Chapter 6
A few days later, Jesus entered the rain-forest district. He was accompanied by Peter, but he also commanded Andrew, James, and John to follow him, and they obeyed. When the five of them entered the district, they were swarmed with locals of the district and other animals who had heard about the white lion. However, they also attracted the unwanted attention of a wolf in a red suit and tie, a familiar looking ram in a blue suit and tie, and a familiar looking weasel in a green suit and tie.
Since they were in a rainforest and due to the pounding rain, they took refuge in the tree house of a black jaguar named Manchas, who was known for being one of the victims of turning savage during the bellwether case. At first, Manchas didn't like the idea of the white lion in his home; he had heard from the religious leaders about him being a troublemaker and he didn't like all the attention he was receiving from letting the White Lion into his home. But when he saw that the white lion was friendly and not looking for trouble he welcomed him into his home.
Manchas was content with the few people that came into his home, but he was somewhat beginning to change his mind when swarms of people started flooding his home. The blue-suited ram, the red-suited wolf, and the green-suited weasel were able to get seats in the whole flood of people while those who couldn't be seated stood outside in the rain with their umbrellas up and their coats, slickers, and rain ponchos on. Manchas had to start laying down towels all over the floor when the rain started leaking into his home.
Jesus sat in the middle of the room on a small wooden stool while everyone else either sat on the floor or on the furniture.
Jesus then began to preach. "You all have heard the old saying 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you that you shouldn't resist an evil person. If someone hits you on the right cheek, turn and let him hit the other one. If someone sues you for your shirt, give him your coat as well…"
The people looked at each other and nodded in agreement while the ram, wolf, and weasel conversed among themselves. "This white lion is nuts!" the weasel whispered to his friends. "If somebody does wrong to you, you must have justice!"
"That lion is going to mess up the whole system of justice!" the ram whispered. "I knew there was something freaky with this guy!"
"Leave him alone, will ya?" the wolf harshly whispered. "I don't think he's that bad. In fact, I think his teaching actually makes sense to me."
"See!" the weasel whispered. "Look what he's doing to you! He's messing you up! Have you forgotten your teachings in the temple?!"
"No, but I-" The wolf was cut off by a loud crashing noise in the ceiling. The crowds moved back and made surprised noises while rain poured through a hole in the ceiling. Manchas' expression went instantly to horror when he saw the damage done to the roof of his house.
"Master!" a voice called. Jesus looked up at the hole in the ceiling and saw a sheep, a wolf, a tiger, and a jaguar standing on the roof, soaked from the rain and wielding different tools. "Sorry about that!" said the sheep. "But we have a friend here who is sick and dying!"
The tiger dropped his tools, picked up an Oryx wrapped in blankets, and jumped down into the house. He set the Oryx down on the floor in front of Jesus. The Oryx was sickly looking and he had a pale color in his fur and his eyes had become bloodshot.
Jesus got off the stool, knelt down and rested his paw on the forehead of the Oryx. "My friend…" he spoke. "I forgive you of all of your sins…"
A crass-sounding laugh came from the ram, who stood up so the crowd could look at him. "Can you believe that?" he asked, speaking up so the crowd could hear him. "This lion says he can forgive sins. Who can forgive sins but God alone? If you ask me, I say this guy is doing blasphemy!"
Jesus paused for a minute to stare the ram in the eye, who returned the stare indignantly.
"Let me ask you a question." Jesus said, standing up. "Which would you say is easier? To say 'Get up and walk' or to say 'Your sins are forgiven'? But I tell you this; the son of God has the power to forgive sins." He turned back to the Oryx and raised his hand towards him. "Get up and walk… Your sins are forgiven."
Suddenly, right before the very eyes of the people, the Oryx's color came back and his bloodshot eyes became normal. He stood up and the crowds gasped in awe and wonder. They then started cheering in victory and at that moment, the rain stopped. "Thank you, God!" the Oryx shouted. The Oryx's friends jumped down through the hole in the roof and embraced their now well friend while the ram and weasel shuffled through the crowd, defeated. As for the wolf, he decided to stick around and enjoy the celebration. Even Manchas, who was worrying about the hole in his roof, forgot the hole and got caught up in the celebration. The Oryx, who found energy and vigor in him, began dancing his way out of the house with people following. Jesus began laughing as some of the people began dancing themselves; it was a celebration that nobody in the rainforest district ever expected!
The ram and the weasel, who were crossing a bridge from Manchas' home, looked back at the celebration. An angry look formed over the Ram's face. "I think," he said. "We need to take this up with Caiaphas."
…
The sun started setting over the sky in Zootopia as a single black raven floated across the sky. This particular raven flew over the city and then flew into the temple. He floated down the halls and then landed in the main room at the feet of a throne, where an evil looking coyote sat.
"We've been sitting on the fence for far too long…" the Coyote muttered. This coyote had black and white fur, a grey colored nose, and purple colored eyes. He wore a black suit, a black tie, a gold plate on his chest with twelve stones on it, and several gold rings on his fingers.
The raven flew and then landed on the shoulder of the throne, leaning down to speak with the Coyote. "Why should we let him anger us, Caiaphas? We really shouldn't worry that much about him. Besides, he's just another one of those nutcase lunatics who thinks that he's a prophet sent from God. We've had tons of people like that before and they all failed in the end, so why should we panic now?"
"You just don't get it, Annas." the Coyote, Caiaphas, said as he got up. The raven, Annas, hopped off the throne and on Caiaphas' shoulder.
"A few hours ago, two of our religious teachers came to me." said Caiaphas, who began walking through the temple with the raven on his shoulder. "They said that they followed this White Lion and saw him heal a sick Oryx and forgive him of his sins. Not only that, but the people made a big celebration out of it and one of our own, a young wolf, actually started believing in this White Lion, who blatantly admitted right in front our religious teachers that he is the Son of God!"
"So what?" Annas asked as they went up the stairs. "The people will see that he is a blasphemous fool and they'll turn against him. He'll get arrested and thrown out of town and then life will go on as always. You know, I really think you're letting your paranoia get a little bit ahead of you, Caiaphas."
They got to the meeting room on the top floor of the temple. The meeting room was a room with a large and long table, several chairs, and four large TV screens imbedded in the wall. "You still aren't seeing the full picture, you dumb bird!" Caiaphas growled as he shooed Annas off his shoulder. Annas floated onto the table as Caiaphas walked towards the balcony and looked out at the city as night began to fall and it started lighted up.
"What do you think will happen when the White Lion arouses the people and makes them violent?" Caiaphas asked. "They'll first take down the ZPD, then Pilate's guards, and finally Pilate… And do you think they'll stop there?"
Annas looked a small bit worried. "Yes?" he said in a small voice.
"NO!" Caiaphas shouted. He then went back to his normal, composed self. "No… They'll come for us. They'll hang me, and they'll stuff you on a spit and roast you."
Annas' face turned to shock when he imagined that happening to him. "What must we do?" he asked worriedly.
Caiaphas turned back to the balcony and looked out. "You must gather the religious leaders and call a meeting in a few days." He replied. "The subject will be what to do about this mysterious white lion. Go Now!"
Annas nodded and flew off the table and out from the balcony window. Caiaphas looked into the sky and then back down at the city. He went back inside the temple; He had some planning and scheming to do.
…..
A heavy rain started falling over the rainforest district as the night went on. The darkness started becoming so thick it would take a sword to cut through it. People who were outside on the streets of the rainforest went into their houses quickly while those out on the streets who didn't have houses or couldn't get back in time were let in to other people's house. Nobody wanted to be caught outside on a night like this for a good reason.
The reason was that Mary Magdalene was acting savage. Forget Savage, she was acting demonic and nobody wanted to be caught in her path of destruction! She screamed, fell on all fours, and then began laughing and crying at the same time. Her head began twisting and crooking at odd angles. "I know who you are!" she roared as the trees started gaining malicious faces. "I know all of you!"
She screamed when she saw the faces of all the men that had used her and abused her popped up in front of her face. She ran through the streets of the rainforest, crashing into trees and vines and bushes. The demons that tortured her and ran through her head roared and laughed at the same time. She grabbed hold of her head and screamed as she felt the cold and scaly hands of evil digging into her eyeballs.
"Mary!" a voice called out to her. She looked around wildly. "Mary!" the voice called out again. She looked and then saw the White lion standing before her, his fur glowing like the sun.
"Jesus!" the demons yelled, taking control of her and making her chuck stones and wood at him. "Son of the most high God!" She fell on her knees and screeched again.
Jesus grabbed her arm. "Come out of her!" he commanded the demons. "Let her go!" the demonic force screeched in pain and fury and left her body, and she then went limp in his arms. At that moment, the rain stopped pouring, and the morning came.
….
When she awoke on a park bench, her sanity had been restored and her eyes were no longer black like a shark's. Instead, her eyes had reverted to their normal color, which was blue.
She opened her eyes slowly and saw Jesus sitting next to her. "Thank you." She said silently.
Jesus smiled at Mary Magdalene as she got up, put on her torn shawl, and then began walking away.
"Watch over her, my father in heaven. Give her peace…" Jesus prayed as he got up and went on his way.
