Happy Mother's Day! You probably had expectations of what this drabble was going to be about. Now we're here to hopefully meet those expectations, or even better, subvert them entirely!

Yeah, let's go with that one. Who's ready for some ANGST?

Drabble 18: A Mom-entous Day

Happytown

20 Years Ago

Things had been quiet since that night.

Marian knew now that she had been foolish to expect a return to normalcy. How could she ever expect such a thing after losing the tod she'd married and loved, not to some freak accident or violent criminal, but by her own swift paw across the cheek and her own words commanding him to leave?

True, John's warped view of foxes was exerting a terrible influence over their son. Cutting him out of their life before he could cause any further damage seemed like the logical choice, on paper. But the decision had been made through emotion, not logic, and that's where the cracks began to shine through. She'd underestimated just how much of a bond Nicholas had formed with his father, having only seen them together around the apartment and not on their numerous outings alone. The very same outings she had been so concerned about in the first place, but could never keep watch of due to her own job responsibilities. Those tables weren't going to wait themselves, sadly.

Had she merely been paranoid, or was she right to be so protective? Only Nicholas was around to answer that question and he refused to approach it, or even acknowledge it. One thing that she knew John had gotten to teach him was how to wear a mask, to never let the world see that it got to him. Not the world, and not his own mother.

Then Nicholas vanished after school one day, gone without a trace, without so much as a note goodbye.

And things got quieter still.

Was there more she could have done for him, or was this the only way it was ever going to end? Now there was no one around to even dodge that question. And Marian doubted she would ever find the answers on her own.

What she did know was that, right or wrong, if she hadn't snapped at John that night, then both he and Nicholas would still be around. That was, unfortunately, the one question she could answer with complete confidence. She had underestimated Nick's love for his father...and she had underestimated how much she still loved them both. Now she was paying the price.

Marian didn't leave the apartment much since then. Perhaps she had lost the will to step foot outside again, or perhaps she simply preferred to remain close to all that remained of her son and ex-husband. More questions to add to the pile.

Regardless, she was forced to make another decision as soon as her pantry started to run dry. She still had a job, for about a week to give her time to grieve, but this was still Happytown. There was about as much chance of her being given an extended leave as there was of the police finding her son. So she was left to either venture forth or hold on to her lost family until the day she died. Which would likely be about another week, give or take.

It was little more than self-preservation instincts that got her out the door that late afternoon. The nearest source of food was Growley's Market, about three blocks away. Even going that far felt like a small marathon, but Marian forced herself to make the journey.

Soon enough, she had entered the dingy supermarket, grabbed a shopping cart, and was pushing it down an aisle to collect items for purchase just like any other day. That brief illusion was shattered when she noticed how much less expensive this venture was than usual. She nearly left the cart and walked out right there, and really might have if not for what happened next.

Marian felt a tugging at her skirt. "Hey, 'scuse me? Lady?"

Snapped out of her depressing thoughts, she looked down and saw a small wolf pup staring up at her. He couldn't have been older than six or seven, dressed in a green and black striped shirt and blue shorts. Just seeing this pup stirred up emotions that Marian wasn't sure she wanted to deal with right now. But as the only other option was to ignore the child and his puppy dog eyes, this was another easy decision. "Yes? What is it?" Marian asked, genuinely curious.

"I'm lost," he said, rather casually. "Can you help me find my momma?"

Is this some kind of sick joke? "Of course," she answered, because how else could she answer when asked something like that? Maybe helping this pup find his mother would somehow ease her own conscience, but she wouldn't hold her breath on that. She knelt down to his level. "Can you tell me what she looks like?"

"Sure! She's a wolf like me, only bigger!"

Marian gave him a patient smile, that she surprisingly didn't have to force. "Could you tell me a little more about her, please?"

"Hmmmmm." The pup rocked back and forth on the pads of his feet. "Well, she's taller than a giraffe on leap year! Wait, no, that ain't true. But she's tougher than a rhino covered in concrete! Okay, that might be true, but not sure if it'll help. And she's got fur whiter than...err...those marshmallows!" He pointed to a nearby shelf.

"Oh! White fur, that should stick out!" Marian was almost starting to lose hope. "Let's go look for her then. Where did you see her last?"

"Over at the end of the aisle. While she was watching you and saying I should-"

"MY BABY!" A white blur rushed over and scooped the wolf pup up. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Where have you been?!"

She hugged him tightly enough that it just so happened to keep him from answering.

"I take it he's...yours?" Marian asked, a bit caught off-guard.

The she-wolf was dressed casually in a dark blue shirt and brown biker jacket with faded jeans. Her white fur was noticeably dirtied and she had two crescent moon-shaped earrings hanging down. "Yes, Junior here has such a bad habit of wandering off. Thank you so much for finding him."

"You're welcome." Who found who again? "Glad I could help."

She nodded and extended a paw, keeping the other still wrapped around Junior's head. "My name is Annie. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"...Marian," she returned, shaking it. "I don't believe I've seen you around the neighborhood before." Not that she'd seen much of the neighborhood at all as of late. For all she knew, a sheep could've moved in during the interim.

"Junior and I are just visiting some relatives in the area," Annie explained, finally putting him down. "We'll only be here for another day or two."

"No offense, but I'd be more careful with him," Marian warned, looking down at Junior herself. He waved cheerfully back. "This isn't exactly the best neighborhood for a child to get lost in…"

"So I've heard, but thanks for the concern. I'm afraid I'm still getting used to the place. I can barely tell one bullet-ridden street sign from the next."

"I could show you around!"

The offer came bursting from Marian's lips before she could stop herself. Not just bursting, but practically exploding with enthusiasm. It even made her tail wag. Good lord, am I really THAT desperate for social interaction?

Annie blinked in surprise, a look she shared with Junior. "Really? You'd do that for me? But we've only just met."

She chuckled sheepishly, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "You're right. I probably shouldn't-"

"That would be awesome!" Junior shouted. "I'd love to see more of this place!"

"Are you sure? It's really not that..."

He was staring at her again. Damn, those eyes were hard to resist.

Naturally, it didn't take much to convince her to accept her own offer. "Alright, I guess that would be okay. We could do it now even. I'll just take this stuff home and…" She looked back at her shopping cart. It was barely filled anyway. "You know, I'm really not that hungry. It can wait." She grinned, the desperation now clearly showing on her face.

"Someone's eager," Annie teased, leaning back against a shelf. "Well, I guess we could get out for a bit, if Junior's willing to wait for his Puppy Power Pops as well."

"I am! I am!" He hopped up and down with excitement. "I'm more willing than...I was to come here!"

"Guess that settles it," Annie decided, smirking at both of them. "Though Junior and I might need to stop by my place to drop off my ride first."

She raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to take your car?" It was kind of amazing how little her self-preservation instincts had a problem with any of this.

"Welllllllllll…"

Marian understood as soon as they left the store and she laid eyes on Annie's "ride".

She had no idea how she'd overlooked it coming in. The sleek, dark purple motorcycle practically screamed "stylish", and was locked down to high-heaven for that very reason. Its seat was low to the ground, the front wheel jutting out a foot or two from it. On its side was the distinct mark of a crescent moon.

"Junior isn't my only child," Annie said proudly. "This is Artemis: my fierce huntress of steel and thunder. Is...something wrong?"

Marian was staring wide-eyed at the bike, her lower jaw hanging open and a noticeable line of drool forming. "Um...nothing wrong, no," she answered, recovering quickly and wiping away the drool. "I've just...always wanted to ride one of these."

Annie grew a mischievous smile. "Have you now? Then perhaps it is I who can show you around…"

Despite her excitement, Marian was hesitant. "Do you have safety pads?" She felt like she was asking more out of obligation than anything.

"No worries, I always come prepared, just in case," Annie said, pulling the protective gear from seemingly nowhere. Junior already had his on, the pup looking between them and the bike sporadically.

"This is so exciting," Marian said, fastening the knee and elbow pads. "Even I've never seen all of Happytown before and I've lived here my whole life. Talk about a scenic tour."

"How does it compare to some of the larger districts? Not favorably, I imagine."

"Wouldn't know. Like I said, been here my whole life."

"Wait...you've never been outside Happytown before?" Annie asked, passing out helmets to her and Junior. "Ever?"

"No…" Marian was getting unusually self-conscious around this stranger. "Haven't been able to find the time, or afford a trip. Not with three mouths to feed."

"Oh. I'm sorry, should we put this off then?"

Junior looked up at her, confused. "But Momma, you said she-"

"Wouldn't want to keep you away from home!" Annie said loudly.

"No, it's alright," Marian assured. "That's..not an issue anymore." She looked down at the bike helmet in her paws for only a moment before she placed it on her head. "And I could use a little fresh air right about now."

4: 34 PM

"Woooooooooohoooooooooo!" Marian screamed as Artemis tore off down the road, twisting and turning around the many interconnected blocks of Happytown. She was all dolled up in her helmet, knee, and elbow pads, her arms wrapped tightly around Annie's torso. Her body language implied that she was terrified, but her vocal language was sending a very different message. "Faster! Faster!"

"Momma, is she okay?!" Junior yelled over the roaring winds, the pup nestled comfortably on Annie's lap, between her arms.

"Oh, I think she's doing just fine!" Annie smiled back at her passenger, who was too busy screaming her head off to even notice.

"I'm better than fine! This is the greatest day of my liiiiiiiiiife! Faster!"

"As you wish!" Annie cranked the ignition, and with a tremendous roar, Artemis grew even faster, nearly running a red light in its quest to shatter the sound barrier. It was very fortunate that the trio and their ride left the confines of Happytown soon after.

Unbeknownst to Marian, her host had decided that she was going to see the world outside of her pred ghetto, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Greener pastures awaited them now.

Sahara Square

4: 51 PM

Though it didn't get much less green than here. Marian stopped screaming only when sand started flying into her mouth, making her cough and sputter. It also made her actually start looking at her surroundings and realize that she wasn't home anymore. "Oh wow, it's so bright! Hot too!"

Annie had to hold back a laugh. Yes, "bright" and "hot" were about the two most obvious words one could use to describe this district. She really was as new as a tourist. "You're lucky we're going so fast or it'd be a whole lot hotter! Hit the button on the side of your helmet!"

Marian was a bit reluctant to move her arm and waited until they were stopped at an intersection to do so. But when she did, a sleek black visor slid down from the helmet and over her eyes. "Cool!"

"Nah, still hot," Junior corrected, he and Annie sporting their own visors. "But that'll help ya see better."

Marian was about to respond when she spotted a certain tree-shaped building on the horizon. "The Grand Palms…"

"You're familiar with the place?" Annie asked curiously. "I thought you haven't been out here before."

"I haven't," she confirmed. "My ex has."

"The casino?"

"The casino." She sighed. "He was pretty good at making an earning though, so I stopped getting on his case about it. Just one of many things I wish I'd kept better watch of…"

There was a loud honk from behind them, startling the three canines. "Hey, the light's green! Some of us have places to be!" an irritable dromedary camel yelled from his car.

Annie rolled her eyes and went to get moving again, only to be startled again. "Shove it up your sandy ass! I was having a moment!"

She looked back in shock to see Marian flipping the camel off, the ungulate equally surprised. The fox caught herself and cleared her throat, turning back around. "Sorry. Not sure what got into me there."

"Don't apologize," Annie told her. "That was incredible."

"B-But I cussed! What about Junior?"

The pup shrugged. "Eh. Heard worse."

"Not from me you haven't," Annie insisted, finally driving off again. "I should be the one apologizing, you know. You just wanted a ride around Happytown and now I've practically abducted you."

"It's alright," Marian replied, indeed showing very little concern in any part of her features. "Can we see more?"

"Well, if that's how you want to be, I guess I can accommodate."

Annie spared no further expense from then on out.

Tundratown

5: 12 PM

The sudden shift from hot to cold hit them hard as soon as they passed through the climate wall. "I'm going to have to go slower here," Annie warned. "Even I'm not going to chance losing control on this ice."

"T-T-That's fine." Marian wasn't really fine with this much colder weather, but wasn't about to endanger her new friends just because she was a bit chilly.

"Just kidding! This ain't my first rodeo!"

Before she could respond, Annie sent the bike careening off the roads entirely. If it caused her any traction issues, Marian didn't notice with the way Artemis effortlessly swerved around snowbanks and skidded atop patches of ice. At one point, it did seem like Annie had taken a turn too hard and was losing control over the back of the bike, but she turned the stunt into a series of donuts, throwing snow everywhere and making both her and Junior scream until the vehicle started to slow and she sped off again.

Honestly, if she didn't clearly know what she was doing, this whole thing would've started feeling like a serious case of child endangerment. "Do it again, Momma! Do it again!"

She did it again, making Marian wonder if the first time had really been an accident at all. She screamed again too, but now it was starting to feel invigorating again. "Do you know any other tricks?"

The wolf grinned. "I was beginning to think you'd never ask!"

She stopped the bike for a moment, eyeing the Flow Ped nearby. The icy river was busily carrying mammals to their destinations on individual ice caps, but there was one larger cap that happened to be unoccupied."Hmmm…" Annie revved up.

Marian felt a chill unrelated to the current climate. "Don't do it."

Annie stopped, looking back at her. "Do you mean that?"

"Do I mean that?" Marian asked herself. "No, no I don't. Do it."

"Yeah, do it!" Junior agreed.

Annie's grin returned and she looked back at the ice cap. "Professional driver on closed course." She revved up again. "Do not attempt."

Artemis accelerated towards the approaching ice cap, catching the attention of multiple pedestrians who frantically dove for shore or tried to wave her down. But now that Annie had permission from her passengers, she would listen to no others. As she reached the shoreline, she reeled back and pulled the bike into a wheelie, landing on the edge of the ice cap with enough force that one end of it was weighed down and the other end rose into the air, creating a makeshift ramp. Before the flow of the Ped was disrupted too much, the front wheel of Artemis touched back down and sped rapidly up the incline, launching off the side and back onto the opposite shore.

Their impromptu audience stared in shock at the feat, and some clapped, but that was nothing compared to Marian's reaction. "That was amazing, Annie!" Her arms had been wrapped around the wolf the whole time, but the gesture had shifted from "death grip" to "gleeful hug".

"Come now, it wasn't that impressive," she chuckled, though her tail gave her away by wagging slightly. She spotted a nearby stand, an inattentive reindeer selling bags of fishsticks out of it. "But for being such a good sport about all this, how about a snack? My treat."

"Sure! We'll just park here then?"

She smirked. "Who said anything about stopping?"

She zoomed past the stand, snatching a bag from the counter and covering the reindeer in a good pile of snow. He barely reacted.

"Here you go." Annie passed the bag back to Marian. "I'll actually go slower this time, to let you eat."

"Um…"

"What's wrong? Are they too cold?"

"More that you kinda just robbed that guy."

Annie paused, then nodded. "And that would be bad, yes."

She reversed to pull back up to the stand, threw some miscellaneous bills onto the counter, then drove away again, covering both the reindeer and the money in more snow. "Better?"

"Better," she confirmed, taking a bite.

Rainforest District

6: 08 PM

Marian squinted up at the sky, what she could see of it through the foliage anyway. "The sun's starting to go down."

"I think you mean the moon's starting to come up," Annie corrected. "Are you implying that this grand adventure of ours should come to an end soon?"

"No, not at all!" she said, a bit too quickly.

Annie laughed. "Well, the high-speed thrill part of the trip is over at least. Too hard to maneuver in this underbrush. I could take you up on the Torrential Turnpike if you're still looking for speed, but I wouldn't recommend it. That place is noisy and prone to spontaneous car chases."

"Yeah, I'm not sure how much more excitement my heart can take."

"You're not that old."

"Gee, thanks." She gave the wolf a playful bap on the head that was absorbed by her helmet anyway. "Still, I could use a break. Do you know anywhere nice and quiet to hang out, preferably alone?"

Junior giggled. "Wow, you're lucky Momma's not a serial killer!"

"Guess so. Wait, why did you emphasize-"

"One sec." Annie once again took the bike off-roading, weaving between the tight gaps in the trees. This wasn't just skill; she knew exactly where she was going, down to the last turn.

Artemis emerged into a small clearing. A bed of stones formed a shore overlooking a clear pond, surrounded by trees on every side. There was a single wooden bench placed there, awaiting visitors. "The Rainforest District holds many secrets hidden within its leaves," Annie explained. "I've done enough riding around that I discovered quite a few."

"I probably would too if I had a bike like this," Marian confessed, stepping off onto the cool stones. "What is this place?"

"Sparkly moon pond!" Junior cheered.

"That's about the size of it. If it has any greater significance, I'm not aware. It's just a nice, quiet place to hang out. Don't you think?"

"It seems to fit the criteria," Marian said, sitting herself down on the bench. Annie soon joined her, Junior hopping up onto her lap. The sun was down and the moon was just beginning to poke out over the edge of the pond, reflected cleanly on the water's surface without any obstruction. "It really is a nice place. I've been seeing quite a few today."

"I'm still surprised how little of Zootopia you've seen," Annie said.

"It's not like I've never seen any of it. Just...mainly through brochures and television. Not even cable television."

"Oof. No wonder you jumped at the first chance to get out a bit, even if it's with a complete stranger."

Marian swallowed uncomfortably, trying to keep her eyes on the pond and away from the wolves. "Well...that's not entirely why I agreed to this. If my son told me some stranger came up to him on a bike and offered to show him the world, I would've expected him to run for it. Let's be honest, this was a reckless and impulsive decision, but I couldn't find a downside to it."

"What do you mean?"

"...Could you keep Junior busy for a moment?"

Junior looked confused, until Annie pulled something out of her pocket that looked suspiciously like a dog treat and threw it over her shoulder. Junior leapt off of her lap and went racing after it. "Yes?" she asked.

Marian sighed. "I lost my family, Annie. And it was my own fault. Do you have any idea how hard it's been to live with that? So the way I saw it, either you were going to take me on a fun joyride to clear my head a bit, or..."

"Or...?"

"Or you were going to abduct and kill me or something, and then I'd never have to think about it again."

The pond was silent already, but had somehow gotten quieter.

"Marian." Annie rested a paw lightly on the vixen's shoulder. "I'm sorry about what's happened to you. These are the trials a mother must face sometimes. Believe me, I know your pain well."

"You still have your son," she said, flinching afterwards. "Sorry."

"No, I understand. But Junior isn't my only child, and I'm not talking about Artemis either. I too have felt the loss of a deceased pup."

"But Nicholas isn't-"

"How do you know?"

Marian reeled back, caught off-guard, and even a little offended by the question. "Because I know him! My Nicholas can survive on his own! Even...even if it wasn't through my own teachings..."

"Then you're still holding onto hope," Annie observed, winking at her. "You already know that your boy is alright, so what are you doing giving up like that? Whether he's around or not, as a mother, it's your responsibility to be there for him. Am I wrong?"

"You're not..."

"Good. Glad we've cleared that up."

Junior returned soon after, not knowing what was going on, but sensing the mood. He understood enough that he felt the need to climb up onto Marian's lap this time. "Thanks, Junior." The vixen smiled softly, petting his head.

"Just give him back when you're done with him," Annie joked.

"Are you suggesting I might try to steal your son?" Marian joked back. "That's a hurtful stereotype, you know."

"I'm aware. But speaking of stereotypes..." Annie pointed back into the pond, where the image of the full moon was now big and bright. "Wanna howl at the moon with us?"

She laughed nervously. "Thanks, but foxes don't really do howling."

"Sure you can! It's easy!" Annie reared her head back and let loose a long, echoing howl, conveying the sorrow she felt for her new friend, the comfort she aimed to provide, and the lingering hope of a fellow mother.

Of course, Marian didn't understand a lick of that, but it sounded pretty regardless. So did Junior's accompanying howl.

So did the hundreds of howls that erupted seconds later, engulfing the entire Rainforest District in a lupine cacophony. It was even louder than the bike. Marian resisted the urge to cover her ears out of respect. "I've heard of 'starting a howl', but I didn't know it could cause a reaction like this!"

"It wouldn't for most!" Annie proudly replied mid-howl.

"Is this gonna get a noise complaint?!"

"Not if they know what's good for them!" Junior said cheerfully.

"Come on, try it!" Annie urged.

She could barely hear them over the chorus, but Marian did her best to join in anyway, lifting her head and letting out her best attempt at a howl.

The resulting sound was more like a loud, piercing scream, so horrific that it shocked Annie into silence. The rest of the howls died out as a result. The white wolf stared at her in shock. "What the howl was that?"

Marian blushed, and now it was Junior reaching up to pet her head, in sympathy. "I did my best..."

"Right. Well, I appreciate the effort, but I think that has just thoroughly killed the majesty of the setting, so would you like me to take you home now?"

Still a little embarrassed, but knowing the wolf meant it in jest, Marian smiled and nodded.

"Alright then!" Annie headed back over to climb aboard Artemis. "Our route took us in more or less a giant circle, check the transit map if you don't believe me, so it shouldn't take us too long to get back to Happytown."

"Can't say I'm in a huge hurry to get back," Marian admitted.

Annie turned her key and started up the bike...which stopped immediately after. She froze.

Junior scampered up to the bike and looked over his mother's shoulder curiously. "Good news then! We're outta gas!"

Happytown

8: 16 PM

"Alright, so maybe I could've kept a better eye on the gas," Annie admitted, she and the other two canines pushing the bulky form of Artemis along the sidewalks and back from whence it came. "Amateur mistake really, but we were just having so much fun."

"I completely understand," Marian said, having a little more trouble pushing the bike and almost tripping over herself a few times in the process. "That's the most fun I've had in a long time."

"Me...too…" Junior agreed, struggling because of his size but still wanting to help. "That was...more fun...than...this part is."

"Sorry I didn't actually get to show you around Happytown that much," Marian said. "We might have gotten a little off-track."

"Hmm? Oh right. That is a shame, but I must say, the two hours we've spent lugging this thing back to Happytown has already given me a greater appreciation of the place. And of vehicles in general. They are quite convenient."

"Momma…" Junior wheezed. "Why didn't...we just...leave it back there...to get picked up…by…"

"By some ruffians? Oh, I wouldn't dream of it!"

"Funny you say that, actually."

They stopped. In the process of dragging themselves and Artemis all the way back to Happytown, they somewhat overlooked the fact that they were indeed in Happytown, and Happytown was not the best place to be out at night. Many predators were nocturnal, after all, and now one of them was emerging from the nearest dark alley. He was a Girafrican wild dog in ratty clothes, dirtied fur, and wielding a knife. "Even without gas, that looks like a mighty fine bike. Hand it over and no one gets hurt."

Marian gasped in fright, stepping back and nearly tripping over the bike once again. Junior instinctively bared his tiny fangs. "GrrrrrRRRRRrrrrrrRRRRRrrrr…"

Annie didn't seem too concerned though. "Are you sure about this?" the older wolf asked. Not in a threatening manner, but one that sounded genuinely concerned for his wellbeing.

The would-be mugger was just as confused. "What? Of course I'm sure! You see the knife?!"

Annie glanced down at the weapon, a six-inch blade pointed in her general direction but not at any specific target. "Yes, it's a very nice knife. Obviously hasn't been used much outside the kitchen though."

"Wha…?" That knife wavered in his grip a little. "How do you-?!"

She tapped her nose. "Mainly because it smells of fish and vegetables rather than blood. You could've washed it off, but there would still be traces of it, so…"

"Y-Yeah? Well, I can still stick ya with it just as easily!" The mugger took a step closer, as if trying to visually prove that he was still in control. His shaking knife and hesitant body language visually proved the opposite. If he was afraid, Annie could probably smell that too.

"Can you?" Once again, she was asking genuinely. "I'm sorry, but I don't think you have it in you. Nor do I think you really want to anyway."

The mugger growled, but it soon became apparent that he really was all bark and no bite. "Maybe I don't, but what I want is that damn bike! That's all I need! So step away or else!"

"I understand, dear."

Marian nearly fainted when Annie reached out and gently gripped the back of his armed paw. "But let's think this through, okay? Say you get the bike. What are you going to do with it?"

He obviously wasn't expecting the question. "W-Well, I could take it to the pawn shop. Looks like it'd go for a lot."

"You'd probably make more money by dismantling it and selling off the individual parts actually."

"Really? Okay, I'll do that then."

"Now, how are you going to get it home to dismantle it?" she asked gently. "It took the three of us pushing together just to get it this far."

He scoffed. "I think I can handle it if a child and two old ladies could."

Marian had to applaud Annie's remarkable patience for staying calm and collected after that comment. "Perhaps you could. Sure hope your home is nearby though, or else you may just wind up in the same position as us. Except, of course, that you won't outnumber the attackers."

"I can handle myself!" The canine's knife hung limply in his grasp, completely forgotten.

Annie used her free paw to pat his arm sympathetically. "What about when you make it back? Do you have the proper tools to dismantle a motorcycle? Do you even know how?"

"H-How hard can it be?"

Junior had to hold back a laugh for reasons Marian didn't fully understand. She considered asking him how hard it was, but knew she'd probably just get a simile in response.

"Dear, I hate to say this, but I'm not sure you've thought this entirely through," Annie said, still gripping the mugger's wrist and arm. It seemed to be just to comfort him, though Marian noted that it was also a useful position to quickly disarm him if it came to that. "You risk harming innocents against your better character, all for a prize you're not even sure you'll be able to keep, let alone utilize? Does that sound worth it to you?"

"...No," he admitted, already disarmed in one sense.

"No," she agreed. "Perhaps you should head back home to your mother then. I'm sure she must be worried about you."

The once-mugger bit his lip. "I, uh, don't have one of those. Not anymore."

Marian was almost as uncomfortable. Again. Another lost child without a mother.

"Poor thing." Apparently pushing the boundaries as far as she could go, Annie pulled the orphaned miscreant into a hug. "What's your name?"

"Scourge."

"I don't think so. Even in Happytown, no mother would name their child that. Might as well be called 'Bad M. Ammel'. Try again."

She had scolded him just like a mother would, and he responded accordingly. "You're right. It's Greg," he said meekly.

"Thank you for your honesty, Greg. You're a good boy."

Marian had increasing difficulty making sense of the surreal scene in front of her. She only just noticed Annie reach around Greg's other side and slip a small piece of paper into his back pocket. "Come to this address if you can. There are mammals there who will help you."

"Help me...dismantle a motorcycle?"

"Among other things."

Greg brightened up quickly. "Thanks! You're alright, Miss! Uh, guess I won't stab you guys today." Not quite sure how to say goodbye to the mammals he'd tried to rob, Greg awkwardly hid his own knife behind his back and side-stepped into the darkness of the alley from whence he came.

"That was very nice of you, Annie," Marian praised, opening her arms for a hug of her own as soon as she got close enough. "Where did you send him? Some kind of therapy?"

"Some kind, yes. Shall we continue?"

"Sure," Marian answered, resuming her position and beginning to push Artemis with her and Junior again. The mugger had at least given her arms a chance to rest. "Just one thing, before you drop me off?"

"What's that?"

"Are you going to tell me why you arranged all of this just to meet me?"

Annie stiffened. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Marian shot her an "Are you serious?" look over the handlebars. "I may not approve of John's methods, but I've been around the block a few times myself. Actually, I've spent most of my life around the block, so I have a very intimate relationship with the block. The point is, I'm on to you."

Junior poked his little head over the back wheel. "Oh, so you know that Momma's actually-?"

"Actually really interested in meeting you, yes!" Annie said. "Alright, I admit it. What gave me away?"

"Mainly that whole thing where Junior keeps trying to say something and then you loudly talk over him. Did you think I wouldn't notice, or…?"

She sighed in defeat, gripping the handlebar tight. "Apologies for the deception. I wasn't sure if you'd be as open to conversation if I just came out with it upfront."

"I guess that makes sense," Marian admitted. "The last time a random stranger wanted to get to know me, I socked him in the jaw. But I shouldn't speak so ill of my ex. Wait, is that why you're interested? Because I'm not saying no, but I need more time."

"N-No, that's not why I'm here," Annie clarified. "The truth is...I've heard about you before, and your situation."

"From who?"

"From those relatives I mentioned. I have a rather extensive family, and they keep me informed...on many things."

Junior nodded cheerfully in agreement, but remained silent for once.

"Wow, I didn't think it was that well-known," Marian said, beginning to feel a little self-conscious again. "It barely even made the news when it happened. Foxes being discriminated against doesn't exactly break the headlines. So...what? You felt sorry for me?"

"It's not like that. But I'm a mother myself, you know. I can relate. And because I can relate, I could make a guess where your path was heading after all that. You practically admitted as much yourself." She looked at her sternly. "Don't deny it."

Her ears flattened. "I don't. So you were trying to prevent that. You knew what I was thinking before I even told you."

"I did. And I couldn't just sit back and let it happen. You deserve better than that, Marian."

"Do I? It's my own fault anyway."

"Whether it is or not, do you think Nicholas would be happy with your choice?" she asked. "Or even your ex, bastard that he is. No offense."

"It's okay. You're not wrong." She wiped away the beginnings of a tear. "I just can't believe I've been so selfish. What if Nicholas came back, only to discover that I'd left him? I never should have even considered it."

"At times like this, such a feeling is understandable," Annie reassured her. She reached over and laid a paw atop hers. "But that's why I'm here. To give you what you need most right now: a friend."

She nodded and took a deep breath, trying to deter any other tears from their rebellion. She hadn't realized just how much she truly did need that until now. "Then we can keep hanging out like this?"

"Well...yes," she said hesitantly. "But not all the time, I'm afraid. Like I said, I'm only here for a brief visit."

"Oh." Marian was already starting to look bleak again.

"But I'll be back," she added. "I'm a very busy wolf, but I should be able to come visit you twice...maybe three times a year. I know that doesn't sound like much, but-"

"No." Marian cut her off, smiling. "It's plenty. All I need is someone to help me hold on, until Nicholas comes home."

She nodded. "Now that's a better attitude to have. And if that's what you need, then I'll be happy to provide. To be honest...I could use a friend too."

Smiling at each other one last time, the two friends looked to the road ahead and continued to push forward together.

8: 48 PM

"See you soon, Annie!" Marian waved excitedly from the front steps of Sherwood Apartments. "We can stop for ice cream or something tomorrow before you have to leave! My treat!"

Annie waved back, laughing. "That sounds lovely!"

"Are you going to be okay getting your bike the rest of the way home?"

"Don't worry, it's not much farther now! Thanks!"

Content, Marian headed back inside, tail wagging and a spring in her step that had long been absent.

Meanwhile, Lady Lang and Junior wheeled Artemis another block away, then she immediately pulled out her phone and dialed a number. Within minutes, two wolves came by in a pickup truck and loaded the bike into the back, Lang and Junior sitting down with it. The truck started up, heading back to the Rainforest District via a roundabout route just in case Marian happened to be looking out her window. Lang breathed a sigh of relief to be off her feet at least, "Thank god. The things I do to maintain a cover."

Her own children were close enough to "relatives" and they really did have a separate apartment rented in Happytown for just this occasion. It wasn't like she was completely lying to her new friend, but some things were probably better left unsaid.

Like the fact that she knew exactly where young Nicholas was right now, but that his fate was out of her paws. Had she known her visit would turn out like this, she might have actually adopted him after all. Now, all she could do was continue to support his mother as best she could. Should she get the chance though, she would send the boy back in chains if she had to.

"Are you okay, Momma?" Junior asked. "I know I clammed up back there. You guys sounded like you were havin' a good chat and I didn't wanna spill any more secrets."

"You did just fine, Junior," Lang said, ruffling his headfur. "Momma just isn't sure how to go about this yet. Honestly, I really was just going to have her walk me around Happytown, but who knew she was such a bike nut, or that she needed to get out so badly? I think it worked out better this way though."

"Yeah…" He twiddled his thumbs, clearly unsure. "Did you mean what you said before? That you need a friend too? Aren't we your friends?"

"Of course you are!" Lang reached down and lifted Junior onto her shoulders, holding his ankles. "You are all my friends as well as my family. I suppose what I meant is that...I could use a different sort of friend. One outside of the pack, whom I can just spend time with every now and then without having to worry about the responsibilities of motherhood. Do you understand?"

"I'm seven, so no."

"Fair enough," she laughed. "Just...I know I brought you along today, but I think I'd like to make these visits by myself in the future."

"Awwww, but I wanted her to meet Felix!" Junior pouted.

"Maybe one day, but this is a delicate situation and Momma needs her ladies' nights."

"Bleh."

"Oh, cheer up." Lang pointed up into the sky. Even through the less-than-stellar air quality of Happytown, the full moon was still bright and beautiful. "Why don't you give Miss Marian a nice howl to see us off? I'd join in, but then the driver would too and that wouldn't be good for anyone."

Even a grumpy child couldn't resist the allure of being really loud just for the sake of it. Junior gave in, howling his little puppy lungs out at the moon. Lang and her other trained children did not join in. Neither did the other wolves of Happytown, who likely didn't respect the child's voice enough to take heed.

But in the distance, they could just hear an ear-splitting shriek answer back.

As if the continuity of this thing wasn't complex enough already, we're getting into soap opera levels now! The consequences of this encounter will not be fully apparent for a while, but in the meantime, hope you enjoyed this somewhat fluffy, somewhat angsty bit of Mother's Day goodness. Check out my DA for some adorable accompanying artwork.

Greg the hapless mugger belongs to me. Props if you recognize the reference to a certain other story I made with him.

Oh, and look up "Scream of the red fox" if you want to know the sound Marian made. Let's just say the reaction was appropriate.