Judy and Nick Fan story ongoing, and chapters of my own novel; Griphon:The Last Warwolf.An Australian based Writer looking for beauty in all forms of art and self expression.
Hey man, first how was your wedding?Second, i would like to know if u are going(or pretend) to finish taste of hazel? It's one of my favorite fics and i've been waiting for 5 months for an update. I know that real life can be messy sometimes so i don't want to rush you, but if you dont pretend to finish could you at least tell us what you was planing for the end of the fic? (Sorry for the eng here, im from Brazil and i'm still learning =p).
Thanks for the message cogu! and to everyone else who has sent me messages.
I hope the below answers the question.
The Story was going to become fierce but end basically how everyone surely wanted it to.
If I get a second wind, It will definitely be finished, I hate leaving writing incomplete; however I had to gut my second novel and start from scratch so it has been…stressful.
Finding time to work on my own novel and my fan fic, is a tricky task as well as balancing a job where I worked for a month straight/ 12 hour days 7 days a week.
My old job allowed me to write at my leisure so long as the work was done; my new job does not have such a chill atmosphere.
Also my wedding went amazingly. Never thought I could be so happy.
Lonewolfwriter when is the next story of griphon coming out ?
Hey Sonny, It will be out hopefully some time early next year, I've just been very busy getting ready for my wedding ($$$). However my partner (writing partner) is also working on a prequel that dives into Griphons father (Tristan) side of the story and how that betrayal all began. The writer taking on that project is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
A Taste Of Hazel Chapter 11 (A Zootopia fan-story)
Alison arrived home from school she had her backpack over her should and looked exhausted she had been teased relentlessly, she wanted so badly to punch the dickens out of the other kids, but knew deep down that would not help.
“Hey sweetie” called a voice from the couch.
Alison hadn’t even seen Jack sitting on the couch.
“Hey dad”
“Hi sweetheart, how was your day?”
Alison smiled brightly “We had the whole last class was art and it was great, I drew a fox”
Alison pulled out her book and showed Jack the picture. He didn’t move from the couch but held a paw out and took the book looking over the picture.
It’s beautiful, “who is it?”
“The neighbour, I think she is very pretty!”
Jack knew who Alison spoke of; she was speaking of Ms Raine, the young fox who lived in the penthouse across from Jacks penthouse suite.
“Can I go show her?”
Asked Alison, Jack pursed his lips, he hated Alison’s fascination with other foxes, and it made him feel bad, but mainly uncomfortable.
“Sure” he said through strain “just be home before mom gets home okay?”
Alison did a 180 degree turn and went to go to the neighbour’s house when she paused under the doorframe.
“Dad?”
Jack who had gone back to watching television hit the mute button.
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing home?”
Jack looked blankly at the television “Just sick sweetheart”.
“Oh…okay, I’ll be back soon”.
Alison shut the door and Jack waited till her heard her paw steps disappear before reaching between the couch and pulling out a bottle of scotch and his pills.
“This is getting out of hand” he sighed throwing back three of the pills, as his eyes stayed poised on the dark figure sitting in the corner of the room rocking back and forth crying.
Alison tapped gently at the door to Ms.Raine’s penthouse suite.
“Hello Ms.Raine?”
“Hello?” choked a voice from the other side of the door; the voice was soft but sad.
“Hey Ms Raine, it’s me Alison”.
“Oh hi sweetie, what can I do for you?”
The door cracked a little and Miss Raines hazel eye peered out.
“I drew you a picture!” Alison confirmed with a gleeful smile holding up the picture.
“Oh sweetie that’s beautiful, is that you” she breathed out, sounding to Alison as though she was out of breath.
“No…It’s you!” explained Alison holding picture up for Ms Raine to take.
“Aw thank you” she exclaimed reaching a shaky paw out to take the picture from Alison, her paw however was shaking like mad.
“Are you okay Ms Raine?” quizzed Alison.
“Yeah, I’ve just got a temperature and haven’t been feeling too well, but it’s okay, its normal…you’ll understand when your older sweetheart. Ide invite you in but I don’t think I can today, maybe another night you can come over and we can watch a Fox tales?”
Alison’s face lit up with excitement.
“Well I hope you get better” comforted Alison.
“I think I’ll be much better soon enough” said Ms Raine with a bright fangy smile.
Nick was sharply woken by the god awful sound of his watch blaring in his ear; his sight was blurry as he tried to push himself up, his arms felt like paper that folded beneath his own weight.
“What? Are you kidding me?”
Nicks rest had barely recuperated him and he had 30 minutes to get dressed and get down stairs for his first shift.
He tried to sit up but his whole body seemed to resist him.
“Come on Nick, enough already” he spoke to himself, bashful that he was feeling this way, never having felt anything like this.
Each second the image of the Vixen in his mind reminding him why his body was completely drained.
It took Nick 12 minutes to drag himself from the floor and into the bathroom where he stared at himself in the mirror, trying his hardest to give himself a pep talk, grasping each side of the basin with as much force as he could muster.
“She’s just a Vixen, you’ve seen plenty before, this one is no different, she’s just…” he paused a moment as his thoughts took over thinking of other Vixens he had fancied and noticing none of them came close to this fox. “She’s just…undyingly beautiful and kind” he finished in a defeated whisper.
Nick sluggishly walked into his living room, snatching his shirt off the floor and slowly buttoning it up and rolling up the sleeves. He could hear the crowd grown downstairs, he knew he should be nervous but was too tired to think straight.
He grabbed the aftershave off the small bedside table and sprayed around his scruff twice.
He then walked to the mirror in the bathroom; he took a deep breath, poked his chest out and smiled.
“Nicholas Piberius Wilde” he exclaimed to himself smiling brightly extending his paw out as if he were to shake someone’s paw, his paw trembled with an uncontrollable force.
He pulled is paw back placing on in the other and rubbing them together as if that would sooth his tremor, however it did nothing.
Nick breathed out “Well, here goes nothing”
Nick got down stairs spot on time, the place was busy but, relaxing, he felt as though all eyes were on him, and at the same time calm; every animal here was simply relaxed having a nice dinner or laughing around a table that had one too many beers balancing atop it.
“Hey Nickie, sweetie”.
“Hey Pricilla, where do you want me?” asked Nick wondering where to start and feeling a little out of place.
“Well Sarah is behind the bar serving if you wanna start cleaning the tables and throwing out those bottles” she shouted over the sound of the jukebox starting up.
Nick smiled and nodded turning to catch Sarah’s eye, giving her a greeting nod, she was a deer in her early twenties with a cock sure smile, she had freckles and dressed in very casual attire and worked the bar like she lived there, knowing where everything was, she flung her head back reciprocating Nicks gesture, Nick could tell she must have worked here a long time as she knew everyone’s order before they even placed it.
Nick turned and made his way table to the first table the people continuing their conversation as if Nick weren’t even there only turning when he had the last bottle in paw to thank him for cleaning the table, the second table and third table was much the same, then Nick came to the table that had the most bottles on it, the one that looked as though it was about to overflow; he grabbed an empty glass and some at the table turned and sneered when they saw the fox only to lighten up and join him in their conversations when he gave them a reassuring and shy smile which was mirrored by Pricilla shooting them a stare as she walked by, obviously the rowdy ones were regulars and knew Pricilla’s stance on treating other with respect.
“Nicholas but people call me Nick” explained Nick answering ones question while still collecting their empty bottles.
He reached out grabbing a half full bottle while talking and a tiny paw grabbed his “hey there fella don’t be to overzealous, that’s not finished yet” pointed out the beaver with a chuckle.
Nick also chuckled letting go of the bear and moving instead to stacking up the empty glasses that remained. It took Nick two trips to get their table clear,
“Don’t forget to wipe down the table and put down coaster newbie” explained the deer who walked past him with a tied-up bin bag
“Coasters?” asked Nick unsure as to where they were located.
The deer simply pointed to a marble bench top that led toward the kitchen, which atop sat a stack of fresh coasters, Sarah manoeuvred past Nick, making her way to the back door to take out the trash.
Nick grabbed the coasters and made his way to the sink where he found the cleaning spray for the tables and a clean cloth; he tucked the cloth into his belt and hung the spray by the nozzle from his pants pocket.
Nick returned to the rowdy table; he sprayed his cloth wiping the sticky spilt beer from their table top and threw down several coasters from in his pocket.
“Thanks Slick Nick” laughed a leopard slapping Nick encouragingly on the back .
Nick swayed with the hit and went to speak but instead just smiled, nodded and moved to the next table, then the next and the next when he was suddenly interrupted.
“Nick!” yelled a voice; he looked to the back door to see Sarah standing there an aggravated look on her face, her paw gesturing to the bar.
Nick just stood confused
“When one of us goes somewhere the others got to watch the bar” she called out rolling her eyes and storming over to the bar to serve the queue of various mammals.
Nick fumbled and with haste nervously made his way to the bar
“Hi, what can I get you?” he asked the first animal in front of him
“I already got him newbie” called Sarah, focusing on punching the order into the til and not even looking up to address Nick.
“What can I get you sir; he asked sliding to the next animal.
“Hey I was first” called out a customer to the left.
“Sorry, what can I get you?” Nick asked moving to the customer that had called out.
“Two scotch on ice, 2 jerry lagers and one of these” explained the customer holding up the cocktails menu and pointing to one.
“Cold never bothered me anyway” read Nick out loud revising the name of the drink “on it” He confirmed turning to the bench of alcohols and glasses behind him, and suddenly his confidence became staggered, it was like a maze to him, everything looked the same and he could only hear the yelling of the customers behind him and to make it worse the images of the Vixen seemed to only get more progressive the longer he was awake.
Nick fumbled and dropped glasses and took more than twice as long to make the drinks as Sarah, he handed back incorrect change and forgot the ice in one of the scotches.
But after 17 minutes he had finally served his first customer. He moved down the bar asking the next customer, who, to Nicks surprise seemed to be the last one there.
“Sorry fox, the lady already got my drink” he confirmed reaching over and taking a drink from Sarah who passed it over Nicks shoulder. The customer raising his glass to her in thanks and her responding with a glinted wink.
There was silence as she waited for the bar to be completely clear before she threw = a tea towel over her shoulder crossing her arm and tapping her hoof.
“Listen Newbie, rule one of this bar, there is always someone here” she explained uncrossing her arms to point to where Nick and her stood behind the bar.
“Always…got it?”
Nick nodded he could feel his body shaking.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, her eyes seeing the shake in Nick, Had she gone to far? She thought to herself.
“You don’t look so good?” she confirmed suddenly “are you okay?”
Nick didn’t reply he simply nodded.
Sarah rolled her eyes realising she was being a little rough on the new guy, she tapped Nick on the shoulder.
“Hey don’t worry, I’m just a little stressed tonight okay? Just relax, and pay attention you’ll be alright”.
Nick looked up and smiled at her “what do I do next?” he asked.
Sarah smiled “the best job there is”.
Nick was in the bathroom sliding the mop backwards and forwards the bathroom was in shambles and someone was on the toilet with a symphony going.
“Greeeaat” he explained as he held his breath slopping the mop back and forth as quick as he could.
Nick was minding his own business when two Coyotes walked into the bathroom standing next to one another by the troth.
“Yeah so Cory might have us a new job… two cops” He whispered leaning over into his friend ear who pushed him back and gestured his eyes back to Nick.
“What him? Hey janitor, you’re not eavesdropping are you?”
Nick who was nervous he may get caught out simply shook his head and continued to mop.
“Yeah I didn’t think so” laughed the Coyote nudging his friend “told ya”.
The two finished washed their paws and towelled them and threw the towels on the floor in front of Nick, who starred at them as he grudgingly bent over to pick them up.
“Not your issue anymore Nick…head down…” he convinced himself trying not to think of what the two Coyotes had been talking about while taking a leak.
Nick got back to the bar and Sarah was simply towling it off and checking the pressure of the taps.
Nick strolled up next to her, “need any help?” he offered
“No, but you can serve the customer waiting”
Nick turned “oh sorr-“He began until he saw who it was.
“Hello Nick” spoke a she wolf on the other side of the counter “Nice earring barkeep” she giggled.
“Hi…” said Nick his earlier confusion coming back like a wave.
“Can I please get -“she asked while her seductive eyes danced over Nick and simply fell off him, his minds only thought however was the eyes of the unknown vixen.
“A water with ice”.
“Coming right up” Nick walked over to the bar, his eyes however were watching the she wolf from the reflection in the tiles, the stance, the gaze, he couldn’t be wrong.
He scooped ice into the glass and put the glass under the tap of water turning it and placing it down in front of the she wolf.
“Thanks stud, how much is that?”
“Waters free” confirmed Sarah, intervening without realising, what Nick knew was so obvious; the she-wolf was playing games.
“$5.00” confirmed Nick ignoring Sarah, unable to help himself from playing the game back. His years in the ZPD, screaming for him to confirm what he already knew to be true.
Sarah stopped wiping the table and stood chest to chest with Nick trying to grab his attention “No newbie water is free to customers” Nick moved his head to see past her not wanting to break eye contact with the wolf.
Nick knew the game, intimidation, seduction, information and resolution…he had seen it played much better than the she wolf was playing, he had been on the receiving end and learnt what it was and how it looked, and Nick never forgot a lesson learnt in pain.
The she-wolf smirk deepened “Okay slick, $5.00” the she-wolf opened her purse and pulled out a 5 handing it to Nick who took it and held it.
Sarah, turned back to the she-wolf whose eyes were locked with Nicks, Sarah looked at her for a moment then at the look plastered on Nicks face and realised something was not right
“What’s the catch?” asked Nick
“What about a kiss?”
“Not happening” responded Nick almost robotically, his hair standing on edge as if the question offended him, his mind going straight to the vixen, right to her defence as if kissing this wolf would be a betrayal on her.
The wolf sighed “Well then I guess I’ll be going home alone tonight after all”.
Nick needed answers and as the she wolf walked away he knew what to do.
He paused a moment thinking of whether or not this would help his situation with Pricilla, but he needed to know, he needed to verify what he knew so obviously.
Nick took a deep breath and barked as loud as he could “GUN!” he shouted.
Everyone dropped to the floor, cries of fear exiting their mouths and muzzles.
However due to years of training, the wolf had dropped the glass and in one motion held a handgun in her paws; pulled from her purse. She scanned the room for the perp with the gun; her stance typical of an operative, when there was no one else except her with a gun, she realised Wilde had gotten the better of her.
She was looking around bashfully when she gently placed her firearm into her side holster turning back to Nick who wore a smug grin.
“You’re a cop” chuckled Nick unenthused, unfolding his arms and pointing at her. “I saw the firearm from the get go”.
“God damn it” muttered the she-wolf to herself.
“Not too good at the cop game are you?” confirmed Nick scrunching up the five and throwing it on the bar.
The wolf stalked forward snatching the five dollars shoving it into her purse “I’m not the first officer to be tricked though, am I Officer Wilde”
Nick knew she must have been speaking of the deception of Judy and Jack and simply nodded in agreement, everyone who had a badge had known about his decimation. He finished with a simple sentence; “I am no officer…”
Pricilla was just behind Nick and grabbed his attention.
“What’s going on Nickie?” she asked nervously, phone in her hand ready to call the police
Nick smiled at Pricilla, “sorry, just a misunderstanding, this is officer…-”
“Sparrow, Violet Sparrow” exclaimed the wolf putting a paw out to Nick, who grasped it and shook once.
Sarah was just behind Nick, pushing herself up against the wall as close as she could, she had never seen a gun before and her heart was racing, Nick could hear it and he turned.
“Relax, she’s a police officer-“comforted Nick before his attention returned to Violet ”… so…What do you want? Jack send you? Keep an eye on me?”
While her and Nicks spoke Nick saw the two Coyotes from earlier nudge one another and make haste for the door, looking back every step or so to make sure their withdraw had not grabbed unwanted attention.
Violet laughed into the back of her paw throwing her head back “I don’t answer to that puny little runt, I’m in the K-9 division, we deal with, bigger issues…”
“Such as?”
The wolf walked forward and pinched Nick’s cheeks “If I told you that good looking, I’d have to kill you” she spoke through pursed lips, teasing Nick playfully.
Nick pulled his cheeks from her clutches “I’ve had enough of cops…I think you should leave”
“I’m not the enemy Nickie boy” explained the wolf over her shoulder as she went to leave.
“Yeah Ive heard that one before” he gnashed. “Then what are you”
The wolf did a 180 degrees turn and walked over to the bar leaning over and whispered into Nicks ear- “undercover”
The words itself burnt Nick to the core Nicks thoughts went into overdrive,” Undercover, just like her, just like him, a liar in disguise a two face, traitorous, sly! Mother fu-“.
Nick hadn’t realised but his muzzle was gently pulling back to expose his canines in an aggressive manner “Settle down Vulpes, I’m just playing”
Nick didn’t respond; he just starred at her.
She gently pulled her head back and her ears dropped to the side in sadness, she had never seen someone look at her the way Nick starred at her, with undeniable hatred and fury.
She went to speak, when a throat filled rumble left Nicks throat and without understanding or another words, she fluster turned and walked out.
There seemed, in Nicks mind at least, to be several hours of silence.
“Psst” called Pricilla to grab Nick’s attention; who seemed to be starring off into a very bad dimension full of pain, suffering and underlying rage.
Nick turn to her rigidly to see what she wanted and she gently placed her hands either side of her mouth gesturing for Nick to drop the snarl and close his mouth and hide his teeth, that’s when he noticed every set of eyes in the place where on him.
Nick turned his snarl into a genuine yet awkward smile moving as slow as possible as if people couldn’t see him do it. He stood smiling at everyone who made eye contact, patiently waited for the crowd in the pub to return to talking and eating; when they did he made a direct line over to Pricilla.
He huffed out a deep breath, reached deep into his pocket, fumbled around before he grabbed the key to his room from his pocket holding it out in an open palm.
“I’m sorry” he apologised, “I assume you would like me to leave”.
Pricilla looked at the room key being held out to her and was instantly offended, her face screwing up in disbelief at Nicks action, she grabbed Nickies paw and folded his hand into a fist, making him grasp the keys, her eyes locked with him in an annoyed way, but annoyed that he would ever assume she would leave him on the streets over a small misunderstanding; not that there had been an altercation on his first night.
“Dos tables aint gunna get clean if you keep standin ere checking me out Nickie” she explained shoving his chest playfully, her eyes softening; worried her annoyed look may scare Nick.
Nick breathed out, “how stupid can I be” he thought; his eyes praised Pricilla, she never got mad at Nick, she simply fought with all her strength to show that someone gave a shit.
The night died down and the incident with Violet had left Nicks mind, replaced only by the exhausting thoughts of his mystery Vixen.
Nick had been at the biggest table towelling the same spot in a circular motion for the last 15 minutes.
“Hey Newbie” called Sarah, placing down the bins she was taking out to empty, packed to the brim with bottles.
“yeah?” replied Nick lifting an ear to show he was listening and ceasing his methodic wiping of the table to give her his full attention.
“You did good tonight…scarred some of the patrons, but you needa be a little scary to work in places like dis”
Nick smirked he had come to notice that every now and again when Sarah spoke, there was a slip of Pricilla’s accent that would mix in, and Nick also noticed that Sarah didn’t notice she did this.
“So when is clock off time?”
“Why you tired?”
“All damn day” explained Nick turning back to his table and continuing to do small circles with his cloth.
“But you’re a fox, you should be wide awake”.
“It’s complicated” huffed Nick, who now had such little energy; he couldn’t even do the circles on the table and simply leaned on it to catch his breath.
“Yeah well, you better get use to this night shift thing, otherwise da place-le eat you alive” explained Sarah, heaving up the heavy bins full of glass bottles and continuing on her way to empty them into the industrial bin located near the car park.
Nick was in his own world when he felt a Pricilla’s hand land on his shoulder.
“Hey Nickie, you look bushed”
Nick chuckled with a nod “yeah”
Pricilla began wiping down tables and they worked side by side while talking.
“Yeah, Nightshift is hard to begin wit, but you’ll pick it up soon enough sugar, don’t even fret”.
Nick smiled at her as he forced his body one aching moment after the other to continue to clean.
The night came to a close and Nick could barely keep his eyes open and his knees had a subtle shake to them.
Pricilla was turning the lights off and collecting the til to count while she spoke out to Nickie and Sarah who were both walking away from the time on machine.
“So Sarah, I’ll see you tonight, Nickie you’ll be in on Wednesday and Friday, Friday is karaoke so be prepared for your ears ta hurt at de end o da night okay?”
Nick placed his paw to the side of his brow and threw a fake salute Pricilla’s way before making his way to the staircase to get to his room.
Sarah however turned to Pricilla with a scoff- “Hey why does the newbie get a few days off?” interrupted Sarah, feeling hard done by.
“Because he’s got a girl to get with, he’s useless until that happens”.
Nick who was heading back to his room not really listening suddenly realised what Pricilla just said and jumped out of his skin, as the words left Pricilla’s mouth; he turned ridigidly, riddled with embarrassment.
“What?” gulped Nick hoping her heard wrong.
“Ah come on Nickie, its plain as day you havin one o ya “fox moment”” chuckled Pricilla, emphasising ‘fox moments’ with her fingers before leaning smugly on the counter and sending Nick a playful, yet teasing grin.
Nick slapped his paw to his face, dragging it down and off his chin as though that would get rid of his embarrassment; he was too tired to be dealing with this and simply mumbled to himself.
“Oh so dats why he’s so tired” interjected Sarah realising why the nocturnal fox was having a hard time keeping up and staying focused.
Her and Pricilla breaking into a conversation about Nick and foxes without him being invited in for his two cents worth and so he grudgingly ignored them heading to his room; too exhausted to even think of how to be witty. Nick reached his room opened the door and fell face first dead to the world as the sun rose on Sunday morning 06:30 to gently warm his fur as he curled into a ball his tail shading his eyes.
Jack awoke the early Sunday morning, he rolled his sleeves up as he packed his bag for work, he didn’t know what weighed more; his guilt that had someone spiralled so out of control it was eating him like a plague from the inside out, or the bags under his eyes from not stop alcohol, self medication and lack of sleep. He shifted past the papers, fingerprints and a small notebook, and underneath all that a medium size flask full of alcohol he took it out and took a swig, no change to the smell of stale spirit on his breath.
“You’re no better than one Tyrone Valentine Wilde, Chief Savage”.
Jack looked to his right to see the lumbering giant figure of Bogo leaning on his door frame dark and ominous.
“The shirt really suits you Savage…” complimented Bogo, with a hint of malice, looking Jack up and down.
Jack looked down to the chief badge hanging leisurely from his chest.
“He slept with my wife” explain Jack.
“He slept with someone he loved, he slept with a lie, what did you do to him”
Jack turned with fury in his eyes pointing a finger “I-“
However the apparition had vanished and his paw gently dropped to his side as he spoke to himself.
“-I…I bashed him, I degraded him, I broke him into pieces, I took his child…and for what? For the horrors his father committed… Alison…I…” Jack couldn’t bear the words coming from his mouth and so drank them down until the flask was empty, the acidic, burning liquor fighting to come up and Jack wrestling to keep it down.
Jack opened the door and left, he stopped in the staircase slapping his forehead re opening the door, the invitation to Judy’s party awaiting him, but he walked straight past them and over to the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle of scotch topping up his flask he was about out the door, when he noticed the invitation from the corner of his eye, he grabbed the invitations for Maria’s party and placed them in his back pocket.
Checked his top pocket for his keys and his back pocket for his wallet before heading down the elevator to his car spot in the basement.
Jack got to the ZPD, it was empty, he turned all the lights on and made his way to Clawhauser’s desk placing the invitation in his pigeon hole with a note
“Hand these out, keep it discrete”.
Jack sluggishly made his way to the office he opened the door and reached his paw in turning the lights on, the bright lights burning his alcohol dried eyes, everything was the same as always, all things sitting in the same spot, he picked up the newspaper that had been placed at the front of his door earlier and read the front page. Something was off, the front page story was of a fox, the last thing he wanted to read about, however he knew the fox, Roxy, she had been involved a year ago with Tyrone’s plot, a sassy young thing sentenced to several years imprisonment, however it looked like her sentence was cut short, she had been found hanging in her cell.
Jack re read the article several times, something wasn’t right, Jack booted up his computer
His paws used great haste to open up the ZPD data base; he logged in with his username and password and went to records typing in the name of the now dead Vixen.
He read in silence for quite some time, he didn’t know what he was looking for, but he knew there was something.
That’s when he found her military background; she had been in foreign prisons and even military detention centres.
He read the paper again, supposedly she hung herself; that couldn’t be, it didn’t make sense.
She had been in many wars and imprisoned in tougher prisons around the globe then the ones they have in Zootopia; ZT prison would be walk in the part, child’s play to a veteran with her expertise.
Jack soon realised he had been trying to make a connection between the two for over an hour; he could hear the voices in the ZPD growing louder as more officers came in to start shift. A small soft tap at the door grabbed his attention as he looked over his computer.
“Come in” he called.
The door cracked open ad Maria stood in the doorway.
“Hey chief” she said biting her lip “hard at work?”
Jacks shoulders that were stiff and unyielding slowly relaxed as he softly sat back in his seat “Good Morning officer Savage what can I do for you”.
Maria turned and shut the door hoping her way over to Savage going past his desk and to the foot of his chair, he went to speak when Maria grabbed his tie pulling him down and locking tongue with him. It took Jack of guard but he returned it passionately.
“I did that to her to you know” spoke Nicks voice and instantly savage pulled from Maria, his paws in small fists so tight they were about to burst at the seams. His eyes directly averting from Maria to the computer on his desk.
“What’s wrong?” asked Maria, wondering why Jack had pulled away so quickly, just as they were getting into it.
“Not at work Maria” he breathed out his eyes locked with his computer.
“We use to” argued Maria playfully, her jestful tone not return in kind when Jack answered darkly with “Well not anymore”.
“Oh, okay, sorry” there was an awkward silence, Maria nervous she had done something wrong and so she pried “Is everything okay Jack?”
Jack whose face turned to anger sighed and took a breath calming himself “I’ve, just been busy. Sorry”
“That’s okay”, responded Maria seeing through Jacks shrug off lie but knowing it would be best to just let it go. “Don’t burn yourself out, I love you” she murmured walking over, grabbing his tie and pulling his face down to plant a soft kiss on his cheek.
“I love you to he grumbled as he returned to his investigation, that had someone taken a hold of him, and made him feel uneasy.
Jack was flicking through the paper when he came to another page of a dead fox.
“Maria” he called just as she was about to leave his office.
She stopped at the door facing jack and raising her ear high in the air to show she was listening.
“What was the other fox we arrested when we ran into Tyrone?”
Judy thought for a moment, trying to recall their names and the stack of paperwork they had done more than a year ago.
Jack waited patiently for her to remember; he was sure of the name but needed her to confirm it.
“Reece” she finally answered “His name was Reece” answered Maria, before leaving to check her case files for new jobs.
Maria left the room and Jack sat back in his chair gob smacked, the 4th page of the same newspaper was a story of a young male fox by the name of Reece he had been found drowned in a dam waterway.
A Taste Of Hazel Chapter 10 (A Zootopia fan-story)
Nick got back to the watering hole pub, he was exhausted from his lack of sleep the night before and his body had completely betrayed him of all other forms of energy.
As he walked through the door Pricilla’s eyes popped “Wow Nickie, what did you get up to today you look horrible”.
“Thanks Pricilla, apparently this is what love make you look like”.
“Ha-ha, yeah that’s pretty much what it looks like sooner or later” she explained gesturing to her also sleep ridden face, referring to the horrible relationship she had told Nick of earlier “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it; I’m going to try and get some sleep before my shift tonight” explained Nick.
Pricilla respected his lack thereof wanting to talk “Six o’clock start Nickie, is that okay?”
Nick looked to his watch, he had to squint as it looked as though there were three watches that read 3:54pm it was two hours away, and surely he would be recuperated by then.
He put his thumb up as an okay, speaking only seemed to make him more lethargic. Nick began his way upstairs, however, a simple thought of a smile, her smile, a fox tooth, sly yet excited Grin and he was hit for home run; it was as if he caught vertigo half way up the stairs stumbling slightly his body becoming tingly as if he had pins and needles coursing through his veins.
“God darn it” he cussed slamming a closed fist into the wall.
His anger only seeming to bring on the image of the vixen symmetrical, heart warming smile.
“You okay Nickie?” called out Pricilla
By this time Nickie’s whole body was tense
“Yeah!” called out in a mixed groan Nick clenching his fist, he had been brought down on his knees and palms crawling up the stairs to his room.
He got to the room and took several shots at getting the key into the hole just to open the door, as the door swung open he made a beeline straight for the window opening it up and ripping his shirt over his head, for the longest moment he just stood in the window way as a breeze gently blew through his fur, he swayed back and forth gently with his eyes shut as if the breeze could blow him down, and with the heaviest breeze that came through he fell back turning a little to lay down on the bed sprawled out as wide as he could, he radiated heat like a furnace and his face and back were covered in sweat in seconds.
“This is unbearable” he cussed, stirring left and right trying to find a comfortable position.
“Judy” he grumbled to himself “Judy Laverne Hopps. Jack Savage, Bogo dying, TYRONE FUCKING WILDE!” he tried using the names to flush his body with anger, but each time he said their name, the Vixens face would pop up in his mind and seemingly effortlessly wash the memories away, her toothy smile and shy demeanour spreading like a toxic plague inside Nicks mind.
“Arg!” he shouted throwing his pillow across the room and taking the foetal position hugging into himself tight, his guts feeling like he had just been pushed out of an aeroplane.
The last he remembered he was counting the second on his watch to try and take his mind of her only to black out at 4:15pm.
Hazel got home and had been shaky the whole way, her nose had itched like crazy and her fur stood on end, she was embarrassed she knew what it was, and how other animals would be looking at her if they also knew, she felt glad she had not run into any other foxes.
She got to her apartment and tried several times to open the door, having dropped her keys twice.
“Phew” she exclaimed as she finally got the door open, she wiped her forehead along her forearm, sweat ridden.
She ran inside throwing her bag on the couch and making her way to the large refrigerator in the kitchen, she threw the door open and leaned inside. Small strokes of steam gently swaying in the air as the hot air left her body and collided with the cool air of the fridge.
“Jesus Hazel, pull yourself together” she grumbled at herself, knowing what this feeling was and trying to deal with it the way her father taught her.
She felt red hot and picked up a glass bottle that was in the door of the fridge opening it and basically drinking it top to bottom before placing it to her forehead.
“So… this is what it really feels like?”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the gold ring tossing it in front of her so it landed on the ground, the wedding band rolling in a circle before falling over with a soft “thud”
She starred longingly out the window as sorrowful memories seeped past her fur and deep into her skin.
She sighed closing her eyes “How did you ever trick me into thinking what we had was anything like this” she spoke angrily before opening her eyes and looking into the pictures on her phone throwing it also across the floor, where it slid beside the ring, a portrait picture of Hazel and a very dashing fox poking their tongue out being silly in a selfie.
“You, me, we were nothing like this Red” She breathed out to herself trying to control her breathing and compose herself. Using her shirt to fan herself.
Nicks eyes glazed over, Judy was there, on the ground holding her guts, Jack was pinned, no gun, with his paws trying frantically to help Judy, he never meant for things to end this way, Tyrone held the gun in his paw, with a smirk of cruel intentions. His finger danced with the pistol trigger.
“Time to end this” he hisses
Nick only had one thing he can do, what an officer would do. He holds onto a phrase repeating it as he runs in, why this phrase he ponders, he had only heard this song a handful of times, yet this was to be the metronome.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps…
A pounding beat of life, a clock wound down to the last second
He remembered walking down the flight of stairs, his brand-new scout uniform ironed and pressed, his dreams of fitting in coming so close to true, to see the eyes of mammals waiting
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps…
As he raised his hand “I Nick Wilde promise to be brave, loyal, helpful and trustworthy” the sound of a shot rings off, and Nick’s legs carry him faster with urgency.
As black smoke and bullets spew out the end of Tyrone’s pistol, spelling the end for one Jack Savage.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps…
“Did you ever think we would trust a fox without a muzzle?”, “What did I do?” cried Nick, “If the world is only going to see a fox as shifty and cunning why be anything else” Judy’s paw lingers on his arm, a feeling he never forgot, the memory twists and turns sick and demented in his mind as he comes back to reality, to see Jack holding his eyes shut ready and protecting Judy with his body, ready for what was coming.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps…
He holds his breath sliding in front of Jack with his arms out, he shields his entirety, Jacks eyes widening in shock at Nicks actions, Nicks deep green emerald eyes locking with Jacks aquatic blue a smile planted on Nicks face, a smile that say “Sorry” but for what does Nick have to say sorry Jack ponders.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps…
Nick looks up at the podium where Judy stands smiling down on him and he knew that was the moment he fell in love, how silly a fox to be in love with a bunny
“Look after her” he mouths to Jack, his eyes lingering on Jack before looking to Judy, the bunny, his bunny, would he die for her, your damn right he would.
“THUD” “THUD” “THUD”, three bullets tear into Nicks back, his blue uniform torn by the velocity of the bullets small pieces of fabric flutter to the cold ground of the shed on pier 12
He grinds his teeth to hold in the pain. “Judy and me, Judy and me, Judy and me” his mind repeats to himself, giving him something stronger then the pain to think of.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps….
The sound of a gunshot rings out and Fangmyer who is screaming through the window cannot be heard as if everything was placed on mute.
“Try everything”
Judy reaches out for Nick, her voice also lost in the void of soundlessness.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps….
Nick remembers the moment he made love to Judy and the ring he had chosen through the window of a store once “I’ll give that to her one day” he continually told himself, each time he past the jewellery store, the ring, that he may never give to her.
Nicks can feel the blood dripping from his wounds, it feels as though his uniform has sticky soft drink spilt on it, something he knew the feeling of well, his hustling days with Finnick, sticky pawsicles… “Silly Finnick” chuckles Nicks mind, before he did an inaudible yawn “Man I’m tired” he thought to himself calmly.
“Try everything”, Nicks heart skips a beat, a sickly and unusual feeling…
He can tell its slowing down, Nicks knees shake he can feel his life going, he remembers his mums loving embrace the last time she held him before he ran away from home. Telling her “I don’t want to be a fox”
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps, a little slower this time.
He drops to his knee, Tyrone has dropped the gun, the gun meant for Jack but that has now hit Nicholas, his own boy, his child, his son.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps, fused with adrenaline fighting the inevitable.
He looks to Judy a smirk on his face “Fluff? Is it cold?” he asks with a silly smile, Judy’s face moist with tears knowing he was going delusional, Her response muted, a deaf sentence, but he sees her scurrying to get over to him, the blood soaked dirt beneath her paws making it hard for her to stand and get to him. “She’s so beautiful” says Nicks thoughts bashfully.
Jack reaches out grabbing Nick making sure he doesn’t fall. Jack is covered in so much blood, a mix of his, Judy’s and Nicks. Nick thinks about Jack for a moment, simply misunderstood, “I forgive you, your okay” thinks Nick nodding while starring deep into Jacks eyes.
Jack looks on with worry as to why Nick is nodding at him so calmly.
“Try everything” Nicks heart pumps
As he remembers the day he and Judy shared a cappuccino and he had chocolate foam on his lip, she grabbed and kissed him, before she licked it off and it made him go home and ponder all through the night, the love he felt for her, “But maybe she was just being playful?” he convinced himself.
Nick hits the dirt and Jack and Judy have their paws frantically trying to stop the blood. Nick grabs Judy’s ear and drags his claw up it, the same way he did in her apartment, he doesn’t want to die, her purple eyes the closest thing heaven could be.
“Try everything” the sound of the song became more than a metronomic buzz he was repeating to himself, he could now hear the song clear as day, standing at the concert dancing with Judy; bumping her hip into his until he danced with her.
“Try everything” the words of the song are coming out elongated and deep, and send a shuddering moment of fear through Nick’s entirety.
“Try everything” Nick remembers his first day as a police officer with Judy and the proud smile that never left her furry cheeks, as he caught her smiling at him with pride the whole day.
“Try everything”, “Wait… My heart hasn’t pumped for a while” thinks Nick nervously.
Nicks heart pumps…. He sighs with relief.
Nicks points to his pockets and looks to Jack with a nod.
Jack is confused at first until he realises what Nicks means, he nods once, understanding what Nick asks, Jack grabs the hand gun in Nicks pants and raising it without needing to look, a pro marksman, he takes aim at Tyrone who stands with misery in his eyes, his arms out, ready for his punishment.
“I’m so sorry Nick” Tyrone mutters through a quivering lip, the first tear he had ever cried dripping out his eye. “I’m sorry my boy”
Jack pulls the trigger, a usual perfect shot.
“BANG”
Tyrone’s body hits the floor, blood encircling.
Nicks heart…. Nicks heart…. Nicks heart….
Nicks heart fails, his breath ceases and his paw drops from Judy’s ear, Judy begins CPR
Jack looks around at the chaos and blood; he can’t even hear himself screaming for help at the top of his lungs.
Fangmyer feels his heart break, with tear soaked eyes as he looks through the window to see Nick lying limp in Judy’s arms. He screams into his two way for an ambulance, for an office down… for someone to save Nick”
“Try Everything Nicholas…” whispers a mysterious soft voice in Nick’s ear as his mind goes blank…
So, When I was about 19 I was heavily into the Native American culture, their history, their beliefs and their side of the story. (shock horror they have one) anyways, I remember around this time reading several extremely potent novels ( I use the word potent as they were deeply thought provoking)
books included “Touch the earth” and “among the Shoshone”, each time I had a spare moment I would chew through these books, making sure to read and re read parts that truly poked at my brain. If given the chance please read some of these novels, you will not regret it and it will make you so much more....aware.
I remember around this time I was sleeping a whole lot, I was working 2 jobs to save for a trip and a house deposit, I was working 90 hours a week, completely exhausted but always dreaming.
I had a list of music I used to help myself sleep some songs included (ironically) “need some sleep”, “28 weeks later theme song”, “imogen heap-”what ya say” etc etc.
anyways this whole post is firstly to say I think, that reading these novel and trying to grasp the wholality of things was immeasurably inherent on my dreams being so fluent and explaining the dream
I had a dream, and wrote a very short story based off this dream;
I was chasing/searching someone, whose face I couldn't make out; however I believed it to be the face of a friend of mine (female) named Liz.
I had just lost my fiance in the dream it had been years four or so and life was not good. I wanted to see her, to feel her, to be with her once more, but even in my dream the despair of death and the knowledge of being unable to change that was apparent. (I have never lost anyone that close to me, but the dream was perplexing in the fact I could feel exactly what it must feel like)
Anyways Liz had come to me, but Liz I knew was not this Liz. Liz I knew was simplistic and to the point, a scholar no doubt.
But this Liz had a look in her eyes (vivid and worldly the look you don’t get from just reading books) and I knew she was looking for me, she was here for me.
“you miss her huh?”- the first words from her mouth, that were followed by a stream of tears, a bitten lip as a I nodded in agreeance through the painful thought.
“this world is only one of a million, I can take you to a world were T never died” (T is my Fiances Nickname)
“Great” I replied “How do we get there?”
“you have to die... T is not dead, she simply moved to the next place” and I knew Liz didn't mean heaven or hell.
I was scarred and petrified, my whole life I was told taking your life deliberately was a sin, was this apparition the devil coming with an ultimatum of tricky, was this a test? or was it just a kooky dream.
I told Liz, “fuck it”, if T’s not here in this world, then weather she was telling me the truth or not, I was going to take the plunge.
So I tried to get myself crushed by a very large boat near one of the docks were I live, I chickened out.
she said I needed to die if i wanted T and that we could do it an easier way.
I said okay, but also told her I needed a day, I wanted to live one more day.
and on that last day I did childish things, I played Tag with Liz, I watched the sun set, I walked on the beach, Liz tackled me and we kissed, I was about to travel into the unknown to save the love of my life, but I kissed someone else, because I was scared and if I were gunna just die cause she was some menacing presence, May as well do all the thing I wanted on my last day.
I sat in a chair, the time had come, Liz had a box, a silver, briefcase looking box (the ones bad guys in moves have that have nuclear bomb and stuff in them) she opened it and I felt I was in a Councillor/psychologist meeting laying down while she set up her equipment.
From the box she pulled out a see through tube with a needle attached.
she stuck the needle connected to tube into my arm, in that same place they take blood for donations.
music played over and I had an out of body experience. I was out of my body watching myself like a movie the music still played and I remember it clear as day (28 days later theme played)
she turned the machine on and a green liquid made its way up the funnel toward my veins. I knew what it was but I looked at Liz and I said
“does it hurt?”
she smiled as if ready to go on an adventure and said “Not one bit, see you when we get there”
I remember my last vision was of the green liquid hitting the vein in my arm and then I woke up in my bed; 4:50pm 10 minutes before my shift at the pub started (literally just down the road)
I Don’t know why I told you guys this story, just needed to get it off my chest I guess.
Like I said I did a whole short story on this. but It was not as good as the dream, the dream was like a movie and I knew I could never re create it.
Nick woke up early, he always did, it was the awesome thing about being a fox.
He was not the only one awake, he could clearly hear the “clink” of glasses downstairs being moved around and the magnet strips of the fridge doors slapping shut every few minutes.
“God does she ever sleep?”
He dragged himself from the nice warm cover of his bed sheets and made his way to the small bathroom, the room Pricilla had given him wasn’t grand by any stretch but it was cozy and safe feeling, and was a million times better than being the bum on a seat.
The blanket was thrown over Nicks shoulders and he sported only his boxers.
He got to the small medicine cabinet in the outdated bathroom and gently brushed his paw over his cheeks and chin, a shave and clean up was definitely in order.
He began to fill the sink with water and splashed his face several times taking out an electric razor and getting to work, he brushed his face in the small towel he had bought with his clothes yesterday and looked into the mirror to see what almost resembled a dashing middle aged fox.
He smiled at himself and the reflection smiled back he; reached a paw out and placed it on the mirror and for the longest moment just starred.
He jumped when there was a banging at the door.
“Hello?” he called from the bathroom.
“Hey Nickie it’s just me sweetie, just making sure you haven’t hung yaself in der”.
Nick chuckled, but didn’t know whether or not she was serious.
“Still alive!” he shouted out to her.
“That’s good sweetie, look, I know you’re not meant to work right now but can you give me a hand changing the kegs downstairs in the cellar, they are heavy to boot”.
“Do you ever sleep?” replied Nick looking at the bedside table and the time of the morning.
“Nope, meet you downstairs sugar”.
“Be there in a minute”
Nick heard her walking away as the floorboard creaked.
He get dressed in nice black shirt and sported some casual cargo pants, he came down stairs rolling his sleeves up ready to help Pricilla.
“Okay, where these kegs at” he asked looking around, only to see Pricilla sitting at a table with bowls of food sitting in the middle. Scrambled eggs, toast with lobs of butter, blueberry pie, and other assortments lay on the table.
Nick stopped halfway through rolling his sleeves up, there was no kegs, there was no work to be done, Pricilla got up early to make him breakfast.
Pricilla noticed the silence and looked to the food “I tought you might be hungry, didn’t wana ask when ya last real meal was, so I wiped together some of the good stuff in the kitchen hopin youd like sometin I put out”.
Nick gingerly placed his paw on the spine of the chair in front of him and took a seat his eyes locked on Pricilla then down to the unbelievably delicious looking delicacies in front of him, his eyes unable to move and his body frozen.
Pricilla noticed a saddening look in Nickie and pried “What’s wrong sweetie?” She asked placing her palm on his closest forearm trying to get him to look at her.
Nick hastily made eye contact with her, his brow creased in confusion and heartbreak.
“Why are you doing all this for me?” he asked, as if her making him breakfast was the equivalent of dying for his sins.
“Because, there isn’t an ounce of bad in you Nicholas Wilde, not a single drop, and I’ve known dat from de first day you walked in ere”
Nick simply nodded thinking deeply on her words.
Nick smiled at her as he raised a spoonful of cheerio’s to his mouth and cheered her with it taking the first bite of an unbelievable diverse banquet.
Nick finished breakfast and sat slouched in his chair his paws resting on his belly.
“Ugh, I’m stuffed, where did you learn to cook like that?”
Pricilla giggled as she cleared the table, “Well after my husband left me for a young better looking broad, I had to fend for myself, didn’t have many other things I was good at, but hey I’m a Hippo, so I know good food, ever heard the saying as big as a Hippo?”
Nick chuckled as he continued to listen.
“Well anyways, I could pour a beer and make a feed and so when we divorced and I got my settlement I opened dis ere bar, I never ad much faith in my own abilities, me hubby was always debasing me and making me feel worthless, but den dis place, it took off you know, people love coming ere for karaoke and I love being a part of people’s parties and fun it worked out well”.
“What about him?” asked Nick.
“Last I heard, his Gal left him for another Hog and he ended up taking the easy way out”.
Nicks face turned to shock.
Pricilla just shrugged “Ya win some ya lose some Nickie”
“Is that why you were worried about me last night?”
Pricilla smirked, walked over and placed her hoof on Nicks shoulder awaiting his eyes contact and when she got it she explained
“No, I checked on you last night for a different reason....you see Nickie there are two types of people those who take their life when they are hurt bad, like my ex husband. The second Nickie…. The second is why I checked on you, the second ones they take their life just when things are starting to get better, they do it like that, because they think if it gets better again, that sooner or later it will go back to being bad, and they don’t want to live with that feeling ever again, that lonely...lonely feeling”.
Nick knew the words were for him, she wanted him to think long and hard, that is why she had waited for his eyes contact.
“But you’ll never be alone Nickie” Trust me she said with a smile while she picked up Nicks plates; that’s when Nick noticed it, faint and barely visible, fading scars riddled up the arm of Pricilla. Nick looked to the scar then to Pricilla, who didn’t seem ashamed or shy away she just starred at them also while addressing Nick.
“It always gets better Nick”.
There was a long silence as Pricilla placed the plates in the sink to clean;
“Now get outta here Nick, you have work tonight, I suggest you get some sleep, I hear you up there last night I know it’s tough to sleep here sometimes, but last night was quiet”.
Pricilla was right the music from the jukebox the night before and the constant sound of other animals talking and laughing made Nick anxious and made it hard for Nickie to sleep, but he didn’t care, according to Pricilla last night was a quiet night and perhaps he just needed to get use to it.
Nick got up from the table and made his way to the door, the words of Pricilla echoed his mind and made him truly thought provoked, he couldn’t shake what she said, but he knew where he was going, he was going to make things better.
He reached the park that he had slept in for so long, he checked his watch, he didn’t have much time, he went to run, when the sound of a bus behind him honking grabbed his attention, and he saw it the red ears of a Vixen inside the bus.
“No, I’m too late” he cursed, annoyed at himself for dawdling on the way.
He kicked a rock and placed his hand in his pockets walking through the park, he knew where his body was going, straight to his usual seat, he got to his old home and placed his rump down on the park bench, grumbling to himself about how stupid he was.
He sat there alone for along time, until he felt the bench vibrate.
His thoughts became interrupted when he saw someone sit next to him out of his peripherals, his heart skipped a beat and he instantly felt sick, he looked over to her and she was trying hard not to make eyes contact.
It must have been another Vixen who had been on the bus, because as large as life, the one who had been so kind to Nick sat beside him, trying hard not to make eye contact also.
She just held her bag looking around at seemingly nothing. However she sported two coffees in a tray and was alone.
Nick placed his paw together, he could feel beads of sweat on his palms and forehead, he could feel his heart pounding and his breath going rigid, and his paws shook slightly, he thought for sure she could see his bodies extremely nervous reaction, however what he didn’t know was that she was afraid he would see her paws shaking and her heart pounding and her breath coming out in rigid waves also.
The two turned to one another and made eye contact, Nick was a deer in the headlights and Hazel was no different.
Hazel was shocked; Nick was all cleaned up and was one of the most handsome creatures she had ever laid eyes on. “Why would someone who looked like this ever want me?” she thought darkly to herself. She thought him genuinely good looking when he was rough, but now cleaned up, she felt like a mite on the back of a dog in comparison.
Nick looked at this vixen and for the first time ever Judy was nowhere in thought, good or bad, she simply seemed to vanish from his mind.
Nicks breathing had become so rigid, his world began to spin, he felt lethargic as if all energy was sapped form his body.
“What the hell?” he thought to himself; his body betraying him, he felt like he had just gone through the police cadetship fitness test seven times in an hour.
His fur stood on end at the back of his neck, similar to when he was shot by night howler. He twisted his neck and shook his head, “what’s happening to me” screamed his thoughts.
Hazel, who could feel the all too familiar feeling of warmth across the small of her nose and through her muzzle, turned to Nick to speak to him, when she noticed he had gotten up and was already several steps away.
Hazels mouth slowly shut and she let out a small whimper, “What did I do?” she asked, the warmth in her nose completely disappearing. She waited for him to return and when he didn’t and the coffee was cold she walked it to the bin dropping it in and walking home, she didn’t feel like writing today...
Nick walked to the edge of the park, his world was spinning, he whistled loud and a cab pulled up, he basically fell into the cab and threw $50.00 into the cab drivers lap, “get me to the medical centre” he pleaded.
Nick got to the centre and ran as fast as his shaky leg could take him into the medical centre and stumbled his way over to the reception.
“F…Fr…Fray…Dr Fray…” he huffed and puffed.
“Sir what’s the problem?” asked the receptionist.
Nick grasped at his chest “Ppp please… I need to see the Doctor, I can’t breathe…” he stated placing his other paw on the bench, it’s shake was unstoppable.
The receptionist saw his paw and began to freak; out picking up the phone.
“Yes…Fray, you have a client out here. Yes. What’s your name?”
“-…Nick…” he choked out, his chest tight and sore.
The lady put down the phone.
“Nick, the doctor will be-“
Before she could finish the door opened and Fray stood there with a worried look on her face “Nick what’s wrong?”
Nick ran to her grabbing her by the wrist and going into the doctor’s office, he let go of her wrist once the door was shut and fell back onto the chair unbuttoning his shirt to unveil his fit body and chest to Fray who was a little shocked at first that Nick was still so fit.
“Fray something’s wrong… I can’t breathe…”
Fray pulled up a wheelie chair stopping in front of Nick and instantly began going to work placing her stethoscope hastily to his chest, checking his eyes and ears.
“I thought you immunised me to everything…is..is it the bullets? Is it my injuries, what’s wrong with me Fray I’ve never felt like this before?” he quizzed frantically one question after the other, making his shortness of breath worsen.
Within moment Fray knew what was wrong; Frays paw became relaxed and grin crossed her face and she gently laid her paw on Nick’s forehead, she then looked at Nicks back and how his hair was on edge, her stethoscope lay cold gently pressed to where his heart is.
She chuckled lightly
Nick looked down his nose at her, “How could she be laughing at time like this?” he thought, his breath still unbelievable tense.
“What’s….so …funny” he questions through each breath.
Fray saw the red across his face, she saw the sweat and the shake, she saw exactly what was wrong.
Fray had a cheeky smirk on her face and it made Nick evermore confused.
“What?” asked Nick trying hard to control his breathing, his vision had become like a light had just been turned on, everything was fuzzy and slightly moving.
“Nick where have you been?”
“What?”
“Where have you been this morning?”
“I ….Had breakfast… then went to the park….”
He mentioned the park and again his chest went off, Fray listening intently to his heartbeat.
“ye-huh, And who was at the park?”
“Huh?”
“Who were you meeting at the park…?” she repeated
“How do…. you…know I was meeting someone?” quizzed Nick, confused by all her questions basically coughing to get the words out.
“Nick, you’re not sick….you’re not dying… it’s not the bullets…”.
“Then what?” breathed Nick feeling like he had just woken up everything was a blur and a daze.
“I don’t want to say you’re on ‘heat’, because that’s not the right words, but you’re having… What I refer foxes to having as a… Velvet bow tie”.
“Huh?”
“You know meeting your lifelong?”
“Wah?” asked Nick with complete confusion
Fray rolled her eyes “God Nick didn’t you have parents…”
Nicks eyes shifted to the left and went sad for a moment.
Fray shut her eyes realizing what she said was horrible. Nick’s father, Tyrone had been the bane of his existence and the cause of his misery for the last year, a criminal, a murderer and his mother passed during his teenage years after he had run away from home.
“Nick…” she began “You are in love”.
Nick took a deep breath trying really hard to compose himself “like…Judy in love?”
Fray grabbed Nick by the muzzle and pulled him eye to eye “Not even close buddy. You are having a velvet bow tie moment Nick, it’s the nickname we give when foxes find their….you know…soul mate… their life partners…lifelongs”.
“Soul mate…?”
“You may be evolved but you are still monogamous by nature… This is probably why what Judy did hurt so much”.
“But… I love Judy…” he explained, his heart momentarily hurting for a different reason.
“Give this time Nick….Judy won’t even feel like a blip on the radar in comparison to this”.
“Velvet bow tie?” he confirmed
Fray sat in the chair folding her arms and nodded with a cheeky teenager style smile.
Finnick was the closest thing Nick ever had to a father and Nick remembered once Finnick had spoken of a Vixen he had met and that something shifted inside him, it made him so uncomfortable he simply pushed the Vixen away and lived alone. Nick knew this was the feeling Finnick spoke of. Nick always thought Judy had taken a hold of this, but the more he thought about it, that seemed like childlike crush in comparison.
Nick got up, his knees shaking and his body covered in sweat.
“I can’t meet her like this, I can barely walk!” he explained kind of angrily, gesturing to his legs
“Who is she?” pried Fray giving Nick a nudge with her elbow to the ribs and raising her eyebrows.
The small nudge feeling as though it was going to bowl Nick over.
“I don’t even know…”
Fray raised an eyebrow, “How interesting”.
“I saw her dance once, she brought me a coffee…she defended me…. God Fray this feels awful!” he concluded sitting back down and putting his face into his paws.
Fray leaned forward placing her paw on his shoulder “Only a very select set of animals go through this Nick, you’re a fox and unfortunately foxes go through this, like I said you are monogamous by nature, but you’re wrong about the feeling, if you stop fighting it, it will be the most beautiful thing you could ever imagine, you are very luck Nick”.
“Lucky? How can I even talk to her?”
Fray smiled, but smiled as though she was hiding more information that was crucial to Nick “You might not have to” there was a pause and her smile turned sinister “I don’t doubt with your looks that she is probably going through the same thing…” Frays eyes dancing up and down Nick.
“Really?” he asked breathing deeply and trying to hold in the breath. While contemplating how such a lovely Vixen could ever feel like this over him.
“Really, Now get out of here you scared the shit out of me running in here clenching your chest, I have other patients you know!”
Nick nodded taking several deep breathes before he stood up and made his way to the door.
“Thanks again” said Nick still breathing like he had just drowned.
“Go get em tiger” yelled out Fray after him, letting out a jestful hiss.
Nick dismissively waving to her over his shoulder without looking having no energy to return fire.
“F…Fr…Fray…Dr Fray…” he huffed and puffed.
“Sir what’s the problem?” asked the receptionist.
Nick grasped at his chest “Ppp please… I need to see the Doctor, I can’t breathe…” he stated placing his other paw on the bench, it’s shake was unstoppable.
The receptionist saw his paw and began to freak; out picking up the phone.
“Yes…Fray, you have a client out here. Yes. What’s your name?”
“…Nick…” he choked out, his chest tight and sore.
The lady put down the phone.
“Nick, the doctor will be-“
Before she could finish the door opened and Fray stood there with a worried look on her face “Nick what’s wrong?”
Nick ran to her grabbing her by the wrist and going into the doctor’s office, he let go of her wrist once the door was shut and fell back onto a chair unbuttoning his shirt to unveil his fit body and chest to Fray who was a little shocked at first; that Nick was still so fit.
Fangmyer left Nick knowing full well he better get back to the office and face his punishment. He had even prepared, by taking off his tie and taking his badge from his wallet.
He starred longingly at the shiny brass that had ZPD etched deep into it.
“I became a cop to protect...” he muttered sadness washing over him as he thought back to all the horrible wrong the ZPD had done to Nick.
“This has been my whole life” he explained to himself, thinking of how he would let this badge drop into the hands of the likes of one Jack Savage.
As he starred at the badge he remembered back to high school, being bashed for being in love, he knew Nicks pain, he could feel it each time he looked into his friends eyes. But if the ZPD has changed from protecting the innocent and hiring the scum, then Fangmyer knew, he would gladly hand over the badge.
He got to the ZPD and as soon as he entered the front doors Chuck was sitting on the front counter; Clawhauser’s desk, holding an ice pack to his eyes, Delgato patting his back. His face looked like an artist got mad at a block of clay and simply went to work on it with his fists.
As Fangmyer strolled through the door both Chuck and Delgato look to him, only when he was inside did he notice Jack standing offside, with a notepad in his paws taking down a statement, Fangmyer reached into his back pocket preparing to hand over his badge.
Jack followed Delgato and Chuck’s gaze before turning back to Chuck.
“And you didn’t get a good look at the guy?” quizzed Jack with a disbelieving glance.
Chuck and Delgato, whose eyes stayed poised on Fangmyer, simply nodded in agreement to Jack’s statement.
He flicked the notepad shut turning to look at Fangmyer.
“Odd” is all Jack stated, his eyes giving a quick glance to Fangmyer’s swollen knuckles.
“Take him and get him stitched up” ordered Jack pivoting to point at Delgato and Chuck.
Delgato and Chuck both got up heading for the door, neither set of their eyes leaving Fangmyer, who had to struggle to hold back a hiss.
“Tragic isn’t it” interrupted Jack, catching Fangmyer’s attention “the streets are a dangerous place, looks like the new recruit learnt that the hard way”, Jacks eyes scrutinised Fangmyer as he spoke.
“Yeah, better to learn rules like that early on” confirmed Fangmyer.
“So what are you doing back?” pried Jack, flicking his sleeve up to check his watch.
“You aren’t meant to be on break for another hour and a half”
Fangmyer casually held up his ticket machine, “Out of paper” he lied, playing the game Jack so obviously wanted to play.
“You’re a good officer Fangmyer; but you better watch your actions and attitude”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to Jack” replied Fangmyer
“Chief” corrected Jack “Chief Savage, and I’m talking about how you have been conducting yourself and please keep your anger under control”
“Your one to talk” muttered Fangmyer.
“What was that?” asked Jack raising his ear, as if he didn’t hear Fangmyer but so obviously did.
Fangmyer took a deep breath; “I said, sir yes sir”.
“Good, get back to those cars” dismissed Jack.
Fangmyer turned and went to leave, a demonic, victories grin made its way across Jacks lips.
“Fangmyer?”
Fangmyer turned “Yes sir?” he grumbled with as much respect in his tone as he could muster.
“I thought you needed more paper?”
Fangmyer turned and feigned a smile, annoyed he had been caught out, but he kept his cool “That’s correct, thank you Jack” he confirmed as he walked past Savage to head to the stationary cupboard to go get more parking ticket paper.
“Chief” corrected Savage as Fangmyer past him.
Fangmyer froze next to him; “Thank you, Chief” said Fangmyer trying to keep his cool.
“One last thing Fang’s”
“Fangmyer” corrected Fangmyer staring down on the rodent.
“Fangmyer”, corrected Jack.
Jack went to speak, he needed to ask Fangmyer, he needed to know if Nick was okay, for his daughter …and himself , but then he heard it, he heard Nick speak into his ear; the voice coming from over his should; soft and ominous.
Jacks eyes stayed poised forward and his mouth hung open.
Fangmyer went to get angry when he saw the look on Jacks face, and by god he knew the look, it was the same look, the look he had seen a thousand times, the look Darla had given him when her brother and his friends bashed him and put him in hospital, guilt.
Fangmyer took a knee placing his giant paw on Jacks shoulder as he sat paralysed, stunned like a fish out of water. Jack cranked his neck against some deathly invisible force to look at Fangmyer, hoping for comfort.
Fangmyer leaned in deep so his mouth was right in Jacks ear, the overbearing shadow of Nick’s ghost whispered frantically in one ear from behind him and Fangmyer whispered into his left from in front.
“Act tough all you want, but I see through you Savage….If you think the guilt of what you have done goes away Jack, it doesn’t”
Fangmyer pulled back slowly, a strained tear gently rolling down the fur of Jacks face. Fangmyer tapped him twice on the shoulder, simply got up and walked away, Jack simply swaying with the taps standing silent and cold starring into the void.
“Have a good day Chief” called back Fangmyer heading for the door.
Jacks scrapped at the barrel for something to yell back but came back empty, turning and running towards his office, his alcohol and his meds.
Nick was going through store after store; searching racks of clothing for a nice uniform he could wear. Each time he would enter another shop, cruel judgmental glances and whispers would follow; Nick however ignored the scrutiny and drew strength from one thought, the eyes of a vixen, that he pictured watching him, with care and grace.
He stood in front of a rack in K-9mart, a confused and frustrated look plastered to his face, he held a blue shirt in one paw and a black shirt held in the other, they were the exact same shirt apart from colour.
“Excuse me” he whispered gesturing a paw in the air to get one of the worker’s attention. He was ignored by the workers however a very fuzzy and well dressed she wolf noticed his pleas and smiled walking toward Nick.
As the wolf approached Nick her smile became concealing across her face; as if she recognised Nick. She was white as snow, with blue eyes and dressed extremely elegantly.
She promptly walked over “Hello, Maybe I can help?” she asked while chewing gum.
Nick went to reply but was taken off; he could see a sly smirk in the corner of her mouth, she was much younger then Nick, but her eyes danced over him.
Nick held both shirts out, “Which colour do you think would suit me?”
The she-wolf smiled taking a knee; grabbing both, placing them over his chest before changing to the other colour.
“Hmm” she began “Depends” she finally conceded.
“On what” Asked Nick
“What’s it for? I mean this one would be a good going out shirt” she explained holding up the blue shirt to his torso.
“It’s for a job interview” he confirmed.
“Doing?”
“Bar tending…hopefully”.
She smiled, “Oh, that’s easy, definitely the black”.
“You should try it on?” continued the wolf.
Nick felt self-conscious, he knew he stunk, he knew his clothes were tattered and old, and yet this she-wolf gazed upon him, with such admiration that it made Nick kind of uncomfortable.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” he quizzed abruptly; unable to take the odd behaviour any longer, looking around as if it was a big joke about to be played on him.
The she-wolf; had an all too bright smile, like she had been waiting for Nick to ask that question. The wolf went chest to chest with him before she knelt right next to him and put her muzzle to his ear
“I know who you are Nicholas Wilde” she whispered with a cute, seductive wink as she pulled away.
Without another word, she reached her paw to her own ear and began to undo one of her love heart shaped earring.
“If you’re going to work in a bar, you’ll need an earring”.
Without any consent, she pushed the earring through Nick’s ear, who flinched back only a little. Before she licked his ear two or three times wiping away the blood, she stood back to admire her handy work.
“There you go, much better” she confirmed.
She placed her paw to the side of Nicks face “See you later cutie” she said kissing his cheek; as she slid her paw across his face and turned to walk away.
Nick stood stunned and completely confused, he gently moved his paw up, touching the piercing, his ear hurt only a little.
“Who the hell?” he spoke to himself completely at a loss of who the she-wolf was.
By the time Nick finished shopping and the she wolf was no longer in his thoughts, Nick had bought several loads of clothes, changing into a new shirt and pants and throwing the old ones away, although he had been scrutinised the entire time he was shopping, he was happy that he was refreshed.
He had bought a green shirt with leaves over it, as similar to his old clothes as he could get, and some generic brown slacks.
However, he did not wear these, instead he sported a black shirt and pants, thinking that, this uniform would be more proper to go to a job interview in. He was walking down the street, several bags of clothes in his paws, a bottle of aftershave, toothbrush and comb and his old tatty bag he had gone back to the park to collect; flung over his shoulders. He felt on top of the world with the little he had.
He got to the watering Hole and waited outside, it was only 2:00 and he knew he had to be there at 5. He had some money left and saw a small coffee stand just down the ways, he leisurely made his way to it and waited in queue.
He got to the front and there was a Rhino and a Buffalo both talking.
“Hello sirs” he greeted.
“Oh great another fox” grumbled the Rhino, ceasing to talk and looking away while the Buffalo turned to Nick.
“Hey can’t you-”
“See you were talking?” finished Nick, “perhaps you should be working instead” he snapped.
The buffalo pulled his head back insulted “Excuse me?”
Nick pointed a claw; he knew the Buffalo and Rhino didn’t remember him, but Nick sure remembered them. They were the same two that had made Nick wait to speak to a manager when he had gone for a job once before. Only to find out he was being made to waste his time.
“You heard me” Nick growled “You shouldn’t be talking during work, you should be serving”.
“Oh yeah, or what?”
Nick thought for a moment before he remembered a very specific scenario that had worked a charm, in a similar situation.
Nick smirked dropping his ear to the side a sincere look on his face projecting his voice for all to hear.
“I’m so glad you asked! I mean are your customers aware you were found to be using stale bread thrown away by the bakery?” he explained walking over to a table and gesturing to an armadillo eating a sandwich. The Armadillo looked at the shop owner, opening her mouth so a slop of half chewed sandwich fell onto her plate; she placed the rest of sandwich down and walked away from their al fresco Cafe.
Nick flicked a claw in the air and took centre stage now that all eyes were on him; “Or how about the worse fact that this rhino” gestured Nick to the Rhino standing next to the owner, “is selling you homemade rhino milk to make your coffee…isn’t that against regulation? Section 12 of the food act clearly states you need to be buying from a pasteurised and certified business, not a friend” he accused.
He paused for a moment for dramatical effect, leaning against a table
“And male rhinos for that matter” added Nick matter of factly, leaning casually on a table where other animals sat.
“Male Rhino’s don’t have milk” interjected one customer with a coffee in hoof.
Nick gave him a sympathetic glare; “I know…” he explained gently rubbing his claw across a table, a look of apologetic regret on his face.
Nick heard one customer who sat at a seat spit his coffee out; understanding what Nick was trying to say. Nick trying with all his strength not to blurt out laughter.
The Buffalo and Rhino stood shocked at Nick’s allegations.
“We’ll now that this is done, I bid you adieu” he confirmed saluting them before strolling off pleased with himself. He looked back to shout one last thing over his shoulder “I hope business goes well, hang in there”.
As he walked away he saw several customers also get up and leave. The Buffalo and Rhino yelling at him as he walked away, while simultaneously being swamped with customers demanding refunds.
Nick sat on a bench across from the watering hole, a gleeful feeling deep in his gut, this is the Nick he knew, this was the Nick he remembered. He had not felt so alive in so long that it was making him shake with happiness.
He checked the watch he bought, he had only fifteen minutes to wait, he thought he would head in early to show promptness and that he was keen.
Nick entered the pub the rickety door creaking open, inside the air was stale and smelt of old beer he poked his head in but couldn’t see anyone. A cool breeze seeming to be ever present in the waterin Hole atmosphere; likely because the air-con above the bar was always pumping.
“Hello” he whispered in a shout.
“Oh hey sweetie, come in” came a voice from seemingly nowhere.
Nick walked in, the door shutting gently behind him, from behind the bar stood Pricilla, a tray of glasses in her grasp.
“Hey stranger” she yipped gleefully placing the glasses on the top of the bar, before walking around and giving Nick the tightest hug he had ever felt.
“Hey” he nervously replied, hugging her back.
“Nickie” she sighed “what happened ta you? I never got a cawl? And now you show up oudda thin air, how ya bin?”
Nick didn’t reply he just shook his head.
“Dat bad huh? ere have a beer” she offered walking back behind the bar, she raised a glass and began pouring him an ale.
Nick was going to decline, he hadn’t drank beer in such a long time, but by the time he went to protest the glass was half full and he felt his throat beg for the cool indulgence.
The crisp white head frothed over the top sliding down the side of the glass and the glass instantly became moist with dew, the bronze colour and tip of the beer showed it was a perfect pour, obviously hours of practise, she placed the beer on a coaster and slid it in front of Nick, who watched as the bubbling carbon dioxide made its way from the base of the glass to the head of the beer.
“Thank you” he stated taking a seat at the bar grabbing his lower back as he sat, a slight nerve pain shooting up his spine. He grabbed the beer in the other paw and tilted his head back to let the moist beverage make its way down his throat, the tingling in his back slightly subsiding, he downed half the beer when he stopped to take a breath.
“Whoa, easy tiger, you might choke” giggled Pricilla.
Nick put the glass down and took an almighty huff to get his breath back.
Pricilla proceeding to only laugh louder as Nickie now sat on the bar stool with a foam moustache made from the froth of the beer.
Nick looked down at what she was laughing and pointing at, he rolled his eyes with a smile and wrapped his tongue around his lips to clear it.
They both chuckled and as the chuckles slowly subsided the conversation became more serious.
“What happened der?” quizzed Pricilla, noticing the pain inflicted on Nickie simply trying to take a seat.
“I got shot in the back” he explained coldly “three times…”
Nick wrapped his paws around the cold glass and took another swig, it had been years since he had a drink.
“So, whacha afta anywayz?”
“Just some work” explained Nick.
“Day shift, night shift?”
Nick laughed a little, he gathered that Pricilla didn’t understand that he was at her mercy, or perhaps she did realise and was simply being kind.
“Any shift”.
“Okay sweetheart, I’ll put tagether a rosta for ya and we’ll get ya started ASAP, Most likely night shift, cause you’re a fox and you’ll mainly be doing bar work, cause I don’t think youd be able ta do any security work wit dat injury you got, hows dats sound?””
“That’s the most amazing thing I’ve heard for a very long time” he confirmed.
There was a paused, while Nick thought of one other thing “Pricilla?”
“Ye Nickie?”
“Do you guys have rooms here?”
“Coarse we do sweetheart, whys dat?”
Nick drank the rest of his drink; Pricilla had done right by him, the least he could do was let her know why he never called. Once he had finish his beer he proceeded to explain all that had happened to him to Pricilla, throughout Nick’s story her face went from horror to shock to anger to pity and by the end she simply reached into her apron and placed down a small keychain on the bar her eyes moist with tears.
“You can stay ere for as long as you need sweetheart” she confirmed with her hand over her mouth, she had never heard such dread from anyone before or seen a fox look so hollow.
Nick picked up the keys in his paws, holding them and just starring for the longest moment before he looked to Pricilla with reverence
“Thank you” he choked.
She just nodded, sniffing, trying to compose herself.
“You’re on the third floor, room 21”
“What about payment?”
Pricilla wiped her tears on her apron and feigned a laugh “Don’t be a dunce Nickie”
Nick smiled holding the key close to his chest walking to the stair case and going up to find his room.
As he was about to be out of site Pricilla called out.
“You can do a practise shift on the weekend if you’d like?”
Nick turned poking his head out so only his shoulder and head were visible from the doorway and with a smile replied “That would be awesome”.
Nick went to leave when Pricilla called him and he poked his head out once more.
“I like your ear ring Nickie, it suits you”
Nick had completely forgot the earring and flicked his ear to bring it to eye level, starring at the love heart, he smiled at Pricilla putting his ear back in place, but then his thoughts became congested by the thought of who the she-wolf was once again as he headed up to his new room.
It was seven o’clock and Jack turned his computer off grabbing his coat and rubbing his red, sore eyes, his meds making him drowsy and the hidden bottle in his desk not helping by any stretch of the imagination.
“Long day captain?”
“Always” he confirmed looking up; only to see the room was empty.
“Nooo, Nooo” he grumbled, sluggishly making his way over to his desk, going to his top draw and taking out some more medication; taking three tablets. He walked over to the wall collapsing against it and placing his eyes in his paws.
“Just stop” he pleaded.
“Stop what?” asked a familiar voice.
Jack cautiously looked up, fearing he would see his haunting illusions; however he looked up from his paw to see Clawhauser standing in the room.
“How long have you been there?” asked Jack
“I just walked in?” confirmed Clawhauser.
“What do you want?” continued Jack; trying to sound professional, but realising he was sprawled out on the floor leaning on the wall.
“Aaare you okay sir?” questioned Clawhauser a little concerned.
“Fine, just tired, what do you want?”
Clawhauser reached into a folder and pulled out a small booklet of papers stapled together; handing it to Jack.
“Is this okay?” he asked
Jack took the book, flicking through the pages, checking prices and what the place had to offer”
“If you want this one I need to lock it in, they need three months for a party of this size”
Without a thought, Jack just nodded handing it back to him “Set up for like 7:00pm, put on a bar tab, food, the works”
“Got it” confirmed Clawhauser going to leave.
“Oh, and Clawhauser”
Clawhauser stopped in the door; turning to listen to Jack.
“Try and keep the surprise party a surprise this year” chuckled Jack.
Clawhauser chuckled nervously and saluted “Yes sir, I’ll try sir”.
Jack dragged himself to his feet once Clawhauser had left, he took a few deep breathes, keeping his eyes poised on the exit, before heading for the door; ignoring the shadow that sat swivelling in his chair, in his peripherals.
Maria had finished four hours earlier then Jack and sat at home with Alison, they were on the sofa watching a movie together, ‘A fox tales”, Alison’s favourite movie.
They sat eating popcorn and Alison was quoting the movie word for word.
Maria smiled, as her daughter sat in awe at the characters on the screen.
“You know, this was you fathers favourite movie and he use to do the same thing, he was able to quote every single word of this movie”
Alison, who was only partially listening, picked up the remote and paused the movie, a strange look on her face.
“What?” she asked, not hearing what her mum had said or thinking she misheard her.
“I said this was your father’s favourite movie, he loved watching this” repeated Maria with a deep smile, that was soon washed away at the look on Alison’s face.
“Dad HATES this movie” Alison confirmed.
Maria was confused for a moment before she realised her mistake, Nick loved a fox tales…. Not Jack.
Maria quickly giggled, slapping a paw to her forehead “Oh silly me-” she confirmed
“Must have been another movie similar to this that your father liked. Ha-ha popcorn?”.
Alison nodded reaching her tiny paw into the bowl; pressing play on the remote with her other paw, but felt something deep inside her guts twist.
Maria sat in bed once the movie was over and Alison had been tucked in. she was reading a new book that was on the top of the best sellers “A wolf in sheep’s clothing” it was about a wolf and a sheep who had fallen in love, the wolf having been killed by his pack for loving someone he shouldn’t have. She had gone through twelve pages when her eyes closed.
“Say slick” began Judy as she and Nick watched ‘A fox tales’ “what would you name your kids if you had any?”
“Oh you know me carrots, kids are annoying brats!” he confirmed; waving his paw at her dismissively.
“Naw, come on Nick, just imagine you found the girl of your dreams, what would you call your little Nicks?” she asked again as she walked off to make more popcorn
Nick sat starring at Judy as she danced around the kitchen; “Alison, I would call our daughter Alison” he whispered
“Huh?”
Nick shook his head with a laugh “My daughter, Alison would be her name and if I had a boy, probably Jasper” he explained with a nervous chuckle.
Judy sat placing the popcorn in the microwave, blushing; she had heard Nick the first time.
“What about you?”
“I would call our kids, anything you wanted” she whispered into the microwave.
Judy woke to the bed shaking and gently grasped her small paws around her head; only stopping when she saw a dark silhouette to the side of her, Jack was trying his best to sly his way into the bed without waking her. She glanced at the clock it was almost 10:00pm
As he was pulling the blankets up he saw Maria had her eyes open starring at him
“I’m sorry did I wake you?” he groaned, annoyed he was not able to slip in without annoying her and nervous she may smell the undenying scent of alcohol on his breath.
Maria was to sleepy to noticed and simply yawned, throwing her book to the ground and wrapping her arms around his waist snuggling close to him as he reached out to turn off the bedside light.
“It’s okay, I was having a nightmare anyway” she explained, placing her head gently between his masculine shoulder blades, spooning him and trying to get back to sleep.
However there was a pit in her stomach and although she tried with all her years of training to fill it with paperwork, family time and exercise, she knew it was the shape of a fox and could not be filled, no matter how long she was trained or how long she went to therapy to be convinced she was Maria Savage, some part of her would always be Judy Hopps, who fell in love with a dumb fox and left him for dead.
AUTHOURS NOTE: Hey guys =] so good to be back with more time; So, as requested(by one of my awesome followers) I rolled like 2-3 chapters into one long one; this will probably be the last one for like another week or so, as I go back to my other job (where tumblr is locked)- No art this time, people wanted it quick, I hope that is okay for everyone. anyways guys, I hope you enjoy as always and leave some feedbax =D
So on my days off from my new job, where they have banned my tumblr accessibility (same company,different yard) I work at my old job (old yard for overtime) where I am in my element and my tumblr works just swell, I have written three new chapters to “A taste of hazel” for you lovely peeps in one day!
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