A/N: Guys, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I loved reading every single review and it's what made me write some more. This story will be slow paced, I think I will be doing one more chapter in which Nick and Judy are still little kits, and then I'll move on to when they're adults.
Speaking of "kits", that's the word used for baby foxes and baby rabbits. English is not my first language (nor my second for that matter), so I had no idea. So since Nick is still quite young here and Finnick is by default a bit older, I'm guessing he might be a teenager or a pre-adult or something in here.
Another thing I didn't know was that a copse is a thicket of bushes or a small stand of trees. I'm guessing that's not common knowledge (or maybe it is?), so I just put that here.
Alright, rant over, here's your chapter!
Night had fallen almost completely, and you could only see soft remains of light as the stars gradually filled up the sky.
As soon as Nick arrived at the secret spot, he let down the kit. The place was a copse, with small trees all around them and dark green grass growing everywhere. It came as no surprise when she hopped to the nearest tree, staring at him from a small distance.
"I told you I won't hurt you." - he assured - "I'm not like them."
She was visibly tired, her fur was messy, her eyes watery, and she gave no answer except for a look of distrust followed by a yawn. Could she even talk?
Turned out she feel asleep after a while, and Nick curled up beside her to keep her warm.
He took a long look at her and noticed her gray fur was caked with mud. She was sleeping soundly, her long ears down and her pink nose moving occasionally.
What was he going to do with her? He couldn't go back now, his family would never accept him if he came home befriended with the rabbit they wanted for dinner! But he couldn't survive either without them... Or could he?
Abandoning his family meant he had to care not only for himself but also for a bunny which he knew nothing about. What did rabbits even eat?
Nick's train of thought was broken when he felt something move beside him. He took a peek at the small sleeping being next to him. She was still sleeping, but a small frown painted her face, her little furry paws were twitching, and the sounds coming from her showed her distress. Poor thing was having a nightmare.
The young fox got closer and curled his tail around the smaller creature. He felt her grab it ferociously before the frown she had disappeared and she signed contently. Who would want to kill an adorable kid like this one?
As if on cue, a gust of wind came and the smell of fresh blood that came from her assaulted his nostrils. His stomach rumbled and he cursed his specie. Ignoring the hunger, he focused instead on the shiny stars above, and eventually drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
"Good night, Carrots." - he whispered with a smile.
"Hey kid."
A deep and familiar voice could be heard in the distance.
"Wake up Nick! Where the hell did you find this annoying brat? Tell it to stop!"
The kit immediately jumped awake, finding his best friend being attacked mercilessly by a... Bunny.
"Finnick!" - he exclaimed excited to see him - "How did you find us?"
The baby rabbit kept jumping over the fennec fox, biting his ears with an angry look. Nick actually found that quite amusing.
"I smelled blood nearby along with your scent, so naturally I was worried! And then I found you under a tree hugged to a freaking rabbit!" - Finnick explained - "And could you please stop smiling like an idiot and help me get this thing off me?"
Nick finally intervened and tried to break up the fight.
"Carrots, it's okay, he's on our side."
Finnick looked at his friend in horror. "Carrots? You gave her a nickname!? I told you not to get attached to prey, you dumb excuse for a fox!"
Nick was used to this speech, especially from Finnick who was always completely honest about everything. Carrots hopped to his side, never taking her sight off the fennec fox.
"What would you have me do, kill her on the spot after my brothers bit her mother to death in front of her?" He saw her bunny ears go down as she heard what he said. Nick instantly regretted bringing it up.
"It's what us predators do, Nick! You would have done that if you were a normal fox!"
Nick was hurt by this and lowered his gaze.
"Well I'm sorry I'm not normal."
Finnick saw what he had done and quickly tried to apologize.
"Look kid, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean it like that. I know you think differently." - he said as softly as he could - "But you have to understand that going against the food chain is not an easy task. What did your family have to say about this?"
"I don't know, I ran before they could react. But they're probably pissed."
Finnick sighed heavily. "Alright, first thing we have to do right now is-..."
He was interrupted by a loud stomach growling that came from the little bunny at their feet. She pretended as if it was nothing that had to do with her by looking away from both of the foxes. Finnick re-tried.
"First thing we have to do is get her something to eat." - he concluded - "Doesn't she ever talk?"
"I think she's a little shy." More like she's traumatized.
"So, do you know what rabbits eat and where to find it?" - Nick asked.
The sandy fox pondered for a moment.
"I might know."
They finally arrived at the metallic fence in the middle of the meadow. On the other side was the old wooden house inhabited by the farmer and his wife. Next to it Nick could see the chicken coop.
"Are you sure we can find bunny food in here, Finnick?" - Nick asked uncertainly. Carrots was next to him sniffing the air curiously.
"I'm pretty sure. I come here often and I saw the humans kept rabbits somewhere close."
"What do you come here for all the time?" - Nick had to ask.
"For the chicken eggs of course, kiddo! Nothing beats an egg for breakfast." - he proudly answered.
They got under the fence through a hole Finnick had dug the first time he was there. They hid under a shrub, with a view to the chicken coop.
"Okay kid, here's what's up." - the older fox started - "A little further ahead is the rabbit hutch, the humans emptied it of its habitants a while ago. While I'll go get us some breakfast, you go in there and get some food for Munchkins here. Get everything you find, got it?"
Nick's heart started beating faster as he slowly nodded.
"Wait, what if someone sees me?"
"You run as fast as you can. Let's go." Finnick dashed away, leaving them behind.
Nick tried to remain calm.
"Alright Carrots, you stay here until I come back."
The bunny ignored him and made to follow him. Nick pushed her to the safety of the shrub once more.
"Look, I have to be quick. Be a good bunny and wait here for me, I promise I'll come back, alright?"
The hesitating rabbit looked him in the eyes and finally nodded, sitting on the ground. The fox turned around and followed Finnick's earlier directions.
The wire hutch was on a high wooden table, its door was open and Nick could see hay everywhere inside. Clawing his way through the table's legs, he finally got to the top exhausted, and hesitantly got inside the cage. He could hear the agitated clucks and chirps coming from the chickens, probably caused by Finnick stealing their eggs.
Focusing on his task at hand, he got a mouthful of hay and threw it down the wooden table. Next he went for the dry food on the porcelain plates, and down the table they went. He would take everything after he got down. A few vegetables and fruit sat on the corner, some carrots and apples, so he got those as well. He decided to go one last time inside to get some more hay, and that was his biggest mistake.
The door closed with a loud sound and Nick was suddenly trapped.
"Marie, I caught a damn fox again! Bring me the shotgun!" - the old man yelled whilst facing the scared fox.
A/N: I love cliffhangers. Writing them I mean, not really reading them. Reviews are much appreciated once again. Thanks for your support! :)