Beatrice Howlington, officer of Precinct Six in Tundra Town, was typing on her computer at her desk. Black paws disinterestedly tapped the keys as bored amber eyes tried to remain open. She shared her office with her partner, Sergeant Alexander Grizzoli, who was using the restrooms at the moment. It was a bit of a tight fit when the polar bear sat at his desk behind the lupine, but they made it work. The grey wolf was trying not to fall asleep over the official reports, but it was difficult. Her career in the Z.P.D. had simmered down in recent weeks, but there were only so many corrupt cops in the Precinct. This also led to many of her fellow officers distancing themselves, or even openly despising, the young officer. Beatrice tried to ignore it all, and reminded herself that she only did what was necessary.

The wolf sighed and closed her eyes, headache building from her strained vision. Convictions helped keep her co-workers quiet. It's hard for any mammal to talk about how good someone was after they've been found guilty in the court of law. Her biggest arrest, and in the young officer's opinion most important, was a former Sergeant of Precinct Six Bjorn Tassut. The polar bear terrorized prostitutes throughout Tundra Town for years, taking advantage of their trade to fulfill his dark pleasures. The Z.P.D. never knew, and if not for the bravery of a few, he would still be on the streets. Beatrice's best friend was crucial to the case.

The officer's phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced about her empty office, before pulling it out. The wolf smiled when she saw it was Cherry, answering it immediately.

"Hey Cherry, what's up?"

The vixen sighed heavily, "Jezz is kicking me out of Helping Paws."

Beatrice contented smile turned to one of bemusement, "Why's she doing that?"

"She says I work too much."

"Ah."

"Do you agree with her?"

The lupine rubbed the back of her neck, "Well...yeah. Everyone needs a break, and I don't think you've relaxed in a while."

"Well I never!" Cherry huffed.

"Is that like the game you taught me?" teased Beatrice, "Never have I ever been told I need to relax?"

"Ha ha," replied the fox sardonically, "I was gonna ask if you wanted to grab a drink."

"I'm free tonight," the wolf replied, "Where you are thinking?"

Cherry hummed in thought. "You remember the Cat's Meow?"

The lupine scowled, "Yeah. I'm familiar with that place." She spent three months undercover in the Cat's Meow to try and take down a bobcat named Kedi Puakulak. It was a complete disaster, and if not for the assistance of a mutual friend, Beatrice would have died. "I'd rather not go there."

"Oh, I agree Bee, total dump! But a new place has opened there called Icebreaker, and from what I heard it's a hit!"

"Oh? Who told you that?"

"Doesn't matter who, you in or not?"

Beatrice pursed her lips, before shrugging nonchalantly, "Yeah sure."

"Woohoo!" exclaimed Cherry excitedly, "This is gonna be awesome!"

The wolf smiled, "You're really happy."

"Honey, when's the last time we hung out?"

Beatrice leaned back in her chair, running a paw over her ears. "...A week?"

"Try ten days," the vixen retorted, "And they've been the worst of my life!"

The wolf snorted with a shake of her head. Beatrice didn't know everything about Cherry, but what little she did informed her that the fox was exaggerating. In fact, most of what the officer knew were events from the last pawful of years. Either they were stories about different nights on the streets or acts of violence committed by officers in Precinct Six. Much of the vulpine was still a mystery to the lupine, one she hoped to solve.

"So what time we meeting up?" asked Beatrice, turning back to her computer and looking over her report, "I can probably get out before five, but I'm gonna have to head home and change."

"But I love you in your uniform," Cherry cooed, "You're so dashing!"

The officer snorted and shook her head. The fox was always teasing her. "Ok I won't get changed. What time?"

"Let's make it six.

Beatrice smiled, "Sounds good to me." She frowned, noticing a problem in her report. "Uh, Cher...I need to get back to work. See you tonight?"

"Can't wait Honey bee!" the vixen said cheerfully.

"Me either." Beatrice replied abesntmindedly, focusing back on her work. The lupine hung up the call and placed her cell down on her desk. She sighed and ran a paw over her ears. "Information's missing," grumbled the officer. Her digits settled back onto the keyboard and began adding the necessary facts. The work felt lighter to the wolf, her plans with the vixen pushing her to finish.

Beatrice couldn't wait to see her best friend.

Cherry doesn't remember the last time she laughed this hard. With a paw covering her muzzle, as the other held onto mimosa on the bar, her stomach was starting to hurt.

"Wait, wait, wait," laughed the fox, leaning her head against the wolf for support, "He really tried to talk his way...out of having no pants!?"

Beatrice was hunched over the bar, body shaking with mirth. "I-I-I couldn't believe it!" the officer choked out, wiping tears from her eyes, "I mean the skunk didn't even have them in his paw or around his ankles! They just weren't there!" Their laughter doubled, the vixen holding onto the lupine for support. Icebreaker was scarcely populated, so the pair's good time wasn't bothering anyone.

The bar's interior design focused heavily on its name with different hues of blue and white. Bright white tiles lined the floor, sky blue lines highlighting each, as three different shades of blue lights shone from above. Individual tables were transparent, intricate snowflakes carved into the sides, with dark blue plastic chairs surrounding them. The bar that the candids were seated at was transparent, allowing patrons to simply point down at the bottles underneath. The bar itself had few patrons, and even fewer staff. A middle-aged ox, wearing a dark blue button down and white bowtie, was working behind the bar. An arctic hare and white Bengal tiger wearing similar outfits served as the waiters. They checked on their patrons every few seconds when they weren't chatting at the end of the bar. There was a stern looking moose in a black suit who surveyed the scene every now and then and was more than likely the manager or owner.

Cherry rubbed her cheek against the wolf's arm, losing herself in the solid feel. Beatrice was strong, so strong, that the vixen's blood always rose when she touched the lupine. It was a guilty pleasure to have the officer hold her close, as if the fox was the most important thing in the world. Several sleepless nights were used to imagine what colors hadn't been seen by the vulpine's keen eyes. Glimpses of lighter grey and white teased Cherry, leaving her to wonder what other colors remained hidden beneath blue.

"Cher, you ok?"

Cherry pulled away from the wolf with an innocent smile. "Of course, I am honey. Why you ask?"

Beatrice eyed the vixen carefully, then shrugged, "I don't know. You seem pawsier than usual."

The fox gasped in indignation, lightly slapping the officer's forearm. "Can't a gal be happy to see her best friend?" Cherry huffed and folded her arms, turning away from the lupine. "Perhaps I'll take my company somewhere else."

"I'd be worried if there was anyone else worth your time," the lupine quipped, "but you'd turn your nose at this crowd."

The fox threw her head back with a forced laugh. "This crowds better than you think!" Cherry glanced over her shoulder, hoping to find a decent target.

Three tables were occupied. The first with an old, drunken mule whose head was firmly on the table next to his beer. The second was with several well-dressed business mammals who were quietly sipping on either bourbon, scotch or whiskey. Cherry could never tell the difference. The final occupied table held five males, a goat, a capybara, two arctic hares, a coyote, and a red fox enjoying themselves loudly. The tod caught the vixen's gaze and winked.

The female fox rolled her eyes. There really wasn't anyone worth Cherry's time except for her soon to be smug friend. The vulpine turned back to the lupine with a half-lidded gaze and a seductive smile. "A few show promise," she said enticingly, batting her eyelashes "and who knows doll...maybe someone will get my number."

Beatrice leaned closer to Cherry, the smell of cheap beer tickling the vixen's nostrils, with a smug grin and her own half lidded expression. "In all the times we've gone out, you've nevergiven out your number."

Cherry leaned in closer, noticing her breath push through the wolf's whiskers. "I wonder why that is…" she whispered, inching closer and closer to the lupine. Before the vixen could close the gap, and allow herself the sweet taste of lupine, Beatrice jerked back.

"Whoa," the officer mumbled, paw going to the side of her head as the other grasped the bar, "I think I've had too much."

"Honey, you've barely had any," the vixen countered, "and besides Bee, you didn't finish your drink!"

Beatrice grasped her glass, the remaining liquid sloshing about, and downed it in one last swing. She gasped with a contented smile, slamming the still frothing cup onto the bar. "All done!" the wolf exclaimed staring intently at her empty glass.

"O-ok," Cherry stuttered, trying to recover from the shift in the mood. She leaned further on the bar to try and catch the lupine's gaze. "What about next week, maybe stop by the house?"

Beatrice nodded curtly, ears twitching momentarily but remaining up. "Y-Yeah, ok...we can, uh...talk about it...ok?"

The vixen sighed in defeat, a pained smile on her muzzle as she nodded. "Sure," she said sullenly, "We'll talk about it."

The lupine nodded once more, glancing at the vulpine. She reached for her back pocket, "...so what was mine, like twenty or-"

Cherry quickly grasped the wolf's arm, who finally turned full to look at the fox. "Doll don't worry about it," the vixen interrupted softly, "You'll get it next time." She smiled, but it didn't feel right. "Fly home little honey bee."

"Nickname doesn't even make sense," Beatrice grumbled, sliding off her stool, "I'm not even black and yellow…"

The vixen giggled behind a paw, "You've had worse!" The wolf joined in the mirth, but both were subdued.

Beatrice gestured towards the door with a paw. "You coming?"

Cherry shook her head and rested her elbows on the bar. "I'm gonna finish my drink, then I'll head out." The vulpine looked down at her half full mimosa, looking less refreshing than before. She glanced over her shoulder at the still standing lupine, and smirked. "I can take care of myself honey."

Beatrice hesitated, then rubbed the back of her head. "Ok...see you Cherr."

"Bye honey."

Cherry looked back at her drink, forcing herself to not look at the leaving officer. The fox felt disheartened, even more than usual. It was always disappointing when the two had to part ways, but this was different. She could swear that there was a spark of...something! The vixen was aware of the wolf's aversion to dating, but couldn't Cherry change that? Wasn't there something between the two that pushed them together? A clearing throat broke the fox out of her depressing spiral. She rolled her eyes at the red fox from earlier standing there was a broad grin.

"Hey sugar," the male started smoothly, "why so down?" Cherry's silence and blank expression didn't deter the tod, who simply pulled himself up onto the stool to her left. His dull brown eyes matched his brown ears and paws. He wore a purple polo and khaki pants, which suggested to the former working girl that he was roughly middle management. She also didn't miss the pressed down fur on left digit on his left paw. Either married, engaged or divorced. The male continued to speak, "Night didn't go as planned?"

"Walk away before I hurt you," Cherry stated bluntly. She gestured back to the door, "Or better yet, I get my cop friend to do it for me."

He slowly raised his paws defensively, "No disrespect meant." The tod's brow rose, "Just wondering if a pretty gal like you would care for another drink?"

Cherry opened her muzzle, quip about the comparative length of their genitals on the tip of her tongue, when she stopped. Another drink did sound good, and she really didn't want to go home yet. The vixen frowned, then nodded, "Make it something strong and top shelf."

The tod's ears momentarily flicked, and there was a flash of uncertainty, before he smiled and waved towards the bartender. "Barkeep! Need two drinks over here!"

The ox made his way slowly to the vulpine's, seemingly finding every excuse possible to distract from the short journey to the patrons. Cherry eyed her new company warily. Old habits die hard, and free things don't fall into mammals with her history lap. She'd drink his booze but would keep her glass on the right side and out of the tod's grasp. No need for any morning surprises.

Peppa watched her twin sister suspiciously, something wasn't right. Normally Mint was bouncing in her seat as she did homework, or texted Johann, or ate dinner, or anything really. Instead the younger twin sat quietly on the L shaped couch, gaze unfocused on the television in front of them. Ginger had put on a cartoon channel and was happily munching on a dry salad next to the ewe. The brown bunny hummed the show's theme song between bites as she kicked her large hind paws against the edge of the couch.

The sisters finished their homework while Saffron fixed them up some soy burgers and kale chips for dinner. Not the healthiest meal, but the twins lived off bread and water for a week so no reason to complain. Peppa eyed the rabbit as she forked a large serving of her salad. How could Ginger eat that healthy all the time? The ewe shook her head and focused back on her other half. Mint hadn't moved an inch, and it was starting to creep the older sheep out.

"Mint," called out Peppa, "You alright?" Mint didn't respond. "Min?" Still nothing. "Minnie!" Her sister startled, then glanced sullenly at the eldest. "You ok?"

Mint tried to smile, but it disappeared as soon as it arrived, "I-I'm fine Pep...just tired..."

Peppa didn't believe that. The youngest always had energy, even after school. The older ewe could barely drag herself out of bed, let alone make it through the day. Her eyes narrowed on her sister with pursed lips. She was about to speak, when Ginger burst into laughter.

"That lemur just got hit in the head with a coconut!" exclaimed the rabbit, bouncing her seat. She turned to Peppa but quieted down when she saw the ewe glaring at her. The doe's ears lowered as her gaze fell to the floor. "Sorry…"

Peppa sighed, shaking her head dismissively. It always felt like she was an adult surrounded by teenagers, instead of the other way around. The ewe focused once more on her younger sister. There was a contemplative look on Mint, one that suggested whatever was bothering her sister was important.

"Hey...Pep," Mint started hesitantly, "What do you think would happen...if the school found out about us?"

Peppa's brow rose, "Our real names or…"

"What...we used to do…"

The eldest ewe shrugged, "I don't know if the teachers or anyone like could do anything, but the other kits would tease us mercilessly...why?" A wicked grin grew on Peppa's snout as she thought she knew where her sister was going. "You wanna show Johann a few tricks?"

"Wh-what?" sputtered Mint, cheeks growing red as she waved frantically, "N-No! I don't like him like that!"

"Uh huh," teased Peppa, "then it must be another Johann you dream of!" The ewe clasped her hooves together and sighed dreamily while fluttering her eyelashes. "Oh Johann!" she cooed in a high-pitched voice, "Hold me in your big, strong arms!"

"Stop it Pep!" whined Mint, "I don't sound like that!"

"If you like Johann you should say something," chimed in Ginger, "You never know when-"

Peppa whipped her gaze back to the rabbit. "Stay outta this!" seethed the ewe, glaring daggers at the doe, "You're not our mom!"

Ginger shrank under the eldest ewe's heavy gaze, ears falling back again as she cringed away from the angry sheep. The rabbit looked away sadly, mumbled something incoherently, then slid off the couch. Peppa's heated glare followed the doe as she quickly hurried out of the living room.

The older sister huffed, folding her arms as she turned back to her sister. She scowled at the aghast look on the younger twin's face. "What?"

"Why do you always say that?" Mint asked exasperatedly, "Everyone here takes care of us-"

"Yeah now," Peppa interrupted flippantly, waving a hoof in the air, "No one gave a damn when Rameo bought us, why should I listen to them?"

Mint smiled sadly as if pitying the eldest twin, "You can't hold that against them Pep. Everyone was in bad shape under Rameo."

"Yeah, but we were the youngest," grumbled Peppa, looking away from her sister, "They should have got us out of it!"

"When did Cherry start?" Mint questioned knowingly, "Or Saff, or Ginger, or Azure?" She slid closer to her twin. "They started young cause that was what he did." The younger twin placed a hoof on her sister's arm. "I'm not gonna blame them for something he did...but I'm thankful for all of them working so hard for us. They didn't have too...but instead they're trying to give us a future. Don't you see that?"

Peppa did see that...for Mint. The eldest ewe didn't have a sharp mind like her sister. She didn't study hard or do well on tests like Mint. The older twin knew that the younger had the brighter future, and Pep would do everything in her power to help, but she'd also step aside if needed too. Last thing she wanted to do was drag her better half down.

The elder ewe sighed, glancing momentarily at her twin before looking at the floor with a frown. "You're gonna make me apologize to Ginge, aren't you?"

"Yep!" Mint enthusiastically replied.

Peppa groaned, "But she's gonna be all weepy!"

"And who's fault is that?" questioned the younger twin rhetorically.

The elder sister huffed, then sighed, "Alright...I'll go talk to her." Peppa moved to stand but paused as she was struck by a thought. "Hey...Min?" Mint hummed in response. "Are you...worried someone will find out?" The younger twin was silent. Peppa turned to her sister, "Minnie?"

Mint smiled weakly with a shrug, "Just a dumb thought Pep, don't worry about it."

Peppa looked over her sister warily, "You sure?" Her sister's smile remained, but she didn't say anything else. The eldest sighed, "Well...let me know if something happens. Ok?"

Mint wrapped her arms around the eldest twin, laying her head on Peppa's shoulder. "You'll be the first to know," she mumbled, "I promise."

Peppa didn't like this kind of talk from her sister, but if Mint wasn't willing to talk than she couldn't force her too. The elder twin reciprocated the hug, squeezing the younger as she pinched her eyes shut. Whatever was bothering Mint, Pep would protect her sister. She was the world to the older ewe.

Nothing would change that.

Hello Readers,

I'm back for a new year and a new ser of updates! Let me know what you think!

-CG