AN: to those that were surprised by the ending of the last chapter, I'm glad I was able to catch you off guard!


At Zootopia Research Hospital, Vex and Pamela spent all night waiting for a verdict on Rocket's condition.

"As we feared, Mr. Raccoon has come under the same affliction as the other savage preds," the doctor, a zebra, said.

"Mammal. Savage mammal," Vex corrected.

The doctor coughed nervously. "Right. Mammals. You can see him if you want, but he's just like the others."

Vex nodded, and the bat and pangolin were led into the hazard area, where the savage mammals were held behind glass in separate rooms. The two looked into Rocket's room, where the raccoon had been stripped down to his pants and was scurrying around the room, scratching the walls and glass. Pamela had to turn away, not wanting to see her friend like this.

"Not a pretty sight, is it?" said a voice that was tired and held pain behind it.

Turning around, Vex was surprised to see a certain fox standing near one of the other cages. "Nick, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me," Nick said with a nonexistent smile.

"Why are you here?" Pamela asked.

"You're not the only one to lose a friend," the fox replied, moving over so the other two could look into the glass.

The two saw a fennec fox in the room, in the same state as Rocket.

"By Aslan, Nick I'm so, so sorry," Pamela said, patting the fox on the arm.

Vex didn't say anything, but his face hardened. The bat turned to the doctor, flying up and landing on a light fixture to be at the same height. "I want Rocket and Mr. Wilde's friend taken care off, no exceptions. In fact, you should be putting all of your effort into helping these mammals out, no matter the species." Getting down from his vantage point, Vex gestured to Nick and Pamela. "You two, we're going to make this right, but we'll need Judy to help us. She's on vacation in Bunny Burrow, so we're heading there."

"Why don't you call on some of the other ZPD officers?" Pamela asked.

"Because Interpol doesn't have to abide by Zootopia law," Vex said darkly.

[***]

The trio took Pamela's car to Bunny Burrow, looking to find their rabbit friend. They didn't have to look far, as Judy was standing behind her family's produce stand.

"Carrots!" Nick called, hopping out of the car and running up to the stand.

"Judy, do you know this fox?" Mrs. Hopps asked.

"He's my friend," Judy replied. The rabbit went to the other side of the stand and hugged the fox. "Mom, dad, this is Nick Wilde."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hopps," Nick said, extending his hand to the couple.

"We can worry about introductions later," Vex said. "Right now, Judy, we need you back in the city."

"What's the rush?" she asked.

"Rocket and Finnick have been… they've been…" Pamela tried to say.

"Savage," Judy finished. She sighed and turned back to her parents. "We've been working a case on missing mammals, but it turns out they didn't go missing; thy went savage."

"My goodness," Bonnie Hopps exclaimed.

"Your daughter has been a great asset on this case," Vex said. He extended a wing. "Agent Vespertilio, Interpol Officer." He turned to Judy. "We have a lead on who might be behind this, and I want you to be there for the arrest."

"Okay, I understand," Judy said.

"Hey kids! Don't you run through that Mendicampum holicithius!" Stu Hopps yelled at some of his kids nearby.

"Wow, Mr. Hopps, that sounds like a Scrabble winning word there," Nick said sarcastically.

"It's just the name of the flowers we use to keep bugs off the plants," Judy explained.

"If it's a natural pesticide, why do you need to keep the kids away? I doubt it's poisonous," Vex stated.

"I don't like the little ones going near 'em on account of what happened to your Uncle Terry," Stu said.

"Yeah, Terry ate one whole when we were kids and went completely nuts," Bonnie added.

"He bit the dickens out of your mother."

The group froze at that.

"A plant that makes you savage when eating it…" Vex said aloud.

"Savage? Well, that's a strong word, but it did hurt like the devil," Bonnie replied.

"Well, sure it did. There's a sizeable divot in your arm. I'd call that savage!" Stu said.

Vex hopped into the car, revving the engine as Pamela took the wheel. "Wilde, Hopps! Get in the car! We've got some sheep to sheer!"

"Oh, do you have to go now?" Bonnie whined.

"Sorry mom and dad, but it's official ZPD business," Judy said. "Thank you!"

"Glad to meet you two," Nick said, giving a lazy wave.

"Be careful with our daughter, Mr. Wilde!" Stu called. "Anything that happens to her is on you!"

"Dad, he's not my-" Judy tried to say, only for Nick to steal a kiss from her. "WILDE!" the bunny screamed, jumping into the car and slugging the fox in the stomach.

"OMPH! Totally worth it for your face, Carrots," Nick said with his usual tone.

The bunny pouted with her ears burning (not wanting to admit that the kiss felt nice) as the car raced off back to Zootopia.


Author's Note

The pieces have fallen into place and ships have been teased. It's time for the final clues to be had and a crook to be arrested.