ORIGIN

Rift was a little surprised at how much Blackberry had deteriorated. A stern look passed across his face and he knelt before the cage, forcing a soothing purr to rise in his throat. "Calm down, Blackberry. The trial hasn't happened yet. Keep yourself together until then, okay? Remember what Kera was telling you." He stayed like that for a moment, purring, until Blackberry seemed to relax a little bit.

He stood, looking down at the owl with a serious look on his face. "Come, I need to speak with you." He gestured with his tail to lead the owl away a short distance - not too far from Blackberry, but far enough that a low tone of voice wouldn't reach her. He stopped and turned back to Aetius. "Listen, I know you want to do what you think is right but I don't think you fully grasp the magnitude of Blackberry's crimes. She and her children have torn families apart, killed friends and loved ones. There's many creatures throughout the caves that have somehow been scarred by her family or know someone that has. This Kingdom's first purpose when it rose was to face her cruelty and bring peace to a world she left in tatters." His tail lifted and pointed towards the Hollow. "The scars never faded, not on our bodies or in our hearts. Because of that goose's cruelty."

He paused, taking in a deep breath. "There is no dealth penalty slapped on the trial yet. If she's judged for punishment, it will be up to all present to decide her final fate. We very well maybe force her to live - death would very well be a mercy at this point." He glanced over to where Blackberry was laying. There were a couple of times where he very well had considered doing the deed - raising a branch straight through her heart with the right force would end it quickly. But he had made a promise to keep her safe and sane until the trial.

Rift nodded slowly. "No, I agree with you. No matter how bad a person may be, they don't deserve suffering like this. But there's nothing we can do to help Blackberry's state of mind right now - she brought it on herself and she knows this well. Forgiveness and mercy are two different things, Aetius. Personally, I will never forgive her for what she's done to me and my family and my friends. But I will still show her mercy, especially now when she's at her lowest."

He glanced towards the cage again, pity welling up in his chest. She was unforgivable, but that didn't make her a mindless beast. She had feelings and emotions too and they were what had crushed her to this shell of a creature.

He closed his eyes briefly before looking back at Aetius and nodding. "Of course. No matter my own personal feelings in the matter, it will be just and fair. Everyone will have a chance to vote and everyone will have a chance to decide what to do with her."

He stood and stepped back to his post, sitting himself down to keep guard again, his level, neutral expression watching Aetius, if she went back to the cage or not. "If you want to hear both sides, you should find Kera. She was here not long ago, perhaps she's still nearby. She's known Blackberry longer then anyone and she could tell you exactly how much forgiveness she deserves."

*exit