JKnight97's A/N: I had to double-check and triple-check but AO3 says it's been more than two years since we last updated. That's definitely wrong. It's just over a year. ^ ^

Since we last updated the story in January of 2020, life has given us one heck of a roller coaster ride. What with the pandemic and a political shift in administration of the USA after that infamous insurrection attempt on Capitol Hill at the beginning of this year. Who would have thought that real life could become weirder than any story ever written? Anyway, with light now apparent at the end of the tunnel with respect to the vaccine and herd immunity, we're now back on track to focus on finishing this story.

Our thanks to all of our readers who have patiently been waiting for the next chapter. Also, a big shout out to our uber-skilled beta readers, DancingLunarWolves and Stubat007, who killed and stomped all those irritating little things like grammatical errors and double spaces. We only want the best for you guys and they, as always, delivered. Unfortunately, FF doesn't allow me to post their links here so you'll have to check the posting in AO3 for them.

NightWolf0179's A/N: Okay, let me go ahead and say this: 2020 sucked. XD

But things are looking up and I've taken a semester off college this year so I can relax and be myself for a bit. I'm incredibly tired and I really, really need a break from the joys of being a computer science major. Seriously, it's hard. If you want, take a look at some discrete mathematics if you want to see what I've been working on recently and hopefully you'll get an idea as to the pain I've been through. XD

Thanks to taking a break this semester, I've been able to do a lot more on this story and I'm going to push myself to continue working on it religiously until the next chapter comes out! Don't want to enforce another year long wait, now do we? XD

Thanks again to our editors who always do an amazing job. If there is one thing I hate, it is constantly reading over obvious grammatical errors. Work on a writing project long enough and you're bound to overlook numerous errors here and there. But rarely anything slips by our editors, and for that, I thank them yet again. It's been so long since the start of this story, but despite that, they still offer their assistance with this story and I cannot be more grateful. I may not get the chance to speak to them all that often, but they are wonderful! Please, feel free to check them out via the links provided in JKnight97's A/N. (And maybe check out what he's been working on recently, too, if you feel inclined. I gotta say, he's done good work.)

I hope you guys like this chapter. My apologies for the extra-long wait, but I hope this chapter will have been worth it. There's still much more coming for you guys, as well, and I think we have a twist eventually coming up that'll really shake up this story, and I hope you guys stick around for the ride!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a pleasant day! May 2021 not be the shit-show that last year was!

Disclaimer: All characters are owned by ©Disney except for original characters created by us. Any resemblance to actual persons or mammals, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

It had been a few days since the foxes had come under Judy's care in one of her family's barns, and despite the danger their presence lent itself to, she felt somehow happier than she had been in a long time. Judy hadn't realized just how stale her life had gotten. She had allowed herself to fall into a routine, unmindful of the slow death spiral of her ambitions. However, with the arrival of the two foxes, not only had her world been turned upside down, but she now yearned for something new and important to happen to her. She had never given up on the search for such a thing, of course, but she was not aware of quite how much she longed for something bigger than herself to tend to.

Every moment she spent in that barn made her smile. What she was doing there was simply… good. Good felt like the right way to describe it. Did it benefit her all that much? No, not really. In fact, all she got out of it was the company of two runaway foxes, but that was her favorite part. The danger didn't matter to her. No, what mattered was the opportunity to finally live out her dream of helping someone else who truly needed it. She was making the world a better place for those two, one day and one meal at a time.

This wasn't the same as walking an old lady across the street or stopping a heated argument from becoming a fight; this meant so much more. Nick and Finnick's lives were at stake and it was up to her to make sure they survived until they made it safely to Deerbrooke.

Judy had more meaning now than she ever felt like she had in her life.

As such, as she was cooking their next meal on the oldest stove she had ever seen in her life inside the underground room. Judy was exhilarated! Her actions fed those foxes; her actions protected them; and her actions were saving them. It made her unbelievably happy.

She also found herself with as much time as she needed to take care of the foxes; so much so that she had a lot more freetime than she had had in a good while. Her father, knowing that keeping a job at the pharmacy while looking after those foxes would leave her running ragged, let someone else take her position at the pharmacy for the time being. Now, not only could she take as much time as she needed to make sure Nick and Fin were taken care of, she could also pursue other things that she had been putting off.

With the basket in paw containing the food and drinks, the rabbit skipped her way to the barn, making sure to take a convoluted route hidden from easy viewing, just to be safe. She knew they wouldn't be safe if they were ever discovered by some of her speciesist brothers which was why she always took a different route each time, doubling back every so often in order to make sure no one was following her. Quietly walking inside and setting the food aside for the moment, she sat on the bed belonging to a slumbering Nick, and took a moment to examine him as she always did. Judy was relieved, as she always was, to see his chest softly rise and fall, but noticed that it was a bit more erratic than normal. Scrunching her eyebrows, she leaned over and looked at his face and saw that he held an expression that looked somewhat pained. Not liking what she was seeing, she put her paw to his forehead and all happiness faded from her.

A plate of funnel cake was presented before Nick, powdered sugar smothering every inch of it. Its smell was intoxicating, its greasiness inviting, and the little fox couldn't help but to dig in before his poor mother even sat down. From out of his view, he heard her snicker pleasantly.

They were at a fair, though what fair it was Nick did not know. At one point, some signs said "Wilde Times," and, at another, they read "Fair-Topia". Whatever it was called, Nick was just happy to be there with his mother.

They had already been there for some time. The first thing young Nick did was try his paw at one of the games the fair had set up. First in line, Nick eagerly handed the rabbit in the stand a dollar bill and grabbed a ball. Eyes trained on the pyramid of glass bottles, paws clenched on the ball, he wound up his pitch, swinging his arm faster than he had ever swung it before and hit the bottles so hard they shattered into a million tiny pieces.

"L-Look mom! I won!" he exclaimed, bouncing excitedly on the spot as glittering glass shards clinked against the tables and ground. The rabbit in the stall rolled his eyes with a laugh and handed little Nick a fox plushie that he swore looked exactly like his mother. Though anytime he looked at its face, details would swirl in and out of existence, merging and morphing into new expressions and faces, but somehow he knew that it looked just like his sweet mother. Satisfied with his prize, he squeezed it tightly to his chest, swearing that the plushie felt real; that it was hugging him back.

Having finished his sugary treat, the little tod barked, "Let's go!" grabbing his plushie as he ran off to a new ride. The carnie there allowed him to get first in line for a ride called the Twirling Teacups. Once he got on, it spun Nick so hard and so fast that the little tod was lifted off the seats, leaving only his death-grip on the ride's handlebars to keep him from being launched into the night. His laugh echoed throughout the fair as he smiled wider than he ever had in his life. As he whizzed about, he watched the world turn into a blur of colors. Neon lights and colored bulbs dazzled his senses as they streaked across his vision, and every now and then, he would notice a vivid red streak clear amongst the others that he knew was his mother, watching as he had his fun, making sure it never got out of paw; protecting him from harm.

The two of them stayed for hours, partaking in everything they came across as they followed the gravel path the fair was built around. Not a single stall, ride, or game was passed up. Nick tried it all as they went about their way. He didn't win any more games, but he enjoyed them nonetheless and made it a personal goal of his to win once at every game that was there. They'd have to come back numerous times just so he could have all the attempts he needed, but that was fine by him. The more opportunities to hang out with his mother at the fair, the better, he thought.

Finally, they made it to the end of the road where the largest ride of them all stood: the Ferris Wheel. The animated bulbs pulsing against the night sky mesmerized the growing tod. He had to ride it. It looked tall enough to touch the black, star-speckled sky and he wanted to feel it, to see what it was like to run his paw against the universe.

With the plushie still clutched in his paw, its back paws dragging against the dirt as he sprinted to join the growing line, Nick noticed that his mother was nowhere to be seen. Shrugging it off, he knew she'd join him on the ride when it was his turn.

The mammals in front of him all talked excitedly, dancing in place while strange melodies that didn't quite sound like music urged them on. They all wore toothy grins and Nick couldn't help but join in. He had never danced before, but somehow, he was a prodigy, and soon after he started, the crowd in front of him stopped what they were doing and watched him. Mesmerized, they clapped their paws to the beat. Nick finished with a twirl that ended in a bow, impressing the crowd as they cheered and whooped for him. When the next car was ready, they allowed him to move to the front to take it. As he trotted his way up there, he saw his mother from the corner of his eye, waiting for him to join her. Jumping into the car, he excitedly hugged his plushie as the metal cage was lifted upwards. The whole fairground sprawled before him, shining beautifully against the encroaching darkness of night.

Transfixed, Nick giggled as they went further up. They seemed to go up forever, passing through a thin layer of clouds that obscured the fair below, making it so Nick could only see the dull glow of their lights through the mist. He'd never been so high before! His gaze traveled upwards where the stars twinkled amongst themselves, speaking in their own strange language that resonated across the sky. "Look mom! The stars, they're so pretty!" Turning to her, he saw that she was gone with only the empty seat in her place. "Mom?"

The plushie in his arms dissolved into a messy goo, covering his body as it slid off him, becoming a puddle of stuffing and plastic eyes under his legs. Gasping, he cowered away from it as its two fiery-red eyes fixed their gaze upon him, turning wherever he went. Nick did his best not to touch the remnants of the plushie that covered his body and vigorously tried to wipe off what was on his paw onto the ride.

Suddenly, Nick became aware of a low, unintelligible hum that began to build up into an ominous chant in the background. It pounded against his ears and made him scream, scaring away the stars above him, leaving an inky-black firmament. As the chanting reached a crescendo, the monosyllabic dirge took on form as the words cascaded over his small frame. A small pile formed around him and as the chanting continued, the pile took on the form of chains that quickly held him captive. Suddenly, out of the mist, red-eyed prey appeared. It was clear they were the source of the vile sound, their mouths spewing evil and hurt as their words crystallized:

"We, who are prey, swear to uphold

Our glory over those of fang and claw

For we are the superior race

Whose destiny it is to rule over them

Their lives, we hold in our paws

Let them fear us."

On and on they relentlessly repeated, ensnaring him within their circle. Their hate-filled stares burned into his very soul as they slowly raised their hooves and paws, each one brandishing a knife that dripped blood that smelled like his mother's. He cowered in fear as they ominously approached. Then, simultaneously, they thrust their knives into Nick's soul, shredding it as their gleeful cries filled the air.

Nick's eyes shot open with a strained gasp, his lungs burning for air. His body ached all over, and he could barely move. He wasn't sure what woke him up; the penetrating bodyache, the dryness in his throat, or the nightmare. He barely managed a whispered plea for "water" when an angel with lavender eyes appeared before his blurred vision. He could barely make out the facial features of the mammal before him with their muzzle covered by a mask, but what stood out to him was the tenderness in their eyes. Soft paws gently pried open his mouth and slowly dripped a heavenly draught of life-giving liquid down his parched throat. Despite all the pain he felt, her gentle touch and quiet voice soothed most of the aches away. His mind filled with thoughts of his mother and he couldn't help but think that he was dreaming as he once again drifted back into unconsciousness.

What seemed like hours later, he awoke once more and thought he could hear two voices arguing in the background. He couldn't make out the words, but the harshness in them indicated that whatever they were talking about wasn't pleasant. He wanted to move, to figure out what was going on, but even the act of breathing was enough to cause great agony every second he was conscious.

The next time he came to, he still felt very weak but was at least able to stay conscious longer. He carefully sniffed the air and recognized the scent of Finnick and Judy. Barely able to move, he carefully opened his eyes to mere slits and listened to the two arguing in a far corner of the loft.

"I don't know why you insist on making me wear a mask, bunny! I'm not worried about catching whatever he has!"

"That mask, Fin, is to protect him! Not you! His body is very weak right now, and anything could make him worse. I wish I could put him in a sterilized room in a hospital and not in a dusty loft in a run-down barn. Why, even a simple germ that we take for granted could kill him! As it is, I don't want to take any chances."

"Well, I ain't gonna breath on him, if that's what you're worried about!"

"But what if you sneeze on him by accident? Or you forget to wash your paws after you come from the little fox's room and then you handle his food? I'm just saying we can't be too careful."

"Look here, rabbit," sighed Finnick in surrender, "if you don't make me wear a mask, I promise not to sneeze on him and I'll wash my paws every time before I touch his food, 'kay? Besides, I can't breathe through all that cotton and it gets hot up here, too."

"I'm sorry about all this trouble, but I care about Nick and I'm sure you do, too. Once his condition improves, I'll get my dad to move you both to another place that's underground and much cooler. Deal?" Judy asked as she stuck out her paw.

Rolling his eyes, the fennec reluctantly shook her paw in agreement. "Just be glad I like ol' fuzzface over there."

"Thanks, Fin. You know... you're a good friend to him and he certainly needs that right now.

"Yeah? Well, you're a better mammal than me; taking care of us despite the fact that we're foxes. If it was up to me, we wouldn't have nuthin' to do with prey. So... thanks for taking care of the furball. He's a good kid and deserves so much better..." The fennec drifted off, staring into nothing for a moment. "And if you ever repeat what I said to him, I'll deny every single word! Don't need that scruff ta think I'm going soft." Finnick muttered the last part under his breath.

Nick secretly smiled, grateful to Karma for that juicy little bit of gossip that he could hold over his friend. He mentally tucked it away before falling back into a dreamless state, cataloguing it for future use.

Judy studied the face of the mammal she had been taking care of for the last week. Nick had suddenly developed an infection from the wounds he had suffered after his fall from the waterfall. The last week had been quite rough, what with his fever spiking up and down. He'd even woken up delirious several times. During one of his rambling episodes, she had heard him cry out several names; the one that seemed to hurt him the most was when he practically screamed and thrashed about for his mother. She didn't know what had happened to her but judging from his delirium, it wasn't pretty. Her heart went out to the fox. She absent-mindedly ran the back of her paw along his muzzle and used her blunt claws to scritch him behind his ears. She was happy it brought a small smile to his sleeping face.

Judy reminisced about the time she first met the tod in her store, and how they had interacted

with each other on the way to his camp. She especially enjoyed the moments she spent with Nick. Somehow, the way he had made her smile during their interactions warmed her heart even more than helping him heal did. The way he had laughed and smiled; the stories he had told her; the way his eyes had mischievously crinkled like a little kit during Christmas, and the things he had said–she couldn't help but enjoy those moments with him.

"Mom?"

"Oh!" she jumped, his voice taking her from her thoughts. "Hey Nick, you're awake!"

"Why are you wearing that mask, mom? Where are we?"

Realizing he was still delirious, she knelt by his head so that he didn't have to strain himself to hear her.

"Shhh… it's okay, Nick. You're safe. Just get some rest, 'kay?" She thought for a moment, and, smiling, softly whispered. "You're home."

"'Kay, mom," he groggily agreed. "Your eyes… so pretty…" he said just before he closed his own.

She blushed, not sure whether he was being honest or cheeky, but either way, Nick seemed like he was getting better. She hoped so; she missed his banter.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Nick didn't know what time or day it was, only that he wanted to puke his guts out every time. Unable to open his eyes, he was grateful for the gentle paws that guided his muzzle into a waiting bucket so that he didn't make a mess on himself. Or when they held a cool cloth to his feverish forehead, bringing soothing relief. Then, there were the times he woke up with his head on a comfortable lap and slowly being spoon-fed what tasted like chicken broth. He didn't remember much except for the earthy scent of soil and grass that accompanied his unknown nurse. If not for the pain, he would have gladly embraced his anonymous benefactor for all they were doing for him.

As time passed, he slowly began to acquire more awareness of his surroundings. The realization that he was not home with his mother was a shock to him and brought about another wave of pain, though emotional this time. He remembered feeling two arms wrap around him as he softly sobbed with the words "It's okay" being repeated by a mammal with a voice of an angel. Nothing felt okay, but somehow, those words and the embrace eased the pain a bit.

It still wouldn't be until hours later that he realized exactly where he was, and how exactly he had gotten there. As the minutes dragged by, his pained mind ran through everything that had occurred to him thus far. His brief childhood that was stolen from him, his time as a slave, the escape and the journey thereafter–everything that brought him up to where and what he was right now: a sick fox being taken care of by an excessively compassionate bunny.

The fox still did not have the energy to keep himself awake any longer and found himself falling asleep once again. It wasn't until early morning that he did finally open his eyes as rays of sunlight streamed through the open ceiling loft. He squinted in pain, the brightness hurting his nocturnal eyes. He attempted to turn over, seeking to shield himself from the sun's rays only to find he was too weak to do so. A feeble groan escaped his lips as he tried to maneuver in bed.

"Slowly there, Slick, no need to run a marathon this early in the morning."

Nick froze at the sound of her voice. The memories came flooding back: he had brought Judy to their hiding place in the woods to look after Fin; he had pushed her into the bushes so she wouldn't be spotted by the Patrol as he led them away from her; the nightmare chase as bullets whizzed by him; the perilous fall from the top of the high cliff into the waters below; and how he somehow had managed to drag himself into a cave behind the falls. The fact that he was resting in a bed, unfettered and unshackled, and that she was around meant that she had managed to rescue him and care for his wounds.

And yet again she was placing herself in danger. He wished she wasn't there, that she was not putting herself in the crosshairs for him. Nick simply could not keep doing this to her.

He had to somehow break away from her, but at the same time, the thought bothered him. It hurt to think about it. He'd learned that it was easier to part ways when enough distance was involved when he had to do just that back when he first left his fellow slaves at the Robinsons'. Yet, in this situation, he hated how connected he was to her already. But with Judy, he had not… nay, could not make an effort to distance himself; in fact, they'd only grown closer. She filled a void that he never knew he had. Or never noticed at least since all he had been doing for most of his life was surviving.

As much as he hated it, he knew it was about time to start pushing her away.

"Carrots," he weakly croaked, "listen–"

"No, no, shush!" Judy cautioned him, placing a finger on his muzzle. "No talking; you're still too weak."

As she said that, Nick had to hold back another fit of coughing as his throat called out in pain. So much for pushing her away, he thought. For now.

"Here, drink this." His lovely caretaker offered a cup filled with water, tipping it to his lips as she held his head up in her other paw. He graciously accepted even as the cold water burned his throat, causing him to cough and sputter. "Slowly, Nick," Judy chastised, pulling the cup away. "Won't do you any good if all you do is cough it up. Give your throat some time and sip." He did as she asked when she tipped the cup back onto his lips. The liquid still made him wince in pain, but he managed to keep it down this time.

"You've been out for a long time, Slick," she said when he finished the cup. "We were afraid."

The tod closed his eyes again, thoughts swirling in his head for her and her family. The scene at the checkpoint with the Ottertons flashed before him once more. But this time, it was Judy they were carting away. A knife pierced his very being at the thought of her being taken away by the Predator Patrol. Caught up in his grim reflections, he barely registered her next sentence.

"Your injuries from… you know," she breathed out, not wanting to voice it, "developed an infection and you've been in and out for almost two weeks. I've never seen an infection progress so suddenly... " she let out in a whisper. "I had to temporarily have someone take my place at the pharmacy so I'd have time to take care of you guys." She was slightly concerned that her recent absence at her home would look suspicious, but she had thought of the excuse that she was simply doing field work for her job at the pharmacy. It's not like anyone quite knew why someone else took her place there, and it seemed like a good enough excuse to ward off any suspicion.

Nick, after hearing this, had a pang of guilt added to the suffering he was going through with his illness. How could he have foolishly allowed himself to place her in even more danger? He was an escapee from a slave plantation while she was an educated and intelligent mammal with a successful future ahead of her. What right did he have to wreck her life if he got caught with her? To get her and possibly her family killed? He made an attempt to get up but a firm paw on his chest pushed him down with certain finality.

"No! Stay! You'll only get a relapse, you naughty fox!" Judy chuckled as she adjusted the blanket around him. "We'll get you walking in due time, but no earlier than necessary."

He tried to growl in frustration with himself, but just ended up coughing. His throat felt like it was on fire. "Hang on," Judy said, getting up from her spot. "I'll get you more water." And like that, she was gone, running off with cup in paw.

"So you're awake, eh?" Finnick said, finally making himself known. "'Bout time."

"Fin–" he wheezed, turning pleading eyes to his small friend perched on a hay bale.

"Shut it, Nick." The fennec brusquely interrupted. "I'll never hear the end of it from your bunny girlfriend ifen I let you talk. And, believe me, I've had quite an earful these last two weeks. So, just quit yer yappin' fer now, 'kay?" He looked away. "It's good to see you doing something other than coughing yer guts up."

Grimacing, Nick grunted in response, turning away and closing his eyes. With mixed feelings, the tod awaited the life-giving paws of a certain bunny, almost wishing things could be different.

"Hey!" a voice from a few feet away shook Nick awake, his blurry eyes taking in a tired Judy, carrying yet another basket of food and water. "Already gave Finnick his share," she smiled, kneeling down and placing the basket on the floor next to his bed. She was surprised to see him wake so easily and took it as a good sign. "I also went ahead and got some strawberries and blueberries from our farm; thought you could use the treat."

Nodding sleepily, Nick attempted to sit up but only managed to slump further down into his bed. She waited for a moment with a raised eyebrow, only to hear him start snoring again. "Oh, for cripes sake..." she mumbled, hearing a snicker from across the barn. "Don't you start…" she called back to the fennec with a small smile and a roll of her eyes.

"C'mon, Nick," as she bent over, sweetly singing into his ear. "Rise and shine! I need to feed you or else you'll just waste away, and we can't have that, can we?"

"Another five minutes, mother," Nick sleepily mumbled as he attempted to roll over away from her voice. "Ouch!" he yipped as a stabbing pain ran through his ear. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he was forced to awaken, he warily eyed the grinning lagomorph before him. "D-did you just bite my ear?" he stuttered, completely taken off guard. He felt his ear, searching for blood. He swore he could feel some slight indentations.

"Me, take such liberties with my patient? How dare you suggest that I would be capable of such improper behavior!" She crossed her arms judgmentally, playfully eyeing him sceptically. "I'll have you know that I was top in my Medical Ethics class and never, ever have I been accused of behaving in such an unprofessional manner."

"First time for everything…" Nick shot back, struggling to sit up, grimacing as some pain shot through his body. Judy quickly stood up, flew to his side with some fluffed pillows, and arranged them so that he could easily do so without straining himself.

He noticed the bunny beside him bouncing on her toes, and the basket next to her. "Whatcha got there? Breakfast?"

"Yep! Didn't hear me the first time?" He shook his head in the negative. "Okay! Well…" she handed it to him, "...take a look for yourself! Got a couple things from my farm. I remember that you guys like fruit so I thought you'd like to try some?"

Nick opened the basket and picked up a red, patterned handkerchief that was wrapped around something. "Sure, why not?" He unwrapped it and eyed a pawful of blue orbs. Blueberries? The fox eyed the bunny next to him and found her nodding expectantly. "What's so special about these?" he asked, struggling to keep himself from smiling at her apparent excitement to see him try some fruit. They were just fruit. Having eaten them in a pie when they with the Ottertons had been a treat, but he couldn't see any reason why these would be so special. The little bunny was acting like they were extraordinary, which he doubted.

"Yep, blueberries! Planted much of our crop myself, I might add, so you know they'll be the best!"

Laughing inwardly at such an audacious statement, he shook his head, pinched a blueberry between two pointed claws and gave it a gentle squeeze and had to admit that, if anything, they did seem rather plump and firm. Sighing, he chuckled as the doe beside him was almost vibrating. He swore she was going to burst into flames soon. "They're just blueberries," he reiterated, almost smirking to himself as she cutely scrunched up her nose at him.

"They're not just blueberries!" Judy squawked. "They're our blue-ribbon crop that no one else can beat across the Tri-state! In fact," she proudly proclaimed with a gleam in her eye, "no other farmer in the country can match them when it comes to taste and quality!"

Rolling his eyes at an obviously grand fable, he inspected the fruit in his paw just to make sure they were actual blueberries and not the sham ones he had thought to be poisonous fruit… not that he imagined Judy would even try to poison him! No, she was too kind, sweet, and caring. He could never envision her betraying him and Finnick. And for some reason he didn't wish to explain, he felt an unexplained warmth towards her.

Satisfied, he plopped it into his mouth and chewed, closing his eyes to concentrate on the taste. His eyes shot open as the tiny berry's juice exploded in his mouth.

"Delicious, aren't they?" she remarked, surprised by his extreme reaction. "They're one of my favo-"

"-Can you get some more?" Nick interrupted before shoving the rest of them into his mouth. "Mmmmmmm…" he groaned, his eyes closing as a smile formed on his muzzle. Swallowing greedily, he watched as Judy tried not to laugh loudly, covering her mouth with her paws.

"You have blueberry juice all over your fur!" she finally gasped, laughing out loud. "Oh my gods…" she managed to breathe after a while, "You look so cute!" She had another fit of laughter, the look on Nick's annoyed muzzle sparking it once again. "Of course I'll get more, silly."

"I…" he started, but rolled his eyes and allowed her to have her fun. "Just be sure to get a whole basket this time! Did you really think a tiny pawful would satisfy me?"

"Yes, sir, O' Greedy One!" Judy laughingly remarked, tossing in a mock salute.

The next few days were uneventful. Nick slowly recovered, and he soon found himself with an appetite he had never felt before. Judy never let him know how they were procuring predator food and the blueberries. Still, he was worried that they would be attracting attention to themselves in some manner. She had to have been preparing their food somewhere; he only hoped it was away from prying eyes and noses. Anytime she would bring up a new plate of food, he couldn't help but wonder if that would be the last time she came alone. And, surely by now, it would be somewhat obvious that their blueberry crop was being swiped.

In between Judy's visits, all Nick had to occupy himself with was his thoughts and his conversations with Finnick. During their talks, they would often discuss the journey that had gotten them there. So many times they could've died, and yet, they were somehow still alive. It was a miracle Nick wasn't riddled with bullets when he had been chased by the Patrol; it was a miracle they hadn't starved; it was a miracle they even escaped to begin with. Despite all the horrors they've gone through, things somehow went their way, even if it wasn't entirely ideal. The two of them had, thus far, accomplished the impossible. Nick's recovery was just one more testament to that.

Nick had been a frequent visitor at the medical clinic back at the slave camp. He would usually be waited on by one of his kind, a sweet vixen nurse, and sometimes he would intentionally try to be admitted, either by faking an illness or over exaggerating an injury. Or sometimes the visits were the result of him and Finnick being targeted, being the youngest and hardiest of the working foxes at the Robinsons'. Whatever the case, the vixen was always professionally attentive and gave him the best medical care she could under the circumstances. But with Judy, it was different. She was such a gentle and compassionate soul, and it seemed her very touch soothed his injuries bit by bit. Judy was not obligated to take care of him, either; this was purely her choice, and it made him feel important. Needed. And, as much as he hated to admit it, she was slowly worming her way into his very soul. Her attention, touch and thoughtfulness made him feel as if he had died and gone to heaven.

As the days ticked on by, the foxes couldn't help but reflect on how badly things could've gone if they had met any other rabbit - or any other prey, for that matter. The overwhelming majority of the populace would've immediately turned them in, but somehow, Nick had stumbled upon the one country bumpkin bunny that didn't see them as dangerous predators. The tod was both thankful and regretful of that fact. During his recovery period, Nick couldn't help but to yearn to see her, yet each time, he also wished she would just go away all the more quickly. He had never felt so conflicted before.

The fox ended up noticing a pattern in her visits: she would come very early in the day, bringing their food and checking up on him, and then they would see her again only after the sun had set. She brought just enough so that they wouldn't go hungry, except for an extra large helping of blueberries anytime she was able to snag some for them. Even so, it was far more food than either of them had eaten ever since they had been enslaved.

"Fin, we can't stay here." Nick remarked a little while after Judy had hurriedly left that morning.

"What'choo talkin' 'bout, Red?" the fennec mumbled through a full mouth. "We's living the life here." He gulped what he had down. "Mmmm… She's gettin' better at cookin' meat."

He looked down at his bowl of mashed potatoes, cheese, and chicken soup. It wasn't the slop the Robinsons had fed them nor was it the type of home-cooking he remembered having had before, and he had to agree it was delicious. However, he couldn't bring himself to eat much of the scrumptious meal. "But for how much longer? Every single day we stay, the higher the chances of us being discovered. Thanks to Karma, we're fine for now, but we're pushing our luck. We really should leave."

"Can you stand?" Finnick deadpanned.

"No, but I-"

"Can you walk thirty miles in a day?"

"Now look here, Fin-"

"How about sprint? Run? Jump? Swim? How about fly? Here, maybe if ya flap ya arms like so…"

"Fine!" Nick growled, ignoring his friend's sneer. "Spare me the sarcasm. I get it that I'm in no condition yet to leave. But we're putting them in danger! Just like the Ottertons…" Unable to continue, Nick choked on his retort. "I… We need to go, Fin. I never wanted others to get hurt so we could survive."

"Shush!" Finnick suddenly whispered, his ears springing to attention.

"Huh? What do you mean, 'Shush!' I'm talking to you about-"

Finnick's paw prevented him from finishing his chastisement. The little fox put a finger to his lips and pointed to his ears and nose and jerked his head towards the wall of the barn. Taking the hint, Nick focused his senses on the exterior of their hiding place. It took a moment, but he was able to focus his hearing on some pawsteps making their way to the barn. It was nowhere near night and Judy had only left a little while ago, so he wasn't expecting her to be back. Dread gripped his chest once he noticed that there were more than one set of pawsteps as well as several different scents heading their way.

"Why are we here, Randy?" a young female asked the leader of the impromptu group.

"Dad said we shouldn't come to this barn." The eight-year old buck answered as he parted the stalks of corn through the field he was leading the ragtag bunch of five-to-nine-year-old kits through. "So, we need to check it out."

"H-He told me s-someone died there!" a third answered, following behind her brother with her paw clutching the back of his shirt. "I don't like ghosts!"

"I ain't scared of no ghost!" her brother snapped. He turned to her and saw that she was about to cry. "Shucks…" he groaned, roughly grabbing her paw and pulling her ahead. "Don't cry, Abi." He looked at the others following him. Jared, Oscar, and Mary were huddled together, looking at him with wide eyes and hesitant paws. "C'mon guys, let's keep moving," he ushered them on.

"Dad's going to ground us for going out here!" Oscar whined, straggling a bit behind even as the group finally began to move again.

"As long as no one tattles," Randy answered, "we won't get caught."

Slowly and quite hesitantly, the group finally made it to the barn. None of them had ever been in it before, but considering how much acreage the farm covered, it wasn't surprising that they hadn't explored all of the property thoroughly enough. They never had a real reason to visit every single inch of their home. All of their toys were elsewhere, and the playground they frequented was in the opposite direction. There really wasn't much to do out where this particular barn was.

Ever since Randy and the others had been explicitly told to avoid that barn, he'd been curious. But, truth be told, he was a bit scared to visit it alone. His parents had never outright told them to not visit any part of the farm before, except for one old, dusty, and collapsed cellar. And for all he knew, no one really visited this barn, either. So why was he now being told to avoid it? He was hoping his parents had hidden Christmas presents in it, but Halloween was still weeks away.

Randy was becoming anxious about stepping within the barn as he drew closer. There was a constant beating sound from somewhere within, and he swore he could hear the shifting of hay.

He put on a brave face and opened the doors slowly, the squeaking of the hinges making his ears twitch.

Hiding in the corner, Nick could just barely see Finnick tapping away at a board, loosening it with each hit. He was also shuffling some hay around as he did so, making just enough noise for the bunnies outside to hear. Nick himself managed to grab a bucket of water Judy had left behind just in case they got thirsty. Good thing I'm not parched. He wondered if she'd approve of what he was about to do with the water she left for them.

From his position, Nick could see that there was a group of little kits following behind whom he assumed to be the oldest, judging from his size. The others huddled around him, practically tripping over one another as they followed. Nick could see that all of their ears would twitch with each of Finnick's taps, and yet they persisted to move into the barn. He was hoping that a slightly creepy atmosphere would put them off from coming in, but they were acting much braver than they appeared they should be. The fox almost grinned at that.

"It's just an empty b-barn," cried out one of the girls in the back. "Let's go home now, please? I promised Miranda I'd play dolls with her."

"Not yet! I want to see where that noise is coming from…"

Gripping the bucket harder, the fox watched as the bunnies came closer to Finnick's position, craning their heads this way and that as every little creak clawed away at their bravery. Everything was going to plan, much like their original escape from the Robinson's.

Just as the group got just below Finnick, Nick popped out and drenched the little bunnies with water, causing the group to trip and fall over each other. As Nick did that, Finnick ripped off the board he was tapping away at and shoved some hay from beside him through the hole he created, showering them with it.

Screaming, the young kits made a hasty exit for the barn door as Nick and Finnick doubled up with suppressed laughter. "Hoo, mammal! Did you see dem kit's faces?" Finnick said as he managed to finally catch his breath.

"Don't really like scaring them at such a young age, but yeah, the looks on their faces was priceless!" The fox stretched. "Can't have them putting their cute little noses where they're not supposed to, anyway. Might have to tell Fluff about this. I'd prefer if they didn't bring any of their elders around here."

"Whadda we gonna do if some of the older bucks come nosing around? We can't pull the same stunt as before."

"Not sure," Nick said, scratching his head, "but we may have to hide in the woods until the heat dies down."

"When we gonna do that? Tonight?"

"Yeah, when the sun goes down, we should be able to sneak over there without anyone seeing us. It'll give me a chance to stretch my legs as well."

Albert was dreamily thinking of the doe over by the nearby farm as he lazily sat high atop in the air-conditioned tractor cabin, listening to the music as the machine monotonously devoured the corn stalks and spit out the cobs into the trailer hitched to the rear. Life is certainly good, he reflected. Predators are being put in their place, and little ol' Cindy-Lou up by the Mckarsky's showing me she's interested in a little hay-making of our own. Maybe I'll pop over there tonight after-

He didn't get to finish the thought as he belatedly realized that someone was in the field ahead moving towards the tractor's enormous whirring blades and they weren't stopping despite the noise the machine was making. He cut the engine and hurriedly pulled on the emergency brake, praying that the blades would slow down enough not to churn up the ones running towards him into mince meat.

Jumping out of the cabin, he was immediately barreled into the ground as one of his siblings slammed into him. Wheezing as he breathed in a gulp of air, he looked at the kit - no, the kits - who just nearly had become rabbit pies.

"Randy! Abi! Jared! Oscar! Mary! What are you doing out here in the cornfield? Don't you know you're not supposed to be near here when we're harvesting? I could have killed the lot of you!" he furiously reprimanded his younger siblings. It was then he noticed that they were completely covered in straw and were soaking wet. "What the-? What did you kits get into!"

None of his siblings answered immediately and that was when he noticed their ashen pallor and trembling limbs.

"Awww shucks…" he groaned, "Did the tractor scare you? Did I?" He knew he had a tendency to snap too harshly at the young ones. Anytime he yelled, he would feel bad the moment their little noses started twitching.

Randy, the impromptu leader of the group, finally managed to squeak out a single word: "G-g-g-g-g-ghosts!"

Scratching his head, Albert frowned at them. As much as he didn't believe in spirits and such, it was probably one of the older kits of the Hopps family playing a prank on them. He was furious inside about it because the irresponsible actions of some of his siblings had almost caused a fatal accident for the younger ones. He tried not to show his anger but the fire in his voice only made the younger ones quake in fear. "Where? Where did you see these ghosts?"

"B-b-b-by the old barn dad told us not to go to," Randi stuttered.

Squaring his shoulders, he hitched up his pants, plunked his cap back on his head, and began marching in the direction the kits had come from. "You head on back to the house," he commanded over his shoulder. "And let mom know that some kits' backsides are gonna need some ice real soon. And stay out of the cornfields, ya hear? I don't want you getting hurt during harvest."

As Albert neared the old, decrepit barn, he could hear voices in that direction. He sped up, hoping to catch the perpetrators in the act. It was only when he was thirty feet away did he notice that he didn't recognize the speakers at all. He prided himself on having a good memory when it came to his siblings and most of the townsfolk around the area and he swore he had never heard these two before in his life. That's when he slowed down and silently creeped up to the ramshackle structure as a precaution. Never been strangers here before. Dad's always been welcome. So, if there is someone there, they might not be friendly. Might even be… predators! He began to worry and worked his way so around that he was upwind from the barn. He kept to the shadows and the tall grass so that he was hidden from anyone's sight. It was all he could do to keep from bolting as his heart was beating like a jackhammer. By the time he was about ten feet away, sweat was rolling down his face and his armpits were soaked. He gathered enough courage to make it to the barn door when two things happened. One, the scent of fox hit him in the nose like a speeding locomotive. And, two, the wind suddenly shifted against him and he heard a deep bass voice yell suddenly, "Shit, Nick! There's somebunny there!"

"I smell him, too. Hold on, Fin, don't do anything rash. Could be one of the other young kits came back."

Albert didn't stay to listen anymore. He popped out of his hiding place like a champagne cork, too scared to care that they would see him. He made a beeline for the house where he hoped his father and other siblings would help in chasing them away.

"Damn!" Nick whispered as he spied the older rabbit running away at top speed. With his headstart and their condition, there wasn't anyway they'd be able to catch up to him.

"...Shit. What are we gonna do, Nick?"