Chapter 1: Burning/ Riots and Unrest
Nick regarded the pig behind the counter with calm, cool, complacency. His eyes drifted lazily from the money in his hand to the package of blueberries he had picked up. The pig eyed the fox cautiously, scanning his face, his tame collar, his money, then his blueberries. After some contemplation he took the money and let Nick walk out without any further interaction.
"Cold, always cold," Nick muttered to himself.
It had been a week since he'd had to change grocers and this pig had been nothing but suspicious from the first day he had come into the shop. They hadn't even spoken to one another. Nick wondered if the pig assumed he was coming to his shop because the old grocery store he normally went to had been burned down in the riots. He would be right. Once again, a bunch of loud mouth "preds" caused trouble for animals like him. Everyone knew everyone in the lower parts of town. The same people came into the same shops. If something changed it wouldn't go unnoticed.
After a long walk Nick came to a rundown apartment building. The bricks weren't coming out of the walls just yet, but most of the windows were boarded up or covered in plastic. Inside he heard the sound of breaking glass. Opening the front door he saw a decorative glass plate that had once been hanging on the wall on the ground in shards. A sad looking panther cub stared at the broken pieces with a look of fear in his eyes as he thought about the trouble he would be in. The light on his tame collar turned from green to yellow as he began to hyperventilate. Nick strode past him and walked up the stairs as he heard the collar beep followed by a spark then a yipe from the little cub. The phrase "don't cry over a glass of spilled milk" took on a whole new meaning when any sign of strong emotion from a predator meant a zap from their tame collar.
Walking up two more flights of stairs Nick found his apartment. There wasn't much to it inside. It was one room with a couch, a TV, a mini fridge, a dresser, and one window with purple curtains. Placing the blueberries inside the fridge he plopped down on the couch with a melancholy thud. Picking up the remote Nick turned on the TV and was met with a news report. On the screen was a camel with a brown tweed suit and green tie talking into a mike on a podium to a crowd of reporters.
"These riots will not go ignored," the camel said with a rough, sandy voice. "We have never let the aggression of the predator species disturb the peace of Zootopia and we certainly won't let that start now. These "Freedom Hunters," as they like to call themselves, only prove more than ever that the tame collars are necessary to ensure our safety."
A small sheep reporter piped up from within the crowds. "Governor Sanza, there are some who believe that these riots are not being started by the Freedom Hunters, but by predators being paid off by more powerful prey animals so that the predator species will never win the ongoing debate about the oppression caused by the tame collar."
"These claims have never been proven," Governor Sansa said quickly. "The predators are acting of their own accord. They make their own paths in life and clearly they have chosen one that leads to destruction and it will be stopped."
Nick scoffed. Predators didn't choose their own paths. Society, as in prey, choose it for them. Nick, being a fox was expected to be shifty at the worst and charming at the best. He was a door to door salesman. Thankfully it was for a company that was considered reliable, most of the time. After he began to get bored of the television he switched it off. When he'd put on his pajamas and brushed his teeth he curled up on his couch for the night with a blanket and pillow. Sleep did not come easily for Nick. His mind only seemed determined to torture him with the fresh suspicion people would have against him tomorrow. This would only make it harder for him to sell his merchandise.
...
Judy Hopps sat stiffly on a rickety chair in the small kitchen of a sad looking house. On the walls paint was peeling and old faded pictures hung lopsided. Judy wrinkled her noes at the smell, but tried her best to hide her distaste. It was wasn't something her client could help. Across from the table and chair where she sat a slender white ferret was pouring hot water into a blue mug with a chip on the rim. Her clothes were worn out and her pink frilly apron was stained and faded. Picking up a second mug the ferret came over and say across from Judy pushing the mug towards her.
"I hope you like the tea," she said shyly. "It's home made, doesn't need any milk or sugar. I'm hoping to sell it one day in my own tea shop."
Judy took a sip and was pleased to find the tea very comforting and delicious. "Mrs. White, I hope you don't misunderstand me when I say I was a little nervous about coming down here after receiving your call." Judy noticed that the ferret became tense at this remark, her hand reaching up to scratch the area around her tame collar. She continued "after all, the lower parts of town have become a bit more... tense since the riots broke out."
"But you understand why I asked you here," Mrs. White's voice became hurried. "I tried going to the police. They won't take my case. They assume my oldest boy is hiding after the riots and will return home soon." Her eyes began to tear up. "My boy isn't some thug, Ms. Hopps. He would not be apart of something like that. I'm scared he's hurt or been taken hostage by one of those terrible mobs out there. He has to be found."
"So you called a private detective," Judy said, taking another sip of her tea.
"I can't pay you very much." Mrs. White pulled out her wallet and placed a few scanty bills on the table. "I certainly can't pay you what you're worth, but I've heard your one of the few detectives who would ever consider helping a predator. Please, can you find my boy?"
Judy stared at the money. It was a pitiful amount, and she wasn't a charity, but she did choose this job to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. She pulled the money towards her. "I'll take the case... And more tea, please."