JKnight97: Greetings to all that have been following our story! Our sincerest apologies to all our readers as both NightWolf0179 and I have been super caught up with RL. Although we promised you some fluff in this chapter (okay, I promised you so stop throwing things...sheesh), the plot development meant that this would have to take a backseat for now. Rest assured, this story has not been forgotten. It's just going to be a long time in between chapters especially since my good friend has recently been accepted into the college of his choice and I'm in the final stretches of my online course for Creative Writing.
School has finally ended for him. I've kinda settled into my new place (more or less; I still have more boxes to unpack). Which means we're going to try to sneak in a few more chapters before he goes off to university.
That said, I hope you will enjoy this third installment and as always, we appreciate your honest feedback.
NightWolf0179: Okay, so, I'm sure you are all tired of excuses, so… I'm going to be quick. XD
Life likes to throw curve balls and changes up everything. Went to New York, got accepted into college, started hating myself for taking AP Literature and College Algebra… you get it. (Man, I miss elementary school. So easy. Anyone else? XD) I truly am sorry, and I understand that I say it a lot. I keep expecting life to… not wreck my plans. But then it does and I have no control over it. XD
I truly feel guilty over promising quick updates only to leave you all hanging for so long.
That being said, I love this story and those of you who are following it. It's terrifying to have your work be put up for all to see, but for some reason, you all seem to like what JKnight97 and I have done here. And that is why I'm making this story my number one priority over the summer (Okay, number two priority. College dictates my future after all, so I need it to take the number one spot. XD). I can probably get an hour of writing done each day or every couple of days, so I'll aim for that. Now… I've learned my lesson, I can't promise anything. Life hates plans, it seems. But I'll do my best. We'll do our best. And for sticking around, I promise the next chapters will be worth the wait. Fluff? Angst? Tragedy? You will see! The anticipation!
And feel free to review. Feedback greatly helps us. You can even complain about the wait times between chapters. I understand. XD
Alright! Enjoy!
The events of that night never lost them. Anytime their minds began to yet again focus on what had transpired, both swore they could feel an iron grip squeezing their lungs, almost suffocating them in otherwise clean air. Their ears would then begin to ring with the bang of that single gunshot.
For Nick, the worst came in the form of nightmares. Each night, Nick was transported back to that one moment in time. Nothing would change. The dream was identical to the real thing. The blood was sickeningly-fresh, pooling the dirt into a warmly-crimson mud. The tiny lights reflecting off the dead-eyes glowed with an intensity of an individual that hadn't died nights prior; their death being renewed again and again. The crumpling of a body rumbled the ghostly, dreamy earth as if it were the real thing. It seemed all too real. Each time Nick's body succumbed to fatigue, he'd relive the moment yet again. He never merely watched it. He suffered through it as if it was in the present.
In his waking hours, Nick didn't show the pain he was feeling. Only the bags under his eyes implied at the torrent of emotions running through him. Besides that, he was his normal self.
Finnick didn't change. He remained the angry little mammal that Nick had come to know after all these years. He wondered if Finnick was always like that.
The two of them took more precautions as they made their way to the border of Deerbrooke. They knew they had to cross through Bunnyburrow and Podunk before they reached a safe haven. They continued to travel through the forest at night and slept high up in the trees in the mornings to avoid bumping into the Predator Patrol.
Ever since the incident at the farm, they dared not go near any civilized dwelling. However, from time to time, they longed for a decent hot cooked meal. Sneaking into any of the prey-owned farms was avoided at all costs as they did not want to alert the PP about their presence. Suffice to say, their nerves were frayed and on edge two weeks after they had escaped from the plantation.
"Cripes, Nick! Berries again! I'm craving for a hot bugburger sandwich right now along with a cold bottle of beer!' snapped Finnick as he lost his temper for the third day in a row.
"Bugburger? Cold beer? When did you get a chance to taste those? Have you been holding out on me, Fin?"
"Nuddin' like that," muttered the fennec. "Just...remembered when I was younger...my parents were alive...we were at an amusement park and my dad treated me to one. He even let me have some of his beer. I was in heaven," he wistfully sighed, mouth watering at the memory. "It was one of the few good times we had as a family."
Nick sympathized with his friend's outburst, placing a paw on the fennec's shoulder. "If we tried to sneak food out of some farmhouse, you know they're going to report the break-in and that will alert the slave-catchers to our presence here. Besides, you think I like eating vegan all the time?"
Finnick irritably shrugged off his paw. "We could sneak into some town and get some grub there. Nobody'll notice a few missing cans from the grocery shelves!" hissed the fennec.
His angry retort choked off mid-growl, Nick suddenly smelled an unknown mammal's scent coming their way. They had been traveling on a well-marked forest path which had made Nick nervous using it, but it did allow them to travel much faster than trying to blaze a new one through the thick undergrowth. The sun had already set, and he did not expect any prey to be out so late as they were not equipped to see at night. He quickly signalled Finnick to climb the nearest tree as he did the same.
From their perch, they spied an otter dressed in bib overalls and a turtleneck shirt carrying a fishing rod over his shoulder with several trout hanging from it. The sight of the freshly caught fish made both foxes' mouths water. Nick was contemplating on ambushing the smaller mammal in order to gain the delectable treat as desperate times called for desperate measures. He was, however, surprised when the otter stopped at the base of the tree and looked up. They made sure to hide behind all the leaves and branches they could.
"So, you must be the two escaped foxes we've heard on the news, eh? Pleasure to meet you. My names Emmitt Otterton, but you can just call me Emmitt." Smiling softly, the otter continued, "Follow me, I've got a house further along the path."
The tree-bound foxes gripped the tree even more tightly. "Follow you?" Nick growled. "Oh, sure! I'll also just go ahead and put some cuffs on while we're at it!"
"Nick, Finnick," Emmitt said. Upon hearing their name, the foxes' fur began to stand on end, their hackles rising. "I'm a predator, same as you. And here in Bunnyburrow, I can help you. I'm alone, I've got no surprises for you, I even have a nice, comfy home just up the river." He then took a step back, giving the foxes some space. "Please. I'm on your side."
"Yeah? And what happens after? We're executed while you're rewarded?"
"No. You'll get to eat the fish you see me carrying, and you'll get a nice, warm bed to sleep in. Free of charge and no tricks." Waiting for a response, Emmitt set down his things and tried to catch the eyes of Nick in between the swaying leaves. Noticing that they began to whisper amongst each other, he spoke up again, softly. "Look, I understand. In prey-controlled land, there are not many folks you can trust. So many would rather see you dead in a ditch than out walking free. I get it. And nothing I will say will be enough to earn your trust. But what if…" reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a large hunting knife and left it at the base of the tree, "I gave you something you could use against me, should I get ideas?" The otter then pulled the rest of his pockets, showing he had nothing of use in them. "Whaddya say?"
Quickly clambering down, Finnick snatched up the knife, the blade glinting in the dying light. "I'd say you're an idiot, and that I owe ya, if you're being real here." The otter merely grinned as he waited for the taller of the two to climb down.
As the trio walked single-file along the path, the foxes kept the otter in-between them. Finnick remained in the back, using a leafy branch tied to his tail to brush away the prints they were making in the dirt as they walked. He also kept the knife to his side, ready to use it should the need arise. Nick tried to appear casual and distracted as he led the way, following the otter's directions.
As the otter's cottage came into view, he moved to the front of the line. "Welcome to the Otterton family hotel! It's forty dollars a night, bedding and breakfast included."
Feeling a little less uneasy, Nick joked, "Emmitt, at this point, I'd just tell you that I'll pay in the morning and then high-tail it before you wake up."
The otter grunted in an amused manner and ushered them towards the door. "Then be glad this isn't a hotel."
Upon entering the house from the rear, Emmitt called out: "Olivia, I'm home! And we have two guests with us. Please set the table for them."
"Alright, dear. Any luck at the river?" a female voice called back.
"Caught a couple of beauties for dinner. I'll go clean them and bring them into the kitchen."
Emmitt indicated with his head for the two to follow him to the adjacent room next to the rear entrance. It was a small dimly lit room with a sink and a wooden cutting board. He hung his coat up on a hook near the entrance and rolled up his sleeves. He began to fillet the fish, expertly removing most of the bones and innards and scraping off most of the scales. Once he was done, he washed the fish, dried them on some paper towels and seasoned them with salt and pepper.
The two foxes were practically drooling at the sight and smell of fresh fish. Nick was tempted to eat one raw, but he had no idea if he would have been able to even keep it down. Besides, he didn't want to impose on their host, who didn't seem afraid of having them around.
When he was done, the otter indicated with his head to follow him into the house as he carried the plate of fish. He whistled a little tune as he entered the kitchen, one that Nick didn't recognize. He thought it odd since he had an eidetic memory when it came to songs.
"Here are the fish, Liv," Emmitt said to the female otter who was wearing a white blouse with a high collar at the stove, "all seasoned and ready for you to cook into a delicious meal. And by the way, let me introduce you to Nick and Finnick."
"Ma'am, it's pleasure to meet you." Nick bowed at the waist courteously.
"'Sup?" said Finnick, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his pants.
"Boys, this is my wife, Olivia, the light of my life and the mistress of the house. What she says, goes, right Liv?" smirked the otter as he hooked his arm around her waist.
"Well, I say that you three go wash up and get out of my fur while I finish cooking dinner," she smiled as she swatted away his paw as it attempted to reach for her rear. "Nice to meet you, boys. Emmitt, see if you can break out some of your special hooch for our guests. I'm guessing they must be pretty thirsty." Upon saying that, she noticed her husband's knife in the smaller of the foxes' paw, though she wasn't surprised or even bothered.
"Right this way, fellas," beckoned Emmitt, as he headed for another part of the house. "Gotta keep it hidden from the revenuers. We need some fun once in a while in this drab existence of ours, don't ya think?"
The two foxes hummed in agreement, but otherwise remained silent, unsure of what to make of this mild-mannered mammal who unhesitatingly had opened his house to two fugitives from the law. They were certainly risking their lives for two strangers.
Turning around for a moment, Emmitt had to ask, "You boys ever drink anything with alcohol before?"
"Anytime I could swipe it from those bunnies!" Finnick smirked, still keeping a strong grip on the knife in his paw. Gesturing to Nick, he continued, "Lanky-ass here has never touched the stuff before."
"Ah, yes, because I totally wanted to get caught with alcohol breath."
"Heh, well, I'll start you off with something easy." Emmitt said, moving towards a cabinet.
Nick was about to retort, but let it slide. Finnick noticed and grinned smugly before going after the otter.
"Now… this may be none of my business, but how did you foxes make it out?" as he opened several cupboards, looking for the right bottle for the occasion.
"Why do you ask?"
"No one has ever escaped this far from Zootopia. Especially from the Robinsons."
The two foxes looked at each other for a moment. Breathing out, Nick spoke. "It all hinged on how many Robinsons there are. They're rabbits. They can't keep track of all their kits, no matter how hard they try. It gave us opportunities we otherwise wouldn't have had. Though, we're not the only ones to have escaped from slavery before."
"Ah..." the otter responded, before shaking his head. Grabbing two separate jugs and closing the cupboards, he made his way back to the kitchen. "Excuse my askin'. Just…" he said, before ending the sentence sighing. Upon entering the kitchen, Emmitt immediately perked back up - something that did not go unnoticed by the foxes - and strode over to his wife's side. "I got 'em something nice to drink, though Nicky there has never touched alcohol before, so I'm giving him the weaker stuff."
"Oh, dear," she giggled, "we'll work you up the ladder. The stronger the better, we say."
Nick, unamused, leaned against a doorframe. "Sure."
"Aw, we're only messin' with ya," Olivia said.
Finnick poked him in his side and then took a seat. Trying to keep polite, Nick asked, "Mind if I sit down?"
"Of course, dear! Make yourselves at home! It might as well be, for the time being."
"You two… you're very generous, very kind," he commented, pulling a chair out and sitting back. While they were all predators, the chance of being stabbed in the back was still all too real.
"You're both mammals. It'd be wrong of us to not extend a paw to help."
"Speaking of help… When will the food be done?" Finnick asked, causing Nick to groan loudly while the otters laughed.
"Soon, dear." Olivia said, already liking them both. "I think you'll love it."
"Gotta be better than berries every day."
"Especially since I won't have to hear you complain, Fin. Though, you just did." Nick joked, earning himself a rude gesture from his companion as well as another round of laughter. "Okay, yeah, the fish will be a nice change of pace. Want any help with it?"
"After all you two have been through, I want you to be as comfortable as possible."
"Careful, boys, she's becoming 'motherly.'" He got a swat from his wife.
"Emmitt, why don't you go clean the toilet after we eat?" She had a devilish look upon her features.
"Careful, Emmitt, she's becoming 'dominant,'" Nick shot back, grinning smugly.
After dinner, the three males retired to Emmitt's library where he built a small fire to ward off the cold of the night. Finnick had relaxed enough to place the knife beside him as he cradled his drink in both paws. As the room began to heat up, Emmitt removed his sweater revealing that he was wearing a yellow shock collar, much to Nick's consternation.
"I thought you were from Deerbrooke," the tod asked suspiciously as he took a seat beside Finnick. "Why are you wearing a collar, then?"
The older mammal stoically smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "It's the requirement of the Zootopian government. Any predator wanting to do business in Zootopia must wear a collar. Thankfully, this isn't as nasty as the ones you boys must have been wearing in prison," absentmindedly fingering the collar. "I've gotten used to it by now, but I do find it gets in the way of me and the missus' love life," he chortled. "Can't have any spontaneity any more with these babies. We just have to wait until we go back home for our vacation."
"Why leave home? This country is no place for predators."
"I can explain all that, but for now," raising his glass to the other two, "Cheers! May good fortune smile upon you the rest of your journey to freedom!" As they drank, the two foxes couldn't help but wonder why he avoided the topic.
"You know, we can remove that collar off of ya," Nick offered, wiping the tears from his eyes after taking his first sip of the rather potent drink. He couldn't tell if he truly was warming up to the otter or if it was his drink, but he decided to go with the flow.
"What? No, no, I'd be caught by the Predator Patrol at the first security checkpoint on the ride back home."
"Yeah, I get that. You've got a good thing going on here."
"Hmph. How fucked are we?"
"Fin! Seriously!"
"Nick, you know the best way to win a game of cards is to know your opponent's hand, screw 'fairness'," Finnick said, putting up air quotes.
Nick groaned. "There are better ways of asking our host our chances of getting out of here alive."
"On a scale of one to ten… I'd say a solid eleven," the otter spoke up with a slight grin. "With my help, anyway. I can get you past the first several hurdles. The rest, though, will be up to you and fate." Emmitt grabbed a metal poker and began to push at the embers in the fireplace, his voice becoming softer. "Like you said, I have a good thing going on here. I have kits back home, kits that need a father. I can only risk so much. I'll help as much as I can, guide you along the best paths, but that's unfortunately it."
"We never asked you to do this," Nick pointed out. "You could've turned us in and be done with us. I'm still surprised you haven't."
Making his way to the two foxes, he placed his paws on their arms. "You're kits too, and I know you were guided my way by something. Parents never truly stop looking after their young, no matter what happens to 'em." The two foxes let that comment sink in, their breaths becoming less relaxed. Emmitt moved to his own seat across the room. "Plus, once you've become a parent, you'll always feel fatherly to other young-uns.
"Now, about your journey to Deerbrooke… that won't be an easy task. I'm not even sure where to begin."
"Got any maps of the area?"
"I suppose I could try to get my paws on a few for y'all. I'll mark areas to avoid, show ya what paths would do best."
"That'd help us greatly, Emmitt, thank you. In the meantime, what would you like for Fin and I to do? We'd like to repay your kindness somehow."
"We? Bub, speak for yo'self," Finnick scoffed. "He ain't been on the run for I don't even know how long. At least let me rest my paws for the night. Blisters are not easy to run on, and you know we'll probably get chased again by PP."
"Always the pessimist."
Their host was having some issues containing his grin at their little banter. "We'll let you rest up for the night. Come mornin', I'm sure my mate can cook up something for you two to do."
"And eat?" Nick shook his head at his friend. His appetite was sure to kill him one day.
"Of course!" he chuckled. "Now, wait there, I'll grab y'all something to sleep on."
"Emmitt," Nick called, stopping Emmitt from leaving the room. "How do we know you're not heading out to get the Predator Patrol?"
Sighing, but nodding in understanding, the otter thought of something. "I'll give you your bedding and you can sleep wherever you want, be it in the house, the woods, or several miles away. We won't follow."
"But that still doesn't stop you from searching for us later with the PP." Rubbing his forehead with his paw in annoyance, Nick groaned, "But it's the most you can reasonably do for us, I realize. And you seem trustworthy. I mean, Fin here hasn't threatened to bite your face off yet," Finnick angrily bared his teeth at the red fox, watching as Nick found humor in his anger, "...sooo I'm going to trust you, but only a little. We'll be back sometime after the sun rises. And we may even be willing to do a few jobs for you." Smashing his paw into his face, Finnick groaned at Nick's need to continuously offer assistance. He just wanted a break from doing... well, anything.
Cloaked in darkness, the two foxes left the Otterton home, a few snacks in paw given to them by Olivia and some bedding from Emmitt.
"I do hope they come back like they said." Emmitt withdrew from the window, collapsing onto the bed.
"Honey," Olivia sighed, "they've been through a lot. I'm surprised they even stepped in here to begin with."
"Wasn't easy. Had to offer 'em my knife. They still have it."
"I saw. That fennec had quite the grip on it."
Nodding, Emmitt reached for Olivia, pulling her to bed with him. He smiled as she curled up to him, her nose just under his collar. "This world is sick. I can't imagine what it was like for them. I'd have keeled over by now, but they're just trucking through everything. They've got fire."
Letting her eyes close, Olivia relaxed even further. "You're worried about them."
"Aren't you?"
"Of course," she replied. "Em... is it wrong of me to wish I never met them?"
Peering at his love, Emmitt was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"It's far easier to witness the death of those you don't know than to witness of the death of those you've met."
"You just had to offer, din'cha?" Finnick grumbled as he sat down next to Nick. The two foxes found themselves outside in the forest, beside a lake with fishing rods in paw. They had been there for a couple hours hidden amongst some bushes under a couple of trees, away from the heat. They were well away from prying eyes and the heat there was not quite as bad; although, they had yet to catch even a single fish.
"C'mon, this is better than walking until our paws fall off." Nick reeled in his line and checked the hook for the bait he had added to it - the bait that was, for the tenth time now, mysteriously gone. "I swear, these fish are ninjas."
"Or you're just bad."
"Oh! So, you've caught a fish?" eyeing the fishing rod Finnick had left, propped up on some stones. "If you lose that rod, how will you make it up to Emmitt?"
"I'll give him your sorry butt fur as a rug. Seriously, not a thing but moss," he grumbled again, not liking the smirk Nick was making. "How does anyone like this? Fishing. Wouldn't it just be better to jump in and grab one ourselves?"
Nick cast out his line again after adding yet another worm. This time he aimed for the middle of the lake. "You're welcome to try, but remember, you're not a fish. Good luck catching the suckers." Swiveling to look at his friend again, he was surprised to find him taking his shirt off. "You're joking, right?"
"We escaped from slavery, these things don't stand a chance." And with that, he began wading through the water.
"Can I call you impulsive from now on? Because you are."
"Kiss my furry ass." Swiping at some movement that caught his eye, Finnick growled when his claws came up empty. "Ninjas, eh?"
"Seemingly so."
"We're predators." He swiped again and missed again. "These are...just fish." Another miss. "They...may...be...fast...but...I'm...faster." Yet another miss, this time accompanied by a splash and a few choice words.
"You sure you're faster?" Nick said, choking back his laughter. "Doesn't look like it." Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat the moment he felt a slight tug on the pole. Standing up, he began reeling his prize in, fighting against the fish. "Fin! I've got one!"
"Fuck you, you lanky fox."
Growing in excitement, Nick furiously reeled in his catch, eager to see what his dinner might be for the night. "Dinner's going to be great!" He could already taste it.
"Just get it, would ya! We need another three before we can relax again!"
Grunting, Nick replied, "Hey, you're the one swimming on the job!"
Finnick sighed and made his way to Nick's fishing line. Grabbing it, he began pulling the fish towards the shore. "See? I'm helping."
"Just watch the hook. Don't want that stuck in your paw."
Just a moment later, a shimmering fish emerged from the water, hanging by the hook that was lodged in its mouth. Carefully, Finnick pried the hook off and deposited the fish in a bucket. "What kind is it?"
Peering into the bucket, Nick said, "Certainly not a goldfish." The red fox was silently wishing he had the chance to learn more about fish with the time he spent with his stolen textbooks. "Gotta be edible, though."
"Let's hope." With that, the fennec went back for his fishing pole.
After adding more bait, Nick cast out his line again and quickly sat back down; the heat was getting to him. Minutes crawled past with only the water tugging at the fishing line. Up above, the clouds crawled across the sky, occasionally covering up the sun and darkening spots of the landscape.
"Never thought I'd miss the climate walls of Zootopia."