(AN: Hello Fellow readers. SirRedFox here posting a new installment of "The Good, The Bad, and The Wilde." First off, if you're reading this, YOU'RE AWESOME! And, thank you.
I try to answer questions at the end of every story. A few people have an interesting questions about the story, and I try to answer all of them as much as I can. I try to answer them at the very end of this installment. I also try to give new story followers a treat into the next installment
In the Previous Installment: With no money the Welson's Banking Co. threatens to foreclose on the Hopps' farm, that is unless Judy decides to take Andrew Welson as her fiancé. In tears of this choice thrown upon her, Judy ran away and comes to find an unconscious fox.
So enjoy this new chapter of "The Good, The Bad, and The Wilde." And please, fill free to leave a review or comment. Thank you.
- Sir_RedFox)
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Good & Wilde:
"Safe is one of those funny words.
Sometimes means something different to the person who says it
and person who hears it."
-Godless,2017
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Nick tossed and turned till the pain in his side woke him up. Opening his eyes, he was at a lost. The last thing he remembers is Death's grasp on him as he rode on Argo. Now awake, he finds himself in a bed with clean linen. His wound didn't hurt as much. His eyes dart around the room, trying to make sense of where he is, analyzing everything in his sight.
Looking around, it didn't seem like he was in some infirmary, being in the only bed that the room provided. A night stand to his left. On side opposite of the bed was the door. The left side of the room had an open window, allowing sun light to fill the room. The window, open with thin window curtains on each side that danced gently in the light breeze that blew through.
The linen sheets were fresh and white. He caresses the soft cotton they were made from. He looked under the covers and to his surprise his wound is clean and bandaged. He also happened to be partially naked, at least his top half.
The sound of a young one's giggles came from the end of his bed. It took a little while, but he sat up, at the end of the bed. Looking down at the bed frame was a female kit bunny, with brown fur and in a white dress, peeping up at the end of the bed frame.
"Hello there," Nick said. "Am I dead?" The kit bunny lifted her head up and shook it left to right. "Am I dying?" Again the bunny kit shook her head no. "Good. But if I do start to die, I want you to come and wake me. I hear dying is a once in a life time experience."
Nick laided back down. He wanted the comfortable mattress to swallow him whole. Can't remember the last time awoke in a bed instead of some pile of dirt with a rock as a pillow. Probably when he accidentally burned down part of the Swearengen Inn. Still, the mattress he found himself awake in was ten times better than the mattresses at the Swearengen Inn.
The door to the room opened. Standing in the door frame was a more mature female bunny in a blue dress. She had a stern look on her face. In her hands holding a bed tray with some food item and a plaster made tea kettle and tea cup. But it was what was tucked under her arm that got his attention. Under the bunny's right arm a single barrel scatter gun.
"Annabelle," the older bunny said with a scal in her voice. "You know you're not suppose to be in here. Go on. You still got chores to do."
The kit bunny listened to her elder (only assuming) sister. The kit bunny dashed out, passing her along the way. She walked in with the tray and to the night stand, never taking her eyes off of Nick.
"And who may I ask are you?" Nick said, upbeat and with a whistle of a tune in his voice.
"Name is Judy," said the bunny.
"Judy? I see you have a tray of food in your hands and a scatter gun under your arm. I am to assume that both are meant for me, but if it's alright, I'll just have the tray of food."
"Right choice" Judy said. She slapped down the tray of food onto the night stand.
"So, Judy," Nick said, "May I ask how I came to be here?"
"I found you. You were being dragged behind your horse, and your horse dragged you onto our property."
Argo. He had nearly forgotten about his wild steed as he got accustomed to the room that he was in. Nick sat up striaght in a panic. "Argo, my horse. Where is he? Is he alright? Is he hurt? I need to-." Pain shot up from his wound making him lay back down.
She tried to calm Nick down. "Take it easy, or you'll rip your stitches open. Your horse is fine and safe. He's in the stables. He's been given food and water and being taken care of."
Nick settled down a bit. "Thank you. And who should I be thanking for dressing my wound?"
"That would also be me and my mother."
"Well, you and your mother done a fine job. Thank you. How long since being out?"
"About two days."
Two days? A lot can happen in two days, thought Nick.
"I am sure you have lot more questions, but for now here's some food and blueberry tea to heal and make you better."
"Well, I thank you ladies kindly."
"Just don't come to making me regret doing so," Judy said an a authority tone. With nothing more to say, Judy turned around and walked out of the room. Before she could shut the door, Nick noticed out the room and into the adjacent room from his and saw an elderly bunny in a worse condition.
Judy made sure to close the door. A loud click from the knob which Nick guessed was now locked. Nick understood, she was just taking precaution with a stranger in their house. Though they must not be too disturbed with the idea of a strange mammal in their bed, because they left the window open. Easy enough for him to jump and escape through.
From the kettle Nick poured himself a steaming cup of blueberry tea. He placed the steaming cup under his nose, to smell all the ingredients in the tiny plaster cup. Belowing on the tea to cool it down before taking simple sips from the cup. He embraced the warm blueberry taste that filled his mouth, bring him joy and comfort. He placed the tea cup aside to see what other goodies were on the tray. There were crackers and some kind of carrot paste, a few celery sticks, and half an ear of corn. Not exactly the type of meal for a predator, but Nick's hunger did not care. He chowed down on the crackers, splattering them with the carrot paste. Chewed on the ear of corn till he gnawed on the stem and ate the sticks of celery. Nick wiped his mouth with the napkin provided and laid back down in the bed. He wanted a good rest before leaving this place.
Judy peered into her father's chamber to check on his condition. He seemed asleep which was good. He still needed his rest to heal.
Judy grabbed her brick hat that hung from the end of her bed frame in her room. She switched the Single Barrel into her left hand and grabbed her hat with her right. Judy, still having bad feelings about having a stranger in their house, hence the reason she and her mother would take turns having the Single Barrel at the ready. She would rather have the Henry rifle in her hands. It was one thing to bring a complete stranger into their home, but a predator? No, not just a predator, a fox into their home.
Judy gently stroked the faint knife scar on her left cheek. Memories of the last time her family tried helping a fox. She can't believe Annabelle snuck into the fox's room. So many things could gone wrong, she didn't want to imagine all the horrible sceniaors. Judy and Bonnie kept busy keeping the little ones away from the fox and that at least one of them had the shotgun in hand. Her mother was in the kitchen cooking away for the night's meal. A hearty vegetable stew that her father can keep down. And yes, she will make enough to offer their special guest. Judy left the shotgun on the counter close to her mother to grab, in case the worst to happen, grabbed an apple, and headed out to the stables.
Judy walked to Luna and sliced an apple in half. She gave half to Luna who gobbled the apple up in a sloppy saliva covered mess. She went to the stable containing the fox's horse, named Argo apparently. The horse gave a huff as she approached. She took the other half of the apple and held the juicy fruit out in her hand in hopes the horse sees she is no threat. Judy actually admired the large beast. Like Luna, this horse was something unique. With it's light brown coat, black mane and tail, and the white streaks down the front of its face like war paint. The horse lowered its' head and gobbled up the apple in one bite. Judy put her palm on the horse's forehead. She pet and stroked the horses mane and scratched behind his ears. The horse became so compliant with Judy.
As much fun as it is bonding with such a creature, the stuff in the corner of the stable that she wanted. With determination she was going to know who this fox really is. She grabbed everything that she could that belonged to the fox and went to place them on all on the work table. Pushing aside gear for the horses, she spread it all out and examined each item. Secretly, it excited her. To go through and figure out what mammal they brought in their house. It at least took her mind off of having to marry a Weslon.
She lit an oil lamp, hung it on a nail, and brightened it to were she could see everything. The saddle was well treated and had a knife tethered to the saddle's gullet. Tossing the clothes to the side she did left up the black vest and let light shine through the bullet hole. The first gun holster she examined was unique. It was designed like no other gun belt she has seen, gun didn't even seem to fit properly. Pulling out the Army Colt revolver it weighed heavy in her hands. She can only imagine how powerful it be when fired. It had a nice polish to its handle and shine to its' barrel. The second holster, a more common one she has seen, and it holstered a Peacemaker. Unholstering the Peacemaker the weapon being much lighter than the Army Colt, she would probably handle this one.
Next were the saddle bags. Not much in them just a sketch book with detailed drawings shut closed with as thin leather strap. Judy flipped through the parchments of landscapes, portraits, and different design ideas for gun holsters and saddles, all drawn with a charcoal pen. She flipped through each item again and again, hoping to find something. Nothing but beautiful pieces of artwork, she closed the binder, tied the leather strap back on, and slid it back into the saddle bag.
She held up the fox's black duster and gave it a shake to which a piece of paper folded up into a square, fell out on to the ground. Judy briefly stared at the piece of paper, as if there some kind of importance to it. She leaned down and snatched the parchment off the ground. She held it up to the light as she unfolded the paper one side at a time. Holding the paper up to the light she read: WANTED DEAD or ALIVE Nicholas P. Wilde for Armed Robbery, Bounty set at $800, Zootopia Official statement. In the center of the wanted poster, a sketch drawing of the fox currently resting inside the Hopps' home. Judy read the wanted poster over again and again, each time making her smile grow wider and wider. She tried to contain herself but she no longer could.
Judy burst out loud with laughter, startling the horses. She cried tears of happiness and wiped them away on her sleeve, trying to hold herself together and calm down. Thank Aslan, she thought. Only two days ago she cried tears of heartbreak and pain, after being told she would marry into the Welson family to save the farm, but now she cries tears of joy as the answer to their prays just so happens to stumble onto their property. She put back all of the fox's belongings. She folded up the wanted paper and blew out the light in the oil lamp. Running from the stables back up to the house.
Barging inside Judy called to her mother, wanting to tell her the news. Bonnie, cleaning plates, she became startled at Judy's sudden burst in, she almost dropped the plate she had been cleaning.
"To father's room," she said with child like excitement in her voice. Bonnie did not know what to make of Judy's sudden happiness. Before even asking, Judy was already racing down the hall to her father's room.
Bonnie came into the room. Judy was helping her father sit up, using all her strength to carefully move the injured bunny. Stu groaned and pleaded in pain, as his daughter grunted using her strength to prop him up.
"Judy, you mind telling us what it is that's so important?" Bonnie asked.
Judy went to the door to make sure it was closed. She even pressed her ear against the door to make sure no one was outside esdropping. She pulls out the folded up wanted paper. Her hands kept trembling due to excitement . She unfolded the parachment and held it out with an out stretched arm so both her Mother and Father to see what exactly she excited over.
"Well, don't you see it," she said. "It's the answer to our problems."
"How is this the answer to our problems?" Bonnie asked. "All this means is that we have let a criminal into our home. Into our beds. Eating our food. And a fox no less."
Judy stared at them with disbelief in her eyes. Do they not grasp the solution to their problems right in her hand. Looking at their faces all she saw in them was worry and concern.
"It means there is eight hundred dollars sitting across the hall." she Said. "That's more than enough money to pay off the bank."
"Well why don't we have the sheriff down here and they can take him in?" Asked Bonnie.
"Because he's not wanted in Bunnyburrow. He's wanted in Zootopia. Besides the law down here in Bunnyburrow ain't so forward thinking when comes to the law. They'll hang'em then turn over his body to the Zootopia officials and they would end up giving the eight hundred dollars to the Sheriff, not us. If I at least deliver him to the Zootopia law mammals, they'll at least give him a fair trial."
"Judy," Stu said, "are you going to stand their and tell me that your willing to go across the hall and kill that fox? You have no idea the weight killing some mammal will have on your conscience." Stu grunts from the pain of just the slightest movement.
Judy took in a deep breath and considered what her father asked of her. And the truth of it, was no. No, she wasn't prepared to go and kill the fox across the hall. No, she was prepared for a completely different idea instead.
"No," she said. She walked over to the Henry rifle hanging on the wall and picked it up, turning around to face her mother and father. "I'm going to bring him to Zootopia instead."
Fright came into the eyes of Bonnie. Stu matched the exact same expression. Judy knew what they were thinking. Not wanting to believe what their daughter was saying.
"Are you insane" Bonnie, the first to say. "You can't ride to Zootopia with a criminal in your presence."
"Your mother is right," Stu said. "You can't go to Zootopia on your own with a wanted criminal." Stu grunted in agony and clamped down on his wounds.
"Look at yourself Pa," she said. "You can barely stand, much less carry a gun in your arms." She went over to his bed and knelt beside him, with the rifle standing at attention. She looked at the worry in his eyes. "You know I can do this. I have to do this."
Stu saw the determination in his daughter's eyes. Since when was the last time he could ever stop her from being so ambitious.
"Okay," he said. "Pack whatever you need, take the rifle, get to Zootopia, and come back home safely."
Judy embraced her father in a hug, forgetting all about his wounds. "Thank you," she whispered so gracefully into his ear with tears in her eyes.
"Never forget," Stu said, tears swelling in his eyes as well. "Your two greatest weapons are here..." Stu put a worrisome shaky finger to the temple of Judy's head. "And here." Removing that same shaky fringer from her temple to her chest where her heart would be. Teary eyed and wanting to sob, hugged her father again, hard.
Judy was the first to let go. There was work to do, to ready for her travel. Because, come first light of tomorrow, she will be bring the fox known as Nicholas P. Wilde to justice in Zootopia.
By the time morning came, Judy was ready. She put on her light blue dress and her hat. Bonnie was up early as well. Too much to worry about to sleep peacefully. She cooked breakfast for Judy and their new fox friend. Some fruit and another hot pitcher of blueberry tea. Done with her beakfast Judy got ready to do what needed to be done.
Judy started in the stables, getting the horses ready. She slung and hitched the saddles to Luna and Argo. Once they were settled, Judy placed the rifle on the work bench. With a leather strap she wanted to make a small adjustment to the rifle. She made a leather sling for the rifle, something she has done before. Tying one end to the rifle's barrel and the other end to the butt of the rifle. Now she could easily sling the rifle around her shoulder and have quick access to it.
Judy tried calming herself down, starting to feel the shakes of how real this was. She set the rifle aside and neatly folded up the fox's clothes. Putting his boots and then hat on top the pile.
She filled Luna's saddle bags with as much food as possible, at least for a three days travel. Some other things she piled into the saddle bags were med supplies. She filled the canteens and hitched them to Luna's saddle.
Judy buckled the peacemaker to her waist. It was a little big for her and slouched down and to the side. She tried buckling on the other holster, but couldn't fit it right with its' weird design, having it slouch and stick outward, so she fit it the best that she can. Last, she armed the rifle just the way her father had taught her so many times. The rest of the ammo she poured into her right pocket.
Ready, she stood outside the door to the fox's room. The rifle slung over her shoulder and the fox's clothes in her hands. Reaching out, she grabbed the key to unlock the room. It felt as if there was no air to breathe, Judy needed to calm herself. Once calm, Judy let out a big breath of air and sucked back in another breath of air. She turned the key and opened the door.
Nick had finished the breakfast that the elder bunny brought to him. They must be a family of early risers to bring him breakfast so early. Nick stretched out his body, looking like a starfish. Stretching out too far made his wound sting and he would reel himself back in.
The door opened and standing there, the daughter bunny he met when first waking up. He can't remember her name, so he gave her one.
"Hey there Carrots, want to thank you for taking care of me." He finished sipping down his cup of blueberry tea. "I've got to tell you, this blueberry tea is amazing."
The female bunny didn't say a thing. Instead, she tossed a bundle of his clothes on to the bed. The boots and hat bounced of the bed and onto the floor. She slung the rifle off her shoulders, cocked the handle, and pointed the rifle right at him. Nick took notice of her wearing his gun belts to where they sloped to make an X.
"Well," he said. " I take it that my time here is up and I should be moving along now."
"Get dressed," she said.
"Okay Carrots, but can I ask what the hurry is?"
"Your name is Nicholas P. Wilde and you are wanted in the city of Zootopia for robbery. Consider this to be a citizens arrest. So put your clothes on and come outside. Daylight is burning and I plan on delivering you to Zootopia within three days."
The room stood silent for a minute, until Nick burst out with laughter. "That's a good one Carrots. Being here has been a real treat. But, I'll tell you what I am going to do and that is get dressed and head outside. Hop onto my stallion and ride on out of here. Because I can take a hint when my time is over stayed."
"And what makes you think that I'll just let you ride on out of here?" Judy asked as she took a step closer and jabbed the point of the gun's barrel at Nick.
Nick poured himself another cup of tea. "Well for one, you could've killed me anytime but didn't. You don't have to bring me in alive to get the reward."
"That doesn't mean I won't shoot you in your leg and drag you to Zootopia."
"And that brings me to number two, that rifle in your hands. That is a Henry model rifle in your hands and that rifle kicks like a mule. I'm putting a bet down that you've never carried that rifle around, much less actually fired it. You'll knock yourself off your feet and miss me by a miles length."
Nick started to sip out of the tea cup when, BANG, it suddenly explodes right in his face. The plaster cup exploded, sending shards of plaster pieces piercing his lips. He could feel the wet tea run down his face and off of his muzzle. All that was left of the cup was the handle that he held in his fingers. He spit tea and a little bit of blood out on the floor. From Judy came the loud cocking of the lever, ejecting the fired shell. Smoke swirled out of the rifle's barrel.
"So," came Judy. "Anything else that smart mouth of yours would like to say before we get going."
Nick looked at Judy pointing the rifle at him and looked back at what was left of the cup. Nick held up the tea cup's handle. "Can I get another cup for the road?"
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(AN: Thank you for reading, and Thank you for reading this. Again, YOU'RE AWESOME! I hope you enjoyed this new installment. How will Judy fair getting wanted criminal like Nick to Zootopia? Does Nick have a trick or two up his sleeve? How will the Zoo Rangers react to Judy?
As I said before, please leave a commit on how you'd rather have future chapters come out. Thank you!
- Sir_RedFox)