Integrity and Anarchy

07 Know Your Enemy

Three weeks had past and almost twice as many packs had been taken down since the anti-feral task force had been formed. If everything went to plan tonight another would be going down making it three this week. Judy doubted that would happen, not that she had doubts about the success of the operation, only that it would happen before midnight. They had gotten good but their skills didn't really change the fact it took time for a trap to be sprung. One of the many lessons the task force had learned over these few weeks at relatively minor cost. Another was that when you put a feral in the wrong state of mind they make mistakes and make them easy to trap, even more so then a none feral. it was unknown why, probably something to do with their instincts interfering with logic. Confusion was the best but that could be hard to do with the smarter ferals, anger and fear were good but could be dangerous depending on the feral. The best thing to do was to know your target.

After studying the patterns and reports the Anti-Feral task force knew their current target well enough too make their move. The target was a group of bats of unconfirmed ages who likened themselves vampires. They liked too hunt in the deepest part of the nocturnal section of the Rain Forest District known as The Caves at night. As of yet, "The Vampires" as Dominic had named them for their diet of blood, had no confirmed kills but had put several mammals in the hospital.

The city would be rid of this group soon.

Even though the task force was doing incredibly well, their moral was high, the news loved them, the citizens loved them and the ferals respected them maybe even feared them, but there was one set back, one dark cloud that always hovered over their heads, Anarchy's pack. They had been hard at work too, dozens dead and there wasn't a bank in their section of Savannah Central that hadn't been robbed of multiple thousands of dollars. The techs even had to expand their projected territory twice, Anthony 'Anarchy' Catson was a ambitious Alpha and liked his space. Judging from the sightings at least. It didn't help that the bobcat had taken to wearing his old ZPD uniform, as some sort of insult and everyone knew it.

Anarchy and his pack's day would come eventually, for now it was just some busy work till it was time for the task force to move on the Vampires. Most of the force was in their converted conference room head quarters. The long single table had been removed and replaced with several desks and a computer for each of the officers of the force and one for Jack. Who was off making a call, probably too his agency.

Judy sat at her seat near the front of the room her cheek propped on her paw as she read through the classified section of the news paper. She glanced up at the computer screen from time to time too check the progress of the facial recognition scan of the traffic cameras. Like always there were no hits, there were hardly ever hits for a city wide scan. The computers could only process so much at one time. It didn't really matter anyway they had their target, finding a new one wasn't really a priority.

"what you doing boss?" Peter asked while leaning on the desk with a cup of coffee in his paw.

"same old search of the traffic cameras for ferals" Judy replied looking up from her paper with out moving her head.

"oh," the wolf chuckled, "what'ca readin." he nodded at the paper and sipped his coffee.

"nothing much." the bunny turned her attention back to the paper, "Nick and I are thinking about getting an apartment."

"that's a big step." Peter replied, looking away with his muzzle in his cup to hide his dislike of their pred prey relationship. Nick and Judy were his friends and they were happy so he should be happy for them.

"better watch out some guys have trouble with take charge girls." Jenifer said leaning back and smiling at her sergeant, "Canines' are the worst about it when the girl 'hunts for the den'."

Both Judy and Peter looked at the leopard with raised eyebrows and nonplussed sneer, "how would you know that." the bunny asked smile back.

"dated a fox once."

Peter tilted his head with his eye brow raised while Judy stared at the smiling leopard, "well, Nick, isn't like that." Judy finally replied. Before Jennifer could say anything, an orange paw reached across Judy's desk and snatched the paper out from under her.

"ah ah ah, Carrots I said I would find our den." Nick scolded as he slipped away before Judy could stop him.

The bunny puffed out her cheeks and looked at the snickering leopard before saying, "shut up." Judy slid under the table and between the jungle of cords. Nick hadn't gone far, he wasn't really trying to escape after all. Judy called the fox's full named as she dashed at him.

Peter sipped his coffee as he looked from the bunny and fox too the leopard, "you know, I've seen what you felines do to a couch." Jennifer's eyes circled the room then closed as she nodded, holding up her paw as if she was giving him the point.

Nick smiled and held the paper out of Judy's reach as she ordered, "Nick, give that back." she jumped up a little trying to reach the paper but only slapped at his arm, if she really wanted the paper she could have gotten it but this was about dominance not the paper itself.

the fox smiled and said, "its okay, Carrots I was only teas-" the fox's response was cut off when half computers in the room started to beep.

Judy and Nick instantly forgot their play fight and looked around the room, "What is it?" Judy asked making her way to her own beeping computer. The officers of the anti-feral task force jump to answer their leader's question, what had been a relaxed casual time quickly shifted into a tense professional air. With in moments the officers had their answer, each called out the name of the face their computers had recognized, all of which belong to a single pack. Jack walked into the room hearing the commotion from the hall, he seemed to come and go a lot but always seem to be around when something was happening, "what's going on?" he asked heading to his computer.

"the Named are on the move!" Dominic called out, using the title he gave them do to their habit of nicknaming each other.

"How many?" Judy asked as Jack climbed into his seat across the aisle for her.

"all of them."

"whats going on?" both Jack and Judy asked.

Nick was at his computer beside his sergeant. He was doing the same as the other cops in the room, "its not just them, Carrots" Robin bounced beside him pointing at the computer.

Judy looked at the fox's screen "what?" it showed a face match for the member of another feral pack.

"can you put it on the projector?" Jack asked.

Nick glared at the hare with just a slight turn of his head, Slick took the moment to use Nick's mouth to say, "sure, let me get right on that." the real fox pretended to tap at his keyboard till Judy gave him the same order and with in a moment the projector was warming up.

An inner city traffic camera showed the silent march of Anthony's pack. The bobcat himself was standing on the horns of his buffalo pack mate. The alpha wore a ZPD all weather uniform complete with basic Kevlar armor. He had his arms crossed but the camera couldn't see his determined expression. over a dozen ferals walked along side their largest member, some of the smallest members swarmed over the few cars that lined the streets. One of the ferals, an otter know as Slinky held up a boom box. Knowing Anthony's taste in music it was probably industrial metal. Thankfully whatever the pack was intent on doing it didn't involve any of the civilians on the street. Those few none feral mammals on the streets were allowed duck into alleys or dashed into their homes, and probably locked their doors without even a second glance from the ferals. Hopefully the orange brick homes would keep the monsters at bay if their sights were set on them.

But there was something very odd about the whole scene a couple actually, most ferals avoided detection but The Named were especially adept at it. Using back alleys, roof tops, side streets and other means to avoid cameras and cops. Scents and markings known only to the pack members mapped out the safe travel routs stashes of things namely money, good place to sleep, eat or other activities, but here they all were walking down the street in a big group. Except one.

Jacklyn O'hare the top female of the pack. Was normally beside her lover if not hanging off Anthony's arm was lagging far behind her pack. Gingerly walking across cars before she took her time too hop to the next. The hare eventually found one to her liking and leaned on the windshield of a large size mammals compact car. She wore some loose cotton pajama pants and her hoodie with the hood up, she didn't have her deer skull helmet that had become her trade mark.

Down the street from Anthony's pack was a much smaller pack, about half a dozen members. This one was lead by a Rhino who Alfred identified as Brandon Shaile, a 37 year old former high school pawball Allstate quarter back with a promising future that went no where. No real reason the cops could see other then bad luck. He had a criminal record with a paw full of drunk and disorderly along with a few other similar charges. However now he stood tall with his loyal pack of ferals around him.

Nether camera on the street picked up sound, but they could rotate which could arguably be more useful. The two packs stared each other down, the cops turned the camera's so they could see everything. Jack stood on his chair to watch the projected image, "we're recording this right?" he asked.

"Yes." Sonya the sow answered. The room was as silent as the screen the task force was watching.

After a full minute of the alphas staring at each other, trying to see if one would back down. Finally Anthony took a deep breath, threw back his head and roared. There was no sound from the bobcat on screen but their was growling heard in the task force HQ. Nick leaned forward on his shared desk with his claws digging into the wood as he bared his teeth. The feral fox shook as a low deep growl rolled out of his throat, it was felt as much as it was heard. Most found it disturbing, Judy was strangely comforted by it.

It was hard to make out Brandon's expression on the projected screen, but it was obvious that he was unimpressed. The rhino stomped his feet into a wider stance and roared back. His voice shook the cars near him and both the cameras high up on the buildings. When he was done many car alarmed were going off, but most importantly The Named were stunned maybe even scared. They were frozen in place, Slinky even dropped the boom box and judging from his reaction it broke. Anthony's pack looked too there leader for courage and they found it.

Anarchy was afraid of nothing.

The bobcat looked down at his pack and said something the camera couldn't hear as he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. A meerkat broke from the group and dashed back to the car Jacklyn stood on. The foot tall feral scurried up the grill. The hare didn't appear happy as the smaller feral stood straight up and looked around apparently for threats, till the hare kicked him off the car. The hare shook her hood off and yelled something at her alpha, something only she could do with out a beating or worst. She huffed and leaned on the windshield again to watch.

Anarchy growled at her then turn his gaze to his frightened pack. The bobcat roared as he jumped to the street, his pack joined him to shake the street and strengthen their resolve. So when their leader charged they followed, they would always follow. The rhino held his pack back, the difference in numbers was not in Brandon's pack favor. For his pack to come out on top he would have to take down Anthony before the intruding pack overwhelmed his.

It took barely a moment before the ferals met. Anarchy at the front ready to launch himself at the rhino's throat but a single well timed sweep of Brandon's massive arm and Anthony was thrown through the drivers side widow of car. A single blink of an eye latter Iron slammed into the rhino, Brandon's heavy feet cracked asphalt as he slid back a step. However even the bison's immeasurable strength couldn't match that of the Alpha rhino. While the smaller members of the packs fought tooth and claw around the feral titans, the rhino gave a primal call of dominance and slammed the bison to the ground like he would an uppity linemammal from his high school days.

Before Brandon could finish off the bison Anarchy flew out of the shattered window with a steering wheel in paw. the alpha cat caught the rhinos wrist and spun around it like a gymnast. In the brief moment Brandon froze trying to figure out what was going on, the bobcat attacked. Anarchy knew his steel hard claws were too small to pierce even the thinnest spots of the rhino's hide, but his teeth when applied to the spot could be deadly.

The alpha cat found the right spot.

Brandon froze with the bobcat wrapped around his neck those little daggers Anarchy called fangs pressed to the his throat. Even a feral could bleed out and the rhino had no way to pull his foe off or assure mutual destruction. The rhino took a knee and a moment later the ferals stopped fighting around him. The battle had been won.

Anarchy jumped down to the road and stood as tall as his body could be, barely taller this his beaten foe's shin. The officers of the task force watched confused as the rhino bowed down as low as he could to the bobcat, who in turn climbed up on the rhino's snout. The camera couldn't see Brandon's expression as he lifted Anthony above the other ferals. The feral cat released a roar and his new larger pack responded in turn. Even the former alpha.

The Named now numbered over 20 members, from the massive rhino and bison, to the little stoat and meerkat. Most were mid sized mammals, wolves, leopards, even a painted dog and a deer. This diverse pack was just getting more dangerous every day.

With the unwanted help of the rhino, Jacklyn the Jackalope joined her lover up on his perch. The top cat had one arm around his hare girlfriend as he motioned for where his pack to head. The cameras soon lost the pack as they headed off. The HQ of the Anti-feral task force was silent except for the low rumbling growls of Nick.

Judy looked around, her officers were confused and needed direction. Nick was the easiest officer to deal with so she started there. The sergeant reached up and put her paw on Nick's shoulder, he looked at Judy and his growling ceased. The bunny took a deep breath and turned to the rest of the room, "this doesn't change anything." she stood on her chair to be seen, "their time will come. " the bunny pointed to the pig as she ordered, "Sonya update both pack's files. Then come get dressed." Judy threw on a smirk, it was almost fox like, she learned it form one after all, "Girls is time to work for a living." Tonight's plan was simple, the females on the task force would go under cover as collage girls, the Vampire bats preferred prey, and lore them out then their back up would pounce.

A simple trap, what could go wrong.

With out asking the males on the force had already gave their thoughts on the female chanced on attracting the targets. Judy's were of course the best closely followed by the leopard Jenifer. Sonya may have been a pig but she was fit, and had some good biology as she put it. Tara the polar bear was the one the force was concerned with. Both the oldest girl, at 36, and the least cuddly being a 1100 lb polar bear and all, she had her work cut out pulling off being bait. A few of the braver males made a joke or two but after Nick was slapped so hard he did a flip, with Judy's permission of course, nobody had anything snarky to say about the gold jewelry heavy outfit the bear's daughter help pick out. Friendly ragging was normal for any unit.

With the fun and games out of the way the task force split up into four teams one girl to act as bait and three officers to make the arrest, and headed out. The section of the Rain Forest District they were going to was always dark, even for the normally shady section of Zootopoia. The area was a false cave five square blocks wide, seven stories deep under ground and twelve stories high. walkways, stairs and roads criss-crossed every where, buildings hung at multiple different levels. The organized chaos of it all made sight lines few and far between despite the space intended for the residents of this section to fly, Bats made up the largest portion of the population in the caves. Smaller felines, raccoons and other climbing small size nocturnal mammals called it all home as well. There was also room for other sized mammals, just in case. Like the rest of Rain Forest District, the Caves, were some of the oldest environments in Zootopia meant to mimic the old homes of the primitive mammals rather then create a new one.

The entire cave system was 'Vampire Pack's' territory, with the vertical space was one of the largest for any of the feral packs. So the four teams split up through out the cave system, the bait would stay close to their back up as they strolled the streets but far enough away to keep their targets from finding them out. Judy, like the rest of her task force, knew the risk but was confident their back up would be there if they needed them. The sergeant had a small mammal head set hidden under her dark gray sleeveless hoodie with false bunny ears, its semi-tight fleece followed her curves nicely. a black pleated skirt covered her down to her mid thighs and some color burst leggings concealed the rest in a very becoming way. No make up or jewelry. she was supposed to look like a collage girl, and for the most part Judy did. her trap was set now it was time to wait.

And wait she did, they all did.

It took the better part of the night and a least half a dozen location changes but their targets finally decided to show themselves. Even with her ears under her hoodie Judy's powerful hearing could pick out the faint sound of leathery winged flight out of the silence of the dead morning even the earliest risers were just rolling out of bed. The bunny tried to see through the early morning blackness of the caves, but her purple orbs couldn't make out anything more then shapes. She counted six, the whole pack was here, "H-hello?" she called out, her earpiece mic picked up the signal. Nick, Peter and Leo stepped out of the unmarked panel van as quietly as they could.

"what do we have here?" the biggest of the bats chirp-hissed, he was barely half of Judy's height. Hard to believe he and his group were so dangerous.

The bunny turned to the sound of the bat's strange voice, still only able to make out his shape. Judy's diurnal instincts were clawing at her mind, danger hid in the darkness and it was closing in on her but her stubborn bravery kept her in place. She just had to play her part. The undercover bunny lowered her voice trying to sound down and dower, "are you the lords of the night I seek?" she drew out each word like that doe she went to high school with, even Judy knew it was a bad impression but it just needed too distracted them for a moment as her back up moved in.

The bats looked at each other, using the sounds that only bats could hear to communicate back and forth for a moment before the alpha bat said, "what are you doing, Officer Hopps?"

"It's sergeant." Nick growled as he and Leo pounced. The fox slammed his fist into the back of the alpha bat's head and drove him nose first into the ground. The large lion was right behind the faster fox with a single swipe of his massive paws he snatched three more of the winged beast out of the air as they took flight.

The two remaining feral bats screeched in surprise the large predators had snuck up on them somehow. But there was no escape for the flying bats as Peter spread them with pepper balls. The bats could 'see' the little balls with their echolocation but there were just too many of them to dodge and it just took one ball to make a cloud big enough to take them down. In a moment it was all over, the ferals laid on the ground theirs lungs and eyes overwhelmed by the painful pepper, enhance body's working too negate the pain. Judy jumped on one bat and Nick took the other after cuffing the alpha. Todd laid on the real fox's back and whispered about taking out the rivals so he can prove his strength to his mate.

Nick thankfully ignored the savage.

Another pack down but an hour and a half to late, it was Monday now, at least they had a head start this week. But for now they had to finish up here. So while her back up collected the bats Judy called the other members of the task force on her phone she didn't have a radio after all.

Jennifer the leopard yawned as she taped the answer button on her phone. She gave a simple greeting, turned off the screen and slipped her phone back into her back packet of her tight white short shorts to listen. Like many felines the leopard preferred to show off her fur, her spaghetti strap black tank top did just that. It was low cut and barely covered more of her chest then her paws would. Some loose bands hung around her wrist and right ankle that mirrored her spotted black on gold coat. Jennifer finished out her outfit with some rings and a black cotton beanie. The hat hide her ears and her wireless headset. Sergeant Hopps reported her success and told the other girls to pack it in. Jennifer yawned again as she replied, "on it boss, the boys are just around the corner be there in a bit." Sonya and Tara reach replied in a similar manner.

The feline officer pulled her beanie off then plucked the ear bud from her ear with a relieved meow. She rubbed her ears as she began heading to her ride till a voice in the shadows stopped her, "well, ain't y'all just a pretty kitty." in a thick accent from a western movie.

"oh no you didn't." a female voice said, the leopards night vision could barely make out the shapes of a bobcat and something small with horns before something else grabbed her. The officer never had a chance to call for help.

Nick and Judy sat on their unmarked van's bumper. Todd the savage animal was laying on the roof of the vehicle with Robin the young scout rubbing his back, while Slick the sleazeball sat inside smoking. They weren't real and they weren't bugging him so Nick left them be. The real fox looked over his lovely girlfriend while they waited for the last group to show up, "you know, I think you should have worn a fox hoodie."

The bunny looked up at him with a raised eye brow, "why?"

"cause I think you look great wrapped red fur."

Judy jumped a little as her cheeks heated up, "Dumb Fox." she shook her head with a big smile. It had been a tiring three weeks, and it was only moments like this the couple had been able to really act like boyfriend and girlfriend. They do sleep in the same bed and were looking for apartments but other then kissing and hugs before bed they hadn't really touched each other in some time. However thoughts about her love life drying up had to wait. Judy scanned the area before checking her phone again, it had been over twenty minutes since the bats have been caught. They were cuffed and locked in the back of a van while the task force waited for the last officers to arrive, Judy was about to call Jennifer again when she noticed something, "how did they find out we were here."

The sergeant bunny was referring to the dozens of news vans heading their way. Their bright head lights cut through the darkness as they pulled into the raised parking lot the task force was using as an rendezvous point, "maybe that's why jenny's late?" Slick said while hanging his head through the window, Nick agreed out loud leaving Judy out of the loop. She had gotten use to it.

The bunny shook her head and walked toward the approaching reporters with her paw up to shield her eyes from the painful headlights. In the nine hours of total darkness her eyes had gotten sensitive to light and had all but forgotten about her outfit as the reporters mobbed her. They barraged Judy with all the normal questions they always asked, she answered them in an almost robotic fashion. She was tried of this routine but she had too let the city know they were doing their job. It was all the same till one of the reporters a small ground squirrel blurted out, "Sergeant Hopps, was your choice of clothing part of this operations."

"oh uh." Judy looked at herself, before the bunny could answer the question something metal bounced off the ground next to her. Most of the keener eyed mammals saw it but everyone heard the metallic ping what ever it was made. Judy's tall ears dropped back aggressively ending the interview there.

The purple eyes of the bunny couldn't pierce the darkness of The Caves well enough to find whatever it was that missed her head. She motioned for the camera mammals to point their lights to where she heard the thing stop. Nick and the rest of the task force ears were up and some even started to gather their equipment, they felt the tension in their sergeant from here. The lights searched the ground for a couple of moments before Judy saw something.

A glint of gold.

With the reporters watching Judy walked over to the thing on the asphalt and gasped, it was a mini badge. Every officer had one in their wallet. This one had Jennifer's number on it and was smeared with blood, "shit." Judy said turning around, the only thing in that direction it could have come from was a brown walled cube shaped ten foot tall apartment building for small and mini sized mammal.

There was a short figure standing on top silhouetted against the rising sun outside the cave mouth.

There was no mistaking who the short muscular figure with small triangular ears was. The reporters forgotten for the moment Judy yelled, "NICK GET HIM, PETER, LEO GO HIGH!" the little bunny pointed to the walkway above the building. Nick ran straight up the wall while Leo and Peter hurried up a ladder near by, the narrow pathway was just big enough for the large officers to fit. Sergeant Hopps turned the remaining officers and yelled, "Cut him off around back!" they jumped to the little bunny's order, finally Judy looked at the reports, she wanted to them leave but knew they wouldn't, "just stay out of the way." the bunny sped off the reporters not far behind.

Nick had scaled the building before Judy finished giving out her orders. The red fox stood tall almost towering a full foot over the bobcat, Nick wore his normal uniform with a shiny gold badge in place over his heart and that hide anything smile on his muzzle. Not that the fox was hiding anything, his hatred was plain in his eyes. Anarchy returned the officer's hateful glare, the cat once again wore his old all-weather uniform complete with ballistic vest, shine guards and armored finger less gloves, "Ah din' wan'ta do tis."

"then why don't you just surrender?" Nick asked matter-o-factly as he casually circled to the right.

"ah can't do that I-ther." Anarchy replied bearing his fangs walking to his right, "And et wasn't mah idea."

"sure, it wasn't." The pair of growling males charged, Nick could have drawn a weapon but why when his teeth and claws were better.

Peter and Leo were so focus on getting too a good vantage point they never noticed Jewel the wolf swing down from the scaffolding above. The feral canine kicked Leo so hard in the chest with both her back paws the large male toppled back into Peter. Leo grabbed his chest, he swore something popped, "oh no no no no." the black wolf shook her finger in lions face, "this is between Anarchy and the fox." she wore a some tight blue jeans and a red t-shirt tied in a knot in the front to revealing her beloved belly button jewel.

Peter pushed Leo back to his paws and they stood their ground, both were taller then the female wolf and Leo differently out weighted her. However before they could try anything the clink of claws on metal pipes alerted the cops to the presents of others. Above them were half a dozen of the smaller more agile monsters from the black wolf's pack. They hissed and giggled as Jewel looked at the pair. Peter snarled and tightened his grip on the pepper ball gun.

Leo could feel the wolf officer's tension, they were surround by the only thing Fangmeyer really hated and he could break at any moment, "hold your breath." Peter said in a growl. This was about to get bad Leo knew it. The lion barely had time to realize what the plan was, let alone inhale before Peter let loose a burst of pepper balls at the black wolf. The pepper balls flew about as fast at the darts but they were smaller and at that speed a slight bump caused them to burst into a choking cloud, sadly it only took a few moments for a feral of Jewel's size to fight through the pain after the sudden shook.

But sometimes all you need is just a moment.

Jewel cursed as she attempted to step out of the way of the pepper balls, but two hit her bare belly and one burst against her wrist. That one hurt. She yelped and took in lung fulls of the burning pepper, that hurt worst. As the feral collapsed wheezing and coughing the white wolf turned his weapon to the threats above him, he could barely make them out and was just trying to distract them before he pushed the lion forward. Leo complied with his fellow officer and help easily bowl over the hacking wolf. Jewel could have stop the officers charge fairly easily if she could breath or see, she was barely able catch herself from falling to the ground. Leo and Peter ran on till they were finally able to breath, Nick would have to wait.

Nick and Anarchy were covered in bleeding claw marks and swelling bruises. Both alpha males would need to replace their uniforms, the torn bloody fabric revealed the worst of their injures, a savage serious of teeth marks along Anarchy's belly and back from when Nick unsuccessfully tried to bite the bobcat in half which earned the fox the deep, ragged bite wound in his right shoulder that still oozed blood. It all looked painful and it was, but nether feral was showing any sign of slowing. Nick had the advantage in reach and was possibly the stronger of the two, but Anthony was the better fighter.

The growls and taunts became suddenly silent as the pair of alpha males separated for a moment, standing about five feet apart. They stared at each other, their faces neutral as they ignored the pain, nether had been able to gain an advantage over the other. Anthony found it odd, but had no time to think about it as Nick went on the offense again putting his seldom used claws to use. The first unexpected swipe caught the cat in the shoulder taring open is neoprene uniform and the flesh below. Anarchy yowled in pain and spun with the blow. The small cat was ready for the next swipe and stepped inside Nick's reach too slam his fist into the fox's rock hard belly.

Nick grunted and grabbed Anarchy's arm to catch himself, the fox's claws dug into the bobcat's Kevlar wrist guard. With a snarl, Nick pulled his foe too him, but Anarchy went willing spinning the fox around. The feral cat grabbed Nick's arm with his own claws, and with his lower center of gravity Anarchy found his advantage. The cat pulled the fox toward him this time and kicked Nick's front paw out from under him. The feral Officer's eyes went wide as he was pulled off the ground.

Anarchy released his grip on Nick's arm as he spun around. Most of the fox's claws came from of the Kevlar arm guard, but one painfully stayed behind as the fox sailed thought the air. Nick caught the edge of the roof with his unbloodied paw, unfortunately the concrete gave way and he tumbled over the side. Anthony growled a bloody laugh only to have to run as pepper balls started to explode all around him.

Judy and other officers came around the building as Nick crashed down on top of a small mammal car shattering it's windows as he crushed its roof. Judy almost shrieked her boyfriend's name seeing him laying on the car and not moving. The bobcat jumped to a lamp post he balanced on light too look down at Nick as Judy ran to the fox's side. The bunny glanced at Anarchy and order her officers after him. They moved without thought, their sergeant's orders were all they needed to act. With so many weapons trained on him, the alpha jumped to a lamp across the street. He spun around post and then jumped to the wall, with darts and pepper balls exploding around him Anthony scurried up to the roof.

The bunny did not chased after the feral with the rest of her officers, the sergeant had a downed officer to check on. Judy had tears in her eyes as she jumped on the crushed car, "NICK!" she gasped seeing his tattered, blood soaked uniform. she gently shook his shoulder, the wrong thing to do if he had a spinal injury. Judy quickly regain her senses and pulled her phone out to call an ambulance.

Nick opened his eyes and looked at his bunny, "Carrots." he coughed weakly, "Don't give them a ticket" the fox relaxed with a groan as he pulled his legs up so they weren't hanging uncomfortably over the back of the hatchback car.

The bunny was confused by the fox's request, She looked over him then notices a fire hydrant the car was parked next too. An almost relieved smile crossed her face as she shook her head, with an ambulance on the way she could relax a little. Nick was in pain but would be okay

The better climbers of the Anti-feral task force scrambled up some fire escapes and ladders to pressure the bobcat from the roof tops. Gordon, Mario and Alfred thought a ram, tiger and Ibex could handle the feral bobcat till the other cops arrived. The remainder of the officers ran around the building hoping to be able to get in front of their target and possible form a firing line.

However Anarchy was ahead of them already, with so many officers below and the three behind him the cat just ran across the roof and jumped to the next set of buildings. The little feral feline was a blur of motion as he ran on all fours easily out pacing the three officers on the roof and just barely out of Peter's sights. Anarchy dashed over to some pipes that carried water throughout the cave system levels, his claws screeched as he scurried up the pipe.

Leo and Peter could see the bobcat's shiny white smile in the blackness of the caves a moment before their powerful night vision picked up the grinning cat. With a forced cackle the alpha turned and dashed into the shadows, both officers growled as they raced after him only just keeping their target in sight. The feral bobcat was fast, some how keeping pace with the longer legs of the officers chasing him. Something was off though. Leo knew their target the best, they had been partners after all, and as far as he could remember he could not think of a time Anarchy talked about running away from anything, especially a fight. Plus wasn't Anthony's pack right behind them. If they were that could only mean a few things.

None of them good.

Leo's hard paw pads slid on the metal catwalk when he tried to stop. The large lion grabbed his shoulder mounted radio and yelled, "Adams too all officers! pull back stop the pursuit!" his roared words almost reach the officers on the lower pathways, "It's a trap!" he repeated himself twice to make sure he was heard.

the other task force members heeded Leo's warning, Anarchy even spun around and smiled at the massive feline, "good job, partner." his taunt was cut off as Peter continued to charge after him, although he began to run away again Anarchy gave a short almost annoyed laugh.

"Pete no." Leo yelled as he chased after the wolf. Anarchy lead the way around many turns and several walkway. The feral used his compact size to his advantage, scrambling through scaffolding or up water pipes. Peter was seeing red, the white wolf was not an angry canine his mind was not use to it and seeing the mammal he hated so much almost within reach was enough to break the wolf. Peter had to take Anarchy down.

Pepper balls exploded all around the bobcat when ever Peter had Anarchy in his sights. The feral laughed a taunting laugh that would haunt Peter's mind for weeks, or at least is sounded like a taunt to Peter. Too most it sounded like the Bobcat was only slightly amused by all this.

Finally after jumping and climbing through the pipes and supports Anarchy returned to the pathway. Peter growled as he slid to a stop, the feral just looked like a smiling cat in the headlights of a car as the wolf raised his pepper ball gun. The wolf pulled the trigger but the only thing that left the barrel were puffs of air. He was out of ammo and that just seemed to tickle the bobcat something awful, this laugh was real.

The cackling cat jumped down from the walkway and spun around some pips to slow himself down before rolling across some soft grass to soften the landing. Peter tossed his empty weapon away then ran over to a ladder. the bobcat watch him climb down from the only lite area on this block, a small park made of some low light needing trees and bushes as well as one of the few water way entrances of "The Caves."

Before Peter could get more then a few rungs down the ladder Leo grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. The big lion was not fast but he was strong and thankfully he wasn't letting his anger control him, despite his arching scares. The lion recognized the area as a perfect ambush point. The wolf growled and yelled "let me go he's going to get away." as he was pulled back up.

"use your head, Fangmeyer!" Leo growled through clenched teeth, "you go down there your just going to end up dead." the wolf continued to struggle in the lions arms as Anthony gave them a specific gesture from below. When it became apparent the officers weren't coming down Anarchy yowled and over ten members of his pack came out of various hiding places, the otter named Slinky even emerged from the water way like a dolphin almost standing up on the tip of his flat tail. The otter came down on his paws behind his alpha. Another call form the cat and the remaining members of the 'Named' arrived in the square, even the new members. Jacklyn however didn't take her normal place beside the pack leader, she stayed in the shadows on the far in end of the square.

Even in the darkness of the catwalks the bobcat could see Peter's futile struggles to free himself from Leo's hold. the alpha cat sighed then order his pack to leave. The smallest of the pack climbed on their larger counter parts who then to dove into the water way. However the two biggest of the pack ran into the darkness, Jacklyn went with them. Last to leave were Anarchy and Slinky. The otter fell back into the water way quickly followed by the bobcat, who grabbed onto the otter's legs. The grinning beast sped away pulling his leader with him.

No statements were given to the press this morning, with Nick injured and Jennifer found dead in an alley Judy had other things to do then talk to the press. A preliminary investigation found the leopard's injuries were caused by a branch saw, the Stout's known as 'Ripper' weapon of choice. There was also evidences of a fight, but at this time they couldn't tell if Jennifer was involved or not. Judging from the damage in the alley she wasn't. Her body was sent to the Percent one coroner for autopsy to confirm what the crime scene techs thought.

Nick was taken to the closet hospital, most of the task force went there. Officers Dominic Wolfard and James Tannor went with Jennifer's body, they were supposed to protect her in life the least they could do is escort her in death. Nick was for the most part all right; minor concussion, heavy bruising, cuts and bite marks all the normal injuries from being involved in a bad street fight, and most likely losing it. After cleaning the wounds, a stitch or two here or there to help the already fast healing wounds stay close, some bandages to help them stay clean and the fox was declared fit to head home and more importantly duty the next day.

Judy watched as Nick adjusted the cooling pack around his head with his left paw, his right had an unwieldy bandage over his index finger, "think I should get an eye patch?" he asked as he picked up his uniform shirt it could barely be considered a shirt now, the white tank top he still wore wasn't much better. It more resembled a splotchy red toga then anything. The bandages on his chest covered more then it.

"why?" the bunny questioned.

"make the others think I lost an eye?" the fox replied with a slight smirk, he was joking but their was an underlying need in his words.

Judy shook her head and looked away, "not the time, Nick!" the fox apologized as he followed his sergeant, he tossed his shirt in the trash on his way out. It was time to work again Judy was his boss right now not his lover. However a few feet down the hall however Judy took Nicks paw in hers and held it tight, she needed her boyfriend more then a subordinate right now.

The downtrodden members of the task force were waiting in a sitting area just down the hall, though few were sitting. Too much nervous energy. The officers perked up some seeing that they were only missing one of their number. The air still felt heavy with emotion.

Nick was greeted, congratulated and hugged by his fellow officers even Jack Savage, the hare special agent whose real name and government affiliation was strangely kept secret, expressed his concern for the fox's well being. After a couple of minutes of chitchat and many questions of if Nick was really doing alright the officers turned to their leader. Judy stiffened her ears stood up straight and nose twitched like crazy, before Nick could show proper concern the bunny clenched her fist and said, "were not going to take this lying down, were going to get them." Judy climbed into a chair to be more on eye level with her subordinates, not that they minded or even noticed the height difference most of the time. Despite her outfit belying her professionalism, Judy looked so serious it was almost frightening, "go home and get some sleep, the real hunt starts tomorrow." she looked at the determined face of each of her officers, "cause tomorrow, the 'Named' become the Numbered." even though the line wasn't the best one liner they ever heard all of the mammals under the bunny's command gave a cheer.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The sun was well up by the time Nick and Judy got home. Nick had gotten out of his lease with his old place, and sold or stored his stuff for later. Judy's apartment was sized for one small mammal not a fox and a bunny along with their gold fish. The couple was looking for a new apartment in what little spare time they had. But the state of their living conditions was the last thing on their minds at the moment, they needed sleep. It had been a hard day. Nether Nick or Judy took much time too undress. Judy pulled her hoodie and shirt off in a single motion before dropping them and flopping on her bed in her skirt and leggings. A moment later Nick curled around her wearing nothing but bandages and his boxers the next thing they knew both were in a deep sleep despite their neighbors starting to argue.

Judy's little pink nose wiggled as a minty burn tickled it, the bunny reluctantly opened her eyes and rolled away from the wall to look around the small room. Even almost asleep it wasn't hard for the cop to find the origin of the smell and the trail of smoke attracted to it. Nick was siting on the floor under Judy's Tv with his arm resting on the table. He held a burning cigarette over a soda can the table was just high enough to make it the position a little awkward.

Nick was now only wearing his plaid boxers, he had removed all the bandages except that one on his finger, his eyes were sunken like he hadn't slept. They're dull green iris moved up to follow Judy as she rose. She blinked her own tired eyes as she glanced at the clock. It was eight in the morning, they only got home about six thirty why would he wake up just too smoke. A tendril of the minty vapor caressed the bunny's nose causing her to cough, "Nick, koff, I told you I don't want you smoking in the apartment." she rubbed her face after she kicked her feet over the side of the bed.

The fox looked at his cigarette, it was almost gone so he dropped it in the can with the other two butts, "sorry, I uh I had a dream." Nick begrudgingly admitted, always her. Some how without really trying Judy could get Nick to admit his deepest secrets.

Judy narrowed her eyes as she guessed the dream, "your subconscious insults me, Nick."

the fox thought 'if she only knew.' Nick looked around the room, Todd was on the bed with Judy laying right behind the bunny, his eyes and ears scanning both ways into the room. Robbin stood on the air conditioner watching the street through the window while Slick stood by the door waiting. They would be ready if anything came but being ready was one thing, what Nick was truly worried about was another.

"it wasn't what you think."

Judy rolled her eyes, she wasn't as sleepy any more but still would rather be in dream land then dealing with her boyfriend's nightmares, "let me guess, I was chased through the woods like some helpless little maiden by a pack of monsters."

"No." Nick's answer confused the bunny, "you fought them, you were winning." he said looking away, "you were strong, fast everything you needed to be, the monsters couldn't touch you." he took a breath and looked in the soda can wishing he still had the cigarette that was smoldering inside, "at least till you made one mistake."

"what?" the bunny asked as she slide off the bed, her state of dress never crossing her mind.

"you relied on me." the fox said looking at the bunny finally, "I couldn't help you. I was useless, too slow, too weak, and too arrogant to see it." Nick looked away again in a huff, why was it so easy to confess things to his girlfriend.

The answer came in the form of a soft paw gently griping Nick's shoulder as another turned his head to look at Judy's face again. She stood on his thighs, in the shadows of their home the bunny stared into his green eyes, "Nick, that was just a dream." Judy pulled herself close, her head finding that perfect place under his chin. The fox's arms curled around her tightening the hug, "you've never failed me before, and your not going too. Your too good for that." Nick was about say something cynical but Judy's lips plugged it up, "come on." she ordered as she grabbed his wrist and stepped out of his lap. They had some time to sleep before they needed to be at work. Once back in bed that's just what they did, wrapped in each others arms.

In the late afternoon Judy and Nick finally got up. Nick stretched on the bed while Judy sat on the edge and straightened her stiff elbows. She yawned as she pulled her skirt off and let it flutter too the small pile of clothing at the base of the bed. Another yawn stretchered the bunny's jaws as she wiggled out of her leggings and the rest of her undergarments. Her large ears twitched a little as Nick hoped out of bed on all fours, "how you feeling?"

"great, all things considered." Nick replied looking at his perfect orange, cream and brown pointed coat. Only his finger was still bandaged, he turned his attention to it and then held up his paw toward the naked bunny. The fox smirked as he flicked his fingers and his claws came out of his none bandages fingers. Judy was unimpressed while Nick looked disappointed, "dang, that didn't work."

"what?" the sleepy bunny asked as she ran her claws through her fur before she grabbed her towel off the rack by the bed.

"the bandage is just thicker then I thought. I was going to like force my claw through it." Nick chuckled as he used the claws on his other paw to sliced through bandage revealing his newly regrown nail.

"let me look at it." Judy said as she tossed her towel over her shoulder and examined the injury that healed in hours what should have taken mouths. the bunny held his paw with both of hers as she stared at the dried blood staining his fur for much longer then needed, long enough the fox noticed. Just as he was about to say something Judy blurted out, "looks fine, uh go clean it up." the bunny was a confused by her sudden train of thought.

After Nick grabbed a towel the pair headed to their floors bathroom, it was clean enough to feel clean after showering in but a community wash area was just one of those things that lead one to want for more private surroundings. Once clean the cops did as they would any morning, they had some omelets for breakfast, before they dressed in their uniforms and headed out paw in paw.

Society's perceived power be damned.

Nick puffed on a cigarette as they walked to the coffee shop on the way to work. It was one of those chains that's on every corner, high prices for crappy beans the fox always said. Nick waited outside in his uniform with his mirror shades on and the cigarette in his mouth while Judy went in to buy the coffee. Neither of them had their badges on, so Nick smoking was okay for the most part. The order was easy today two black coffees no cream, no sugar, no flavors it was not a day for rewards. With a small cup for Nick and an extra small for herself in her paws Judy walked outside, but Nick wasn't where she left him.

The bunny found her partner around the corner in the alley surrounded by a haze of Night Howler tainted cigarette smoke, it tickled Judy's nose as she held the larger cup out too Nick. The bunny held in a cough and her normal complaints about the smoke. She didn't want to rub salt in the wound, so to speck. Nick had already been shunned into the alley by some easily annoyed mammals.

To spar Nick's nose the torture of the subway, Judy hailed a cab. Nick still had trouble getting one to stop, even in uniform. That annoyed them both. Once in the cab the couple could tell that the buffalo driver didn't like what he saw. It wasn't uncommon for smaller mammals to share a seat belt in a larger vehicle, but the way Nick had his arm around Judy was just too familiar for them too just be friends. Judy had given up on the whole keep their relationship kind of a secret. Even at work sometimes Judy needed to be propped up by her boyfriend from time to time. It wasn't one sides though, Nick needed affections and discipline from his girlfriend at least once an hour. They did keep the open displays of affection to a minimal, and Nick never got any special treatment from his sergeant.

Nick watched the driver glance back at them through his rear view mirror as he drove, little did the buffalo know that Todd the savage was siting next to him and growling like a monster with drool dripping from his fangs. But Nick's interest in the driver and his prejudice was forgotten when he felt Judy shake a little. It wasn't fear and she wasn't crying. She was angry, very angry.

"its not your fault." Nick whispered into her ear, it wiggled with his words.

The bunny's vacant stare never left the back of the seat in front of them, the closer they got the station the more real the loss of one of her officers became, "I know." Judy said, "Its just the job's no fun any more." she sighed, "but I guess there will be times when its like this."

"yeah." Nick replied with a nod, Judy just needed him close for some comfort. she wouldn't let this break her.

At the station Nick paid the cabby while Judy sipped her coffee and looked around, she noticed Peter get dropped off by a sedan after it sat by the curb for almost as long as her cab did. Why was the wolf being driven he had a that big truck he was so proud of. The wolf even worked on it himself. Plus who was that in the car with him, the tinted window hid the feline's features. Was it that Jess or Jessie the wolf called on occasion, but that was Peter's personal life and he could keep it to himself if he wanted.

When Nick was done with the cabby and noticed the white wolf exiting the sedan, the fox had to do something "Hey, Pete, you got some lipstick on your cheek!" The wolf cursed and started to rub his cheeks, both Nick and Judy chuckled a little, "I knew you wanted to know." Nick said as the couple turned to the station door.

Life goes on and everyone lives it their way.

Most of the anti-feral task force had already showed up for the day, Judy had given her officers a broad time to come in, and if they didn't it would have been understood. but there was only one officer missing this day. After clocking in and a big hug from Benjamin, Nick and Judy got to work along with the other members of the task force.

There was much too do today, identify the new members of the Named pack, run facial resignation scans, compile sighting reports while sorting out the useless ones and investigate any promising leads if there were any. As with many high profile cases every mammal saw ferals everywhere, especially Anarchy and his group. It had gotten worst when a reward was offered. A few of the officers, Nick included, beginning to wish calling the police with a psychic vision was an arrestable offense. Not that any of the task force officers actually took any of the calls themselves, they were just tired of hearing about how tired the mammals that did were tired of taking them. It was that bad.

That wasn't the only problem the ZPD was facing thanks to underling paranoia and greed. The police had been hit with dozens of profiling suits from bobcats, Hares and anything that might be close to that description and that was just from when the hunt for Anthony and Jacklyn was concerned. How that would all end was anybody's guess.

Identifying ferals was always an inconsistent thing, sometimes pointless and even impossible if they didn't have a record. Anthony seemed to attract single mammals in their mid twenties of various backgrounds, form gang thugs to innocent every mammals. There were a few out layers like Brandon Shaile, alpha of the other pack the Named absorbed the day before, was 37 and divorced. He lived alone as far as the cops could tell, minor criminal records only tell you so much. So they would have too check his history themselves, James and Hathi were dispatched just for that. A Rhino and an Elephant would be more welcome in that area of the city.

Judy had planed on giving everyone an easy day but a few things just had to be looked into. Other then Brandon Shaile there were some frequent sightings of members of the Anthony's pack at a group of neighborhood pharmacies and the most interesting discovery from yesterday. A 40 year old African painted dog by the name of Kristina Majira who first appeared with the pack a little over a week ago. She was married with three pups and only had a minor criminal record; a couple of arrest twenty years ago in her collage days for drunk driving and misdemeanor drug charges but nothing in recent history. She seemed to have settled down after she got married but something changed recently, Judy wanted to know what and if they can use that to tract down her pack. Judy and Nick headed out to speck with Kristina's husband while several other officers went to check out the pharmacy sightings and half of the task force stayed at the station too do other work.

The Majira residents was located in the suburbs of Savanna central just outside of down town, it was one of the oldest 'modern' neighborhoods in the city. Nice, but with the downtown buildings looming over head and low income housing just barely minutes away some may want to look else where for residences.

The officers arrived at their destination as the sun was beginning to set, and as luck would have it Vigo Majira the husband of their suspect had just arrived home from work. He had just parked in the drive way as patrol car 52 pulled up to the curb in front of his home. the painted dog was worried but also strangely relieved to see the police, almost as if he expected them to come by sooner or later. Vigo invited Nick and Judy in before the officers even asked.

The house was a nice single story three bed room two bath home with a living room and full if a little cramped kitchen. The officers gave Vigo a few minutes to speck with his three pups, and give them some money to head off to the local pizza place arcade. It was just a five minute walk from here and apparently they went there all the time.

While Judy kept an eye and ear on the canine, Nick did a little exploring. The first thing he noticed was the smell, the fox would have to cut off his whole muzzle to not pick up on the chicken slow roasting in the oven. With a glance in the kitchen he saw a few things that added to the mystery. About half of a day old cake sat on the counter under a glass dish, a complete lack of dirty dishes in the sinks, no clutter on the counters and the trash had been taken out. The fox spun around his piercing green eyes scanning the living room. All he saw was his other selves. Todd curled up on the couch like he belonged there while Slick and Robin discussed a movie to watch, it was all very domestic. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

The house was clean.

There were lines in the carpet from being vacuumed this morning, the only clutter was a bag of chips siting on the floor in front of the couch were the two boys had been playing a video game. The pups had turned off the game when they left but left their sodas and chips behind. Same with the girl, her dolls were just in the chair she had sat in but everything else was spotless.

"nice place, huh?" Nick said as he rejoined Judy

"yep." the bunny replied as Vigo approached them.

"your here about my wife aren't you?" the multi colored canine asked bluntly.

"straight to the point, good." Nick commented from behind his mirror shades, they both protected his eyes from the bright lights in the room and kept him aloof.

Judy nodded as Vigo sat on the couch, he offered them seats which Judy took while Nick leaned on her chair, "Mrs. Majira, when was the last time you saw your wife?" Judy asked.

"almost two weeks ago." he answered a little too quickly, "she kind of just disappeared one day."

Judy scribbled down some notes on he favorite pad, "had anything changed before that? were you two having problems?" the bunny watched the canine's face closely.

"no." Vigo answered, "in fact everything was going great, she had been diagnosed cancer early this year, but the treatments had worked and we threw her a big birthday party to celebrate. Then she just disappeared." both the police officers could tell he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"so her birthday was the last time you saw her?" Nick asked taping Judy on the shoulder silently asking for info. They were partners when one had something the other did everything to help. The bunny flipped the page to Kristina's info, her birthday was over a mouth ago.

"yeah, she left the next day."

"well beating the big C and the four oh is a massive deal." Nick said hinting at how much they knew.

"oh uh."

Judy snapped her note pad back to the current page, "Mr. Majira, why are you lying too us?"

"I uh um." the dog's large ears were down and his eyes were wide as they could be, if he wasn't siting his tail would most certainly be between his legs.

"sir," Nick said simply, "we know your wife is a howler user, and that she's feral."

"we're not here to arrest you." the sergeant continued lowering her note pad, "we just want to help, but if you keep lying to us..."

"you'll need to hire a babysitter." Nick stated removing his sunglasses revealing his sad but piercing eyes, "we know both you and your wife don't want that." the fox casually closed his sunglasses

"you've had contact with her haven't you?" Judy asked, it didn't take much for her to get on the same page as Nick.

Before Vigo opened his muzzle to speck Nick cut in saying, "we know you have, you work all day, and with the medical bills you probably have, I doubt you can afford a maid or cook to keep this place looking the way it is. So no more of the lies please."

The painted dog sighed and looked at the floor, "she's still my wife and I still love her even if she's gone...nuts...and is hanging out with some psycho."

"when did she start using?" Judy asked wanting to piece the story together.

Vigo took a breath and looked at the cops, "Back when she was on chemo the treatments were just about killing her, so the doctors asked if she wanted to be used in some drug trial to counteract the side effects." Nick and Judy looked at each other the story coming together, "it was back before we knew what Howler did, but it worked, She was like a puppy again. Energetic, happy, hungry for life and more. I couldn't really keep up... she was insatiable." Judy looked up at Nick her cheeks burning a little before returning to her stoic expression.

"so when did she leave?" Judy asked.

"a little over two week ago i woke up one morning and she was gone. Prepared the pups lunches, left coupons for a couple of pizza's and just left." Vigo answered, "I didn't know what too do. I didn't even know what I had done wrong. But then there she was the next morning cooking breakfast like nothing was different. I came home from work thinking it was a one time thing but she was gone again. Same thing the next day, and the next. I eventually realized that's how it was now, she come back to care for the pups, even sees them off to school before leaving while we were gone."

"is that all she does?" the bunny asked scribbling notes. They had something now.

"sometimes she comes for me, were still married after all." Vigo gave the bunny a gentle glare, "she's not the type to cheat on me."

"then why did she leave?" the bunny cop questioned, the African painted dog's motivation wasn't really a concern but it could help.

The dog shrugged, "I asked her and all she said was, 'I just need more freedom."

"and you didn't ask her anything else?" Nick asked while Judy wrote.

"it's kind of hard too when she's ready to go." Vigo said with a slight growl, he didn't like the fox's tone.

"guess, you don't mean she was trying to leave." Nick commented to which Vigo nodded.

Judy flipped the notepad to a clean page and asked, "so has anything else odd happen, like have you met any new friends?"

the painted dog let his head droop, "uh that cat from the news was here once." both Nick and Judy asked several questions in quick succession, their sudden energy startled Vigo. Their inquiries boiled down to little more then what happen, when and did Anthony say anything. Vigo lowered his head and ears even further, "it-it was last Monday whe-when they robbed that bank, he didn't say much." the dog was worried he may be in trouble now, "the cat told me good morning as he watched cartoons with my pups and drank some coffee like it was an everyday thing." I swear if I had known what he was planing I would have called!"

"anything else?" Judy ask ignoring his plea, Nick had to turn away from the other predator to talk with his other selves. Mostly just to tell them to calm down.

"not really na-no, well maybe I think I heard someone in the bath room." he nodded down the hall in the back of the room, he knew he should have called someone that day.

"okay." Judy said, ideas forming in her head, "thank you Mr. Majira." she slipped down from her seat.

"um officer Hopps."

"sergeant."

"Sergeant Hopps, what are you planing on doing too my wife?" Vigo asked, head and ears at their lowest, tail straining itself to hide. He was scared for the mammal he loved.

"bring her home too you." Judy lied well, in truth that was a best case scenario. at this rate the ferals would be lucky to not get life without parole.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Nick and Judy piled back into the car after noting everything around the home, vantage points and hiding places. As Judy drove back to the station with a plan forming in her head, Nick commented, "Nice neighborhood. Maybe we should be looking at houses like these instead of apartments?" the fox looked at his partner with a smile for a lover as she agreed with a simple uh huh, "easier to raise a family in a place like this." he looked out the window to a pair of Tapir boys playing driveway basket ball with their father.

Judy glanced at her partner, "Nick, this isn't really the time to talk about that?"

"when is?"

Now Judy was confused when did Nick become the one who brought up settling down and having a family, it was a touchy subject for both of them normally, "how about when we're not dealing with a psycho cat?"

"sure." Nick replied, "after that would you like, too, you know have a family with me?" the mirror shades hid the fear he was showing, "Probably as long as it didn't like..affect your career or something right?" Todd trembled by Nicks ear mumbling frightened words.

The pieces fell into place for the bunny, she sighed and looked at Nick while at a stop light, "Nick, in about a year I have made sergeant and been given my own task force AND... with some help form a very special mammal, I have solved two major cases so I think my career can take a little break to figure out how to have a family with the fox I love."

The worry varnished form Nick's mind, Todd even howled with excitement echoed by the cheer of Robin. However Slick slid in and told Nick to just play it cool, the fox nodded and said, "sly Bunny."

Judy rolled her eyes as the traffic light turned green, "did I stroke the dumb fox's ego enough today?" Nick lowered his head and ears, she was too smart for him sometimes. As the bunny drove back to the station, her thoughts wondered to family as well. Namely how to have one.

0O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Once back at the station Judy waited for the rest of the task force to return before gathering them together to spread the information. Everyone needed to know so everyone could come up with ideas. But first Dominic needed to give a thankfully brief coroner's report about officer Jennifer Dameo cause of death; exsanguination do to several wounds caused by a serrated bland. Probably a branch saw like they thought last night. Only interesting thing was there was blood from a stout in the ally, maybe the ferals weren't as united as they thought. Afterword Judy stood on a chair in front of the room and shared what she and Nick learned. They proposed that a stake out for the home may be their best option. The other officers agreed and with a nod she turned to the rhino and elephant on her force to ask, "James, Hathi what did y'all find out?"

"not much." James said, "Bordon's just a schmuck."

"he liked to drink at the local bar and relive his glory days." Hathi added with a shrug, "that's all he did before going feral, other then work and see his calves every other weekend that's is."

"like I said, a schmuck."

Judy ignored the color commentary from James and thanked them both, "so, tell us about the pharmacy sightings?" the bunny looked to the group of officers she sent there.

"well it looks like Anarchy is setting up his own little drug store with what they bought." Sonya said looking at her notes.

"bought?" Judy asked finding it slightly confusing that she was confused by the notion that the ferals of the Named would buy something.

"yes." the pig answered her sergeant, "always in cash for obvious reasons."

Judy and most of the other officers nodded. The dark humor was amusing but nothing worth a laugh. The bunny sergeant taped her lip as she thought, "what'd they get?"

Sonya looked to Bill, the bear had the list brought up on his computer already, "just about everything under the sun" he said, "antacids, anti-diarrhea meds, allergy meds, Cold meds, bandages, prenatal vitamins, stuff for healthy coats, claws, hooves, horns and teeth-"

"did you say prenatal vitamins?" Judy cut in.

"yeah." Bill replied, "for every species in the city."

"interesting." Judy commented rubbing her chin, "anything else?"

"not really." Sonya took over again, "they haven't been to the store Bill and I went too in over a week." without need for prompting the other officers added when the ferals had been to the store they had checked, the most recent was four days ago.

"so, I guess our short day just got longer." Judy said looking around, none of her officers seemed upset by the idea. A few seem a little tired but eager to get back at their foe. They all bled blue, when one was hurt they all were hurt. "okay, lets take a dinner break then get moving."

the anti-feral task force stood, murmuring to each other about food or work. However Judy's curiosity was peaked so while Nick stood up ready to head out, the bunny hopped in her seat at her desk, "hey, Carrots, we going to go eat or what?" the fox asked seeing her slid up to her computer.

"yeah yeah, just a sec." Judy replied as she brought up the recording from yesterday when Anarchy's pack conquered Brandon's.

"what are you doing?" Nick asked as he leaned over his partners shoulder.

Judy let the recording play as she said, "just need to see something." she paused when Jacklyn came into frame. Almost holding her breath Judy zoomed in and entered the enhance image command. Slowly the pixelated image simply became distorted before clearing enough to show the detail Judy wanted to see. The image techs could do a better job but the basic program was enough.

Nick tilted his head a little as Robin, Todd and Slick crowded around him wanting to see. Judy stood in her chair and squinted her eyes at the frozen image, the hare's neck seemed far too thick for her size almost forming a roll, her normally loose zip up hoodie seemed full and she was differently cradling a bulge in her belly, "She's pregnant." Judy said with a gasp, drawing the attention of a few other officers.

"no way." Nick said leaning in to see the picture better, "how can you tell?" A few others echoed his question. Those that looked close could see something odd about the hare.

"trust me she is." Judy answered siting back pondering how that it was possible, "hares and bunnies aren't too different so the signs are the same and I've seen plenty of pregnant bunnies back home." the room was silent for a moment at that revelation.

"probably just got knocked up by some random guy." Peter said disgusted.

Most of the other officers looked at the white wolf as Nick said, "I think Anthony would kill her before he let her have another guy's young." he realized the other cops were staring at him, he sucked his teeth as he nodded, "yep, thought that was in my head, thanks guys." the fox looked at an empty space as he mumbled about needing some food.

"you know he might be right." Judy agreed to pull the attention away from her partner and his odd but expected behavior. However her mind was forces on what they just learned, Did a hare and a bobcat breed.

"that ain't natural." Peter growled as he slipped out of the group and headed out the room.

But was I possible? And could other mammals, like a fox and a bunny.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Anthony Catson, better known as Anarchy now, jumped to the roof of the building his pack called home. The bobcat wasn't dressed for a fight, his blue all weather gear was hung up in his closet. Right now he had some tight blue jeans and a black Guns N' Rodents t-shirt. He carried a fresh kill over his shoulder, luckily for the innocent citizens of the city his mate was in the mood for poultry this night and in a strange twist on history the bobcat had caught a brown owl for the hare to eat. Even in these times birds of prey were a danger to small prey mammals. Every city, town and village went to great lengths to keep them out. However there was still the odd one like this that would brave the city limits to hunt.

It probably didn't expect to end like this, not that the animal was intelligent enough for that kind of forethought.

The alpha cat scanned the center of his territory, even though he didn't have too. 'Shakespeare' the meerkat had a good view from his perch up on the antiquated antenna, the howler had turned his already good far sighted vision into true binocular vision. He would have been called something more fitting of his job but none of the names really worked and the meerkat said he was related to the famous play write anyway. With everything in order the bobcat greeted his lookout and headed inside.

From the outside the four family brown stone looked like any other on the street, other then maybe the near constant vigil of the meerkat and a few deep claw marks here and there. Inside it was a little easier to tell. twelve medium sized mammals could easily live spread out among the four apartments and truth be told with how the over twenty varying size ferals did it seemed to work. The stair well had been turned into a common area with siting space and even a wall mounted television. The alpha male and his mate had their own room while the others all shared. Each was given a share equal to their place in the packs pecking order. Which was fought over by some, while others were content with their position. Unless some else tried to take it. Only Jacklyn didn't have to defend her station, not that she wasn't strong enough to defend it if she needed to.

But to challenge Jacklyn's position or her authority would only serve too the anger of the alpha.

The decor was as random and diverse as the pack members themselves. Plants, pictures and posters from all the members taste, most taken directly from their old homes. It was all to make this their home now. Family photos were intermingled with pictures of the pack as it grew in number, the pack was as much it's members family as much as their blood relatives were. The bland beige walls and white floors were clean, although some stains would never wash away. Mama did her best to make sure everything was clean for her pack. Currently the African painted dog was over seeing Slinky as he was cleaning a large spill in the door way.

As the bobcat walked out of the stairway that lead to the roof he past a black furred wolf pup and pair of civet kittens as they made played on the floor. They were growing used to this new life, they weren't full fledged members of the pack. Yet. the three looked up at the alpha bobcat and waved, he returned it with a friendly smile as he picked his way around their crayons and pictures. Anarchy's pack was his family and as long as they stayed in line, he loved them. Ripper learned that last night, the stout was on thin ice right now which was why he was avoiding the bobcat down stares. Normally the weasel kin would be waiting for him begging for a chance to kill something.

A commotion down stairs drew the cats attention. Iron the bison and Brandon the rhino now known as Ram were fighting. Anarchy climbed on the banister to see if he was needed, while the three children poked their heads through the bars to watch the fight. Ram pushed Iron out of their shared apartment on the ground floor under the stairs. The pair of heavy weight ferals growled and snarled as they put there strength to the test. The smaller members of the pack hissed and yelped as they scurried out of the way, but didn't interfere, it wasn't their place to do so. The bison and the rhino were just sorting out their place.

Iron snorted with a deep grimace as he was shoved back and crushed an end table knocking several glasses to the ground spilling their contents on the floor. With his back to the wall Iron appeared to be beat, but the bison was a fighter not a ball player like Ram. Iron was determined to not lose again.

the brown bovine fell too one knee and slammed both his fist into his foes chest. Now under the rhino's center of gravity the bison put his strength to a true test. Ram roared in confusion as he was lifted off the ground and dropped on a futon the ferals had set there to watch TV from. The poor piece of furniture never stood a chance nor did the tile under it, both broke as half the buildings on the street shook. Ram stood with rage on his face, Iron didn't back down, he was smaller but in this pack size didn't matter.

Before the fight could continue however Mama jumped in and grabbed both of the large mammals by their ears. She more or less just hung from them as she pulled them together and yelled, "Stop!" the two large ferals stared at the oldest member of the pack as she scowled at them, "You're done, you two broke the couch already and have made a huge mess! So calm down and clean it up." the glaring eyes of the bison and rhino shifted up to their alpha as he laughed. Anthony motioned for them to do as told.

Anarchy didn't stay to watch as Mama made sure Ram and Iron picked up every shard of glass and splinter of wood, the cat had been away from his mate for long enough. He walked into his apartment, like all of them it was made up of four rooms, a living area, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. A Soft couch and big stolen TV dominated the front room along with a massive movie collection, something all the pack used from time to time. Anarchy looked around the empty living room, he could see that his love wasn't there or in the kitchen ether. He gave a long low meow, a moment later he heard Jacklyn call, "bed." he smiled and followed her voice.

In the bed room was a nice queen sized bed for a medium sized mammal. On it laid Jacklyn fresh from the shower her round belly poking of from between her pink cotton short shorts and white tank top. She grunted a little as she sat up and smiled at the bobcat with her ears flopped over her face, "I brought you something." Anarchy said as he hopped on the bed holding up his kill.

The hare giggled as her mate tossed the owl too her. Jacklyn caught it and smiled up at him showing herself made fangs before using them to pluck feathers from the wing of her meal. Anarchy fell to all fours one for paw on ether side of his mates legs. Their eyes were locked as he stocked his way up her body, his deadly claws brush against her fur with each move. Jacklyn dropped her owl as her feline lover neared, she slid her arms over his shoulders as their lips grew closer.

"hey boss." the feral wombat known as Cams called, "phone." he handled all technological stuff, from making their phones untraceable too that trick with the city's broadcast systems almost a month ago.

the bobcat's joy vanished and he sat back with a sigh, "Coming." he looked at Jacklyn who had started to eat with her head a low her eyes on her food, he rubbed his cheek on the top of her head a sure sign of forgiveness before leaving her for the phone call as he scratched at the watch on his wrist.