Nolan sat stiffly across from the Admin, his hands folded carefully on the desk. “So... my son Edwin is into a fox.”
The Admin gave a neutral nod. “I see.”
Nolan frowned, his voice calm but concerned. “So how do prey and predator relationships work, exactly?”
The Admin adjusted her papers before answering. “It’s... complicated. But most generally agree that prey don’t have a developed concept of consent the way predators do.”
Nolan blinked, leaning back slightly. “Wait. So... Edwin wouldn’t understand that when Lila says no, it actually means no?”
The Admin nodded, speaking carefully. “Precisely. Prey, especially rabbits, are often conditioned to follow rather than assert boundaries. They lack the same instincts for personal control that predators have.”
Nolan’s ears flicked back, his face tightening. “That... sounds pretty bad. So how is this supposed to work, then? Are you saying it’s impossible for them to have a healthy relationship?”
The Admin shook her head. “Not necessarily. If Lila, as a predator, understands that Edwin lacks the ability to fully comprehend consent, she would be responsible for guiding the relationship. Essentially, she could mirror his actions back at him, showing him what is and isn’t acceptable.”
Nolan tilted his head, frowning. “So... if Edwin crosses a line, she could respond the same way? To teach him?”
The Admin nodded. “Exactly. By experiencing the same behavior himself, he would be more likely to recognize it as harmful and begin to understand boundaries.”
Nolan was silent for a moment, then sighed. “That makes sense... but it also sounds risky. What if he doesn’t get it? What if it just... normalizes the behavior instead?”
The Admin folded her hands. “That’s why communication is critical. It’s not perfect, but for prey-predator relationships to work, there has to be trust. And patience. It’s more complex than most relationships because the instincts are fundamentally different.”
Nolan nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful but still uneasy. “I’ll talk to him. I just want him to be safe... and for her too.”
The Admin's gaze grew serious, folding her hands on the desk. “And how about Alex? I know Edwin is still in that temporary spot to teach him how to be a noble, but what about your other son?”
Nolan exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah... it’s going okay, I think. Alex tries hard, but... I was upset for a long time. He was too weak to deal with his bullies, both in and out of school. I guess... I wasn’t enough to teach him how to be a man.”
The Admin nodded slowly, her voice measured but firm. “Noble lines are tough, Nolan. They’re built on strength and discipline—sometimes too much of both. But it sounds like Alex has something working for him now. It’s good he got a tool to help him, at least.”
Nolan’s ears twitched, his voice softer. “Yeah. Edwin’s helping. I didn’t expect them to get so close. Honestly... I wasn’t sure if Edwin had it in him to teach Alex anything at first. But watching them together—maybe I underestimated him.”
The Admin offered a small nod of approval. “That’s growth. For both of them. But don't forget, Nolan—being strong doesn't just mean winning fights. Sometimes, it's about knowing when to walk away too.”
Nolan sighed, his expression still burdened. “I just... I don’t want Alex to be soft. I want him to be respected. I was always respected. Maybe... maybe I was too hard on him for not being like me.”
The Admin’s voice softened slightly. “It’s not about being like you, Nolan. It’s about being his own kind of strong. And it sounds like, with Edwin’s help, he’s getting there.”
Nolan nodded, thoughtful. “Yeah. I hope so.”
The Admin's gaze narrowed, her voice sharper. “Still... Alex is a ferret. It's rather shameful that his slaves would beat him.”
Nolan exhaled, his brow furrowing. “Yeah. That rabbit should’ve been no problem for Alex, but he bullied him—along with his friends too. It wasn’t just teasing either. They broke him down, and Alex just... took it.”
The Admin raised a brow, unimpressed. “And you think that's normal for a noble’s son?”
Nolan shook his head, his voice tinged with frustration. “No, it’s not. At his age, I would’ve beaten that rabbit myself. Hell, I wouldn’t have let it get that far. Maybe... maybe kids today are just weaker. Maybe all these screens and distractions make them forget what strength really is.”
The Admin folded her hands, her expression unreadable. “Or maybe they’ve just been taught strength means something different now.”
Nolan hesitated, his ears flicking back. “I don’t know. All I know is, when I was his age, you had to be strong. Show weakness, and you got trampled. I just... wanted him to be ready for that.”
The Admin nodded slowly, her gaze thoughtful. “And yet, it seems Edwin is giving him the strength you couldn’t. Perhaps it’s not about being harder on Alex. Maybe it’s about teaching him to stand tall without tearing him down first.”
Nolan was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “Yeah. Maybe you're right. I just don’t want him to grow up thinking it’s okay to let prey push him around.”
The Admin's gaze softened slightly. “No ferret should. But strength... isn’t just about fighting, Nolan. It’s about knowing when to rise—and when to lead.”
Nolan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “About that... Edwin and Alex have been somewhere lately.”
The Admin raised an eyebrow, her voice cautious. “What do you mean somewhere? Like, spacing out?”
Nolan shook his head. “No, I could deal with that. It’s not distraction—it’s... different. They’ve been spending more time out of the castle. Edwin especially. I’m starting to think he’s... indoctrinating Alex.”
The Admin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Indoctrinating? How so?”
Nolan sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’m not sure. But it’s the way Alex talks now. Like... prey are equal to predators. That predators and prey are the same except for teeth and claws. That it’s not weak to have problems with bullies.” He paused, voice thick with skepticism. “That kind of stuff.”
The Admin’s gaze sharpened, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk. “And you think Edwin is behind these ideas?”
Nolan nodded. “I do. He’s... different from how I was raised. I’ve tried teaching Alex to be strong, to stand his ground. But lately? He’s been questioning everything. And I can’t tell if it’s making him softer—or smarter.”
The Admin studied Nolan carefully. “And what do you think? About those ideas?”
Nolan’s voice was quieter now, conflicted. “I don’t know. I was raised to believe strength was simple. You dominate, or you get dominated. But Edwin... he’s challenging that. And Alex seems to be listening.”
The Admin nodded slowly. “It sounds like he’s teaching Alex a different kind of strength. But the question is—will it protect him in the end?”
Nolan’s gaze darkened. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
The Admin's gaze grew thoughtful, her voice measured. “There’s not much known... about the long-term effects of bullying, but we’ve seen patterns. Prey and predators alike. Victims often attach easier to people who show them kindness, even when it’s not entirely safe or balanced.”
Nolan frowned, his arms crossing tighter over his chest. “What do you mean? Like Alex is clinging to Edwin just because he’s being nice to him?”
The Admin nodded slowly. “It’s possible. When someone feels vulnerable—especially a noble who’s been made to feel weak—they gravitate toward those who make them feel secure. It’s a defense mechanism. But... it can also be manipulated, intentionally or not.”
Nolan’s expression tightened, his voice dropping. “So, you’re saying Edwin could be controlling him?”
The Admin shook her head. “Not exactly. But ideas like the ones Edwin’s spreading—about equality, softness being strength—can reshape how someone like Alex sees the world. For better... or for worse, depending on the guidance.”
Nolan exhaled, tension lingering in his voice. “I just want him to be strong enough to survive, not... question everything I’ve taught him.”
The Admin’s gaze softened just slightly. “Strength isn’t just about control, Nolan. Maybe what Edwin’s teaching him is strength—just not the kind you’re used to.”
Nolan stared at the floor for a long moment before shaking his head. “I hope you’re right. But I’m not sure I trust it yet.”
