All edits made by Cimar Turalis of Wildehopps. Thanks man.
A black bunny huffed as she sprinted down the sidewalk, she wasn't crazy...right? She knew what she saw. She had to tell someone, the police, yes the cops. Her pace increased as cold fear moved down her spine. She had seen it but it was impossible, right? The bunny had to slow down, her heart was going to burst if she didn't. She turned a corner and collided with something, before she could say anything a strong pair of hooves grabbed the bunny. "Woah there miss, where's the fire?" A cop stood in front of her, a gold female horse looking at the bunny with concern.
The bunny looked up, her chest heaving as she saw the cop. "Officer, I...I witnessed a murder. He...he cut off his head,and then..then the lightning, there was lightning between them!" The black bunny was wide eyed, her body shaking as cold sweat covered her. The cop stared at the bunny for a moment before deciding that she was legitimately scared. Lifting her radio she called in a possible murder and turned to the Bunny. "What's your name, mine is officer Tina Barns" the bunny looked up with her big green eyes, pupils dilated from adrenaline. "Kira... Kira Hopps."
Twenty minutes before.
Kira yawned as she walked down the street, exhaustion pulling at her from her long shift at the station. Being a reporter had been her dream since she was a kit. One sister had became a cop, another a doctor. Kira got to report the news and she beamed with pride whenever that news included her sister Judy and her partner. She rolled her eyes at the thought of the pair. They so wanted each other. Kira could read mammals like that.
She was about to give her sister a call when she heard a strange sound. A clashing sound was coming from somewhere, like metal on metal. Coming closer to the sound her curiosity got the best of her and she found her paws moving quicker towards the noise. The sounds were ringing in her ears now, the noise seemed to be coming from a alley. Sneaking around she peeked around the corner. Two mammals walked a circle while facing each other. One was a wolf, immaculate suit of coal black, a white under shirt and a black tie. His pants were wrinkle free and a gold ring glinted on his paw. Across from him was a young mammal. It was hard to see what species he was in the little light of the alley. But she could see he wore a pair of jeans, and a t shirt featuring guns n rodent. But what drew her attention was what they were holding. The white wolf held in his right paw a large...sword? She couldn't tell what it was other than it was really broad and looked sharp. The other mammal came into the light of the alley and revealed a grey lynx, in his hand was a slim blade that she had heard of before. A katana. Both Mammals seemed to know how to use the blades too.
They came together in a clash of steel, ringing metal filled the rabbits ears as she watched utterly entranced. The wolf swept at the Lynxs head with a almost casual flick of the wrist, the lynx ducked and moved faster than she could believe, sword moving to the unguarded stomach. The wolf yelped as he clutched his stomach. Crimson blood flowed between his fingers from the sudden gash. A growl came from the wolf, he brought his sword down in swinging arcs. The merciless attack causing the lynx to have to roll away and keep distance, coming back to his feet. His slimmer sword wouldn't work well against such a big and heavy blade.
The lynx walked in a slow half circle keeping his opponent in sight. The wolf panted as blood continued to flow freely from the wound. "Never thought you would come after me Moria." The wolf growled as he tightened his paw on the sword. "You know the rules Alex, I paid my debt now we are even." The lynx shook his head. "We been friends for years and now you come after me?" The wolf dropped to one knee, using the sword to keep from falling all the way to the floor. "We will always be friends but the quickening is among us. This is the rule." Alex sighed and walked closer. His blade flicked and knocked the sword from the wolfs paw. "Very well my friend, I will miss our talks." The wolf nodded and moved to his knees, paws placed on them as he sat straight.
Kira stared wide eyes as the lynx raised his sword, her blood turning cold as she watched. The words he said echoing in her ears. "Moria...there can be only one!" She couldn't tell if she screamed when the blade came down and cut off the head of the wolf. The Lynxs eyes lifted to look with her. Amber gold with bright green. Lightning sparked along the wolfs body before jumping to the grey mammal. The feline throwing back his head and roared as power flowed through his body. The black bunny stumbled back, her body twisting as she broke into a dead Sprint.
Present
Judy Hopps stood next to her sister as they looked at the alley. A fox walking towards them with aviators on his nose. Looking around he gave his partner a shrug. "Sorry carrots, no blood, no body, no head. Looks like someone took a blow torch to the walls though. But as for a headless corpse got nothing." Judy turned to her frantic sister, her arm holding her taller sibling. "Kira, are you sure you didn't just... imagine the whole thing?" Kira rounded on her sister, eyes frantic and angry. "I did not imagine it. Two mammals were fighting right here, they knew each other. One was called Moria the other was Alex. The lynx Alex cut off Morias head. I saw it!" Her voice rising with each word till she was shouting it.
Several cops looked between the bunnies and wisely decided to not intervene. Nick took a sip of his coffee. "Ok, say you didn't imagine it. We can look into a wolf named Moria and see if we can find a mug shot or something. Don't worry Kira we believe you but whoever he or they were knew what they were doing." Judy sighed hearing the Hussle in her partners voice. She knew he didn't believe her sister and was just trying to keep her calm. Judy was conflicted herself, on one paw Kira was her sister and she should support her. On the other Kira always had a active imagination.
Kira threw up her arms and stormed over to her sisters cruiser. "Whatever, just...just take me home." Judy and Nick shared a look but obliged. Nick telling the cops to wrap it up as he walked to the car and climbed into the driver seat.
Nick pulled up to a apartment complex in the rainforest district, he never understood why Kira liked the rainy weather but she would just smile when asked. Kira sat quietly in the back seat the whole trip which had Judy worried. Her sister had always been so animated and talkative. Kira sighed and hugged her sister over the seat then stepped out. Looking back she waved and headed into her apartment building. The two officers watching her then pulled off to continue their shift.
Kira rode the elevator to the fourth floor and opened her door with her key. She pressed her head against the wall. "I'm not crazy." With those words she walked to the bathroom, her shirt peeling off her sweaty body from her blind Sprint. Next she shimmied out of her pants and removed her undergarments. Stepping into the shower she let out a sigh of content as hot water danced on her fur. Grabbing her shampoo she rubbed it into her fur, digging her blunt claws down to the skin as she washed. The image of the two fighters filled her mind again. She couldn't explain it but something about it was alluring. Her paw began to trail down her body as she imagined the sound of steel on steel, the two confident predators, her fingers traced her thighs before she snapped out of it.
Her cheeks flushed as she realized she had been turned on by the sight. It had just been hidden under fear and shock. She huffed, grabbed a towel and dried off. Wrapping the towel around her she walked out of the bathroom and towards the kitchen. She froze, her neck fur standing on end. Her gaze flicked around the room but there was no one there. Feeling ridiculous she continued her path to the kitchen. That was when she noticed her door. On the back was a item that chilled her to the Bone. A black knife was stuck in the door, a piece of paper hanging from it. Cold fear filled the bunny but she found herself moving towards the paper. Shaking paw she grabbed the paper while avoiding the blade and pulled down causing the paper to be cut on the blade.
The one word caused more fear than it possibly should have. Dropping the paper she ran to her phone and dialed her sister. Judy picked up and Kira went into a fear induced explanation. Judy assured her sister they be right there and to lock the door. On the floor the single word on the paper was visible. Shush.
Judy and Nick knocked on the door and Kira quickly opened it, throwing herself into Nick's chest as she began crying. The fear of it all finally catching up and she needed someone to cry on. Nick looked nervous as Judy stepped into the house. Tranq gun in paw she did a full sweep of the apartment, meanwhile Nick was left to comfort the sobbing bunny. The fox guided his partners sister to the couch and sat her down. Going to the kitchen he made a cup of tea, using the microwave he warmed it up. Taking the warm mug he walked back to Kira and handed her the cup. Judy came back and the cops moved towards the reason for the call. Nick looked at the knife buried in the door. Whoever had done it had been strong for it was buried to the hilt. Judy meanwhile was squatting down looking at the paper with the one word.
Her gaze turned to her partner then flicked her head to the hall. Nick nodded and followed her, unusually somber. "Well, that legitimizes her story." Nick said once they were in the hall. Judy crossed her arms her foot tapping. " Yeah, but how did whoever get up here, into her apartment, and put that in the door without being seen?" Nick walked back into the room followed by Judy. The destination was the balcony, pulling it open he found what he was looking for. The lock had been picked. "Well, I don't know if this is good or bad but they picked the lock." Judy glared at her partner. "Of course it's bad, they could have killed her." Nick looked over. "Carrots, the lock picking shows subtly, this was simply a message and was never meant to be a attack. Little fear, otherwise whoever it was would have just smashed their way in."
Judy opened her mouth to argue but froze. He was right, they were in here with Kira, they could have easily plunged that knife into her instead of the door. Moving back to her sister she sat beside her. "Kira, grab some clothes. You are gonna come stay with me till this is all over...ok?" Kira nodded without argument and that more than anything drove it home for Judy. Kira always hated living with the family, to many souls she would say. She loved them all it was just so crowded and Kira liked her space.
Nick drove the bunnies to Judy's apartment and dropped them off. Informing Judy he take care of Bogo and that she should stay with Kira. Judy was conflicted but years of family decided it for her. Nick watched his partner lead the black furred bunny into the apartment and turned the car around.
A male lynx sat on a wooden stool as he examined his sword, a whetstone in his paw as he sharpened the blade. A oily rag sitting next to his free paw waiting it's turn. The sound of a throat clearing made the lynx freeze. A smile forming on his muzzle. "Hello Nick."
The fox looked at the back of the lynx for a long moment before tossing the feline a beer. "You want to explain what happened out there?" Alex sighed as he opened the beer and took a drink. "Moria asked me for help, I went to meet him. I didn't expect him to come after my head." Nick watched the mammal for a long moment than shook his head. "I didn't expect anyone would ever come after you. Most are too scared.", Alex laughed, spinning around to look at the first fox cop. "I'm not a god, Nick. Even I can be beaten, even I can be killed." His eyes flicked to the rapier sitting on a table. "Wanna try?" Nick scoffed and crossed his arms. "I know better than to take on the mammal that found me and trained me. But you have a problem."
Alex tilted his head. "The bunny? I left no evidence as you are aware, nothing to bring anything back to me or anyone else. Why do I have a problem?" Nick leaned forward with a smirk. "Because of Judy Hopps. She is relentless and now that you threatened her sister she is coming at you hard." Alex stared at the fox for a long moment. "Threatened her sister?"
Nick went to snap but froze, he had known Alex for many years, the lynx had taken him in when he ran away from home. Fed him, sheltered him, and when he was old enough began to train him. Alex knew what Nick was even if the fox wasn't aware. And then Alex had killed Nick, stabbing him through the heart with his own rapier. Nick had awoken on this very couch[a] and Alex had explained everything afterwards. Nick was no fool, he knew when someone was lying but Alex had never lied to him, not once. Brutally honest described Alex Declawe.
"You didn't sneak into Kira Hopps apartment and leave a knife in the door?" Alex stood up, his eyes wide. "Nick, I would never do that. Mortals aren't a problem for us, I left nothing behind for anyone to discover. I wouldn't be so foolish as to do something like that." Nick sighed and laid his head back. "Why couldn't you have been some kindly old mammal taking in a starving todd?" Alex chuckled and looked at Nick. "That's exactly what happened. I just don't look old." Nick scoffed and drank his beer. " So if not you then who? Our kind...odd to say that... Don't involve mortals. It's a unwritten rule." Alex shrugged and turned back to his sword. " There is only two rules that matter to the worst of us Nick. No holy ground and there can be only one. That's all." The lynx picked up the oil rag and began to polish the blade.
Nick watched him before moving towards the expertly crafted sword on the table. Nick hadn't touched it in years but it still shone with fresh polish and looked as sharp as when it was forged. Alex turned his head looking at his protege. "The quickening is among us[b], Nick. You should start carrying that again. Last thing I wanna see on the news is your headless body or worse hearing you disappeared." Nick touched the basket hilt and slid his hand inside. Gripping the sword he moved into several poses than began a intricate dance of finesse and speed. Nick felt the elation as the old forms came back. Alex had chosen a weapon suited to Nick, quick and sharp. Just like the fox. Alex flicked his eyes to the thick dagger that had laid next to the rapier. Nick picked it up and his true dance emerged. Flowing from one blade to the other as he carved the air.
Nick spun only to have his rapier clash against something. Alex stood in front of him holding a similar rapier. The duel began as the two Mammals clashed in a flashing sword play. Thrust, block, parry, counter. Alex ducked as Nick slashed for his head and thrusted with his rapier only to be slapped away by the dagger. Nick leaped over his opponent and twisted in the air. Landing with Grace he slashed down only for Alex to roll away. They moved closer again as their blades met. Smashing with force that was hidden by the fluid movement. Alex caught Nick's arm when he went for a thrust and shoulder flipped his student to the floor. Spinning around he pinned the other arm and held the point of his sword against Nick's throat. "Lunch is on you." Nick laughed as he took Alex's offered paw
Kira sat in her sisters room going over everything that had happened while Judy made her sister something to eat which was hard in the little room. Kira looked up deciding she had to get her mind off of what happened. She zeroed in on her sister who was humming a little tune. A wicked smile forming on Kira's face. " I never realized how solid Nick was, but he really is well muscled." Judy squeaked and looked over her shoulder, her eyes calm but her nose twitched and that was all Kira needed. "I knew it! You like him!" Judy felt her ears turn hot. "Of course I like him, he is my partner. Kinda hard to be partners without liking the other mammal." Kira sat on her knees, her knowing smile never leaving her face. "Oh no, I mean you like like him. Like bunny in bed like him, like disappoint our parents like him." She cackled as Judy became flustered. Her mouth opening and closing.
Kira nodded and laid on her stomach. "Well, how long have you been pining for that fox? Ooh wait, you were miserable, no beyond misarable when yeh came back to bunny burrow. It was then, you naughty, dirty bunny." Judy was turning redder and redder with each word, her head now buried under her pillow as she kicked her feet. "Kiraaaa...shut up. You can't tell him, he will laugh at me." Kira rolled her eyes. "I think he would have something else in mind to do with yeh then laugh. Maybe the bedroom romp."
Judy sighed and pulled her head out from under the pillows. "I doubt it, I'm not cute enough to get his attention." Kira huffed and pulled her sister into her arms. "I think he would disagree. So, gonna take a plunge?" Judy sighed realizing that maybe she had kept it secret for too long. She looked up at her little sister and nodded causing Kira to squeal.
Alex and Nick sat at a small table in the Lynxs home, a Fox's Pizza box between them as they munched on mushroom and cricket pizza with stuffed crust. Both mammals eagerly eating the pizza just to get to the delicious crust. Alex sat back and stretched, feeling the muscles pull and pop. Nick looked up, a slice of pizza hanging in his paw. Alex stared back. "What?" Nick cleared his throat and sat the pizza down. His eyes shifted to a old painting. Alex stared at the fox, refusing to look back at the picture. "She's gone Nick. Forget her, last time I saw her I promised to cut her head off if she ever came back. Find someone else and stop pining for that psychopath. Had I known what she was I would never have trained and freed her. You are my only pupil as far as I am concerned." Alex stood and headed for his room. Nick's eyes bore into his back, the lynx stopped at the door. "She never loved you Nick, her very existence was a lie. Forget her, focus on that bunny of yours." Nick watched as Alex disappeared into the room. Alex was the only one he ever told about his feelings for Judy. He wanted advice on dating and loving a mortal agai, if the pain stopped.. Alex had shattered Nick's ideas. No children, constant lying or telling the truth and being pushed away. Not to mention the danger he be putting her in. It would never change, to love a mortal was to always face this pain. Nick bit his lip as he remembered his last wife so many years ago. He found it Ironic that for the second time he loved a grey bunny. Aimage of beautiful grey fur, and a young lamb a holding onto his paw calling him Pappa Nick. Tears welled in his eyes before he scrubbed them away.
Nick turned back and picked up his pizza. His eyes once more going to the painting. A laughing Alex held a fox pup on one shoulder who was making a funny face, his other paw rested on the shoulder of a young tigress, her smile wide and her eyes bright. He let the pizza drop and put his head in his hands. Life was complicated, especially a eternal one.
