Nick checked out the car at about 10 o'clock. Shortly after he went back to the apartment and packed his bag full of clothes, despite it being late summer he stuffed a light jacket in his duffle bag. Foxhollow was relatively cold. After eating lunch Nick began to make his way to the destination leaving at noon.
Nick drove for about five hours north of Zootopia. Which would surround him in a natural forest environment. Zootopia's biomes were all manufacturer by animals. This forest was real and pleasant. Nick rolled down his windows so he could feel the cold breeze and smell the pine scent. Such odors were alarming and familiar. These feeling brought memories to Nick mind.
Not all them were fond though. Yes this was his home but the religion that surrounded forest bothered him. That religion not being a spirit that Nick had made up but an actual religion was practiced here. Nick did not care for religion, he believed in a supernatural being that created the universe but not that this being cared for them or dealt with animals on anyway. Nick believed in a deity, but not a god.
Along with religion Nick learned a glimpse of hope here. When his mother bought him a uniform to be a junior scout. But of course these dreams were dashed by what Nick knew as now racist prey. Nick's mother and father were tender people but they had expectations for him and for James. And these expectations concerned advancements of this religion that Nick wanted no part of.
This religion was break off from Lupusist, which was a very popular religion where they believed that a wolf by the name of Lupus sacrificed and suffered the sins of the world so that all animals may repent and come back to Lupus's father, Ephraim or others one would say God. The religion that Nick's parents were of was called Gideonism. Which was were the Gideon prophet, Aka, traveled to the land where Zootopia now is.
Gideonism was generally unaccepted by most animals as Lupusiam was very popular. Although Gideonism believes that Lupus was the savior many denied Gideonist being Lupusist. Which is was clearly false. But Nick didn't care if Lupusist were Lupusist and if Gideonist believed in Lupus. It was all a load of ancient religion that was no longer relevant to the modern days. No one needed any God as Nick thought.
Which was why he left his parents. They wanted him to marry in the church, go on a church mission, become a religious animal. But that's not what Nick saw in his feature, Nick saw money and a carefree life. That carefree life ended when he meant Judy. Ripping people off, making money didn't hold the same value as his love for Judy did. Which is why he was going to Foxhollow, so that he can learn to love Judy better.
Even though Nick's family was religious they knew how to love. And that's what Nick feels like he's missing, the ability to love fully.
Nick soon arrived in Foxhollow. It was a decently large town. It had shopping centers, many old and new neighborhoods, three highschools and community college. Farming was also very popular as well as sports.
Arena ball was actually very predominant here. Even Nick's younger bother Tate played a lot or he did last time Nick saw him. Which was four years ago.
While driving Nicks memory of his brother came to his mind. Tate was very clam and easy going much like Nick. Tate was embedded deep with Gideonism. He also was very physically talented. Even though Nick hadn't seen him in a while he could still remember they force he packed in a punch when they would wrestle. He did the math and Nick would assume that Tate was eighteen now and probably graduated highschool this last spring.
Along with Nick's brother he thought of his dad. Who was somewhat disabled due to a car accident he had gotten in when Nick was just five years old. To his memory his dad would walk with a cane to support his feeble legs. Nick also remembered his mom would have to work very serious hours to make up for the loss of his father working.
Nick's mother was valiant in spirit and father was loving. In Nick's earliest memories he would look out his window to see his parents walking side by side talking as the trot the streets. It was something that his parents would do every night. To slow down and catch up with what was going on. That was until Nick's dad was hurt.
When he entered Foxhollow Nick stopped at a park to watch a youth arena ball match. He stood leaning on a tree watching as the lights came on to the pitch while the sun set in the horizon.
Nick checked his watch, it read 6 o'clock. At 6:30 every Friday Nick's family would gather in their living room to meet and share a spiritual thought. Nick, in adolescent years would commonly excuse himself, James would often do the same. At the time it was annoying, but now Nick was trying to catch that family meeting.
Nick left for his old house, it 6:35 when he found it. The living room was a glow and he saw shadows in the light. Nick was sure that his family still lived their because of the mailing address of the letter that Nick received where from this house.
Nick's cluttered shoe box was full of letters that were from his mother, Katelynn Wilde. Katelynn always found Nick's address because she worked for the post office and she had friends in Zooptopia. So if wanted to mail anyone she could.
The house was mostly green, two story and was made of old wood. And it had memories written all over it.
Shaded figures soon moved from Nick's house. It was a fox and a deer quickly entering the door. Nick's chest pumped quickly when he saw him. That was his brother.
Parked on the opposite side of the street Nick waited six minuets before having the courage to approach the house. Standing at the front door Nick raised his paw to knock then refrained. I could just go back. No! He thought we are doing this. Nick tested the handle, it was unlocked. He quietly twisted the knob and slowly walked in.
His steps where light as he turned to face the living hearing a delicate song being played on a minored keyed guitar and was accompanied by the sweet voice of a female fox. The lyrics were tender.
"And even if some how they could have shown you the place you wanted,
I bet you could have made it that bit better on your own, you are the only ones who know."
Nick stood at the entrance of the room to see Tate and beautiful female silver fox playing this music. Tate strummed gracefully before ending with a resolution chord ending the song. Nick's father, Scott watched with a smile on his face while the deer sat on the couch next to Katelynn .
When Tate finished he looked up to see Nick and he seemed taken back by his eyes. "Nick?" He said with an questionable tone.
Katelynn jerked her head back to see Nick leaning against the wall quietly presiding over the family event. Nick looked at Tate with a smile on his face and nodded.
Katelynn shot up and gave Nick a hug. Scott was son to his feet as well as Tate. "Oh honey" Katelynn cried. "It's been too long."
Scott pushed her aside and embraced Nick with loving arms. "Son!"
"Nick!" Tate exclaimed joining in with the greeting. "Jesus where have you been?"
"Jeez I just got here and everyone is touching me!" Nick sarcastically said and Katelynn released him from her grip. He sighed; "Here I thought the emotional was for the rabbits."
Scott stood in front of Nick, without a cane. "Nick I am glad you came back."
Nick smiled. "It's good to see you guys."
Scott motioned towards the couch "come sit tell us how have you been."
Nick sat while everyone in the room started at him. "Well..." Nick said. "I don't know where to start."
"For Lupus sake, what do you do Nick!" Katelynn spluttered.
Nick grew a smile on his face. "Do you guys want to see something funny." They all raised an eye brow. "Check this out." Nick said raising his shirt revealing his gun wounds. His mother gasped.
"Nick what are those?" Tate said confused.
"Well you could say my gut tasted a bit of lead. I was shot twice."
"What! Shot? Nick you better not have been getting into trouble. Why are you here?" Katelynn asked, she was beginning to question Nick motives for seeing them.
A
"No trouble, I mean yes trouble but in a good way." They blinked. "Here." Nick said pulling his wallet from his back pocket showing his ZPD badge. "I am an officer now."
Nick then explained the last year of meeting Judy and the night howler case, police training, joining the police force, and the drug incidents concerning James. He left out the details with Vixie and Judy.
Katelynn stared at Nick. "So that's where James has been." She said at the solemn news of her son's incarceration."I new he wasn't straight but I didn't think he would get involved in drug trade." They all took a moment to ponder.
"Well Nick I want you to meet my girlfriend, Corbin." Tate said holding Corbin's hand. She was mainly of black fur but the tips of her ears and the tip of her tail were white and she had comforting lunar colored eyes. She was a little shorter than Tate. "And this my friend Josh." Tate said referring to the young buck that was standing next to him.
"Man is great to see you, all of you. I mean I wasn't sure about coming and what not but I am glad I did." Nick said as they just smiled. "I see you're off the cane."
"Yeah, my leg is gettin better after all these years." Scott said patting his left leg.
"Well what's been going on?" Nick asked genuinely concerned.
Tate spoke first. "Well I got my mission call."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Your going on a mission?" A mission was a church service project where an individual would leave for two years to a foreign place to preach. Nick always thought that the practice was odd.
"Yeah, I am not going to far. Just to Zarahelm." Tate said with a light on his face. Nick chuckled, Zarahelm the original place of the Blackhawks drug trade.
"That's great Tate I am happy for you." Nick responded.
"And I am the bishop of our Ward, a responsibility which I accepted a year and a half ago." Scott said. It was a big job, a bishop would have to teach the general members of the church, lead the oldest youth quorum which consisted of 12 members of 16 to 18 year olds, and to take care of business according to which a presiding stake needed. It was a lot of time and effort. "It's been great so far."
Katelynn stood in front of Nick. "I've been watching the house, taking care Tate and what not. And waiting for you and you're brother to come back." Nick gave her a hug.
"I love you mom, sorry I was gone so long." Nick said with true remorse.
"Hey" Tate said. "There's a arena ball match going on at the school. First game of the season if you want to come with us?"
Nick look up and him then his parents. "Its fine." Katelynn said. "We will be waiting here for you."
"Alright then, let's go Tate." Nick said and he left with Tate, Corbin and Josh to the match. Nick offered to drive as they went to his car Nick observed Tate's physical attributes. He was a little shorter than Nick, definitely larger in stature, Tate's legs seemed very strong. His calves were well defined but still slender, his arms were the same and Nick also noticed by the way Tate moved it also seemed he had a very strong core.
"Dang Tate, it looks like you could be playing tonight." Nick commented.
"Ha! Yeah I would but I am a little to old now. Graduated last year. I actually got some offers from Chandler United but didn't take causes of my mission stuff."
Nick was taken back by the statement. "Offer? From Chandler." Chandler United was a professional arena ball team, they were in the same division as Apex and they were decent club.
"Yeah as an inside center."
"And you didn't take it?" Tate shook his head. Nick huffed "what ever suits your needs then." Brushing off the fact that Tate refused to join Chandler.
They took a short drive to a near by school. The game was already done with the first half when they arrived. But still wanting to watch the match they saw it through to the end of the second half.
After the game the teenagers left to meet some other friends for a local party. Nick stayed back with his parents.
Three made some small talk on how each other's jobs were doing. Then Nick brought the conversation to a more interesting place. "Can I ask you guys for advice?"
"Anything sweet heart." Katelynn said waiting for his question.
"You know that rabbit I told you guys about, Judy?" They nodded. "Well I was kinda of dating her for month, and yeah I know I was dating a rabbit. And I don't want you guys to be weird about it, but yes I was dating a rabbit."
"Nick we don't care if you're dating a rabbit." Scott spoke. "Anyway from you're stories she seems like a good influence anyway."
"Well I meant this artic fox and sorted cheated on Judy with this fox."
"You had sex? With some fox?" Katelynn said starting to get a little anxious.
"No we didn't have sex I made out with her though and Judy caught us. And right now she really hates me." Nick said.
"Have you two talked about it?" Scott asked.
"No, not yet. She doesn't want to, I don't want to. But our relationship right now is just messed up. That's why I came here, I want to set things straight with her. But I don't know how."
Scott patted his leg. "Well if you want her back you need to talk to her and tell her how you feel or else nothing is going to go anywhere. And by the looks of it you two already seem like good friends so be patient she'll open up. And do not cheat again."
"Yeah but we are working on this Blackhawks case and everything seems to be going fast and she doesn't want to talk."
Katelynn smiled. "Send her a letter then, like I did with you. She'll read it." Nick looked at his hands. The only time he would write was to make a work form, never did he write letters, or anything creative for that matter. But yet the idea sounded like a good option. Nick didn't have to confront her but yet he could still commutate his feeling for her.
Nick nodded. "Yeah I think I need to do that." So the three talked for a while until Tate returned.
With the family together the retired to their beds late. Nick slept in his old room. Which was now a guest a room. But a desk with lamp was in the room and late that night Nick arose. Walking to the desk he grabbed some paper and began to compose his letter to Judy.
Okay, religion family and talking all in one chapter. Those are bold things to put in a fanfiction. If any of this bothers you let me know that it's too much. If you like it let me know. So the feeling of finding Foxhollow and the feeling of Nick entering the living room were the gold parts of this and let me know how I did at an authors stand point. Reviews appreciated.