Chapter 40

.

.

"Feeling better Robin?"

"Oh. Oooh-de-lally, thank you very much," he said, pausing as the vixen wiping his arm with antiseptic looked up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. With that, he gave her a small smile and wrapped the blankets he was in closer around him.

All four there had some. It was needed, despite the heat of the day outside. The abandoned rail or trolley tunnel they made their base in was a permanent cool, and it didn't take long doing nothing for at least some chill to start working into a mammal's bones. At least for all bar the largest member of the group, the great brown bear, his fur keeping him at a comfortable temperature despite the ever present moist chill.

In contrast the smallest of the group, a certain wiry furred weasel, was wrapped in several layers. Maybe a few more than were needed, but he was comfortable. In body, at least.

Otherwise, he slowly stirred the chickpea curry or something the vixen, Marian as she called herself, had brought from a Singh temple.

The red fox, his treatment complete, wrapped himself up and sighed. "Once again, he slips through."

"You did get pretty close there, Rob," the bear said. Duke looked up to him. As some kind of in-joke or something, he was more commonly referred to as 'Little John', despite being a beast even for his own, oversized, species.

"Yeah, well, close isn't good enough. When the officers plot tried to kill Hirschler, they got close, didn't they?" He sighed, kicking out on the ground. "Again and again and again. We snap at his tail but he pulls it out even as we taste the fur. All to go on, lying, misguiding, you name it." He looked off and growled.

"Hey, don't take it personal Rob," Little John began, backing off when his friend gave a slight snort at that.

Looking on from the side, Duke cleared his throat. "So, it is personal, right?"

Robin slowly looked over. "What do you mean?"

"You and him." Duke raised his paw and pinched his thumb and index claws together, tight. "Somethin' bout him that makes it real personal, huh. Something about him that gets to you, that makes you really hate him. That makes him your biggest enemy, right?"

"Nah," the bear snorted. "That'll be good old John the Worst."

Duke glanced over. "Who… Is there another one? I ain't doing a two for one here, y'know?"

"Old mayor John was the mammal who got these two into the game in the first place," the vixen said. "Years of struggle got that 'greatest enemy' cut down to size. At least for now."

"Yeah," Robin chuckled, before sitting back. "For now…" He said it with jest, though Duke couldn't help notice his voice trail off at the end as if he were pondering the possibility of it.

"Nah," came a reply, along with a dismissive wave of a big brown paw. "You really think anyone will let that classist embezzling son of a whatever you call female lions back anywhere near an election stand," the bear sniggered. "We got him, got him for good, didn't we?"

"Yeah," the fox replied. "But I mean, you have seen the state of politics these days, am I right. Always trying to out disappoint the last disappointment in mammality. Between his lust to be a hoof licker for the richests and just how short sighted so many of the poorest seem nowadays, you never know."

"Ah, you see that's where Mari and I are different Mr Pessimist, I… Mari…?" He looked around, pausing as he noticed her absence. "Uh, where are you?"

"Just picking up some phone signal and double checking…" came a call from the distance, Robin chuckling in response.

"Ah c'mon," Little John said, turning down to Duke. "Make it evens, huh?"

"Hey, this is all new stuff to me. Not like I can make an informed call."

"Well, how about a gut feelin' one?"

"Okay. Mammals are trash, of course he could come back. Heck, he could make president, or… I don't know! This in Zootopia or the States?"

"States, and three versus one, Johnny boy," Robin smiled back, shifting to the side as Marian wandered up next to him.

"Great vote of confidence in mammal kind," was all the bear could mumble, pausing to turn to Marian. "So, are we going to have to go back and deal with this guy. Again?"

"Well," she said, fingers on one paw wavering in front of her. "Not yet, at least."

Narrowing his eyes, Robin leant over and picked up the phone. His eyes, illuminated by the light, widened. "School boards? Since when has he been interested in education, other than promising to get the poorest neighbourhoods to vote for and then pay for giant flashy football stadiums next to their crumbling down underfunded schools, and then make it easy for his rich pals to get the construction contracts. I…" He shook his head, sighing. "Well, that's what I suppose you get, him being my 'Greatest foe' and all."

"Yeah," Duke snorted. "But not the actual one you brought me on to fight, who isn't him. So, who is he? Foxy boy? Some dumb, C-rated mammal you think's just outstayed his villain welcome?"

"Well, outstayed certainly," Robin chuckled. "But he's… Not really my biggest villain, but it kind of feels like he's the most personal, I'm not sure how to put it."

"I do," Marian smiled. "He's your foil."

"Okay, yeah, that sums it up nicely," Robin agreed.

"So what," Duke asked. "You need him for helping to cook your Thanksgiving turkey or what?"

The foxes broke down into a fit of laughter, the bear snorting, all while Duke's frown increased. A few seconds later and Robin paused, head tilting. "Wait, you don't actually know what I mean by that?"

"Take a quick guess why don'tcha?"

"Okay," Marian said, pausing for a moment. "Imagine there's some kiddie cartoon dinosaur show about a scientist who accidentally brings the dinosaurs back. But some are good, some are bad. His greatest villain would be the biggest baddest dinosaur out there, right?"

"Eh, right," Duke nodded.

"But the foil would be the other dinosaur scientist who, rather than trying to find a way for mammals and dinosaurs to live together, decided to use them for greedy stuff. Slaves, selling them as soldiers, maybe putting them in a hunting reserve for trophy hunters, you know?"

"I…" The weasel paused before nodding. "Okay, yeah, I think I get it. He's not the biggest threat, but he's kind of you, if you went the wrong way. Is that right?"

"Yeah," Robin said.

"Just a quick question," Little John piped in. "Are the dinosaurs dumb animal dinosaurs here or smart clever talking ones?"

The foxes laughed at that, Duke even managing a snigger too.

The big bear just gave a look that was almost, but just about not quite enough to be real, serious on the matter. "Hey, this is important y'all." The group chuckled some more, a little flick of a smile even appearing on his muzzle. "When we retire under new names, we gotta have some way to pay the rent." He pointed at Marian. "Making that thing's the best idea I ever heard out of the two of you."

They carried on chuckling before settling down. "So," Duke asked, looking at Robin. "Was he what, some other great crusader like you were who turned bad? Was stealing from the rich but no longer giving to the poor."

The fox shrugged. "I mean, as long as it was the 'we stole this and/or worked our poverty stricken employees to the bone' rich, him just stealing it and keeping it. Well…" He shrugged. "I'd be very annoyed that you're not using it as a chance of helping those in need, but I could put up with it. I'd just be very disappointed." He looked off and sighed.

"You say that to their face?"

"No," the fox chuckled. "Honestly, there was one raccoon in particular I might tempt it with… Knowing full well that while he could wipe the floor against me, he was diplomatic enough to not to. -Might have pull an embarrassing but harmless prank though, I don't know."

"Hey, go for it," Duke said. "Life's worth living."

The fox sighed, shaking his head. "Well, point's been moot for years now, and I didn't even know about him back then. But yeah, had I, I probably would have. Back in the old days, when we were young… Reckless… Idealistic…"

"Stupid," Little John piped in.

Robin raised a paw to shut it off, only to shrug. "Okay, a bit of that was unavoidable. But back then, years before even meeting that fox… -This is going to be a long tangent, but I think it's important. It all started with me, returning after years away to the town I remembered from my youth. Returning to the neighbourhoods I'd snuck out through the high iron gates and security systems of my uncles house to play in."

He smiled, wistfully. "My Uncle was at first scared, then angry when I kept on doing it, then just confused. 'Why do you want to hang out with them?' In the end he tried teasing me. 'Robin in the Hood', he'd call me as I returned with grazed knees, paws sticky with spray paint wiped off them, and a big grin on my face. He never liked it, but I did." There was a snort. "Thought I was so cool, going around in those last few years, jeans practically hanging off the tail strap, calling myself 'Robin Hood' as I hung out in that poor little neighbourhood."

"Hey," Marian said. "Robin Hood is cool. You used it plenty of times after."

"Only as you liked it," he smirked. "Of course, not long after that I left for a long time. To study, then to do good. But one day, the time came to go back home. Returning after years in the third world, seeing the worst that mammals could do to each other and being there to cast a lifeline for them… Only I found that everything I thought was so far away and so far behind us living over here, was… well? Back in my old backyard. Crushing those I grew up with and played with, some already lost. Forever. Thanks largely in part to the stewardship of one mammal in a position of power, with all the right mammals at his side to make sure it just wouldn't change. My aforementioned biggest foe, mayor John the Worst."

Duke shrugged. "What, you couldn't just stand and, I don't know, win the election?"

Robin rolled his eyes. "I soon learned that this was a kind of mammal in the kind of place where that ain't gonna work. Simple as. Besides," he said, standing up. "Simply restricting ourselves to voting? Sure, that's what they want. It's not as if there's a whole host of other actions out there to oppose misrule like that. And if voting isn't going to get him out, you might as well try them. Heck, waiting years to try and vote him out isn't going to put food on mammals plates, it isn't going to stop them getting evicted as he ratchets up the property taxes in the most regressive way possible, again. Someone did need to take a stand, did need to fight him off, did need to show those around him, who enforced his will or supported him, that their actions have consequences too. If you know he's taking from those with the least to add to your most, well you need to understand that there are consequences to that."

"And that, my dear little friend," Little John carried on, "was us two. And our Merry mammals."

"After all," the fox continued. "There were plenty with nowhere else to go who were happy to support us, or help us out. And we did have a 'legitimate front' in order to fight on the vote front. One of the local church leaders, about the only one I'd say who deserved that title."

Marian nodded. "And don't play down the red furred mole in the administration." She smiled, giving him a wink.

"Never shall I ever," he smiled, looking back at Duke. "Little John was right. There was a stupidity in there. Or at least, a naivety. The battle was longer, harder, tougher than we ever imagined it. But we kept those who needed it the most's heads above the water. We drew that thumb-sucking mammal-cub of a mayor further and further out. Until he overplayed his paw. You see the church leader, old Tuck, tried to get them to hand over this old playing field next to a school that had burned down. Just use it to grow vegetables for the poorest neighbourhood, and if it got rebuilt they'd hand it back. The mayor and school board refused… -Maybe that's why he's getting into those. -Anyway, old Tuck offered a deposit, enough to have it turned back into a playing field if they wanted to reopen the school, as that was about the only non-sinister explanation we could imagine. They refused. Sooo, he led his followers there and in to till the soil, to start their allotments, as a protest. A certain local reporter even did a review of it."

"One of my all time bests," Marian smiled.

Duke nodded. "So lemme guess, he came in and weed-killed it all, that tipped it over."

"Well," Robin said, paw waving in front of him. "That's the short version."

"He had one of his friend's weedkiller tractors move in to try and do that," Little John said. "Police escort and all. So, we popped the tires."

"And added honey in the tank," Robin added.

"And one of the young-uns set fire to it."

"One of them?" the fox chuckled. "Bit of an understatement."

"Hey, so is young-uns if I'm being honest. I'm not half surprised some of those molotovs weren't made of cub bottles or something."

"Either way," Robin agreed, turning back to Duke. "Things escalated. So, he called the cussin' riot cops in. Over an allotment. In an abandoned school sports field. Officially, it was enforcing zoning law and planning regulations. He tried to paint the whole site as a 'polluting, unwanted, industrial agricultural endeavour in a strictly urban residential environment.' Trying to paint him to the semi-rich guys as the underdog helping the silent majority, while the really rich locals knew he was his friend."

"Case in point," Little John snorted. "His other big excuse for it was that it was an attempt to 'steal from the local honest hard working food service providers, unfairly undercutting them.' That food provider being a giant big box store an hours walk away one of his pals owned."

"Anyway," Marian said. "He called in the police and local SWAT. His entire force. Hit them hard, wipe them out. Of course, being on the inside, I knew of it. I warned them, and even got the chance to go there myself, documenting the raid."

"Where Tuck had told all his supporters to be," Robin explained on. "Tending to their gardens. Singing prayers. Old, young, children. And Mayor John's loyal lapdog in the police force was there to beat them up and stamp 'em down."

Marian nodded slowly. "I captured it all."

Little John chuckled. "We worked together to make sure it aired. With the help of an old tech guy we used to know. Working in the local news station."

"And," Robin said. "We saw just what media and ideas could do. For the first time, there was a push closer in our direction. Mammals began to get angry, especially as the mayor doubled down." He looked away sadly. "I suppose after that, after nearly burning ourselves out to make the most of it, we can take solace in the fact that he lost to some… 'meh'-ish mammals in the next elections. Old Tuck tried to run, but going up into it he judged that he'd split the vote with the other candidate who wasn't that mayor so he backed out. We got a change in leadership to something of …uninspiring but not appalling quality, Tuck got his garden patch, all the overt pressure was taken off those I'd fought for."

"I was able to give enough information to the new DA to make sure my old boss went down hard for a bunch of other stuff," Marian agreed.

Looking on, Duke nodded. "Okay, so… All good I guess. Why are you lookin' so glum then?"

"Because even though the overt pressure was off, nothing really did change," Robin huffed. "The poor neighbourhood is still poor, unless it's been swarmed by richer mammals, in which case those I fought and battled to help have been shoved on. Sure, they can grow their own food and the place looks cleaner and the roads are fixed. Sure, the tax burden is lower and only a few of them might need to visit the food bank, and they're only needing to penny-pinch at the end of the month. But everything is still broadly the same. Can't you see that? A far lighter shade, but still the same colour. And seeing that community at its strongest. Seeing the excitement, the determination, seeing them all strong and together. With the ability to actually change their situation in a big, fundamental way, forever! And then just seeing that energy fizzle out when they won the bare minimum. The barest of bare minimums?" He looked down sadly. "Sure, it was a victory. A hollow victory. Which was why I was so excited when, while thinking up ways of working my way back into regular civilization and society, maybe picking up the torch back on that side… I heard of someone else, somewhere else, carrying the torch once more."

Little John nodded. "Far more than that. I had some of our supporters in actual high places come up to me and be confused as to why I was here, given that Robin was over there."

Robin nodded. "Something was up. I mean, I was excited, from what I gathered this mammal was using media, getting mammals under his wing, even better than I could have ever hoped! Uniting them, inspiring them, moving them on. Sure, the name thing was… odd… As was him being another fox with a similar name. But I went in with optimism."

"As did I," Little John said.

"And I made it three," Marian followed on. She shrugged, chuckling. "What can I say, I was in love, and thought it'd be a quick in and out."

"Yeah," Robin huffed. "Quick."

"And lemme guess," Duke said. "This was fox guy, huh?"

The fox in front of him nodded. "Yeah. It was him alright. Using the media and words, gathering the poor and disadvantaged and struggling up, under his spell. Only it wasn't to unite them." His muzzle slowly rivenned up with folds, his teeth starting to bare. "It was to prey upon them. Set them up against each other. Let them fight, and then come in and take the pickings. No, in half the cases, they'd pay him! Pay him for his scams, his protections, or just to be kept safe and kept afraid, angry, confused. Honestly, the one saving grace is that he never met Mayor John. Do you know why?"

Duke thought for a second before shrugging. "He'd have those allotment mammals fighting over what crops to grow and everything. A bunch trying to grow tropical ones and complaining they ain't supported enough when they fail. Others trampling down those that ain't 'humble enough'. 'Blueberries are a luxury, grow potatoes!'. And organic growers at the necks of those trying to use fertilizer and pest stuff. Am I sounding about right?"

"Well," Robin chuckled. "Who can say. But if it were true, I'd figure that's about how it could go."

"Nah," Little John interjected. "None of those crops are causing cancer."

Robin gave a mirthful chuckle. "Touche. Touche." He looked back and sighed. "But it's about right. I… You heard what we were working for back against Mayor John. Uniting the poor, the trodden on, those who are looked over but can achieve, or rather deserve, so much more from society. Not to be pawns of richer mammals' whims, but to be the ones actually making the decisions, in control of their lives and the world around them. They could be that. We, and him, could help lead them to that. Building them together, building them up, uniting them. Changing them and society, for the better!"

Duke's eyes went a little askew at that, but he let Robin carry on. "But instead, that fox… He splits them apart, he lets them feed off the worst mammals can be, and then feeds on what's left. He spins lies and lets them rip like wildfire." With a final spit, Robin kicked the ground and almost growled. "And he wouldn't have been inspired to do it without me. That's what started it. He saw what I could do for good and did it for evil. At the start, he was even a mirror image of me. Born a red fox for a start, but he even changed his surname to match mine. Well, almost."

"What?" Duke asked. "You're Loxley, so he calls himself Foxley?"

"Close," Little John said. "Loxy. 'Foxy' Loxy, the mammal who can convince an entire town the sky is falling in with nothing but his words and a convenient acorn."

Duke laughed, only for that laugh to fade as the others looked on gravely.

"I think you can guess why he became my foil then," Robin said, voice trailing off into the cold, dark, moist air. "And why I wanted to stop him. And so, I tried there, I failed. He ran, I followed. And years passed, and wherever we went more mammals happily chose his way of hate and division, even throwing in a middle digit up at my path as they ran off into the oblivion I told them was there, that was clearly there. Trampling anyone in their path on their way. And here we are."

"Here we are," Little John agreed.

"Same old story, always playing out," Marian added.

Robin nodded. "Case in point, those mammals in Happytown Heights. Gone. Done. Finito. They're his now. Tricked, wrong, idiots letting him lead them off the cliff." He sighed, looking away. "If it weren't all the pain they'd cause decent people on the way, at this point I'd almost be happy that they get what's coming for them."

A slow silence filled the room.

The mammals shuffling around.

Water dripping from the ceiling.

Duke kept his eye on Robin. Waiting. Until finally, after thinking it through very carefully, speaking. "Happy the poor and disadvantaged are gonna get what they deserve," he sighed. "Mam, what a way you have fallen."

Robin looked up and snorted. "I mean, you were there, right? You saw it go down. You saw the nonsense they lapped up. Heck, you saw them make up more of it. And it's not like it's something a reasonable mammal would be tricked by. You saw one clock what was going on and give the appropriate reaction. Laugh at the stupidity and walk out. And like I said, it'd be none of my concern were it not for the fact that they'll actually hurt mammals. Good job on getting them away from that vixen, by the way. Seriously, you proved all your worth with that one action. Though honestly, it might be best if you get out of there too. Don't want to know what will happen when your free thinking and intelligence insults them too much."

"Uh, hu," Duke said, shifting his arms underneath the blankets. "Steer clear of them. Cuz it'd be a great shame if their free thinking and all insulted you too."

Robin paused. "What… We're not equivalent. I mean, you did read and see what's going on. Didn't you? You were literally there. You saw them letting Loxy lead them along, happy to follow whatever he wanted them to…"

"Nah. I saw them coming together an' brainstorming and coming up with these ideas," Duke cut in.

"Well isn't that worse," Little John asked. "They're not being told to go out hating and attacking prey mammals, and acting like they're all 'super predators' and all. They're choosing that. They're deciding they want to go out and act like big scary preds ruling over everyone."

"Yeah, the 'alpha' predators," Marian snorted. "Have they seen a mirror lately?" She shook her head, pointing at Little John. "Whereas they wouldn't last five or so seconds against him. An actual 'alpha' predator who doesn't have to go around shouting it out as he's not compensating or insecure."

Robin nodded. "I mean, it's just them falling into that old trap Loxy always sets up. Predator, Prey, big, small, you name it, it's all a made up distraction. If they could get it into their heads to abandon all that ancient nonsense, come together and actually work on something productive, all our issues could be solved. But no. They've made their decision."

"And that's it, you wash your paws of them," Duke said, teeth starting to bare. "Just lookin' forward to the day where you get to beat em' up, Loxy's army of evil and you the good guys coming in to hold em off."

"You do realise we've encountered mammals like this before," Robin said, standing up and walking over. "Years back, when Foxy Loxy first started. When he first started corrupting mammals. You don't think we tried bringing them onto the right side?" He pointed down at the weasel. "We told them they were being misled. We told them that they weren't acting in their own best interests. We told them that what they were doing was categorically wrong, all lies by a mammal that didn't care for them one jot. We told them the whole truth of the situation and that he was chanelling dumb basic feelings to rally them along into a destructive mob, and that any rational, kind, good mammal would dump that and pick up the civilized ideas that were categorically known to make their lives, and those of others, better. We were patient, we gave them a choice. And again, and again, and again, they had all the evidence available but chose his offer to feel 'big' and 'powerful' and 'right' even as he swindled them and sent them against others." And with that, Robin's face hardened. "And when that happens, when they choose to go against those even weaker than them with violence… Well, that's when they cross the line."

"We swore to protect the weakest," Marian agreed.

"We stand by them, always," Little John added. "And fight off those who choose to attack them."

"Even if, yes, ideally those guys should be on our side too," Robin groaned. "But we have to hold the line against it. You have to fight back, make them know it's not acceptable. It's the only language they know. And maybe after getting the riot act read to them, all the lies they chose to believe turned to ash in their mouth, they'll come in begging for forgiveness. And hopefully the next lot will see this all and make the right choice. Because there is a right choice. You can't compromise with those who ally themselves to lies and violence."

Duke looked on, finally giving a short, sharp, harumph. "Like you'd even compromise with 'em before." And with that, he started to walk off.

Robin blinked. "What… What's that supposed to mean?"

"Like you'd accept them choosing and going with anything other than your prescribed treatment, am I right?"

Marian stepped forward. "What did he say while you were stalling him for us?"

The room went quiet, Duke pausing and turning back. He looked at them, eyes snapping between the three mammals as he breathed in and out, slowly but deeply. Finally, he put his paws out to the side. "Ah, yeah. I'm tainted now. Well, here I am. Meet me with violence back then."

"Hey, you're not like 'em," Little John said.

"Am I?" the weasel asked. "Scat of the city, mammalian trash, you name it…"

"Clever enough to see through his lies," the bear added. "And you saved one other like you from being attacked, beaten, maybe killed."

"Uh-hu, so I'm the special one, right?" Duke asked, before pausing. "Because I chose you. Because I saw you and how right you are. And I hate who I am…"

"-No," Robin said, paws up. "Listen, tell us what he told you. It's obvious he's using his old tricks to try and split us up. We can talk about this and go over it…"

"And if I still don't agree, I fail the test, huh?" Duke asked.

Robin looked on, shaking his head. "What ideas and lies did he plant in your head?"

"A few," Duke said. "And I don't think some of the big ones are lies. Do you know what the big one is, huh? You don't respect us. You don't respect any of us."

"I…" the red fox blinked. "Did the part about me dedicating my life to fighting for you skim over your head?" he asked. "Or do you think that's a lie? Or…"

"Oh yeah, a lie to yourself," Duke said, folding his arms. "Because you ain't fightin' for us. You're just fightin' for what you want us to be."

"What…?"

"Yeah, you heard me," Duke said, turning around, pointing at each of them in turn. "Yeah, that other fox is full of scat and lies, but at least he was pretty on point about one thing. You're the big mammals who say they know what's best for us, and as long as we're not choosing that, well there's something wrong with us. We're dumb, we're misled, we're yadda, yadda… Oh, woe to think that we can decide what we want out of life." He marched forward, squaring at the red fox. "Like back then in your old hometown. How the mayor made all the poor pay money for a big flashy new school stadium. Oh the big misled dumb dumbs, chosing that rather than something smart and clean and intellectual. Oh, the mammality, or stupidity if they're actually doing it for real. But you know what? What I think? If they want to pay for a big flashy new stadium or something, hooray for them. That's their choice, not yours!"

Panting, in and out, he looked at the others. "Same for settling with only a 'meh' system, rather than going full hog with your revolution. Oh, obviously that's a problem with them. Obviously if they were just a bit cleverer and more enlightened, they'd go the full way. Tragically no, they wanna settle for the thing that hurts em. They obviously can't control their lives and need some big clever brave fox to be their hero, going around and telling 'em what to do. Doctors orders!"

The shout filled the tunnel, echoing around before settling into a subdued silence. Looking on, the weasel paused, wondering whether he might need to start running very soon. Instead, after rubbing his muzzle with his paw, Robin settled down. "Okay, you're saying that we don't truly respect those lowest in society. Right?"

"Pretty much, yeah," Duke nodded. "You act like our friend, but when what we want ain't what you want… Well, obviously we're actually the problem."

"The thing is," Robin began. "We're pushing for basic things that are achievable, and known to improve life for everyone. Everyone benefits from a more equal society. Everyone benefits from more fairness. Everyone benefits from a society that strives to come together, to broaden and strengthen the bonds that can unite all mammals. Whoever they may be. What we want is a world where all mammals don't have to deal with ignorance, fear, want, poverty, we… We're pushing for a better world. And what's he pushing for? What is this world you're talking about. One where mammals jump into groups and rip each other up, seeing who can come out on top. One built on pain and domination. One fuelled by primitive, outdated prides and anger…"

"Well, why can't I be proud to be a weasel?" Duke asked. "Why can't they be proud to be predators, huh?"

"I mean, some pride is always good," Little John said. "But it needs to be matched with the same amount of humility. I mean, I like being a bear. Doesn't mean I go around pushing mammals away, roaring and acting like an idiot because of it. Honestly, isn't a bear that feels he has to do that to be a bear actually the most pathetic bear you could imagine?"

"And you're forgetting one big thing," Marian said, walking forward. "It's not just preds on this. They found out themselves, these exact same lies are fuelling up anti-predator groups. Anti-fox people. You name it. Sure, in isolation it might feel innocent enough, but together, all these groups doing it?"

"You may think you'll come out on top, they might think it to," Robin said. "But at the end of the day, when every mammal is joining a group to battle and push others down, only one will win. The rest will be pushed down and made to suffer. Just like what Bellwether wanted to happen. That's Loxy's future. My one, our one, is one where no-one has to be left out. Where everyone can live in peace and plenty." His voice rose slightly. "Isn't that better? Isn't that a more hopeful future?"

"Yeah…" Duke began, only for Robin to cut him off.

"Then why can't mammals give up these silly, stupid, hurtful little things they hold on to. Why can't they just give them up, and work on making their life, everyone's lives, better? Why? Or are mammals truly selfish and hateful, deep down?" he sighed, shaking his head. "I like to be hopeful, but more and more that's the only conclusion I can think of."

Duke looked on before finally, slowly, speaking. "You know, back in my times in the joint. Do you know what the only thing I had was?"

"What?"

"The fact that I was a slippery, slimy, crook of a weasel." He smirked. "The fact that I was a long tube boy who could hustle schmucks and take off with the dough. I… I knew what I was and knew I was good at it, be damned what the rest of the jerks in the world thought. Heck, even my own family, even my cousin out with his genuine non-scammy vehicle rental. Oh, the family would compare me to him sooo much. 'Just clean up Duke', 'be like him.' And what? Give up who I was? Give up the cred I'd earned on the street, however meagre it might be?"

"But can't you see that your life would be so much better if you did," Marian asked.

"Do ya know who the most hated mammal in the old city youth jail was, huh?" he asked. "My first time in, back baking in the heat blowing off Sahara Square, pickin' at the crumbling walls or getting shouted at when you weren't locked, bored outtya mind lying locked up in a stinking cell on a lumpy bed. It ain't the big gangstas or the odd screw who like to drag you off for an actual paddlin'." He rubbed the seat of his pants, grumbling a little.

"It was this travelling councillor who came in with her big flowery dress, and her super sappy voice. Always running up, cheerful. 'Hello guys! Today is your new day!' Always throwin' her heart out, tryna connect to us, pushin' us through all these breathing exercises and tryinya get us into singing happy songs and all that! She never hurt us, or did anythin' bad. Even when we hurled insults and mocked her, she did this dumb 'calm down, let's do a social worker talk I accept your feelings' thing. Except we could tell she didn't, but was just being diplomatic or something…"

"-I mean," Marian began, her arms folding. "Did you want her to hurl insults and beat you or something? She sounds like a very kind, very patient mammal doing her best to help some very ungrateful mammals."

"Yeah," Duke huffed. "By tryna change, or make us give up, the one thing we had our pride in. The one thing we could hold onto. The one thing, the one thing, that made us feel good about ourselves! That made us feel big, strong, powerful! Yeah, she wanted to save us. Save us by gelding us in the head."

"Only that one thing only caused you pain and suffering, didn't it?" Robin asked. "And how much for all the others you've hurt. I mean, that cousin of yours, can you really say you had a better life than him? Can you?"

"I…" Duke hissed, bringing up a finger. "No. But…"

"And why, may I ask, did you come to us then?"

The weasel looked on, frowning. "Well, why'd ya come to me first. Trying twice too, if I'm one of these unmentionables, huh?"

Robin nodded. "Good question. I will admit, it was a long shot. We began to worry that Loxy had some interest in nighthowlers. We'd picked up your connection to the original case. It was…"

"I was the only option. The long shot. Right," Duke mumbled.

"And you? Why did you join? What broke your pride?"

Looking up, he shrugged. "Because I always thought it was an I-snap-you-snap, between the law and I. We hate each other, we bark, but we both know we're just doing our roles in society. And then I both find out that a bunch of them, when a friend was set up, thought so little of me that I could do something that low. That… vile. And despite that, when my life was at risk, they chose to save me. -Which thinking about it now could be that just that they needed me alive to confess, but hey that horse has bolted. Point is, I guess it got across to me just how mucha pit I'd dug for myself."

Robin nodded. "And so, at the end of this. After seeing just how wrong and self destructive and damaging this can all be. After agreeing to come onto our side…"

"Ah-ah-ah," Duke cut in. "I only did that as I had nothing else to do. I was a freelancing jerk, needing something to maybe make me less jerky. Just remember that."

"Okay," he said. "But after all you fell and hurt yourself, after seeing just how hollow it was. You have to agree with our points, right?"

"No."

"Okay," he said, slowly. "Can you explain why?"

"Because you can't get your mind over how much these little things mean to us," he said. "Boo hoo, we don't want your grand revolution and making things into your utopia. But maybe, just maybe, we know to not really trust mammals who promise a big, wide, super fun future. For 'our own good'. Something plucked from the sky. Yeah, maybe given' that a stink eye is the sensible thing to do, seeing how much your fighting got you. But you know who we do trust? The mammal who comes in and offers to help us protect, trust, defend and build up the few things we like. Who sees these things about ourselves we hold close, and actually values us for them. That doesn't take a crap or tries to fix or meddle or improve the things we hold dear. That make us happy."

He pointed at himself. "I ain't happy, not really before or after. As Loxy said, only the most self hating mammal could join you. But those lots, back there. Do you know what they were, as they dug into it all? They were happy. They were excited. They were getting something way better than your promises. And of course, you get mad at them for that and tell them that they shouldn't feel happy. That the things that make them feel happy are wrong. That they should guilt themselves and feel sorry, and I'm sorry here but when you put it like that why should they join with you. Ever? When for all you say that you're here to help them, you want them to change to your image. To hold dear and find happiness in what you want them to hold dear and find happiness in. Sure, Loxy is a big lying jerk, but at least he lets us guys be who we wanna be and actually rule over ourselves. And that means somethin'. Somethin' big that until you get, you're gonna fail. Over and over and over."

Robin looked on, silent. "Yes. That sounds nice. And if it was only them who would get hurt, fine. But it's not, they're lashing out and starting to hurt others. Indirectly, directly, so what are we supposed to do?"

"Oh I don't know, 'Robin-in-the-Hood'," Duke said, walking forward and throwing a finger down. "Humble you-sevles. Go in, be their friends, listen to them and what they want. And sure, pull them away from causing harm to others. Show them a better way, but maybe one based on the things they like and enjoy. I don't know, maybe talk about how in old times alpha predators defended the weak and stood up for good things? Yeah, talk to them in their language, show them how they can be the best they can be. But not something else! Not what you think they should be. And if they wanna spend a whole lot of money on a big flashy sports stadium and vote on it, let em! That's their choice! You could maybe tweak it or bring up ways it could be used for all sorts of other things like a… -farmers market or something, that way you both get somethin' outta it. Or do you really not like democracy that much after all."

"You act as if they've never compromised," Marian cut in, Duke turning to see the vixen, her fur slightly on end. There was a pause, her other companions looking at her, before she sighed. "Why should they compromise with them, again," she asked. "I don't think you've noticed, but I've watched as all they've ever done is compromise. Break bread, give them the bigger slice, surrender stuff to them. They withdrew their candidate who'd give lasting change so someone who was just 'Not John the Worst' would win. Over and over and over, they… -we, slash and cut down our vision, and modify ourselves to try and appeal. Heck, chances are even to you."

"I mean," Robin began. "Remember when I made that dig on the woke when trying to recruit you. Yeah, that was me trying to do a bit of that. I at least appreciate those trying to make the world a better place, even if I think the crab bucketing and dividing and… Well, all that stuff you described about Loxy doing an allotment feels like it'd be a bit like how it'd go. -But the point is, it feels like we've ever done is compromise and give them the benefit of the doubt, as they come with hate and violence."

"And why should he have to do that when they don't, huh?" Marian asked, throwing her paws out. "When is it their turn to compromise? When is it their turn to turn the other cheek? To act with humility. To listen to what the other side wants and treat them with respect. Because you know what, it seems like it never is."

"And you know what?" Duke said back. "Sure. Maybe it is unfair. Heck, it is. All you see is dumb idiots and anger and hate, and you're doing your best to make the world a better place as they just want to take it back and hurt people. So yeah, it must suck. And it must feel real good just treating those nutjobs and awful mammals like they deserve. To meet their violence with violence. To fight back and defend the weak. Yeah, you're the real good guys here, and taking that away? Well, it'll hurt just as much as taking the pred pride stuff does for the other side, I can appreciate that. So go ahead. Cut 'em off, cast 'em away, drive them into the darker and darker corners, squeezing them as tight as you can so those behind you can be safe and free. Because when you have a bunch of guys who are told they can be proud who they are, and other jealous mammals will try and attack and scream at them and beat them back, beating 'em back is the perfect way of convincing them they're wrong! Am I right?"

He gave them a wink and two big thumbs up, before carrying on in gusto. "Just keep it up, and one little more push and -POOF! They'll just vanish and go away. Or, not insulting your intelligence here, maybe it's a cruel and eternal constant war, good versus evil, you're stuck in. Well, in that case, I must say your strategy is working brilliantly! Never better! You can see just how much you're winning and, well if you're not. Are you out of touch? Nah, it's the 'OTHERS' who are wrong."

He threw up his arms in a shrug before waving off. "So yeah, honestly? Do it, go ahead. Expect to be the ones always in the right. The good guys. The ones beating back the evil hordes… The ones who obviously know more than the voters, the polls are always rigged anyway and the fact you're oh so more active in 'the other methods' just shows how right and valid your opinions are, my wannabe Weathermammals. They'll just wreck it all anyhow if given the reins, so this way is the better one for everyone, isn't it my unilateral declarers of independence. My whatever you wanna be… Just be it! Do what you want. Just don't expect to win."

A long pause filled the room. "Please don't compare us to the Weathermammals," Robin finally said. "We like to think that we don't make the People's Front of Judea look like a competent organisation by comparison."

Marian snorted. "As long as there's no former townhouses you haven't told us about…"

"Well," Little John said. "Now you mention it…"

Small chuckles and flashes of smiles filled the room, as Robin looked back to Duke. "You know, it's odd. Is it thinking more of them or less than them, that we have to sneak in and lead them on, rather than just giving them the facts and letting them come to the right choice."

"Your right choice," Duke said.

"Well, as said…" Robin began, before shaking his head. "You know, back in the old days, we made a spectacle out of what we did. Inspired mammals. Big action and all…"

"What, really?" the weasel asked, standing up. "Super hero stuff?"

"Oh, more like dashing vigilante," Marian chirped, giving a cheeky glance at Robin.

"Some arrows here," the fox said.

"A big cussin' stick there," Little John added.

"We had streets cheering us on, mammals would know our name," Robin reminisced. "Even while in our disguise casual clothes, mammals in the neighbourhood would tip their hats or offer food, for the help we'd given."

"Or," Little John added, "crowd around us and cheer us on as we, uh, redistributed a rich thugs gold jewellery from his person, without him knowing. Heck, while he was still gloating at making a load of mess for the poor scrubs who were looking oddly smug at it."

Duke laughed. "What happened to all that?"

"Better cops," Little John pointed out.

"Phone cameras," Robin said. "You just need the one snitch."

"And times are a' changing," Marian said. "People have moved beyond this big action stuff. Besides. Isn't that just doubling down on us trying to be the big heroes or something, if we're going out and doing these big action things?"

"And either way," Robin added. "We decided that it was just more 'treating the wound' rather than actually curing the disease. Mammals don't need super heroes to fix the world back to how it was, it needs mammals working to change it to what it could be."

Duke shrugged. "Eh, you know what I think? Bring hero fox back. You want to draw those mammals back, that's who they need to see. To follow… I think mammals just like the ideas of heroes, of being inspired. It's a crapsack world! They want to feel like they can make a change. Maybe rather than being their hero, show them how to be heroes… I don't know! You're the ones supposed to know this stuff!"

Robin nodded. "I can't say you haven't raised good points," he began. "But, at the same time, while we could try something with these mammals… What about Loxy? He's still out there raising all sorts like them, plenty who won't listen to any of us whatever we try. And he's…" His ears went back. "There's really dark stuff we don't understand that they're meddling with. That scares us. That I think's out of all our leagues." He sighed. "And we need to drop that to what, spend all this time trying to 'reguide' a small group of mammals."

"I mean, it's kind of convenient that there's this 'big, scary, deadly' threat that's so important," Duke began.

"Well I mean we saw the literal Dark Flame Wolf herself having traumatic flashbacks and almost crying on hearing a recording of… whatever the cuss it was," Little John cut in, shivering a little. "So yeah."

The weasel snapped to them. "Wait, that myth's real? And you know who that is? Who? It's Lang, isn't it? Lady Lang, I'm putting my bets there."

Marian chuckled. "Nope. It's the one who was able to use the power of the media to make it so that no one will ever suspect it was her ever again."

Duke paused, looking at them, trying to work it out. Only to break down, laughing on the floor. "No way! No way! Hahaha! You're… Oh Mam that's funny."

"You think that's bad," Little John chuckled. "You do know who that new Governor of Califurnia was, right?"

"Wha… That Diane Foxington girl…" Duke sniffed.

"Uh-hu," Marian smirked.

"Hit me."

Little John gave him a light punch in the side.

"Not literally," the weasel half-yelled half-laughed. "You autistic or something?"

"Yup," he smirked, "And the famed burglar the Crimson Paw hasn't inherited the Terminator's former job."

"Wait, that… That…" Duke broke down laughing again. "Oh god. Oh god. But no, Murana Wolford beats it out still. But this is all too good!"

A sentiment shared throughout the room. "I can appreciate the irony, given how it all turned out," Robin agreed, pausing. "You know, I strongly disagree with her former methods, but given the 'support', that's the kind of hero you're talking about, right?"

"Huh?" Duke asked.

"An alpha predator," he filled in. "In the shadows, coming in and destroying those who hurt the innocent and helpless in the worst way imaginable."

"Maybe it is," the weasel agreed. "Yeah, but what are we doing now then? Just carrying on after your fox, or…"

"On the whole I think we have to," Robin said, Marian nodding along.

"And what about them, the deplorables, when he uses them for… whatever…"

"Well," Little John said, "nothing stopping you from trying to lead them out and onto the right path. Is there?"

"I…" Duke began, looking around. A few seconds and his expression faded. "No… I can't. I'm an unlikeable jerk. A cynic. They wouldn't buy it."

"What about from your new friend?"

"Huh," Duke asked, looking up at the bear, along with the foxes.

"Why not try. At the very least, if Loxy comes around again, I can be there to nab him."

Robin paused to think before nodding. "Sure, if you're up to it."

"I'd say so."

"Right, that sounds… good actually!" He smiled, glancing around, his ears perked up. "We have a plan, kind of! We might even work out what he wants with them this time. All thanks to an unlikely fourth member who said what he felt."

"Hey," Duke shrugged. "I said I was a jerk when coming onboard. Anything else you need me for?"

"Ah, nothing much," Robin said, before bringing out a pawful of gold watches. "Unless you know a few local charities who know how to sell on highly priced donated and totally not liberated timepieces."

The weasel smirked. "You know, kind of a funny story there…"

.

.

AN: This chapter was originally going to be released next week, but realising it would be after the mid-terms (a major event for a lot of my readers) I chose to release it now.

While I can say that this chapter is looking at things through the viewpoints of the characters and how they would react, it's undeniable that some of my views came through here.

A lot of the things I wanted to explore in this story were around the themes of misinformation, conspiracy theories and so forth... Indeed it's remarkable looking back at Honey in Season 1, me thinking she was waaaayyyy too crazy to be believable... And well, by the end. You can guess. It's fascinated me, and on seeing other things (such as one genuinely kind, well informed and nice person in the fandom (who still is) express almost deep terror over certain political appointments in the 2020...) This whole grand and increasing split, this breakdown of a common truth. I wanted to write about it, explore it. Heck, I tied to it (as shown here) one of the most OG furry villains there was. One whose whole MO was leading a group of innocents to their own demise by convincing them the sky was falling in.

So yeah that, that and the increasing cultural and truth split, fascinate me. As does how to resolve it, how to bridge it, how to bring the sides back together and what root causes at the very base of all this caused it all. And that means exploring it through stories, through fleshed out characters on both sides, battles of words and trying to reach a consensus. BUT, exploring all this comes with the baggage that it overlaps very firmly onto the political climate over in the US. One party on one side, one on the other. So, coming up to all this, I think it's inevitable that direct parallels will be drawn, which is why I chose to address this here for those with questions/ queries.

For those with issues about this chapter due to the perceived political view/moral message, and wanting to talk/ question it in the comments, my opinions (after thinking it through I thought I'd get them out now rather than reply individually) are as follows.

Were I living in the US and voting (which I certainly would be), I'd almost certainly be Blue all the way down.

I want to believe what I read a lot of people saying on-line (my primary source of news about this) about democracy being under threat will be regarded in the future like we regard similar proclomations from the student groups like SDS of the 60's and 70's...

At the same time, there is one upcoming supreme court case that I think could easily spark absolute disaster. I hope the justices, regardless of their bias, can at least see that and deny it.

On the other hand...

Following some media producers from the 'other side' as it were, and understanding/ empathizing if (certainly) not agreeing on every stance... I cannot bring myself to write them off as just a generic 'bad guy' blob or anything like that. They're people with dreams, aspirations, agency, complex ideas and worldviews etc. Many of which at the very least have roots in cracks that acknowledging and coming to some compromise at the start could allow the saving of a lot of bother later on if you just ignore it.

I see an increasing set of viewpoints online that treat them almost like these faceless gooks with cartoon evil motivations. That their only drive point is to create an in group and an out group, to make others suffer, and that thus it's acceptable to treat them with hate, disregard, insults, etc. All while also treating their increasing presence online and growing power... Almost as if they and their ideas are infectious. Their ideas and ability to talk need to be walled off, no interaction, do not let it spread or else it will infect and infect and infect. And yet it is spreading none-the-less.

Which, even if I'd agree with (which I don't having listened to some), I cannot see as a way of bringing your society, or increasingly ALL societies back together. I cannot see it as a way of bringing on the future that those I feel would be most angered by what I'm saying want. I cannot see this as any other way but to increase the split of our discourse into two different warring political and cultural factions that refuse to trust each other.

Sure, this 'we're better than them'/ stymie the infection treatment... Sure, I get it, I absolutely do. You're fighting these battles, one by one, and it's important. To stop people getting hurt, to keep the bad at bay. And it likely feels great to win these battles. But gnawing at the back of my head, constantly, are the words 'Are you winning the war?'

So, I'm being a critic to 'our' side. Is it fair? Maybe not. But I see it as tough love.

Eh, who knows.

The week after this is released, we could have two or more entirely different answers to these questions. I don't know. Nobody will until the day in question.

All I can say to my US readers, whatever your allegiance, you are likely good people who have come to their conclusions fairly, reasonably, and I hope you the best. I hope that nothing eventful goes on, and that things will carry on normally. Regardless, stay safe, stay true to yourself, and I wish you all the best.