicious murderer, and she deserves to die. You don't need a thesis on power to justify it, Jason."

Jason frowned, "I was just telling you what I thought," he muttered moodily.

Ellie snorted back a laugh. She reached behind him and, grabbing his tail, pulled the end up into her lap. Ellie held the stripey appendage with one hand, running it through the other, while the end flipped at her peevishly. "Go on, Jason," she teased. "Tell me your theory about it. How high in the hierarchy do we have to go before capital punishment is justified?"

Jason flicked an ear and looked away grumpily, "You just want to make fun of me," he groused.

Ellie tweaked the tip of his tail, "You make it too easy sometimes, kitty."

Jason huffed annoyedly, and Ellie giggled. Still toying with his tail, she propped her chin on his shoulder and stared up at him, putting on an exaggerated expression of remorse.

"Don't be mad, Jason," she pleaded hammily. "I know it's because you're such a sweet kitty. That's why you're my kitty sweetheart, right?"

Jason huffed again and rolled his eyes before looking at her wryly. Ellie opened her eyes wide and laid back her ears, doing her best to look anxious about his answer. Jason's wry smirk widened, and he chuckled softly.

"I love you too much to stay mad at you, Ellie," he meowed. "As long as you're safe, I can make it through anything."

Ellie tweaked the tip of his tail again, "Silly kitty," she murmured affectionately. "I couldn't put you at risk either. I guess that's both of our problems."

Jason touched his nose to hers and smiled fondly, "I guess."

They sat a little while longer then finished their hike, arriving back at the car in the late afternoon. They returned home, and then Ellie and Jason fixed dinner, a responsibility they'd undertaken upon their return to Willowdale. It was the least they could do to repay Ellie's

parents' hospitality. Together, they prepared two kinds of lasagna: a larger one with spinach and eggplant for the rabbits and a smaller one with meat and cheese for Jason.

Ellie's parents got home around six, and by 6:30, they were seated together at the long dining table, Ellie and Jason across from her mother and father, respectively.

"How was your day?" her father asked conversationally.

"We went for a hike at a park out by the old quarry," Ellie replied. "It was nice. We had lunch and made a day of it."

"That does sound nice," her mother replied. "We should all do something like that this weekend if the weather's nice."

Ellie nodded in agreement. "How were things at work?"

"Stressful as usual, but nothing out of the ordinary," her mother returned.

They ate in comfortable silence a few more minutes before her father spoke again, "It

sounds like the new training the Duchess created is going alright at least. Half a week, and they haven't reported any incidents. They were interviewing predators and prey involved in the first wave this morning. It sounds like they've been able to work out any issues so far. I know the Duchess is, is about as horrible as someone can be, but I think she may have stumbled onto something here."

Ellie was reluctant to grant the vixen even the mildest compliment, and she'd been critical of the program before the last minute amendment that allowed pairs of predators and prey to self-select. As it was now though, she was cautiously optimistic that the program would be harmless, if not beneficial, to predator-prey relations. Having Jason at my house really took our friendship to a new level. Ellie and Jason had always been friendly, having hit it off immediately, and they'd grown close over the years. However, until Jason's visit, there had always been a barrier between them; they'd been friends, but first and foremost they'd been colleagues. Jason's visit had elevated their friendship above their professional relationship, and that hurdle cleared, their relationship had developed rapidly from there.

"Just because they haven't reported anything doesn't mean nothing's happened," her mother rejoined. "It's a terrible risk being forced to live with some strange predator. Those they interviewed probably knew each other before."

"About half of them said they didn't," her father replied. "I agree it could be awkward, but I think it's time prey were involved in the training somehow."

"It's predators' responsibility to learn to control themselves," her mother returned. "Prey shouldn't be put at risk." She glanced at Jason, "I'm sure Jason can tell us how this new 'training' measures up to the proven techniques we've had in place for decades."

"W-well," Jason stammered embarrassedly. "A lot of the current training does focus on recognizing and controlling predatory instincts, but I think this training could fit with the sensitivity portions of the current training. It's a sort of practical exam to make sure you can put everything you've learned to use. I think some predators will benefit from it."

"And what about the prey?! Is it worth it for some predators to benefit if prey are harmed?" her mother demanded.

"I-I guess not," Jason murmured self-consciously.

Ellie came to his defense, "No one has been harmed! Of course we'll say it failed if that becomes a problem."

"You don't know they haven't been," her mother shot back. "You only know what's been reported."

"And I'll change my view on the basis of the evidence," Ellie rejoined. "We didn't know whether predators and prey could live together at all before we tried it. The impression I've gotten from most of the predators with negative views on prey and vice versa is that they don't really know any. This program could help that on both sides."

"The problem is that, if it goes badly, prey could be seriously injured or worse. I don't see how the proper response to a bunch of predators ravaging Maplesburg and eating prey is to force them together," her mother argued.

"The timing is questionable," Ellie conceded. "I'm not going out of my way to defend that witch's decisions. I just don't think it's fair to assume predators can't handle living with prey when we haven't heard of any problems. We know some of them can. Besides, they must be tracking who's with whom. If something happened, the predator hosting that prey would be the first person investigated."

"There have been disappearances though," her mother returned. "I know you think they're all the Duchess, but some of them may not be. Didn't you hear about that poor rat who disappeared from the park last night?"

Ellie frowned. Of course she remembered. "Have they learned anything else? They didn't find her body, did they?"

"Not that I know, but she was staying with a predator. How do we know they didn't follow her to the park?" her mother pointed out.

"I'm sure that will be investigated," Ellie replied. "But when there is a vicious murderer currently ruling Maplesburg, I don't think we need to look for others. Besides, if you want to go there, another prey could be responsible in this case. Not every violent person is a carnivore."

Her mother frowned, "I know that. It's just much more likely."

"Statistically, it's only more likely for predators to attack prey than for prey to attack predators," her father countered. "Most violence is intraspecies. Most of the time, people get abused by the people they live around, and that still means their own species more often than not. It's even less likely between predators and prey than between different prey species."

"But the whole program is about making predators and prey live together!" her mother pointed out. "If you're right, convincing predators and prey to live more closely with each other will only increase the violence between predators and prey!"

Her father frowned, "I think you should think about the implications of that, Evelyn. Of course we might not have any violence between predators and prey if we didn't live in the same areas. Do you want to return to complete segregation?"

Her mother looked embarrassed, "N-no, it's just that, that I don't think prey should be put at risk."

"Reducing discriminatory attitudes reduces one factor that leads to violence between predators and prey," her father replied. "Whether or not the training works is yet to be seen, but I think that's the ultimate goal."

"I, I suppose you're right," her mother conceded. "I hope you're right that it's going well."

They finished their meal without further conversation, the silence a bit less comfortable than before. Ellie was glad that her mother had warmed to Jason, but as this argument made clear, that hadn't erased her prejudice toward predators. Ellie was worried that the events of the

past month would inflame those attitudes among prey, and she hoped that, even if the timing of this new training was questionable, it would help remind prey that predators weren't uncontrollable beasts. They had their instincts to overcome, but so did prey. We're so much more alike than we are different. Ellie glanced at Jason on her right and smiled affectionately; there were plenty of prey who were much more dangerous than her sweet kitty.

***

Jason and Ellie went for hikes the next two days as well, trying out different local parks,

and then Saturday, the four of them all took Jason's car to the first park they'd visited, as that was the one they'd liked the best. Ellie led the cat and rabbit herd with Jason following her close behind and Ellie's parents behind him. Jason thought Ellie's mood seemed much improved from earlier in the week, and he was glad that getting out in nature had alleviated some of her stress from the troubles in Maplesburg. Seeing Ellie happier made him happier, and he was enjoying the tranquility of the forest too.

Jason knew that a few centuries ago, that tranquility would have been absent. Prey had used thick forests to conceal their homes, and consequently, they'd also been favorite hunting grounds for predators. Today, he and the rabbits could peacefully stroll under the trees together, and perhaps, one day, the remnants of that violent past would decay away like the leaf litter of the forest floor. However, two and a half centuries wasn't that long, and in the millennia-long history of Vulpineva those metaphorical leaves had only just fallen. As recent events showed, they could still be kicked up to reveal the molding remains of that carnage.

Jason wished everyone appreciated how much better peace had made their lives. The carnivore cults were the most extreme example, but too many other predators didn't appreciate what peace had given them. It wasn't simply the friendship and affection predators and prey could share that they had gained, nor could it be condensed to the richness in understanding available in a society of individuals of so many different shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. No less important or valuable was one simple fact: predators were no longer killers. They no longer needed to harden and resign themselves to the harsh reality of murder or starve.

Predators had been liberated! Unfortunately, even if most were happy to live among prey and comfortable with the convenience of lab-grown meat, too many carnivores saw the end of violent predation as the liberation of prey alone. Jason, on the other hand, deeply appreciated this not only because he loved Ellie but also because he understood that he wouldn't have been able to exist in that prior world. He could have survived, but the person he was would have been crushed, ground down and forced into a misshapen mold simply so he wouldn't starve. With no choice but to survive by slaughter, the 'sweet kitty' Ellie loved would have been destroyed. Jason didn't like to imagine what his life would have been, but he was aware enough to be grateful for what he had.

After their hike, the four of them had lunch on a grassy hillock underneath a young red oak. Evelyn had brought an old white, woven sheet, which they sat on with their brown paper bag and midnight blue chest cooler full of food, plates, and utensils. Jason and Ellie sat side-by- side, and Eli and Evelyn faced them from the opposite long edge of the blanket. Jason was having tuna salad while the rabbits were having cucumber salad and carrot sticks. There was also dandelion and spinach salad with a sweet vinaigrette and a bag of sea salt and vinegar potato chips. There was a juice bottle full of iced tea to drink. Jason tried a little of the salad, but he mostly stuck to his sandwich and chips.

They ate a leisurely meal, sunning themselves and chatting about nothing in particular. When Ellie had finished her sandwich, she lay her head in Jason's lap, watching the fluffy white clouds blow across the bright blue sky. Jason plucked a blade of grass and tickled the rabbit's nose. Ellie went cross-eyed then grabbed the blade of grass between her incisors and munched it down, pulling it from Jason's fingers. Jason grinned and plucked another blade, which Ellie also ate. He plucked a third but pulled it away teasingly when Ellie tried to bite it.

"Didn't you get enough lunch?" Jason meowed amusedly.

"You're the one who keeps sticking it in my face," Ellie quipped.

Jason tickled her nose again, and again, she snagged the grass and ate it. "Munch-a-munch-a-munch," Jason booped her nose. "You're cute when you eat like

that, Cutie Pie."

"Stick your finger down here again, and I'll show you cute," Ellie threatened with mock

severity.

"I'd better not. The next thing I'd know, half of my arm would be gone," Jason joked. He moved his hand to her belly and circled a finger through her soft fur.

"Akk!" Ellie yanked in her legs and pushed his arm away from the tender area with her

feet. "No tickling!"

Jason grinned ferociously, "I bet I could hold you down and tickle you all I want, bunny,"

he growled.

"If you do, you're going to regret it!" Ellie declared. "Don't forget who's in charge!"

"Is that you?" Jason punctuated the question by shoving Ellie's legs away with his right

arm and plunging his left arm toward her vulnerable belly.

He wiggled his fingers in her white fur, but she grabbed his left arm in both hands and

pushed it away. Giggling and growling with mock ferocity they wrestled for control of the bunny's ticklish belly.

"I-I think that's enough!" Evelyn cried.

Jason and Ellie both stopped and looked at the albino doe, who was visibly upset behind the dark, tortoiseshell sunglasses she wore to protect her sensitive eyes. Jason felt a twinge of embarrassment, but Ellie looked irritated. He thought Ellie was going to snap back at her mother, but Evelyn spoke again first.

"Sorry, I know it wasn't serious, but it was making me nervous. What if his claws slipped out and hurt you, Ellie?"

"I'm sure I would have survived a scratch," Ellie answered annoyedly. "Not that Jason can't control whether his claws are sheathed."

"I know," Evelyn replied contritely. "And I'm sure I wouldn't have thought anything about it if he weren't a carnivore, but, but it triggers something in me, Ellie. I know it isn't fair, but it frightens me. I feel like you're in trouble, even if the rational part tells me you're not."

"It's alright, Dear," Eli comforted. "All that growling could get anyone worked up." Jason felt his ears getting hot. "Sorry," he murmured abashedly.

"It was play-growling!" Ellie protested. "You knew Jason wasn't trying to hurt me!"

"We understand, Ellie," Eli replied. "But perhaps it's better if you play like that when we

aren't present. I was getting a little nervous too."

Ellie frowned. She dropped Jason's arm, and it fell onto her stomach. Jason smoothed

her mussed fur.

"It's okay, Ellie," he soothed. "Let's relax. I'll tickle you another time."

Ellie looked up at him with an amused smirk and a fierce glint in her brown eyes. "We'll see who tickles who, kitty," she growled playfully.

Ellie stretched back out, and Jason continued to stroke her while she dozed with her head in his lap. They relaxed in the sun a while longer before they headed home.

***

Ellie and Jason were spending the afternoon inside. After several days of hiking, a cold

front had brought a bout of rain, so the two of them were curled up on the light blue loveseat together, reading their respective books. Ellie's reading was interrupted when her phone began to ring: it was Katya. Anxiously, Ellie accepted the call.

"Katya? What is it?"

"Hi Ellie, I, uh, well, I've been debating whether to call you. See, I've found the evidence against Her Grace, and-"

"What?! Where?!" Ellie gasped. Could this be what they needed? Can we finally put that witch behind bars where she belongs?!

"It, um, Officer Schulz had it. I found it the day after she disappeared, but I haven't known what to do."

"What do you mean? We have to tell people the truth!" Ellie declared.

"Yes, but, who, Ellie? I've been mulling that over, and I've finally decided. I'm taking it to Wolfsbane."

"You mean, you're taking it to the King?" Ellie asked in surprise.

"He's the only one who can do something," Katya explained. "If people knew, they might revolt, but they also might do nothing. They might not even believe it's true. Besides, if they did revolt, people would get hurt. I don't want to be the cause of further violence."

"What makes you think the King will stop her?"

Katya was silent for a moment before murmuring miserably, "I have to believe he'll do something. I can't believe everything's that rotten, Ellie. If it is, what's the point? He has to do something."

Ellie felt sorry for the cat. She too had been disturbed to learn how corrupt their system of government really was, but as a police officer, Katya was even more invested. Ellie knew it must be devastating to learn everything she'd believed in was a lie. However, Ellie had no faith left; she didn't believe King Frederick would do what needed to be done.

"Maybe he'll do something, but do you really think it will be justice, Katya? That monster deserves to die. There's no way the King will condemn one of his own. The most she'll get is a slap on the wrist."

"That's better than nothing, Ellie. Just removing her from her current position will be better than nothing."

Ellie hesitated. She didn't want to let the Duchess go free, but she did agree that the first priority was to remove her as Maplesburg's Governor. "Why did you call me?"

"I, I thought that, if you were willing to risk it, you could meet me in Wolfsbane. You and Jason could add your account of her crimes to the physical evidence. The horrors you witnessed might spur the King to act."

Ellie glanced at Jason, who had set down his book and was watching her with concern. "I'll talk to Jason. If we don't go through Maplesburg, maybe it's not too big a risk. I'll let you know what we decide. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow, but I understand if you can't make it. I don't want to put you at risk. The King can always watch your video instead."

"I think we should do this, but I'll see what Jason says. If someone doesn't handle that witch, we might never be safe, so I'll try to convince him to go."

"Thank you, Ellie. Let me know as soon as you can."

"Okay, bye, Katya."

"Bye."

Ellie hung up. She looked up at Jason, "Katya wants us to meet her in Wolfsbane. She

found the physical evidence against the Duchess, and she wants us to add our witness testimony to the case against her."

Jason stared at her worriedly before hesitantly meowing, "Wolfsbane is a long ways away, Ellie."

"It's only a couple days' drive," Ellie stated. "We can make it in one day if we take turns driving."

"It's even farther if you don't go through Maplesburg," he returned uncomfortably.

Ellie frowned, "We'd still be able to meet Katya in a couple days. Don't you think we should help, Jason?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

Ellie placed her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze, "What's wrong, Sweetheart?" Jason looked away, "I, I just want this to be over, Ellie. I don't want to testify before the

King; I just want to get past this and get on with our lives."

Ellie squeezed his hand again, "I know, Sweetheart, but do you really think it'll ever be

over until someone stops that monster? I don't want to try to disappear. I don't want to run away and never see our friends or families again. This could be what stops her. The King probably won't give her the punishment she deserves, but he might put an end to the killing. If he only defangs her, at least we'll be able to live with some security."

Jason sighed resignedly, "You're right. I'm sorry, Ellie."

Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder, "We'll do this last thing, and then we'll hope to never hear from her again. I want to get past this too, Jason. I want to get back to our life in Maplesburg, in our own house where we can do what we want."

Jason nuzzled her between the ears, and they sat in silence awhile, neither reading but instead contemplating the possible outcomes of their trip and life afterward. Ellie was hopeful that the King would censure the vixen even if he wouldn't lock her up. Maplesburg would be freed of her tyranny, and prey would be safe from her murderous impulses. At the very least, she thought they'd get a fair hearing. Katya had the physical evidence to prove the vixen's involvement in the string of murders, and King Frederick had a reputation as a forward-thinking and empathetic ruler. Though considering his part in the democratic charade, maybe his actions don't match his rhetoric. Ellie still didn't know the extent to which the King and nobility subverted Vulpineva's supposed representative democracy, but the fact that the cynical pretense was maintained at all didn't speak well of anyone in power.

They prepared dinner in time for her parents to return from work. Ellie stir-fried broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, bok choy, and snow pea pods with kung pao sauce, and Jason stir fried chicken to supplement his vegetables. They also prepared brown rice.

"Jason and I have something to tell you," Ellie told her parents after they'd been eating for a few minutes.

Her parents looked at them curiously. "What is it?" her mother prompted.

"We, uh, we're going to Wolfsbane for a few days. A friend of ours found the evidence we need to indict the Duchess with murder. We're going to add our testimony to the case against her."

Her mother nodded, "Alright, Ellie. Just stay safe, okay?"

Ellie blinked at her easy acceptance, "That's it? I thought you'd be upset."

"We'll be worried of course," her mother replied. "But if she's as you say, then someone

needs to stop her. I just hope your evidence is strong enough."

"I think it is. Thanks for understanding, Mom."

"Just promise me you'll come home, Honey. I assume you'll be steering clear of

Maplesburg."

Ellie resisted rolling her eyes at the Maplesburg remark. They weren't stupid. "We'll steer

clear, Mom, and I promise I'll come home."

Her mother nodded. They finished their meal without further discussion of the matter. After dinner, Ellie and Jason washed the dishes, and then they decided to turn in early. It

was an eight hour drive to Prairie Meadows, which was located to the North and East of Maplesburg. The next day, they'd have a similar drive to reach Wolfsbane, located almost directly to the South of Maplesburg. Driving through Maplesburg would have shaved four to five hours off of their trip, but neither Jason nor Ellie wanted to risk it. As Ellie lay curled in her bed with Jason wrapped around her, her mind was buzzing with anticipation and anxiety. This could really be the end of that witch! But there was so much that could still go wrong. What if Katya didn't make it? What if the King ignored them? Ellie thought she would have heard about it if there was a warrant for their arrest, but that didn't mean the police weren't looking for them. She hoped the fact that no one had a reason to think they'd be in Prairie Meadows or, certainly, Wolfsbane would be enough to prevent them from being noticed. Eventually, Ellie managed to settle her mind enough to fall asleep.