Serendipity's Shadow

Rated T

Chapter 21

Judy was able to imagine it for a single moment as she descended into the water. The look on Nick's face, the fleeting hope the weasel must have felt when facing the Shadow, and the fear that grabbed hold of Judy's spine as her back hit the water. The current pulled her under, her lungs burned, begging for air, and her mind panicked trying to think of a survival plan. Judy couldn't hear anything other than her own thoughts and beating heart. She didn't hear Nick's shout of rage, nor that the otter and mink had dived in after her, and she certainly didn't hear the execution of gunshots that echoed across the forest. Judy heard none of it. Finally, her head resurfaced long enough for her to take in another deep breath before being pulled under again. The current threw her from side to side. Her body banged against rocks that lined the riverbed. Deep cuts formed on her body in various places. But that pain was nothing compared to the large, bare, branch that the current aimed at her. With its aerodynamic shape, sharp tip, and great speed from the river. The branch tore into Judy's side turning the water around her into a deep crimson red. Now Judy could not swim, and the current wouldn't allow her to get enough time to breathe air. It was at this moment time crawled to a standstill. The water danced around her completely ignorant of her pain. Judy felt incredibly cold and desperately wanted to rest her eyes. Judy just wanted to dream at this moment. She knew exactly what she wanted to dream of too. Zootopia was her dream, being a cop was her dream, meeting and dating Nick, though originally wasn't, was her dream. Now she just wanted to dream of something that would take all of her pain away.

Tia followed Judy's directions to the letter. Even though swimming along the shoreline of the small creek was a little difficult. Tia was able to manage it and eventually ended up at the town Judy had mentioned. Tia kept to herself, refusing to talk, make eye contact, or interact with anyone in any way possible. Judy didn't tell her what to do once she got into the town. So, Tia reacted how she normally would she hid in plain sight on the streets. Tia eventually came across an empty alleyway that she deemed suitable enough for hiding. And so, she waited there huddled in a corner behind a dumpster waiting, listening, and wondering.

How did he find me? She asked herself consistently.

Nick wasn't mad. Because if he was mad, he wouldn't be showing it so openly as he was right now. No, Nicholas Wilde, the Shadow of Zootopia was furious. Nick wasted no time in addressing Ermine's crew when his otter and mink gunmen jumped in after Judy. He knew they would get her because their life deepened on it. Nick turned to address everyone his own crew had to swallow their nerves. The look in the Shadow's eyes right now could make a grown lion cry in fear.

"Which of you is the idiot in charge?" Nick asked with venom.

None answered refusing to look Nick in the eye. They were too afraid to speak up in front of this fox that many called the Shadow. And part of them felt betrayed. Their boss, Quick Shot, told them how the Shadow was nothing more than a glorified title. How wrong their boss was. The Shadow was a man that was out for blood. And they, the crew who worked for Ermine, would be the ones to pay the price for their boss's order.

"You raid my house, set it aflame, go after my rabbit, and now if she dies…" Nick paused his speech to approach the fearful group of Ermine's men. "I'll make you wish it was you who died in her place."

Nick's crew took this as an order to threaten Ermine's men further. They pressed the tip of their guns harder against the enemies' skulls to get the point across that they were powerless.

"I'll ask one more time. Who is in Charge?"

A meek meerkat raised his head to answer the Shadow in a pitiful voice.

"T-the wea-weasel that ju-jumped." He answered shaking in his fur.

"The one who jumped was in charge before he abandoned you and left your fate in my hands. I'm asking who is in charge now?" Nick asked, very irritated that he had to keep repeating himself. "You know what. Just kill everybody-"

"He is!" The meek meerkat shouted pointing to a badger.

Nick turned his head slowly to look at the badger that the meerkat was pointing at. The way the badger tried to act invisible confirmed to Nick that he was indeed the one in charge after the weasel called Dean.

"Then you'll be the one I take with me." Nick commanded "And those Hunters too. I have a few questions for them."

The Shadow's crew made quick work in subduing and tying up the four animals. While the rest were pushed further into the ground in submission.

Nick began to walk off back to his car. it was parked at the exit of the tunnel from his house. It was from there that Nick's own Hunters began to track Judy's scent. When they came to the place where Tia and Judy had split Nick made them split up. Two of his Hunters went after 'Judy's' scent while the other three went after 'Tia's'. Nick knew immediately who was who as he was the one who had taught Judy this trick. And he had guessed correctly, thankfully. Only for that damn fucking bastard of a coward weasel to jump off the cliff dragging Judy with him. Nick had completely forgotten about that cliff as it wasn't a pleasant memory. And after their split, Nick couldn't bring himself to go back to the house. But he came back and now he had a lot to prepare. A doctor for Judy, tracking down Cynthia and making a few phone calls to some friends. But first…

"Kill everyone else," Nick commanded in a calm cold voice as he continued to walk without hesitation.

I need to get a place set up for Judy and a doctor ready…just in case. Nick feared the worst completely ignoring the echoing sound of gunshots through the forest.

By the time he hopped into his car he immediately sent a few texts out to people, he trusted enough to get the job done. Then he drove into the woods following the river that seemed to have swallowed his Judy whole. It felt like hours had passed when his headlights showed upon the mink and otter that swam after Judy. Nick didn't even hesitate to Jump out of his car when he saw what they were doing.

Laying there between the two mammals was Judy. She was bleeding out on her side, unconscious from a bump on her head, and wasn't breathing. Nick's men were trying to resuscitate her. All of his training, experience, and life choices never prepared him for this scene. his blood ran cold, his heart stopped beating, and his mind went blank.

At this point, it didn't matter if Judy lived or died. Clifford Ermine was going to pay for challenging the Shadow. Especially for touching someone that the Shadow treasured.

AN: Decided to update this chapter as I felt it was a bit too rushed and lacking in terms of Nick's POV. I will post a new chapter soon.