Chapter 1: A Prelude to a Romance
Jake Runnel thinks he's a stud, after all he's romped his way through many a willing young lady's bed. But now he's trying to win his true love's heart despite his own inexperience, insecurities and self-doubts. Can Nick save the raccoon from himself? Nick Wilde's best friend returns in a story of love and redemption. (Based of Zootopia: A Raccoon's Redemption)
I do not own the rights to Zooptopia or any of its characters. This story was written solely for the reader's enjoyment and without any profitable purposes. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. (Does this legal disclaimer make you happy Mr. Moleinger?)
Every story has a beginning and ours starts with a recap of events from Zootopia: A Raccoon's Redemption Chapter 7: A Favor For Fru Fru and the end of Chapter 9: Outbreak!
The illness spread fear throughout the great city's feline community and a city wide emergency quarantine was declared on all cats in order to contain the outbreak before it spiraled out of control. Stores were shuttered close, public transportation was suspended, and families huddled in their homes fearing the worst. But before the new strain of feline distemper could claim its hideous grip upon the venerable population, a raccoon came to the rescue.
Jake Runnel had become involved by just doing a favor for his friend Fru Fru. He promised to try to find the little shrew's former nanny's fourteen year old grandkitten. As the raccoon and his team of retired criminals investigated the kitten's kitnapping from a park in the Rainforest District, they soon found it was part of a larger plot. The parts of the puzzle finally came to together with the assistance of both a brilliant retired police detective and a brutal crime lord.
It was Jake who contacted the police concerning Dr. Joseph Riverwell and his crazy scheme to unleash a new deadly mammal made strain of feline distemper into the city. The raccoon was also able to provide them with the location of the mad doctor's lab in the swamps. Because of his efforts, the outbreak was contained before it got too far out of control and the authorities were able to recover Riverwell's formula in time for the doctors to create a cure that saved most of the cats who were infected, including Officer Richard Fangmeyer. Despite his objections, the raccoon had become a hero.
The smiling grey furred rabbit was still in her uniform, having just gotten off duty for the evening and was sitting on the other side of the booth from the raccoon. Next to her sat her husband and Jake's best friend Nick Wilde who also was still in his uniform. The two were looking at the gold plated object sitting on the restaurant table. "I can't believe the mayor gave you a medal, Jake!" Judy said.
"She gave medals to the doctors and a few other mammals," the raccoon replied as he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "They deserved theirs more than I do."
It was a long afternoon ceremony, followed by a press conference with the mayor and the commissioner, and then finally an interview with Jack Zipper of ZNN. Afterwards, Jake invited Judy and Nick for dinner at a popular Cajun restaurant and bar near his hotel, called the South Quarter. The place was overflowing with the after work twenty-something businessmammal crowd. Jake liked this place, because the patrons were more open to his friend's mixed species relationship. Judy had a roasted beet and wilted greens salad with candied pecans, while both Jake and Nick both ordered the boiled crawfish platters. After finishing half his plate, Jake shoved the remainder over to Nick who quickly dug into the pile. While he ate, his tail happily swished back and forth, almost knocking Judy off the bench. The rabbit giggled and punched her husband lightly, as he teased her that his tail had a mind of its own. Jake leaned back and smiled at his friend's banter. They never get tired of each other, do they? He mused to himself.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another familiar tail. He leaned over to get a better view of the bar and saw her in the crowd. His mind flashed back to that morning several days ago when he had met her in the park. He had just spent a fretful night dreaming of an old love and had woken early in the predawn darkness. Knowing he couldn't return to sleep, he went jogging in the park across from the hotel where he was now living since he saved Mr. Big's life. His attempts however failed and he stopped to meditate, but instead he had fallen asleep under a tree.
"Are you okay Sugar?" a feminine voice startled him awake. As his eyes blinked open and began to adjust to the morning sunlight, he found himself looking into a pair of soft brown eyes, which were surrounded by black and grey fur. Below a twitching cute nose, there was a gorgeous smile.
Jake's mind raced for something witty to say, but the only words that came out of his mouth were, "Wow!…ahh..ahh..Hi?"
The other raccoon stepped away from him and she giggled, "Well you don't look homeless or smell like you've been drinking all night, so why don't ya'll get your tail off the ground. You know you're making us coons look less reputable then some mammals already think we are!" Jake could feel his ears blush as she caught his eyes looking her over. She was dressed in a pink pair of shorts and a loose white Zootopia City University sweatshirt, which did little to hide her tight curvy body. She could only be described as sexy and her voice had a soft southern accent. She grinned and asked again, "Are you sure you're okay Sugar?"
"Yeah, I stopped to meditate some and then I guess I nodded off instead," Jake tried to explain as he stood. His right paw started rubbing his neck and he tried to give her one of his best smiles. He glanced down at the wristwatch on his left paw and his eyes widened. "Oh crap, that was over two hours ago! I'm going to be late for an important meeting," he exclaimed.
"I've ….I've got to go, sorry!" he stuttered as he started to turn to run back towards the hotel. But, his eyes caught hers again and he found he just couldn't move. Incoherent words started spilling out, "Who are you? Can…can… we meet again….I would really like to see you again….please?"
She giggled and began slowly jogging down the trail in the other direction. "Maybe we will see each other again, Sugar. I would like that too!" she said as she glanced back at him over her shoulder.
Quit acting like a kit who's just discovered girls and run after her you idiot! Jake thought as he watched her leaving. His muzzle dropped slightly open as he stared at her tail, which was coyly twitching behind her as she ran. As he turned to run after her, his phone rang. "What!" Jake answered it in a rather annoyed voice.
"Hey Jake, where are you?" Jimmy Ratzolli said. "You were supposed to meet me at your place this morning and no one's here?"
"Sorry, I got sidetracked and I'll be right there," Jake sighed. "Get yourself some breakfast while you wait and charge it to my room." He hung up the phone and angrily jammed it back in his pocket. Taking one last longing look at the other raccoon as she disappearing down the trail, he sighed once again. Then he turned and ran back towards the hotel.
His ears perked up as he heard someone, somewhere calling his name. Jake sat up straight and looked at the rabbit and said, "Sorry Judy, what did you say?"
Judy laughed, "That was Nick who was talking to you silly."
"Oh!" he said and leaned out into the aisle again. Suddenly the raccoon stood up and started to straighten his tie. He reached into his pocket and threw a couple hundred dollar bills on the table and said, "Sorry guys, but I think I left something at the bar."
Judy laughed some more as Jake stumbled into a chair on his way towards the bar. Standing on the bench she peeked over the top and Nick's head quickly appeared next to hers. They watched their friend walk up to a beautiful young female raccoon. "I think he left his heart at the bar Carrots," snickered Nick.
Marie watched the raccoon approaching her and smiled. She heard one of her friends whisper "Isn't that Jake Runnel? You know the guy on TV who got the medal today? He's cute and was really witty in his interview. He has his own company too."
As Jake got closer, she smiled at him and said, "Well Sugar, it looks like you finally caught me."
"I'm sorry it took so long," Jake stammered. "I was kind of busy."
Author's Notes:
When I wrote Zootopia: A Raccoon's Redemption it was going to be a single story, but I found the character of Jake Runnel was intriguing in that he could serve as an introduction to other characters and events within my version of where Zootopia went after the movie.
The following are the stories in the Jake Runnel series:
Zootopia: A Raccoon's Redemption- The raccoon should not have punched the fox, but if he hadn't they would have never become friends. A story about a reformed crooked coon, a sly fox, and a cute bunny who are living in a big city. (Completed – Rated M)
Sins Of Our Fathers - Sometimes the children must set right the wrongs of their fathers and bring justice to those who were hurt. The ZPD's first hyena cop struggles to balance his species' social beliefs with those of the force. Nick Wilde is assigned to a team hunting a desperate war criminal, as his best friend Jake searches for smuggled blood diamonds. (Completed– Rated M )
Zootopia: A Raccoon's Revenge – Jake Runnel isn't your typical raccoon, he's a former thief with friends on both sides of the law. When someone begins ritually killing his fellow raccoons, he's going to make sure there's hell to pay. Nick Wilde's best friend returns in an entertaining adventure mystery. (Completed– Rated M)
Zootopia: A Raccoon's Romance -Jake Runnel thinks he's a stud since he's romped his way through many a willing young lady's bed. But now he's trying to win his true love's heart despite his own inexperience, insecurities and self-doubts? Can Nick save the raccoon from himself? Nick Wilde's best friend returns in a story of love and redemption. (Pending - Rated M)
Zootopia: A Raccoon's Rescue - A cynical teenage fox named Nick learns the joy of helping out someone in need on Halloween Night when he rescues a little raccoon kit in trouble. The night Jake Runnel first met Nick Wilde. This is a prequel to Zootopia: A Raccoon's Redemption. (Completed- Rated T)
Zootopia Short Stories: A Raven's Kittens - Nick and his best friend Jake Runnel take Jake's two boys, little Nicky and Freddie to see Santa Paws and then visit an old friend of Jake's afterwards. The highland wildcat tries to tell the boys an old tale for the holidays, but have you ever tried telling a story to two inquisitive seven year old raccoons and a rambunctious fox? (OC from Zootopia: Raccoon's Redemption). (Completed - Rated T)