Rift glared at the ground, torn between the two - go back on his promise and go back on the morals he was trying to build for himself or break the alliance with the Seven? He opened his mouth to respond but then a voice whispered in his ear. Listen? The emotions were sudden and Rift stumbled back, eyes widening with surprise.

And when the voices started every single fur on his body puffed. Because this was something he remembered, something he'd heard himself. And with those voices came the images of the memory, deeply repressed and forgotten underneath a sea of truma, confused thoughts and feelings, the need to do good and create understanding between all rather then enact blind justice. Pride's emotions suddenly seemed to mix with his own because this was when he remembered and for a moment he was back in the battle, as if he'd never left. Before all this foolish idealism. When rage coursed hot and fast through his veins as he stepped forward, hurting all over, but she was killing Enka. GET AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER. He'd tear her apart. He'd rip her to shreds. No mercy. No mercy. No MERCY.

When the memory was over, Rift looked very much like a flustered, angry, green puffball. His entire body was trembling with anger, both at Jayberry for doing that and at Pride for bringing it up again. But mostly at himself for forgetting. The whole battle was a hazy, distant memory, his own head repressing it, shoving it down because it hurt to remember even a second. And now it was back and fresh and Rift was angry again.

He'd been calm before, struggling to keep himself contained because that's what Mercurius had talked to him about. That's what he wanted to be - calm. But that was all gone now and his eyes blazed with fury. "Yeah," he rasped, voice dark with a snarl threatening the edge. "Fine. Kill her. Let her speak if you want - I'd like it if you waited at least for that - but I don't give a shit if you don't."

Still seething and visibly shaking from the effort of not exploding and going hunting after Jayberry himself, Rift barely understood what Pride was saying to him. It was at least a testament to how much he'd grown as a king himself that he wasn't throwing a tantrum - he was building himself to be a king of peace, after all. He couldn't go hunting and killing just like that, even if his target was a monster. Claws were an absolute last resort.

He flicked his tail, pulling himself back to his senses. "Sure. If it's not too much to ask...could you handle that? There's still a lot to do to find Blackberry herself and I'd rather keep to my morals." He sighed, for once feeling a bit of regret that he had abandoned violence. "Besides, your magic is more cut out for this kind of thing. I'd more likely screw it up."

Rift narrowed his eyes. The gentle stag he'd met once in the forest, collecting sap for his weasel friend didn't seem to be the same anymore. To be honest, Rift didn't blame him, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He was dangerous and Rift didn't trust him anymore. Still, he made no visible sign of these thoughts and only huffed a short, "Thank you," before rising to his feet.

He glanced at the towering tree that he'd grown for himself and pointed an ear towards it. "You can keep the tree." But that was it. No other comment or protest. This wasn't Pride's trial, this was his own, but he wasn't going to point it out now, not while he was at such a disadvantage. Perhaps it was a better idea, though, to allow Pride to believe that, yes, this was also his trial as much as it was the Kingdom's. Because, it seemed, to defy that notion was an act of violence. And he did not want to bring another war to his kingdom.

He turned and began padding away, dark thoughts swirling in his head. Pride would kill Jayberry and Rift wouldn't have to worry about that shit anymore. But if he went back on their agreement and took Blackberry for himself, hurting her or killing her, it would be a clear message that the Kingdom of Eridanus was only living in the shadow of the Kingdom of the Seven. That...Rift couldn't have that. But if it happened, and fighting was the only option...fighting against Pride?

What would I do then?!

*exit