Beetle Rivers

**Rivers** (later "**Beetle Rivers**") is a male human who appeared in *The Haven*. He is currently in a relationship with Draper (later "Allison Draper").

## Affiliations

### Former

member of the Haven; Security for the Haven

## Appearance

Rivers is described by Draper to be "*beautiful by pre-Haven standards, but ordinary in Haven times*", and green eyes. He has scars on his back from years of abuse by Salix.

He wore the uniform of Security members - dark grey clothing - before his escape from the Haven.

## Personality

After being Assigned to Salix, Rivers is tense, skittish, and quiet.

## History

### Pre-Novel

Twenty-four years prior to *The Haven*, Rivers was born to two unknown humans in the Haven. When he turned eighteen, was Assigned to be Security among his group of Graduates. Later, he was Assigned Salix, a female human, to be his mate and was subsequently abused by her.

### *The Haven*

Rivers is first seen in the Security Building, working at his post. In the middle of the day during lunch ("daybreak"), Draper notices Rivers barely eating his food. She asks him if anything is going on, and he mutters "no", making her think he is lying.

Rivers was present in the Cavern before the Advancement began, saying that Draper was fine after Hewitt chastises her for being late. He was used by Draper as a "body shield" when the Author flew across the Cavern and everyone bowed to them. Draper notices that there are bandages across Rivers' back, and wonders if he recently went to a Healer or put them on himself.

During the Advancement, the Author authorized that Salix and Rivers should have children, and Draper notices River tense up at this decree.

## Relations

### Arthur Grey

Arthur Grey is an older man who is a Healer (doctor) of the Haven. He is one of the only humans who lived through the Haven's development and has committed his life to smuggling those who want to escape the Haven out of the caverns which the dystopian is located, as he knows that the Haven is a faux "haven".

Arthur make his first appearance in the novel after Draper brings Rivers to the Healing Center (hospital) of the Haven after she finds bloody, extensive wounds on his body; these wounds were caused by Rivers' Assigned mate Salix, a female human.

### Draper

Draper is a female human whom Rivers is currently in a relationship with. She was one of his Security coworkers in the Haven.

### Hewitt

Hewitt is a male human and one of Rivers' Security coworkers.

### The Author

The Author is the political puppet leader of the Haven, used by the Oligarchy to make sure their society runs smoothly.

### The Oligarchy

The Oligarchy is the government of the Haven, and they enforce the laws of the society onto its members.

### Salix

Salix is a female human who works in Food Processing and it River's Assigned mate. She is abusive towards him.

## Trivia

* "Rivers" is an English surname denoting someone who lived near a river.
* The author added in the plot point of Beetle being abused to address the fact that men can be the victims of less-reported crimes, such as rape or abuse.
* In one of the initial drafts of *The Haven,* Draper and Rivers married each other at the end of the novel and and had three children together - Katydid Rivers, Beetle Rivers II, and Aster Rivers. This was ultimately scrapped as it would make the novel primarily focus on Draper and Rivers' relationship instead of focusing on Draper's character arc.
* Rivers was slated to be rebooted for a stand-alone in *These Alien Dragons*, but it was ultimately scrapped so the series wouldn't be "milked" to death.

## Gallery

Icon (made with the elenaillustrates Windswept OC creator on Picrew)
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Luna's outlines and notes for *The Haven*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Haven*, Chapter 2
3. ↑ Rivers - Behind the Name
4. ↑ J. Pappas' notes and outlines for *These Alien Dragons*