Chapter 10

Judy POV

"Uh, who are you?"

I woke as I felt Nick's warm muzzle leave it's place on my head. "Eh, it's probably a nurse." I thought, as I closed my eyes again.

"Who are we!? Who the hell are YOU!?"

"Stu!"

My heart dropped as I heard the angry voice of my father. "Oh no…"

"Mom! Dad! What are you doing here!?" I exclaimed, horrified. I felt Nick tense beside me.

"What are you doing here!? Curled up next to a FOX!? Curled up next to this… this VERMIN!?" Stu fumed, a slight amount of spittle escaping his lips as he screamed.

"Dad he's my partner!" I spoke weakly, tears starting to develop in my eyes. "He saved my life! He almost died for me! He's in this hospital because of me! He's been there for me, he's… he's been the sweetest animal I've ever known!"

My father became silent, presumably too angry to speak.

"Dad he loves me… and I love him too…"

I could feel the rage coming from my father as he stood there, a fire burning in his eyes. My mother stood behind him, silent.

"You… say… you… what…?" Stu spoke, his voice coming out pained, and menacing. I felt Nick's paw tighten his grip on mine.

"Stu… let's just go…" my mother tried to calm her husband, concern filling her voice.

"You… say… you… what!?" Stu asked again, inching forward, a sick look upon his face.

"I love him."

My father stopped in his tracks.

Silence was all that could be heard.

"You are not my daughter. This has to be a joke. This…" He paused. "This is not happening. You are forbidden to see this fucking thing again." Nick's paws shook in mine while angry tears speckled his chest.

"No… I'm not," My words were steely, cutting through my tears, "Nick is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't care what you say about it. You can't take him away from me."

"Judy…" I heard Nick mumble beside me.

My father stared at me.

"I never want to see you again."

I sobbed, broken, as my father left, leaving my mother behind.

She stared at me, and left, quietly shutting the door behind her.

As soon as the door shut, I lost it.

Nick pulled me close, holding me tight to him as I sobbed in his arms.

"Judy… I… don't… I don't know what to say… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to cause this…" Nick sobbed next to me, shaking.

"Nick it's not your fault…" I looked up to him, his ears flat and his cheeks wet. "It's theirs… I can't leave you Nick… I refuse to and they can't accept that. I'll… I'll have to talk with them later… after all of this has calmed down…"

That didn't stop it from hurting now. I felt as if my parents hated me.

"Nick I'm… I'm going to sleep in my bed tonight…I… I need to think…"

"But Judy…" Nick spoke, and I caught a hint of panic in his voice.

"it'll be okay Nick, I'm not mad at you. I love you, more than anything. I just… need to process…"

"Oh… Okay, Cottontail…"

I pulled his muzzle to mine, my lips meeting his in a passionate kiss.

"I love you, Nick…" I whispered to him, my lips brushing against his as we held each other close.

"I love you too…"

Nick POV

I watched her leave, dread and sorrow gripping my heart. My body began to shake as adrenaline filled me, my fear slowly creeping up my spine.

"It's okay… it's okay… I'm safe in my bed… Judy still loves me… I'm okay…" Panic was in my voice as I desperately held myself back from calling her name out, to have her next to me as we slept, to feel her lips against mine..

Jocelyn walked into my room. "Hey. I heard about the commotion with the parents from the other nurses. Albert didn't know about the situation, please don't be mad at him. I was on break or I would've woke you guys. I'm sorry-"

"It's okay, Jocy," I interrupted, not wanting to listen to her ramble.

"All right. Here," Jocelyn adjusted my pillows, reclining me. "Take this," She held out a small capsule. "this will help you sleep tonight."

I grew anxious at the thought of sleep, but accepted the pill. "Will this make me… dream?"

"I'm not sure. It depends on the animal." Jocelyn replied, unsettling me. "Well, goodnight, Mr. Wilde."

"Goodnight Jocelyn."

I felt the sedative take effect soon after the nurse left my room. Shadows darted across my peripheral vision. My eyes forced themselves closed, and I fell into a deep slumber.

The forest loomed in front of me. Fog hovered above the ground, so thick as to limit my vision to a few pawlengths in front of me. It was dusk, the sun had just fallen below the horizon. A deep rumble sounded behind me.

A growl.

Panic fueled my paws as I ran, weaving through trees to escape it. Tears streamed down my face. "Go away!" I cried out in despair, "Please!"

It stopped, I thought, the absence of sound surrounding me.

I slowed, listening, my stomach knotted in fear. I noticed the flick of a black, bushy tail disappear behind a tree in front of me, and a large paw place it's claws on the tree bark. Its smile made my knees weak, its pale blue, unblinking eyes scanned the trees around it.

Sniff. Sniiiiiiff.

"I can smell your fearrrr…" it whispered, its voice sounded as many, deep and echoing.

I slowly backed away, losing sight of it in the fog, trying my best to keep any sound from escaping me.

Metal teeth lunged at me through the fog, snapping together mere inches from my face. I yiped in fear, sprinting away from them as I heard it's paws thud against the forest floor in pursuit.

"PLEASE! NO STOP!" I screamed, feeling it gain on me. I had to find a way out! I had to find- Aha!

I dove between a cluster of trees, just small enough to fit. I heard it swipe, it's claws ripped through the bark with ease, pelting my fur with splintered wood.

I scooted in retreat, enclosed within the tree cluster as it viciously ripped at the trees to get at me, it's eyes locked with mine, a smile always on it's face.

"You can't run anymorrrrre, Nick." It's voice echoed inside my head as it stopped its assault, stood up straight, and began pacing around the tree cluster with its paws clasped lightly behind its back.

"Poorrr Nicky. I feel yourrrrrr sorrow. How will you ever convince her parents you are no more than vermin?" It spoke, growling as it did so. "I can't wait to… meat them. Get it? Meat them? Hehe!" It chuckled to itself briefly, before regaining its composure.

I sat in the middle, my head down, fearing to speak to the evil pacing around me.

Sniiiiiiiiff.

"You rrrreally oughta work on that. Your fearrrr fills my nostrils. You even fear being alone. Need Judy that much, eh?"

"Leave her out of this!" I screamed at it, bearing my fangs.

"Oh? So that's how I get the fight out of you? If I'm going to eat you, which I am, I don't want to be facing a rrrrabbit! I want to face a savage." It dropped to all fours, facing me directly as it swiped a paw at the ground, signaling a charge.

My heart dropped. I backed away, and it charged, shaking the ground beneath me. "What do you want with me!?" I screamed, knowing I had no other options.

"You." It charged, the sound of splintering wood echoing in the forest around me.

"N… n…" I sputtered, succumbing to my fear.

It charged, and the trees fell.

It's teeth flashed, and buried themselves in the flesh of my leg.

"OH GOD!" I screamed, dragging my claws behind me as it pulled me out of my safety, my bones making a sickening crunch as they were crushed between its laughing jaws. It lifted me in its mouth by my shredded leg, and threw me.

"What's the matter, Nick? Hehehe! Why can't you get up and fight? Weak knees!? Ha!"

I pulled myself forward, scrambling my paws to get away somehow! It's teeth found my tail, dragging me closer to it against my struggles to hold the ground in front of me.

"Oh, enough, that's just pathetic." It mumbled, my tail clenched between its teeth as I screamed.

My voice failed me. I was dragged, mouth agape as my yipes and cries faded, agony in my expression. I felt a pull on my shredded leg, and then, I didn't feel it. Meat showered around me as It stood over me, my own fur attached to some of the pieces.

I was numb. Why hadn't my dream ended!? Why haven't I been freed from this hell!

"That's so annoying, Nick. I can hear yourrr thoughts, you know." It spoke, flipping me over to my back as it looked down upon me, tapping a serrated claw to its own head. I vomited as I realized it held my leg in its other hand, and gnawed upon it.

It giggled at the sight of my sickness. "I have all night with you, my sweet Nicky," It spoke in Judy's voice, a twisted grin upon its face, "we have hours together, you and I! So, tell me about yourself."

I stared at it, unable to speak, unable to move as I watched it finish eating my leg in complete horror, and toss my bones aside.

"Mmm. Yourrrr flesh is surprisingly lean. I figured you'd be all soft, seeing as how you, a fox, are choosing to be mates with a rrrrabbit." It severed my other leg within seconds as my screams pierced the silence of the forest.

"It's rude to just scream, and not contribute to the conversation. What's your problem? Rabbit got your tongue? Ha! I'm funny. I feel soooo unappreciated. I wonder if Judy will be more fun…"

I squirmed, tears returning as it mentioned my love once again. "You. Leave. Her. Alone." I growled weakly, straining to produce any sound at all.

It leaned close to me, placing its giant muzzle close to my ear. "What can you do about it, Nick? What could you possibly hope to do against me? You're nothing, weak. A fox out of touch with nature's design. And after I finish eating you, I'll find my way to herrrrrrr. Therrrre will be nowhere she can rrrun. Nowherrrrre she can hide. Nowherrrrre you can protect her, Nick."

"Nick!"

"Nick, please! Wake up!"

"Hehehe! You hear her? Unforrrrrrtunately for you, you're sedated." It gave me a wink, picking my half eaten leg up once more and taking a large bite out of it.

"Judy…" I muttered, ignoring the evil before me, begging her voice to return.

"Nick! Please! I need you to wake up!"

"Ugh. Hehe, catch you later."

The forest disappeared, replaced with Judy urgently holding my face, straddled over my chest.

"Oh, thank god!" her cheeks was soaked with tears, as were mine.

I felt numb, wiggling my toes, relieved at the recognition of their movement.

I sat up straight, wrapped my arms around her, and sobbed. "It… it came back… it always does… when you're gone Judy please… please don't leave me again!" I shook as my sorrow and terror unleashed itself upon me.

"Oh Nick," Judy rubbed her paws up and down my back, kissing my neck to comfort me, "what happened? What do you mean 'it' comes back!?"

"Th… th… th..." I couldn't make sound anymore, the thought of it gnawing on my legs clouded my thoughts, making my body tremble as I held her.

"Shhhhh, Nick, it's okay, I'm here! I missed you so much I couldn't… I couldn't sleep without you.." Judy nuzzled me, easing the grip of fear on my heart. She moved her paws to my cheeks, and kissed me softly, wiping my tears away, and subduing my terror.

I pressed against her lips harder, wanting to be as close as possible, needing her to be as close as she could get to me. "Please never leave me, Judy… I can't handle being away from you… I need you… I need to know you're safe…"

"I promise I won't, my love." Judy replied softly, her piercing violet eyes trapping me in them.

"It's one in the morning, Nick. Let's go to bed, okay? You look like you haven't slept in days..."

I nodded, knowing I'd be safe in my dreams with Judy beside me.

I leaned back and rolled to my side, sliding Judy down to my lap, but careful to not disturb my bandages. She looked up at me, her legs entwined with mine as she pressed her nose into the fur on my neck.

"I love you so, so much." Judy whispered, tilting her head back to invite a kiss.

My lips met hers, and I held her tight as she curled up next to me.

I closed my eyes, and fell asleep breathing in her scent.