Mark stared at his computer screen Julie was late calling in. All the other couriers had called in their positions and were on pace with their deliveries but they were avoiding the Fangmeyer memorial park because of a rally disrupting traffic. Mark didn't know or care which side was rallying it meant trouble either way, and Julie was somewhere in the middle of that area.
Wallace burst into Marks office. "Julie called in! She's been cornered by a gang of Road Hogs in a café downtown!"
Mark stood up and pulled on his coat, "Send me a marker and I'll go get her. Call the other runners get them paired up with drivers ASAP."
"Are we calling them in?" Wallace asked scurrying to keep up with Marks long strides.
"No they're better off out away from this mess have them call out from the Central South office as of now Central Main is on redirect until this blows over."
"Yes Sir I'm on it." Wallace raced back to his control booth and barked out orders to the Central delivery teams.
Mark pulled on his ear piece and tightened his runner's gloves. The streets were packed with animals more so than usual. Mark dropped to all fours and launched down the roadside between cars and animals sprinting hard. His phone pinged with Julie's location he turned at the next intersection and followed the ZoogleMaps instructions. New smells were coming to him now. Fear. Testosterone. Blood. He could just begin to make out the sounds of screaming and roaring from up ahead. Mark ran faster. A crowd of predators were in a fight with a group of Road Hogs. Most of the Predators were trying to stand their ground without violence but a Bear, Lion, and Badger were actively fighting with them. ZPD officers were forcing their way in to stop the fighting but even the elephant and Rhino were struggling to clear the crowd. A large boar swung at him with a glass bottle. Mark leapt over the Boar and kicked off his head to jump further. Mark wove between the fighting animals just trying to get through to Julie. He skidded to a halt at the edge of the crowd. A fennec was trying to pull an unconscious red fox off the street, blood and broken glass trailed behind them. Mark grabbed hold of the fox and pulled with him. The dinner door swung open and a silver fox shouted to them. Mark and the fennec pulled the red fox inside the dinner.
"Grab his legs." Mark said lifting the rag-doll of a fox onto a booth bench.
"Julie? How are you girl?" The small creature's voice was surprisingly deep.
Julie looked back at the other fox, "Finnick? I should have known you two would be wrapped up in the middle of this."
"Aw come on girl all we were doing was sellin' Pawpsicles."
"And a full-fledged riot forms right around it." Julie retorted.
"I take it you know these two." Mark commented.
"Enough to know to stay away." Julie grumbled, "Their antics cost me my last two jobs."
"Hey we got you your last job in the first place." The red fox mumbled trying to sit up.
"Easy now buddy you took quite the hit." Mark cautioned.
"Oh my head… How long have you had a sister Julie?"
"Har har Nick. How many fingers am I holding up?" Julie asked displaying a rude gesture.
"Just one little birdie." Nick responded, "It's good to see you too."
Wallace sounded over Marks headset, "My map shows you stopped did you find Julie?"
"Found her safe and sound but I hope you have bail money for your brother." Mark answered.
"Again? What's he done this time?" Wallace asked exasperated.
"He's outside winning a fight with four Road Hogs." Mark smirked
"Of course he is. All the other runners are paired up with drivers and redirecting to the south central office instead."
"Good job Wallace leave a sign on the door and get out of there."
"I was planning on staying the night here to rework our schedules." Wallace answered innocently.
Mark laughed, "We both know you're just going to game online."
"Wifi's faster here." Wallace admitted sheepishly.
"Well good luck raiding your dungeons."
A pig burst into the diner running from a rabbit cop. Nick made a strangled choking sound and dove under the table. The rabbit leapt up and kicked the pig in the back knocking him to the floor. "You have the right to remain silent…."
"Police brutality! Police brutality!" the pig squealed.
A lion came in after them, "oh shut up!"
Julie looked under the table, "Hiding from a bunny how much trouble are you in?"
Finnick laughed, "The fool got hustled good by that bunny she almost made a cop out of him!"
"Laugh it up all you want." Nick said bitterly, "But that bunny may have ruined all our lives."
