Ch. 1:

Judy Hopps was eight years old when she met the fox that would change her life.

Of course, she was only eight so she didn't know that at the time. It all started when she went with her father on a delivery trip to Zootopia. From the passenger seat the little gray rabbit looked out the window in, in awe of the large buildings and multitude of mammals. Unlike the rest of her siblings who were happy to live their lives out in Bunnyburrow, she long to come and live in Zootopia and…be something amazing. She wanted to be the bunny that stood out amongst the rest.

When Stu Hopps parked beside the store that sold his produce Judy quickly unbuckled and jumped out of the truck, hopping in place as her father headed inside to get help moving the cartons of carrots in the back of his truck.

"Can I look around, Daddy?" she asked excitedly, looking out on the streets full of mammals much larger than her, and some much smaller. "Can I? Can I?"

Stu cast her an uncertain look, "I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Jude the Dude. This isn't like taking a walk in the tri-burrows."

Stu was naturally protective of all of his children but he tended to be overprotective of Judy as she was the only one who loved the thrill of danger, he still shuddered remembering that windmill weasel incident.

His daughter's ears drooped in disappointment and she stopped hopping, "But Daddy! I'll be real careful! And I won't go far!"

"Maybe next time, honey," her father told her just before they walked into the store and found the shop owner.

But while the two adults shared a polite conversation Judy started to back away slowly, she even tried to breath quieter. She knew her dad loved her and just wanted her to be safe, but Judy would never let it go if she gave up a chance to see the bright, big city where anyone could be anything.

Finally she managed to get close enough to the sliding glass door and dashed out, out to the parking lot and to the street. She was a bunny who never broke her promises so she would not go far.

Judy skipped down the sidewalk; smiling at the mammals she passed who either smiled back or gave her confused looks (she was a young bunny on her own after all).

She passed by an old alleyway that she guessed used to hold a garden what with the dry yellow grass now in patches. But that wasn't what made Judy stop, what made her halt was who was in the alley.

A chubby red fox and a scrawny little weasel were laughing meanly at a harassed looking young mouse who looked on the verge of tears.

Judy's brow furrowed and before she knew it was stomping into the patch of land, "Hey!" Her sudden yell had the three mammals turning to stare at her with surprise, but the fox curled his lip in a nasty grin when she saw she was only a bunny.

"Leave him alone," Judy ordered, standing her ground and putting her paws on her hips.

"Aw, look at that, Travis," the fox told his friend as he walked over to stand over Judy. "Dumb little bunny thinks she can tell us what to do."

The mouse quickly scurried out of the alley but Judy kept her eyes on the fox, not to be intimidated.

"I'm not afraid of you," she huffed, "You're just a bully!"

"You should be," the fox snarled, "I'm a predator and you're just a tiny little prey."

"But I'm bigger than you'll ever be!" the fox snarled and suddenly pushed her, knocking her to the ground. Judy let out a cry as pain shot up her leg and she saw a line of red on her left leg.

The fox laughed harshly, "Look at 'er Travis!"

The weasel was chuckling, "Her lil nose is twitching!"

Anger boiled up in her stomach and then she shot her right leg up, kicking the fox square in the nose.

He let out a yell of pain and placed a paw over his now bleeding nose. Judy's satisfaction quickly melted when the fox narrowed his now steely eyes at her. "You're gonna regret that."

He lifted his paw, the claws flashing, and made for her face. Judy's eyes closed shut, her entire body tensed in fear. But the strike never came.

Confused, Judy opened one eye to see a new red fox, this one standing on front of her, blocking her from the two bullies.

This fox wore a Junior Ranger Scout's uniform. Judy gasped when she saw the three bleeding scratch marks on his cheek. He had shielded her!

The chubby fox stared at the newcomer in shock before scowling, "Get lost you weirdo!"

"You get lost!" the scout snarled so viscously that even Judy flinched.

"Make me!" the bully shot back.

The scout took a threatening step forward and the chubby fox took a step back, despite his big talk he wasn't willing to fight a mammal his own size.

He snorted rudely, "Come on, Travis. I'm bored."

Shooting venomous looks the tow bullies walked around the rabbit and fox and disappeared out into the street.

"You better run you jerks!" Judy yelled out triumphantly before turning to her rescuer.

"Are you okay?" she asked the exact same time the fox asked the exact same question.

"I'm not the one bleeding," Judy told him, looking with concern at the scratches on his cheek.

"Yes, you are," the fox knelt before her and looked at the bleeding cut on her leg. "You must have landed on a sharp rock."

"It's just a small cut," she said easily. Judy was far more concerned about the fox's blood than her own.

"Let me bandage it anyway." He pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her leg with an intricate knot.

He grinned at her impressed look, "When you're a Junior Ranger Scout you learn lots of stuff."

"Cool, but what about your scratch marks?"

"I'll be fine, they'll be awesome scars." He pulled her to her feet, still grinning. He was taller than her and looked to be a couple of years older, and he had the prettiest shade of green eyes.

Judy's ears lowered and she suddenly felt bashful. The fox looked over her head at where the bullies had run off, "What happened? I saw you kick that fox in the nose." He broke into a snicker, "His face was hilarious!"

Judy smiled proudly, "He was bulling a poor mouse. I showed him a lesson."

The fox's smile widened and he looked Judy up and down, his eyes warm. "You're a pretty cool bunny."

Judy's little heart pattered faster at the compliment, but before she could say anything more her ears stood erect. A familiar voice was calling her, her father.

"My dad's calling for me, I need to go!"

The fox looked around, his fluffy ears twitching, "I don't hear anything."

"Bunnies have really good hearing," she told him, looking around at the ground. Her eyes shined when she spotted a small violet flower sticking out from a patch of old grass. She quickly plucked it and handed it to the fox, "Here you go, this is a thank you for rescuing my leg."

He took it, looking bashful. "No-no problem," he stuttered shyly.

"And this is for rescuing me." She leaned on her tip toes and placed a quick kiss on the fox's uninjured cheek. And then the little bunny was hopping away before she could see her rescuer's reaction. Her heart was pounding and her lips were warm as she returned to her father.

Too late she realized she hadn't even asked the fox's name.