This took long because I had to outline so many times how Judy's arc was going to play out. Also, it seems muse has decided that because of my lack of attention to this fic despite the strong desire, this fic has the honor of being the first chapter where I wrote over 10k words, not including the authors notes. Honestly, I'm happy about that. So, enjoy this long chapter!
Upon returning home, Judy spent the rest of the day preparing for the interview and how to tell her parents. She would break the news to them before going to bed. When the time came, Judy led her parents to a separate room and told of her plans to become a police officer. As expected, Bonnie and Stu had so many questions and concerns that Judy could barely get a word in. When the parents finally gave their daughter a chance to respond, Judy mentioned being a police officer of Bunnyburrow. Hearing that changed their tone, albeit only slightly.
"Being a police officer is still a dangerous occupation," Stu said. "But at least we'll be here to help you if you get in trouble."
Bonnie placed a paw on her husband's shoulder. "Stu, we cannot interfere with her work. Judy is a soldier. The mammals here won't give her much trouble. Except maybe the predators."
Judy folded her paws on the table. "Mama, Papa, I fought against predators in a war. So unless the ones in Bunnyburrow are former soldiers, I shouldn't have any issues."
Stu put his paws up in surrender. "Right. Right. You're still my daughter, so that will always come first."
Bonnie nodded in agreement. "And no matter what, we still love you and will support your decision."
Judy could only mentally sigh at her parents' contradictions but was nonetheless grateful for their support. With their blessing, she returned to the police department the next morning, ready for the interview with Chief Lupus. The wolf promptly granted the rabbit permission to enter his office, and the two greeted each other.
Lupus held a few documents in his paws. "Are you ready, Miss Hopps?"
Judy nodded in excitement. "Ready, Sir."
"Okay, let's begin."
First, Lupus inquired about her military background, and she brought out her honorable discharge, her uniform and rank, and any commendations received. After verifying her records, the wolf moved on to her actions and leadership. Judy answered with various examples before and during the war. One thing that impressed Lupus was how she did not let size and species hinder her.
"You appear to have accomplished much in a short amount of time, and you thrive in a military setting. But can you thrive in the civilian world?"
Lupus proceeded to provide Judy with scenarios on how to respond, such as disturbances and thefts. While rare in Bunnyburrow, the wolf tested the rabbit on a hypothetical major crime. He provided an example of a dangerous criminal escaping from Zootopia and taking shelter in Bunnyburrow. Judy's answers satisfied Lupus, giving him more confidence in her ability to be a police officer.
"Very good. The transition should not be difficult for you. One last thing before I can make a decision." The wolf became serious and leaned forward. "You understand that I encounter difficult prey because of their view on predators. I have to remain professional and polite regardless. You might encounter the same from predators. It is my understanding that you have been trained to use violence. But, how did you treat the survivors after defeating them in battle?"
Judy took a few moments to comprehend the question. She didn't blame Lupus for the assumption. The wolf wanted to know if she could resolve conflicts peacefully and only resort to violence in a dangerous situation. The Christmas truce instantly came to mind, and she nearly answered with that. But then doubts started to creep in, and she began to reconsider.
Would the truce tarnish Lupus' impression of her? Possibly costing her the job? Even if he had no issue, could she trust him with the secret? Judy mentally shook her head, affirming her decision to keep the event a secret until the war was over. Still, she could mention some aspects to answer the question.
"Yes, I can. When predators retreated, we let them escape. When captured, I and everyone under my command always gave the predators fair treatment. I will admit that it may take time not to respond with violence in a confrontation, but I will do my best and will not be afraid to ask for help."
The interview became silent after Judy finished her response. The rabbit remained still with her paws folded on her lap while Lupus had a stoic look. She understood if the wolf had doubts about her ability to perform her duties. Still, it didn't stop Judy from getting her hopes up.
Finally, Chief Lupus nodded and leaned back in his chair with a smile. "Miss Hopps, I think you will make a fine police officer."
Judy squealed in delight, the high pitch causing the wolf to flinch. Seeing this caused her to clasp her mouth with both paws and blush in embarrassment. "Sorry."
The wolf shook his head to regain his bearings. "It's okay. That might be useful out in the field."
After his head felt normal again and Judy's embarrassment subsided, they resumed the interview.
"Now that you're a police officer of Bunnyburrow, I'll explain our procedures. Since you are a rookie, you will be accompanied by myself or another officer anytime we get a call. This will only be for a few weeks."
"I understand."
"You'll have an office where you can spend time reviewing information on the criminals and procedures."
Judy nodded.
"When your training is complete, I intend to delegate some of my tasks to you. Do you have any problem with that?"
The rabbit shook her head. "I'll help any way I can."
"Good, and remember, do not be afraid to come to me if you have any questions. Next, your uniform and equipment," Judy's eyes widened in excitement as Lupus revealed a female rabbit police uniform. "You're lucky that my wife is a tailor. Otherwise, it would take a few days to acquire your uniform. The hat is the standard rabbit size."
Judy could barely contain her excitement as she reached forward and accepted the uniform.
"For your equipment," Lupus laid out the items on the table: a wooden baton, a set of pawcuffs and key, a whistle, and a revolver with a box of bullets. "Use the whistle if you need assistance when out patrolling. I don't have to explain the pawcuffs and keys. If you encounter a larger mammal, send a civilian here with the message. The baton is also for larger mammals or when you have to break up fights when the whistle fails."
The wolf picked up the revolver. "The mere sight of this is enough to deter the rabbit population. I know you are aware of how damaging the noise can be."
The rabbit nodded.
"But this is when dangerous criminals try to flee here from Zootopia. Most try not to because they would stick out like ticks, but that doesn't stop a few from trying. Either we catch them, or the mammals here do. The department does have larger weapons if necessary." He placed the gun down and pushed it and the rest of the items forward.
"Where are the cells?"
"First floor in the west wing of the building. There are also cells in the basement for the more dangerous mammals. Do you have any other questions?"
"Do you mind if I visit the cells?"
"You are free to do so, but I must caution you. The criminals locked up here have never seen a female police officer before, so they might not take you seriously, or worse, try to bribe you. Don't be afraid to show a little force, but don't cause any injuries. Anything else?"
"Am I the only other officer you have?"
"There is another officer, but he's out right now. You can introduce yourself when he returns."
"And besides the receptionist, is that everyone?"
The wolf sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, I only have one, but surprisingly, the department has not been overwhelmed with calls. The threat of war coming here has everyone's attention elsewhere. Anything else?"
Judy shook her head. "No, sir. I'm ready to begin my first day."
Lupus stood up. "Very well. Follow me to your new office."
Judy gathered her uniform and items and followed the wolf out of the office. The two descended to the first floor and stopped in front of a door near the stairs.
The wolf pointed to the room. "Do you like this location? It will give you easy access to my office. I'm also hoping you wouldn't mind being the officer mammals come to first before approaching me. Bunnyburrow may be quiet right now, but that doesn't mean I'm not busy. If you want to be somewhere else, just let me know."
Judy took a few moments to observe her surroundings. "This is good, and I can take the requests. It might be easier for those afraid of predators."
Lupus smiled and brought out a key ring. The wolf opened the door and removed its key before giving it to Judy. "Welcome to the Bunnyburrow Police Department. Don't lose the key."
Judy giggled. "I won't."
"I'll inform Dorothy, the rabbit sitting in the front lobby, of the change in procedure and bring you information to review."
"Understood, and thank you again."
Lupus closed the door, leaving Judy alone. The rabbit set her uniform and equipment on the table and proceeded to remove her farm dress. She then unfolded the uniform and took a moment to admire the clothing. It had the same blue color as a male uniform but the appearance was more feminine. Pride and joy swelled inside from achieving her dream of being a police officer. Emotions remained high as she turned the uniform around and pulled the bottom over her head and arms. The uniform was a perfect fit, and she excitedly resumed completing the attire.
Judy hooked the police baton and its holder on the left side. The pawcuffs, the key, and the whistle were all placed into the hip pockets. The rabbit then loaded the revolver with the bullets from the box of ammunition. Judy then stored the weapon in its holster and secured it on her right side.
All that was left was the police hat. Judy placed it on her head and adjusted the uniform. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. The rabbit opened it and was greeted with the sight of Lupus holding papers in his paws.
The wolf smiled from seeing Judy in full uniform. "You look great. I'll have to thank my wife when I get home for making a ladies' one."
"If you want, I can get my parents to make or bring you something."
"I won't stop you." Lupus brought forward the papers. "Here is the information for you to look over. If you decide to leave the building, let me know."
"Understood, sir."
Lupus took his leave, and Judy returned to the desk and started sifting through the papers. Half were blank police reports, so she stored them in the drawer. A few documents listed dollar amounts and duration dates. Judy understood them to be a list of fines and jail time for the crimes listed.
The rest were blank police affidavits. After putting the blank documents away, Judy began reviewing the list of fines and the punishments for the various crimes. She focused on the more common offenses and would keep the list on her should she encounter the less common ones.
The last set of papers was a list of mammals currently imprisoned at the police department. Each document listed their name, offenses, and a picture of the mammal.
/
Name: Arlen
Species: Brown Horse
Crime: Drunken brawl
/
Name: Canis
Species: Coyote
Crime: Disturbing the Peace
/
Name: Travis
Species: Black-footed Ferret
Crime: Theft
/
The name of the ferret sounded familiar to Judy. She set aside the other pictures and concentrated on Travis. "Travis. Travis. Where have I seen him before?" Her thoughts first went to the military. She failed to recall speaking to any ferrets during the Christmas Truce, so she crossed that off. Her unit did capture ferrets as prisoners, but she didn't recognize any of them from Bunnyburrow.
Her mind then went to the time from her childhood to before basic training. Only one ferret came to mind, and it nearly caused Judy to drop the picture. "No, it can't be." But as Judy continued to dwell on those memories, it slowly became clear that the ferret was Travis. Except for one problem, this could have been another ferret named Travis, and she would be unfairly judging the mammal. The thought continued to persist, and she knew there was only one way to quell her suspicions.
When she finished the tasks assigned by Lupus, Judy decided now was a good time to visit the cells. On the way, she expected a negative reaction from the criminals but remained slightly hopeful of a positive or neutral one. She also expected to heed Lupus' advice of displaying force. No doubt it would be humiliating for the criminals to know that a female rabbit was watching over them. She passed by Dorothy and informed her of the visit to the cells.
"I assume Chief Lupus informed you to be careful around the prisoners."
Judy nodded.
Dorothy was satisfied with her answer. "Very well. I'll let the Chief know. Be careful."
Judy nodded and continued to the west wing. Already, she can see the immediate change from entering that section of the building. While the space was the same size, the openings depended on the size of the species. Cells for small mammals had thinner gaps and vice versa with medium and large size mammals. It made sense because of the size ratio in Bunnyburrow.
"Hey, rabbit!"
Judy's ear perked in the direction of the voice, and she turned to see who it was but saw no one. Then a hoof appeared from the cell on her right side and waved. Judy strolled to the cell before coming face to face with a brown horse. She immediately recognized the mammal was Arlen. The equine wore a blue shirt and tan pants with suspenders. The rabbit saw a few scars and bruises across his face and limbs, likely from the drunken brawl.
"Yes?" Judy asked.
The horse lowered his head and narrowed his eyes. "I haven't seen you before. Are you new here?"
"I am."
Arlen tilted his head. "What are you doing in that outfit? Pretending to be a police officer?"
Judy huffed and straightened herself up. "I am a police officer."
The horse bellowed out in laughter, and Judy saw Arlen go down on his knees and continue to wheeze.
A voice behind her broke her stoic posture. "I'm amazed, rabbit. That's the first time I've seen the horse not angry."
Judy turned around to see a ferret in a cell opposite to that of the horse. The predator leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and had a slightly amused look on his face. He also wore a white shirt, black pants, and a brown hat. The ferret had to have been Travis from the pictures. The rabbit approached the cell and stopped a few inches away if the ferret decided to attack her.
"Hello, Travis."
The ferret raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"
It didn't surprise Judy that he wouldn't recognize her after so many years. She first tried to shake his memories before revealing her name. "Do you remember being friends with a red fox named Gideon Grey?"
"What does that have to do with me knowing you?"
Taking that as a yes, Judy continued. "Do you remember him clawing a rabbit at a fair many years ago?" Judy tilted her head and brushed a paw on her left cheek, revealing a set of scars.
The words triggered the ferret's memories. Travis approached the cell to get a closer look at the scars. Seeing her eyes and the purple color rang familiar feelings in his head. The kicker was her outfit.
Travis put his arms on his sides as everything began to click. "I'll be darned. Judy Hopps?"
She hid her scars again and smiled. "The one and only."
"Well, it's no surprise to see how fate has treated us. You must be proud to see me like this."
A look of pity replaced her smile. "Surprisingly, I don't. I met Gideon earlier, and I was hoping to see you turn out the same as him."
"Don't waste your time, rabbit!" Arlen bellowed from his cell. "He's a ferret, and they're only good at cheating and stealing. It's only a matter of time before that fox goes back to being shifty!"
Upon hearing the outburst, Judy became expressionless and turned her attention back to Arlen. She approached his cell, where the horse was bearing down on her. "Do you think a mammal can't change? Even if they try?"
The horse flared his nostrils. "They can try, but it won't change who they are. Why are you acting so special? A gal such as yourself should be at home being a mother and taking care of the house. Not here pretending to be a police officer."
"Didn't you hear? Chief Lupus is short on mammals. Why shouldn't I take up the job?"
Another voice called out. "Leave her alone!"
Travis and Arlen peeked from their cells, and Judy turned in the direction of the voice. The rabbit walked a couple of steps and stopped in front of a cell where she saw a coyote sitting with his legs crossed. The canine also had his eyes closed and appeared to be in meditation. He wore a gray button-up collared shirt and brown pants. She recognized the coyote to be Canis.
Arlen didn't appreciate the coyote defending Judy. "Why do you care about her? You used to eat her species."
Canis remained unfazed by the remark. "Because the lady has the power to make you stay here longer if she so desires."
"Do you actually believe that she is a police officer?"
The coyote opened his eyes, getting his first look at Judy. Canis moved his head up and down before closing his eyes again and sniffing the air. "I smell the Chief's scent on the uniform, which means he must have given it to her."
"That doesn't prove anything. It could be a costume."
Judy resisted the urge to use force but found it ironic that it was a horse, a prey, of all mammals mocking her authority as a police officer. What was more surprising was that Travis and Canis were either supportive or neutral.
The rabbit returned to Arlen's cell and glared at the horse. "Watch it, mammal. You may not respect me, but you will show the respect that comes with the badge."
The brown horse banged his hooves on the bars. "I'm not afraid of you, rabbit. Chief had to bring me in here all by himself because the other rabbit officers were too scared."
Travis shook his head. "Not this one, Arlen. You must not know who she is."
The horse neighed and stuck his face through the bars. "I ain't afraid of no cute little rabbit!"
THWACK!
Arlen whined as he clutched his snout and stumbled backwards from the bars. Pain soared radiated to his head as he fell on his back. It was fortunate for everyone present because Arlen's feet began kicking in the air.
"WHAT THE HELL, RABBIT?!"
With a glare, Judy held the police baton in her right paw, ready to use it again if needed. "You may not think I'm a police officer, but you better start now. And you better listen to Travis. I just came back from the army, so ponies like you don't scare me."
The horse grumbled as he sat down on the bed and tended to his injured nose.
Judy turned her attention back to Travis. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened between you and Gideon? Weren't you two friends?"
Travis leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "We had a falling out after Gideon decided to seek help. I tried doing the same, but I just couldn't deal with the changes. It didn't help that no one here would accept a reformed ferret. I did find work eventually but it was barely enough. I tried...but I just couldn't...I started stealing things in between work to survive."
His story struck Judy's heart, and emotions began to rise. But the rabbit quickly brought them under control. "You're in here for theft. Do you know how long?"
"Why does that matter? I'll probably end up back here again."
"Because I want to help you."
"How? You saw my crimes."
But that didn't deter Judy. "I'll find a way. Just give me time, and promise that you will try to stay out of trouble if you get out early."
Travis couldn't help but be amused at her determination. Still that same kit all those years ago. "Very well, Judy. But don't be surprised if you're wrong."
Judy put on a confident smile. "You know me, Travis. I don't know when to quit."
The ferret retreated to his bed, signaling the end of the conversation. With that, Judy visited Canis, where the coyote had remained in his position the entire time.
"Canis?"
The coyote relaxed and opened his eyes. "Yes, Officer?"
"Why did you support me back there?"
A small smile appeared. "It may surprise you, officer, but I harbor no ill will towards prey. My family raised me to treat all mammals the same. I even have prey friends."
Judy nodded. "I wish I had your attitude growing up. My family wasn't too strict on predators, but they were protective."
"Understandable. It's how your parents raised you. I assume being in the army changed your stance?"
"Yes," She then leaned closer to whisper. "Let's just say I made friends with predator soldiers."
Canis smiled and made a zipping motion, understanding that this information will not sit well with Bunnyburrow.
Glad for the mutual understanding, Judy asked about the coyote's crimes. "Your charges are for disturbing the peace. What happened?"
Canis took a deep sigh. "Despite my efforts, there will always be mammals afraid of me because of my species. For many years, I carried this knife. It belonged to my grandfather. No one ever had a problem seeing me with it. Then, there was a fight, and I tried to stop it. Unfortunately, my weapon was enough to frighten the mammals. News of predator actions during the war only made the situation worse. That's how I ended up here."
Shock and rage consumed Judy. "That's horrible! You did nothing wrong!"
"Welcome to our world officer," Travis shouted from his cell.
Judy glanced in the ferret's direction before returning to the conversation. "Is there anything I can do?"
Canis shook his head, still smiling. "Don't worry. Lupus was able to help bring down the serious charges. I'll be out in a couple of weeks."
While she hated it, the justice system would take care of the charges. "Alright, thanks for telling me that. I should get back to my office now. It's nice to meet you."
"It's been a pleasure, Officer."
Next, Judy decided to speak with the only other officer. Lupus didn't mention the species or how long the mammal had been working here. Only the room. But the rabbit thought it was a good idea to introduce herself since she and the mammal would be working together in the future. Finding the room not too far from hers, she promptly gave the door a few knocks.
"Come in!"
Judy entered and found a goat sitting at the desk.
Said mammal looked up and saw the rabbit in the doorway. "Oh, hello! Are you the new officer?"
Judy nodded and closed the door behind her. "Yes. I thought I would stop by and introduce myself since we'll be partners."
"Really? Well, my name is William! But call me Will. A pleasure to meet you!" The goat pointed to the chair. "Come! Take a seat!"
"Judy Hopps!" She sat down in the chair. "Have you been working here long?"
"About two years ago."
"Then would it be alright if you can show me around if Lupus is too busy?"
"I'd be glad to," William shifted in his chair. "Tell me, why did you want to join the police?"
"It's been my dream since I was a kit. Actually, I want to join the police in Zootopia, but it's been unsuccessful so far."
"Zootopia? I've been there once."
Judy sat up in the seat, ears raised in excitement. "What was it like?"
"A lot of mammals competing to achieve that Zootopian dream, but they remain hopeful."
"And the police?"
It didn't surprise William that Judy was eager to know anything about the metropolitan police. "I saw very few small mammals. The only exception is the rodent population. If you are planning to join the police in Zootopia, you would be the first."
"All the more reason to try!" Judy moved on to one of the more obvious questions. "Why did you not leave to fight like the others?"
"While I want to uphold the law and fight crime, fighting in a war is not for me."
Judy pointed to herself. "Former soldier here, so I understand. Willingly Taking a life is never an easy decision. Trust me."
The goat became intrigued with her background. "Former soldier? Did you leave willingly or did they force you?"
"Willingly. That's all I'll say for now." The rabbit wished she could say more but still did not feel that the time was right.
Will nodded. "Okay. Glad to have met you, Judy. I hope you'll be great out on a call. And maybe hear some stories from battle?"
Judy giggled. "Eventually."
They bid each other goodbye, and Judy left William's office. She decided to have a proper introduction with Dorothy. As she approached the front desk, the black-furred rabbit noticed her presence and looked up, seeing the uniform and gear.
"You're an officer now?" The doe asked.
Judy nodded. "Lupus gave me the badge and everything else this morning."
Dorothy smiled. "Congratulations. I didn't think a doe becoming a police officer was possible. But these are desperate times for the department. I'm Dorothy."
"Judy Hopps. A pleasure to meet you. Do you do anything else besides greet mammals?"
"I grab the keys for the cells, do paperwork, and listen to requests from mammals. I'm in the first in line, then the officers, and finally the Chief. If an officer is needed, I will get you or William. Chief Lupus is only for important or bigger mammals."
"Sounds tough."
"Some days are. But I enjoy the relative peace from sitting here. Better than in my burrow."
Judy giggled. "I can relate. How long have you been working here?"
"One year. If I recall correctly, the buck before me got tired of doing nothing and left. I happened to be visiting the station that day and offered to take the position." Dorothy stretched her arms out. "Chief Lupus accepted, and here I am today."
"I'm happy to hear that," A question came to Judy's mind that she wanted to ask Lupus or William, but she forgot. She might as well ask Dorothy. "I'm curious. How many mammals used to work here before the war?"
"A lot more. But we should count our blessings that war also drew some of the population away."
Judy nodded. "That's true. A lot of mammals under my command joined the military for the excitement and adventure."
Dorothy's ears perked up. "You were in the war?"
"Oh right, I forgot to mention that. Former commanding officer. The war allowed me to rise through the ranks quickly. There was a…reassignment, and I was honorably discharged." Judy harshly reminded herself to be more careful when mentioning being in the military.
Thankfully for her, Dorothy chose not to pursue further. "Interesting."
"It is." She noted the time on Dorothy's desk. "It was a pleasure speaking with you. I should get back to my office now."
Dorothy nodded. "I'll see you around."
Having spoken to everyone at the station, Judy returned to her office and sat down in the chair. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
Judy looked up and saw Lupus standing in the doorway. The rabbit sat up in her chair. "Yes, Chief?"
"Have you gotten yourself acclimated?"
She nodded. "I have."
"And did any of the prisoners give you trouble?"
"Only Arlen."
The wolf chuckled. "No surprise. Let me tell you. A drunken horse on a rampage is something I hope you never have to encounter. In my opinion, they would have been labeled savages if they were not prey."
The rabbit giggled. "I'm sure we've both seen worse. Oh, and I met William and Dorothy. Both are nice mammals."
"A fine officer as well when you get the chance to see. I hope he didn't raise too many questions about you joining the police."
Judy shook her head. "Not at all. Almost relieved."
"I'm glad. As for Dorothy, once my list is manageable, I wish to show her more appreciation. The whole place would fall apart without her."
"She'll be thankful for anything you do."
The wolf nodded and then raised a finger. "I forgot to mention one thing. Do you have a telephone at your burrow?"
"Yes."
"Good. Sometimes I'll have to call you or William for any nighttime incidents. Most of the time, I try to deal with them myself since I'm nocturnal, but things can happen."
"Absolutely!" Judy tore off a small piece from a blank paper and wrote the house number for the burrow before sliding it to Lupus. "This is where you can reach me. Just ask for Judy Hopps."
"Thank you. I'll leave you be now." Lupus took his leave, leaving Judy alone once again.
The hours passed as Judy sat at her desk, going over the list of charges and their penalty for the umpteenth time. If she didn't have experience waiting in the trench, the wait would have driven her crazy. Still, Judy shouldn't have expected too much from protecting her homeland.
A knock on the door drew her attention, and she saw William in the doorway.
"Will! What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Judy. I'm heading out on patrol and buying lunch for everyone at the station. Do you want to come with me? Chief Lupus has already granted the request."
She beamed with excitement at finally being able to go out. "Oh yes! Absolutely!"
"Alright, meet me outside in the front. I'll bring the vehicle around."
The goat took his leave while Judy fixed her appearance and checked her equipment. Once satisfied, she headed for the front entrance and passed by Dorothy on the way.
"Are you going out?"
"Yes, Will's taking on patrol and buying lunch for everyone at the station."
Dorothy waved at the rabbit. "Good luck, and have a wonderful trip."
Judy returned the gesture and stepped outside to find the BBPD police vehicle parked in front of the building with William in the driver's seat.
"Ready, Officer Hopps?"
She could hardly wait a moment longer. "Ready!"
William started the vehicle, and they began the drive to town. Judy used the opportunity to ask about life at the station.
"Is there one for rabbit size?"
"Yes, and the station has one with roofs over our heads. Though we use them to transfer arrested mammals or emergencies."
"That makes sense. Is buying lunch for the station part of the routine?"
"It only became more frequent recently," The goat glanced at Judy with a smile. "Your turn will come soon enough."
She smiled back. "Maybe I can start today. I know of a bakery where we can pick up dessert."
"Is that so?" A hint of curiosity in the goat's voice. "Well then, I can't wait."
The police vehicle arrived in the town marketplace, and William slowed down to avoid hitting mammals.
"I hope you're not too hungry. I prefer to drive around before eating."
"Sounds good. I'm not hungry yet."
William nodded and continued to drive while keeping an eye on the citizens.
Judy did her part by doing the same. She had to remind herself not to expect much to happen on her first day. But she would be lying to herself for wanting action. Still, it was an improvement over spending the day sitting at the roadside stand. Only time and experience will tell her if being a police officer would help her adjustment.
The sight of a female rabbit police officer did attract the eyes of Bunnyburrow's denizens. Only when Will had to stop did the two officers have a chance to notice. Judy decided not to pay attention to them for now, only waving to the kits. She would answer their curiosity and questions once her training was complete. But that didn't stop William from commenting.
"Normally, mammals would steer clear of us. But you being a policemammal has them more curious than cautious."
"I expected much. No need to worry about me. I can handle them."
"If you say so, but I'll still jump in if needed."
"I appreciate that."
After circling the area a couple of times, the officers finally decided to buy lunch. William stopped the vehicle in front of a place called Zootopia Deli. It was the name that stuck out for Judy.
"Zootopia?" Excitement filled her voice.
"That's right. The shop's owner recently moved here from the city. He wants Bunnyburrow to have a taste of food there and has options for predators and prey."
"Wow." Judy couldn't wait to go inside and see the selection.
William and Judy got out and approached the shop. Upon their entrance, Judy was greeted with the sight and aroma of different vegetables and bugs, canned or jerky. She was less repulsed by the latter after seeing predators eat during the truce.
"Hello! Welcome to the Zootopia Deli! How can I help you?"
The voice drew her gaze away from the food and to a smiling grizzly bear standing behind the counter. The predator wore a red shirt and a white apron.
William stepped forward. "Hello, Luke. Just stopping by to grab lunch."
"Good to see you, Will!" The bear's eyes then fell on Judy. "And who's this?"
"Judy Hopps! I'm the newest officer for Bunnyburrow!"
The bear did a bow. "Nice to meet you! And officer? The police are letting does join now?
"Chief Lupus is in desperate need of mammals, and I convinced him to give me a chance. Who knows? Maybe I will inspire other mammals to join."
Luke nodded. "I'm happy to hear that. Things have been stirring in town as of late."
Judy tilted her head, curious at his statement. "What do you mean?"
The grizzly's smile waned slightly. "Nothing serious. Prey leaving as soon as they see that I am a bear. Hecklers banging on my windows. Fortunately, since I'm a bear, they haven't gotten violent yet."
The rabbit's ears wilted. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve that. I promise to protect the mammals of Bunnyburrow. Predator and prey."
Luke's smile returned. "I appreciate the sentiments." He looked over to William. "The usuals?"
The goat nodded.
Curious, Judy looked between the two mammals. "The usual?"
William realized that Judy had never been to the deli before. "I forgot. It's your first time here."
Curiosity turned to challenge. "Well then, let's start now! Surprise me!"
Luke guffawed. "My pleasure! This will only take a few minutes." The bear turned his back to them and began to prepare the lunches.
William glanced down at his partner. "I'll give you a heads up. Luke's surprises never fail, and don't be afraid to give him feedback on our next visit."
Judy leaned in. "Luke's will be better than the stuff I ate in the trenches."
Understanding fell over the goat. "Right. It must be hard to get vegetables out there."
"Only fresh ones, and they were dried most of the time. Even then, I had to give them to other rabbits first since they couldn't always eat the grain and potatoes."
"You must have devoured your family's cooking once you returned."
Judy blushed, and her ears turned red. "I could have been mistaken for a savage at that time."
William returned a laugh.
At that moment, Luke interjected himself into the conversation. "I don't blame you at all. I hope my lunches get that same response!" The bear set four boxes on the counter: one for the wolf, the goat, and the two does.
William approached and pulled out some money. He then motioned his head to Judy. "I'll let you know if we have another predator in our mix." He placed the amount down and picked up the boxes. He passed off the rabbit meals to Judy.
The rabbit accepted. "Thank you."
At that moment, something drew Luke's eyes to the front of his deli, and frustration replaced his cheerful mood.
Judy noticed the change in behavior and wondered what caused it. "What's wrong?"
"Those mammals are here."
Judy turned around to see three rabbits loitering in front of the deli. While the window blurred the finer details, she could still make out most of their appearance. They looked to be in their adolescence and wore shirts and suspenders. Their fur was various shades of brown. She had seen them before while Will drove them around town but didn't think much of them until the reveal.
"Who are they?"
Will sighed heavily, having a resigned appearance. "Frank, Patrick, and Zachary. Brothers. They are from the Lepus family, one more of the wealthy and influential ones in Bunnyburrow. The tallest one is Frank. The one with the tan fur is the middle brother Patrick. The grayish-brown one is the youngest, Zachary."
The family name did sound familiar. "I've heard of them, but I was paying too much attention to my training. How long have they been bothering you?"
Luke snorted. "Since the beginning of the year, and it's not just my shop. They harass any place run by predators or friendly to them."
Hearing that caused Judy to pause. She had been in Bunnyburrow since the beginning of the year and had visited Gideon's Bakery numerous times. Was the fox afraid to tell her because he was embarrassed that rabbits of all species were finally giving him comeuppance? Judy couldn't blame Gideon for feeling that way, but she still blamed herself for not inquiring further. She could have done something sooner rather than sit around at the burrow while doing little work.
Her instinct to assist took over. "Do you need our assistance?"
It was Will who answered. "Forget it, Hopps. I've arrested the rabbits before only for their family to come and bail them out."
Judy looked at the goat in exasperation. "So you do nothing?!"
The goat shook his head. "No, I still scare them off. It's all I can do. I only arrest them when they go too far. Because that would mean dealing with the family, and they give everyone at the station a headache."
Luke stepped out from behind the counter. "As I said before, they know better than to intimidate me, but they still may try to damage my shop."
Their words barely quenched the raging emotions inside Judy, but since the brothers hadn't committed a crime yet, there was very little she could do. Perhaps, as Will said, the presence of the officers and the grizzly bear should be a good enough deterrence.
Judy finally sighed in resignation. "Okay." She looked up at Luke. "It was nice meeting you!"
The grizzly bear's smile returned. "As am I."
Will gave a hoove salute. "See you around, Luke."
The shop owner returned the gesture and remained in his place should the brothers turn their attention to his deli again.
The officers took their leave and walked back to the vehicle. William entered first and opened the door for Judy. The rabbit placed the boxed lunches on the seat and was about to enter when one of her ears went up, causing her to pause.
William noticed her behavior. "Is something wrong?"
Judy turned to the sound and found the Lepus brothers loitering in front of Gideon's bakery. The sight caused her nose to twitch, and her instincts flared. So focused on the brothers, she ignored her partner's questions and walked towards them and the bakery.
The sound of the bell caught the attention of Gideon, who had been in the back of the establishment. The portly fox smiled at the prospect of customers and quickly made himself presentable. Gideon stepped out to find three rabbits looking around at the interior.
"Hello there! Welcome to Gideon's Baked Goods! How can I help y'all?"
The rabbits turned their attention to the fox.
Frank, the oldest of the three, answered. "Are you Gideon?"
The fox nodded. "Yes, sir! I'm the owner of this bakery!"
Frank looked at his brothers before continuing. "Word on the street is that you've been dealing with mammals giving you a hard time."
The cheerful look slowly morphed into that of embarrassment. "Uh…that's right. But what do you expect me to do? Do something and get blamed or do nothing and take the hit. I rather take the hit than let mammals ruin this place."
Frank put on a faux smile. "Well it's your lucky day Gideon! We just happen to be acquaintances of those mammals. They couldn't keep their muzzles shut and spilled the details."
Gideon became curious at the proposition. "And what exactly can you do about them?"
"Pay a protection fee and throw in extra treats."
Gideon was about to question the absurdity of the requirements when a realization hit him. The fox narrowed his eyes and just barely managed to avoid showing teeth. "Was it you who sent them?"
Frank immediately got offended. "How dare you!? My brothers and I are trying to help, and you give us accusations!"
Patrick and Zachary moved in and looked ready to intervene.
While Gideon realized his mistake, he remained defiant. "Even if you didn't, I don't need your protection. I'm not afraid."
In a flash, Gideon found himself face to face with Frank and felt shortness of breath. The fox that the rabbit now stood on the counter and had grabbed his collar. "Maybe I need to make you reconsider?"
Gideon tried to remain defiant as he braced himself for the pain. The bell hanging on the door rang, and a voice roared into the shop.
"Hold it right there!"
Gideon and the rabbits turned their heads to see Judy standing in front of the door as it was closing.
"This doesn't concern you, Miss!" Patrick exclaimed.
Judy stepped forward and brought out her police badge. "Yes, it does."
When the brothers saw the badge, they finally saw the doe in a police uniform.
Patrick remarked on the clothing. "Cute outfit. Did your parents sew that for you?"
Judy narrowed her eyes. "You're going to want to start taking me seriously. Because as of today, I work for the Bunnyburrow Police Department."
Zachary jumped in, hoping to convince her otherwise. "Ma'am, I suggest you leave to play police elsewhere. This is between us and the fox."
As the shock of his friend's appearance wore off, Gideon finally managed to speak. "Judy?"
The doe glanced at Gideon with a smile. "Hi, Gideon." She became serious again when focusing back on the brothers.
Zachary looked between her and Gideon. "You know this fox?"
"Yes, Gideon is a family friend and a business partner."
That information did not go well with the brothers.
Frank's anger intensified. "What did you do to the young lady to make her stick up for you?!"
Judy saved Gideon from having to answer. "Nothing! My family agreed to become business partners of their own volition!"
Patrick dismissed her reason. "You don't have to keep pretending, lady. Whatever this fox is doing to you and your family, we'll put a stop to it."
It was clear to Judy that the Lepus brothers could not be reasoned with. She couldn't leave to grab William because the rabbits could harm Gideon and his store during the interval. So she resorted to her training. Drawing her police baton, the commanding officer mindset took over.
"Stop this instance, or I will arrest you three!"
The booming voice stunned Gideon and the Lepus brothers into silence, turning their gaze to the angry, determined doe. But the shock wore off as Frank finally had enough.
"Pat, Zack, escort the lady out of this dump. I'll deal with the pelt."
The two brothers nodded and approached Judy.
"No problem bro." Patrick said.
"Come along now, Ma'am," Zach said. "No need to see this mess."
With his brothers taking care of Judy, Frank focused back on Gideon. "Now, where were we?"
The fox felt bad for the rabbit, for he knew not what he unleashed. "I wouldn't ignore Judy if I were you."
Frank became exasperated. "What? Are you scared of her? Have mercy; you are one pathetic fox. Still, why not pull a little salt on the wound." He brought down his fist and took pleasure in seeing Gideon wince in a vain attempt to block the punch.
As Frank brought down his fist, something slammed into his side, knocking him off the counter and tumbling onto the floor. He let out an oof before feeling his face pushed against something. The buck finally opened his eyes to find himself pinned to the ground. "What?"
Judy straddled Frank, holding his paws behind his back with one paw while bringing out the pawcuffs with the other. "Frank Lepus, you are under arrest for the crimes of attempted assault, attempted extortion, and…" Before she could continue listing the charges, Judy heard Frank's brothers shouting and looked to see them approaching.
"What are you doing?!"
"Get off of him!"
Judy realized her predicament and had only seconds to react. But a cry from Gideon broke her train of thought.
"You stay away from her!"
Judy watched Gideon leap from the counter and crash into Patrick. They both tumbled and crashed into the wall, where a tussle occurred.
The noise caused Zachary to halt and saw Gideon and Patrick fighting, with the fox pinning the rabbit to the floor. On instinct, Zachary got on all fours and leaped at the two, ready to pull the fox off his brother. At the climax, Zachary suddenly felt his scruff being grabbed and was pulled back.
Zachary kicked and flailed his arms. "Hey! Put me down!"
"Okay, you're uglier than a spoiled pumpkin, and your breath smells even worse. How's that for a put-down?"
Zachary squeaked when he came face to face with a glaring goat in a police uniform.
Judy never felt so happy to see her partner had arrived. "Will!"
"Are you alright, Hopps?"
Judy pointed to where her friend and the last brother were tussling. "I'm fine. Go help Gideon."
The goat followed her finger to see Gideon having subdued Patrick. Upon hearing his name, the fox turned his head and saw the goat holding Zachary. He smiled. "Hello, Officer. Do mind giving me a paw here?"
William nodded and first took care of cuffing Zachary before going over and cuffing Patrick also. Judy had managed to cuff Frank before he recovered from the fall.
A relieved Gideon stood up and brushed his apron and clothes. "Thank you. I don't know what would have happened had you not come."
Judy smiled. "That's what we do at the BBPD, and thank you for jumping in."
Gideon shyly rubbed the back of his head. "I only wanted to protect a friend."
William now held the cuffed Patrick and Zachary by their scruffs. "We appreciate the assistance."
Zachary tried to break free of William's hold, but the latter kept a tight grip. "You can't do this! Do you know who we are!?"
The phrase had no effect on the goat, given that he had heard the sentence many times before. "Yes, but you and your brothers were caught in the act of breaking the law." A hint of a smile appeared on his face. "Your family name can't keep you out from being taken in."
Patrick growled. "Pred lover! Why are you protecting this pelt!" He turned his anger towards Judy. "Especially you! The fox is our natural enemy!"
Judy's face remained stoic. "Tolerance of your actions does not mean immunity from the law."
Despite his behavior earlier, Frank ironically had the wherewithal to not cause more trouble for himself. "Hopps, was it?" He didn't wait for Judy to respond. "Don't think arresting my brothers and I will change anything. It might take longer to get out, but we'll get out. Then we will be back here again, and there is nothing you can do about it."
Judy only narrowed her eyes. "We'll see about that. Move."
The oldest brother complied. Gideon went to open the door for William and Judy, and the officers transported the brothers into the vehicle. Patrick and Zachary would have continued ranting, but a glare from Frank shut them up. Relishing the moment, William tossed all three brothers into the back seat.
As he and Judy were about to get in, Gideon came running out of the store. "Judy, William, wait up!"
The officers turned to see the portly fox running up to them with a bag.
The goat wondered what Gideon wanted. "What is it?"
The fox raised the bag towards them. "I want to thank you and the department with this pie. My treat."
Once again, Gideon's gesture touched Judy. "Are you sure? At least let us tip you."
"Up to you," He raised a finger. "But I won't let you give more than the pie."
William chuckled and reached into his pocket. "Fair enough." He gave Gideon a banknote while Judy accepted the pie.
"Thank you, and sorry about your shop."
The fox waved a dismissive paw. "The scuffle didn't cause too much damage. Nothing I can't fix during my break. Go on now. Don't let me keep you."
The officers nodded and entered the police vehicle. Just before William started the engine, Gideon and Frank caught each other's eyes.
The rabbit felt the need to get the last word in. "You watch yourself now, Fox!"
Gideon's face became hardened, but he said nothing.
But Judy did. "Quiet!"
Thankfully, the brothers complied. Judy and William were in a foul mood on the drive back, having their lunch interrupted by the rabbit trio. The sweet smell of Gideon's pie did raise the spirits of the officers. Judy's nose determined the aroma to be blueberries. From her family's farm no less.
A small smile appeared on her face at the thought of seeing Nick's reaction to Gideon's pie and ravaging it like a kit. The mention of the two foxes together also caused Judy to touch the scars on her left cheek. If she and Nick were to meet again in Bunnyburrow and encounter Gideon, Nick would quickly put together the pieces, and problems would arise. Judy shook her head from those negative thoughts. That time would come.
Before long, the police vehicle arrived at the station. Judy and William focused on booking the brothers first, the rabbit bringing in Frank, and the goat bringing in Patrick and Zachary.
Dorothy was quietly reading a book as she sat at the front desk. She glanced at the clock to her side and noted the time. Judy and William should be back soon from their patrol and lunch trip. Dorothy paused her reading to reflect on Judy joining the police department. She had to admit that when she first saw Judy, she wondered if Chief Lupus would move her to another position or have Judy be a personal assistant. A police officer was the last thing the doe had expected.
The thought of going out and riding around town piqued her interest. But getting involved with stopping crime or settling disputes between mammals discouraged her. It wasn't that she couldn't do it. Dorothy knew of the number of times she intervened with her family. She wanted to get away from mammals for the time being. The receptionist job was part of the reason for wanting to get out of the burrow. Still, if things worked out for Judy, maybe she could give being a police officer a chance.
Her ears went up from hearing the front doors open. She marked the page in her book and set it down before putting on a smile. Assuming it was Judy and William returning, Dorothy was about to greet them when she saw who they were bringing in, and her smile evaporated.
"Oh for heaven's sake! Not you three again!" Her reaction cemented in Judy's mind the brothers' history with the BBPD. When she had the time, Judy would inquire Lupus of their past.
Patrick turned his sight on Dorothy and smiled. "Hey, Sugar. A pleasure to meet you again."
The doe ignored the attempt at flattery and turned her pleading gaze to the officers. "What did they do this time?"
Judy approached the desk with Frank. "Attempted assault, attempted extortion, and intent to cause damages to Gideon Grey and his bakery."
It was the boldness of their actions that surprised Dorothy. "Okay then." The doe picked up the telephone headset and dialed Lupus. She only waited a few seconds before the wolf answered. "Chief, the Lepus brothers have been arrested again." One could almost hear an audible groan coming from the other end. "I understand, Chief." Dorothy hung up the phone and turned to the mammals before her.
"Will, can you show Judy how to process mammals?"
The goat nodded. "I'll take care of it."
Dorothy left her desk and disappeared momentarily into a hallway before returning with a set of keys. She tossed them to the goat, who caught it in his free hoof.
"Thank you." He tossed the keys to the police vehicle to her and then motioned his head toward the door. "Food is in the vehicle. Help yourself out."
Dorothy smiled and wasted no time getting her lunch.
Judy and William took the Lepus brothers to the cells, where they were greeted with mockery by Arlen and Travis but silence from Canis. There, the officers split the brothers up. William took care of Frank first before assisting Judy with Patrick and Zachary. All the while, the officers ignored the threats and insults hurled their way by the brothers. The less attention they paid them, the quicker they could get back to their office and eat.
When the officers returned to the front desk, the lunches sat on the tabletop. Gideon's pie box sat open next to some plates which they assumed were provided by the fox. Judy and William thanked Dorothy for bringing the food and collected their lunch and a piece of the pie before heading to their offices.
Judy set her box on the table and sat down on the chair. She was excited to see what Luke packed for her. Upon opening the box, a huge smile appeared on her face. Inside was an apple, a few celery sticks, a small bundle of hay, and pea pods. She reached for the hay first and took a bite.
The meal felt filling and washed away most of the festering turmoil from the incident at Gideon's. She brought out her canteen full of water and took a large swig. It may not have been a Hopps meal, but it was a good meal nonetheless.
Judy wiped her mouth after finishing her lunch. She took one drink of water before turning to the arrest reports. After filling them out, she brought them to Chief Lupus for review and filing.
The rabbit knocked on the door to the wolf's office. "Come in!"
Judy entered and closed the door behind her. "Hello, Sir. Just here to give you the arrest reports."
"Thank you," He accepted the documents. "So I bet you never imagined having to arrest someone on the first day."
"I did keep that possibility open. Does this thing with the Lepus brothers happen every day?"
"Only recently. I think we both know why."
Judy silently nodded.
Lupus let out a deep sigh. "Everyone else at the station does too. The best we can do is crack down harder on their behavior. If we can discourage them, we might not change their minds, but at least we can keep their behavior out of the public eye."
"I understand. Anything else you need from me?"
The wolf shook his head. "That will be all. Good work, Hopps."
"Thank you, Chief."
Judy headed back to her office. When nearing her door, her ears picked up yelling coming from the front lobby. Curiosity got the better of her, and Judy changed directions, worried that something might be wrong with Dorothy.
As she got closer, Judy quickly determined that it was not Dorothy's cries she was hearing. Arriving at the lobby, the officer saw a modestly dressed brown male rabbit yelling at a stoic-face Dorothy.
"My boys should never have been brought in here in the first place! They did nothing wrong! The pelt was the one who started it" He then waved a piece of paper in his paw. "I've paid their bail, so I demand you release them immediately!"
"Mr. Lepus, I understand that you followed procedure. But only an officer or the police chief is allowed to open the cells. And I cannot leave you here unattended."
"Well then get one! Call them! Do something!"
"Sir, I've been trying to do that, but you insist I listen to you first. As for the incident, two officers witnessed your oldest attempting to strike Mr. Grey."
Finally getting the chance to even move in her chair, Dorothy reached for the desk phone when she caught Judy standing at the entrance to the hall. Grateful for her savior, Dorothy put on a smile, faced the father of the Lepus brothers, and pointed to Judy. "Officer Hopps! Glad of you to come!"
The gray rabbit took the cue and approached the front desk. "Thank you, Dorothy." She faced the father and stretched her paw out. "Officer Hopps! I'll be more than happy to release your sons."
Mr. Lepus' face had been one of confusion when first seeing Judy before morphing into anger again. "Is this a joke!? What kind of police are you running here?! I know very well that there are no does as police officers!"
Judy calmly put on a smile and showed her badge for the second time today. "Sir, I can assure you that I am a fully qualified police officer. The station is short on mammals, so I volunteered to help out."
"You are not a police officer!" He turned her rage back to Dorothy. "I demand a real police officer!"
Dorothy remained unfazed. "Mr. Lepus, she is a real police officer by the authority of Chief Lupus. Now we can stand here and argue all day about Officer Hopps, or she can release your sons back to you. It is your choice."
Her words were enough to make the father pause. Dorothy and Judy could still see that Mr. Lepus was fuming and having an internal debate. Eventually, common sense won out.
"Very well. Go get my sons, Office Hopps."
"Thank you."
Dorothy tossed Judy the keys, and the officer headed for the cells. Mr. Lepus still had a look of disdain on his face the entire time.
In the cell wing, Arlen and Travis heard footsteps approaching. The two poked their heads out and saw Judy walking to the Lepus brothers' cells.
Arlen was the first to remark. "Father come and break you out again?"
Patrick eagerly obliged the horse's comment. "You wish you had a father like ours!"
Travis rolled his eyes. "Give it a rest, Horse Mouth. You'll be getting out soon as well."
Zachary pointed in the direction of the ferret's cell. "Unlike you, Bandit!"
Meanwhile, Canis quietly watched the exchange from his cell.
Judy put an end to the shouting match before Mr. Lepus decides to come and release his sons himself. "That's enough!"
Thankfully, the mammals did take Judy seriously as an officer. The Lepus brothers remained silent as she released them. As a precaution, Judy held one arm from Patrick and Zachary should Frank get any ideas. The oldest brother started walking with Judy and the younger brothers following behind.
The four rabbits arrived at the front lobby in short order. Mr. Lepus stood with his arms crossed, still having a look of disdain. Dorothy was reading a book, trying to find any reason not to make eye contact with the father. The two heard footsteps coming from the west hall and turned to see Judy and the brothers approaching.
Mr. Lepus raised his arms in the air. "Finally! Took you long enough."
"I apologize, Sir." She released Patrick and Zachary, and they and Frank joined their father.
But before the family took their leave, Mr. Lepus had a nagging question for Judy. "Were you one of the officers involved in the incident?"
"Yes, Sir. Your son Frank was attempting to extort from Mr. Grey. When Mr. Grey refused, your son then threatened him with assault. I only intervened when he went to throw a punch."
Her answer set him off once more. "Impossible! Why would you want to protect a fox?! They're shifty and trustworthy! Our natural enemy too! You are a traitor and disgrace to the rabbit species!"
"Mr. Lepus, my duty is to protect the mammals of Bunnyburrow. That includes predator and prey."
The father was about to unleash more fury on Judy when the voice of Chief Lupus halted his attempt.
"Mr. Lepus, I suggest that you consider your next actions very carefully. Because it could lead to you being in a cell and your wife having to come bail you out."
The rabbits turned to see the wolf and William standing in front of the east hallway entrance. The father turned back to Dorothy and Judy, who were glaring at him and his sons. The family could see that the police mammals were daring them to give a reason.
Miraculously, common sense won out again. "Let's go home, boys."
The family headed out the door with Lupus, William, Dorothy, and Judy following behind as a precaution. The latter group stood in front of the entrance and watched the family enter their vehicle.
Just as with Frank earlier, Mr. Lepus chose to get the last word in. "All the predators deserve to die! Men! Women! Young! Old! All of them!" The car backfired and kicked up dirt as it rode off.
The phrase and noise caused Judy to freeze. Memories of her eavesdropping on a chaplain service flooded back. Which brought back images she conjured of prey soldiers cutting down predators soldiers who no longer posed any threat. That also led to a repeated horrific image of a red fox falling lifelessly to the ground.
Hearing William's voice and feeling him shake her brought the rabbit back. "Judy? Are you alright?"
The doe shook her head and controlled her breathing. "Yes, I'm okay."
But inside, she continued to wrestle with the memories of the nightmares that were surfacing again.
Lupus could still see the harmful effects of Mr. Lepus' words. "Don't let him bother you. He and his wife say that about anyone who even says hello to a predator."
Judy turned back to the front doors. "I'll be heading back to my office if you need me." The rabbit disappeared into the building.
A worried Dorothy looked up at Lupus and William. "Should we do something?"
Lupus stood staring at the open doorway, sharing the concerns from his fellow mammals. In the end, the wolf just shook his head. "Give her some space. We'll check in on her in a little bit."
Judy burst into her office and nearly slammed the door shut. Eyes wide and breathing heavily. Her hat fell off her head and onto the ground in the process, but she barely noticed it. The rabbit leaned back against the door and tried to grip it as best she could with her paws. All the while, the emotions ran high.
Nick is alive. Nick is alive. Nick is alive.
Judy kept repeating those words as her breathing finally slowed down, and her eyes returned to normal. She closed her eyes, grabbed her head, and sagged slightly against the door. The horrific images continued to play in her head.
It was only the car. It was only the car.
The emotions finally started to come under control. When Judy opened her eyes, she saw the empty office space and not trenches full of mammals, dead or alive. Judy also realized that she had sagged all the way to the flooring and was now sitting.
Why now?! This is supposed to be one of my happiest days!
It was only the thought of her fellow mammals coming to check on her that Judy made an effort to stand and recover her hat. The slow walk from the door to the chair felt like an eternity. It was only when the rabbit sat down did she feel her nose blocked. Paws then went up to her eyes, where she felt the tears slowly escaping.
In that moment, Judy wished she had Nick's neckerchief to wipe her nose and tears. While she had to settle for her paws, the thought of Nick brought her small comfort. She looked forward to climbing into her bed and hugging the fox plush.
The rest of the day passed with little activity. At different points of the day, Lupus, William, and Dorothy checked in on Judy. Each time the grey rabbit assured them that she was okay, and each time the mammals reminded her that she had their support. That brought more comfort to Judy.
Nestor and Felix arrived with the bed truck to take their sister home. Immediately, the brothers asked Judy about her first day when she jumped into the passenger seat.
"So, sis," Nestor asked. "How was your first day as a police officer?"
Judy smiled and looked between Nestor and Felix. "It was amazing! The mammals at the station welcomed me with open arms and have been helpful. I even got to arrest some mammals also!"
Felix poked his muzzle through the back opening of the truck. "Is that so? Care to tell us who?"
"The Lepus brothers."
The truck became silent in an instant. As with Luke and William, Judy saw the excitement from her brothers morphed into dread. She became exasperated. "Am I the only one alive who apparently is not aware of the Lepus brothers?"
"Yes," Both brothers answered simultaneously.
Nestor answered before her sister could object. "In fairness, you were spending most of your time either training in the fields or reading in the library."
Judy's rebuttal died, and she resorted to huffing and crossing her arms.
Felix continued with questions. "What did they do? The boys normally get off scot-free."
Their sister's face softened. "They threatened Gideon with breaking his shop, and Frank almost punched him when he refused. I quickly jumped in to stop them." She saw the surprised looks on her brothers' faces and continued before they could respond. "Relax. I had help from Gideon and another police officer. Took them to the station and threw them into the cells."
Nestor decided to finish Judy's train of thought. "But they got out soon after."
She nodded. "Their father paid their bail, and we had to release them. He and his sons did not take too kindly to me protecting Gideon and arresting the sons. I can understand Gideon, but they act as if getting arrested will destroy the world."
"Besides the fact that the Lepus family hates predators," Felix said. "Few in Bunnyburrow stand up to them. The Lepus family owns one of the major railroads running through the area, so you can imagine how easily they can ruin someone who relies on trains for their goods and supplies in Bunnyburrow."
The information only hardened Judy's resolve. "That does not mean they can abuse the law. If there are mammals not afraid of the Lepus family, I will be one of them. Someone has to hold them accountable for their actions."
Nestor and Felix glanced at each other nervously, knowing there was very little they could do once Judy went into that mindset.
Nestor let out a deep sigh. "Just be careful and smart with this. There is a reason the Lepus family is wealthy and influential."
With his brother voicing their concerns, Felix chose to be more positive. "Regardless, Nestor and I are proud of you. We think you will make a fine police officer."
Judy smiled from her brothers' support, and the conversation devolved into random topics for the remainder of the drive. Upon arriving home, her parents and the siblings who took interest also asked about her first day. She repeated what she had told her brothers, and upon hearing of the Lepus family, the older ones voiced their concerns also. Again, Judy promised to be cautious. Of course, she neglected to tell them of her near breakdown. The last thing Judy needed was her parents and family members telling her to quit. The rest of the evening passed on mindlessly.
Night had fallen, and in her room, the rabbit mindlessly changed into her nightgown and placed her police uniform and hat on the table. Physically and mentally exhausted, she crawled onto the bed and under the blankets. Judy then reached for the fox plush before blowing out the candle. Snuggling the plush brought her small relief and hope. She wonders what Nick is up to and tries not to dwell on the possibility that he did not survive the war.
His words of advice rang through her mind. Never let them see that they get to you.
"I won't Nick. For your sake, I won't."
Much thanks to the folks at ZAA for their feedback and suggestions.