Far Far Away
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
― Langston Hughes
P.S. 118 was a very busy place for a young kit in the growing city of Zootopia. Both predator and prey children alike had some place within its walls of academia to be challenged every day and strive for a better, brighter future.
Being one of the many elementary schools in Savanna Central, it had plenty of perks - mainly weather related as it didn't get the runoff of excess water from the Weather Wall or marshes. Instead, it was in a stable climate that gave its students a chance to learn about not only the other climates around them but also the whole world itself.
Their few class field trips were like no other as many had never seen the scorching sandstorms of the Sahara, the frigid wonders of Tundra Town, or even the torrential downpours of the Rainforest. There wasn't a single kit who didn't smile and beam at each wonder as their teacher told them about the climate like they were exploring a vast, strange new world.
And for energetic children, such a place was a wonderland, a paradise for one to constantly question and make friends as their parents often told them. Two such mammals (friends since birth) attended this school for this very reason. Neither of them could have been happier to be there on this special day. For they were making new friends in a very different way.
"Can't catch me!" The little arctic fox vixen roared, racing around the room at blinding speed. She ducked under a desk and pranced around teasingly towards her now angry red fox friend.
And friends they were, but... they didn't always see things eye to eye.
"Skye! Give that back!" Nick shouted, paws grasping desperately for the little letter she played 'keep away' with.
Nick knew Skye was only teasing him, but he was really upset. Finally seven and being a second grader, his mother encouraging him to make more friends; he felt all the pressure needed to try to do so. And it just so happened that when he tried to make a new friend, Skye was there to ruin it.
She was an oddball like that, and he still couldn't understand why. She was as energetic as ever; blue eyes always shimmering and tail wagging like she had sugar even though her mother expressly forbade it. It still never stopped her, though, it made her try harder to successfully 'find' candy that other students had in their backpacks to fuel her antics.
Just a few weeks ago she had even... how did her parent's put it? Successfully eaten his prized Cosmo Corssac action figure. He didn't know what they meant by it, but he got a new one recently. Skye was always trouble.
But despite her inattentiveness and excessive, sugar-fueled habits, she was one of - if not the - brightest students in her class. Constantly saying or doing something beyond the textbook because she managed to figure it out, the vixen had even started intermediate math. She was doing division and even helped Nick in her own way by showing him one cookie divided by one Skye equals a cookieless Nick.
She even fixed her family's toaster - though her mother had to stop her when it was still plugged in - by simply figuring out the wires... that was only after the fire she started because she wanted toast with jelly and didn't want to wait.
Her parents decided to get her a tutor when she got to grade school, but they only chose this path because of her lack of focus... and her terrible, terrible spelling and grammar. It wasn't that she couldn't spell - math and meddling with things were her strong points - but she was too focused on food to get words right.
And it wasn't just that that was odd about her - though he hadn't met any other foxes in his school - but her fur was constantly growing in awkward ways. If it wasn't for her mother brushing and snipping it, she would have looked like a fox marshmallow that morning.
So there stood (more so danced) the menacing fox culprit, laughing around the classroom the moment she snatched the letter away from the poor tod. Nick would have certainly enjoyed reading what was within like several of the other students laughing at him. Skye already had her own letter and her afternoon snack, what more could she want?
Instead of complying, the fox kit giggled, "Nu-uh! I bet it has cooties on it!" Even if it did, Nick didn't care. She tested the letter by mockingly licking its corner, grossing Nick out and further frustrating him. Why did she have to taunt him so? All he wanted to do was read the letter!
Many Zootopian schools had started a new program that year. One that tried to culturally educate its growing students while connecting to other schools everywhere. Many of the districts had gotten into this under the new budget. It was experimental and fun.
The concept was simple: have each student write an anonymous letter to another student in a selected school, and when they got your letter, they'd write you back. It was a basic form of having a pen pal, but the schools deemed it a learning experience with someone miles away so they could learn a thing or two about different places in the world.
There were also a few rules such as: the teacher had to approve of your letter, you couldn't tell them your name, no gender or species identifying terms, and only one pen pal per mammal. And each school did something different with the way they interacted another for the program.
Some chose other schools in the same district, others chose schools in other districts. P.S. 118, however, being one of the last ones on board, managed to land a deal and communicate with a school in Bunnyburrow. Odd as it was, the students were happy.
Just days ago, Nick had neatly written his first letter to an anonymous student who he'd be learning the pen-name of today. He would have written it to another mammal had Skye not swiped his first pick and closely guarded the note from him while the teacher gave him another.
And Skye would always try to find a loophole in the instructions. She even took out a weird pen that she carried with her that she told Nick wrote secret messages. She told him that it was a gift from a bunny but she couldn't remember them too much. No matter how he tried to find out what she wrote, she said only she could see it with the pen, and no he couldn't borrow it.
Now Skye had his return letter in her paws. Furious, the kit ran faster, weaving around loose backpacks and past other desks in their classroom, but Skye was faster.
The little vixen hopped on top of her own desk, barely managing to stop her momentum before sliding off. With the height advantage, she quickly turned around to stick her tongue out at the disbelieving fox kit.
"I've got your letter! I've got your letter!" she sang and waved the paper around. Nick shook and was on the verge of growling.
He would have tried to leap had it not been for the sudden pair of paws picking up the vixen.
The arctic fox yipped as she was met with the stern glare of a rather annoyed, slender tigress. Their teacher, Felicity Amur, locked her blue eyes with the now nervous looking kit's.
"Skye, did you take Nicholas' letter?" her tone was both chastising and concerned despite her annoyance.
The vixen - still carrying both notes - dangled in her paws and sheepishly looked elsewhere. "I don't know..."
Clearly a lie and not wanting for any of her students to feel bad or not learn their lesson, Felicity sighed and carefully set the fox down. "Listen, young lady. You know better than to lie and steal," Of course Skye knew better... kind of. But that didn't stop her from trying to get her paws on everything. "Now give Nick his letter back and apologize."
Skye quickly complied with what the tiger instructed her to do. "Sorry Nick," she said, passing her friend his letter.
Relieved, Nick's expression brightened the moment it was back in his paws. He sauntered back to his desk at the little ushering of the tiger's paw gently guiding him there.
"Now if you'll all have your seats, you may read your letters to find out who your pen pals are." their teacher informed, as she went back to the front of the desk. She wanted to give them a few minutes before the lesson started, but also a moment to think before writing another letter.
With Nick seated next to Skye and both kits opening their letters roughly at the same time, they gasped and beamed with glee. The pen names of their friends were plain and clear to see.
Again, Jack couldn't understand what was on the stationery before him. It was an amalgam mess of words and scribbles that looked like someone took a pencil, shut their eyes, and wrote during an earthquake and a tornado. And it had a weird off-white colouring to it that he couldn't quite figure out. Not only that, but the name... that oddly long and haphazard name was something he didn't like to write out, but he did so out of being polite as his father taught him. He was surprised that they got his pen-name right.
This being the second letter he received, it was painfully obvious that whoever this was needed to practice more when it came to their paw or hoof writing. He wondered if they were in the same grade as him with such horrible script. Even asking Judy to help him decipher the scribble, the only words they could make out were: berry (or it looked like it), salt, and oil. Questioningly, Jack thought that they were trying to bake a pie; he eventually went to the teacher for assistance in reading it.
Judy, on the other paw, was thrilled to see the neat script held in her paw. It was made a perfect day as one student - a bunny who, weeks prior, had their world come crashing down - in her class wore a bright smile and a wreath garland upon their head for a special occasion. She couldn't wait to put pencil to paper, more so pen in her case.
Judy was an excitable kit, always wanting to explore the world and see new sights and interesting things. She was neat, organized and ever ready as a bunny. It came as no surprise to her parents when she was one of the top three students in her class. Along with Jack, and Sharla, they were the best of friends and even closer.
She couldn't take all the credit though, as she had a secret weapon that inspired her all the time. Judy reached into her backpack and pulled out an orange, carrot shaped pen. It was a gift from a stranger turned friend a few years ago. One she found to be a fox over time.
Odd that a fox gave her something as there was another fox named Gideon in her class that only took things from other kits. He was a bully true and true. Still, this fox she knew as a friend gave her not only the pen but she had also remembered his encouraging words and it inspired her to want more: "This is Zootopia. Where anyone can be anything!"
She held that quote dear despite not remembering much about the day she met him or her. And it was that very pen that she used to write a letter to her newest friend, a pen pal.
But before she did, a light cough interrupted her. Just at the head of the classroom, a hare stood smiling. Mrs. Tina Rhun as she was called, easily garnered their attention... well most anyways. Gideon and Travis had been a troublesome pair even among predators in her elementary class.
Still, she wore a bright expression. "Now, class," the teacher paced back and forth, beaming at the little bunny with a crown on their head. "Remember the rules of what you're to do with your letters. I'll be reading and approving them by tomorrow morning, so make the best of your time until then."
The nods of agreement - mumbles of annoyance for a certain two troublemakers - were all the confirmation that the teacher needed. She sat back down at her desk in order to read something while her students began to write letters to their new friends from far away.
They would write about little things like what they wanted to be when they grew up:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
What do you want to be when you grow up? I would like to be a Police Officer because I like helping everyone. I think it would be a lot of fun to be an Officer.
- Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
Cool! I would like to be a Ranger Scout because I like to play outside and help everyone too. Mom showed me how to make a band-aid out of a cloth once. I helped make one for my friend one time they made toast.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_Sugarraspberrydoughnuts
I know it's a cliche, but what would you like to be when you grow up? I'd like to be just like my dad, but he never tells me what he does. He's been teaching me karate.
-Agent_Parsnips
Deer! Agent_Parsnips
I wAndt to B a mEEcanick so I cn buLid a machine that maks Doughnuts causs mom wont let me havAAny.
-SUPERMEGAMACHINELAZER_SUGARRASPBERRYDOUGHNUTS
They would write about the most curious things in their young lives:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
There is a school here in Bunnyburrow that has a really cool garden in it. They say your dreams come true if you plant a flower there. I want to go there when I'm older because it may help me be a better Officer.
- Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
That's amazing! I want to go to a school like that. Maybe I could see my dad again if I planted a flower there. Can you plant a bunch of flowers?
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
When I'm older, I'll be going to a high school here that has a very special garden. I haven't been there yet, but my dad told me that your dreams may come true if you go there and grow a flower. If it's true then I may become just like him someday!
-Agent_Parsnips
DerI Agent_Parsnips
I eated a fOlwwr once! It was GRAT! I wnna go to Sschcol like that cauzEE I can dream of cake nd iceCream!
-SUPERMEGAMACHINELAZER_SUGARRASPBERRYDOUGHNUTS
They about their discoveries:
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I asked my teacher how she does sign language. She taught me a few words today! Have you ever tried to ask someone something without words?
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
I tried to once. My friend's dad told me how to sign to someone that can't speak.
-Officer_Carrots
Dare; Agent_Parsnips
I fixtd the Refffgratro! Dad says it aWs dangrOS but IT was fun!
-SUPERMEGAMACHINELAZER_SUGARRASPBERRYDOUGHNUTS
Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
I tried to fix something once. My dad said that it was one of the only times he was scared. He told me that he may try later on when the car gets out of the shop.
-Agent_Parsnips
They would even write about what could go wrong:
Dear, Officer_Carrots
If a friend was in trouble, what would you do? My friend said that they're moving soon because someone took stuff from them.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Ranger_Blueberries
That's terrible! I would ask mom and dad if they could stay here with us. My best friend even lives here because mom said someone took something from them a long time ago.
-Officer_Carrots
Dare; Agent_Parsnips
If itWs dark and their was a Buurgelr what wOOd you do?
-SUPERMEGAMACHINELAZER_SUGARRASPBERRYDOUGHNUTS
Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
It's not that hard to see in the dark. My dad taught me a few moves and how to block attacks so it shouldn't be too hard to fight them. All you really have to do is find their weakness.
-Agent_Parsnips
When school ended for the summer and all the students had to say their goodbyes, it was difficult for them; for the schools as well as it was the most beloved program they had in years.
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I had a lot of fun writing to you as a pen pal. I only wish we had more time. Maybe we'll see each other later on.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
I had fun as too! And you're right. Grandpa always told me that you cannot always tell when you'll meet your friends later on.
-Officer_Carrots
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
I enjoyed writing to you, even though the time was short. Who knows? My friend's grandpa says we may meet each other later on someday.
-Agent_Parsnips
Dyr? Agent_Parsnips
Id lIke tht if we cOOld meet Eachorh somEDay. MayB we can ghet Cake!
-SUPERMEGAMACHINELAZER_SUGARRASPBERRYDOUGHNUTS
It was a somber day for all of them. Each finding some way to cope with how to deal with not knowing how their far away friend was.
Judy kept each and every letter she had and asked her parents for a safe place to keep them safe. Jack took to trying to decipher what his friend said with every word and actually found it a little easier to understand it. Nick tried to learn more about the famous Burrows. And Skye? Well, she had a bunch of pity ice cream when she came home crying that she wouldn't be able to speak to her friend again; raspberry flavoured, her favourite.
But then, when summer was over and school was back in session, each student was surprised when their teacher announced that they would be given a second chance at it with the same school. It was no surprise, however, when many of the students asked for their pen pal by name. And soon, they continued their friendships and grew closer every day.
So they wrote:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
I'm so glad I found your name again! How is school this year? Did you make new friends?
-Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I'm glad too! School is fun, but I haven't made a lot of friends. I've learned a lot about Bunnyburrow!
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
Hello again. I'm happy that I was able to find your name here. How was your summer? I've been learning a lot and even managed to keep up with my dad.
-Agent_Parsnips
Dar Agent_Parsnips
Summr was fun! I had a tututur and she's rel nice. She help me with my writiing and maks the best Food ever!
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
And wrote:
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I had a birthday party with my friend last week. We had a lot of fun. I just wish we had more family to share it with.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
I just had a birthday party with my friend last week too. We had a lot of family there. Maybe you can join us one day.
-Officer_Carrots
Der Agent_Parsnips
I had a birthday with my friend last week and I eatd lots of Cake. I wanted more but mom said I couldnt haveany. Mom says I can join the grlscoutz. I'll jooin them becas they sel Cookies!
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
That sounds fun. I celebrated a birthday with a friend of mine too. There was a lot of cake. Maybe we can share some one day. I want to join the scouts too.
-Agent_Parsnips
And wrote even into the next year:
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I like summer but I like fall more because I get to write to you again. How is your family? My friend moves around a lot, but I don't know why.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
It's good to hear from you again. My family is doing okay, we have a lot of work to do every day. We haven't ever moved since dad owned the house.
-Officer_Carrots
Dear Agent_Parsnips
We movd again, but I can go to same school as my friend. My tuttor says that she got married to a cop! He's helpng us a lot?
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
I don't know if I would be used to moving a lot. Dad doesn't really like to. Cops are great!
-Agent_Parsnips
They shared their dreams:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
I had a weird dream once. I dreamt that I saw a green field near our house. We have a lot of those, but this one was special. It sparkled like the stars and I never wanted to leave.
-Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I had a dream like that once too. I know it's weird, but I saw a purple ocean and I could see everything in it. It was fun to swim in.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
I had a very odd dream the other day. I looked up and saw a bright blue sky and wanted to reach it. It made me smile.
-Agent_Parsnips
Dear, Agent_Parsnips
I had a dream too! I looked up and saw a yellow ball biggr than the sun. It was reall warm and made me happy.
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
They shared their belief's:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
Do you believe in ghosts? My friend and I went to this old house called the Ghost House this week with his dad. We couldn't find any ghosts.
-Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I believe ghosts are real! My friend and I watch Ghost Hunters all the time. They even said they caught a ghost once, but I think it was a firefly.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
My friend and I went to a ghost house last week. Dad says that there weren't ghosts there, but a couple who moved to the city. Do you believe that ghosts exist?
-Agent_Parsnips
Der Agent_Parsnips
Du! Of coarse ghosts exst! I caught one and ate it! It glowd yellow, and mom says ghosts look like firflies.
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
And even their hearts:
Dear, Ranger_Blueberries
We have a bully in our class that just won't stop. Why do you think other mammals are bullies?
-Officer_Carrots
Dear, Officer_Carrots
I think that they are bullies because they don't know better. I'd rather have friends than be a bully.
-Ranger_Blueberries
Dear, Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
There's a bully in our class that takes things sometimes. Do you think it's right for anyone to be a bully?
-Agent_Parsnips
Der Agent_Parsnips
It's not right to be a buly. They shouls apologize and have dessert.
-Supermegamachinelazer_sugarraspberrydoughnuts
They enjoyed the program in all of its glory. Sharing every little detail that they could and learning from each other.
That is until one day...
They all got the worst news of the entire program. Due to a number of postings, and other things cut from the budget, they wouldn't be able to keep it running on either side even after such a long, arduous battle to keep it over the course of the years.
However, the teachers agreed that each student could send one gift to their pen pal, but it would have to be approved by the teachers on both sides. They couldn't afford to send out more letters along with the gifts, but each decided it best to send a thank you note at least.
This was it, it was their time to send something special before the program ended, and Judy didn't know what to think. She could just get anything, but it didn't seem appropriate.
Jack had grown quite fond of his friend over the years and felt as though a heartfelt gift would be a lot better. He even went so far as to ask his father for advice as to what they may want and he finally came up with a solution.
Nick kept staring at the name and wanted to come up with something suitable for his friend. After saving up a lot of money he had either found or was given for doing his chores, he found the perfect gift.
And Skye even put effort into not spending her allowance on pastries this time. She only asked to buy one doughnut, much to her parent's shock.
When the time came for them to send off their gifts, it was a bitter sweet day at the beginning of summer vacation. Neither side knowing what to expect but were in hopes of giving something better than they received. And needless to say, no kit was disappointed.
So there Judy sat on a cot in their home's infirmary, touching a paw to the gauze on her cheek and idly playing with a folded letter in her hat as she looked over to the bunnies on the bed beside her.
The day had started off so well. They received gifts from their far away friends just days before the start of the 'Carrot Days' festival; both she and Jack were thrilled to have them.
Judy was utterly thrilled when she opened the little box and found a police officer's hat sitting inside. It had a little ZPD badge packaged in a silver grey fabric. Much to her surprise, it fit her perfectly and she knew what she would show herself as for the upcoming play. The last letter she received was sweet as her pen pal wished her the best and that they hoped she would achieve her every dream.
Jack had received something equally as surprising and he was too excited to have it. It was a small, silver-grey watch that was a little too big for him at the time. It even came wrapped in some striped cloth that Jack found interesting. And not only that, the last letter he received was cryptic and came in all sorts of splotches off-colour. He didn't know what they were, but he quickly took to decipher what they meant; he had gotten good with it over time.
Still, now covered in gauze for his tiny form, the little bunny spoke, "Dad."
James had sat there gently resting his sons head on his side. Had he not been so calm, Judy and Jack could have sworn he would have done something drastic.
But that was never James' way of doing things. "Yes, son?"
The buck kit idly played with his own paws, trying as best as he could to not graze over the cuts he received. "W-why do the people on the phone call you..."
"Savage?" his father interrupted; Jack nodded.
He had often caught Jack following him around when he made a phone call. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't proud that his son managed to sneak up on him in the middle of a cabbage field while hoping to send make one such secretive call. His hearing was far sharper than other bunnies even at such a young age.
James sighed, smoothing over Jack's ears to comfort him. "Don't worry about it," he reassured. "It's purely for work, son. It has nothing to do with what happened today."
Jack understood a little but was far more tired than anything. The day was supposed to go by better.
After the play that Judy was part of, they were to simply enjoy the festivities that they had loved in prior years: corn mazes, frozen treats, little nick nacks that came with the sights and sounds of the small attraction.
Neither bunny could have assumed that their class bully would attempt to steal from one of their classmates in broad daylight, and further still, that Judy would confront him about it.
Being empowered by her belief's and her friend encouraging her with their words on bullying and being given the hat, the doe tried to convince Gideon to return the tickets to the sheep named Sharla.
Initially, Judy thought it would go well - she was a cop in training after all - but she quickly found that life didn't always go as planned. For one, the fox didn't 'kindly' like how she 'kindly' told him what to do. He kept the tickets and pushed her to the ground. It was when she retaliated and kicked him that things escalated.
In an instant, Gideon Grey scratched her cheek; three little marks left in wake of the fox's attack.
And as he tried to inform her that a bunny could never become a cop, Jack had found them. He didn't take too 'kindly' to the situation and immediately went for an attack himself.
Practically foregoing all he was taught and going for a straight up fight of endurance, Jack leapt forward and kicked the fox away from his friend. In ensuring that she was okay, he made his first and only mistake: never turn your back to your enemy.
It happened far faster than he could have anticipated, Gideon tackled him to the ground, enraged that not one, but two dumb bunnies tried to get the best of their natural predator. In an assault that not even Judy had withstood, the predator slashed away aimlessly at the bunny who took to trying to defend himself futilely.
What seemed to be hours went on as the fox both assaulted his prey with sharp claws and insulted all prey present with slurs and bullying speech.
But just as Gideon raised his claws again to strike down on the bleeding buck, his paw was seized by a much more powerful force.
Enraged that any should dare attempt to get in the way of his fun, Gideon instinctively bit the unfortunate mammal that tried to stop him. Only... when he felt the slight trickle of blood seep from his fangs as he stared into eyes far fiercer than any predator he had ever seen, he regretted it.
James had stood there, ears pinned and yellow eyes like a solar flare staring down on the insolent pest that didn't know his place. He didn't flinch, didn't move or even breathe as the sharp sting of the fox's fangs began to tremble at the sight before him.
From beyond a point of pain and curled up to shield himself, Jack risked a glance at what caused the break in Gideons's attack. And for a moment... he was both relieved and terrified. Despite Gideon being a fox, James looked otherworldly. He was a bunny true and true, but even with his stripes covered as usual, he looked more like a fierce predator than any he had ever seen.
Gideon had let go after a moment of clarity - a rarity indeed. With the fox running away, James took to assess the damage and get the kits out of there and to their home.
And there was that... noise. A sound that he heard Gideon make every so often. A sound that struck fear into the hearts of prey everywhere. It was as familiar as it was terrifying.
Was dad growling? Jack wondered, his thoughts causing him to freely trace his paw across his shoulder and lightly nick his gauze. He flinched and hissed out of pain, feeling a paw hold him a little tighter, yet all the more reassuringly.
Little tears stung the corner of his eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen to him, to anyone. "I-i hate them!" he spat, shuddering out of fear.
"Who, son?" Though James already knew the answer, he felt as though a lesson could be learned. Not only that, he truly cared about his only child.
Jack sniffled a little, trying to suppress his trembling. He didn't want to be seen as weak."P-predators," he squeaked, straining his voice to make his stance more specific. "F-foxes." It was a fox that attacked him, a fox who insulted him and his friends, and a fox who stole his spy pen years ago.
James feared as much. He wrapped his arm around Jack and sighed. "Now, now, Jack, don't hate someone because of what they are."
This came as a surprise to the bunny kit. He had learned that foxes and rabbits were natural enemies. History said so, the play he went to see said so, and certainly, Gideon said so as well. And yet... here was his father telling him that that wasn't the case.
That couldn't be true. "But I- he-"
"Do you hate Ms. Sunny?"
His father's voice was far softer than he had imagined. It held no fierce weight or heavy tones. It was full of warmth and instruction that Jack loved about having his dad around. It caused him to constantly think and make the world a better place; just like it had done for Judy.
The kits thoughts traced back to the predator in question. Ms. Sunny was a long time friend of theirs and she was always happy to see them. A coyote and a loner, she owned an acre of land that many bunnies actually enjoyed: an archery range. Despite it being more so of a gun range, she gave anyone options to practice their sharp shooting. Barely speaking fluid English, Sunny had always taken to Jack excitedly and toted him around when James told him not to get too close to the range; he could have hurt his ears at his age.
"N-no," Jack shook his head, straining to hold back any pain he could feel. "she's nice and-" He felt his father pat him on his head, he looked up and smiled.
"Gideon is a troubled kit, Jack. I can tell that his upbringing wasn't the best," James explained, mindful of the scars his son would have likely for the rest of his life. "This may be hard for you to understand now, but I know his family doesn't treat him well. I'm sure he's terrified of his father" his tone deepened as he said this and his voice trailed off. He remembered seeing the older tod's actions at the festival, it was anything but pleasant before and after Gideon's attack. Earl Grey had always been a town nuisance.
James knew that Jack wouldn't exactly know what it meant, but he had to do something; it wasn't in his nature to sit by idly. It even showed itself in Jack that protecting what you believe in is admirable, albeit at times foolish.
Tiredly, the kit yawned at his father's side. It had been a long day for him and being stitched up had drained him. "Dad... what happened to mom?"
The first thing Jack expected was some sort of answer, but instead, the deep, cold silence and a long drawn out sigh were all he received.
Still, James was never one to leave things unanswered. "I'll tell you when you're ready," he reassured, shuffling off the bed and allowing his son to rest against the pillow provided to him. "But sleep, for now, Jack."
He wanted to protest, to get some semblance of where his mother was, but he was too tired. Slowly his eyes closed themselves and he drifted off to sleep.
As James pulled a blanket over him to keep him comfortable, he had already determined a path of solutions as to what he'd be doing very soon. Again he sighed.
"Judith."
The doe froze. Not just out of fear of what she had seen, but James now talking to her somewhat worried her. She had seen other bunnies in bad conditions before - mainly older ones as no farm was without accident or incident - but never a kit, and certainly not her friend.
"Y-yes M-mr. James?" she stuttered, finding it difficult to answer the bunny she saw growling at a fox hours ago.
Sensing her trepidation, James moved closer. He knelt down and smiled at her. "There's no need to fear, little one. He's just resting. He'll be okay, trust me."
If there was one thing that she knew about James, it was that he was somehow always right. He was right about the ghost house, about Jack attempting to help fix the car, about her older families Roth IRA plans and such.
James stood up. "Jack will be tired for now... and scared, but it's that fox that I'm worried about."
Curiously, Judy tilted her head. "What will happen to Gideon?" she asked. How could anyone be worried about him when he caused so much pain?
"I'm not sure, Judith. But I'm going to speak to his family with the sheriff present. I could speak to Earl on my own, but this may require the authorities to investigate as well."
Those words excited and worried Judy. She wanted so badly to be a cop, even more than before. Gideon attacking both of them made her far more determined to reach her goal. And not only that, but she was going to be the first bunny cop in all of Zootopia.
Distracted, she didn't even see James walk towards the door. He hesitated with his paw on the door handle when he turned around to see both kits one more time.
"Judy," he spoke calmly, watching her ears turn to him. "Can you do me a favour and watch over him while I'm gone?"
She had rarely been given an order by anyone, and certainly not to guard another bunny. Beaming at the prospect, Judy donned her hat and gave a quick salute and smile to James.
The moment he left, Judy couldn't help but pace around Jack and ensure that no other bunny got too close. Not only that, the simple letter held in her paw encouraged her. It was one last attempt to reach out to her friend after the program was over. It couldn't be sent, but she memorized every word and would always cherish and hold it dear.
Maybe I can give it to them when I get to Zootopia? she mused with a smile as bright as her future.
Nick continued to take deep breaths as he felt coarse brick ruffle against his much softer fur. Never before had the kit been so upset at anything... not since the day his dad was taken away.
And even then, Nick didn't feel as though he was being hunted, chased and ousted by his peers for simply existing. In his anger and sorrow, he glanced at the metal object haphazardly tossed on the ground. Had he had more strength he would have thrown it further, but just the feeling of the that... that cage hurt more than anything he had ever experienced.
Not even Skye accidentally biting him had hurt nearly that much.
And to think that the day went by so well. He and Skye received their gifts from their pen pals just a few days ago, and they weren't disappointed in the least. They could only hope that their friends were excited as well.
Nick received a green scouts hat and a red scarf to boot. He was astounded that the thing fit and the scarf fit comfortably and perfectly! His mother was equally happy as she managed to get him the rest of his Ranger Scout's outfit within days before the scouts were opened.
Skye was happy as well. Her pen pal sent her a small (child safe) multi tool that was wrapped in an off-white coloured cloth. It came with a screwdriver, wrench, pliers, everything but a sharp edge. She was so excited that her mother had to stop her from taking apart the television then and there... she promised she would later, though. And, on top of that, Skye was going to join the girl scouts.
The two foxes had walked to separate buildings not too far away from one another. They knew the area well and promised to tell each other what it was like after their meetings. When they parted, they did so with such a beaming smile that it was impossible to ruin their day.
But here the tod was, crying against the side of a building. The scouts he had so hoped to join that day were not what he had hoped. They were all prey mammals, and that was never a problem to Nick. What was an issue, however, was that they were all bullies.
He choked back a sob as he remembered them pinning him down and shoving a muzzle onto him. He had seen plenty of cop shows and muzzles were only used on bad predators. He had done nothing wrong that he could remember, so why would they use one on him? He had never bitten anyone!
Still, the words they said hurt more: "You thought we could ever trust a fox without a muzzle? You're even dumber than you look!"
He wasn't dumb, he knew what they were saying. And being a fox meant being pushed around and seen as something evil. He and Skye had been bullied by sheep before in their classes, whether pushed around by a ram or insulted by that odd little ewe, they had always been 'those foxes' to them.
And these mammals? They showed that Nick was 'just a fox' to them. Somehow in his panic to leave the building the scout meeting that was held, he managed to pick up his prized hat in panic. He wouldn't let what his friend got him go to waste on these prey that didn't even care.
He had gotten out and raced down the stairs, nearly tripping as he went. He didn't get very far as he hugged the side of the building and removed the wretched muzzle from him... life wasn't fair.
When he heard a shuffle and gasp, Nick looked around, angry as it may have been one of the other scouts to gloat at him. But when he saw a blue and white, he immediately stopped; his eyes went wide in horror.
"S-skye?" It was her alright... but something was off. When they left each other, she wore a bright blue dress and a permanent smile. Now her scout's dress had splotches of dirt and she looked annoyed. And Nick knew that Skye loved to play in the dirt, so something was clearly wrong. "What happened to-"
"I left." her answer was short, and held a sharp tone that she never had before. She folded her arms and pinned her ears to her flat. "Scouts were dumb anyway!"
Nick knew it wasn't true for her. She always talked about getting tons of cookies and fixing machines to make better cookies. She was never upset, and a much happier kit than he ever was. This was not how she ever acted.
Both kits looked at each other before Skye walked up to Nick and offered him her paw. She helped him to his feet and he held dear to the hat he carried with him. They both promised to go home together and they would; the day was ruined.
But before they could take the first step, both foxes looked down the street just beyond the discarded muzzle. Curious, they both tilted their heads at what either could assume was a fox kit much younger than them.
"Who are you?" Nick asked, moments before Skye moved forward to inspect the odd fellow with large ears and a toothy grin.
Even in opposition your dreams can grow
[A/N]
You have no idea of how hard it is to write Skye the way she is... And no, she's not illiterate or dumb, she just writes really fast and sloppily and can't spell well... it's supposed to be like my writng at her age. Also, it took me 5 whole seconds to come up with her pen name.
And this is the last chance to guess as to what the single plant term is that Judy and Jack know of. It is a garland, and it represents... something. Judy almost got the term right last chapter when she put it on Nick's head. What does it all mean? You'll have to wait until next chapter! The prize is still available to the first one to get it right before then. ^_^
[FF Review Responses]
GusTheBear: You're close on nearly everything written. This chapter determines Nick's cynicism. And you're on the right track, Jack is IN for it later on. OOOOOO So close! It's representative of something VERY important that will be revealed next chapter. ^_^
the Red Omega: Da cops?! Absolutely! This will have huge significance soon. XD
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Till Next Time
-DLW