The Garden

"The greatest thing about dreams is they don't expire.
They can lay dormant for years and when you pull them out and dust them off, they shine like new."

― Casi McLean

[A/N] This song (Labeled *G* for the part below) inspired the garden scene:

[Official Ver] "Garden of Dreams" Anonymous Agony | AmaLee

It was just before lunchtime and Nick was eager to see how more this school operated. Being dismissed from his homeroom class early - he saw that there was a little over an hours time between now and his next class - and escorted down the hall to retrieve his new uniform, he finally had a moment to mull over how the day was going.

It was so incredibly different from what he was used to, yet some familiarity was still there. For one, he hadn't ever seen that many bunnies in his life. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get bunnies out his sight for a second.

And that was what caused one familiarity to show up: the stares.

While not all bunnies stared at him - Judy certainly didn't, but some probably scowled at him - he could tell that most prey mammals gave him surprised looks.

It happened in the three classes he had already, and he was sure that the other two after lunch would be the same; likely with the alternate classes he had on Tuesday/Thursday as well.

Though some may have been quiet about it like the two sheep next to Judy or that odd bunny next to her that hadn't said a peep but kept staring out into space like he had seen a specter, others made it a point to focus solely on him.

There was that green-eyed bunny in their homeroom class that kept smiling at him when he caught glances at her, the small, grey wooled ram and two imposing white wooled rams that watched his every movement in his art class, a few boars... and about a hundred bunnies after that.

Most simply kept to themselves and continued walking, but others? Some he could hear them and their 'supposed' whispers; none of it was good.

Still, he hummed to himself and grinned from ear to ear as he paraded down the empty hallway closely behind Chloe. While thankful for the quiet and the guide - being new and in unfamiliar territory, school-issued map or not, was a bit imposing - he couldn't help but feel overbearingly giddy from the little piece of paper clutched firmly in his paws.

His emerald eyes peered carefully over the stationery, skimming it from line to line as he read off all the classes he had just to make sure it was all real. Although he knew summer was only a few weeks away, it wasn't the classes themselves he was excited about. No. Rather, he was absolutely thrilled that he and Judy had a few classes in common.

He had hoped for at least one, but here, just before his eyes, he had seen no less than three. And, as he could recall, the look on her face when she saw the list of names on his syllabi, she perked up as well. She even helped him by making little check marks next to the names of the teachers they had in common.

The todd was surprised at how many classes they had together. With as much excitement as a newborn kit, he saw the three chambers of academia they shared: Algebra2, Communications, and History. Thought it was just cultural history (Burrow stuff) he still liked how it all turned out.

He kept going over it to see that they had a fourth one as well but it was only a gym class on alternating days.

Given that it was a staple for nearly every mammal, it didn't make it as exciting, but he was happy none the less. And that happiness wasn't solely because Judy was there. It was mostly out of the fear that, when Skye finally enrolled, she'd likely try - and succeed in as she always did - to chase him around for something ridiculous.

Whether it was for food, or for fun, she'd do that. He chuckled a little at how she had once photobombed him by lunging at him when he didn't know she was around. So staying fit was a good way to keep an edge over her near-boundless energy.

He was so engrossed in the moment that he had completely forgotten that he was walking until he came to an abrupt stop, bumping snout first into his counselor's side.

Reeling and scratching at the dull pain ebbing at his nose, he looked up to see her smiling warmly at him; a gesture he had rarely seen from his old school. "I take it you're having a welcome first day?"

Nick dropped his paws a little, casting his gaze toward the ceiling. It was a lot to take in and he was stunned to see so much. "I guess I can say that. It's not like my old place and... well, it's not what I expected from a school out in the country."

He didn't really know what to say about it. Coming from an old, greasy, run down place he used to call 'school' whose only 'vibrant' colours were fifty shades of greyscale, it now looked like a double rainbow had vomited everywhere and made art. Then, when he was transitioning from class to class, some of the intersections had students dressed up a bit more and help direct mammals on where to go or stop them from going down one hall or another - which he was thankful for after a close run-in with a rhino.

And not only that, but many of the teachers weren't the best or paid attention in his prior school. In these new classes, however large, the teachers(s) seemed to be more direct. They didn't single him out or exclude him in any manner. He even managed to speak a few lines in his acting class.

All in all, he wasn't used to this.

The thylacine giggled, her badge shimmering in the ambient light all around them. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, Mr. Wilde." Again, she noticed a little flicker of his tail. "I know how difficult it is to adjust coming from Zootopia myself. But this school and the community surrounding it works wonders in helping everyone achieve their dream."

Hearing this, Nick felt himself relax a little more. It wasn't just that he was talking to someone who he knew was genuinely paying attention, but he had heard that word for the umpteenth time that day: dream.

What is it with mammals and dreams here?

He, of course, had read about such things long ago, but even then he had no clue as to why dreams were so important. To him, they were relatively... well, irrelevant. Just something to think about until you move on, he abandoned much of that long ago.

But here, it was in the school's theme, the students and teachers kept talking about them and growing them for whatever reason.

Feeling that he was missing something about this, Nick hastily replied. "Yeah I, uh- I think that's great." Nervously scratching at the nape of his neck, he thought of something to take the focus off of his day. He didn't like the spotlight on him much.

He grinned as he remembered. "I just hope the ride back home isn't as bad," his words caught Chloe's ears, he could almost feel her embarrassment. "Does Mr. Fanghanel always drive 90 over the speed limit?"

Chloe sighed in defeat. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry about that. He's just really enthusiastic about his job." Nick nodded along, both thankful that the wolf had to go back to work, and dreading being picked up by him for his promised return home.

"Whether he's on an assignment from the office, or filling in here, Eliot's always tried to be where he's needed in a hurry."

As she took a deep breath and readied herself for a slew of questions, Nick reeled from the new information he was given. "He works here too?"

Chloe giggled, though she could hear the panic in his tone and deep, sharp inhales. "From time to time," she informed. "He's one of our substitute gym teachers and he's one of the on-call officers when we need him."

Eyes wide, Nick imagined the wolf as an over-energetic gym coach; ordering his class to do laps at top speed or about a hundred thousand pushups in one day. Maybe I'll just let Skye tackle me... it'd be less painful.

While he stared into nothingness, Chloe caught on. She turned back to her office. "Wait here for just a moment."

He barely heard her but tried to shake off the thoughts with a mumble of acknowledgment. Left alone, his mind wandered until he remembered that he'd be spending a few classes with Judy. So far, she was the only mammal that was remotely friendly to him. New, sure, but that didn't seem to bother her at all.

When he heard the door open again, Chloe stepped out with a small white box and a clipboard.

"We didn't have many in stock for mammals of your size," she said apologetically and passed him the box. He carefully opened it to see that it was one of the same outfits all the other guys wore. "It should fit you just fine this quarter, though. Several of this school's canines and a few hares are close to your height and build."

Chloe watched him carefully. He seemed really interested in the new apparel, but she had work to do. I need to re-read some of this report over lunch and- "Oh! It's almost lunch. Let's find you the closest changing room."

Looking at a nearby clock, the thylacine confirmed that it was only a few minutes to noon just then. She wanted to get Nick his uniform and to the cafeteria on time, but she did have a bit of a problem.

"Hmm... the gentlemammals locker room is halfway across the school. And we don't have your badge from security just yet, so you won't have your locker space in your pavilion until tomorrow, either."

Pondering over the situation, she came to one conclusion. "The closest place to change would be the restroom just around the corner. They have a mirror and everything in there."

Humming in confirmation, Nick strolled around the corner to the easily labeled restroom of his size - another thing he was silently grateful for instead of having to use a stall built for a bear.

Footpads walking on the grout and tile, he did a quick search to see that he was alone. Good.

He stepped into the closest stall and set his bag on a nearby coat hook before opening the box all the way. Taking a better look, he was genuinely floored by his new set of clothing.

It was a unique design: grey khakis with a belt, a pristine white shirt that came with a contrasting clip-on tie, and a solid black v-neck vest with silver-grey accents. The whole uniform felt as soft as silk but as durable as wool. He couldn't exactly place what kind of fabric it was; flannel maybe? And they had an odd fragrance to them as if they had been out in the field.

Though he grimaced at the idea of putting on the garments - Nick didn't exactly take to the idea of not wearing his Pawaiian shirt for the rest of his life - the thought that he'd be fitting in somewhere where predators weren't shunned made his heart flutter a little. It was like being part of a pack in its own right.

And he was glad for that little familiarity as well: being near other predators. The few times in school where he had felt that he belonged was when he was near his peers. Though they didn't always get along, here, he didn't see the other predators even really take notice of him. It was like being either a culture shock to prey who weren't Judy or invisible to tolerable to every other pred.

Quickly donning his new attire and stuffing his old clothes in his backpack - thankfully unprepared as he only brought the bare minimum needed to get through the day plus his lunch - he stepped out to see what the new 'Paragon Wilde' looked like.

In one of the almost body-sized mirrors that ran across the wall, Nick saw a new fox. Save for the badge that he'd be getting the next day, he could barely recognize the red furred predator that stood before him. His tie hung out of his vest, and his shirt peeked out from under his vest. And to make up for his missed Pawaiian shirt, he had rolled up his sleeves a little.

He stood there for a moment, gawking. Whoever this fox was, it wasn't Nick Wilde.

Feeling a chill run down his spine, the fox walked out a bit dumbfounded. He would have stayed longer to make poses in the mirror, but he didn't know who he was looking at.

"It fits you well, Mr. Wilde."

He stopped, turning on his heels to listen to the voice of the nodding thylacine. She smiled as she complimented him. "Once you receive your badge, it will look even better. How does it feel, though?"

Nick had to admit that it was comfortable. It wasn't the scratchy, over the top thing that he had thought it originally was. Rather, it breathed well, even in the warm spring air.

He shrugged, nonchalant. "I prefer the Pawaiian style, but it's not too bad."

*RING*

The sound was a bit less startling than before, and he had come to expect it.

Chloe tapped her clipboard. "And that was the lunch bell." She looked around to see the various students being let out and hummed. "I assume you'll be heading to the cafeteria?"

On an average day, he'd say yes. But this day was... different. Just before leaving homeroom, Judy had quietly spoken to him. After telling her that he brought his own lunch - that veggie lasagna was too good to pass up for anything that some cafeteria had, he assumed - she had told him where to meet her because she had a 'surprise' of some sort that he needed to see, and it was a great place to eat. She had even circled the spot on his map which was dead center of the school in a rather large, circular enclosure.

"Actually, there's somewhere that Ca-" He caught himself from saying her nickname. Sure it was okay (he hoped) just between them, but with other bunnies? He cleared his throat and went on. "Judy wanted me to meet her."

Chloe tilted her head. "Oh?"

"She said something about... the east side garden?"

From the nervous, almost disbelieving way that Nick stared at her, the thylacine couldn't believe her ears.

"The garden?" Chloe repeated, stunned into silence from Nick's nod.

Only the footfalls of other students broke their amicable silence until her muzzle curled into a beaming smile. Maybe he's right about these two.

Taking a deep breath and trying not to wag her tail too much from excitement, she motioned for Nick to follow her. As they meandered down the long halls and strolled by other students, Nick couldn't help but see the change in their demeanor. He didn't see many of the awkward stares that were held against him - though some still persisted, that grey wooled ram side eyed him after he passed by the white wooled ones - but, instead, he saw a lot of friendly waves and smiles for what seemed to be miles.

Were they all just hangry? he mused.

When their pace began to slow down a long stretch of a hall that lead up to a split path, Nick saw students pouring into a large set of double doors just beyond a pair of pillars. They all hurried in and only a few stragglers remained, and among those, he saw her.

Unknowingly, he smiled.

Unaware of him, Judy had been talking to another bunny. A buck from what Nick could tell with the dress code, and slightly taller than Judy. He wasn't that same grey one from his class earlier as his fur was a brownish-orange and he had a look about him that was calm and relaxed.

She was animated in her talk, her bookbag resting at her feet while she waved her paws flippantly at the buck. He nodded and tapped his foot in apparent contemplation before shaking his head and crossing his arms. Judy gave him a pleading look and lunged forward to hug him, her ears pinned down as she shook him. He put up his paws in defeat and returned the gesture.

Nick raised a brow at this as they got closer. He didn't know who the buck was, but Judy seemed to be rather friendly with him. When she let go, she turned to see him and hopped, waving her paw frantically.

"Oh! Hey Nick, you made it!" she greeted, the buck turning to meet his eyes as well.

Judy picked up her bag and ran to him, giddily hopping around as she couldn't stand still. When she stood in front of him, she looked at his outfit and placed a paw on her hip. "You look really nice in that."

The fox smirked. "Carrots, I can make anything look nice."

Chloe placed a paw over her muzzle to stifle her gasp. Carrots? D-did he nickname her that? Does she find that offensive or-

The bunny smiled. "Well, Blueberries, I think you may want to fix your tie first."

Judy reached her paw up, standing on her tiptoes to fix the misaligned thing as he leaned down. With a quick tug and re-clipping, she smoothed out the fabric before tucking it back into his vest.

Again, Chloe choked back a gasp; she was running out of paws. Okay... he's probably right about these two. I've got to make sure he doesn't go too far in trying to get them together like the last two.

Unbeknownst to them, the buck chuckled and started walking by. He stopped just next to them, eyeing Nick up and down before turning to Judy. "See ya, Judes. Don't burn anything down," he said with a wave before trudging off.

While Nick wondered what that was about and Judy nervously giggled, Chloe hummed to herself. She tapped her clipboard, having regained the use of both paws again as she looked down the hall; she had work to do.

"Well, I hope you two enjoy your lunch hour," she said, giving the two a quick bow before heading off as well.

Now just the two of them, Nick felt more at ease. He had a lot to say, but one question burned in his mind more. "Hour?" he repeated, mouth hanging agape. "We get an hour for lunch here?"

Judy looked at him as though he had twenty heads. "Yeah." she deadpanned. "With forty-two thousand students on campus, plus faculty, we kind of need an hour. An hour and ten minutes, actually, to make sure everyone's had time to enjoy it."

Nick thought back to the sign posted just outside the train when he came to the burrows. It made sense now how that number was achieved if not just for the fluffles of bunnies bouncing around, but also the busy overhead tubes that smaller rodents ran through.

Curious, Judy asked, "How long were your lunch breaks?"

With the bunny giving him an innocent face, his heart fluttered. "Twenty minutes."

Judy's face soured, but he shrugged. To him, it felt like eight. If he didn't bring lunch, then by the time he got through the lines, he had about a solid five minutes or so to scarf down food and head back to class.

In the awkward silence that befell them, Nick caught himself staring more and more into Judy's shimmering purple eyes. An odd feeling encroaching on him, he sought to remedy his wandering gaze.

"So... we have three classes together."

"Three?" Judy, no longer lost in his emerald eyes, was taken aback by the statement. "That can't be right. I saw four."

Nick folded his arms. "And here I was thinking that bunnies were good at math."

She mimicked his stance, tapping her foot furiously. "Are you calling me a dumb bunny?"

"I-"

He never got the chance to make his witty comeback as her paw swiped away his syllabus. By the time he blinked, it was already being read in front of him like when Skye had taken his letter years ago. And suffice to say, Judy was definitely faster.

She skimmed over the page with blinding speed, reading over each line no less than four times in each passing. Her check marks still there, she narrowed it down and found what she was looking for.

Without a word, she passed him back the paper, giving him a sly, knowing grin. Rocking on her heels she waited until he looked ready to ask her what was up.

Silencing him with a paw, she pointed between herself and him. "We" Leaning a bit closer and clapping her paws together, she gave him the cheesiest grin she could muster. "have Chemistry together."

Not bothering to look at the list, Nick felt his muzzle curl warmly at her.

Before long, Judy turned and waved for him to follow. He hastily trailed her to the double doors leading to a room that reminded him of a greenhouse. Thought the floor was mostly concrete slabs, there were plants growing in nearly every direction. It smelled almost like what his clothes and he began to wonder if they were left somewhere nearby.

Walking carefully behind Judy, they came to a desk near a solid, opaque glass wall. Behind it was a cheerful goat kid, bobbing his head to music and humming to a tune that Nick hadn't heard before. He waved at them so enthusiastically that one of his earbuds fell out.

"Hey, Judy! Back to check in?"

She waved as he hopped out of his seat and dashed around the desk. "You bet, Azzy."

"That's great! Dad's making his rounds." The goat stretched out his hoof towards Nick. "So, you're the new guy, huh?"

Breathing deeply and shaking, Nick hummed his answer. He hadn't expected anyone to be so upfront and friendly to a fox.

Letting go, Azzy pointed to a small scanner on the desk and a clipboard next to it. "Kiosk's down, you'll have to manually sign in."

Taking note of that, Judy shrugged and un-clipped her carrot pen from her book bag, signing her name in.

Done, she offered Nick the pen as well.

When he took it in his paw - also remembering that he had forgotten his pen at home - he examined it and tapped a claw on the buttons.

"Carrot pen, huh? I used to have one of these when I was in elementary school." He mused, checking the sheet to see that it was both a sign in and guideline. It always amused him that there had to be a 'do not eat the grass' rule, but one that read 'do not harm dream flowers' caught his attention. "Huh, it has a recorder and everything, too."

Judy felt her tail wag a little. Him sharing a little about his life was exciting to hear. It allowed her to make her dream come true just as much as it would help his. She already had blueberries in mind to give him when she got a bushel, and now they had a common interest in carrot pens.

He marveled at the writing instrument as Azzy waved them off and through the automatic door.

*G*

Nick had to shield his eyes from the blinding light that beamed down on him for a moment until all became clear. And when his eyes finally adjusted, he stopped. A completely different world was in his view.

He was standing, surrounded by a vibrant array of colours, rolling hills, and scents that came from every direction and all manner of flora.

Flowers danced in the gentle, warm spring breeze that ruffled his fur and brought a sweet aroma to him that he hadn't ever experienced while hundreds if not thousands of students casually interacted with one another. Not in his life had he seen predator and prey actively roaming around casually as he did here.

He didn't see packs or herds avoiding one another, instead, they were a mix and mash of mammals of every species.

The world slowly passed by him as he felt himself move forward like he was on a conveyor belt. A trio of wolves howled in harmony from a garden theater while a hare strummed a guitar. Their audience was a hazy mix of cheering predators and prey singing along.

A rush of water from an inclined hill caught his ear and he pivoted to watch an otter share an animated conversation with a sheep and hippo, all engrossed in some prattle that he only heard as '-only first edition counts'.

That water trickled down a pathway lined with pristine bushes and mammals lining up to reach their paws in the cooling water.

"Put the Koi down!" one, an ocelot shouted, aiming her gaze at a dumbfounded deer. He quickly complied, shrugging and whispering under his breath as the fish was relinquished back into the pond.

A few mini structures and ran down the way, he could see the smaller mammals walking to and fro in them; a gerbil sitting atop one of them casually ate their lunch next to a laughing hyena.

Caught up in the moment, Nick darted his eyes around to see where Judy went... only to find her tugging at his paw and leading him on.

"What is this place?" He asked, feeling her slow down and snicker back at him. She didn't stop until they were under a shaded spot overlooking a good portion of the field. Finally resting there, she waved her paws outward.

"This is the Garden of Dreams," she exclaimed, cheerful and hoping that he'd catch on. "It's where all the students come to plant a dream flower and watch it grow."

Instantly, it clicked with Nick. In his research of the burrow and that penpal that he had years ago, he had heard of this place, but never once really believed it existed. But here and now, he only wagged his tail as he was thrilled to be standing in it.

He tilted his head up to the tree that shaded them; its shimmering, slender leaves waved gently. I wonder if they're going to this school? He'd have to find out. This was too good to be true.

Parting his lips and gazing skyward, he questioned, "Weeping Willow?"

Judy chuckled. "Nope, that's over there," Pointing over to a tree surrounded by a patch of red flowers, he nodded in wonder. She went on. "They're the most common ones and are generally hybrids. This one here," She pointed up. "is our heralding tree, the Shining Willow. It's a hybrid, too. Most aren't that tall."

As she continued to talk, the shining tree silently its blissful haze upon the fox. Every breath here was... pure, or only how he could describe it. The atmosphere wasn't polluted with the bigotry that he had experienced before, and he hoped, genuinely hoped that all this wasn't some dream that he'd have to wake up from.

He idly swayed with the enrapturing sway of the leaves.

"New here, huh?"

Ambience fading, Nick was greeted with a deep bellowing voice. He turned to face a large mammal, a white-furred goat much like the one that had greeted him earlier. Wearing blue over-pocketed overalls and carrying a post digger in his hooves, he chuckled at the two mammals before him.

"Sorry for the startle," he apologized, pivoting towards one of the many flower beds that encircled the tree. "Been busy today. Thankfully didn't have to plant another poppy."

Judy nodded, knowing full well that he'd be treated with respect. She picked up her book bag and started off towards one of the many gazeboes in sight. "Hey, Nick. I'll be over there once you've figured out what you want to start growing."

And like that, the bunny bounded off, leaving him with the imposing goat and a nervous grin. The buck laughed and placed his hoof on Nick's shoulder.

"I see that the good Ms. Hopps has made a new friend." He pat the fox's shoulder sternly and reassuringly. "She's always tryin' to live her dream out so quick."

Placing his hoof behind Nick's back to steer him, the goat ushered Nick along a pathway. "So, would you like to plant something today?"

They passed by to one side of the garden and up to several rows of mixed, potted plants. Though, Nick couldn't help but stare at the few students who somberly stood around weeping tree, merely gazing at the flowers on the silent hill.

"What are those red ones around the tree?"

They stopped to look. And while Nick didn't understand what was so important about it, he felt an invisible weight slowly encompass him.

"Poppies," sighed the goat, morosely looking at the well-kept field. "We plant those for students and faculty that..." He didn't speak for a solid minute, lost in contemplation before his shoulders slumped. "Won't be able to see their dreams grow anymore. So we grow them with ours. The weeping tree gathers them together under its long leaves."

There were no words that Nick find to ease the moment. The gravity of the situation so fresh in his mind. It was a reality that was so close that he could touch it, but so far from what he was used to that it seemed impossible. Yet, that tree stood as a silent reminder.

Deep in thought and eyeing the flowers, a fresh breath came to him that carried the sweet, familiar scent of a rainstorm.

He perked up. "There was one flower that I had in mind."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," He tapped his claws against the pen as he recalled the plant. "It was this little purple leafed thing. I could never remember what it was, but back home... well, in the city, there was this one flower that I'd always see near a bridge that my friends and I used to hang out at."

The goat hummed, pacing down the row and finding a spot and one of the unused plant pots. He then reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a bag. "Probably a tulip," Nodding, he eyed the direction that Judy left in and smirked. "Good choice. It's rare that folks choose ones, especially of this colour."

"Why's that?"

Handing Nick the bag and the plant pot, he then pulled out a small slip of paper. "Everything around here is a symbol for something, Mitch."

"It's Ni-"

He was cut off with the goat's hoof on his shoulder once more. "Point is, that every flower, tree, heck even most names mean somethin' 'round here."

Leaning towards the row of plants, the buck pointed at the empty spot next to a dazzling red rose. It rested comfortably next to a small set of blue flowers. "You see that rose that Judy planted?"

A bit surprised that she was a rose type, Nick hummed. "Yeah,"

"The red rose means beauty, devotion," chuckling, the buck whispered. "And most of all, true love."

Wide-eyed, Nick didn't know how to respond. Still, he wondered, "And... the purple tulips represent-"

"Charity. Nobility." Stepping up to the spot with the post digger, the goat quickly cleared a space just for Nick and smiled. "And perfect love."

Had Nick been any shade of red lighter, his blush would have surely shown. He adjusted his tie. "So, uh. H-how does this work?"

"Write on this," He was handed the slip of paper. "Put it in that," He tapped the side of the clay pot. "Plant that in there," He moved his hoof to the bag before he gestured all around them. "and work hard to make it happen for you, and everyone else."

It surprised Nick far more than it did the buck at how quickly he followed the instructions.

And with his plant set next to the bunny's the fox walked away with a renewed spring in his step. Lunch was to be had with his new friend, and he looked forward to seeing old ones one day.

Maybe dreams... aren't so ridiculous after all.

Remember that dream you had, long ago? No? Well... it's waiting for you to remember it.

[A/N]

And there we have it, folks. This is why the story is called 'In Our Dreams'. Interestingly enough, aside from being a song by this awesome, and I mean AWESOME artist, the Garden of Dreams (Aka Garden of Six Seasons) is a real place in Kaiser Mahal Kathmandu, Nepal. I designed it to look the part.

You'll be seeing some experiences from others here as well as suggestions, experiences, and so much more. So stay tuned!

Also! This story was going to be originally named "Garden of Dreams", hence why in the cover you can see the 'G' on their badges. I had changed it to In Our Dreams about... 10 minutes before I released it?

Also! Also! I changed the name of this about 5 times. There were more, but I forgot them all. Names include: Nature and Nurture, Valleysong (was also about music, and the school was in a valley), Burroways, Grove of dreams, and Dream Journey.

A bunch more also's. The plot was way different. Aside from what I said earlier about not having Skye in it at all, it was about a Hopps family portrait maker that painted landscapes of other mammals dreams in the garden and it was a bit dreary... It was that different from the story here. XD

Last also. There's a new poll up on my DA and FF pages on how you want to see Skye's story "Skyebound". It's a short that goes along with this, so be sure to vote and see how you'd like it as Skyebound will be posted after the next IOD chapter.

Huge thanks to Koraru-san for allowing me to use Chloe and Eliot and Spinster-4-Hire for allowing me to use her character, Jada.

[FF Review Responses]

Thou Craggy Knob: Thank you. I'm trying my best with this. XD

InTheLionsDenOnDA: I caught wind of hurricane Skye. XD And poor Nick... the whole school's got it out for him. :D

the Red Omega: If he got a restraining order, then Eliot would issue it AND enforce it. O.o

GusTheBear: One of them may get arrested. :3

Jknight97: Don't worry, Skye can fix anything. XD And I don't remember which one it was. Linton, I think?

Cimar of Turalis WildeHopps: Thank you. XD I'm trying to work in a lot of things here and there. And Jasmine? Searches for (nonfuzzy) pawcuffs for the crazy bun. :3

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Till Next Time
-DLW