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.
As a note for you, my wonderful readers, to be aware of.
Both WCST, this fic, and AFH (A Friendly Hustle), my other fic, are going to undergo a proper review and clean up. So after this chapter, there are going to be a lot of update notifications, but that is because I'm reposting cleaner, more polished chapters.
I'm doing this because I never expected either of these stories to take off in the way they have, but knowing my muse, I should have expected it. In any case, I didn't give them the level of scrubbing you, my readers, deserved.
This will also give me a chance to make sure my timeline notes, character notes, location notes, etc… are fully up to date and accurate. If you are not a writer, you may not realize how hard it can be to keep track of names, dates, and everything else. Specific events need to be tracked so you can refer to them again, and keep things straight when characters reference them. It's a whole thing, and I keep a huge spreadsheet with a dozen tabs to keep track of it all, for all my work, fanfic and original. Only… I didn't start tracking until I was deep in…
Again, I wasn't expecting these stories to take on the life that they have. So with all that said, if you enjoy re-reading fics like I do, keep an eye out for the notifications after this one, because that will be the cleaned up chapters, and I know myself, stuff WILL get added, whether I like it or not. My muse is an arse that way.
I promise, there is still plenty more where all this came from, you all just deserve to get my best work, not my half-arsed, not expecting more than a chapter or two, first drafts. The first few chapters are just that, getting nothing but a basic once over. Time to fix that.
Anyway, on with the show.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wilde Cardz – Savage Territory – Chapter 21
Treetop community. The morning after the weddings.
Nick woke with a groan as the sun burst through the windows suddenly, the bright morning light stabbing through his eyes. He rolled away from the light, but it was too late, he was already awake. Grumbling, he sat up, though he could not help a smile as his nose was filled with the scent of his bunny, stale as it was, it was still her. A reminder that she survived, and was alive and well not that long ago, thus soothing the ache in his heart.
As his eyes adjusted, he looked over to the window that had let the light in. "I know I didn't open that." Getting up, he stepped over to the curtains and found a small solar panel and motor, which had opened the curtains while he slept. There was also a note taped to the window, making him smile. "Sly bunny."
"Good Morning, Nick! I hope you have slept well. I miss you. There is so much I need to tell you. I need you to come find me at the burrow, Nick. I expect I will be there for quite some time, for reasons that I will not discuss here. I will however give you a clue, if you can find it. I know how much you like puzzles, so I will give you one now. What do bunnies not eat that I enjoy almost perversely?
Love you Nick. Find me. See you soon.
Your Dumb Bunny"
Chuckling with a grin on his muzzle. "Sly bunny. That's easy. Shrimp. But how is that a puzzle?" Shaking his head, he went about getting ready for the day. He expected they would leave either later that afternoon or the next morning.
As he went about his morning ritual, brushing his teeth, his fur, and making himself a small breakfast. Someone had delivered some eggs and bread overnight. He was sitting at the small kitchen island that separated the kitchen from the living area when he saw it. On the wall was a painting. A painting of a shrimp. It was clearly an odd decor item, and not at all what Judy would normally select.
He stared at the picture for some time as he ate. After he finished and cleaned up, he walked over to it. "What do bunnies not eat, but she loves. She's a shrimp addict." Staring at the picture, he ran a paw over the image behind a pane of glass. He chuckled. "It would be that simple with her."
He took the picture off the wall and noticed that the frame was fairly thick and smiled. A perfect hiding place. Being a bunny, most would just assume that the picture came with the apartment and she just hadn't bothered to take it down. Unless you knew her like he did. Turning it over, he found another note written on the backing.
"Hey Nick. Knew you would find this way too easily, but it isn't as if this is a secret to those around here. It is to you though. I think it happened that last night we were together. I don't know how, and the gods know I have cried about it without you being here. So don't cry too much. Find me nick. We need you.
Love you. Your dumb bunny.
"What does she mean, we?" His ears twitching as he moved to put the picture back on the wall and it shifted, causing him to hear a thunk from inside the frame and feel the weight shift slightly. "What the?" He quickly took the picture off the wall, walked over to the counter, and took the back off the picture.
Inside he found a plastic evidence bag with something that shocked him. Holding it up, tears started to stream down his face. There was also a photo of a gray furred paw holding the item, at least one tear drop on it in the picture. Nick fell to his knees as the tears flowed freely. Throwing his head back he laughed like a maniac, then stood and spun around whooping as he jumped around. He realized in that moment what it was that had been bothering him about her scent.
Bursting from the apartment a few minutes later, he leapt over the rails with a joyous shout and landed, scaring the mammals walking about. Scanning around, he quickly found Amy and Fin sitting in the common area eating breakfast. He grinned as they both looked slightly disheveled as they grinned and laughed at each other. The sight made Nick's heart soar, seeing Fin so happy, angry deep voice or not.
Running up, Nick couldn't stop his tail wagging wildly or wipe the grin off his face. Fin looked up at his friend with a smirk. "What's up, Red?"
Nick was almost yelling. "I know what was different about her scent!"
Fin scrunched up his muzzle in confusion as Amy raised an eyebrow. "What are you going on about, Red?"
He grin still so wide it had started to hurt and he didn't care, Nick shook himself out trying to calm down while still almost prancing from foot to foot. "Ever since we got here, there has been something about Judy's scent that was just kinda, off. Not in a bad way, but different. I was thinking maybe it was just the lack of regular showers, but that wasn't it. It was this!" Holding out the photo and the pregnancy test, a test that showed two lines. "The note she left says she thinks it happened that last night before everything went crazy."
Amy frowned for a second, then looked up at Nick. "Nick, if she keeps to a typical Hopps pregnancy, she'll have given birth already or will very soon. We need to get you to the burrow, now!" Standing up with urgency. "Fin. You get the others, I'm going to pack our stuff. We can finish our honeymoon celebrations once we get to the burrow. There are some really nice couples rooms, with sound proofed walls." Giving Fin a sultry smile before dashing back towards the room they were given.
Herald stepped up with Linn. "Hey, what's all the commotion?"
Nick spun around, his grin instantly turning into a snarl. "Herald! How could you let Judy make that trip, by herself, in her condition?!" The growl from Nick made everyone in the area blanch. It had far more power than a fox had any right generating. More the sound one would expect from a dire wolf or other very large predator.
Herald blinked in shock as he took a step back from Nick and into Linn. "Nick. I tried to talk her out of it, but she's stronger than an elephant now, and has dozens of other abilities. I couldn't have stopped her. None of us could, even if we tried. Hell, even before we couldn't have without literally chaining her to the bed, and that might not have even worked. You know her better than anyone. You know that."
Nick's growl faltered and then he fell into a chair behind him, looking down at his paws and the photo and pregnancy test in them. "Yeah. You're right. Sorry. That was uncalled for."
Herald shook his head. "Don't apologize, Nick. I get it. I really did try and talk her into waiting. We all did. But she wanted to check on the burrow, and to have the kits, your kits, somewhere she considered safe. The burrow will have power because they have several turbines that run off the underground river. They also have a battery system, gravity storage, and solar panels. Plus about a dozen of us are nurses, doctors, and nearly all of us have assisted in a birth or three. So I get it. It's why she left when she did. To give herself enough time before she got too far along and had no choice but to stay."
Nick nodded, his shoulders slumping, a few tears slipping from his eyes. "That makes sense. There is no way I could catch up with her in time to make the birth. I feel like such a failure as her mate. We weren't together when it happened. I was supposed to be her partner in all things. On the force, and in life. Yet when it mattered, where was I? I searched for her." Looking up as he cried. "I really did. I found the cruiser, crashed. I thought the worst, but I knew she would never forgive me for giving up. So I wondered. Then I found a community under the boot of a bunch of would-be kings. I took them down and helped build up a thriving community. It's what I know she would have wanted me to do. To make the world a better place.
Now that I know she was still alive so recently. So close…" Grasping at the air as if just missing something. "If anything, it hurts more knowing I just missed her. But it also helps, because I know she is still alive, still sane, and I know where she is headed, even if I am still chasing her. Now with this…" Holding up the photo of the test. "Oh gods. That makes it so much worse. I'm going to be so clingy it's going to drive her absolutely nuts. I don't know if I will ever be able to let her out of my sight again."
Herald nodded. "I can't even imagine what you are going through, Nick. But I'm sure you will catch up with her soon."
Giving a nod, Nick sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Sorry for being so emotional."
Linn put her paw on his shoulder. "Nick. I don't know if any of us can understand the strength you have to have made it this far. I had a friend, she was a red vixen. Her mate died right after they were mated. Car accident on his way to work. She was beyond crushed. I had never seen it before. It is something we are all told about, but... We all tried to help, but she just curled up and withered away. It's something you hear about, but it isn't something you expect to see personally. Always something that happens to a friends, friends, relative. So your strength, your love for her, shows just how strong the love between you is. Don't give up. I know she is still there and still waiting for you."
Fin, Mike, Lizz, and Amy came running up, bags over their shoulders. Mike grinning. "First. Show us the proof, then we need to head out."
Nick chuckled. "Even if we drove straight through, the likelihood of us making it is low. Besides, we have another job to do on the way there and our caravan is going to grow." Turning to Herald. "Is your community going to add anyone to our delegation?"
Herald nodded. "We are. Renato is going to go with you, and David as well, if you are willing to look after him. I have a feeling he'll try and stow away if you don't just agree to take him with you."
Nick sighed and looked to Fin and Amy, who both nodded with a smile. Lizz and Mike doing the same. "Fine. Get him packed up."
Fin chuckled. "The Busston group has already got a small area set up in the van, so we're good to go once David is ready. He'll ride with us, and I already set up a small cot for him too."
Shaking his head, Nick smiled. "Alright. I'll meet you guys there. I need to visit the stone one more time before we head out."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nick left the others to get ready to head out, walking across the bridges to where the Tree Stone was. Stepping up to it he rotated it several times until a face no one had seen the previous evening showed. As that face came into view, all the sounds around him vanished. Looking back, it appeared as if the mammals around him were frozen in place. Nick smiled and turned back to the stone.
On that face were gems and crystals inlaid into a pattern of a red fox and a gray rabbit wrapped around each other like a Yin and Yang symbol. The gems seemed to glow. With a heavy sigh, Nick placed his paw on the center of the image where it appeared to have an emerald and amethyst stone interlocked with each other.
"I have never been religious, and I don't know what you actually are. I do know that you are real. Karma. Serendipity. I would say that what I ask is not for me, but it totally is. Please. Look out for Judy and the kit or kits she carries, or carried if she has already given birth to them. That is my ask. Protect them that they are safe while I make my way to them."
Nick felt a chill heat rush up his spine and a collection of presences behind him, though he dare not move or turn. A voice that speaks in a language unheard but understood with perfect clarity whispered in his ear. "You are no priest, as you say. You are not worthy, but you know that. You accept your fate if it were to end here just to ensure their safety. For that reason, you are worthy, Nicholas Piberius Wilde. You will learn the true history of our world before your end. You and your mate. Use that knowledge well."
A new voice replaced the first. "Your skills. Your power has been granted to you for a reason. You will be the fire and she the steel from which a new world will be born. Your kits will lead that world and bring mammal kind back from this brink. Your family, chosen and blood, will be your sword and shield. Wield them well, but do not abuse them."
A new voice whispered in his other ear. "You will not remember this, but you will know it in your heart. Seek the Mountain City. Seek Von. From there, you can rebuild the world. Know she is safe. Know your kits are safe. Know that you will see them soon."
Then hundreds of voices echoing in chorus. "Remember us. Find the stone of Hop and Wilde. Find the stone."
Nick blinked and looked around. His paw still on the stones normally blank face. Shaking himself from the sensation that he suddenly forgot something important, he was also filled with warmth. A conviction came over him. He knew Judy was alive and safe at the burrow. He was not sure how he knew, but he did, deep in his heart. The doubt and fear that had plagued him since the first day things went south, was gone. He felt a confidence he had not felt since Judy stood by his side every day on patrol.
With a smile, Nick closed his eyes and tipped his head back, whispering. "Thank you. I don't know what just happened, just that something did. I know now in my heart that they are safe and that I will find them."
Turning, a smile on his face, Nick made his way to his companions. He had a bunny to find.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bunnyburrow Station, several weeks earlier.
Judy and Benny had traded off watches, but were undisturbed through the night. Once morning came and they both had eaten, they packed up and prepared to make contact with the town. The morning light gave them a good view of the town in the distance and the fact that it was clearly still occupied, and fortified.
Benny smiled down at Judy. "So, what's the play?"
Judy shrugged. "I'd say we just walk right up. Walking on our two feet will make it clear we're not savage. Beyond that, there is no telling what we are going to come into contact with, so be ready to run if we have to."
Benny nodded. "Sounds good. They left us alone. No telling if they knew we were here or not, but if they did, I guess they wanted to see what we would do."
"I think that's likely. So let's do this. The sooner we make contact with the town, the sooner we can get through it and to the burrow."
With that, they jumped back down to the station platform. Thirty minutes later, they were walking down the center of the road and approaching the blocked off entrance to the town. Being a farming community, access to materials to make fencing and barriers, build barns, etc… was easily accomplished from the local mill and supply store. The town had clearly put that, and the knowledgeable mammals that reside in such a place, to good use.
They were about twenty meters from the barrier, which was clearly attached to the buildings on both sides. A voice yelling out to them. "Stop right there!" Benny and Judy, who had kept their paws in view for the last quarter mile, did as instructed, lifting their paws slightly away from their bodies.
A different voice them spoke from the top of the left building. "Identify yourselves. We're rabbits. We can hear you."
Judy smirked. "Judy WildeHopps and my friend Benny McGreggor. We're just passing through on the way to the Hopps burrow. I've traveled from Zootopia to check on my family and see how they are and how many survived."
A joyous voice screamed from behind the wall as a door burst open and an older rabbit buck came running out, with a slight limp. "Judy?" Seconds later, Judy was wrapped up in what would have been a crushing hug were it not for her new gifts. Tears from the buck soaking into her shirt.
Grinning and hugging Stu back. "Hi dad. I'm okay. I've been okay. I came to check on you guys."
Stu just held her for a long time. Finally pushing away, holding her by the shoulders. "Judy. You're with kit?"
Judy grinned wider. "Yes, Dad. They're Nick's. I wanted to get home and have them here. So I left Zootopia before I could find him. I am sure he will find me here though, if he isn't already here?"
Stu nodded. "No, he hasn't gotten here yet, but if I know your fox, he'll find his way here soon enough. Now. Who's the tiny tiger?"
Benny chuckled. "Hello Mr. Hopps. Benny McGreggor. I'm the younger brother of Jarvis, Maria's mate."
Stu Grinned even wider. "That is fantastic! Come on, both of you. It is so great to know you are okay."
They approached the gate and the door opened again, with a dozen rabbits holding weapons. One stepped forward, pointing his shotgun at Benny. "No way. We are not letting a predator in here."
Stu frowned. "Jessup Lepts. That is quite enough of that. You have no authority in this community after that last stunt you pulled. Stop this now or I will ask the council to banish you."
Jessup grinned. "We have been waiting, Stu, but you finally gave us an opening. My group has taken this town, and there is nothing you can do about it. We'll take your burrow next, and there is nothing your freak kids can do about it. Not that you will have to worry about it…"
Judy suddenly stood in front of Jessup, his shotgun in her hands, ripped from his paws. "Nothing we can do, Jessup? You specist dung heap! It is attitudes like yours that caused this mess."
Jessup reached back and slapped Judy. There was a sound like snapping celery as he pulled his paw back with a scream, cradling it. "What? You're a freak too? Figures you of all rabbits would be a freak. There was never anything normal about…"
Judy returned the favor, only it spun Jessup around three times and then he fell, unconscious. Turning her attention to the remaining rabbits holding guns on them. "The rest of you. Drop your weapons, or I will show you just how much of a freak I am." Giving a loud, predatory growl.
They looked at each other then as one fired at Judy. Stu screamed, Benny yelled, and Judy rolled her eyes. Hard. As the smoke from the shots cleared, a pile of weapons could be seen, the rabbits that had fired were all tied up, and Judy was searching through her bag for a new shirt, completely topless at the moment, and grumbling. "Sure, I'm bullet proof, but why couldn't it extend to my clothes. But no… idiots have to be using double loads."
Stu blinked several times. "Judy?"
Pulling the shirt over her head, Judy smiled. "Yeah dad. I'm fine. I'm fast, strong, and bullet proof. Amongst other things. So, let's see about dealing with any other of these specist asshats. Then I can get to the burrow, rest, and wait."
Stu shook his head. "Figures you would be more, Jude. Just try not to scare me like that."
Judy gave a very Nick-esk smirk. "I make no promises I don't intend on keeping. So come on."
Over the next hour, they captured another thirty rabbits who supported Jessup, the rest escaping over the wall as the rest of the town turned on them. It became clear that the rest of the town had embraced the predator citizens as they were better suited to night patrols and sentry duties to protect the whole community.
The Hopps chicken farm was still in full operation and provided enough meat for the predators of both Bunnyborrow East and West. East was the town, West was the Hopps burrow complex. The underground tunnel network provided them much more protection from the savages that did roam the land. The predators acted as security while the rabbits and others worked the fields. It was this arrangement and the obvious protection the predators were able to provide that kept the town from siding with Lepts and his ilk.
The tunnels also linked the town and burrow allowing safe passage between them while avoiding the savages unless needed to work the fields. Many of the fields were also consolidated, material from barns, abandoned homesteads, etc… turned into barriers surrounding the fields with predators and mammals with offensive abilities standing guard.
More than that, they had captured several savages and essentially domesticated them to pull plows. This included about a dozen horses, and bovines of several species, as well as sheep who were being kept for their wool. They did this to help conserve fuel, which given the state of the world was in very short supply.
As it turned out, the Hopps were the only clan that had the foresight to maintain a stockpile, in addition to the power they derived from solar, wind, gravity storage, batteries, and the water turbines. They had enough fuel to last three months at their normal operating levels, while the other clans had only a few weeks, a month at most, at their reduced levels, depending on constant deliveries. Due to this, all the other farms were pretty much shut down, and even most of the Hopps fields were left fallow. No longer exporting anything, they didn't need to produce more food than needed to cover the needs of the community.
The chicken production however kept up, at a slightly lower pace, as they were shipping some of it out to Podunk and received goods back from them in exchange so that their predators had something to eat there as well. The entire region had come into its own. They were also working directly with the nearby predator town of Foxenburg. The excess chicken going there and output from their orchards coming back.
They had modified one of the old wood burning steam tractors so that it could ride the rail line between Foxenburg, Bunnyburrow, and Podunk. With the rail cars armored, and protected by mammals riding on top with various weapons, they had few issues and only experienced one raid by brigands. A raid that was turned back by the rifles and abilities of a few empowered mammals that were acting as guards. The old fortifications of Foxenburg and Bunnyburrow had been brought back into service, and the weapon caches that they had established proved endlessly useful.
After cleaning up the town, Judy, Benny, Stu and several others were sitting around a conference table where the city council, made up of a dozen rabbits, as well as a wolf, a deer, Gideon's mother, Gloria Grey, Travis, and several other mammals of both prey and predator species, as they described things to Judy.
Judy smiled. "This is all so great to hear. I'm so very glad that things are doing so well here. The tracks are mostly intact all the way to Zootopia, and there are several communities that could really use some connection to civilization. There is the community that I helped build, Treetop, which is in the Rainforest district. There is also a community that was growing up around one of the train stations in the Rainforest. Though how it grows is up for question. There are others that are basically little kingdoms and would be warlords. I broke one of those up, but they were empowered, so I didn't stick around. Hopefully they got over the fact that some empowered mammals were jerks and realize that not all of them are."
Stu nodded with a grin to his daughter. "You were always right about that Judy. There are a lot of jerks out there, empowered and not. Predator. Prey. And when you get right down to it, with so many rabbits, we probably had more jerks in our ranks than most. I'm just glad we had started listening to you, so we could embrace the predators in our ranks. Without them, we would have never managed to survive with the success we have."
Glaria Grey nodded with a smile. "Yes. If'n Stu and your family hadn't embraced my Gid, despite what he done ta ya, when yas was little. Well… I don' think we woulda been able ta convince Foxenburg to join our little coalition."
Judy nodded. "So, where is Gideon? I see Travis. Hi, Travis. But where Travis is, I would have expected to see Gideon."
Travis smiled and gave Judy a shy wave. "Hi Judy. Good to see you. Gid is at the bakery. Being a trained chef, he manages most of the food production for the town. Makes sure we all get fed good. Our mates are keeping him in line."
Judy smiled. "I always figured you and he would end up together."
Travis blushed, his ears folding back. "Well… Gid and I are together, and we each have a mate as well, who are together."
Giving a happy grin, Judy nodded. "Oh. Well, congratulations then. As long as you are happy." Turning to her dad. "So, Dad. How much of the family survived? As in, didn't go savage?"
Stu chuckled. "Funny thing about that. Of the family, none of your actual siblings were affected. Though I can't speak for Herald, Amy, or any of your other sibs that followed you to the city. More than that, most of your siblings, like yourself, have abilities. Yet families like the Lepussens were almost all affected. All but poor Jenny's kits. Jenny herself was affected, as was her husband, a jackrabbit, but their kits were not affected. Your mom took them in and they've basically been adopted. I don't know what the difference is."
Judy nodded. "Interesting. That suggests that we have a lot of mixed blood in our background, as a family, whereas the Lepussens I know were hard core purists."
Stu frowned. "What do you mean?"
Smiling, Judy looked down as she sat back and rubbed her belly, a paw clearly creating a bump on her belly. "Hey. Behave in there." Looking up at the mammals at the table around her. "Well, I can tell you that Herald is fine. He is part of the Treetop community I helped build, and has fallen for a lovely kit fox vixen named Linn. She saved his life and he was forced to work with her to survive the early days. I guess it all finally got through his thick skull. He now teaches at the school. We saved a lot of kits in the early days. Found a lot more that we didn't make it to in time. But we, Treetop, have dozens of kits of all sorts of species. If we are going to rebuild society, we need kits." Looking down at her belly. "I just hope Nick finds his way here soon."
Stu smiled and patted Judy on the shoulder. "I'm sure he will, Jude. If there is one thing I know about that fox. He loves you more than life itself, and disappointing you would kill him."
Judy laughed. "So true. Anyway… As for why I said that our family must have mixed blood. What I mean is that in the past, members of the Hopps clan must have interbred with other species, especially those not closely related to us. You see, when everything went to hell, Nick and I were chasing some leads into who created the virus." Seeing the shocked looks. "Yes, this whole apocalypse was caused by some Bellwether fanatics who had gotten a geneticist to create a virus.
The intent was to target predators, make them sterile and permanently, incurably, savage. Only, he botched the job. He died about a month in. One of his… test subjects… got loose and… and ate him…" Shaking off the memory of what she found. "However, I found his data and notes. The idiots he gave it to infected themselves, which caused the virus to mutate, since they were not predators. That's why it affected all species.
One of the things he found when he was studying those that were affected versus those that were not, is that those with mixed blood were less likely to become savage. The more pure, as someone like the Lepussens would call it, the more likely to go savage. The more mixed blood, especially pred-prey mixing, the less likely to go savage, and the more likely to gain abilities. So, based on that, if all of our family were unaffected and a large portion gained abilities, if the scientist that created the virus is to be believed, our family has a lot of mixed genetics, including some significant mixing with predators."
Stu looked at Judy in shock. "That's crazy. Are you sure?"
Judy shrugged. "Hard to say, Dad. Without having scientists with access to some sort of genetic profiling equipment so they can test what the mad-scientist that created this world claimed in his notes…" Giving a shrug as her ears canted to the side, forming a wide V shape. "We can only guess and ask those that survived if they know if they have mixed blood in their family history."
Gloria chuckled. "Well, if'n ya ask me. I'd say that sounds about right. I know for a fact that there was a wolf or three in the Grey family tree. It's how we gots the name, Grey, bein red foxes as we are."
Travis nodded. "I know from family histories that there are a few mink, a ferret or two, and if my grandma is to be believed, a fossa was my actual grandfather."
The deer spoke up. "Yes. It sounds reasonable. I know for a fact that my great grandfather was actually a moose. So, while there aren't any predators in my background that I know of, and I didn't get abilities, I do know that I've got mixed blood in me."
One of the rabbits then spoke up. "Hello Judy. I'm Jared Hoppers. We're from Podunk originally, moved here to Bunnyborrow about six months before everything happened. Well, I know I have at least a few non-rabbits in my background, and only a couple of us were affected. Based on what you are saying, I believe it." Putting his head down and taking off his tall hat to reveal two small horns growing. "I'm actually a Jackalope. There are jackrabbits and a few of the smaller antelope species in my background. We tend to keep our antlers trimmed, and wear hats, as other mammals freak out seeing a rabbit with horns. But with all the powers running about, I don't see a need to keep that a secret anymore.
Given that those that were affected by what happened were the ones from the side of the family that shunned our mixed heritage and refused to mix with anyone that wasn't… pure. Like the Lepussens. In fact, those affected had actually married or were kits from such marriages."
Judy nodded. "Well, that's some pretty strong evidence there, if circumstantial. Even if you don't know about it, that gives a strong indication of the truth of the claim. So, now that we've dealt with the specist element that was still in town. Who wants to break the news to that specist jerk that he's got mixed blood and that's why he wasn't affected?"
A laugh went around the table, and the wolf spoke up. "Oh. Please let me. There are several coyotes, a fox or two, and a maned wolf in my family history. Even a cougar, if my great grandma were to be believed. She claimed to have had a one night stand with one, as she put it, a last hurrah and to satisfy her curiosity, before she married my great grandfather. Claimed that my grandfather and great aunt were the result of that one night stand." Holding up his paw and displaying his very feline-like retractable claws. "Given that I don't know of any canines other than foxes that have retractable claws, I give credence to the idea too. So please. Let me tell them."
Stu nodded. "Only if I get to help. But before we do that, we need to decide what we are going to do with them, and for that, we need the other council members from B-west, Foxenburg, and Podunk. We sent word, so they should be here in a few hours." Turning to Judy. "In the mean time, I think we need to get you over to the hospital and have you checked out."
Judy rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Sure, Dad. I'm just glad that the town switched over to solar and wind power. I'm sure it has helped make sure that things have not been quite as bad as some areas of the city. Once the power plants underwent auto-shutdown, things got really bad there for a while."
The deer spoke up again. "Before you head over to the hospital. Can you tell us a bit more about what happened in the city?"
Judy nodded with a sad smile. "I'd be happy to."
Judy spent an hour describing what she had seen and heard since the world came to an end. How some mammals had tried to help each other, while others had built their own little kingdoms. Describing how some were building communities to help each other out, while others were just using it as a chance to grab power. She described the fires that had raged early on, how one of the sky scrapers had fallen, cutting much of the city off from the other side. Speaking also of her hope that, with such vibrant communities like Hairysburg, Treetop, as well as Bunnyburrow East and West, Podunk, and Foxenburg; that they could band together and help create a greater community and start rebuilding what they lost.
Stu then walked Judy over to the hospital via the tunnels as there was a lot of open land between the secure part of town and the hospital, which had also been ringed and was fortified. Judy was pleasantly surprised that the lighting and power was still working in the tunnels and the hospital was fully functional, save the very carefully rationed medicines. She knew they had power, but didn't expect them to use it on the tunnels.
When she mentioned this, her father let her know that they had installed motion sensors that kept the lights on for about twenty meters in front of and behind any mammals moving through the tunnels. That being for the main tunnels, any secondary tunnels either needed to be turned on manually, or mammals would use flashlights. Most of the other burrows had also been abandoned accept as storage and such, meaning the power they would normally use was also saved.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bunnyburrow General Hospital
Judy's sister, Clair walked into the room looking down at the chart nodding. "Okay, rabbit, hybrid kits with a… fox? No kidding." Looking up she froze in shock for a second. "Judy… JUDY!" A grin took over her face as she wrapped Judy in a hug. "Oh my gods! Sis, what are you doing here? Where's Nick? Are you okay?"
Judy grinned as she hugged her sister back. "Don't know where Nick is. Came back to check on the family. Got here a few hours ago and helped put down a would be coup by that specist jerk Jessup Lepts. Like a lot of our siblings, I've got abilities now. One of them being I'm bullet proof. So all their shotguns did was ruin my blouse."
Glaring at her sister. "So what! You are pregnant you stupid doe. You should not be getting in fights, bullet proof or not."
"I'm okay sis, and so are the kits. They're Nick's. I'm just at the rabbit gestation state, about a month or so away from the fox, so not sure when they are going to decide they're done."
Clair shook her head. "No telling. Hybrids are funny that way. You could go into labor five minutes from now, or not for another three months. As long as they are healthy and not in distress, I've learned that it is best to let them and your body decide."
Judy nodded. "Sounds good. I am hoping Nick finds his way here soon, so that he is here when they are born."
"Well, let's start by having a look at them." Clair then wheeled an ultrasound machine over. "Hopefully you being bulletproof doesn't mess with the scan. Do you even feel it?"
Judy shrugged as she pulled her blouse up. "Not as much. It's kinda like someone flicking your fur, but just your fur. You know it happened, but that's about it."
At that moment the door burst open and Bonnie rushed in. Seeing Judy, she instantly teared up and wrapped her into a crushing hug. "Oh my gods. Bun-bun! Are you okay? Where's Nick? Whose kits are you carrying? Are they Nick's? It's so good to see you. I can't believe you came here all by yourself."
Hugging her mother back, Judy laughed. "I'm fine mom. They are Nick's. I don't know where he is but after not finding me in the city I know he will look for me here and I left him a message or three on where to find me. I didn't come here by myself. I had a friend with me, a tiger named Benny." Glancing over to her dad. "He is being taken good care of, yes?"
Stu nodded. "Absolutely. His brother is actually over in Podunk along with Maria. They're fine and help manage that community. They're also in negotiations to bring the community of Aurora into the fold. From what I understand, the community was almost untouched, save by most of them getting abilities. Aurora was only about ten years old and was founded as a kind of a safe haven for interspecies couples. Clair actually trained at their clinic and is why she knows hybrids so well."
Judy grinned. "I remember that town. Nick and I considered moving there early on. Would have if the acceptance of us had been less, well… accepting in Zootopia. It's great to hear that they survived. Also gives credence to the theory the scientist that caused all this had about why some were and others were not affected."
Stu nodded, scratching the back of his ears after catching his hat he knocked off when reaching up. "You're right, there. More evidence to what you were saying."
Clair frowned as she put gel on the wand and Judy's belly. "Say what now?"
While Clair set up and performed the ultrasound, Judy then described what she found and the information she learned from the scientist that created the virus that brought mammalian civilization to its knees. She then took the print outs of her four kits with tears in her eyes. Wishing that Nick was there. She still knew in her heart that he was alive and out there somewhere, but where is what was hurting her, because he wasn't with her.
Clair had to use a level on the sonogram machine reserved for mega-fauna to get any images at all. After her checkup, Judy was taken back to the burrow where she was greeted with a thousand and one questions, most of which revolved around what she was doing there, where Nick was, and if the kits were Nick's.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hopps Burrow – Evening
After dinner, Judy pulled her parents aside into their study. "Mom. Dad. Can I speak to you in private a second?"
Stu and Bonnie shared a look and then nodded, Bonnie speaking. "Of course, Bun-bun."
A few moments later in the study. "What's up Judy?"
Bonnie passed out tea and looked at their daughter with worry. "Is everything okay with you, sweetie? Something you aren't telling us about you and Nick?"
Judy smiled warmly. "No, mom. Me and Nick are fine, save that we were separated following different leads when things went to hell and haven't been able to find each other. It's the other reason I came. This was one of our, the world is ending, rally points. Well, the world has kinda ended, so here I am, and I expect that he'll be here eventually too. So long as he is able to.
No, the reason I wanted to talk to you is because… Well, as I said, this is one of our, end of the world, rally points. You know that someone bought up the old forest land, a construction crew went through there, and all that."
Stu nodded. "Yeah. Was hard to sell it, but the price was something I couldn't turn down."
Judy grinned. "Yeah, well… That's why Nick and I offered that much."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I knew it had to be one of you kits. No one else would want that land. There isn't anything there."
Judy chuckled. "There is more there than you both realize. There was an old burrow on the land, hidden in the growth. We had it completely redone. It's fortified, has advanced automated and manually driven security systems, independent power, water, air filtration, and… Well, it is meant to be an end of the world rally point."
Bonnie frowned. "Judy. What else is there?"
Judy chuckled nervously. "Supplies. Weapons. Bulk resources. Lots of things. Things that only Nick, Maria, and Myself should be allowed to touch."
Bonnie's frown became a scowl. "Such as…" Her tone getting cold.
"Well, you see. Mom… Nick is the only survivor of the Helketta assassin clan." Putting a paw up to forestall the shocked and horrified exclamation clear on both her parents' faces. "No, he never killed anyone, at least as a member of the Kelketta, we were cops after all. No, he had a different specialty. Specifically information gathering and infiltration, as well as security and protection. I was the last and only student of the last master of the Cheth clan of assassins. Technically, the only reason I'm not called a master is because I haven't taught anyone. Once I do, or if Maria dies, then I will be master of the Cheth."
Stu frowned. "What does Maria have to do with this?"
Judy chuckled. "Simple. Maria is the last master of the Cheth clan, and when she dies, or once I teach someone, I will also be a master of the Cheth, and the Helketta, just as Nick would be considered the current master of the Helketta, as the only survivor of a high enough rank. He will also become a master of the Cheth, once Maria, or I once I am named master, deem him worthy. We've actually considered dropping the names and adopting something new."
Stu finally laughed. "Judy. You are such a kidder. Trying to tell us that you are an assassin."
Judy rolled her eyes. "Well, dad. I'm not an assassin in that I have never used the skills to kill someone for money, as in a contract on their life. However, they have come in exceedingly useful in defending myself and Nick, and at least three mammals lost their lives as a result. They had Nick and I pinned down in a firefight and backup was nowhere to be found. If it were not for those skills, neither Nick nor I would have survived the initial attack, let alone the subsequent fight."
Stu blanched and grabbed Bonnie to keep himself from falling, just barely managing to keep from fainting. Bonnie glared at Judy. "Seriously bun-bun. This isn't funny. I've heard those names, and they were not nice people."
Judy nodded. "You'd be right, mostly. They served a function and were paid by governments, as well as criminal organizations, big business, etc… to take out targets. Sadly, they served a function. And before you get all high and mighty, mom. Both organizations kept records of who paid them, and for what. The Hopps paid both the Helketta and Cheth on at least three occasions each over our history. Twice it was for protection, and the other times, it was for exactly what they specialized in. Murder for hire. In one case, the payment was four kits, who were then trained to be assassins. That's right, four of our family members were used a payment to the Helketta for them to kill a rival business leader and his family. This happened just over a century ago."
Stu sighed and frowned. "So it is true then. Great great grandpa Stewart did it. The story is that there were four kits killed in a cave in."
Judy interrupted. "There was a cave in, but it was staged by the Helketta. They picked the kits they wanted, it was part of the agreement. I can even show you the records."
Stu shook his head. "No. No need. The missing pages of his diary are kept in the sealed history books. The ones only the heads of the clan are allowed to access. I didn't want to believe it when I read that he hired assassins. But the only way you would know, is if you are telling the truth, and he actually did it."
Bonnie looked at Stu in horror. "So you are okay with this?"
Judy frowned. "Mom! Listen. I'm telling you this so you understand what we have stashed in that burrow. A burrow I will be moving into. A burrow where I will start teaching select members of the family the skills that I have learned from both Maria and Nick. Just as Nick learned from me. If the world is to be reclaimed and civilization is to be rebuilt. We need to move past the horrors of the past, we need to rebuild upon a better foundation.
But we must also be realistic. The world as it is, is going to be rife with savagery, and I don't mean those that were driven savage by the virus. I mean those that would seek to gain power at the expense of others, upon the backs of others, while not sharing in that burden or the successes gained. We must embrace our differences, and each other. We can no longer afford to allow what happened when we were little more than the savages that now roam this world, to dictate how we treat each other.
To build a world that is truly a better place for all future generations, we will need to know how to fight. Because we will have to fight. There will be fights against savages, there will also be fights against other mammals who believe we still need to cling to those old prejudices, who seek to separate us all based on species, on religion, on predator vs prey, even on criteria as absurd and arbitrary as fur color. Just like Leaps and others like him. Instead, we need to embrace our differences, as they give us strength to support each other. We must see each other as not even mammals, but just as people. We must learn to only see the person and not their fur, muzzle shape, sharpness of their claws and teeth, but who they are and judge them based on that alone."
Stu nodded. "You always were an idealist, Judy. It will not be easy."
Judy nodded with a roll of her eyes. "I know that, dad. It will also take a long time. I doubt I will see it, but I can do what is needed to make the start. I can give those who share that dream of a better world the tools to create it. Most mammals, most people are good and will embrace such ideals, given the chance. I cannot just sit by and let the world continue to fall. I couldn't before, and now, with kits on the way, I have to do what I have to in order to ensure that the future I leave for them is better than the one the world is currently set upon."
Bonnie nodded. "Okay. I won't say it doesn't terrify me, but given the world as it is now… I guess I need to get past my fear, if like you say, we are to create a world that is better than the one we find ourselves in. For our kits, and theirs."
Judy stepped over and gave Bonnie a hug. "Exactly, mom. Exactly." Releasing Bonnie and pulling Stu into a similar Hug. "And what you have started to build here, what I built at Treetop, can be the start of it. It will require work, and there will be setbacks and failures, but we can do it, if we have faith in each other."
Bonnie nodded. "So, how do we start?"
"We start by me selecting a few dozen of my siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, along with a few from town. We then go to my burrow, I open it, move in, and I start teaching them. I'm sure Maria will stop by as soon as she learns I'm here. I'll have my kits. I'll start raising them, and we will all work together to expand this community to include others. We'll make inroads into Zootopia to communities like Treetop. We'll reach out and add other communities like Hairysburg, and out into the rest of the world. We will secure our communities together and welcome others in, as long as they embrace the same ethos we will build our new civilization upon."
Stu chuckled. "Yeah, a message was already sent to her, per her request, as soon as you got here and we finished up with that ugliness this morning."
"Then I expect she will be here very soon. How is the message sent?"
Stu smiled. "Radio. The police stations of both Podunk and Bunnyborrow still had their radios working. The deputy, Roland Gleeson, was familiar with what he called repeaters. I guess they are set up all over the region, and he got the ones between here and Podunk working, so we can keep in radio contact between here and there."
Judy grinned. "That's great. There are repeaters between here and the city as well. Once we get them working, you will be able to communicate with Hairysburg."
At that moment an alert thump sounded through the burrow and all ears turned towards it. Stu nodded. "Someone is approaching, but it's not a warning, just an alert." At Judy's confused glance, Stu smiled. "We changed the patterns up."
Judy nodded. "Ah. I was unsure about that one. You'll need to teach me the new ones."
A moment later a gazelle followed closely by two tigers, Benny and Jarvis, burst into the burrow. The gazelle yelled, tears in her eyes. "Judy! Oh my gods!" Dropping to her knees and wrapping Judy in a hug. "Oh gods! Judy! You're okay!" Holding her out, surprised she couldn't pick up the rabbit. "You're… Pregnant! And heavy!"
Judy grinned at Maria. "Hey Maria! It's so good to see you." Looking past her to the taller of the two tigers. "Hey, Jarvis. You keeping her out of trouble?"
Jarvis laughed. "Not possible."
Judy laughed. "I believe it. I'm okay. Since Nick isn't with you, I can only assume you don't know where he is either. They are his, by the way. I'm expecting to give birth any time now. I'm already past rabbit gestation, but the scan I got at the hospital says everyone is healthy, so we wait."
Maria frowned. "Where is that mangy fox, then? Why would he leave you alone? I'll have his tail!"
Laughing, Judy patted Maria on the side of the muzzle. "Not his fault. We were following different leads, trying to track down the last of those that did this, along with getting more information from the scientist that created the virus that caused the whole thing. So he was headed towards the
Meadowlands, while I was heading into the Rainforest."
Still frowning, Maria nodded. "Oh. Oh no! I hope he is okay!"
Judy frowned and looked down. "I can still kinda feel him. I really felt him last night. We're still too far away to communicate like we did, but I can feel him. I'm sure he can feel me too, even if it is just subconsciously. I felt a welling of love and hope from him. So I think he found one of the messages I left for him."
Maria nodded. "Okay. That's better than. So, what is your plan?"
"I am going to open up the burrow, some of the weapons are going to be distributed. Then I'm going to start selecting students."
Maria scowled and stood, glaring down at Judy. "Judith, what are your intentions?"
Judy grinned right back at Maria, not intimidated in the slightest. "Maria. Of anyone still in this world, you, me, Jarvis, and Nick, are the ones most prepared to teach others how to not only survive this world, but to rebuild civilization. One that won't suffer from the failings of the last one that brought us to this brink. I'm under no illusion that it will happen in our lifetime, or even our kits, but we can lay the groundwork. The skills we can impart will give those we lead the tools to address this world as it is. There are lots of would-be warlords and petty dictators out there. I took down several back in the city.
We need to start by forming a new great pact, and it must be all inclusive. It will start with the three communities here, I'm certain without question that Hairysburg and Treetop will join up as soon as we can make contact with them. Hairysburg is where the ZPA was, and eventually we will re-purpose it, once they have joined. The world is a savage place now, and not just because of savages, but mammals taking advantage of things. We will come to them all in peace, but we must give our emissaries the skills to defend themselves and others. We will need to have those who can infiltrate and help free those oppressed.
Not only that, but our techniques are how we can teach those with powers to master those abilities to help and protect others. Or would you have us just flail wildly and hope for the best?"
Maria continued to scowl down at Judy for a moment, watching her, ears high, gaze confident and convinced. With a nod and grin. "So be it, Master HoppsWilde. I had already come to the same conclusion and had started teaching a small group in Podunk. We hope to add Aurora to our community group soon, the negotiations are almost done. So what do you propose for this pact?"
Judy's eyes went wide and her breath caught. "Maria?"
Maria chuckled. "Yes. I recognize you as Master. I know you haven't started teaching yet, but your decision and reasons warrant this final promotion. I assume that I'll be calling Nick master as well, because I cannot, not, see him supporting you as well. If only the city of Von were real."
Judy nodded. "With what I know of how the virus seems to have worked, such a city would be all but untouched by all this. The more mixing in a mammal's background, the less likely they were to be affected, and the more likely to have abilities."
Maria grinned. "So what does that mean about your family then? Like three quarters of your kin have abilities."
Judy nodded. "Yeah, I was going to suggest dad have someone dive into the deepest parts of the archives that no one has looked at in a few centuries to see what they can find."
Stu nodded. "Knowing what has happened, and why. I think you are correct Judy. We'll get someone on that right away. It'll take awhile, because a lot of it will probably have to be translated. It's long overdue anyway."
"Okay. In that case. I think I am going to retire. Abilities or not, I'm pregnant as all hell, and I am tired!"
Maria nodded. "We'll discuss this pact you are talking about in the morning. Stu, Bonnie. You don't mind putting us up for the night, do you?"
Bonnie laughed. "Your room is always ready." Turning to Benny. "You must be Bennett. Welcome to our burrow. Give us a few minutes and we'll have a room ready for you as well."
Benny nodded with a smile. "Thank you Mrs. Hopps. Please, call me Benny."
Bonnie laughed. "Only if you call me Bonnie. You might as well be family, as you are Jarvis' brother, right?"
Benny nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Thank you… Bonnie."
Judy was quickly asleep in her own room, along with Maria and Jarvis in one of the large guest rooms that was essentially theirs permanently. Benny put up in a medium guest room shortly thereafter.
Bonnie and Stu sat up in Stu's study later that night. Stu looked at Bonnie. "So, do we tell them in the morning, or just eat some bacon and let them figure it out on their own?"
Bonnie shrugged. "I'm unsure, Stu. We pretty much figured out what Judy confirmed with what she learned from that mad-scientist. The question really is, do we tell them about our contact with Von, or not? With Judy's kits being a Wilde-Hopps cross, from pure lines of the families. As soon as they find this out, they'll send a delegation. Judy needs to at least know before they show up."
Stu nodded. "You're right about that. She's going to be so angry when she realizes why we tried to keep them apart."
Bonnie shrugged. "She will be, for sure. She'll also get over it. I think… I hope… that she will understand. Though I don't expect she'll talk to us for a few days at least."
Stu looked down with a sad frown. "Yeah. Should have known that there was no way to keep those two apart. They really are the prophecy, aren't they?"
Bonnie nodded with her own half frown half smile. "They are. I can't deny that any more. They are perfect copies of the first pairing. We tried to deny it for so long, but… There is no denying it. They are living that same life, and this time I think they will build a stronger society than the last time. I expect Nick will arrive, and with an entourage of dozens of mammals, right as Judy goes into labor."
"Agreed. We'll both know because I'll see Nick approaching as you are probably calling to let me know that she has gone into labor. Anyway, let's deal with that in the morning. We both need some sleep, and I feel like making my mate feel like a queen." Sticking his unnaturally long tongue out.
Bonnie giggled with a grin.. "At least we know why you have that tongue." Jumping up she turned, wiggled her tail at Stu and then took off at a run, Stu in hot pursuit into their bedroom.
Judy chuckled as she heard the door close a few levels above her. "So... Von is real, and mom and dad know about it and are in contact with it. I wonder what she meant about a prophecy? Nick will show up as I'm going into labor?" Looking down at her belly. "Well, in that case, you all need to get on about being born, cause I really need your daddy."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
