When I added this chapter I found a couple of typos in the other two chapters, which sucks big time.
So yeah, sorry about that and any future grammer/writing errors.
I'll do my best to smooth them all out so the story makes sense, but if any of you guys catch one I might have missed (probably a good chance of that, I'm horrible at proof-reading) please demand it to be fixed. Nothing sucks like the fluidity of a story being ruined by a missing word or misplaced sentence.
Chapter 4 will be out... some time.
Chapter 3
A March For Closure And Cash
"Barry!"
I heard a voice call me. Its owner wasn't recognizable at first, but then I saw him move quickly passed a group lingering at the center of the Rendezvous and jog up to me.
"Kyle, hey," I watched as he closed the distance between us. "What are you doing here?"
It wasn't ordinary for Kyle to hang around the Rendezvous, it was even less ordinary for him to have such a big grin.
"Barry, Jesus dude.. You're a difficult stoat to find sometimes."
"You just aren't look in the right shitholes, man. What's got you so psyched?"
His grin grew bigger and he leant down, lowering his voice.
"You up for some more work? Like, cause I heard there's a big crowd hitting Central tomorrow some time."
My eyes widened. I hadn't seen Kyle in two days and haven't done any money making with him for at least three weeks. After the bunny cop's… departure, we both decided to be a little cautious for a while, not wanting to add fuel to the anxious fire that were relations these couple weeks.
"What you talking about?"
Kyle stood straight and fondled his left horn. He did that when he was fidgety.
"Yo, so look. Some animals are going in one big group, a lotta country bunnies too...
Like, they're gonna go pay their respects at the museum by putting down flowers and shit," he pursed his lips and shrugged, "so I was like: 'Why not just go out there and do some magic, lift the mood and junk, maybe even make a couple bucks'. And then I thought: 'Shit, Barry's been looking for some work this entire time, so why not share the profits'…. So, wanna go to the museum and make some cash?"
I felt my mouth fall open as I tried to form a coherent sentence. I couldn't think of the right words. Kyles eager face hovered above me, staring down intently waiting for my response.
"Kyle... what the fuck?.. You wanna steal from mourning mammals?"
His expression faltered for a moment before he leaned over again, speaking slowly and purposefully.
"I wanna steal from mourning *tourists* ."
"...What?"
"Nah, look Barry," he starts walking out toward the lone news stand on the east corner of the Rendezvous. I followed in suit, not wanting to miss anything he said next.
"Its like this." he points to a newspaper resting in a pile on the counter in the stand. I take a closer look to read it's title.
"'Dozens Flock To Museum In Remembrance'?"
"Yea."
"Kyle.."
"Barry.."
"This isn't just some crowd of tourists," I gestured to the paper above me, a sour expression on my face. "This is a memorial."
He kept quiet for several seconds before pointing a hoof at me.
"But, there's gonna be a lotta poor souls lookin' for some mood lifters. So why not deliver?"
I felt my patience wither away as he ended off with wide arms and a smirk. I held back a growl.
"No, this isn't a cheer-everyone-up event. The- like- Kyle, they're sad about the cop."
He looked back at the paper with a confused frown. He studied it for some time. I crossed my arms and sighed.
What the hell was he thinking? We couldn't just waltz into Savannah Central and expect to set up shop on the curb of the museum. Especially me! They were laying wreaths and gathering there to send a message to City Hall.
I mean- shit! If we went in there I would be torn apart by rabbits and any other prey that happened to be around.
"Yo, Barry. This isn't a protest or anything. Its a legit thing made by the copper's ma and pa. That's why there's gonna be so many bunnies."
"Oh, and it's got nothing to do with preds?" I narrowed my eyes.
He shook his head, his horns barely missing the top of the newsstand.
"Nah, man. Its just a thing. Like I said, nothing bad is gonna happen."
I stood on my toes to get a closer look.
I read the first two lines before someone cleared their throat. I glanced over to the stand owner, a pig who's head lazily rested on his hoof. He looked bored out of his mind.
"You boys buying?"
Kyle looked at me with a helpless expression. I sighed and dug into my back pocket, pulling out a bill and pushing it toward him. He took it gratefully and handed it over to the pig.
"Enjoy the news, bane of Zootopia's peace." Was all he said as he handed Kyle the same newspaper from under the stand. I promptly grabbed it out his hoofs and brought it close to my face.
The picture was clearer now. It depicted the Ancient History Museum from the street below, several mammals going about their business along the sidewalk. I begun reading.
"Blah blah blah blah blah blah..."
The first few lines were about Judy Hopps' memorial and the surrounding events, a gist of what it was all about and what would occur. Soon though, came what I was looking for.
"'Bonnie and Stu Hopps, mother and father to Judy Hopps, have created a champaign in the remembrance of their daughter. An event that will take place the third of March-'"
"Tomorrow." Kyle said simply.
"'... and span across Bunny Burrow and Savannah Central, the scene of the mauling.
'All are welcome to attend, we want everyone who knew and loved Judy to be there in her memory.' Says Bonnie Hopps. The event will begin at ten in the morning at city center, where the attendees will march to the Ancient History Museum to lay wreaths and pay their respects...'"
I trailed off, looking up from the paper to Kyle, who had his confident smirk plastered across his face.
"You in, buddy?"
"Dude..." I shook my head and looked back down at the paper.
I studied the the picture and title some more, burning the words into my memory.
A toothy grin broke out across my mouth as I looked up again.
"How's it gonna work?"
Kyles smile broadened, my God, was it unnatural, and he pumped his fist in the air.
"Fuckin' knew I could count on ya, Barry! Okay- okay- so like..." He begun walking away from the stand and toward the exit of the Rendezvous. I folded the newspaper and tried to hold it off the ground as I scampered after him.
"I was thinking that we could just hang out around outside the museum. And wait for them all to get there. So when there's a lotta them we set up the stuff and I get to work and make some magic." He pretended to roll up his non existent sleeves and waggled his fingers around, lifting his eyebrows up and down all the while.
"So I donno how long we'll be there or whatever, but if a blue comes over and starts asking questions we just say we came to do some magic and make things happier and shit, but like- we gotta add that we're doing it in memory of Rudy Hopps or they won't believe us."
"Judy Hopps," I corrected. "And what if her family is there and tells you to leave or something? Cause from what I remember, rabbits have big family's, so most of the bunnies coming are gonna be her brothers and sisters?"
Kyle shrugged nonchalantly.
"We won't be right there bothering anyone. We'll be right down the street and just tell 'em that we do it there everyday or something. So they can't kick us cause we won't be in their faces, but if some angry bun does come around you gotta scare 'em off."
I scoffed.
"Scare them off? The fuck am I supposed to do that?"
"You're a scary pred, you just gotta go up to one and say 'boo' and they'll run."
"To the police, I doubt they're that dumb to believe I could do anything either."
"The cop got mauled by a pred, man, and like... More preds are doing the savage thing, so I think they'll be all jumpy."
He had a point.
"... But don't start getting foam in your mouth or anything- just try and look tough."
"Not so good at that, Kyle."
"Give you your tough face."
"...What?"
"C'mon, let me see you when you're looking tough, try- just intimidate me."
He stopped, attempting to emphasize his point. I stopped too, staring up at him.
"You're serious?"
He nodded.
He was serious.
"Kyle, I don't wanna..."
"Ahh! Barry, c'mon man! We gotta be prepared. If any prey come crashing our setup then we gotta know what you're capable of."
"I'm not scary, Kyle, let's just- no."
He smiled toothily, sighing loudly and placing his hooves on his hips.
"Nah, that's good. You mustn't be scary, we want tough."
"Kyle."
My voice was warning. I had resumed walking and was nearing the corner, exiting the Rendezvous. He walked briskly to catch up, that same shit-eating grin on his mug.
"Show me Barry."
"No."
"Show me Barry."
"No."
"Show me Barry!"
"Fuck off."
"Baaaaaarrr-"
"Fuck sakes, Kyle!"
I stop and glare at him, noting that the grin held firm under my hateful gaze. He motioned for me to start. After staring back for several seconds I sighed and pulled my paws from my pockets. Kyle watched expectantly, his grin slowly fading.
I crossed my arms across my chest after puffing it out then took a step back, leaning majority of my weight on my left leg, which was positioned further back from my right. I stared up at Kyle, adopting a disdainful sneer along with half lidded eyes and flattened ears. I held the position for a some time, watching Kyle reaction.
He scoffed.
I immediately broke form.
"Man... fuck you!" I growled out.
He scoffed again before gesturing wildly at me.
"Nah- nah! That was good, its just you need some... like, you're mouth is doing a little too much work and you're kinda short..."
"Wha-"
"Here."
Kyle digs in his pocket and pulls out a toothpick, chucking it in my direction. I quickly fumble to catch it.
"Stick it into your mouth, so when you do your thing it looks genuine."
I held the toothpick by one end. The thing was pretty big, too big to be comfortably used by myself. Must have been for those sticks of celery that Kyle always seemed to be chewing on.
"This is gonna make me look more intimidating?" I ask.
"Yea, otherwise you look real tough already, I got shivers and everything."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Start practicing man, I haven't used that one or anything... or maybe I did, recycling's important."
I held the toothpick up for a second, suddenly less eager to place it in my maw.
"Jokes, buddy. That's nasty," he laughed. "Recycling is important though."
"Yeah..."
We begun walking again, rounding the corner and making our way back onto Grass street.
The street was full of activity, loud enough to noticeably tell the difference from the dead end we exited. Cars passed by, differently sized cars called for different lanes. Majority were mammals the size of the average wolf or hyena. Some others were bigger, hippos and bears occupying the driver seats. The smallest lane, closest to the curb belonged to mammals my size and smaller.
The influx of automobiles was constant. Various colors and models passing us by as we lazily made our way back to Dark Dirt. The air was soured by the noxious fumes pumped out by the exhausts but I didn't care, it was clean enough to ignore. Fresh air, not quite like the park but close enough. I needed to take Becky to the park sometime soon again. She's been working extra hard these few weeks, hasn't been out the house to just relax or have fun. Her birthday buzz went by quickly too. Should definitely do something nice for her. If the crowd was really going to be as big as Kyle said, then I'm sure we'll be doing just that soon.
"Yo, Kyle." I mumbled around the toothpick in the corner of my mouth.
He grunted a response.
"I never asked, but it kinda came to me now. Why- cause you know you're an antelope... I just wanted to know how has the whole savage thing been sitting with you?"
Kyle didn't react for some time. He kept staring forward, his brow furrowing only somewhat, his deliberate steps and lazy smirk stayed the same however. I was about to tell him to forget about it before he answered.
"Its been pretty shit man, cause- y'know, we can't do our usual thing without being super cautious. And my pa ain't coping with the shit going down in Happytown, plus all the extra serious stuff on the news and the papers and everyone needs to talk about it and get angry..."
He trailed off, pursing his lips.
"But know what? It's not so bad. I mean, it is real crap, but not in a way none if us can't handle it. And like, I shouldn't be complaining cause I'm prey, you preds got it worse. The- th- the short end of the stick! Yeah. You guys got the short end of this crappy stick."
He looked over to me with an almost sorrowful expression. My expression mimicked his, feeling just as forlorn.
"And I know all this stuff going on is hard, but its gonna get better."
"But what if it doesn't," I blurted out. "You donno if some suit in city hall will decide to single preds out."
He contemplates my words for a second before nodding and putting a hoof in the air.
"Yeah, you're right. Some crook in government could totally out you guys, like- even by tomorrow they could make a new bunch of laws that single you all out," he shrugged and smiled down at me. "But then again, there could be one suit in there who wants to make things easier for everyone... And by tomorrow all preds would be on equal terms with prey. Everyone could live all happy together. Prey and preds would become friends, some could get married- fuck, some might even decide to go out there and fix the savage thing properly.
Its all in the way you look at it, buddy."
"Things won't just magically become all better." I said bitterly.
"Nah, but if you give it enough time... something good might happen that'll like- change some minds. It will be all slow-like, but it'll happen eventually."
"That's probably the best advice you've ever given me, Kyle."
He scoffed, fanning the air with his hoof.
"All my advice is good, you just don't listen enough."
I laughed, probably too hard than was necessary, but it felt good. Kyle was the pinnacle of easygoing and the most relaxed mammal I've ever met. His coherent speeches were few and far between, but none have made me feel so much better about a situation like this one has.
He watched me with an amused grin. Slowing down slightly as I swayed and slowed, chuckling slightly.
"All I'm saying, Barry, don't let it get to you to hard. Or like- you'll get depressed."
"Can't have that huh?" I smirked.
"Nope, can't let you go around dampening my style."
"Har..." I roll my eyeballs.
Kyle shrugged and fell silent. We walked quietly around the corner and made our way into our street. The sound of bustling cars died down as we strolled up the sidewalk and passed the variously colored houses, of which many had chipped paint. We soon passed the llama brothers, only two of them were out on the front steps, the twins. They paid us no mind though, too engrossed in their conversation to provide a passing glare.
My house came up and I bid farewell to Kyle, watching him walk leisurely across the game of football going on in the street, getting a solid kick on the ball as it rolled by him. After opening the door and stepping in the perpetually cold hallway I called out for Becky. I received no reply. She was probably still at work. I had the house to myself.
I put the TV on and threw myself on the couch, landing on the hard remote in the process. I lay back into the couch, savoring the coolness that came off of the fabric.
A cooking show was on. Mary and Madge's Kitchen for Beginners. I stared at the screen as Madge, a portly jaguar begun to explain what you should try to avoid when making the dough for your spongecake. I blinked twice before hitting a button on the remote. The screen flashed as the picture of puffy cheeked jaguar was replaced by Geoffrey the Giraffe.
The cartoon giraffe was in the middle of a sentence, ending off by telling his friend, a comically short shrew that the only way to cross the river was to use his neck as a bridge. The shrew opened her tiny mouth to reply before I hit another button and came across another channel. It depicted a cow explaining the plan on the dam her beaver employers wanted built was going to be done. I went through all the channels, watching each for five seconds before skipping to the next one.
I quickly begun running out of channels before hitting the third last button on my remote. The two familiar anchors appeared on screen.
"-st as Mayor Bellwether explains that the decision to promote the memorial as self explanatory. Representative Sundown still has not changed his stance. Meanwhile..."
Oh. The news. My digit quickly pressed the next button to replace the snow leopard mid-sentence with a reality TV show, Hearts and Paws, if my limited knowledge on trends was anything to go by.
I stared blankly at the screen. My brow furrowed and creased.
Was I avoiding the news?
I tried to go back, but my finger merely hovered above the eighteenth button. I was.
My frown grew deeper.
Why would I be avoiding the news? Was there something I was worried about?
I sighed.
Kyle got me thinking a lot less about the savage case, that could be the reason. I told myself I wasn't going to be interested in it anymore, that I would forget that it ever bothered me and try not to freak out every time somebody mentioned it.
Yet here I was, purposefully avoiding a channel because it was too intimidating for me. Because I knew there would be non stop coverage of the savagery that spread across Zootopia. That every now and then, someone would mention the long gone rabbit officer and shed a tear. She's still been the only death by mauling, but others have been close. Too close.
I was afraid of the informative nature of the news. Because if I were to watch it, then I'd know what's happening in the rest of Zootopia. Even when I had told myself that staying knowledgeable was important, it felt like it didn't matter anymore. If I did watch it then I'd know that this whole savage thing I've stuck into a dark corner of my mind is actually very real, then I'd know that advice Kyle gave me will be worth shit because all I'll be thinking about is how fucked everything could be and I'll never get a peaceful night of sleep again.
"Jesus, when did I become such a whiny ass?"
I clicked the button and the anchors were back on screen, looking as nonchalant as ever.
"According to several online forums, the March For Judy taking place tomorrow, is said to have more that two thousand attendees. The public is urged to make divergent routes along Evergreen and Yellowgrass street as the streets will be cordoned off to allow safe passage of attendees."
Kyle was right, there were going to be a *lot* of marchers.
"Thank you Peter, in other news a family of three were caught unawares this morning by a savage attack."
Oh no.
"Oscar and Leah Shorttail along with their daughter, Vicky, were walking down Treetop street in the Rainforest district this morning on their way to Vicky's school."
"Witnesses around the area describe a long tailed weasel in his early thirties suddenly collapse before attacking the family."
"Mr Shorttail has just come out of critical condition."
I barely felt my hands at the sides of my head, gripping the fur beneath my ears.
"The unnamed weasel has been contained and is pending admittance into Mayor Bellwethers clinic. Mrs Shorttail was not available for comment. Later, Dr Snarls and Dr Buk will answer some questions regarding the forty fifth case of sav-"
My paw trembled as I clicked the power button. The screen flickered and went black. My heart raced, beating quick and hard in my chest. My stomach churning with oncoming nausea. I felt so sick.
More than that, I felt fear, worse than any I had before. My blood didn't run cold and my eyes didn't tear up. I only felt this sick dread settle into my the bottom of my stomach and weigh me down.
I was terrified. Not so much of the reaction to savages, nor what that implied for predators.
I was afraid of becoming savage now. This example, this alone proved that no predator was safe.
Any kind of comfort I felt in not being like any of those savages on TV was gone. Replaced by that event, with me being the unnamed weasel who went crazy and tore a father apart in front of his wife and daughter. I would be the one in Bellwethers God-forsaken hospital. It'd be me on the news.
I could go savage, and nothing could stop it from happening.
"I'll see you later B!" I called into the house, hoping Becky would actually hear me. I paused for a second and, upon hearing nothing, stepped out the front door into the outside world.
God, this was going to suck.
I hopped the gate and leisurely walked up the sidewalk. There were no kids out playing today, the weather must have been too bad. The sunny, cloudless sky from yesterday was nonexistent, replaced by angry looking thunder clouds that hid the sun and a breeze that threatened to become a gust. I hadn't watched the weather channel last night after turning the TV off.
If the clouds were to open and soak us, the marchers might call the thing off, then we'd have no audience and no cash at the end of the day. I was still hopeful though, that maybe the breeze would push the storm clouds away from Savannah Central.
The street was eerily empty, I was the only mammal on it beside Mr Humpert, a lanky camel that was busy fixing his mailbox. He didn't glance up from his work as I moved by.
I ignored the empty silence. It wasn't unlike the community to become shut-in after a turn in the weather. I remember when it rained nonstop for a week. Beatriz was outside, preaching the end of the world along with two other elderly mammals I'd never met. The animals here didn't like change, especially when it came quick. I was fairly sure the entirety of Zootopia was like that, if the news and recent protests were anything to go by.
I continued on my way, paws firmly in my jean pockets, hood up to keep the chill out my shirt, toothpick jutting out awkwardly from between my teeth. Kyle's words on my intimidation tactics were disheartening to say the least. I couldn't fix my height, but I could put a stick in my mouth so my sneer didn't overdo anything. I'd practiced in front of the mirror, feeling like an idiot the entire time, just to make sure I didn't look *too* ridiculous. I was satisfied, but this toothpick was getting on my nerves, I had to resist the urge to bite down and break it. I wasn't used to having products in my mouth that weren't edible, well, besides the occasional smoke. I didn't chew gum and I didn't gnaw on tobacco, so holding a toothpick between my teeth took some getting used to.
Not only that, Kyles comments from yesterday also got me thinking of my dress code. I usually wore plain shirts that covered my thin frame and some form of shorts. I didn't like jeans much, but this cold weather called for it. My hoodie was the only thing that felt a little too large for me. It was a gift from a seamstress pangolin after I retrieved her keys from inside her store. She was so glad she didn't have to call a locksmith to get back in she took my measurements. I never thought being able to break into someone's store would end with the owner personally repaying me. I was grateful though, beyond grateful. The hoodie was probably my best article of clothing.
I winced as I felt the first patter of raindrops on the concrete. Several more seconds before some hit the top of my hood. I didn't speed up, I heard once that running in the rain make you more wet than walking, so I didn't want to risk getting soaked. The walk up to Kyle's place was uneventful otherwise. I didn't spy another soul on the street after Mr Humpert.
I rounded a shallow bend in the street and came up to Kyles gate. He was already leaning on his fence, puffing away at a cigarette.
"Hey, buddy."
"What's up, Kyle."
He flashed a grin and pointed to his mouth. I stared in confusion before realizing what he meant.
"Oh! Yeah- yeah, I've been... trying it out."
"I like it, makes you look all gruff and foreign."
"What?"
"Yo, check out what I got today!" He excitedly shoved his hoof into his pocket and pulled out a new deck of cards, plastic wrapped and everything.
"Finally got a new deck huh?" I grinned, amused by his eagerness. He loved cards, it was basically most of his performance.
"Yeah! Y'know, thought it was time I got some more... like— cause this is like a new start."
I raised an eyebrow.
"A new start?"
"For real! For me, for you, for my pa. Probably a lot of other mammals too."
I nodded slowly and motioned my head to the side, trying to get him to move. He pushed off the fence and followed.
"Gonna elaborate?" I asked.
"Kay, you see, we're like new mammals. Since everything is changing, we changed too. Like you're a lot more intimidating now!"
I rolled my eyes hard.
"No! Really! You're also a lot more laid back about mammals now than you were before. You still worry sometimes, but not as hard."
He didn't know. Didn't know that I *was* worrying all the time. Close to completely freaking out about how absolutely terrifying this entire situation was. He didn't need to know either. As long as he didn't worry about me, it was like nothing changed.
"And me," he motioned towards himself. "I've also changed. I've set aside my urges to use up all my cash and saved up some cash. By the end of today, my grand plan will be set in motion." He gestured his hooves around wildly, his grin breaking into a huge smile.
"We're gonna get heavily paid today, Barry, and when we do, imma call up my pa and tell him I got him a new place."
My eyes widened.
"Serious? That's great, man!"
"Yeah, the old sable deserves it, I just get worried about him sometimes, y'know with what's happening now in Happytown and that. So I just want him to get a good safe place somewhere nearby- so I can visit him more."
His father did deserve it. Kyle grew up in a loving home. His dad was a single father after his mom died young. He worked himself to the bone for Kyle, making sure his son had food at eat and clothes to wear. Kyle never forgot that, he promised that he would do right by his dad. By the end of today he probably would.
"I got enough cash for a two roomed house over here in Savannah. Nothing too fancy, but a helluva lot more room for him do his thing."
"That's nice, Kyle. He'll appreciate it."
"I hope so, all that matters though, is that he's safe. Happytown ain't what it used to be."
He was right about that. Happytown wasn't anything like it used to be. Which was good, it used to be the slums of Zootopia, a real bad place to walk through. When the city decided to renovate it and make it more livable for all species, especially the predators as they made up just over seventy percent of the homeowners, and a nicer place to visit. It became true to its name.
But in the last week, the suburb had fallen apart again. Angry mammals flocked onto the streets and rioted. There was no more protesting, there was only destruction. Since majority of Happytown was predator, majority of the gatherings formed were predator. They shouted and threw stones, setting tyres alight and breaking the windows of houses and cars. The place had become dirty and dangerous again. Police were up to their ears in calls and complaints from the residents. Politicians kept promising it would be rectified.
What was Bellwether doing about it though? Supporting a memorial march for a dead bunny.
I understood why Kyle wanted to move his dad out. Just like I understood his mindset about Zootopia. It could get worse, but it could also get better. I hoped Happytown would get better.
I fell to my musing. Walking silently as the raindrops around us dampened the cement. It wasn't actually rain, it was more of a drizzle. More annoying than actual rain.
We exited Dark Dirt on the west side and made our way to the train station nearby. The trains in Zootopia were famous for being the best, the most used form of public transport and took you nearly anywhere you wanted to go.
We were planning on taking the Animalia line to Little Rodentia, where the crowd would eventually move through before reaching the Natural History Museum. I didn't know how long we would have to wait, hopefully not long enough to get bored.
As we got closer we heard the sound of many mammals, mumbling and talking, moving around the steel boarding platform. The next train was scheduled to come soon.
We stepped up to the nearest helping window, where a lioness stood, sorting out papers and typing away at her small computer.
"Hi there," She greeted with a fangless smile. "How can I help you gentlemammals."
She must have noticed Kyle talking to someone as we walked down the street. I could barely see her over the counter. Throwing off my hood and wiping away some moisture on the top of my snout, I spoke up.
"Two tickets to Little Rodentia, please."
She nodded and hit a couple of keys on her computer and smiled as her gaze returned to us.
"You boys are in luck, the next train has just enough seats. Been pretty busy lately considering."
We waited as she printed out some tickets, stamped them and handed them over in return for money, Kyle brought his wallet this time. After bidding her a good day we stepped up to the platform, which was surrounded by mammals of every size. The trains of Zootopia were also amazingly designed. Nearly every sized animal could make use of them in comfort. Giraffes had enough headroom, elephants wouldn't get stuck in the doorways, mice had seats their sizes and walkways to reach them. It was probably the most mammal friendly piece of equipment the entire of Zootopia had to offer, and by the look of all the species lined up around the platform, my deduction held true.
We stood in silence for a couple of minutes, the green slip of a ticket that I had declared that the train's departure time would be 9:06, which would be in another ten minutes. Not the longest wait, but long enough. The surroundings weren't as impressive as the train, it was built to provide shelter, that's all it did.
The mammals inside it were more fascinating. Most of the mammals were alone, either playing on their phones or daydreaming. Some were in small groups, usually of two to four at a time. Many of those were couples. One badger couple stood together, speaking in low voices and throwing a glance toward the smaller badger that must have been their child. Several other couples stood together discussing something quietly, laughing softly together or sometimes just standing hand in hand. They seemed too happy to be sad. It felt strange. Although I'd heard that the deceased usually want you to celebrate their memory happily and without sadness. It was a weird idea, considering the mammal was dead.
The platform clock above the railway indicated it was 9:02.
I sighed. Time better not take as long when we reach Little Rodentia, I just wanted to get the day over with. A glance over at Kyle showed he wasn't as bored as me. He rocked slightly, back and forth while patting the side of his jeans to a tune that barely escaped his lips. Utterly useless for conversation, I turned to look back at the crowd. Some mammals shifted in position, allowing more bodies to became visible to me from the other side of the platform. The bright colour offsetting the dark surroundings caught my eye.
A small group of three stood huddled around a cell phone that the middle mammal, a pronghorn, held. The two rabbits on either side of him stared intently on the screen. The bright white, yellow and green (which piqued my attention) of their shirts shone brightly. There was something written on their shirts, a picture too. I waited for one of them to shift so I could get a better view. After exchanging between looking around, staring at their shirts and looking around again, whatever they were watching eventually ended and they separated slightly. Whatever they were watching was supposed to be funny because both bunnies were chuckling, the pronghorn smiling. The left rabbit stepped back and turned to face her friends. I caught a view of her shirt.
In big bold letters stood:
"MARCH FOR JUDY"
The picture was in the middle, the "MARCH FOR" above it. It was the same facade I saw on the news all those times. The bunny cop, Judy Hopps' disembodied head stood out in the bright yellow of the shirt. She was smiling, almost as hard and proudly as the one taken during her graduation. Her violet eyes shone with happiness and kindness. Below her genuine smile was her name:
"JUDY"
They were all wearing the same shirt. I felt my lip pull back. Was I disgusted? I didn't think so, I didn't feel disgusted. Maybe it was just the fact that she had been the cause of most of the mayhem around Zootopia. She made an assumption about the reasons behind savagery before it had even been scientifically proven. It was a mistake that hurt a lot of predators. She couldn't atone for it, because she was dead.
Nothing was set in stone like the words of the deceased.
Seeing her happy face like that on a shirt disturbed me. My stare must have been noticeable, because the rabbit I was watching felt eyeballs on her. She looked away from her companions and searched for their source, soon finding me. I helplessly stared back into her eyes. Her expression didn't change, it neither hardened nor softened. I looked away first, letting my gaze drop to the floor.
The train arrived. We all climbed on and showed our tickets to the passing conductor. I sat in silence beside Kyle, who had adopted another song to silently sing. I didn't feel like striking up conversation. This entire marching event felt off, as if it held hidden malice. Locating it was impossible though. Locating more of the shirts was easy however. They were everywhere, mammals that wore the "MARCH FOR JUDY" t-shirts that came in four bright colours.
The trip went surprisingly quick. The intercom spoke in a static voice, declaring Little Rodentia was coming up. We readied ourselves close to the doors. When the train halted and the doors slid open, we were the first out, moving quickly to avoid getting caught up in the imminent crowd.
"Looks like a lotta marchers have the same plan as us." Kyle said absentmindedly.
"You noticed the shirts?" I glanced up his way, he seemed pensive.
"Course, kinda hard not to with the neon yellows and that. Its nice."
"Nice?" I couldn't help but frown.
"Yea," he looked around, searching for something. "Its nice to see mammals wanna remember her smile and stuff. I mean— its better than remembering her for being the first mauled animal to die."
He had a point. Again. He was on a roll lately, did he just handle shitty situations that well?
"I guess so, kinda creepy though." I murmured.
"Oh yeah! Hella creepy." He laughed a little too loudly. I smiled, glad he thought so to. I wouldn't delve further into it.
"What's our first order of business, O' great magician?" I spun on my paw to face him and took to walking backwards. He played along.
"Well, squire! I believe we need to set up our magic station somewhere in..." He trailed off, searching the street around us. "That direction!" He pointed towards Open Plain road, a tar street that stretched along the way to Savanna Central.
I nodded in agreement and we set off.
The walk down to Savannah Central, city center, was relaxed. Kyle and I spoke about idle matters, anything to avoid the subject of Judy Hopps, savage predators or the future. Kyle was more than happy to oblige.
The weather also looked promising. The stormy look of the clouds earlier dissolved as more of the sky became visible. The wind died down slightly too, becoming a cool breeze. The march would still go on.
Many of the mammals in the 'March for Judy' shirts walked along with us. It was a mini exodus to the heart of Zootopia. I don't think they were going to walk as far as most of the other attendees, they just wanted to be there to show their support. I didn't see those bunnies and pronghorn again.
Kyles phone read 10:13, just over an hour of walking. I registered a dull ache in my pawpads, leading up my calves and thighs. Kyle still seemed in top shape though. He bounced with enthusiasm and wore his smile proudly. I reminded myself, yet again, to get fit.
Savannah Central buzzed with activity, more than it usually did. I didn't go there often, the crowds kept me away for the most part and it was out of the way to go do any shopping. Every time I had been there it teemed with life, all through the day and night. Mammals were always on the curbs, cars always on the street. The area was always lit up. Now though, it was the epitome of movement. Mammals loitered around the what was once a watering hole in the center, in front of the Natural History Museum, and moved around the surrounding store, shopping for merchandise and refreshments.
The place was busy and teeming with the colours of various pelts and clothing.
And a lot of blue.
"Hey, Kyle," I nudged his side, "there's an awful lot of police around here."
Kyle didn't seem surprised and merely pointed at the big building across from the Museum. The ZPD headquarters.
*The ZPD headquarters!* How did I forget they were here. This was precinct one!
"O-oh." Was all I managed.
"Don't stress, Barry. We got this handled, just y'know... don't act too suspicious."
The toothpick in my mouth drooped slightly.
"You literally wanted me to look intimidating!"
My outburst caused a few mammals in close proximity to glance our way. I didn't care, and neither did Kyle.
"Pfft... yeah- right- yeah, I know. But if the blues come around, I'll bail us out. Like— they don't even have to know we're together."
"I dunno, man."
He shook his head and squatted down in front of me, much to my annoyance.
"Dude. Its fine. We'll hang back for a little bit, see what the crowds like. Get off to a place like..." He looked around and pointed in a random direction, "There, that looks good. We can set up shop there in a little bit and I'll do my thing. And you— you can do yours."
I looked away for a second, trying to quell my apprehension. This was going to be like all the other times, except it wasn't. These were a bunch of sad mourners. We were right next to the museum she was killed in, the precinct where the bunny everyone was mourning used to work at was another twenty metres the other way. She made her hurtful statement in that building. Kyle kept his position, his smile faltered only slightly at my reluctance but for the most part stayed intact. My ears flattened against my skull. I'd better not regret this.
"Yea, okay. Let's go."
Kyle's smile didn't broaden, he just nodded in acknowledgement and stood up. I led the way through the many mammals. They didn't have anything better to do than wait for the other marchers to arrive and begin whatever they were doing. I think it was a speech of some sort. They mulled around, speaking to one another or on their phones. Some stared as we passed.
A lot of them wore the Judy shirt. They were all here for the march. We stuck out in the crowd, which wasn't good. I couldn't look inconspicuous if I wasn't wearing that shirt, or if I looked intimidating in the slightest. This wasn't going to be easy, Kyle was certain we would do well though, so there was possibly some hope. We reached the curb. It was slightly out of the way from the rest of the growing group mulling about on the sidewalks, far enough not to bothered by any pedestrians but close enough not to be noticed. Kyle strolled up to it and sat on the curb unceremoniously.
"Now all we got to do is wait." He said slowly.
We waited.
I sighed. It already felt like hours had passed with absolutely no change. I looked at the large clock stationed beside City Hall.
10:20.
I sighed again. I lay on the concrete with my paws behind my head, staring at the sky. The clouds floated lazily, drifting in some high air current. I lost myself in their swirling forms, sometimes gazing past them, through the occasional opening, into the sky beyond. I thought of many things. All of them weren't of the March taking place or the amount of mammals around Kyle and I. I nearly fell asleep once or twice. Soon though, I felt myself grow bored.
I glanced up again at the clock beside City Hall.
10:22
Sitting up abruptly, I pulled the toothpick out of my pocket and stuck it into my mouth. I had nothing else better to do. I chewed on the end of the wooden nuisance before looking over to Kyle. He sat there, with his new deck of cards in his hoof, unopened.
I watched him watch his cards. He wasn't doing anything.
"Kyle."
His head twitched at his name, his eyes soon followed. He looked down to me with a flat expression.
"What are you doing?"
His expression turned to surprise.
"I- I dunno." He slurred.
"What?"
"I dunno, man."
I paused, unable to think of a reply.
"... Why don't you open them?" I motioned to his new deck.
He held it up higher at my mention of it, his eyes examining it in great detail. He seemed intrigued by the question.
"I... don't wanna ruin it."
My brow furrowed.
"But- you're going to eventually. That's what happens."
"Yeah, I know." He fixed his gaze on it.
I waited for him to continue, but when he didn't I spoke again.
"Why not just open it now and get it over with, cause it's gonna happen eventually, right?"
"You're right, but if I open it now. Its essentially got a shorter life span than if I didn't. So like- I'll leave it wrapped up for now until I really need to use it. That way, it'll have a longer life, I think."
My frown deepened. What he said made sense but I didn't understand the concept behind it. To make the deck last longer? Even if only by several hours?
"Why give it a longer life?"
"Cause that's all we want y'know— to live longer and prosper and that shit. So... I kinda feel obliged to give something its full potential when I bring it into the world."
"Even when its a pack of cards."
"Totally. If you could make something live longer, wouldn't you?"
I considered the question, prompting myself to respond honestly.
"Depends what it is I'm making last longer."
"Ooh, clever." Kyle chuckled.
"Yeah, cause you could easily make something bad like pain last longer. Nobody likes pain."
"There's some good pain."
I lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh? Please elaborate?"
"Kay- so its two in the morning and you wake up hungry as hell. You get up and go to the fridge to get some chow and like, after stuffing your face you feel all sick and crappy," Kyle accompanied his dialogue with an act. He was currently holding his stomach and looking sick. "So you're body's like: 'Nah, I don't dig all this food in me' and you're like: 'C'mon body, don't be such a dick, its just a little bit more than you usually get, plus you were super hungry'.
"But the stomach is a dick anyways and you just throw everything up, y'know," Kyle made the motion like he was vomiting into something, making gesture all the while to his organs. "So now you're stomach is empty and you're body's done being a dick so its all okay. Then you feel it!"
He paused and stared at me. I eventually gave a small shrug and motioned for him to continue.
"The pain. Like- you're throat hurts and you got this shitty taste in your mouth. You feel all empty and weak. That pain is good. That pain goes with some sort of… relieved feeling. Relieved that your body didn't kill you and now you got pain. You're happy you got that pain, cause then you know you're not choking on your sick."
"Kyle, what the fuck?"
"Kay- okay! Better example: you do something dumb and get a bruise, and you feel yourself poking it cause-"
"I'll just pretend that you made a valid point."
I roll my eyes and hunch myself over, feeling very lethargic.
Kyles mouth pulls downwards as he holds his hooves in the air helplessly. We fell to silence again. I felt the need to check the clock again, but I knew I would only be disappointed that it wasn't later. It wasn't a good idea, yet I did it.
10:38
Not bad actually. Time had passed relatively quickly. Not quick enough though. I sighed again. Seems I was doing a lot of that.
I got up, trying to rid myself of the lazy haze settling in my limbs. After shaking my arms and legs out I looked over to Kyle, who watched me emotionlessly. I frowned as he continued to stare. I felt uncomfortable but continued to stretch myself out anyway.
"What I would give to be in your house in the morning."
The sentence stumped my stretching. I dragged my eyes back over to Kyle with a questioning look.
"Not in a creepy way or anything. Just like- its funny seeing your small self stretching and that."
I huffed, annoyed by his remark. I wouldn't rise to the bait this time. He made me insufferably mad when he brought up my stature. On many occasions I've heard mammals remark on how 'cute' or 'adorable' I was. Based only on my size. One occasion I was actually grabbed and hugged nearly to death by a hippo toddler. Kyle was there. He did nothing.
The mother eventually heard my wheezing and freed me, apologizing profusely.
Kyle never forgot that day and gave every last detail to Becky, who just ate it up.
Larger mammals just did that though, predator and prey. Just because someone was smaller than them they would place them into a category. Either: "Nuisance that gets under your feet" or "Adorably tiny".
I preferred the former.
Kyle knew better than to mock me about my height, just like I knew better than to mock his fear of bugs. But sometimes we broke the unspoken rule just to get a ruse out of each other, most of the time it was Kyle.
He snickered as my face soured. I ignored it and looked around the area. The crowd had grown considerably larger, it was difficult to believe that more mammals would be coming with the actual march. None of the Judy-shirts noticed us, they were too busy discussing matters with one another.
Some wore civilian clothing like Kyle and I. They also spoke with each other and sometimes with the Judy-shirts. I saw a couple of police officers move through the crowd, leisurely surveying the scene for anything that would raise alarm. When counting, there were a lot of the blue uniforms.
The toothpick in my maw rattled against my teeth as I plucked it out. Might be better if they don't see it, don't want to look like a deviant, in case Kyle's advice proved correct. I stowed it in my pocket. A loud laugh suddenly filled the din of activity. My eyes searched and found a towering rhino officer, laughing along with a couple of Judy-shirts that sat around in a circle of the grass.
They exchanged several more words, along with smiles and chuckles, before the rhino lumbered away towards a nearby coffee stand. The Judy-shirts focused their attention back into the middle of the circle. A radio. Why not?
I strolled across the street, barely looking for any traffic. Kyle said something but I didn't hear, nor cared. I made it to the other side fairly quickly and kept my walk slow as I approached the group. The sound from the radio grew louder, becoming more coherent as I neared. My ears swivelled slightly to allow me hear better.
"-uge. They're literally filling the streets to the brim!" A far away voice shouted over something louder than himself. I strained to make out what it was. "The supporters have now entered Open Plain street and are chanting as loud as their lungs will allow! I think I can make out Bonnie and Stu Hopps at the vanguard from here! Difficult though, it's just a sea of rabbits!"
Must be of the main march. The voice had to be a reporter... reporting from a helicopter?
They got a helicopter in for this? Bellwether must be pulling a lot of strings.
"Thank you, Jefferson," a feminine voice replaced the barely audible Jefferson. "The March For Judy is well on its way to Savannah Central."
"The turnout for this event is staggering." a different voice said quickly, his tone of voice pleasantly surprised.
"Mammals were quick to jump on board after hearing Bonnie and Stu's proposal. Mayor Bellwether herself helped organise and fund the march." the female voice answered.
"I believe she will be speaking at the Natural History Museum later as well."
"Along with a few of Judy's siblings and parents. A charged event in the memory of a great rabbit."
"Indeed, the speeches are said to take place at midday. In other news, Hendrik Blackburn's case is still under review, his next court appearance is said to take place next Tuesday..."
I continued on my way, deciding to walk around the area of mammals to reach Kyle again.
Bellwether was going to speak here, I didn't remember reading it in the paper. That's just perfect.
I grumbled beneath my breath as I skirted several yaks. The security was going to be tight if the mayor was appearing. I wondered if Kyle knew. Made sense, of course he wouldn't tell me, probably worried he would stress me out or something.
I wasn't stressed. No, this wasn't stress.
I was wary.
And yeah- a little worried.
It was going to be fine though. Kyle did what he always did, I'll do what I always did and if something goes sour - we jump.
Simple.
What did I get myself into though?
The paper said there were gonna be something like a thousand mammals here. Many more were coming. We could be caught so easily. The risks were real, and just because I'd never been caught before, didn't mean I'd be safe this time.
Kyle couldn't go through with this, he couldn't make me go through with this either.
I picked up the pace and weaved through the crowd, travelling back to my antelope friend.
I broke through the gathering of animals and crossed the street, not bothering to check for cars.
Kyle's backpack was open, his cheesy wizard gown already on. He was getting ready to perform.
I had to stop him before he got too psyched up. I was gonna grab his backpack and make sure he put everything back, including his oversized wand he was busy stuffing into his sleeve.
I was gonna tell him I wasn't interested anymore, and that I just wanted to go home and keep myself out of trouble.
But when I came to a stop I noticed movement at the corner of my eye.
Two small figures approached. One was very small.
"I told you mom! He's still here."
A rabbit kit shouted excitedly to her mother, who she was busy dragging along across the road. Seems nobody was checking for cars today.
Her mother held an amused expression, directed at her daughter's loud voice.
The kit let go of her hand halfway across the street and darted up to Kyle before I could open my mouth.
She stood before him. It was a sight, this small rabbit with her boisterous smile plastered across her face that was made to look even smaller by Kyles oversized robe. The robe was bought in a thrift store by Kyle, who took a liking to the light blue, wizard look of it. I never told him how ridiculous he looked in it. That and the hat that came with it, unfortunately for the hat- and fortunately for his dignity- his horns tore it up when he attempted to put it on, which he claimed he forgot he had. To replace the pointy hat he used tinsel to decorate his horns. I couldn't tell if the hat would have been worse.
The kids seemed to like it though.
"Excuse me!" The kit shouted overly loudly to the antelope before her. He jumped slightly at her voice turning quickly to face her.
"Hey there."
"Do you do magic?"
A smirk formed on Kyles face. He places his hooves on the front of his robe and held it proudly.
"Only the best."
The kit turned to her mother, who mounted the curb and approached the two.
"See, I told you he was a magician."
The mother only smiled back and turned her attention to the sable antelope in front of her.
"Hi, sorry. Amelia just told me about seeing you here. Had to see you for myself. You doing a performance later?"
Kyles smile only broadened as he did a little bow.
"A pleasure ma'am. Getting ready right now," he gestured to some of his equipment laying around his backpack. "Thought it might lighten the mood."
The rabbit nodded in understanding, still slightly reserved. Her kit pulled on her mother's paw.
"Can we come watch?"
"What time are you planning on starting?" The mother asked.
He quickly threw an arm in the air and announced loudly. "Sable the Magnificent will be ready in about a half an hour," this brought about a fit of giggles for the kit. "I must first find my allusive minion."
"Not your minion." I answer quickly, making three heads turn towards me. They hadn't noticed me before.
Kyle huffed. "Fine, assistant then," He turned his attention back to the rabbits. "Please do come, I'll be doing a lot of new tricks today."
The mother nodded and started walking off, pulling her daughter along. The kit waved energetically as she was dragged off. Sable The Magnificent waved back, shouting: "Bring friends and family!"
I turned to Kyle and sighed. I couldn't pull him out of his robe now. He was going to stay, with or without me.
"Been wondering where you were at." He said.
"Yeah, well... Found out Bellwether is gonna speak here."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"I kinda saw it happening, but it's still sorta weird."
"We could get caught, Kyle. Securities gonna be a pain in the ass."
"S'long as I do my thing and you keep that toothpick in your mouth, we'll be good." He didn't seem perturbed by the new development at all. It irked me.
"You got a thing to stand on yet?"
"Nah, been looking for my bubble blower."
"I'll be back." I say as I pass him, intent on finding a podium.
"Bring back something big, minion!" Kyle shouted over his shoulder, provoking a laugh out of me. I saw him smirk, before returning to find his bubbles. He fucked around a little too dangerously sometimes, but he did care.
I turned into the alley and begun searching for any box sturdy enough to hold the antelope.