*Chapter 1: Another Thief in Town*

1884, Cotton Mouth Bluff

XX

A grayish brown raccoon is running on the rooftops of the buildings. His name was Tennessee Kid Cooper and he came from a lone line of family thieves that only steal from other thieves. Though, Tennessee hadn't been following the code at all. He wanted to steal for the fun of it. Rarely anyone in this dry town steal from banks or break into a home for Tennessee to steal back anyway.
The raccoon grinned at the sight of the stagecoach that is by the bank. He sees a familiar face pacing around the entrance. An orange fox wearing a brown jacket, a sheriff badge, a hat, boots, and held a gun. His name was Sheriff Wiley Fox. Tennessee watched quietly as bags of gold are taken in the bank, but he can hear noises coming from inside the bank. Wiley perk his ears up when shouting was heard from above.

"Stop! Thief!" One of the workers yelled from inside.

"What's going on up there?!" Wiley yelled with a look in his brown eyes. Then, a female raccoon broke through a window with a bag of gold, running on the wire. Tennessee's jaw dropped in awe. A female raccoon was wearing a white button up shirt with a brown jacket, brown skirt, a brown hat, and brown boots. And her eyes are green like emeralds. Her black hair is in a long braid, and she is wearing a mask. Tennessee never thought there's another thief in town.

"Hold it, Clayton!" Wiley shouted, chasing after the female thief. He started to shooting, but the female raccoon dodge the bullets and jump on one of the rooftops.

"Woohoo! She's a fast one. Almost as fast as me." Tennessee grinned. He took off to follow the chase.

The female raccoon held the bag of gold while climbing on the pole, but then she was shot in the shoulder. She fell to the ground, dropping the bag. Her left shoulder is bleeding from the gunshot. She looked up to see a male skunk walking up to her with his gun. He is wearing all black except he is wearing brown boots and a red scarf. He smirked at the raccoon, putting away his gun.

"Well, well. I thought there's only one raccoon in town. Surprised that Cooper ain't the one who took the gold." He spoke.

"Who are ya?"

"I am Jake Le Paradox. Now, I am going to take that gold from ya..." The skunk reached down for the bag of gold, but brought his hand back quick when a bullet flew in. He looked up to see Tennessee on the rooftop, grinning away.

"That ain't a way to treat a lady, Paradox." He said. He looked over at the raccoon and notice the wound on her shoulder. Before he could jump down to help her, a wolf came by and aim her gun at the back of Jake's head. He smiled. "Good timing, Jessie." The female wolf smirked at her partner. She is a gray wolf with yellow eyes, wearing a brown jacket with a tied white button top underneath, a tan hat, and brown pants with boots.

"Likewise, Kid." Jessie spoke. She narrowed her eyes at the skunk. "Now, back away from the gal and the gold, you stinkin' critter." Jake gritted his teeth, but did as he was told. He brought his hands up, backing away slowly. Tennessee came down and picked up the female raccoon in his arms and told Jessie that he will take her to their hideout. Before he could make a run for it, Wiley appeared.

"Hold it, outlaws!" He said. "Cooper, about time I caught ya!" Jake found his chance to make a run for it. He slapped the wolf and climb up the pole to reach the rooftop. Wiley sees the skunk make a run for it and cursed under his breath. Jessie groaned and told Tennessee to leave now since the female raccoon is losing blood. So, the male raccoon ran off with a female in his arms as Wiley turned to see him. But Jessie pointed a gun at him.

"Not so fast, sheriff." She said. She looked down at the bag of gold. "Leave us be if you want the gold back." Wiley narrowed his eyes at her. He slowly took the gold from the ground.

"This ain't over, Jessie. Still couldn't get over the way you stab me in the back." Wiley spoke, turning away from the wolf. Jessie flatten her ears a bit. But she started to go to the hideout where Tennessee is taking to the wounded raccoon.
On the rooftop, Jake was furious that his plan on taking the gold didn't go as planned. He didn't expect to see another outlaw in town that is not a Cooper. Next time, he will take the gold from the bank. And Tennessee won't be in a way.

The raccoon let out a gasp and sat up. She winced at the pain on her left shoulder, but notice the bandages on it. Jessie walked inside the room with a cup of water.

"Howdy there." She greeted, handing the raccoon water. "How you feeling?"

"In pain, but doing just fine." The raccoon replied, taking the cup and took a big gulp of water. "How did I end up here?"

"Why, Tennessee brought you here. I got the bullet outta your shoulder while you were out like a light." Jessie replied. "That Jake Le Paradox got ya good back there."

"So that's who he is, huh?"

"Yep. Don't worry, he won't bother you anymore." The raccoon got up and put on her jacket but notice something is missing. She faces the wolf, asking where her pin is, but Tennessee walked in with it with a grin. A pin he is holding has two purple flowers attached, and the name engraved.

"Hello, Miss Clara." He greeted. He passes the pin to her. "Couldn't help but notice the pin you got. I like that."

"Thanks. Clara Clayton's the name. And thank you for the rescue." The raccoon replied, putting her pin back on her jacket.

"Our pleasure." Tennessee said. "Now, that we know your name. Let us give you ours." He took off his hat. "My name is Tennessee Kid Cooper. And here, is my partner, Jessie Wolf." Clara faces the male raccoon.

"Cooper? I've heard of ya. You're the outlaw of this town and the sheriff has been chasing you around for some time." She said.

"Yes ma'am! Now, I haven't seen you around town before. Where you from?" Tennessee asked. Clara sat by the window.

"I've been travelling, and when I see this town, I thought it'll be great for me to stick around." She replied. "Guess I ain't the only outlaw."

"And I thought I was the only outlaw in town many people had seen." Tennessee laughed. "Say, Miss Clara, since you are a outlaw like me, why don't you stay with me and Jessie?" Clara raise a brow at him. Jessie thought it was a great idea. Maybe it won't hurt to have some new friends who are like her in town. More safe then sorry.

"Oh what the hay? Course I will." Clara said with a smile. Two raccoons shake hands. Now Tennessee has a new partner.

That night, Clara was looking at the view of the town. It's so quiet and peaceful when there's no havoc happening. She thought Tennessee would be stealing gold at night as well, but he only does it during the day since there's less sheriffs around. Clara looked up at the moon that is shining down.

"You alright, Miss Clara?" Tennessee asked coming from behind her.

"Just call me Clara, Tennessee. We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Right, but I gotta respect some ladies. Guess you ain't like the rest." The outlaw said, scratching the back of his head. Clara chuckled at him. "Quite peaceful tonight, huh?"

"Yes it is. Now, tell me more about that skunk who shot me."

"Ah, that Paradox is trouble in town. Ya see, he came from a long line of family thieves like my family. Paradox and Coopers have been rivals for generations. But we Coopers always go on top!" Tennessee told her with pride. He then told her about his line long of a Cooper family. Clara listened in interest. But frowned when Tennessee brought up his parents that died when he was young. They were killed by something, but he couldn't remember what it was.

"I'm sorry, Tennessee." Clara said, placing her hand on his shoulder. The outlaw smiled at her, thanking her for listening. So the two went back to the hideout and rest. Tomorrow, they are going on their heist together.

*Author's Note: I am rewriting a story! So again, Wiley Fox belongs to sonicgirl313 from deviantart and check out her own Sly stories on here as well.*