Chapter 4: Road Least Traveled

The silence had grown between them a couple hours prior, since Judy had asked more about her mysterious new companion. He seemed to steel his expression and quietly recede from his previous personable nature when she had. It wasn't long into the second hour that a tune could be heard. Nick's ears flat within his straw hat while Judy's own darted, left, right, back but she couldn't place the source till her ears aimed again at Nick. Further inspection though disproved this as nick showed no sign of being its source, and the quiet tune sounded further off. She recognized the melody but couldn't place it from where, the subtle music was just short enough that it left her unable to catch enough notes to place.

Several minutes passed until-There it is again!? The tune played quietly, echoing around them yet emanating as quietly as it could.

"What?" Judy asked under her breath taking a closer look at her blind traveling companion, this time at the tip of muzzles lips, the smallest possible gap proved the source of the barely audible tone.

He stopped with a smile before laughing. "Was wondering when you would catch on, pretty good huh?"

"It was so quiet I could have swore I was hearing things," Judy remarked, "I know that tune." She said, the melody was quiet but each time he had carefully gone over it she recognized it, couldn't recall where from.

"Oh you think you know it?" He asked the challenge obvious in his tone. He then proceeded to curve his lips in such a way. The tune was louder now but incredibly sharp, attesting to what skill you could claim of the simple hobby.

They had traveled for a bit, it was as the distance got further from the small isolated village from prior that she noticed Nick's steps grow less confident.

Outside his element, his familiar ground.

Five or more years Nick learned the old village intimately walking its paths, mingling with the villagers, fishing or otherwise it granted him the time he needed to establish a reliable understanding of just how to get by despite his obvious handicap.

Again the tune played over, the sharp changes were very unusual to her and lacking in traditional style.

Foreign

Judy shot up at the recollection.

"A geiko (entertainer) singer named… Gazelle! She performed in Zootopia several times, I attend her shows whenever their nearby!" Judy proclaimed proudly at her recollection of the performance at her family estate at the burrows, having been years prior. When the tall species performed in her town she at first didn't think anything of it. But when she sang Judy quickly grew enthralled by the tones which were nothing like what she heard before, very unusual. It wasn't until speaking with siblings later she found out the performer was apparently part of a foreign royal family that had fled after power was seized by her uncle and now lived in exile within their quaint country. From then forward whenever the always smiling singer passed through Kozuke Judy made an effort to catch her performances, fanatical was the title her friends and family eventually gave her when it came to subjects about the tall gazella.

"Huh, glad she did so well. I knew her when we were both younger." Nick said as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "She was a spanish foreigner that arrived during the rebellion, was young back then like myself when I first met her. Didn't understand a spit of our languages but I caught on real quick and she was just happy to have someone to talk with." Judy's mouth fell.

"You knew her as a kid?!" Judy nearly yelled receiving Nick's own chuckle.

"Yea pretty sure she had a crush on me also. Always following me around the slums of Harima." He puffed out his chest dramatically. Judy stared him down. "Eh, was probably just that I was the only one she could speak with. Hey I can dream a little right? Romanticize the past in some small measure. Memories are what I have of vibrant images so I tend to embellish them a little," He brandished with a weak chuckle. Judy nodded sympathetically, what few moments she commited to memory often having physical reminders like the sword at her waist now when she first graduated from her dojo. Empathy came in the form of understanding at the sightless mammals propensity for memories in whatever glory they held of a time he had the ability to experience them.

"Anyway, I was not the kindest mammal back then, tensions between predators and prey because of the shogunate that Lionheart was rebelling against imposed massive taxes and unjust laws against predators. I was young and relatively unkind to prey of all kinds." He spat between his teeth with a seething venom that caused her own ears to fall behind her in disappointment as they walked. "But this young fawn approached this snide tod, despite how rude I was, I was the only one who shared her language. Well the only one for our age I suppose, happens growing up next to a trade harbor I guess. She broke me down over time, she had the cutest little giggle. Told me about how different things were where she was from. About how she had to flee from some sort of betrayal, internal war it turns out just like the one she fled into ironically enough."

Judy enjoyed the performances of the foreign gazelle with an amazing voice. She didn't know that Gazelle had been around since the old shogunate. The prior laws would have made her performances impossible given the restrictions that were in place back then.

A day Prior

Eighteenth day of Jugatsu, Aki 1623. Nineteenth year under Lionhearts shogunate.

October Eighteenth, Fall, 1623. War Camp outside of Kyoto, Yamashiro. Edo era Japan.

On the border of Omi and yamashiro, just outside Kyoto, the vast array of tents battered by encroaching winds. Banners of all representing clans of the shrews army held proudly and high within the warlord's camp.

"Orsa?" The low tone of the small but powerful Daimyo asked. The beast of burden in front of him, a mule, part of the trade caravan that transported Judy.

"Yes lord Big." The mule was on his knees bowing as low as he could. Where lord Big had been known to pay for loyalty he was also known for cruelly punishing any offenses. "The rabbit we were escorting was to collect master Orsa, they were sent with a sealed message from the emperor himself." The mule said urgently with worry present in his scared tone.

"Orsa may be skilled, but not enough to turn the oncoming tide, if foolish emperor Lionheart doesn't realize that he has already lost." He gestured for the removal of the nameless mule.

"No! No not for the war, a duel." Big held great power in a single raised hand, stayed the presence of the massive polar bear that was beside him. The large white furred mammal adorned in great lengths of patterned robes snorted before relaxing back into place.

"Speak quickly." Was all he offered to the mule.

"Lionhearts shogun knows your path using the Nakasendo highway takes you through Kozuke territory. Shogun Bogo plans on using his loyal Vassal; clan Hopps to challenge your right to cross his lands by duel. Orsa will be their chosen champion." The mule said still low in a bow prostrating himself carefully.

Bigs hmmd slowly in contemplation. "He intends on using my own carefully planned time against me. Once I hold Zootopias' walls, prey archers will be useless and won't approach in the snow. But if he can delay me against that very same early winter turning my advantage against me it will also grant Bogos loyal northern provinces time to arrive. Their archers would destroy us against the southern mountainous paths." The shrew slowly ran his clawed digits over the fur just under his chin as he thought.

"Yes lord Big." The Mule nodded. "They intend to force you to the southern pass to buy them more time or the northern pass where the forts holding the mountains of Echigo will be manned by the same clan Bellwether archers with relief soldiers from the shoguns own cavalry."

He scratched at his chin again walking in circled steps. "Tell the lords were leaving a day early and that they should have all their provisions ready immediately." He looked up at his large polar bear samurai. "Koslov, call my shinobi. I want a group sent out immediately to slow or if possible kill Orsas party. Send for our skilled ronin as well, it appears their retainer fee will finally see use." With a bow the bear disappeared before the mule in a haunched terrified expression followed with a small pouch of clanking silver shu coins.

Back in the present

Nineteenth day of Jugatsu, Aki 1623. Nineteenth year under Lionhearts shogunate.

October Nineteenth Fall, 1623. Crossroads between Etchu, Hida and Shinano . Edo era Japan.

Nick's abrupt stop immediately halted their steadying progress. Nick 'hmmmd' to himself the tip of his thumbs claw grazing the scruff of his chin.

"What?" Judy asked in confusion.

"Big is stationed in Kyoto taking the Nakasendo highway through Mino and Shinano right?"

"Huh, uh yea, same road I took by caravan down here." Judy tilted her head, it was an obvious route and the roads made travel much quicker for merchants.

"Your mission driven caravan originated from Kozuke province and ended up at Kyoto, lord Big is likely stationed there and no further caravans or merchants will brave the roads until after Big has either won or lost or sieged Zootopia for the winter… This includes resupply routes along the highway. So let's head that way." Nick pointed down a path on their left, the even less tended road lead strongly east. Judy scratched her head again. There he stood identifying the older road appearing untended for years, the same one their earlier discussion of routes that she almost entirely wrote off.

"Why? We'll still be ahead of Bigs' army and the Nakasendo is the fastest route." Judy shrugged waving onwards. "Come on, let's stop wasting time." But behind her Nick hadn't moved.

"I think it would be better to take the old trade routes of Hida to northern Shinano." He said with a neutral tone.

"How do you figure slick-san?" Judy said, doing her best to sound offensive and difficult to the seemingly impassive fox.

"Well, lord Big has plenty of assassins, they will likely travel ahead of his army. He's a thorough shrew, I would wager he already knows you were sent to collect Orsa." Nick nodded as his hand made its way to the back of his neck where it began scritching lightly. He began down the path he himself recommended. For maybe the fourth time she noticed Nicks right ear was aimed at her, even when she was silent she noticed it never stopped aiming her direction.

"Uggh," Judy complained rolling her eyes. "Wait up," she yelled out to him as she ran to catch up.

"And if they catch you on the highway en route they can relay the information that Orsas not with you, back to him. They'll know and he'll travel more confidently or even prepare differently. But if we take the back routes which will be almost as fast and safer for us hmm?" He smirked confidently down at her Judy growing agitated at that annoying smirk she found herself growing to hate rapidly.

"That's awfully perceptive and sly, careful of those fox stereotypes." She said with a crossed tone. The road was even less pleasant on her heels, a slight of envy over her companions padded feet. She could feel the occasional rock or jutting root on the new path even through her straw sandals.

"Well not all our stereotypes are bad, I mean clever fox." He put his hand to his chest before gesturing too Judy. "Uhhhh."

"Dumb bunny."

"What!? No I wasn't gonna say that, just…" He hmmmd at the edge of a word he couldn't quite find.

"Don't even say cute, we hate that." Judy warned.

"Oh? I wasn't planning on it, why can't I though?" Nick tilted his head, Judy took the moment to think over the again vibrant autumn colors around. The unkept road having signs of plantlife retaking it though several appearing to begin the process of hibernation, Judy looking up to find the similarly warning signs of grey skies.

"Well, our family is the first of any noble house of rabbits. Before that were only seen as a peasant species. because of how small, meek and childish we look and how quickly we multiply. Cute just diminishes everything we've accomplished." Judy scoffed at the idea.

"Hmmm how about sly fox and ambitious bunny? Has a nice ring to it and seems accurate." Nick smiled at the concept.

"Rabbit." She corrected.

"Rabbit." He nodded a few steps continued in silence. "Cute rabbit." He said smirking definitely.

"What?! No I just told you why you can't call us that! Its demeaning and condescending." She huffed Nicks ears seemed the pinnacle of his expression alongside his smirk.

"You said rabbits don't like it because it's demeaning in that it's how others see you." Judy began to catch on. "I can't really say it based on what I can see. Since I don't see you fluff-sensei." His smirk grew at his believed victory. With a furrowed brow Judy huffed audibly again. "So I'm not saying it cause some indescript visible bunny in front of me. I don't know your features, short, tall, brown fur, grey fur, black fur, long ears, short, skin tone, features of any kind I don't know them. I say it cause this ambitious, driven but optimistic and honorable young doe samurai traveled the roads on the eve of war to collect a master for battle. But they now travel with a fox, her natural enemy. Its cute and I don't mean that in a condescending way. Its inspiring in a sense, two natural enemies, species not commonly associated with the rolls of honor bound warriors yet here we are traveling to deliver the news of an honorable masters passing." Nick sighed a breath of relief. Judy was again slack jawed at the intuitive view the fox held and reddened slightly at the compliments he so sincerely and freely delivered.

"Fine, you get a pass… Just this once." She forfeited this time.

"Thanks, Fluffs." He chuckled as Judy shot forward.

"Don't push your luck!" She began walking at a faster pace. "Hurry up. Night will fall soon, we should cover as much ground as possible." Nicks response in return was a quick frown and a staggered rush.

"Hey, don't ditch the blind fox, that's cruel!" The confidence in his steps faltered significantly.

"What you don't need my help. Heck half the time I don't even get the feeling you're blind." She chided confidently. The way he seemed to know his surroundings and stepped so surely was a constant source of a proud impression. Nick just looked at a loss, embarrassment crossing his face. "What?"

"I need your help." He offered simply prompting Judy to tilt her head.

"What?" She said again this time though in a more probing tone. She slowed down to take stock of the fox and found an honestly worried expression playing across his muzzle.

"I can't see, so I rely on the sounds of your steps to know that i'm not turning to far left or right to end up stumbling off the path. You start moving further right and I can hear it so I know the path bends right." He said gesturing to his right to emphasise.

That's why he walks so close?

Judy realized, it was a sensible but simple solution to his situation. Despite his confident appearance she realized just what sense of self reliance he really had lost with his eyes. The realization of just how difficult any form of distanced travel for him would be without a companion. The thought of the very sense she took for granted giving her such a simple thing that he was deprived of had her frown with a nod.

"Right, sorry." She fell back in step beside him, he noticeably deflated from his worried outward appearance. The silence that ensued lasted only a few more minutes again.

"Fox at the power of a rabbit, really relying on you. At any time you could ditch me… Cute." He laughed as Judy huffed again. "I know, I only had one free use but I'm using the word on myself this time. We foxes are solitary creatures, very self reliant and here I am right now being lead by the scruff of my neck but my natural prey. I just mean that it's cute, again, as a concept." He dramatically gestured as he continued. "If only my father could see me now! There would be a lot of laughter." He bellowed with a coarse fox whine as he laughed, smiling at the prospect. The once agitated rabbit had slowly deflated from his sarcastic tone finding herself smiling as she thought over what it must look like herself.

"Just as long as that words aimed at yourself it flies a grey area." She made sure to emphasis.

"I do, sorry. Ever since I began studying at Orsa I became a bit more philosophical. I started looking at things a lot differently."

"How so?"

"Well, I never really had the best outlook on certain species, primarily prey like I already told you before." He gestured too Judy. "But losing my eyes most mammals became just voices, true some species have their proclivities but by and large they just become more amorphous to me. My company and outlook changed, life moved so fast for me, then it suddenly slowed down. I began to read a substantial number of books, or had townsfolk or prospective students read to me since," He gestured to the bindings around his eyes. "This."

"Even this guy from another land stayed there to study bushido for a while. I picked up meditation through the buddhist teachings." He listed off the things with a whimsical tone and controlled gestures in front of him as if reliving them. Judy could imagine his time at the Dojo pretty thoroughly by the end of his recounting but still found herself curious about the time before it. His detailed understanding of western and eastern economics and even how he so confidently summed up lord Bigs own counter actions to her own further pushed her curiosity.

"I was informed of lord Bigs assassins by my father, I doubt it's a big secret but you spoke as if you knew him." Nicks expression lost its smile a moment before shrugging.

"I worked for him for a short time." Judy felt her stomach sink, the thin veiled possibility of any loyalties he had for the shrew played out in her head. She had expected that maybe living in Harima might have granted him knowledge by proxy, not that the ronin who accompanied her had been directly employed by the enemy.

"I was a rambunctious fox with a skill for sword fighting. An ambitious shrew with only a few generations to his family name had plenty of busy work for someone without a name to muddle. As long as a good fight was around the corner I didn't mind… At first." He reminisced that same sour expression loosening her own worry. Each time he recalled his past the look of distaste informed her he clearly disliked his prior dealings. "I may not have been the most moral of foxes but I had made a promise to not be what everyone expected of a fox and eventually I realised just how much I was doing the opposite." Nick stopped in his tracks Judy taking a couple more before looking back.

"Well sounds like you came a long way since then, has to have been years. Mammals can change." Judy said, she had to at least believe that herself left hand raised to her own cheek the faded scars there a reminder.

"Cold air, nights falling and smells like rain." He said losing his prior tone in place of a matter of factly one. Judy could feel the humidity changing from her fur and the clouds above were growing more ominous. Their pace had quickened in their search for shelter but they thankfully didn't have to go far given the mountainous northern regions. Judy already settled with this prospect after leaving the caravan that began her journey. A couple nights of sleeping in the rough had quickly brought the cold reality of her travel and left her less new to it.

Nick had a small umbrella or at least small to some mammals where it was large to their sizes. Alongside some larger trees which overlooked a rock facing, the small cliffside gave them a decent amount of protection as the rain began. "Good find, just in time fluffs." Nick said as he set up the umbrella, red in color that blocked the side of the cliff facing away, giving them a dry place to set up and sleep. But humidity alongside the night air still sent chills through their fur to the point of rattling bones. The two had ventured into the beginning drizzle to find enough wood to stave off the frigid night. Nick's assortment of tools surprised her and made her feel ill prepared from her father's expectations of the travel. Where he had sent her with dried foods and water nick had the necessities for most weather. Checking the purse within her sleeve, a couple of gold ryu, silver shu and a hand full of mon coins. It was more than enough she concluded but the issue was the sparsity of rest stops since the highway would go silent for a few days or weeks. In a way, Nick's own recommendation for the back roads might take them by farms, Some that may still be open to selling supplies, she concluded.

Though she had many more questions the same tired sore stretches they both performed seemed to signal the end of the day. Next morning would likely begin with the end of the rain and new questions would arise. Nick's own form falling quickly into sleep further decided this, Judy smiling at just how readily he fell asleep despite her presence, an unwarranted trust for new traveling companions. Her own instincts to stay awake slowly lost to the warmth of the fire radiating and resting the grip of the winds chill in her fur. The fox companions warm, comfortable slumber lulling her to her own sleep shortly after.