Creator questions
What's your name (real or screen, your choice)
The Unaccomplished Writer. UW or just Writer to friends
Tell me about yourself, age, where you're from, what you do, anything you want others to know about you, sex, etc.
Erm, well, I kind of keep myself to myself. I'm originally from the UK, though I no longer reside there. I'm 28 and I'm an English teacher. I'm grateful my students have not found my fanfic as that would create some odd questions!
I'm cis male (he/him pronouns), I love reading, playing video games, movies, making friends, travelling, and of course writing (when I find the motivation, but I'm determined to do better this year!). This feels like a dating page now! Haha! But erm, yeah, that's me!
From what I hear and my own experience, getting motivated is one of the biggest challenges to writers in the fandom. What's some advice or experiences can you share about getting motivated?
Tough question. I still deal with highs and lows in motivation myself. It can be very hard to just sit yourself down and write, especially if you have a lot going in in your life. One thing that I have found recently is doing a word crawl with friends. There are lots of different types which you can do to make writing fun and get encouragement from friends. A different way, if you don't want to do a word crawl, is to be kind to yourself. Don't set a goal of writing. Just congratulate yourself on getting something written and try to build on that. And that it's okay to stumble. Forgiving yourself is key. We can always try again.
So what inspired you to start writing?
I've always liked writing, even when I was very young I would make my own little stories based on Thomas the Tank Engine and stuff. But, specifically for the Zootopia fandom, I started reading fanfic for the first time after I saw the film. There was some really good stuff and...some not so good stuff. After a while I just thought, well I can do better than that. And that's what led me to write my first fanfic all those years ago.
What brought you to the Zootopia fandom?
After watching Zootopia, I got introduced to the world of fanfiction for the first time! I was pretty late to the party compared to other writers, but I consumed so many fics. I was pretty content to stay a consumer and not a creator until, perhaps I'm tooting my horn a little, but some fics that I read left me thinking" 'I could write better than this!' So I gave it a shot and, over four years later, here I am! I'm part of so many lovely communities, made amazing friends - even with some of the authors I had read long ago! - and developed my writing skills. Still love Zootopia and I cannot wait to see more!
Who is your OC today?
My OC is Amy Maskburn, the loveable rascal who works as a mechanic for the ZPD.
What animal are they?
She is a raccoon and proud to be one!
What do they look like? Special markings, colorations, etc.
Amy is pretty slim compared to other raccoons. She has to be fit when clambering in and out of huge SUVs that a tiger can drive and replacing parts that could weigh almost twice her bodyweight. She looks a bit androdynous, but she holds herself very well. Her colouration is pretty normal though she is eternally with a toothy grin and eyes that spell mischief.
What inspired you to create them?
To be fully honest, I did not create Amy. When I was writing Skyebound, my SavageSkye fic with my then co-writer, OddtheMotoringFox, he came up with the idea of Amy. She was initially his character, but I could see the potential in her and I asked to be able to write some of her parts. He said yes and I had fun. He liked what I was doing with her so I could keep writing her parts.
A while later, Odd left the project due to other commitments and so Amy was left with me and I've done more with her and, perhaps in my own way, skewed her towards my vision of the character than the initial shared style we had.
So Amy's current makeup is somewhat unique compared to most I think. Created by someone else with a personality and lore then basically adopted and slowly shifted into your full vision of her. Do you think that happens often in the zootopia fandom?
I'm not sure, to be honest. I'm sure there are characters created by others and then adopted by other writers, though I so far haven't encountered it. I think more often what happens is that characters are loaned out or given permission to other writers. I know the Zootopia fandom loves sharing OCs and seeing more stories with them in, but I have yet to see a writer giving control of all their OCs to another writer after leaving to focus on other things. I may be completely wrong here, but that's my experience.
When Amy was first brought onto the scene, what was her purpose? Why was she put into the story?
Amy was first brought into the story in the second chapter of Skyebound. My former co-writer wrote her initial scenes and I edited it. She was brought in as Skye's friend and co-worker. Someone for Skye to interact with that wasn't Jack as well as someone who could push Skye into furthering her developing relationship with the hare. Amy is a bit of a matchmaker and, after she discovers their relationship, which at the moment isn't romantic, and tries to help the lovebirds get together. She has her own side story planned out for her and another character which will hopefully develop alongside Skye and Jack's.
What are they like?
Amy is a sweetie with a penchant for pranks and matchmaking. She loves going out and having fun. Whether that'd be drinking until the wee hours, skydiving, racing cars, making new friends, setting up said new friends with each other, etc, it's all good for her! She's an extrovert through and through.
Amy has a gambling problem (which she is controlling thanks to Skye's intervention) and she doesn't take kindly to being mistaken for a boy, but otherwise is a happy raccoon.
Does Amy get mistaken for a boy often?
Unfortunately so. It doesn't help that Amy looks quite androgynous, dresses kind of masculine, and works in a predominately masculine field. It gets to Amy sometimes, but she'd rather be who she is than try to pretend to be a girly girl. She knows who she is and whoever doesn't appreciate that fact can shove it!
Many addictions are associated with a physical substance. Amy has an addiction to gambling. How do you feel about the ways these different types of addictions are treated?
Well, it's quite subjective on what works for different people. I've heard of people needing to receive some form of therapy, support network, or just try to cure themselves, cold turkey. It's tough getting over an addiction and, of course, you're never truly really over it. I feel we, as a society, need to be more aware of addiction and need to be more forward in recognising addictive behaviour and being there to help those who are suffering.
What's their family life like?
Skye is practically her adopted sister. They've known each other for so long that I doubt Amy or Skye can remember a time when the other wasn't in their life. Amy's family has yet to feature in the fic, though I will say that they are an interesting bunch, as all raccoons are.
How long till we see Amy's family in the fic?
Amy's family are a ways off yet, though they may have a couple of small references to them before the big reveal. Their appearance will happen when Amy's story is pushed along further. At least in terms of Skyebound. In other smaller fics? Who knows? Maybe sooner, maybe later. Right now, I want to set up more of Skye and Jack as well as Amy's future relationship.
What was it like for Amy growing up?
Amy grew up in Zootopia and hasn't had much chance to leave the city. Her family weren't so well off but, as her dad says, 'it's all character building.' Amy used to be quite a tear away when she was younger, often getting into scraps with other kids. She also had problems in school since she couldn't find what she was learning interesting. Fortunately, her parents and her teachers could see her potential and, when they discovered her penchant for making and fixing things, they helped her apply that to everything else and from there, things went much smoother. Amy had a bunch of friends, Skye being the main one, of course, and their rag tag little group of ragamuffins (as called by Amy's mum) would go off and have adventures in the city.
Do they have a love interest?
As of right now, Amy is between partners. She is known to be a bit of a party mammal and has had quite a few one-night stands, but she's still searching for that special someone.
Do you have any stories written about them or that they're included in?
Amy features in my SavageSkye fic, Skyebound. I have toyed with making some shorter stories specifically with her, though those are plans for the future. Though I'm positive it will be a blast to write.
You mentioned your unfinished fic. Any plans on finishing it or have you moved on to greener pastures?
Not really. It was meant to be a one shot but, after it got some praise, I tried to make it into something more. And, after a couple of chapters, I realised I had no idea where I was going with it. So, since 2017, it's stayed in the state I've left it in. I keep telling myself that, maybe, I'll go back and finish it one day, but I feel I've moved on to different stories now.
Many authors use culture as a part of their stories. Does it play a role in yours?
I feel it plays an important role for me. Many mammals in the Zootopia universe come from differing parts of the globe and, while some amount of assimilation is likely in this world, to show some cultural differences is important to me. Even if it's just small details, I think it's helpful in creating a more believable world.
Ultimate Zootopia question. Are you a WildeHopps shipper or do you prefer them with a different ship?
haha! Oooh! A real tough question! Well, I can't say that I don't love the ship, but I'm also okay with them with them being just friends. I am a fan of WildeSavage and SkyeHopps, as well as the duo with OCs, usually LGBT ships. So, yeah, while I'm happy with them together, I leaned more towards them being with other partners now.
You seem to really like seeing Judy and Nick with an LGBT inspired relationship. Anything behind that?
Well, I do love stories with Nick and Judy as a romantic couple. My first unfinished fic had them getting married. But, as time went on, I came to see that their dynamic worked as friends. Plus, I'm gay and I wanted to see stories with LGBT+ characters. They are there in the Zootopia fandom, but I wanted to add my own characters, as well as add my own spin on Nick and Judy too. I can see them being LGBT so easily and supporting each other. I wanted to write stories with them in that way.
From ARK: How did you feel when learning/did you know that Bucky and Pronk, two males, were married? I believe it's been established that they are a canon couple but I'm not 100% sure on the marriage part.
I think it was confirmed by Byron Howard and their surnames are the same in the credits so it's either a marriage or civil partnership of some kind. I must admit, I had mixed feelings about that. While I love that gay characters were put into the film, and that they were characters unto themselves and not defined by their sexuality is great. However, it did feel a bit like a token gesture, and one that you could kiss if you didn't see it in the credits. The fact that it had to be explained afterwards irks me a little. Thank you ARK!
So you think they should have made it more prominent and obvious that they're a gay couple. Why is that?
Well, not so much so obvious that it takes away from the film's point, but rather, I'd like it so that we didn't have to be told after the film that 'Oh yes, such and such was actually gay.' I know their relationship had no bearing on the film and didn't need to be made a big deal out of, but I guess I've been smacked with bare minimum progressive actions, e.g.: the easy to edit out kiss in the last Star Wars, that I get kind of irritated by it. I get tired of companies trying to say: 'Hey! Aren't we so progressive?! We put a gay character in here that we can crop out for international releases or make so easy to miss that we have to tell you after the fact.' If they're going to have LGBT characters, have them in a way that doesn't mean that they can be cut out or their relationships shown in a way that they can be entirely ignored or erased
Apologies, I can get rather heated about that kind of stuff
LOL no problem. I do have another question related to that though. I understand why you'd be frustrated but isn't it a better long term strategy to slowly and subtly work those kinds of things in?
But why though? Yes, I can understand that logic, but what's the point if all those scenes are made so that they can sell the films internationally and have them cut out? I know it's all business, but goddamn they should have some principles! I can't give them brownie points for giving LGBT representation while they strip it away when it leaves US shores and then turn around and claim they're being so progressive. They're doing the bare minimum, at best.
We ended the creator interview here to avoid going on a tangent about token gestures and corporate greed.
For the purpose of the OC interview the setting is the creator's OC is about to be interviewed by my co-owned OC Vicky Chola. A north american grey fox vixen in her mid 20s. They're both in a studio booth with headphones on and microphones to speak into. The interview we did earlier about the creator and their OC is considered a pre conversation between these two before going on the air. Vicky will ask questions based on the answers provided by the creator. Enjoy!
"Welcome everyone to another edition of the Characters of Zootopia show! I'm your host Vicky Chola and joining me today is Amy Maskburn. Thank you for joining me Amy."
"Thanks for letting me on the show. Guess you must be running out of mammals if you're getting me on the show!"
giggles "Don't sell yourself short. From what I understand you work in a rather prestigious place."
"I guess you could say that. Though, I guess when you say "I work at the ZPD" they're all expecting a cop or a detective or something, but then they get all deflated when you say you're a mechanic. But hey, someone has to keep those cruisers running!"
"Exactly, so let's start with that. I've been curious. Are all the cruisers the same model and different size class or different models for different sizes?"
"Oooh! Good question! Well, the standard cruisers are just basically the same thing but sized to the correct mammals, though we still need appropriate ones for the smaller mammals that have started to work at the ZPD. We've jerry rigged some of them so that smaller mammals can drive bigger cars, but we really need a proper solution sooner or later.' 'Anyway, we've got different vehicles for different situations. SWAT vans, Disorder Control Units, unmarked cars, rescue units, the list goes on really. And they all have to be rigged for different animal classes and even for different districts at times. Had to fix a cruiser from Little Rodentia once. It was like playing Operation or something! Still got it working, though."
"Ooh, that brings me to my next question. What's easier to work on, bigger, your size or smaller cars?"
"Bigger! Definitely bigger. Smaller cars feel like I can lose parts so easily and it's like I'm a surgeon or something. Bigger cars I can just scramble on inside. Get right in the guts of the car and see what needs tightening or screwing or replacing. I sometimes need help getting those parts out, but I think it's much easier that way than peering into the engine with a magnifying glass."
"Kinda like guys am I right?"
"Oh, that's a completely different kettle of fish, my friend. I don't know whether this is meant to be child friendly or not, but I could go on in detail about that if you want!"
laughs loudly, sighs "Well, we'll have to keep it family friendly while we're recording but after the mics go off is a different story. So let's get back to work. What's it like working at the ZPD?"
"Hehehe~ Well, alright then. I'll keep those details for later. Working at the ZPD is great. I get to fix a lot of vehicles with my best friend and, sometimes, I might even see a famous face or two. Or infamous. Depends on the week, really."
"So obviously law enforcement is a very stressful job. Do you ever feel you're the target of their frustration sometimes?"
"Absolutely! Some mammals just can't get it into their skulls that their car isn't fixed yet. It takes time, y'know? Plus, it's not as if it's the only car we have to fix. There's only so many mechanics and we have so many vehicles to patch up. Some of the trainees get a bit of a shock when a cop blows up in their face over something they can't control, but I have my ways of making sure cops that do that get their comeuppance."
"Do you feel you have a pretty good team to work with?"
"Oh yeah! Skye's Head Mechanic and really knows what she's doing. She's got Arnold and I as her deputies, though I'm much more easygoing with the newbies than that old wolf is. You'd think they'd sawed a cruiser in half the way he can flip his lid at times. But, the rest of the crew are good guys. We've got some apprentices and stuff and they always seem super excited to get working on actual cruisers. We've even got a mouse on staff! New apprentice who can get in and out of everywhere! And she's got the know-how about her to boot. She's gonna go places, let me tell you!"
"Do you ever get to take the cruisers out for test drives?"
"We have to do that before we allow any vehicle back into the road. It's standard procedure now. I don't get to drive all of them. I get to test some of the cruisers, though those for megafauna are way too big for me to even try to test. But it's great to take them out to our little safety circuit and put them through their paces. We even take some of the newbies out to ride along so they know what they're getting into. (grinning) I think it's their favourite part of the job!"
giggles "I bet. So let's move on to more personal questions. We were talking before the show and you mentioned that you don't have the typical female raccoon body build. Care to talk about that?"
"Oh, well, yeah. Nature hasn't blessed me with typically female assets. laughs awkwardly I got the whole natural androgynous look going, at least for a raccoon. The amount of times I've had what seemed like lovely chats with mammals and they realise I have nothing swinging in between my legs, either through finally guessing, me telling them or erm...discovering it themselves. It can be a bit of a nightmare, but, being pan has made it less awkward at times. And hey, no worries about bras and all that, right?" awkward laugh as she sips the water on the table
Giggles "Other than your date life suffering, have you found your appearance to give you any other advantages or disadvantages?"
"Well, I wouldn't say my date life has suffered, just been given a slight barrier. But back to your point. In real terms, not particularly. I guess being mistaken for a guy makes certain men listen to me when I start talking about "guy stuff" she uses finger quotes but other than that, not really. Oh, well, I guess not having a big bust has meant I can get into cars more easily. Huh, hadn't thought of that until now... I guess that's why I haven't seen many of those ladies that Arnold has on those calendars actually being mechanics."
laughs "Yeah, the girls can get in the way sometimes. So you've mentioned your friend Skye that works with you. How many mammals are there working on the vehicles and what percentage are female?"
laughs with her "Haha, that's one way of putting it! But there's not many. If we're only talking about Precinct One, we have around fifteen mechanics on staff, but we've only got three female staff members. Skye, our mouse intern Lucille, and myself. We've been trying to encourage more females into working as a mechanic. We did get Lucille out of it, but there's still a long way to go to change minds. Most mammals still believe it's a male's job. Mammals, especially if they're new recruits who don't know any better and are dumbasses to boot, still talk to Arnold more than Skye, even though she's the one in charge. It's frustrating but we'll get to a point where we're on parity with the males in terms of numbers and respect. I'm sure of it."
"Maybe one day. So are you a Zootopia native or transplant?"
"Zootopia native born and raised! My grandparents came from outside the city - and still like out in the countryside - but I've been living in Zootopia all my life. I do get out to the countryside from time to time to see them."
"What part of the city did you grow up in?"
"I moved about a bit when I was younger. Raccoons still weren't, and aren't, treated the best sometimes. But my folks managed to settle down in Happytown. It wasn't the best place, but it was home. Happytown has got better in recent years, which is good. It was a bit rough when I was growing up."
"Are they still there?"
"I've got an apartment downtown. Took me a while to get somewhere that was suitable for my size and that wasn't just a glorified shoebox. It's pretty good. Close to work, supermarkets nearby, and late night bars with walking or staggering distance depending on what time it is!" Amy laughs and slaps herself against the thigh in her own amusement.
laughs "Did you ever have trouble finding a place because of your species?"
Her face becomes a little more serious. "What raccoon hasn't? I can't count the times I've had landlords turn me down for an apartment. You know you've done nothing wrong and that there is no reason to turn you down. But they always find one. They've already given it to someone else, they're selling it, they up the price out of nowhere, that the neighbours I've never met complained about me and want me out. You can never really prove they're being speciesist. They always find a way out. Or no-one bothers to prove whether they are or not. But, I've got a good place now. And things are slowly getting better for raccoons so, who knows?" Her face lightens up a little, though a few lines around her muzzle show the lingering thoughts of doubt.
"Why is it that raccoons are looked down upon?"
'Thieves. We're always seen to be thieves. Apparently raccoons steal anything that isn't nailed down, and even then we supposedly try to steal the nails too. It's complete garbage, but when you're denied opportunity after opportunity, some mammals slip into those stereotypes since it's the only way to make a living. And then that just boosts the image of raccoons being thieves in the minds of everyone else even more. It's a vicious cycle.' *She pauses to take a sip of the glass of water nearby. 'It's getting a little bit better now. The MII has helped some to see past their past prejudices and more raccoons are getting hired. But, just because they've got a nice job now, doesn't mean that mammals aren't checking their locks and belongings a little more now than they used to.'
"Do you think we'll ever be past the point where the majority of mammals look at others with prejudice?"
'Possibly. But certainly not when either of us are alive. That kind of thinking isn't just going to go away because we want it to. It'll take generations of reprogramming our brains to not immediately make assumptions about other mammals. And, even then, I'm sure we'll find something else to prejudice. Sorry if this is a bit of a bummer. I hope I'm not boring your listeners or anything.'
"I want to circle back for a second if I can. Earlier when we talked about dates and stuff you mentioned you were pan. Can you explain what you meant by that to our listeners?"
'Oh, sure I can do that. Well, most mammals are attracted to only one sexuality or gender. Sometimes mammals are attracted to two. But being pan means there is no limit. Whatever sexuality, gender, or species you are, we can be attracted to you. We can be pan romantic, where we are romantically attracted to everyone, but maybe not sexually, pan sexual where we just erm...hehe...can be attracted to anyone in a more physical way. Or both. I'm both, and I believe that's the most common one for mammals.'
"Isn't that just an overly complicated way of saying your bi though?"
Amy sighs in slight exasperation. 'No, it's not the same, though they are conflated as being the same. Being bisexual means you are sexually attracted to multiple genders. Being pan means you're attracted to all genders. And let me be clear. Bisexual is attraction to two or more genders, but for some it can mean just two, others more than two but not every. It varies. But for me, as a pansexual, there is no barrier. I can be attracted to all genders and gender identities. So, I know it's a little complex, but there is a key difference.'
"I'm just playing devil's advocate to get more details out." she says apologetically.
'I'm sorry. It's just...yeah, it's not an uncommon question so I guess I can get a little irritable when asked it. Sorry, and yeah, if this helps mammals understand the difference, then you're right to ask those questions. Sorry for getting snappy with you.'
"It's alright. So what do you think about all the different sexualities that are being defined now? Because when I was growing up you were either straight, gay or bi and any attractions you had were just considered your personal taste. Now, almost literally, there's a new type of sexuality being defined every other week it seems."
''Well, to be fair, I don't think many mammals even wanted to discuss differing sexualities when we were kits. Things weren't, and still aren't, properly representative of LGBTQ+ mammals. And the whole personal taste thing really makes my fur stand on end. It's as if it's the whole "It's a choice" thing. It's not. We are who we are. We exist. And the fact that people are realising their sexualities and feel safe to identify who they are openly is something mammals need to get used to. After hundreds of years of erasure and suppression, I'm sure mammals can stomach having to learn a few terms about mammals sexualities and gender expressions.'
"What do you think would be proper representation?"
'Well, having a queer character on TV without them being killed or barely acknowledged or it just being another coming out story would be a start!' Amy laughs. 'But, seriously, for me, a start would be not assuming that my lady partners are not my "friends". Like, come on. Sometimes I'm holding paws or literally making out with them and mammals say that I'm "such good friends" with them.' She pauses for a moment, looking down at her paws. 'Sorry, I kind of got off track there.'
"But what about all the shows that have established queer characters? My producer tells me that polls and studies over the last few decades show that the LGBT community only makes up roughly 5% of the population but the representation of characters in media reached that level of representation about a decade ago and now make up double that number today. Is that enough representation?"
'I don't want to get into whataboutisms. Representation has definitely improved, sure, but the very fact we have to say: "Isn't that enough representation?" makes it seem like there's an acceptable limit on representation. Like there's a go so far but not beyond. One day, I hope we won't have that idea. But, for now, improvement is good and I hope it'll keep getting better.'
"But you brought up the queer characters in TV. By what you said a minute ago there is representation and some would even say over representation. At what point would you be satisfied? Or rather, what would you suggest as a solution to all parties?"
'I'll be satisfied when we don't need to think about whether or not we're represented or not. It's just a fact of life.' She sighs a little. 'Listen, I'm just a mechanic. I don't know how to solve this that isn't connected with wires or metal. This kind of stuff, I'm passionate about but I don't know the solutions. I can just give my ideas and stuff. I don't know whether they'll be anything to make all parties happy. Not truly. But, trying to put percentages on representation and stuff doesn't sit right with me.'
"Do you think the number of queer characters in TV not only holding steady but increasing over a ten year period is a sign that maybe we are at the point where we don't have to think about it any more? It's basically a staple in everyday life now."
'Well, considering this is still early days of queer representation and that films, some video games, and other media have not caught up, I'd say it's still worth thinking about.'
"Fair enough. So now that we've gotten the heavy stuff out of the way, why don't you tell me about some of the things you like to do when you're off the clock?"
'Well, clubbing would be my first answer, but I like watching and playing sports too. I guess you could say I'm an active mammal. I don't do staying in so much. I much prefer going out and doing something. Unless it's a movie. I'll sit and watch movies for hours if they and the company are good enough.'
"What's your favorite sport?"
'That's two different questions there! My favourite sport to play is baseball. My dad is a bit of a nut for it and the whole family played whenever we got the chance. But to watch, I'd have to say soccer. Skye's more into that and, when she took me to a game, I got into the live atmosphere and the tactics and stuff. Plus the chants are always fun to join in on!'
"So who's your favorite team for both sports?"
'Got to go with my hometown for baseball, Happytown Havok. Been watching them since I was a kit and I'll keep watching them now. For soccer, Skye got me watching Tundratown FC. Neither of us are from there, but we shopped around a few teams after we found out Happytown didn't have a team. It's a bit of a trek, but I've got all scarf of the team which, according to Skye, means I'm a lifelong fan now!' She laughs a little.
"You know a lot of mammals now like to say that they'd rather watch the game from home where they have all their creature comforts. But to me the fun of going to a game in person is to experience the atmosphere. So what's the atmosphere like at those games?"
'It's so different! Being packed together with so many other mammals, cheering in the same team, decrying the poor decisions, chanting together, having a few drinks with your friends, it's so much fun! I get that watching matches at home is convenient, but it's so much better to actually go and get the full experience. Even just sitting in the stands and waiting for the game to start feels completely different in such a good way.'
"How different is the atmosphere between the two sports?"
'I'd say soccer is a bit more intense. The matches are much shorter so every minute counts, especially in the second half. So the crowd really gets into it, even if their team is losing. And if their team is losing by a long way, sometimes they just roll with it! My first 'Let's pretend we scored a goal' thing was pretty fun! Baseball is a lot long and, while I don't watch it so much, playing it feels so tense as you know one good play might have you running in four mammals over home plate. There's a lot of good strategy going on which, to watch isn't so great, to play is amazing.'
"That does sound like fun. I might look into going to one of the games sometime. I'd like to ask about just some of the day to day mundane things real quick. For example, being as you're one of the smaller species that lives outside of Little Rodentia, what's it like on your daily commute? Do you have to worry about being stepped on or are there systems in place to ensure that never happens?"
'Haha, well, it can get a bit hairy if you're not paying attention, especially if you're not from the city. I've seen my fair share of mammals have near scrapes with being the underside of an elephant's foot. But, fortunately, I've not seen anyone actually get squished. There are a lot of things that help this not being an issue. Separate pathways for megafauna and smaller mammals, for one thing helps. Especially in heavily congested areas. But in open areas, it's a bit more complicated. It's why you see lots of rodents travel in groups or take cars. It's easier to spot than just a lone hamster or something. Plus, when they are on their own, lots of rodents wear bright colours so that they are easily spotted. Rodent fashion can be a little garish at times, but it keeps them safe. Ohh, sorry. For my commute, I take the subway. Not all that dramatic but it's close to my apartment and it stops at the main station which is practically right in front of the ZPD.'
"And what advice would you give to mammals that are new to the city?"
'If you're new to the city, I'd definitely recommend going with the Buddy system first. There's mammals at the station entrance you can hire to take you round the city until you get your bearings and know how to navigate it yourself. Sometimes they're like your groups of the same mammal or they're many times your size and you can ride on their shoulder. It's more common than you'd think.'
"Wow, I wish I knew that the first time I came here. Do you think you'd ever leave the city? Move somewhere else?"
'Maybe one day. But not too far from the city, mind you. Sitting out in the countryside forever would probably make me go crazy. But, it's a nice dream to have. Just a nice little place where I can reach the great outdoors and the city.'
"Well I hope your dreams come true and it looks like our time has run out. Thank you so much for joining me today."
'Thank you for having me.' Amy smiles, having had a good time at the interview.
"And thank you listeners for joining us once again. See you next time."