Rupert

**Rupert** is a major character in *Crossed*. He was a member of the Anti-House Foxes and its last second-in-command prior to the skulk's disbandment. He is currently Xenia's best friend and companion.

## Character Info

### Affiliation(s)

Bellingham Academy (current student)Anti-House Foxes (former second-in-command)Carnivore Rebellion (former second-in-command)

### Likes

Meat, running, video games, fast food, comic books, rock music, being social

## Classification

### Subspecies

Wasatch Mountain Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes macroura)

## **Physical Appearance**

He is a large platinum-pattern fox with predominantly silver-gray fur, a soft, shiny, thick coat, a fluffy tail, and bright blue eyes. He has a white muzzle connected to a white underbelly, and a wide white "collar" completely encircling his neck. A narrow white blaze in the center of his face and head connects this "collar" to his muzzle. He has white paws and patches of black fur around his eyes. His tail-tip is white, and there is a darker gray stripe on his tail. There are tiny black specks on the backs of his hind paws and he has black ears. He has multiple whiskers on the tip of his snout and darker gray patches on his back and flanks. He wears a blue collar with a silver diamond-shaped tag around his neck. As a Bellingham student, he wears a uniform consisting of a blue polo shirt with the school's logo on the left breast and khaki shorts.

## **History**

He was a pet fox who'd been adopted from a fur farm by an unnamed man, and easily integrated into his family. After a while, however, his owner began abusing him both verbally and physically and neglected to feed him. The man and his wife locked Rupert up in a dog crate to prevent him from running off, knowing he would attempt to do so should he manage to get outside the house. When letting Rupert out of his crate, they would fasten a chain around his neck and allowed their four young kids to play with and harass him as much as they pleased. Rupert lived in fear and suffered greatly when he tried to lash out or run away and hide. His adopted family took pleasure in torturing him.

One day, however, Rupert had had enough and began formulating an escape plan. When his owners were sleeping in late, he managed to unlock the door to his crate with a hairpin he'd stolen from one of the young daughters and slipped outside the house through the dog flap in the front door. He ran far away from his former caretakers, traversing through the village into the town next to it, hiding during the day and scavenging at night along the way to avoid being spotted by humans and dogs. He then escaped into the forest beyond, known as Howler Forest, and found the Anti-House Foxes. Rupert begged them to let him stay with them and told them his story. The skulk, led by an elderly reynard (male fox) named Wilmington, sympathized with Rupert and happily accepted him as a brother. Grateful, Rupert contributed daily to the skulk after he recovered and became close friends with the other foxes, except for Henry, who was hostile towards him. At some point later on, he became mates with Juno, loving and supporting her even though she couldn't get pregnant due to being spayed. He served as both a hunter and assistant healer in the skulk.

## **Relationships**

**Xenia:** She is Rupert's best friend. She was initially weary of him after escaping the nearby town she lived in, but warmed up to him and the other foxes after he helped her recover from exhaustion. Grateful, she helped him in Juno's absence whenever the need arose, and made him her second-in-command after she defeated Henry in a fight and drove him out. When Juno was taken away, Xenia provided emotional support for Rupert. Since their capture, they've always looked out for each other.

**Juno:** She was Rupert's mate even though she'd been spayed. She was very affectionate towards him and was always willing to help him when he needed it, indicating that she loved him. At some point after the foxes' capture by people, she was adopted and taken away by a large family, devastating Rupert. She was never seen again after that.