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**“The Odyssey"

By MrNelg**

Act: XVII

The sun slowly rose above the horizon, bathing the city's skyline in a golden glow. A strong breeze whistled across the compound, sending fallen leaves spiralling into the air. However, the few Vulpes' outside performed their duties to their utmost despite the wind's antics.

Glitch stared out at the city beyond their walls from the third-story window. Atop her head, Jason sat between her two towering, fluffy ears. Even though Jason had a good perch, she was gentle when turning her head from side to side.

{Well, today is the day,} Glitch said, idly drumming her fingers on the window sill. {Are you ready?}

{As ready as I'm ever going to be,} Jason answered. His gaze swept the compound once more before settling on the Tower of Exousía. The colossal structure loomed above the entire city like a watchful guard. Its stern presence reminded everyone of the power it wielded.

There was a knock at the door, followed by a Vulpes servant asking if they were ready. From atop her head, Jason could feel the movement of Glitch's eyebrows as they rose, her eyes looking up at him. Jason affirmed the servants' question, and Glitch relayed the answer. The servant then informed them they were to assemble in the courtyard to begin their journey to the tower.

Glitch raised her open palm to her head, and Jason climbed into it. Carefully she lowered her hand to cup the both of them together before walking over to the table. Laying in its centre was a wooden box with a window cut into the front. Trix had a carpenter in the city construct it for her. It was to be his travel case. Glitch opened the lid and gently lowered Jason inside.

The interior was opulent, with silk lining the walls and floor and miniature cushions for him to sit down. The ever-relaxing presence of the surrexerunt petals eased his fears, along with the bars covering the window. They allowed him a view of the outside world but spaced apart just enough to prevent the giant, furry fingers of even the smallest mammalian from reaching within. Jason settled himself into a pile of cushions and looked up at Glitch, her face framed by the box's open roof.

{Let's go,} he said, and she closed the lid, and he listened with relief as she secured it shut. Then, from his position in the cushion pile, Jason watched as they passed the hallway, stairs and parlour before reaching the courtyard of Trix's villa.

The vulpes in question was already waiting with her entourage, who kept their distance as Glitch approached. She wore a white toga with a long, red sash covering her body's right side. Gold rings adorned her ears and jewels on her fingers, while a pearl collar around her neck completed the ensemble. Mahx stood proudly by Trix's side, decked out in new clothes and a new bronze shoulder guard, much bigger than the previous one. At his sides lay a bronze, short and long sword.

Everyone's fur had been immaculately cleaned and groomed. Even Glitch's fur was fluffier and shone with a brightness he'd never seen before. Then, of course, he'd been provided with his own bath, and Glitch had been polite enough to turn her back when he bathed. So now he too was decked out in a fine suit, provided from Trix's stockpile of sapien items, and cleaned up, ready to stand before every guild on the Middle Continent.

Jason looked upon the assembled vulpes'. {Where's Shique?} he asked.

{Never too far away,} came a cheerful reply before her smiling, gigantic grey face appeared before his window. She gave a small wave and giggled as he reciprocated. With everyone assembled, Mahx handed out hooded, woollen cloaks. It was to protect the identities of both Glitch and Shique. Mahx wasn't taking any chances that the other guilds could've spotted them from the moment they landed until he approached them in the marketplace.

{Now that we are ready, I suggest we leave,} Trix said, glancing up towards the sky. {The assembly is to begin within two hours.} The entire troop formed a protective circle around Glitch as they all marched towards the Villa's front entrance. Despite all the protection, Jason couldn't stop himself from tensing as they passed through the double gates and out into the open street.

It was the first time since Jason arrived in Megalopolis that he had been outside Trix's villa. At the time, he had no idea that the Guilds knew about Glitch, and now, he wondered who knew what. Did someone spy Glitch before they arrived at Trix's home? Were spies watching the compound for any signs of when Glitch would leave? Or was someone lying in wait to ambush the entire party so that they could make a snatch and grab?

Observing the other vulpes, Jason saw they, too, were tense as their eyes and ears roamed over the crowds they passed through. The masses themselves were tight but parted to allow the vulpes through. Interestingly, the lutrinae weren't the dominant species in sight. They only made up one-quarter of the crowd, as the majority were mixed species from the Middle Continent; while scattered here and there, he could see representatives from both the Amber and High Continent.

They didn't walk far, as not long after leaving the villa behind, they reached a canal. Steps led down to a dock, stretching along the sides, with gondolas berthed at little piers. Everyone marched a few piers down from the stairs to a rather fancy-looking gondola containing a wooden roof and curtains. Everyone climbed into the boat and, after drawing the curtains, cast off and began its trek down the canal.

The curtains were of a light fabric that allowed the viewer to see outside while providing some privacy. The smooth ride reminded Jason of when he and Glitch had taken that boat out of Tribus City to the coast. The boat's crew were vulpes, not lutrinae, and observing many of the passing boats, Jason noted they weren't as skilled as lutrinae piloted crafts. Once, they nearly collided with another boat, and despite the vulpes clearly not being at fault, all lutrinae, and even some of their mammalian passengers, shouted obscenities at the vulpes.

As they left that unfortunate incident behind, Jason was aware of distant noise not too far ahead. It sounded like shouting. As they drew closer, he recognised the lutrinae's language. As they rounded a bend in the canal, Jason saw a large open pool, dominated by a pyramid-like stone platform, jutting out of the water. Atop it stood lutrinae in long, flowing robes. Positioned along the various levels of the pyramid, from the very top stood a lone lutrinae in fancy robes who shouted to a congregation of lutrinae, bobbing in the water. The crowd surrounded the platform, looking up at the speaker with reverence.

{That is the *,} Glitch answered when he inquired about it. {You know, where you pay homage to higher beings.}

So, they were worshipping their Gods. Jason scowled at this and turned away, not wishing to know anything more.

At this, Trix spoke up. {That reminds me, there is one thing I've been meaning to ask you; About your culture. I've noted your kind has many similarities in your society to Mammalians, but I've never found anything that could identify as a parallel to religion.} Jason scoffed.

{Sapiens don't have any deities,} he answered. {All forms of ancient Sapien cultures never did. After all, what God would be so cruel as to create us and give us this size?}

{But - what about, Pyh-mush?} Jason tilted his head before his eyes widened with recognition.

"Oh, you mean, Primus." He chuckled. {"Primus" isn't a God; it's a place. All forms of ancient Sapien culture say pretty much the same thing. "Primus" is an astral plane, the afterlife. If you've been good in your life, you return to "Primus."} Trix's ears flicked.

{Return?}

{"Primus" is said to be the birthplace of Sapien kind,} Jason answered. {It is where we came from. Although there are different versions, they all tell the same story. At the beginning of Sapien history, a catastrophe expelled us from "Primus." The earliest records of Sapien history that survived to this day emphasised returning to "Primus." So when you die, your soul goes home.}

{Are there any descriptions of Pyh-mush?}

{From what the old legends say, it's just like Earth, only everything is our size,} Jason answered. {The plants and animals are to us, as they are to you. No giants are trying to eat you; we live on the ground as Mammalians do. It's every Sapien's wish to return there when they die.}

Trix looked conflicted about something. Then slowly, she asked, {what if you haven't been good?}

{Then your soul stays behind on Earth for all eternity.}

{I can't understand how you can live your whole life without believing in a higher being,} Trix said. {All Mammalians believe in a supreme being, someone who created and watched over them.}

{The Neo Visions have *,} Shique said with pride. {The Goddess of invention.} The name sounded like someone sticking their tongue between their teeth and trying to spit. Like, Tith.

{The Oryctolagus worship *, the Goddess of speed,} Glitch chimed in with excitement. The name sounded like someone trying to blow air through closed lips. Like Phatt.

{And we vulpes worship *, the Goddess of cunning,} Trix boasted. The name sounded like someone trying to whistle with their mouth open. Like Wheet.

{I have noticed that all your Gods are female,} Jason said. Everyone in the gondola burst out laughing, even servants.

{Naturally,} Trix said. {Females give birth, and the Gods give birth to all life. How could they not be female?}

{I find it absurd that life can reproduce asexually,} Jason said. {Don't the Gods get lonely? Do they desire male company?}

{The Gods are above such mortal desires,} Trix said without emotion. Jason opened his mouth to ask another question, but Trix preempted him. {You seem hostile towards our religion.} It wasn't a question.

{As a Sapien, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of Gods,} Jason answered. {Where are the Sapien Gods?} His voice took on a harsh tone as he spoke. {Did they abandon us, casting us down onto the Earth? Some Sapien scholars speculate that they were the ones who exiled us from "Primus." If so, why? What did we do? Why has life been so hard for us since day one?} Jason threw his hands up into the air. "Who the hell cries for Sapien kind? No one, that's who!"

{I've noticed you use the word "Hell" quite a lot,} Trix said. Jason raised an eyebrow. During his journey, he'd seen that Mammalians had a tough time pronouncing Sapien words due to the shape of their muzzles. However, the word Hell was easy for them because it was short and didn't require using one's tongue as much.

{It's believed to be a place worse than Earth, but there have never been any mentions of your soul going there} Jason answered. {Our early records indicate as much, but sadly, no one knows anything about it. Hell terrified the first Sapiens so much that they hardly spoke of it, and some scholars theorise that it's not a place but probably an early metaphor for the vulpes'.} Trix didn't look offended. Instead, she appeared to be thinking hard about something.

{I have noticed you use it as a curse,} Trix said, rubbing her chin. {Given your distaste for higher beings, is it possible that "Hell" is the name of the old Sapien God?} Trix suggested. Jason nodded.

{That theory has been speculated. Those who do believe it is our God, curse them willingly,} he spat. {They deserve to be cursed for all eternity for putting us in this position. Any God, who gives their creation such a handicap, doesn't deserve any love. Why would they create us to be preyed upon by beings who are God-like themselves? For Sapiens, there are no Gods on Earth or anywhere.} He folded his arms to show he didn't care what anyone thought of him for saying that. Everyone went silent.

{I was going to invite you to the shrine when I pay my respects to Wheet,} Trix said but didn't finish the rest of her sentence. Instead, she said, {politics and religion are indeed the two things one should never discuss in public.}

{Weren't you the one who is trying to protect me from the other Guilds?} Jason asked. Trix looked confused before shaking her head with a smile.

{Oh, the shrine isn't in the city; it's on my property,} she answered. {Mammalians don't allow any different species to set up their shrines within other species' cities; publicly.} Jason would've turned her down anyway. The thought of being in one room with every vulpes within Trix's compound was enough to send multiple shockwaves of terror down his spine. Still, the pause gave him time to reflect and calm down.

Jason sighed. {Please, Ms Trix,} he said. {I'm not trying to insult you or your beliefs, but as you no doubt can tell from our conversation, we sapiens are hostile to religion.} Trix's tail flicked.

{What about Pyh-mush? And Hell?}

{That's the afterlife, and a curse word,} Jason said. {Nothing religious about that.} Trix tilted her head slightly.

{Really.} Again, that wasn't a question. Jason just gave her a confused stare.

{Umm, hey!} Shique interrupted, her sizeable grey face appearing before his window. {This is getting awkward. How about we move on?}

{Yeah, let's talk about something else,} Glitch agreed.

Jason was about to reply when he paused. Off to their far left, the canal was blocked. Guards stood atop what was once a double wooden gate that was now permanently sealed. Yet, even from this distance, he could see their scowling faces aimed at the unseen sight on the other side. Curiosity took hold of him, and he asked about it.

{That leads to the Sinking Slums on the city's east coast,} Trix answered. {It's home to the city's destitute, invalids and outcasts. It's the place disgraced lutrinae often go to start a new life.}

One eyebrow rose. {The east coast, right?} When Trix confirmed, Jason asked, {so isn't that the outlet for the central sewer system?}

{Yes, and I wouldn't advise you to go in the water either.} All the vulpes chuckled, and Jason didn't need that answered.

{What's wrong with them?} Jason asked as he eyed the soldiers. {I mean, why is it barricaded from the rest of the city?}

{Aside from the obvious, they represent a massive problem for the city officials. They created the area as a refugee camp over ninety years ago during an economical and natural disaster. They weren't supposed to be a permanent solution, as they were assembled only to be a stop-gap measure to deal with the massive influx of refugees. However, the aftermath of the natural and economic crisis left the city with very little money to spend. So, the refugee camps became permanent homes. Over time, they grew according to need rather than planning, and the area was a mess.}

{If the lutrinae built them, how are they sinking?}

{When constructing in the water, the lutrinae lay foundations before laying down their buildings, which takes time. At the time of the camp's construction, they needed lots of housing fast. No foundations were laid because, at the time, no one believed they would be permanent. With so much weight and no stability, whole sections of the slums are sinking into the sea, as the name implies. Houses that were above water fifty years ago are now submerged. *, it's not uncommon to wake up one day and hear that an entire building collapsed into the water.}

{So how do they deal with it?}

{They just build new structures atop the old ones.} Jason raised an eyebrow at the idea of multi-story shanty towns. While Sapiens did have poverty and unemployment, they lived in government housing complexes. Little more than one-room apartments with the bare necessities kept them off the streets until they could improve their situation.

It amused some sapiens and confirmed to many that mammalians were savages since they didn't look after those who couldn't fend for themselves. He'd seen spies' photographs of mammalian cities' slums and shanty towns. It was a hive of criminal activity and unsanitary conditions filled with junk, broken furniture, and rotting food. So it surprised no one that sapien spies avoided those areas as much as possible.

By now, they had moved past, and while Jason could no longer see the gate, Trix still spoke. {Every passing year, the population of the sinking slums grows. Nowadays, not just lutrinae, but rejects from all over the world call it home.} That grabbed Jason's attention.

{Really? I thought mammalians don't mix.} From outside, Jason heard Glitch's grip tighten on his travel case.

{They don't,} Trix answered. {They have little communities and keep to themselves, but they still buy, sell, and trade. Like in any other city that has foreign nationals living within its walls.} Jason paused as he recalled Glitch's life before they met.

That was the only odd sight Jason saw. About forty-five minutes later, the gondola pilot announced they were entering the Central District. The canal gave way to a purpose-built lake. Where houses and buildings had been on either side, they now sat in the water like exposed rocks. It was a strange sight as they travelled further into the district, giving the illusion that this section of the city had flooded.

What was even stranger were the large stone skyways connecting the buildings, reminding Jason of the skyways that connected tree communities back home. As they drew closer, Jason could see that while the lutrinae lived in the buildings, they had a market and business stalls within those skyways. Even from his travel case, Jason could see they were cramped. The booths lined both sides, leaving just enough room in the middle for the mammalians to pass side by side. The sounds and smells that wafted down reminded him of the marketplace they visited when they first arrived.

Here, the mammalians were all lutrinae and appeared to be working class. The large buildings were apartments, while the traders, merchants and hawkers who resided in the skyways didn't have the quality of merchandise he'd seen back in the open-air marketplace. Beneath the surface, they swam to and fro, exiting and entering buildings through doorways built under the water. At the water line, buildings had doors, and tiny piers, whose purpose was to allow goods in and out of the buildings.

The entire district looked fancy and old but rundown as if maintenance wasn't a priority. According to Trix, these buildings represented the original city of Megalopolis. As the city grew to encompass the surrounding islands, the more affluent residents relocated closer to the economic heart of Megalopolis, leaving the workers and lesser merchants to move in.

Then without warning, the buildings opened up to a large lagoon. A massive island dominated the area, of which Jason could see but a fraction. It climbed high into the sky, high above the buildings of the Central District. Then, atop sat the large, looming structure that was the Tower of Exousía. Once again, Jason heard Glitch's fingers tighten on his travel case.

When they reached the island, they berthed their gondola at the numerous piers that ringed the shoreline. The entire party climbed out of the boat and, again, formed a protective circle around Glitch as they headed to a set of long, wide and very steep stairs. The journey up the stairs took some time, for everyone paused to catch their breath when they finally reached the top. The cumbersome hooded cloaks added to everyone's discomfort. Even then, they still had a long way to walk. The path they took was a paved road, which occasionally held vehicle traffic. However, the carts contained supplies and foodstuffs rather than passengers. It took them twenty-five minutes before, at long last, they stood before the massive double doors of the Tower of Exousía.

It was the largest mammalian building Jason had ever seen. He'd never seen any structure pass three stories in height throughout his journey. The tower easily topped five. The way it was structured reminded Jason of cake towers, each level smaller than the one underneath, while giant columns ringed the outside of each floor. The first floor was the largest, containing two other structures, an east and west wing. Steps led up to the front entrance, which held four massive pillars supporting a frieze larger than the one he'd seen for the Lupus library. Lutrinae guards stood on duty by the doors and opened them for the approaching vulpes'. Jason noted that those who weren't guild members had to present a pass. Much like admittance to Hark's palace, mammalians gave different coloured tokens to the guards, and just like Hark's palace, the guards granted them entrance regardless of their colour.

Beyond the door was a bare-bones parlour. Just benches along the walls, while three tight hallways lay ahead. Different mammalian species waited, while now and then, a pristinely dressed lutrinae would beacon them to follow. If Jason worried about their group looking conspicuous, he needn't worry. There were a group of four mammalians sitting together, their identities hidden by the heavy cloaks they wore. He saw one shift and exposed their hand, which only had two fingers. The rest was a mess of burnt fur and mangled flesh. Jason's group quickly moved past those waiting and took the middle of the three hallways.

As they neared their destination, Jason took the time to go over in his mind everything Trix had taught him about the guilds. As sapiens knew, the guilds had risen to prominence during the Unification Wars due to their autocratic rulers turning to them to develop better technologies, ideas and skills over their opponents. Over time, as each war grew increasingly desperate, more privileges and rights were granted to them, so by the time of the war's conclusion, they had become a power unto themselves. In the years following the peace, the ruling nobility of each species stood down one by one as the guilds took control, as all agreed that a collective of minds, rather than a single one, could best see their people through to a brighter future. How that transition occurred and whether the nobility themselves agreed with it, Trix never revealed.

Their government was a mixed model, combining monarchy in the chairman, aristocracy in the senate, merchant families in the major council, and democracy in the form of allowing the free citizens of the capitol to vote for the chairman. The chairman, when elected, ruled for life, ruling alongside what was called the minor council. Six councillors from the senate who acted as advisors formed the central body of the government. The ruling guild members were an oligarchy of merchants, aristocrats and skilled artisans. The major council served as regional governments, while the free citizens who could vote had to belong to a guild. Different species, slaves, and non-guild members couldn't.

Jason reflected on his time in the Middle Continent and what Tac had told him. The other species had judged the guild's form of ruling based on concepts they understood within their society. Even though the chairman was technically a monarch, they didn't recognise them because they received their position through an election rather than inheritance or taking the position through strength.

It wasn't very long before they emerged into a vast room. It reminded Jason of an amphitheatre cut in half. Semi-circular in layout, with sloping seating. Stone benches with cushions made up the seating in the gallery. At the same time, on the stage below sat five thrones, arranged in a half circle facing the audience. Behind them sat five long wooden benches with cushions, positioned behind their respective thrones, situated before a massive bandshell. Jason also noted those thrones were the only seats in the arena to have desks.

{The assembly is due to start in forty minutes,} Trix announced to the group. {Let us take our seats.} They descended the stairs towards the stage below and walked over to the last throne on the right. Trix sat down on the throne while Mahx took a position just behind her to the left. Everyone else sat down at the bench strategically located behind Trix's throne.

As they settled down, Jason saw that more and more mammalians were arriving. Representatives of every species on the Middle Continent filled the arena. Jason noticed they took up the bottom row as they took their seats. The other seats appeared to be taken up by spectators, assistants, or those wishing to seek an audience with the guilds. Noise was everywhere, and it echoed through the large room as mammalians all spoke among themselves in their native tongues.

More and more, the room started to fill. Some took up residence in the front row, and many more occupied the back seats, while a select few sat down on the thrones. When the room was packed, Jason took stock of everyone. Sitting on the five thrones were the cervidae, the vulpes, the ursidae and the bison, while the lutrinae representative occupied the middle. The rest of the guild representatives sat on the front row benches—the meles, rattus, oryctolagus, procyon, geomyidae, capra, cricetinae, erinaceus, musculus, gulo and mustela.

Jason's gaze turned to the other four thrones. Trix had explained to him that these five species represented the Grand Council. The five most influential mammalians on the Middle Continent. Whenever the assembled mammalians discussed laws or actions of great significance, the Grand Council voted on the matter. For any law or action to pass, it needed a three-fourths majority. It turned out that the lutrinae weren't allowed to vote. Instead, their position was to act as one part arbitrator, one part judge. Only if the vote was tied could they pass one.

It did lead to Jason asking Trix if the other species so despised the vulpes, why were they on the Council? All the wealth they had accumulated during the Unification Wars had given them much-needed clout among the other less powerful mammalians. Trix had also pointed out the hypocrisy of the mammalians wanting their influence and wealth to the vulpes' face while envying and ridiculing it behind their backs.

Jason eyed the other three mammalians. The cervidae, the ursidae and the bison. Trix was already on his side, so he would need to win over at least two of them to kill the motion to exterminate all sapiens successfully. First, he eyed the cervidae representative. He was tall, with caramel fur and white spots. The underside of his muzzle, neck and front of his torso were also white. Two towering antlers reached above his head like a fancy crown. He wore a deep blue gown over two leather straps that crossed his bulky chest. A short dress of sky blue that ended at his knees was held in place by a thick, leather belt with a gold buckle. Leather bracers covered his forearms and legs. His guild did wish to organise trade, so it would be possible to win him over.

His gaze then fell on the other two. The bisons' size was halfway between the cervidae and the ursidae. He wore a long, flowing dark green robe with long sleeves that hung around the cuffs. A headband adorned with numerous diamond shapes ran around his head, just above his horns. His face was thick and squat, the fur around his muzzle, neck and chest was a dark brown, and the rest was lighter, just like the rest of his body. The fur on his chin created the illusion of a forked beard.

Jason didn't know much about the bison, as their tribe was on the far side of the Middle Continent. Sapiens knew they were similar in culture to the cervidae, so maybe there was something. He'd still have to be careful and play it by ear.

Jason then turned his gaze to the ursidae. She was the biggest mammalian in the room, and her throne barely contained her massive frame. Judging her size, he couldn't tell if a Leo was the taller of the two. Her fur was jet-black, save for her muzzle and her chest, which was white. She wore a bright red headscarf wrapped around her neck and a huge, red cloak over a deep blue slip dress with two thick straps around her shoulders. She also was the first mammalian Jason had seen to sport footwear. They looked like someone had made a compromise between sandals and boots. Made of leather, they had no front, exposing her toes, but they did cover the ankles and halfway to her knees.

She would be the wild card in this game, as they were a closed society. Sapiens did know the ursidae had the largest army on the Middle Continent. While it would be possible to arrange technology trade between sapiens and mammalians, they might want to keep a monopoly on their military prowess. While sapiens might trade technology, they would never sell weapons technology to mammalians, let alone mammalian predators.

The room quietened as the lutrinae on the throne rose to her feet. Jason noted the two circular sound blocks at the end of each armrest. She was a small female with dark brown fur and a strip of light brown running down the middle of her chin. She wore a purple sash around her torso, over a toga of white, with red borders. She carried a baton made of bronze in her right hand. Her whiskers were long and numerous, the most predominant feature of her face. Her fur was light brown, while the underside of her muzzle, down to her chest, was a honey-blond.

{Honoured guild members,} she began. {I need to give no reason for the assembly today, for you all know why we are here.} A low murmur ran through the assembled crowd, but interestingly, not from the gathered guild members, who just sat in stony-faced silence. {We have never taken the sapien threat seriously; until now. We are all aware of the sapiens flying machines, but they have always kept to the planes and forests. They have never dared fly into our towns or cities; thus, we grew complacent.} She paused. When she continued, her voice took on a deep, serious tone. {We have never experienced such destruction, carnage or terror unleashed on the innocent citizens of Baile an Chósta.}

Jason furrowed his brow from within his box but quickly brushed it aside. Now was not the time for blame games. He needed to focus.

{The destructive power the sapiens have demonstrated is too great to ignore. At any given point, they can bypass our strongest forts and largest armies to deliver a crushing blow to the very core of our civilisation.} Again, she paused to sweep her stern gaze around the room. {How do we fight against an enemy like that?}

{No army is invincible,} a rattus called out from her seat. {And neither are the sapiens. The trick of a smaller opponent taking down the larger one is to find their weak spot, then strike with everything you have.}

{And what is their weakness?} Jason couldn't see who asked that.

{Does that question need answering?} The female ursidae rolled a free hand. {We might not know much about sapiens, but we do know that our hearing, eyesight and smell are greater than theirs. They are tiny compared to us. Their only advantage appears to be their ability to create new technologies faster than ours.}

{That doesn't answer the question,} the rattus' tone took on an annoyed edge. {We know their weaknesses but don't know how to exploit them; that's the question.} Her fellow rattus nodded in agreement.

Jason's brow furrowed. Wouldn't the rattus guild know about the secret little project they were running back in Baile an Chósta? Then he rubbed his chin in thought. Considering what happened there and its secrecy, the rattus guild was likely going for plausible deniability. The ursidae, on the other hand, gave an irritated frown, obviously annoyed that the rattus needed the answer spelled out for her.

{Numbers,} she answered. {History has shown that no matter how strong your opponent is, they can not fight everywhere at once.}

{Which is why we are here today,} the lutrinae cut in, rising to her feet. {To propose something that has never been thought possible. For all mammalians to put aside their differences, grudges and ideologies. To band together and end the sapien menace before they do it to us.} Again, another low murmuring ran through the audience.

Someone out of Jason's field of vision asked, {Will the entirety of the Middle Continent be enough to finish off those tiny furless ones?}

{We can ask for help from the great powers of the Amber and High continents,} the lutrinae said. {For when we exterminate the sapiens, their secrets will be ours for the taking.} She paused as her gaze swept the room. No doubt, that was the carrot now dangled before the others. {I highly doubt they would want us to gain all the spoils.}

{Can we be sure of that?} a grevyi called out. He rose as he spoke, folding his arms as he glared down at the lutrinae. {If we are to provide our assistance, what guarantee can you provide that you won't back out of our agreement once the sapiens are gone?}

{That is what we are here to discuss,} the lutrinae answered. {First, we need to agree on an alliance, then work out the finer details.} Sporadic laughter filled the audience. From what little Jason could see, it came from those who weren't natives of the Middle Continent.

{Work out the details later?} the grevyi barked. {No one is going to agree to anything without knowing the details. Especially since the guild chooses not to show any respect to traditions, ideologies and the ruling governments of our lands.}

{That's because you chose your governments through brawn, not brain!} a rattus snapped.

{And what is wrong with that?} a lupus demanded before pointing at the rattus. {The only difference between the guilds and our Prime Alphas is with you, your people vote first and take orders later. With us, we don't waste our time voting.}

{Then why aren't the lupus united under a single Prime Alpha? United we stand, divided you fall.}

{Silence, please!} the lutrinae bellowed and smacked her baton down hard on the sound block to her left. The audience settled down. {Now, since the representatives of both the Amber and High Continents have made their case, we shall work out details regarding their concerns.}

Trix chose that moment to speak. {Before we begin negotiations on the proposed alliance, I want to make an announcement.} She turned and motioned to Glitch. The oryctolagus girl rose on shaky legs and came to Trix's side. {I wish to sponsor a guest for an audience before the Grand Council.}

While everyone's eyes were on Glitch, Jason noted the lutraines' weren't. When she spoke, her words were slow. {Who does the Vulpes Guild wish to sponsor?} Trix motioned to one of her staff, who hastily produced a red cushion. She promptly passed it to Glitch, who tucked it under her arm. She took a few steps forward, gently placed the carry case down and opened the latch.

Jason watched as she carefully reached into the box and closed her fingers around him. Then, she lifted him out and placed him in the centre of the cushion before standing back up. Jason sat cross-legged and looked around.

Bewilderment was the predominant expression that greeted him. Despite all his preparations, he couldn't control the shiver that ran up his spine as every predator species in the room bent forward ever so slightly, their noses twitching. Finally, he swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and spoke.

{Greetings, honoured guest. My name is "Jason Sankowski." I am here today to present myself before the Grand Council as the unofficial representative of the "Confederation of the Sixteen Tribes." That is the official title of the lands ruled by the sapien people.} No one responded.

Jason's gaze swept the gathered assembly. Just then, something caught his eye. Without tilting his head, he cast his eyes towards the ceiling. He stared up there for a few moments before raising his hand to his head and tapping his ear three times. Then, finally, the cervidae spoke.

{You wish to ask us to spare your race.} It wasn't a question.

{Why should we listen to you,} the lutrinae asked. {You said it yourself; you aren't even an official diplomat.} She pointed the baton at him accusingly. {Your government doesn't even know you're here, nor what you are attempting to do.} There was no point lying.

{That is correct,} Jason confessed. {But what I am trying to do has its merits among my people's government. We want peaceful coexistence-} His words were cut off by a roar of noise, and Jason slammed his hands over his ears to cut it out. Throughout the din, he recognised Trix's voice demanding calm. Finally, the lutrinae ended the noise, repeatedly slamming her baton on the sound block until the room was silent.

{Now that we have some order, let's organise the responses to your ludicrous claim.} She pointed the baton into the crowd, and Jason turned to see a heavily built lupus glaring daggers at him. From what he could see, the male wore leather bracers around his wrist and a dark blue vest. His fur was blue-grey, save for the underside of his muzzle, neck and chest, which was white. {The chair recognises *of the Low-Mountains Pack.} His name sounded like she was snarling the word, 'sir' through closed teeth, like Saar.

{You say that after attacking the innocent lupus of Baile an Chósta?} Saar demanded. {They had families who had nothing to do with your quarrels with the mammalians of the Middle Continent. Yet you attacked them.}

{They were unfortunately collateral damage,} Jason said with a heavy heart. {But I ask you, why did we attack Baile an Chósta?} He then pointed at the rattus'. {Because the rattus guild was making a poison that could kill our surrexerunt flowers.}

{Lies!} the leader of the rattus delegation yelled. Jason ignored her.

{They were already planning to wipe us out.} Jason pointed at Saar. {I can tell, sir, that you are a soldier, and any soldier can tell you that the best defence is a good offence.} Without waiting for a reply, Jason swung his finger back to the rattus'. {I know about the rattus, because I was in Baile an Chósta when my people attacked it. Hark, the Prime Alpha, asked me to spy on the rattus guild. That's how I know.}

All around the room, ears and tails twitched, albeit briefly. {Can you prove this?} the lutrinae asked. Jason gritted his teeth. Tac could vouch for him, but he was on the other side of the Middle Continent, and Hark…

{You only have my word,} Jason confessed before turning hopeful eyes to the crowd. {Unless any high-ranking Stone-Claw Pack members are in the hall?} Saar glared at him before folding his arms as he shook his head.

{The Stone-Claw Pack and their allies are preoccupied at the moment, along with a hefty majority of the High Continent,} he said. {Hark's strength kept a lasting peace on the High Continent. With his death, Hark's eldest son is fighting off many of his father's enemies, eager to settle old scores.} Jason's lips tightened at the memory of Hark's son wanting to get Tac and himself out of his lands quickly. Now it made sense. His father was a legend on the High Continent, undefeated in battle. So now that he was gone, it made sense that all his enemies would move quickly to take advantage of the situation. Maybe they even hoped his son wasn't the warrior his father was.

He knew he'd have to face a multi-front war, so the last thing he wanted to deal with, right in the heart of his empire, would be guilds and sapiens. Saar continued. {And it's not just the Stone-Claw Pack and their allies. With all the major powers of the lupus territories engaged in war, there is no one to keep the rest of the mammalian species in check. Other species are attempting to snatch lands from their neighbours across the High Continent. Lands containing valuable deposits of tin.}

Jason had to fight the urge to sweat with fear. He only hoped that all this fighting would spare Tac and his village. Indeed, tin was valuable to the mammalians as it helped fuel the creation of bronze. It gave Jason pause as he thought over his strategy. If the mammalians were willing to fight over tin, what else would they be eager to fight for, or more importantly, to protect? He could dangle the carrot of trade, but someone would demand technology. And what would that lead to; Iron? What would that do to the economy of the High Continent? Would some advancement in technology threaten the livelihood of some other tribe?

And what would they be willing to do to protect it?

The head of the rattus delegation rose to her feet. {So, you wish to level accusations at the rattus guild, based solely on your word alone?} Jason nodded. {Then the rattus guild denies your claims.}

The lutrinae spoke, drawing Jason's attention. {Is there no evidence you can produce? No witnesses you can call?} Jason shook his head. {Then it is simply your word against theirs.} With that, the lutrinae turned and struck out with her baton, striking the sound block on the right side of her throne. The rattus guild members all smiled. Trix had gone over this procedure with him. When the chairman struck the sound block on the right side of her throne, it meant the conclusion of the discussion.

Any more mention of the rattus guild's accursed poison, and he would have his audience before the Grand Council forfeited. However, Jason's expression remained stone-faced as his eyes scanned the assembly. He'd believed this outcome would occur. His goal was simply to put the story out there. Everyone knew the rattus were insanely secretive. How many in the audience did not trust them? He might be a sapien, but who among the mammalians would be wondering if his words were valid? He'd noticed the distrust the other two continents displayed when the meeting began. If the mammalians were to unite against the sapiens, the fewer species that did, the greater his race's chances of survival were.

Jason hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he'd be a fool not to prepare for the worst.

{Jay-sun? That is how you say your name?} Jason turned to see the cervidae. {If you are here to argue against the extermination of your race, does that mean you're willing to offer something in return?} He stapled his fingers together. {Something that would entice mammalians? For example, a change in your species' foreign policy?}

{Yes,} the bison agreed. {Sapien foreign policy tends to attack first and never ask questions.} One side of Jason's mouth rose. He had hoped someone would raise this subject. He originally planned to do it, should none of the mammalians have offered.

{On that subject, I think we can help each other out,} Jason said. What he had in mind was something he thought could work. {I believe my people would be more than willing to keep their flying machines away from your urban areas if you can arrange to end sapien raids.}

{Actually, I was thinking along the lines of trade,} the cervidae said. {If you were to share some of your technology with mammalians, I'm sure that would go a long way to convincing the other tribes that you are sincere on the concept of peaceful coexistence.}

Before Jason could respond, the lutrinae pointed her baton towards the audience. {The chair recognises the honourable * from the Procyon guild branch in High-Wind city.} The name sounded like someone exaggerating, flicking their tongue out, like Flek. From the front row, a large procyon rose to his feet. He was big for his kind, with a short, pure white muzzle. The rest of his fur was a dark silver, while the black mask around his eyes stood out. His entire body lay obscured beneath a fancy white toga embroidered with gold trimmings.

{When the cervidae guild speaks of trade between sapiens and mammalians, do they mean all mammalians, or will the cervidae receive special privileges?} The cervidae opened his mouth, but Flek cut him off. {You are Jay-sun San-Cow-Key? That was the name of the talking sapien captured in Tribus City. After the riots in Tribus City, an oryctolagus girl avoided a cervidae patrol by producing a medallion. The kind that guilds give to represent them.} He then turned his scrutinising gaze on Glitch.

Jason froze, unsure how to proceed. He did not want to anger the cervidae guild, as he desperately needed their vote. But, on the other hand, if he wanted to avoid a war between sapiens and mammalians, he would have to put aside grudges and grievances.

{I stole that medallion,} Glitch answered before he could speak. {It was the only way I could get out of the city.}

{So, you stole him?}

{May I remind you that the oryctolagus guild doesn't have a chapter, nor any representatives anywhere near Tribus City,} Glitch replied. {So I wasn't under any orders from my guild. I stole him because I wanted more than just a pet I could talk to; I wanted a friend.}

{So!} All heads turned as one of the assistants to the lutrinae approached her, producing parchment of papyrus paper. The lutrinae judge read from the parchment. {Is the vulpes guild willing to accept the cervidae guild's claims that the vulpes were responsible for starting the riots in Tribus City?} All eyes then turned to Trix.

Although she controlled herself professionally, Jason could see the anger seething through her. Behind her, her entourage fumed silently. Jason turned to the cervidae guild member. Although calm and collected, he could see the nervousness in his trembling ears.

{Yes,} Trix said sharply after what felt like an eternity.

{Then you are willing to accept the fines and repro-}

{Yes!} Trix snapped. Jason let out the breath he'd been holding. So, like himself, Trix understood they needed the cervidae vote to kill the motion to exterminate the sapiens. He turned to look at her. What would be the repercussions for the vulpes guild?

The lutrinae didn't seem surprised. Instead, she pointed to the audience. {The chair recognises * of the rattus guild.} The name sounded like someone sucking in the air quickly, like Yehk.

{Our people were present in Tribus city on the day of the riot. And they reported that a large group of children were responsible for pickpocketing the patrons of the marketplace.} She gave Glitch a knowing smile {and indeed saw an oryctolagus girl in their company. After which, the children were escorted out of the city by cervidae guards.} Before anyone could respond, the lutrinae pointed to someone else.

{The chair recognises Flek from the Procyon guild branch in the city of High-Wind.}

{We had our citizens in Tribus City that day,} he said. {They reported the same thing as well.}

The lutrinae then turned to the cervidae. {*,} she said. His name sounded like someone clicking their tongue against their teeth while exhaling, Like Ti-Kah. {The cervidae guild has been under suspicion for starting the riot with the sole intention of stealing the talking sapien so that you can gain access to their technology first.} To his credit, Ti-Kah showed no fear as she kept talking. {These witnesses today prove those suspicions correct.} She pointed her baton at him.

{The cervidae guild has broken the law of trade, and as such, you know the punishment.} Ti-Kah was still for ten seconds before he gave a single nod. {Your vote will be excluded when the Grand Council has its final vote.} Then, she slammed the baton down on the right sound block.

Jason was stunned. The cervidae, the one guild, aside from the vulpes that he could get a yes vote from, was now disqualified from voting. He turned back to the council. That left Trix, the bison and the ursidae, two mammalians' Jason had no idea how they would, and even if he convinced one, who's to say Trix wouldn't lose her vote. Damn it, what were those repercussions? If that happened, the vote would be tied, meaning the final vote would fall to the lutrinae judge. And from the hostility she displayed, there was no doubt in Jason's mind that she would vote yes.

"Well… shit," was all Jason said.