Big Paw Hunters
Chapter 4 It's called a Hustle Sweetheart!
Ralph grinned to himself as he took a running jump over the creek. He was a trained police detective and his enjoyment of the 'reality' TV he indulged in was his way of decompressing from his job. He knew very well what Wilde's opinion of the show was and that most of his pack only indulged him as a way to tease but that didn't make him stupid. He landed with a slight splash and shook off his hind paws, the creek wasn't that wide for him, but it would be quite a leap for someone as small as a bunny not that he was going to even hint at that idea out loud though.
His ears flicked slightly as he continued to explore. Wolfard snorted, amused at himself. Regardless of anything else, he knew what had happened when the younger males of his pack had gotten together for an extended howl over in Deerbrook county last year and this was the perfect opportunity to shut some of those whiners up. Glancing back and forth he moved toward the rocky area just above the bank of the creek. Breathing deeply he caught a faint but fresh whiff of bunny. The breeze was consistent now and glancing behind him he saw Judy tackling Nick and the two smaller mammals tumbling onto the land at the edge of the creek. He chuckled to himself at the sight and almost called back to his two smaller companions but….Instead he sighed as his thoughts turned to his not so secret love interest, His tigress partner Nadine Fangmeyer.
The powerfully built, tough as nails tigress had been his partner for most of the last two years and he wasn't entirely sure when his feelings for her had changed. But ever since Wilde and Hopps had been involved with that whole mess at Furzer the two of them were a constant reminder of his own feelings for Nadine. Fortunately, she had cornered him a few weeks ago and they had hashed out the fact that she liked him too and so far, everything had been going well. Unfortunately, Nadine had made plans to visit her parents alone this off rotation. Ralph had to admit, it was frustrating, but it was probably smart of them to wait for the next time their off rotation coincided with the actual weekend to schedule enough time off together to make the trip together to visit her parents.
Nadine was totally a city tiger but her parents traveled a lot and were currently visiting one of the Archipelagos. His pack and her parents would have to meet soon too that way neither family group would be left out but that was a worry for another day, especially since Nadine was already a fairly familiar face around his pack.
His tail which had been waving behind him as he thought of his tigress stilled as his anxiety built again. He and Nadine had hung out with the younger members of the pack a few times, and his parents hadn't tried to set him up on any 'dates' recently which was pretty promising; even if they hadn't officially met Nadine outside of her being his work partner yet or even said anything. His ears flicked back and forth before he shook himself all over and made his ears pop back upright. Meeting Nadine's parents though, that was something he wasn't really prepared for yet. They were nice enough whenever he'd heard them talking to their daughter over the phone, but they were really well...enthusiastic about finding Nadine a steady male.
Ralph felt himself flush as he remembered JUST how enthused they had been, but that had paled beside how they had gotten once she had accidentally let it slip that she already had someone. Nadine had been really stressed then, but her parents hadn't said anything else once that bomb had dropped. Right afterward though was when Nadine had decided to go and see her parents in person to try and deescalate their enthusiasm before bringing him along. Which was why he had wanted to use this down time to get away and relax, too bad he couldn't seem to get his mind off her for very long.
His body tensed as his instincts tickled along his spine. Sniffing cautiously, Wolfard listened as the breeze swirled around him. His senses were dialed up just from being in a different environment than his usual comfort zone of the urban sprawl of Zootopia but that was hardly an excuse since his buzzing thoughts didn't keep his subconscious from keeping him on task. Ralph paused as he realized there was more than a slight slope on this side of the creek. As he climbed, the trees and underbrush thinned and the ground became even rockier. He glanced behind himself to check how far from the creek bed he was and saw that he was only about twenty-five yards or so from the water. Because of the elevation he could also see Nick and Judy who had stopped snogging and were now waving at him. He waved back and his phone pinged and shook.
Answering it, he heard Nick at his snarky best, "OoooOOOOOO"
Ralph laughed out loud, "It doesn't work that way and you KNOW it short stuff."
The bad imitation howl cut itself off into a choked objection, as he watched the outline of Nick's ears fall back against his head. "Hey!" and a loud series of guffaws from the bunny he could just see now collapsed back on the ground.
Ralph made a mental note to tease Nick more a little later over that reaction. The two of them had a kind of unofficial rivalry come sometime partnership at the precinct when it came to harmless pranks and jokes to keep their co workers and friends upbeat, and it wasn't often that anyone got one up on the fox not even him.
Ralph's nose twitched, he smelled the sweet and slightly spicy scent of roses. The wolf sniffed deeply, his attention caught by the enticing scent; he was no longer paying a lot of attention to his friends…. Looking upwards and to his right, he noticed an unusual shadowed area tucked slightly above him in a fold of the rocky slope. Crouching cautiously he used his flashlight app to try and see into what looked to him to be a fairly small niche under a slight ledge wedged under a huge wild rose bramble. Poking his head in as far as he could, he gasped happily at what looked like marks on the inside of what could only be described as some sort of cave dug into the hill.
Nick was glaring good-naturedly at the still giggling bunny as he helped Judy back to her feet. His phone buzzed and Judy's giggling grew louder as the tune She wolf by Gazelle tinkled forth into afternoon.
"It's not that funny Fluff. You know I'm not short for a red fox, and as I recall…it was a certain bunny/cheetah team up that 'borrowed' my phone and changed all my ring-tones and sound settings during our lunch break yesterday. Hey Wolfie, what's up besides your ears?"
Nick's eyebrows rose as he turned in the direction Ralph had gone. Looking across the creek he could see the wolf waving and gesturing as his excited voice came over the cell phone.
"I need you guys to validate this! Can you and Judy come over to this side?"
Judy grinned and offered, "Race you Slick!"
Nick took the precaution of tucking his phone away before leaping after his bunny and catching up as she bounced from rock to rock to cross the creek.
"Make way fluff! Coming through!"
Nick dropped to all fours just long enough to catch his balance on the flat-ish rock Judy had just left. Using his momentum, and his slightly greater size, the fox leaped over her as her ears popped to attention at the sensation of her mate leaping over her.
Nick paused at the sight that met his eyes as he switched on his camera function and borrowed a phrase from his bunny, "Sweet Cheese and Crackers."
Judy managed to keep her smirk hidden as she sent a new text and began her own recording showing Wolfard crouched slightly panning along the wall to show scratches that could be some kind of intentional design and Nick whose tail tip was flicking slightly as he filmed his own angles of a pile of bracken against the back of the space.
As the intrepid hunters returned more or less triumphant from the wilds of the Hopps family's uncultivated lands they all noticed a big difference from when they first arrived. Seeing the large mammal sized ZPD cruiser dwarfing even the tractor parked by the shed. Judy gunned the engine of her ATV yelling over her shoulder as she pulled in front of the main barn, "Come ON you two! Something's up and we need to find out what's going on."
Wolfard shook off his happy daze, those videos were sure to make great entries for the contest. Nodding to Nick who was beside him the fox responded by revving the throttle of his machine and surging after his bunny, "Carrots, Wait!"
Running towards the front entrance to the warren, Judy flung open the door and froze before whipping out her phone to begin filming and snapping pictures. Rushing up to his mate, Nick felt his smile threaten to split his face in two as he whipped out his own phone. Seated cross legged in the huge main room was none other than Nadine Fangmeyer, their co-worker and the not so secret crush of Ralph Wolfard. She was using what was likely an entire ball of bunny sized yarn to play a game of cats cradle to entertain some of the Hopps Kerfluffle.
What had Judy and Nick frozen in place though was the fact that their own two kits were happily watching the tigress along with the rest of the younger kits. Ridley was being used as a pillow by one of Judy's youngest siblings until Ella squeaked and rolled the bunny off her brother in her bid to get closer to the action.
Fangmeyer's ears flicked as she objected gently, "Hey! That's not nice Ella. He's littler than you."
Ella's ears drooped for a second as she glanced down at the other kit and then back to the calm tigress and the bunny in question rolled over and promptly cuddled back up against Ridley. Several other bunnies had shifted at the interruption before the tigress caught their attention again with the rhythmic patterns of yarn.
Bonnie Hopps came into the room with a smile and offered, I made you some blackberry tea Officer. Oh! Hello Bun Bun. You are back earlier than I expected."
At this the kerfluffle shifted and Nick gulped but Fangmeyer let loose with what was for her a very low purr as she accepted a ceramic bowl full of steaming goodness. This snapped the fluffle's attention back to her as she took in the fox and bunny just inside the doorway and added, "What exactly have you two been getting my partner into anyway?"
Ralph pulled up beside Nick's ATV and paused for a moment as the fresh scent hit his nose before shutting down his four wheeler and loping up to the front porch. He paused as he ducked his head so he could fit through the front door and ignored the kerfluffle as he realized that Nadine was in fact HERE!
Just then there was a flicker and Nadine blinked and pulled the helmet from her head. "What gives Ralph?"
Lifting the PIXAR helmet from his head, Ralph's ears perked as he grinned at Nadine and offered, "We don't really need to go through that next bit again do we Nadine?"
A knowing, smug filled voice offered from the other PIXAR booth, "You mean the part where you get swamped by the Fluffle again and when Nadine try's to get you out you both end up getting rescued by Judy using the Big Paw costume her brother built?"
Nick's smirk widened as his bunny took his paw and added with a warm smile at the other two, "I bet it's the part where he and Nadine spend some 'quality time' on the porch Slick." The smug fell off his muzzle as Judy kissed him lightly and she added, "We can always share some of OUR 'quality time' memories of that trip with Nadine and Ralph if you want."
Nadine laughed, "No thanks. You two are already the poster kits for nauseatingly sappy stories at the precinct. Come on you guys. Let's go for a walk over by the central plaza. We spend too much time sitting doing paperwork and I need to move."
Nick started to purchase the session when Nadine's paw swept the USB sticks from the counter and put the fee for them in their place. "Oh no you don't NICK! I'll let you two have a copy eventually."
The foursome stepped out onto the sidewalk after saying thanks to Flitwik the panther who owned the arcade. It was still fairly early since they had cut their session in the PIXAR machine short and there were a lot of mammals roaming around the neighborhood. Most were probably looking for either a bite to eat or deciding what they were going to do with their evening but from the looks of the herds shifting along there were a fair number still headed towards the shops and entertainments scattered throughout this district so their group wasn't very out of place as they moved along.
Nadine's whiskers twitched as a slight smile graced her muzzle at the sight of Ralph's key chain as he happily slipped them back in his pocket after checking his phone notifications. The distinctive logo of the Hunt for Big Paw show and the way his tail swayed gave her an idea to distract Nick and Judy from getting their paws on the footage of her entertaining the Hopps kerfluffle with the ancient string game. "Judy you never DID explain about how you all managed to 'find' that cave so quickly."
Judy nodded before taking Nick's paw and moving across the street towards one of the food carts that dotted this part of Savannah Central. She pulled them along chattering quickly and a little nervously as her nose gave a little wiggle, "It's basically like Ralph said at the 10-7 before we left for the weekend….Our family tends to know that area really well and once I knew Ralph wanted to enter the contest I had my brothers Bailey and Briar get the ATV's ready and my sister had already seen some signs of disturbances when she went with Thistle to the creek so…."
The tigress sniffed and noticed that Judy's ears were too stiff to be in a natural position and even though she was trying very hard to mask it, she seemed to be getting a little more…uneasy despite her usual comfort level with them. Deciding to back off Nadine started to change the subject when Nick's ears flicked and he drew Judy into a quick side arm hug before gesturing to the food carts parked along the entryway to the park across the street.
Nick glanced at his bunny and decided to help her out. She had come a long way from the naive country bumpkin who he had teased when they first met, but one thing Zootopia's first bunny cop still lacked was a decent poker face as far as he was concerned.
Stepping up to the plate so to speak he made sure to flick his ears towards the cart he was trying to get Nadine interested in he offered, "OOOOooo! Look Carrots, they have a tea cart right next to the Panda Picnic one tonight."
Recognizing a verbal cue if ever she heard one, Nadine decided to go along with the surprisingly obvious ploy and went over to the cart to order a tiger sized, hot Chai tea and a slightly smaller iced version for Ralph. Striding over to the cart that held the attention of the two males she rolled her eyes knowingly as the two practically drooled over the sweet and sour veggie kabobs and the cheese, soy cube and rice stuffed bell peppers on the menu at the Panda Picnic cart. Judy meanwhile was looking over the 3 different kinds of noodles with the kind of focused intent that usually meant trouble for some criminal.
Nadine offered, "the mixed veggie Mei Fun is usually good here, and I'm going to get their Pred special Low Mien. Nodding along Judy decided on the Vegetable Mei Fun with an extra helping of stir fried vegetables before turning to Nick to gasp.
"Wow! Those look really good Nick"
Nick's patented smug expression number six was in full view as he slurped one of his skewers clean and moved towards one of the benches by the fountain.
"I DO have excellent taste. I'm glad you are finally catching on my dear Bunny. I'm going to enjoy the rest of these and go back for one of the shaved ices at the tea cart. You just let me know if you want to share."
Judy laughed, gesturing to his off duty attire of a yellow Pawaiian shirt and grey khaki pants to offer, "Your 'excellent' taste still doesn't extend to your off duty wear Slick, but I'm up for a cherry shaved ice with some Rennyu."
Nick grinned as Wolfard's ears perked toward the bunny before the well muscled wolf muttered, "She's been studying again, this is going to be one of those weeks I bet."
Nick offered, "It will be okay Buddy. Ever since the leopard cats Sota and Rio moved onto our floor of the apartment building Carrots here has been researching their culture and it's adorable when she gets the chance to show it off. Rennyu is just their word for the sweetened condensed milk you can add to it, and I have to say, that is always a good way to eat shaved ice no matter what flavor I've tried and the beans are flavorful and have some protein too."
Judy's ears went limp for a second as her nose twitched before she boxed Nick sharply on the shoulder and apologized, "Sorry Ralph, I wanted to make our newest neighbors feel welcome and it's easier to remember things if I use them. I wasn't trying to…."
"OW! Watch the paws there Judy. I'm not taking back the adorable comment, so you just finish up your noodles and I'll go get the dessert."
Nadine grinned as she and Ralph took their leave of the fox and bunny duo who were still sharing their large mammal sized cone of flavored ice and stewed adzuki beans and dairy. Carefully hip bumping her partner, Nadine looked over at Ralph and raised a brow as she watched him finish photographing the scene and return his phone to his pocket.
"You are going to get in a real pickle with those two if they get any teasing from that picture Ralph."
Ralph replied, "Naw, Nick's a good sport and I still owe him for that whole incident in the break room last week. Besides I'm not crazy enough to tick off those two. Our usual PT training sessions are next month and I'm not looking to have Chief Bogo set me up with Judy for a sparring partner. Between her kick boxing, her agility and the fact that I have to watch myself because of our size differential, it's just not worth a few pictures. This is for Bonnie and Elaine."
Surprise colored Nadine's voice as they disappeared into one of the underground stations to head homeward, "You are being a paparazzi for Nick and Judy's Mother-in-laws?"
Wolfard scoffed, "Of course I AM. Haven't you TASTED their food? Mrs. Wilde will make me a whole batch of cookies for these pics and don't even TRY and get me to share Mrs. Hopp's cobbler!"
Nadine's brow rose at this as Ralph continued waving his arms and getting really into his side of the issue, "You are the best paw to paw fighter in the day shift and we all know it. But I'll cheat to get as much of that cobbler as I can."
Laughing Nadine ruffled her wolf's fur and gave him a noogie before going down the stairs after him. "You don't have to cheat Ralph. Mrs. Hopps already offered to send me a care package and if you are a god boy I don't mind sharing."
Nick waited while Ralph and Nadine moved out of easy hearing range but he didn't even try to speak until he saw Judy's ears quiver and she nodded as she accepted the bite of shaved ice from the wooden spoon he held.
"Thanks for your help back there Nick. I almost lost it back there."
"No Worries Carrots. Your poker face IS getting better, but after all the trouble you and your family went through to let Ralph get that 'proof' I'd hate to disappoint him by accident now."
Judy nodded and fed her fox a bite from her spoon as she added with a little smile, "Yep he is SO proud of his drink coozy set, Key chain and his commemorative t shirt."
Nick snorted, the 'prize package' Ralph had been sent wasn't exactly top tier material; but all in all seeing their friend so excited and happy was definitely worth the trouble they had gone through.
He hid a slight blush by flicking his ears down as he recalled having been cornered by Judy's grandfather Otto 'pop pop' Hopps. The old bunny had been surprisingly calm about his being a fox and being part of the Hopps warren once he and Judy had been married. Even more so after Ella and Ridley had come along. But having the oldster ask for tips on how to improve their Big Paw hunting hustle into a more manageable Mares Nest had been more than a bit of a shock. A proud little smirk he just couldn't keep entirely off his muzzle gave him away as he recalled what had gone on between himself and the Patriarch buck.
Otto had been forthright and began, "Say there Foxy. I recon you and yourn are right handy with this sort of thing and I'm right impressed that you are willin' to go along with these shenanigans."
Nick had looked over at the buck as he seated himself in his rocking chair. Nick finished sending the video files to Wolfard's phone and settled on the step below the porch to put his head closer to the old bunny so they could chat quietly. "Why should I give your game away old timer? You aren't charging Wolfard and he's enjoying himself. Besides I figure this little hustle must be a good way to get some extra income out here, what with gullible city mammals traipsing around needing guides, ATV's and food and all. I figure between the TV show, the various add exposure for the local produce and such you all get in Zootopia by sponsoring the show and 'hunters' coming around in the fall after most of your stuff is harvested. This whole area gets a boost and from what I've been able to pick up most of Bunny Borrow is involved one way or another and you all seem to look out for the city slickers so… what's the harm?"
Otto had laughed until he had a rather alarming wheezing spell and had slapped Nick on his shoulder, reminding him of which side of Judy's family she had inherited her boxing skills from as the hit had smarted for a good while afterward before offering a suspicious flask and a grin, "That's the spirit! I knew Judy'd make a Hopps out of you. Let's see what you can add to the family hobby eh?"
Judy smiled to herself at the look on her foxes face, she KNEW that look. It was smug face number eight and one of her personal favorites since he only looked like that when a good memory was passing through. "Come on Nick. Let's get on home. Your Mom isn't going to bring Ella and Ridley back until after lunch tomorrow if she follows her usual pattern and I am feeling the urge to snuggle."
Nick's whole body quivered as his long, luxurious tail swayed and he snapped out of his revery to answer, "Your wish is my command. Especially if it means some quality time with my favorite snuggle bunny. OW!"
"I'd better be your only snuggle Bunny there Slick!"
"Of course you are Judy, besides…You know you LOVE me."
Judy grinned as the familiar warmth filled her chest as she answered the familiar phrase, "Do I know that? Yes, Yes I Do." and together they were lost amid the other mammals of Zootopia.
Final Authors Note: Alrighty, This is Irual here and I wanted to thank everyone who has been so patient with me about this fic. I adore this whole concept and as a reader and a writer I hope some (if not all) of these ideas are continued someday. Real life has been quite a bit of a bear for me over the last year. Also if I am being Honest, I have often gotten side tracked by reading other people's delightful stories about our favorite Fox and Bunny. But I have finished this installment for the What IF at LAST so….
Dear Cimar this is my gift to you and all the rest of the wonderful people who have been so nice to me as together we have enjoyed this fandom and each other. Here's hoping for many more stories and more fun to come for all of us.
Thanks again to you all and please look for my next chapter of Zootopia 2 Learning Curve on FF . Net and eventually on Ao3 soon if all goes well. It is truly a privilege and a pleasure to be part of this story and this fandom, so thanks again Cimar for letting me be part of this.
Your friend and Pen Pal,
Irual