A/N

Hello everyone. This is proving to be quite popular, much to my pleasure as the author. I love hearing how much y'all enjoy this dalliance of my muse.

Of course, I do not own Zootopia, and can therefore make no claims to Zootopia or its characters. I only make claim to my own OC's included herein as needed. Though I think I could do more with it than Disney is at the moment. So many awesome ideas that they could use, and they're sitting on their asses.

I blame Bear678 for this.

Anyway, on with the show.

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Wilde Cardz - Savage Territory - Chapter 16

After breakfast, Nick looked over the gap to where the weapon cache was and nodded. When he had pushed the thought and all his hope and love towards where Judy used to be in his mind, he got a flood of warmth and love back. More so than even finding her message, that told him without question that she was still alive. She may be beyond the range of their ability to speak the way they did when tag teaming suspects or clearing a building, but she was alive and aware of him. His heart sang again at this knowledge. They had never tested just how far it actually reached. Never had a need. Knew it was good for at least a few miles, like from their old apartment to the precinct, which was 5 miles. They had discussed testing the range, maybe trying to extend it, but never got around to it. Always something to do later. They'd do it next weekend. Tomorrow... He really wished they had done it now.

Turning to the others, he smiled. "Okay. I'm going to check out the cache. I'll take the end of a rope and a pulley. Then you can pull over anything that is there that we need or can use."

Fin looked up at him. "And how are you going to get over there, Red? Fly?"

Grinning at Finnick. "No, I'm going to jump it. It's only about three hundred meters."

Mike chuckled. "Three twenty, but who's counting. The thousand meter rope will do the job. I'll get it."

A few moments later, they had a small stick set up holding the end of the rope up for Nick to grab as he ran by, the pulley and anchor in a small bag on his back. Nick backed up about twenty meters and then let himself rip, grabbing the end of the rope and leaping out across the gap. He seemed to fly with the smooth arc he achieved, and landed a few feet up the tree, just above the roadbed where the cache was located.

Dropping to the road itself, Nick located a good spot and drove the anchor into the tree. Looping the rope through the pulley, then after tying it to a ball from the bag, he pulled enough slack and threw the line back across the gap. Lizz caught it and connected it to their winch in such a way that it would wind twice then go back out ensuring it would pull whatever was hung from the line across. They then backed up slightly to ensure the rope stayed taught.

Nick then moved around and accessed the cache, pulling out his weapons bag, checking it, and then tying it to the rope. He removed what he and Judy had called a resource bag, and checking that his clothes, backup vest, badge, and other items were there, tied it to the rope, sending it across as well.

Finally, Nick removed the last item, unlocking the puzzle box that contained another cassette. Checking it, it had their combined scents, and playing it he found their cheeky message to themselves. Laughing, he rewound it and hit record.

"Hey Carrots. I found your message, and cleaned out my part of this cache. Obviously. If I don't find you first and you come back and check, this will let you know that I am still around, still alive, and on a rabbit hunt." He walked around the far side of the tree so the others couldn't hear. "It has been really hard, Judy. Doing all this, without you... It has been so very hard. I've helped several communities, settlements we call them, get safe. The one I consider myself from is where our apartment is, so if you find this and have not found me, you need to go there.

They were being subjected under the boot of a bunch of thugs. I'm empowered, like you are. That's what we call it. Basically bullet proof, strong, fast, all that. So yeah, we're in the same boat there. We have some scientists who think that some of the reason why mammals like you, me, Mike, and Lizz, have more than one power is because of the tests we underwent. You and I underwent the most, as well as all our exposure to NightHowler concoctions, our own treatments, and as such, that might be why we have so many other abilities. That's the theory anyway. Who's to know, especially with the scientist that did this dead?

Anyway... I miss you so much. For the longest time, it was a struggle just to keep going. You know a fox like me, losing their mate, usually curls up and dies unless there are kits in the mix. Since we didn't have any of those, and I had nothing to go on, it was hard, but that is also how I survived it. Not knowing. Knowing that, if there was any mammal in this world that could survive this, it would be you. So that kept me going.

I'm all better now. Now that I know that you are alive, or were a few weeks ago, and headed for Bunnyburrow. Funny, before I picked up your mark on the cache, that is where I was going to go. I knew, if nothing else, you would go there. It was our final, end of the world, rally point, so it only made sense. I couldn't give up before I checked there, and if the family was still around, protecting them and the kits would keep me going until something killed me or you found me there.

Lets see… In other news. Mike and Lizz are part of my settlement. Fin and your sister Amy, are part of a settlement called Otterdam. Yeah, we kinda named them based on where they started. Mine is Haymarket and Vole. All four of them are empowered and making me take them with me to Bunnyburrow looking for you. I got told in no uncertain terms that you are their friend too, yes, even Fin, and they'd just follow me even if I tried to ditch them.

In Otterdamn, you can find a whole bunch of officers, including Jeff and Delgato, Ben is there, and so is McHorn and a whole bunch of others. It's a good place to stop because your brother, Jason is there and on the council that leads that settlement. A lot of people are worried about you and hoping you are okay. I'm going to have to send a drone out letting everyone know that I've confirmed that you were alive a few weeks ago and I'm following your trail.

I guess that's all for now. I'm going to check out this settlement you are pointing us to, and then we'll head for Bunnyborrow. We've got Fin's van and a cruiser that has been modified by an empowered back in H and V, as well as Amy doing her thing on it.

Hope to see you soon, Fluff. I think I felt you last night. Love you."

Ending the recording, Nick put it back in the puzzle box, sealed it up and sealed up the cache. He then looked up and noticed a series of glyphs carved into the concrete and grinned. "Sly bunny. No one but me is going to know what any of that means." Nick leapt back across the gap, landing next to the cruiser with a grin. Turning to the others who looked at him in surprise as they hadn't been watching. "Judy gave me the location of the settlement she was living at and helped get set up. It is deeper in the Rainforest and not easily accessed from this side. The main road, the 21, is still intact, and the on-ramp from 8th, just a few blocks from here is, or was still intact as well. It takes us away from the rail line, but according to her message, River Rapids Rd goes all the way through to the train station and while the off ramp is smashed, the on ramp isn't, though it is controlled by a small group that just attacks without reason."

Fin growled, then chuckled darkly. "Well, if that's the case, then I've got a bat to pick with them."

Amy smiled and punched Fin lightly in the shoulder. "Okay, but why are we going to go there instead of Bunnyburrow directly?"

Mike turned off towards the direction Nick indicated for several moments, then turned back. "I can see what you are saying, Nick. It seems the range on my vision is farther than I expected, as long as I know what I am looking for and can focus on it. So, I can see the intact on ramps. I can also see a small group of mammals where you say, though can't tell much about them. There is also a very large group of mammals in, what I suspect was once a mall or other larger business district. They take up several trees… and appear to be trying to create a bridge to another tree. I cannot see any links to other trees not part of the community, so they appear to have isolated themselves to stay safe."

Nick nodded. "That's great. As for why, Amy. It is where Judy was living. Hopefully they will have more information on her. When she left, and if it is a settlement that Judy was working with, they'll be much like mine and more accepting. It is therefore one that we really want to make contact with. While my… or I suppose our mission has changed. It is also much the same. We are out here seeking to make contact with other settlements. This is an opportunity to make contact with one, and get info on Judy at the same time."

Amy grinned. "Oh! Okay, that makes sense."

Fin grinned and shoulder bumped Amy. "Told you he is always thinking, always looking at the angles."

With a laugh, Amy nodded. "Yeah. It is no wonder they worked so well together. Judy is the same way."

Giving a wry frown, Nick sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway... Let's load up and get moving. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get the info on Judy and be on our way."

Twenty minutes later both vehicles were loaded, the fire extinguished, and moving.

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Making their way through the rubble and abandoned cars took time. Lizz and Amy ended up driving, Mike on watch, with Fin using energy bolts to scare off any savages while Nick created a path for them by flipping, shoving, and otherwise moving larger debris and cars out of their way.

Walking up to a large mammal bus that was blocking most of the street, Nick motioned for them to hold back. "Given the angle on this bus, it is going to need to move towards us. So hold back while I move it."

Lizz replied out the window of the cruiser. "Roger."

Grabbing a medium mammals truck, he dragged it out of the way first and froze, turning to stare at the bus. "Mike? The bus."

Mike turned his attention to the bus and laughed. "Rats, mice, etc… Definitely a community."

Nodding, Nick walked around to the door and looked in, seeing hundreds of fearful eyes looking back at him. "Hello in there." He pulled his badge out. "I'm sure you all remember me. Nick Wilde, ZPD. This bus must provide quite the protection for your settlement. That's what we call groups of mammals that have collected together for protection and community. I actually represent two settlements. One centered around Otterdamn, and the other, larger one, of Haymarket and Vole."

A rat appeared next to Nick in a blur, looking up at him. "Don't mess with us fox. A lot of us have power now and we can defend ourselves, even against the likes of you. You being a cop before means nothing."

Nick sighed. "Look. I'm not trying to threaten you, and haven't even made a threatening move or statement. I was planning on shifting this bus because it creates a blockage and we cannot get our vehicles past. We're trying to get to the on-ramp there." Pointing. "As for having powers, as you put it. We call it being empowered. Everyone in my little group here is empowered, and two of them are also ZPD."

The rat laughed. "Even our strongest cannot move this bus, so I doubt you can."

Rolling his eyes, Nick looked into the bus. "Look. If I can talk to some sort of leadership, I'm sure we can come to an agreement or understanding. I'm even willing to put the bus back, and I'm sure that one of my members will be happy to make some improvements to the bus to make it better protection for you."

Amy yelled from the van. "I'd be happy to. If you will just let us get past."

A panel opened creating a small, rodent sized platform, and Fru Fru stepped out. "Nicky?"

Nick grinned widely. "Fru! Oh my gods! It is so good to see you. Please tell me who all survived? Did your father make it? Any of the bears?"

Fru Fru looked down sadly and pointed up the road to a burned out limo. "Kevin died in the crash with a new bear you didn't know. His name was Renaldo. He was such a good mammal, but he was affected, and was driving. Daddy was hurt, but Koslov protected us while Raymond held off Renaldo and finally put him down, but not before being critically hurt. He got us into this bus, which was out of service. The driver was dead from the crash that is how it ended up like this. Ray died a few days later and Koslov left us here to seek more small mammals, rats, mice, etc… We all knew that Little Rodentia would not be safe.

He made many trips, bringing back dozens at a time. Daddy died from his injuries a few weeks after the accident, and we haven't seen Koslov since he left on his last trip. He was going to try and make it to Tundra Town and see how things were there."

Nick nodded, his ears laid back. "Well, I pray he is alright and just taking longer. What about little Judy? Your husband?"

Fru Fru shook her head. "I don't know how Jacob fared. He was back at the mansion. Judy however is here." Looking back and motioning, a little shew stepped out. "Come on, come say hi to your uncle Nick."

Nick smiled warmly. "Hi there, Judy. Been a while. I'm so glad to see you are safe. You'll be happy to know that my Judy is also alive, at least as of about three weeks ago. I'm following her trail. There is a community in the Rainforest near here that she helped set up. She left to look in on her family a few weeks ago. Sadly we were separated when things went sideways. Following different leads on the very case that caused all this. Bunch of Bellwether acolytes created a virus meant to kill off all predators. Instead, they screwed it up and we got this."

Fru hugged Judy with a sad smile. "Well. I'm amazed you are still around, Nick. But I'm glad."

"Judy would never let me give up, so I couldn't let myself. We're going to check out that settlement that she set up, then head towards her family. Part of our mission is to make contact with other settlements of mammals and connect them so that we can eventually help rebuild the world."

Fru Fru nodded with a smile. "Well, I'm the leader here. So how do we sign up? I mean, we would love to have the bus in a better position to capture sun through the windows on the other side. We have been growing some food, but just can't get enough light through the windows. Now if we were parallel with the street..."

Nick grinned. "I can arrange that. Though before I do, you'll want to make sure everything is tied down, because it is going to be bumpy."

Fru Fru nodded with a smile. "No problem. We have had a few of the savages try and get into the bus, and they can jostle it around quite a bit." Turning into the bus. "Alright. Lock it down in preparation for an attack. The bus is going to be moved."

The rat with a quick flash of movement appeared next to Fru. "Madam Fru. Do you really trust this fox?"

Fru nodded with a smile. "If it were any other fox, save Finnick, then with few other exceptions, no. But only because I haven't earned their trust, so they have not earned mine. Your distrust of foxes is justified, but only because of how you and others have treated them. Nick is married to a rabbit, Judy Hopps, after all."

A small grey mouse stepped out. "We're all set, Madam."

Fru turned to Nick. "Okay Nicky. Let's see what you can do."

"Okay. You two get inside and hold on." Fru and Judy, with the others, stepped inside and the panel closed. Fru's voice confirmed they were ready coming from inside. Nick then stepped around the front of the bus, grabbed the tow anchors and lifted, the road cratering slightly from the weight focused on just where his two paws made contact. He kept lifting until the front was at his chest which brought the front wheels off the ground. With careful and slow steps, Nick walked the front of the bus in the desired direction. Setting it down as carefully as he could, it still rocked back and forth as he shifted it.

Wiping his paws together, Nick took a deep breath and exhale. "Well… That was actually almost heavy."

Fin yelled from the van as he drove past and parked. "Damn, Red! I've seen elephants that couldn't have done that."

"They probably couldn't have moved this one. I've moved a few of these. We use them in Haymarket and Vole for a few things, including to block off streets. This was significantly heavier than that. I assume it is because of how many mammals, and all their things in there."

Mike stepped up. "Yes. I can see layers upon layers of building inside. It's a full rodent city in there."

A different panel folded down and a grinning Fru stepped out. "Oh, Nicky! This is great. Thank you so much, and did I hear Fin?"

Fin yelled from his van. "You did, Fru. Glad to see you're safe." A moment later he and Amy were standing next to Nick. "Hey, Fru. Good to see you. Sorry to hear about the old mam. This is Amy, one of Judy's sisters. We got together after Clair passed."

Fru smiled. "I was so sorry to hear about Clair, Fin. But I'm also glad you found someone else."

Fin nodded. "It hurt, I ain't gonna lie. But I'm lucky that way. Fennec's don't have the problem about our mates that reds like Nick do. Still shocked he managed to stick around without her."

Amy smiled. "Hello. I have a few abilities that might be able to help your settlement. I can effect metal and machines. If you will let me, I can actually expand the bus slightly, while making the metal that makes it up much stronger."

Fru nodded. "We would really appreciate that. How long will it take?"

Amy looked over the side of the bus. "Hard to say. A few hours probably, and I will be crazy hungry when I'm done."

Fin reached up and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll get the grill going then."

Amy caressed Fin's ear making him groan. "Thank you, babe." Kissing him on the cheek then turning back to Fru Fru. "I may even be able to get the engine and everything working, and modify the controls so that one of you can drive it."

"You could do that?"

Amy shrugged. "That's a maybe, for sure. Depends on the condition of things. At the very least I can turn the engine into a generator, as long as it is still reasonably intact."

"Do we need to do anything?"

Amy shook her head. "No. If I reach a section that may affect those inside, I'll let you know before I work on it. So I will get started, with your permission."

Fru smiled. "Please do."

Amy moved away to start at the back of the bus, running her paws along it. Nick smiled at Fru Fru. "So. While all that was going on, I retrieved this for you. It's the documents and agreements that Haymarket and Vole came up with to put the agreement between us and other settlements in writing. I am empowered to sign on behalf of both the Haymarket and Vole and Otterdamn. Otterdamn is actually only a few blocks from here. The large explosions you may have heard recently were us. We were using elephant sized flash-bangs to scare off the savages while we raided a nearby ZPD station."

Fru flipped through the papers. "This seems pretty reasonable. While I may be the leader, there are still others I trust and I would like to look this over with them."

"Of course. I would expect nothing less. One benefit is that, once joined and the repeaters are in place, you will have access to the radio network we are trying to rebuild."

Fru nodded. "That could be very useful. I'll be back in a little bit. Is there anything I can have gotten for you?"

Nick smiled. "Unless you have Judy hiding in there, I still have a rabbit hunt to finish."

Fru chuckled. "Sorry. No bunnies here, but it'll be okay, Nicky. I know you'll find her soon. I'll talk to you in a bit."

Fru Fru then went inside, the panel closing behind her. Nick spent the time preparing a drone while Amy worked over the bus and Fin heated up the grill. Four hours later Amy was finished and stuffing herself with vegetables and chicken, while several hundred rodents watched in shock at a bunny eating meat.

The panel opened again and Fru Fru stepped out. "Nicky! These terms are very reasonable. As such, and after discussing it with my advisers, I have signed them. What now?"

Nick grinned and walked over. "Simple. I make copies, send those to Haymarket and Otterdamn using the drones. I then set you up with a radio so you can link into the network once the repeaters get put into place, and you are close enough that you will be able to talk to Otterdam easily enough even without the repeaters."

Fru Fru smiled widely. "Oh, that is great." Handing over the signed documents. "Judy would be so proud of you, Nick."

Nick smiled warmly, if slightly sad. "I sure hope so, Fru. Anyway, let me get this going and Amy can tell you what she was and wasn't able to do for you."

Amy stepped up. "Hi. Nice to meet you formally. Judy told us so much about her friend Fru Fru. Anyway. I was able to reinforce the structure of the bus. It is now also half a meter wider and a full meter and a half taller. I wasn't able to convert it to be driven by someone of the rodent class, but if you have a rabbit, or anyone larger, than you will be able to move the bus as you see fit. With the reinforcement I was able to do, as long as you have a good head of steam going, there is little that will get in your way. Though to cut the metal, you will now need someone with crazy sharp claws, sharper than diamond blades. Like Lizz, or maybe Nick. I don't think he even knows what all he's capable of.

Anyway, I'm rambling. You have about three quarters of a tank of fuel. That is more than enough with the modifications I've made to the engine to drive across Zootopia in rush hour traffic three times, or if you just run it as a generator, which I have also built into it, it'll run for at least six months.

Being from Otterdamn, I'd suggest moving closer to them. That way you can more readily trade with them safely, and enjoy protection from savages more readily. They're looking to expand, and I'm sure wouldn't mind having the bus act as the wall for one of the new streets they take over."

Fru Fru nodded with a smile. "That is not a bad idea. Something I will definitely talk over with Otterdamn once we're officially members of the pact." Looking past Amy to where Nick was launching two drones. "That's what this really is. It is a pact. Protection. Shelter. Support. It doesn't specify species, but at this point, I think we do need to look past species far more than we once did. Maybe if we had been more like Nick and Judy, we wouldn't be here now. Anything else you need to tell me?"

Amy grinned. "Well. You see. I noted that you hadn't tapped into the solar panels on the roof of the bus. I've improved their efficiency and linked them into the power grid, as well as fixed a bunch of shorts and other problems. During the day, you will have more than enough power from the solar panels, unless it's really cloudy. The engine is going to be whisper quiet, so no worry about drawing savages with the noise at night. Oh, and I added a function that lets you electrify the outer shell of the bus. Letting you give a non-lethal, but very nasty shock to anyone in contact with it. I added insulation to the contacts you have against the outer shell."

Fru Fru grinned. "That is amazing, Amy. Thank you so much. You have done so much for us, and we have done literally nothing for you."

Amy grinned. "Just pay it forward. Help add to the pact. Help support bringing the world back from the literal brink."

Fru Fru nodded. "I can do that."

A few hours later, Nick had shoved a few cars into position to make access to the bus problematic for anything but an elephant, providing them with some protection, but set up so that, should they decide to drive the bus away, the bus itself wasn't blocked. Once the drones had returned, a radio was set up in the bus, and introductions were made to Otterdam. Nick and crew set back out and headed up the on-ramp turning into the rainforest in search of the settlement that Judy set up.

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Coming to a stop where the glyph directions left by Judy indicated, Nick got out of the cruiser and looked up at a collection of dried vines hanging over the road. Turning a few times, He looked up and started laughing. Bending over and holding his gut while slapping a knee, he continued laughing. It took several minutes to get control of himself.

Mike looked around confused. "I do not understand what is so funny."

Still chuckling, Nick turned to Lizz. "Come on Lizz, you were there. Surely you recognize this location."

Looking around, Lizz shrugged. "Seems familiar but I cannot place it."

Finally getting his laughing under control. "Just picture a fox in a pawaiian shirt and a rabbit dangling upside down from these vines."

Lizz's eyes went wide. "No."

With a wide grin, Nick nodded. "Yes. The entrance to this new settlement is up there." Pointing. "Tajunga and Vine. You guys make camp. I will make contact, and if possible, retrieve you. I really don't expect to be here long. Just long enough to verify Judy was here."

Mike chuckled. "Yeah, and we were just going to move the bus out of the way, and made contact with a city of rodents run by the daughter of a mob boss. Someone who knew you rather well, I might add, as well as Judy. I mean, her daughter is named after Judy. I know it doesn't matter any more, but care to explain how that works?"

Nick shrugged. "I worked for Big. Not as a killer or anything like that. I got things and information. Sometimes questionable things. As for Judy. She saved Fru's life on her first day. The day she captured Weaselton and Bogo gave her the missing mammal case with 48 hours to solve it. You remember that, right?" Pointing again at a sky-tram platform just visible through the trees. "Right up there."

Lizz's ears folded flat. "Yeah. I'll never forget that. A fox and a bunny, standing up to Bogo of all mammals. We were all a bit shocked when he demanded her badge. Then when you told him, and the rest of us off. We didn't know anything about her only being given 48 hours. You were right. We didn't support her, welcome her, or anything like that. Damn embarrassing."

"Well, that's in the past. Now, I need to get up there and find out about Judy."

A black panther stepped out of a shadow. "Nick?"

Nick grinned. "About time you showed yourself, Renato. You are not nearly as stealthy as you think. Not when you have those like us around."

Amy hopped up with a grin. "Well. He is empowered. He can blend with and I think maybe travel through shadows. Though that only hides him from sight, not sound."

Nick smiled. "That is very cool. So, Renato. Is the message Judy left me true? Was she here?"

Renato smiled warmly. "She was my friend. She left a few weeks ago, but also left a message for you. You must come up. All of you. I will show you to the elevator."

Nick nodded. "I assume the same bridge you chased Judy and I across is the entrance to your settlement?"

"Unless you can jump like Judy, then yes. That, or the elevator we built. Judy's brother, Herald, will be so happy to see you."

Nick frowned. "Herald? I seriously doubt he will be happy to see me, or any of us."

Amy frowned as well. "I have to say, I'm with Nick on that."

Renato shook his head with a smile. "He is a changed rabbit. A fox saved him, helped heal him. I'm not sure why he was in the city, but he now watches all the young ones that we have collected. He doesn't care about their species. Says that being young, they have been through enough."

Nick nodded. "I'll take your word for it. I'll meet you all up there."

With his speed, Nick is quickly out of sight. Renato chuckled. "I see he is like miss Judy."

Amy laughed. "That's actually Misses WildeHopps, Renato. Nick and Judy are married."

Renato smiled. "I know. I was there. Come, secure your vehicles and I will lead you."

Amy frowned. "What do you mean, you were there. I was there. I was one of Judy's brides maids, and I would have noticed a large black panther."

Fin chuckled and pulled Amy into a hug. "You forget, love. Nick and Judy were married for almost a year before the big bunny ceremony. They got married in a traditional fox wedding almost a year to the day. You and none of your family could be invited because your parents didn't approve. You still lived at home. If you had lived on your own, then Judy could have invited you, but as I explained about fox weddings..."

Amy nodded with a sad sigh and looked down as her ears fell against her back. "Right. Right… Because of what happened, you guys don't do big weddings. It wasn't safe, and no reason to change when so few places will even marry you anyway."

Giving her a kiss on the cheek, Fin smiled. "That's right. We just need a few witnesses, and it is a done deal. So you just tell me, and it's done. We can do a big bunny shindig like Judy did later, when things are safer. If anything, a fox wedding is better suited to this world."

Any nodded and followed then froze, her eyes going wide and ears popping up and flushing. "Fin… Did you just?"

Grinning, with his own ears folded to the side in embarrassment as he nodded. "I.. Uhm… Amy. You were there for me when Clair got sick, and especially when she died. Losing her almost destroyed me. You have always been patient with me, and been able to check my impulse to pound mammals. You make me a better fox. You make me want to be a better fox. When I initially lost Clair, I was sure I would never be able to love again. My heart was shattered, and her loss still hurts, except when I am with you. You patched my heart as effectively as you do a machine. If you had powers before all this, it was the power to make me love again.

Fin kneeled and looked up at Amy who had tears shining in her eyes. "Fin?"

Looking up at Amy, he smiled. "I've never been good at mushy stuff. That was always Red's department. I can't get you a ring, but I keep looking. We just haven't passed any jewelry stores so I could get you something. In the meantime, I don't want to wait any more. Amy. Will you make me the happiest fox in the world? Will you marry me?"

With a choked sob, Amy wrapped Fin in a crushing hug, kissing him furiously. "Yes! Yes, Finnick Dessertail. I will marry you, and it is about damn time, too."

Nick's voice from far above them filters down. "Good job. Like she said, about time!"

Renato grinned. "Must be a Hopps thing to fall in love with foxes."

Amy looked to Ranato. "What do you mean?"

"You will see. Come. We are almost there." Motioning them to follow, Renato leads them off the road and into the brush. "We are along one of the natural rivers, so while some of the plants have wilted and died, this area is still lush. It is a good thing Judy, as strangely as it is to think, knew so much about raising chickens. We are working to raise more. Sadly, we have also been forced to hunt savages to keep predators like myself fed. Though those that do the hunting get first access to the chicken."

Fin nodded. "That's smart. I was confused by how Amy and her brother knew so much about it until they explained. No one would believe that a family of rabbits was one of the biggest producers of chicken in the state."

Renato nodded as he pulled on the end of a vine that was hanging near a tree. A bell rang far above them, followed by a voice. "Who rings the bell?"

Renato looked up. "Renato. We have visitors from another community, and friends of Miss Judy's. Including one of her sisters."

The same voice called down. "Password?"

"Ghilgamesh"

"Sending the elevator down. How many mammals?"

"A tiger, a wolf, a small fox, and a rabbit."

"Send the tiger up first."

A metal frame with a railing descended a few moments later and Lizz got on. Then found herself rising quickly into the trees. About five minutes later, it descended again and the rest of them climbed on and rose up into the trees as well, Renato stepping into a shadow and vanishing.