(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.
Secondly, my writing is not that good. Lets face facts it's actually pretty bad. If I was working on a real book, and I am, I'd be more efficient with my writing. But I have been speed writing to get this story done and finished. I'm going to try to put out as many chapters as I can as fast as I can.
I previous installments, we learned that Assistant Mayor Bellwether is scheming with Weaselton. They had a plan to make Nick Wilde on of the most wanted criminals in Zootopia.
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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The Lady & The Swed:
"Gentleman, you had my curiosity,
now you have my attention."
- Django Unchained, 2012
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The inside of Don and Jon's Saloon bustled with all sorts of Mammals. All of them barging in to join the crowds that have gathered. Weaselton was up stairs looking down at all the mammals from the staircase balcony. Two gopher brothers race back and forth on top the bar table, overworked, and pouring drinks for every single mammal. The whole inn had the rancid body order from every mammal. The crowd of mammals over crowed the bar, around the tables, and up the staircase to the staircase balcony.
Weaselton watches from the staircase balcony, rolling a silver dollar across his knuckles. He gave a wicked smile to the crowd of mammals. The turn out was better than he expected. The saloon was packed with almost every single Zoo Ranger in Zootopia and as many bounty hunters as possible. Even a few aristocrats among the crowd. Weaselton had promised them a fun game to ensue and a surprise they would come to enjoy.
The ferret at the door hustled trying to stash every weapon that was laid in front of him to one of the bins behind him. Most abiding by the No Guns Allowed sign that hung above the ferret. There was though a few that disregarded the sign completely.
A few of these mammals were an elephant bounty hunter named Clinton. He wore a thick brown duster over a brown colored suit. His large brown sized hat was on top his head, looking as though it had gone through a cotton gin. But, the really noticeable thing is he had notches on left side of his tusk, one for every bounty he claimed, there were six notches in all. A Tasmanian Devil by the name of Brat, wearing a dark blue coat, had a similar counting system to keep track of the bounties he's collected. It was putting a notch in handle of his gun. But one of the strangest bounty hunters, had to be a timber wolf named Spotted Wolf, a native to the land before the first settlers. He wore moccasins on his feet and leather pants. He wore a leather satchel which, pinned to the satchel, were the scalped remains of several species. He didn't wear a shirt and had feathers braided into the fur on his back, had his gun belt strapped around his waist with his six iron on his right side and a tomahawk tucked into the left side of his belt. He didn't wear a shirt and multiple scars are shown on his body.
From outside came the loud whooping and hollering of three mammals. They could be seen through the windows of the saloon, as the rode up on their steads. The dismounted and barged right into the saloon. The three mammals, all coyotes, and better known as Stue, Lue, and Hue, the Brittle Brothers. The ferret had his hands out stretched, ready to receive their guns. Stue, the oldest brother and the one with a gut, saw the ferret then the sign above the ferret. Stue leaned back and spat at the sign. His black spit stained the sign.
"Why don't you clean that up, little fellar" all three brothers howler with laughter.
Lue, the middle child, was malnourished and missing a few teeth. He chuckled and went to the center table where patrons already sat and shooed them away with the barrel of his shotgun. The patrons gladly moved away from the brothers. Hue, the youngest and fattest of the brothers, grabbed a plate of food from another table and carried it over to their new table.
"Hey Hank," said Weaselton to a giraffe that was at his eye level when standing on the staircase raptors. "Go place the board up there and let's get started."
Hank, the giraffe just nodded and went up to the bar. Hank was a simple giraffe and is one of the newest Zoo Rangers. He wore a bowlo hat to his fitting and always a cigar in his mouth. Hank grabbed a chalk board and hung it over the bar so everyone can see.
Weaselton smiled, twirled his mustache, and let out a soft sigh as he looked around at the rowdy bunch. He made his way down the stairs and hopped on top the bar.
"Good morning everyone" Weaselton said. Nobody seemed to have heard him. Pulling his revolver out from its holster, aimed up ward at the ceiling and fired a loud shot to get every mammals' attention. A few of the working gals in the bar gave a squeal, but all in all it worked. Every mammal had quite down and was looking up at the weasel. Weaselton put away his silver dollar and holstered his weapon.
"Now that I have your attention, we can proceed." He said. His boots making a loud thud sound every time he took a step on the bar-table, all while all eyes stared at him. "Most of you must already know me. For those of you that don't, my name is of no importance. I'll tell you whose names you should be concerned about." From inside his Jacket pocket he pulls out a wanted poster. The poster had the drawn images of two foxes; Finnick and Nick Wilde. "We're all here on a fox hunt. The two foxes are Finnick and Nick Wilde, charged with robbing a train and killing a few Zoo Rangers in cold blood. They're both wanted alive, I repeat, alive. The bounty on them is twenty thousand dollars, you only get half that if you bring them in dead."
An uproar of laughter came from the crowd.
"In here we have the greatest assortment of bounty hunters across Zootopia, along with the finest law enforcement in Zootopia, the Zoo Rangers. But, I thought we could make this a bit more fun." Weaselton points to the chalkboard above his head. "For those that wish to enter, or just place a bet, we're going to have a pool to see who brings them in first." The crowd looks around at each other. Most of them have smiles on their faces. "And I will be the first to say that my fellow Zoo Rangers will the first to apprehend the two cretins. I'm betting twenty-five dollars that they do so first."
Hank, with a piece of chalk in hand, writes up Zoo Rangers at the top and twenty-five dollars next to their name.
"Hell," came a voice, from a fat aristocrat cat. "I'll take that bet, I put twenty-five dollars on the Zoo Rangers as well."
The saloon went into an uproar. Different mammals yelling and placing bets while some demanding their name on the board. Clinton stood up and gave a loud trumpet sound with his trunk.
"If any mammal is going to catch these foxes," he said the word foxes with disgust in his voice. "It will be me. I'll bet fifty dollars on my self, that I'm the first to bring them in."
"Fat chance," Brat said. "I declare I'm going to find them first."
Spotted Wolf jumps up on to a table. "Spotted Wolf will be the first to find," Spotted Wolf said trying his hardest to speak clearly in the foreign tongue that his ancestors were forced to learn. "Many have tried to shoot, kill, Spotted Wolf. All have failed and have fallen under Spotted Wolf's knife." Spotted Wolf held up the scalped heads of mammals. "For no bullet can kill Spotted Wolf, the scars on my body prove so." Spotted Wolf points to all the scars on his body, where he has been shot.
"Damn," a patron says. "The savage has me convinced. I say a hundred dollars on Spotted whatever-his-name-is." The crowd went back into an up roar, shouting out who to bet on or shouting that they would be the first to capture the wanted foxes. Hank was trying to keep track of all the bets and writing down the names of those to claim to be the ones bring in the fox. The Brittle Bothers shoot their pistols up in the air in excitement.
"The Brittle brothers will go far and wide to hunt down these critters." said Stue among the brothers. The crowd grew louder with excitement.
"Three hundred on myself!" Came a loud clear voice in the back. The crowd quieted down and looked to see who was making such a bold statement. In the very back of the bar sat a female white snow fox. She wore black pants and boots, a white button up shirt, a black vest, a black hat, black gloves and a red scarf around her neck. Holstered to her hip with a black gun belt was a sliver EMF Hertford Single Action Army revolver. She leaned back in her chair and smoked a slim cigar.
"This isn't a game for ladies." some mammal in the crowd said. There was an uproar of laughter that followed.
"Settle down now," Weaselton said, trying to get the crowd to quiet down. "There's nothing that says that ladies can't put their name on the board. They're just lousy at it is all." Again the crowd went into an uproar of laughter. Does the lady have a name, or does she prefer to be called The Lady?"
"Name is Skye, but you can put whatever you want to hun," Skye said. "As long as the money is to be collected when I arrive with these, wanted mammals." She took a drag from her cigar and blew out the smoke.
"I would say that 'The Lady' has a nice ring to it" Weaselton said. He looks up at Hank. "Put 'The Lady' up on the board, Hank." Hank did as he was told and wrote 'The Lady' up on the board. "Now, does anyone want to place any bets on the lady?" The whole saloon went quiet. There were a few snickers here and there.
The Brittle Brothers all smiled at each other and approached the table that Skye sat at. Each brother took a side, boxing Skye inside. Hue and Lue taking the sides, while Stue sat across from Skye. Skye put her chair back on all four legs and set her cigar on the table's ash tray.
"Now what's a pretty little thing like you wanting to get into the bounty hunting business?" Stue said.
Skye shrugged her shoulders at him. "I guess I just have a talent for it." she said.
The Brittle Brothers laughed together. "You know darling, me and my brothers are pretty good at the whole bounty hunter thing. How about you join us? We would keep you in good company and as brothers we don't mind sharing the nice comfort you would be giving each of us."
The Brittle Brothers burst into laughter. Skye, taking her foot, rams her boot hard between Stue's legs under the table. Stue gave out a loud cry of pain.
Before Lue and Hue knew what was happening, Skye pulled her six iron out and put it to Lue's bony head and with her other hand pressed the cold hard steel knife hard against Hue's fat neck. They didn't dare reach for their six irons, they were motionless, all except Stue who was trying to remove Skye's boot from between his legs.
"Now here's what's going to happen," Skye said, her eyes turning to Lue. "You die first." She cocks the hammer back on her SAA revolver. "You die second," she said as she pressed the knife hard against Hue's throat making him wince. "Then you'll die last," her eyes turn to Stue as she drove the heel of her boot deeper between Stue's legs. "That is unless you boys would like to apologize for your manner towards me." It only takes Hue and Lue a second think it over and apologize. Stue was still straining with the boot between his legs. "Well" she said, driving her heel in harder. "I'm waiting." Stue mumbles something under his breath. "What was that, I can't hear you."
"I'm sorry!" Stue shouted at her with grunts of pain.
"Well alrightie then."
Skye removed her silver SAA revolver away from Lue's temple and twirled the gun back into its' holster. She pulls her knife away from Hue's neck. Lastly, she removed her boot from between Stue's legs. Stue nearly collapsed on to the table, he grunted loudly in pain. Hue and Lue got up from the table. They each grab one of Stue's arms and left him up out of the chair and carry him back away from the table.
A slow applause came from the corner of the Inn right by the window. The light shinning through the window made it hard to see who was clapping. Only a silhouette of the mammal could be figure leaned forward and let himself be seen. He was a bunny with gray and black stripes. He wore a black bowlo hat and a wool coat same color and texture as his fur. He continued to slowly applaud the show that Skye had put on.
"Bravo, Bravo" The rabbit said with a thick Swedish accent. He had a smile on his face, so gleefully. "Bravo, my lady? I am impressed. I had suspension that you would able to take one, possible two of them coyotes, but not three all at the same time. That is how you say, Bravo."
"And who might you be, little fella?" asked Weaselton. A few of the patron's snickered at Weaselton's insult.
"Oh, I'm just another bounty hunter hoping to collect his bounty. But the name is Jack, Jack Savage. I hale from Sweden."
"So your a Swed?"
"Yes, I suppose that is what I am. Though I much prefer my real identity then to some nick name."
"And are you looking to put your name up on the board, Swed?"
"Oh, I"m not a mammal to gamble."
"Alrightie then Swed," Weaselton said. "Add the Swed, Hank." Hank wrote out 'Swed' just below 'The Lady'. "And garnishing one dollar to the Lady in catching her bounty, and twenty-five cents to the Swed. Alright Hank, you finish taking their bets. I got a guest waiting outside."
The patron mammals in the Inn, went back to an uproar. Placing bets on which bounty hunter would be the first to bring in the two wanted foxes. Many changing their bets from the Brittle Brother's to Spotted Wolf. No mammal dare put a bet on The Lady, even more so on the Swed. Weaselton tipped his hat and took a step outside.
Outside the sun was blazing hot in Savanna Central. Weaselton twirls the ends of his mustache. Standing outside the saloon was Assistant Mayor Bellwether, leaning up against a post. She had seen from the window outside, the entire action Weaselton had with the crowd of Zoo Rangers and bounty hunters.
"How exactly does this help recover five hundred thousand in gold? The city barely has two cents to rub together and you're putting up a bounty of twenty thousand. And what's this with the extra fee of being the first to apprehend these, foxes" she said, with disgust in her voice when saying 'foxes'.
Weaselton smiled. "Just look at them. They're so riled up that it will only be a matter of days till one of them finds the two foxes. Trust me sweet heart, I know what I'm doing."
Before another word was uttered between the two, the clock tower that sat in the center square of Savanna Central ranged its huge bell ten times. The crowd inside starting pouring out in to the cobbled stone street. Brat, Spotted Wolf, and the Brittle brothers all mounted there horses hitched to the post outside. Clinton however, being the elephant that he is, had to rent out a carriage for him to be transported in. Skye was another mammal who found herself without transportation.
It was a brief walk to an out post that deals in temporary horse services. For thirty-five dollars she was given a worn out saddle and a charter horse. Skye was hitching up the saddle to the brown charter horse, when a carriage was slowly approaching her.
The caravan was one of those single user caravan. Enough for one small bed and few personal belongs. The whole structure of the wagon was made out of wood. Painted on the side of the wooden wagon, with fading colors, were the letters spelling out 'Jack's Smiles Dentistry.' There also happened to be the picture off a wide smiling bunny painted on the side of the wagon. The caravan was being pulled by one charter horse, pitch black. The bench attached to the wagon was enough for only two passengers. Sitting on the bench was a small mammal. It was the Swed rabbit. He slows down and brings the caravan to a halt right beside Skye.
"Good evening my good lady," he says in his thick accent. "Commemorate you on your performance back there in the bar. Mrs...?"
Skye took out her slim cigar and spat at the ground. "It's Skye. Just Skye."
"And I am Jack Savage. And where, if I may ask does Lady Skye come from?"
Skye did not answer, but instead put her cigar in her mouth. She flicked out her thumb and with it pointed directly over her shoulder, towards the open road.
"I see. And where does Lady Skye plan on heading?"
Skye again did not answer, but instead stuck out her finger and pointed forward towards the open road ahead of her.
"Ah," said Jack. "A fine choice to go. I might be heading that way myself."
"I'm not looking for a partner." Skye said.
"And I was not offering myself as such. Though I do hope or paths may cross again." Jack tips his hat to Skye. "Farewell Lady Skye. Till we met again." With that Jack whipped the reins, and he was off on his way. Skye finished hitching the saddle to her horse and slung her up on to the horse. She gave swift kick, and they were off, down the open 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.
When I started writing this story I told myself that I wasn't going to have any character representing Native Americans. I didn't want to make any type offensive stereotype, like making every Native American character into buffalo or something offensive like that. But Spotted Wolf is based off a few different Native American characters in several different westerns. So Spotted Wolf is a Native American who claims that no bullet can kill him. I hope such character does not bring any offense to any Native Americans, if so I'm sorry.
In the next installment we get to see what's happening back at the Hopps' ranch.
As I said before, please leave a commit on how you'd rather have future chapters come out. Thank you!
- Sir_RedFox)