NightWolf0179: Well, you were not expecting this, were ya? We actually uploaded in a timely manner! Times truly are changing, huh? XD

Really, we mostly did it to get this out more quickly. Thus, it is shorter, but there is no degradation in quality. It has met our lofty standards.

I had a lot of fun writing this one. Fleshed out some things a bit more. Gave you guys some interesting backstory. Brought back a certain character… I'm intrigued to see your responses to what we added. I really enjoy writing the history, the events that led up to present day in the story. I just know it'll get even more difficult to keep track of everything, but oh well… XD

Also, my friend keeps mentioning fluff and we keep putting it off. Blame him, not me!

Kidding, of course. I'm actually eager to bring more joy in the story. I do not want it to remain all doom and gloom. But I really want to slow everything down. I really enjoy reading the Fanfictions that take their time; the ones that are truly novels in length. I want to do that.

But that means that I am unsure when we'll reach any of the events we have planned. But I hope it'll be worth it to you guys. You'll see so much more, get so much more detail. I'm hoping you guys like it.

And with that, onto Jknight's speech! XD

...

JKnight97: As promised, here is a quick short chapter for our readers. We decided to split it into two because...we're evil! Bwahahahaha...ehem, actually, we felt that if we didn't, it would take us longer than a week to post and many of our loyal readers (I'm looking at you, CombatEngineer) demanded an immediate installment. Thank you to all of you who left comments. Cimar, this is still not the fluff we promised (ducking to avoid rotten tomatoes thrown) but I hope everyone will agree that this chapter is necessary in order to paint the whole picture of the Zistopia our protagonists are in.

Having said that, I no longer can promise how soon the fluff will arrive. We miss it, too, but then, this is art! There must be pain and suffering before we can have happiness. XD

Part One

Creaking. A deep, resonating creaking accompanied Nick and Finnick as they entered the Otterton living room. It was nighttime, and wind was pushing against the home, ever-so-slightly swaying the walls around them as the darkness tried to seep through the resulting cracks. The smell of seasoned fish swirled around the room, mixing with the natural smell of oak that the room was made from. Candles were lit around them, sitting on various tables and objects. The two otters sat across from the foxes, lounging in their favorite rocking chairs. They held paws, the flickering embers of the candles being mirrored in their small claws and caring eyes.

The two lovers let silence sink in before anything was said. It was obvious that the two escapees in front of them were about to leave, about to once again risk their lives in the cruel world around them. Dinner was slightly tense because of this, but no one broached the subject despite the obviousness of it. It had been three days since Emmitt first found them, and with each passing day, the foxes became more and more uneasy, even during today's dinner. They kept fidgeting, glancing around them, looking through a window or two before returning back to their food. Though, they still ate as if it was their last meal. Not a piece remained of the fish they had caught that morning. It would've been heartwarming to see them eat so much and so well, but it was all too likely for it to truly be their last meal.

Turning his gaze from Olivia to Nick, Emmitt got the ball rolling. "It's about that time, huh?"

Moving his eyes from the wooden, planked floor, Nick sighed. "It's been great here, it really has been. A little sanctuary."

"Heh, I wouldn't call it that. This little place is-"

"Emmitt," the fox interrupted, "You gave us a home for a few days." Finnick nodded at that. "That's more than we've had for a long time."

"Dearies, you can stay with us." Olivia couldn't help it. She knew it was too dangerous. But to send the two of them out there - it almost felt like she was handing them off to the devil. "You and Fin… You're always welcome here."

"Until we're caught; then we're as good as dead."

"Fin's right. We can't stay here. It'd put us all at risk. We've always been at risk here. Well, everywhere." Holding a grimace, he continued, "Our only chance at surviving is to leave."

"Hon," Emmitt caught the attention of his mate. "You knew from the beginning they couldn't stay." Standing up, the otter headed for the exit. "Let me get you two your stuff."

"Kits," Olivia said, wringing her paws, "Just don't forget us, alright?"

The two foxes looked at each other and then to the otter. "Never. And surely we'll see each other again. Hopefully in Deerbrooke." Nick tried to be confident for her sake, but he left unsaid where they would eventually meet up if ever the militia caught up with them.

"Then let us help you out more!" Startled, Nick and Finnick stared at her. "You need more than a map and a couple backpacks!" She jumped up and stormed out of the room, vaguely motioning for them to follow her. She passed by Emmitt as he came back with two backpacks, taking a second to snatch them from him.

Stopping in the kitchen, she opened her cupboards and started stuffing the backpacks with homemade canned food. She threw in bottles of pickled beets, apple jelly, strawberry jam, baked beans, relish, pickled herring and salmon.

Emmitt's face grew somber as he watched the lights on his wife's collar turn from green to yellow. "Liv…"

"Those kits are going to be hungry, Em! I'm not just sending them out there without food!"

"We've been over this." he started, "We need that for the trip back home; you know we don't have the money to stop for food or to even stay at a hotel. We got that RV for a reason, remember? And besides, they do have food to last a few days."

Whipping around to face him, unmindful that the red light on her collar was starting to glow and the warning beeps were escalating, she bared her teeth and hissed, "Dan." Taking a step towards him, her face grew less terrifying and more miserable. "You don't remember Dan?"

"Olivia… honey…" he reached out to her, trying to calm her before she shocked herself, and she gratefully melted into his embrace.

"I miss him," she hiccuped, as the beeping slowly receded and the light shifted back to yellow. "And Nick looks so much like him," she shook as she spoke. Nick shuffled out of the room, having heard enough. His companion followed after him. "I'd rather die than find their bellies were empty, that they-th-ey got caught grabbing f-f-food."

"Shhhh…"

Pulling from his embrace, she returned to her task, swiping bottles from every nook and cranny she could find. "Those boys could be dead by this time next week. I'm not… I'm not… I can't…"

"Okay, Liv… We can let them have them."

"G-Give them those water purific-c-ation tablets."

Sighing, Emmitt pulled out a drawer and grabbed them. He also reached up and took a couple plastic cups the foxes could use. "Here you go," he whispered, dropping them into of the bags.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be; we'll figure something out. We always do. Maybe we can catch some fish and find a way to freeze them for the trip back? Could the fridge fit in the RV? Pack ice in it?"

Nodding, Olivia silently hoped so. They would be on the road for a couple weeks and needed something to eat, just like their fox fugitives. "Hey!" she exclaimed, having gotten an idea. "Why don't we give them a head start! We should be able to drive them for a bit and drop them off somewhere!"

"Now, you know that we can't d-"

"Em! Shush!" she scolded, swatting at him. "We know where all the security checkpoints are! We can avoid them for a while."

Shaking his head, Emmitt knew how dangerous it would be, but when Olivia got passionate about something, she would never take no for an answer.

…

In the other room, Nick and Finnick could still hear what the otters were saying. Nick felt like absolute trash and Finnick wanted to hit something.

"We can't just take all of that."

"Nick..."

Nick paced around the room, nervously nibbling a knuckle. "Maybe we can just leave now? Give them the slip?"

Finnick glared at his tall counterpart. "You heard her. It'd devastate her."

"Yeah, but I don't want them to starve!"

"Nnngghhh…" Finnick groaned, ready to tear his ears off. "Listen, here, Nicky boy, they'll be fine. They're otters, for fuck's sake! They barely eat anything compared to us. They'll find somethin'."

"You can't possibly like the idea of taking all of their hard-earned food, right?"

"Whaddya take me for? A hustler?" Finnick growled. "'Course I don't like it one bit. But they ain't from here and have a home in Deeerbrooke to get away from all this...this...crap! We need to survive until we can get over the border. And…" he looked down at the floor, ears and tail tucked in, stuffing his paws in his pants, "if they're willing to give us a boost...I'm not one to look a gift turkey in the mouth." he mumbled dejectedly, kicking at an imaginary pebble.

Nick glared at his companion. "Are you saying that just to ease your conscience?"

"Dammit Nick!" snarled the fennec, whirling on the taller fox as he yanked him down to his level. "I swear I'm going to bite your face off for that remark. I don't like this any better than you do but we need all the help we can get."

"Look, Fin…" Nick muttered, as he disentangled himself from Finnick's clutches and slumped into a seat. "I never wanted to be a burden on anyone. What have we done for them besides eat their food? We fished a bit? Yeah, that's totally worthy of the food they were keeping for their trip back to Deerbrooke."

Finnick walked his way over to Nick and slowly breathed out, gathering his thoughts. "What would hurt her more?"

"...Not accepting their help," he mumbled, shaking his head. "Fine, Fin! Just... Fine. We'll take it. Just be mindful of the consequences. If something happens to them, it's on us!" He pointed to himself, his teeth bared. "I'm tired of being the cause of so much pain."

"Boys!" Olivia called as she hurried into the room. "Care to go for a ride?"

….

It never ceased to amaze Nick how vast and varied the countryside could be, but from the moment the RV crossed into Bunnyburrow and started going through the vast amount of farms it had to offer, he couldn't care less. With each farm he saw, he remembered the treatment they received from their overseers and he had to suppress an overwhelming urge to start tending to the crops before he would be lashed. It didn't matter if he had been hard at work. They would use any excuse, even one as flimsy as not arranging the crop in neat rows, to punish him and his fellow prisoners. He flinched once he saw the first carrot patch near the road they were traveling along, the iconic sound of a whip cracking upon fur and skin ringing in his ears.

They were in the rear of the RV, hiding just below the window's line of sight, in case anyone spotted two foxes without collars and recognized them as the ones being sought for by the government. Emmitt mentioned that they were in the news daily and whether they liked it or not, they were becoming the unintentional heroes to all predators in captivity. What had started as daily updates had soon become rabid pronouncements of their imminent capture being issued every four hours. Emmitt found it strange, though, that after about a week of this, they had simply stopped mentioning the two escapees which did not bode well. The public relations machinery of the government may have decided to stop making such broadcasts as it looked embarrassing two foxes were able to keep one step ahead of them. His gut told him that something was a-paw and it put him on edge.

"Liv," Emmitt said, gently prodding his wife's arm to wake her up. "Go tell Nick and Fin to hide inside the seats again. Another checkpoint."

Eyes opening up, she stretched before hurrying her way to the sleeping foxes. There, they rehearsed what they've already done four times already. Nick and Finnick would hide in the hollowed out couches of the RV, with just enough space for the small predators to hide in and, after a thorough spraying of Musk Mask, they'd pass through the checkpoint as usual, with all their limbs still attached.

Stopping beside the security booth, Emmitt began fishing in his pocket for his wallet. "Afternoon," he greeted, a faćade of a smile ghosting his muzzle.

"Hmph," the pig officer in the booth responded, leaning in to take a look at the collar around the driver's neck. "Your authentication."

Handing the wallet over, Emmitt leaned his head back against the headrest, letting his eyes momentarily slip behind his eyelids.

"Otter… male, blue eyes, married, Deerbrooke license, permit to pass..." the pig rattled off in an uninterested tone. Slapping the wallet shut, he tossed it back inside the RV, the wallet bouncing against Emmitt's arm.

Sighing, Emmitt retrieved his wallet and forced himself to smile at the pig. "Have a good day, Officer."

The pig merely grunted in boredom and waived him past the security booth. Once they were well past the checkpoint did he allow himself to relax.

"You kits alright back there?" he called out.

"Are all prey assholes?" Finnick grunted as he climbed out of the couch.

"No… not all."

Reclining against the corner of a couch, Nick rested. "How is it you're able to drive without repercussions? How are you even free? Bunnyburrow still has slaves, they still hate preds."

"Well, as you know, we're not from here," Olivia answered, turning in her seat to look at them. "We were able to get a permit to pass through or visit Bunnyburrow if its for business."

"Then what exactly were you doing in that little house, then? What business would send you there?"

"This time," Emmitt breathed out, "we were negotiating a deal with a few of the local predator food suppliers." Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added on, "I hate slavery as much as you, but I'd rather they get quality food than not get the nutrition they need because no one here cares to enough to make sure predators eat right." Rubbing at his temple in frustration, he whispered, "The negotiations… They're not done. A lot of red tape is involved. And some mammals want their paws greased even before we can even approach the Secretary of Commerce to get permission to bring in the food. Then, there's the Department of Corrections, who are in charge of overseeing the prison camps. Every time we try to meet, they always keep pushing it to another day.

"Sometimes, I get the feeling that the Bellwether government doesn't care about predators here in Zootopia. That they created those sham offices just to show the rest of the world that they believe in mammal rights. And," gritting his teeth in anger, the light on his collar momentarily shifting to yellow, "it doesn't help that I'm not prey." he hissed.

"When's the next meeting, then?"

Taking a moment to look at his watch, "An hour ago."

"Okay, I'm tired of this," Nick exclaimed as he shakily stood up in the moving vehicle. "Just how much will you give up for us? I never wanted to take so much from you, and yet you insist on giving us everything! Even your job, at this point! Why?"

Sighing, Emmitt turned to his wife, "Liv, can you take over the wheel? I need to fill in the boys as to what's been happening the last ten years while they were held captive."

His wife nodded as she slipped into the driver's seat as Emmitt motioned the two foxes to the rear of the RV. "Guess I should've told you sooner."

"Yeah, maybe." Nick shook his head, leaning against a cabinet. "Can't help but feel like I'm making life exponentially harder on you two."

Finnick crossed his arms, glaring at Nick. "Why can't you just accept their help?" The red fox in question merely flicked his ear at Finnick's direction.

The otter took a breath of air, turning to look outside, momentarily staring past the the whirling farms and buildings. "You ever hear of Louis King?"

One of the red fox's eyebrows raised higher than the other. "The otter that led a gang and threatened to overthrow the capital of Zootopia?"

"That's what they write in the books they give kits these days." Clearing his throat, Emmitt looked at the window itself, how the dirt clung to and stained the glass, creating faded streaks that never seemed to go away. "He was a leader in the Predator Rights movement back in the day.

"Gentlest soul you could ever meet. He and I were childhood friends. Back then, he was always looking out for the welfare of others, predator or prey. So, when predators began to suffer under the Bellwether administration, he naturally took it upon himself to press for equal rights. Just like the founders of Zootopia envisioned."

Nick thought back to the countless history books him and Finnick had read through in their free time. He thought they were careful, that they had fact checked everything; you'd think it'd be difficult to slander the image of a mammal who had lived only ten years ago, one that everyone knew the name of. But then again, the prey of Zootopia seemed to believe everything the government told them.

Emmitt stared wistfully at the floor. "The night before he died, he shared a secret with me. He was in a relationship with a male wolf. He had plans of proposing to him right after the meeting with Bellwether. Was going ask him to mark him." The otter turned back to the foxes who noticed that a single tear had streaked his fur, following faint wrinkles in his fur caused by old age. But his expression remained neutral, stoic, even.

"We know he died in the very first savage attacks," Nick recalled. "What happened to his mate?"

The foxes were surprised to see the anger in Emmitt's face, how he contorted his muzzle, showing his razor sharp teeth as his collar's light shifted to yellow. "His mate...was the one who went 'savage' and killed him." he spat. "The government blamed it on the wolf's-and subsequently, all predator's-predisposition to go savage.

"That there is a load of manure," he hissed as the light started to feebly glow red. "but back then, the prey were so scared that they meekly accepted it, despite the fact that no predator had previously shown any signs of savagery before. And if it were true, there is no way Louis would have missed the symptoms."

"Symptoms? His mate was the first one infected with the disease?" Both he and Finnick shifted uncomfortably. They were constantly treated as if they'd turn in an instant. Like there was a dormant infection within each of them back at the plantation, just waiting to take hold and forever change them. They still worried they that they might change one night and kill the other.

Taking deep breaths, Emmitt paused to gather his thoughts, concentrating on the calming meditation he had learned from a wise yogi elephant. As the light receded safely back into the green, he answered. "I don't believe there is one. In Deerbrooke, there haven't been any reports of predators going savage. And there's a higher predator to prey ratio there compared to Zootopia. I think there's a conspiracy to subjugate predators here in Zootopia. The mammals living in the capital don't get any news from outside. They're completely isolated from the rest of the world. But those living on the fringes of Zootopia, like Bunnyburrow, for example, can pick up on the radio signals coming from Deerbrooke."

"Emmitt!" Olivia shouted. "Get them to hide!"

"What, Liv! There aren't any… any…" he trailed off, looking through the driver's window. Right in front of them, there were six Predator Patrol SUV's blocking the highway. A zebra was shoving a bloody cougar into one of them, a grin sewn into his muzzle. "Hide!" Emmitt quickly scampered into the passenger seat beside his wife, buckling himself in and taking calming breaths.

Not daring to even say a word, the foxes rehearsed once again what they always did. Less than a minute later, they were once more hidden within the couches. But just as he was about to lower the top, in the corner of his eye, Nick noticed the musk mask can rolling on the floor, clinking against the wall. The emerald of his eyes widened, darkening with crushing fear.

…

"Good evening, officer," Emmitt bowed his head courteously, trying his best to keep his cool despite a strange look in the zebra officer's eyes.

"Papers."

"Just a moment," he said, shuffling in his seat as he pulled out his wallet. "Here you are, sir."

The zebra gazed straight into Emmitt's eyes as he took the wallet from him, depositing it into his own pocket. "Whatcha doing out here?"

"Heading home. Closed a business deal last night; gotta return to back to my job. See my kits."

"You must love them, don't you?" the officer responded, still not removing his gaze.

"Yes. They're the light of my life." Not able to take it much more, Emmitt turned his head forwards again, looking past the horizon. "Still got far to go, but I can't wait to see their smiles. Keeps me going."

"How nice," his voice came out, slithering away in a condescending manner. He leaned further into the cab of the RV. "Do you think your kits would make good slaves?"

"Sorry, sir?" the otter sputtered, shocked at the crassness of the question. His wife, Olivia, who was busy brushing her fur, also momentarily paused, then continued, keeping her face turned from the zebra. As she did, she noticed several more militia mammals, also armed with rifles, studying the RV.

"Well, they are kits, correct? Young? They'd fetch quite the price." A sneer snaked its way into his lips. "Otters… they're quite good for jobs that call for small mammals. Or anything that needs good swimmers."

"Officer, they're not for sale."

"Well why not?" he said, turning around and taking a few steps away from the RV, his arms moving to punctuate his words. "You must have such a boring, tedious job, fitting of your species. Let me take them off your paws. I'll treat them well, especially if you've got a girl back home…" Turning back around, he studied the side of Emmitt's wife, raking his eyes over her form. "Do you?"

"I beg your pardon!" Emmitt leaned forward a bit, trying to stop the zebra from eyeing up his wife. "And no! We don't have any kits inside."

With his hooves behind his back, the officer strutted back to the RV, taking a look at its inside. He noticed there was a photograph in the dashboard, one with the otters on it and three kits: two boys, one girl. "Who's that, then? Maybe I should inspect your vehicle, check that you aren't hiding anything, eh?"

Clenching his paws, Emmitt tried to calm himself down, slowly breathing in and out. "Sir, I must protest your attitude against Deerbrooke citizens. We are merely here on business under the gracious permission of your government and as such, we have been granted equal rights under the trade treaty as long as we wear these collars," his eyes beginning to take on a fierce glare as a slow beeping sound began to build from his collar. "As such, you are overstepping your authority."

"Listen here, pelt!" Josh countered, shoving a hoof in Emmitt's face, "I don't give a fuck about the trade treaty and whatever political dance they play up there in the golden towers of Zootopia. My job is plain and simple: deal with all predators to make sure they are collared and are not a menace to our society. I have all the authority I need right here," patting the holster on his side. "And," leering at Olivia, "if it requires a full cavity search with my baton on your wife, then you can't stop me."

Just as Emmitt was about to lunge at the zebra's neck, his collar went off, sending thousand of volts of electricity into his small body. Muscles spasming, Emmitt tried to breathe but even that was torture as his own lungs felt like they were caving in upon themselves like a can of soda under pressure. He thought he heard Olivia screaming his name and he tried to focus on what she was saying.

Guffawing with intense laughter, the zebra tossed Emmitt's wallet to him and went back towards his SUV, his hooves clicking against the pavement. "Lookit' that pelt squirm like a fish outta water, boys!" he called out to the others who had overheard the exchange. He frowned as he noticed that his subordinates didn't seem to share in his amusement. Then, just a few short strides from his ride, he heard commotion from inside the otters' RV: a bang and a squeak.