Chapter 5 Don Nicholas de la Wilde
After leaving the fort, Judy decided that whichever direction her paws carried her, that was where she'd explore to learn more about the city of Zootopia, and its inhabitants. Having no map, and no idea where she was going was fine with her, as the fort was feeling a bit cramped with all the glares and outright insubordination sent her way. Then there was the news that the Sergeant had given her...
What can I do to turn around the situation here...?
With her mind busy trying to digest the information from Sergeant Clawhauser, she didn't realize how far she had walked until the sound of seagulls replaced the chatter of mammals and the feel of cobblestone beneath her paws was replaced by creaking boards and the soft sloshing of waves crashing against piers. The change in temperature and sounds was refreshing and Judy took a deep breath of salty sea air, closing her eyes as she breathed it out slowly.
Then gagged as she felt her collar being tugged from behind, destroying the peaceable mood in an instant.
Judy whirled around, her paw grabbing the arm of the mammal behind her and yanking it down. The unknown assailant tumbled towards her, and all they could get out was a panicked yelp before her fist connected with their chin, knocking them straight onto their tail with a loud whine.
She had her sword drawn within a second following her counter-attack, leveling it at what she saw was a red fox, dressed in bright tan trousers, a regal looking green vest and a similar green striped bolero that matched her own.
"I apologize for saving you from an otherwise soggy afternoon," the fox muttered, pushing himself up to stand, only halting when he found Judy's blade pressed against his throat at his movement. His eyes widened and he nervously sat back down, raising his paws into the air. "Ok, I apologize profusely for saving you from having to swim a rather long way to shore and I promise never to save another rabbit from plunging into the bay ever again."
With a single, arched brow, Judy gave her sword a slight thrust, the point disappearing into the fur of the fox's neck, warning the very nervous looking canide not to try anything sly as she turned around, actually taking in her surroundings. Apparently she had travelled so far while collected in her thoughts that she had indeed found the docks of the city and another fact that came along with that. Her right paw was on the very tip of one of the docks, and if she had taken another step, she would have plunged into the churning water below.
Suddenly feeling very embarrassed, as well as horrible for threatening a second innocent Zootopian in as many days, she let out a heavy sigh, releasing the tip of her rapier from the fox's throat, lowering it to the ground.
"Thank you," he gulped, quickly patting down his neck fur, sighing and wiping his brow as soon as he knew he wasn't bleeding. "As I said before, it is a long swim to the nearest exit to that frothing mess. You'd almost be better off swimming to my father's ship out there though the kelp would have probably ensnared you well before reaching it."
Judy sheathed her sword, feeling her ears begin to burn and very grateful that they were already pressed down by her cap. "I'm terribly sorry," she muttered, and offered her paw to the fox, who gratefully took it with a smile.
"No harm done, see?" The fox made a show of waving his arms to the side. "Maybe a bit of my pride taking a spill, but otherwise, I'm completely intact."
"Still," Judy grumbled. "I shouldn't be so quick to attack like that." She offered her paw out to the other mammal. "It doesn't really suit a Capitan to be attacking civilians...yet again." The last two words she barely murmured, though she noticed that the fox's ears shot up."
"So you're the new Capitan," the fox stated, grinning widely at the paw offered to him, grabbing it with gusto in both of his own, before bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. Judy felt her ears increase in heat ten-fold at the gesture as the fox laughed. "Don Nicholas de la Wilde."
Judy's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but bring a paw to cover her mouth. The Don's of California were a group of very influential mammals that not only brought much glory to Califurnia, but also much wealth along with them. Attacking one like she had could potentially end her career before it had even started.
"Oh, I am terribly sorry Don Wilde. I didn't know who you were, I only thought I was being attacked and..." She wrung her paws together, casting a quick look at fox when she heard laughter. The Don was chuckling lightly, waving his paw as if brushing off her concerns.
"Do not worry, Capitan," he said easily. "I try not to take offense at anything other mammals do to me. Live and love, eh?" He gave a toothy smile, earning one from Judy as she felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Though that name...she placed her paw to her chin, thinking whether or not she should ask before her curiosity got the better of her.
"You wouldn't happen to the be the son of Jonathon de la Wilde, perhaps?"
"You've heard of my father?" Don Wilde stuttered, his ears perking up, sending his bolero teetering over his eyes. Judy laughed as the fox rolled his eyes, pushing the cap back onto the top of his head. "Sorry about that, it would seem my ears have ideas of their own on what to do, and let's not get started on my tail." He glanced back at the named appendage, watching it swish behind him. "It can be such a traitor to my cause at the most inopportune moments."
"Yes," Judy stated, suppressing a grin at the smiling fox standing before her, mentally reprimanding herself again for being so quick to draw her sword against him. "It is part of the curriculum to study to become a Capitan to know of him and his accomplishments."
Don Wilde scratched his chin, looking amused. "Really...that is quite interesting." His eyes once again caught her own as his grin somewhat faltered. "So, why would they include my father in your studies. It seems quite odd that a navy captain would be in an army officers training manual.
"Well, tactics over land and sea may vary, but the principles remain the same," Judy proclaimed cheerfully, her eyes lighting up. "Admiral Wilde has been instrumental in keeping Califurnia safe from pirates and marauders, and his daring feats on both land and sea were some of the stories I read about while preparing..."
Nick simply watched as Judy began listing off stories of his father's adventures, regaling him with tales and tactics Nick had heard a thousand times before, and probably would a thousand more during his life. In all honesty, he was bored of the conversation since her sword had been pulled from his throat, though knowing that the new Capitan was one who studied profusely was good information that he tucked away for future use. She continued unabated for several minutes, which gave Nick ample time to study her persona and attitude.
After several moments, he concluded that the rabbit standing before him was very different from the one he met last night as The Fox. Whereas last night she was cold and calculating, here, speaking to a 'regular' mammal, she was all smiles and joy. Both days she was quick to draw her sword, yet when she learned of the circumstances of why he had pulled her back had happened, she quickly apologized and tried to make amends for her mistakes.
In all, Capitan Hopps was becoming a very interesting rabbit.
"Though I'd have to say his daring raid against Santa Meownica was executed brilliantly" Judy stated, Nick nodding understandably as his mind came back to the conversation at paw. It was also then he spotted a figure walking towards them, bringing a frown to his face which the excited Capitan didn't notice as she began detailing the battle of Santa Meownica in depth.
"I don't think I'd call that my most shining moment," a voice chimed in from behind the rabbit, causing her ears to shoot up and turn swiftly around at the sound, knocking her own cap over her eyes as her head rotated to follow her ears.
As she turned, she removed her cap, only to gap when she saw another fox, this one with fur speckled grey with age, walking towards her, his shoulders capped with the gold braiding which spoke of his rank, that of an admiral in the Califurnia navy.
"Father, I'm glad you found us," Nick stated flatly while holding out his paw towards Judy. "I've seem to have found a fan of yours."
The older fox's smile diminished as he noticed the rabbit in a Capitan's uniform standing before him. "Ah, so you must be Capitan Hopps," he noted dryly, clasping his paws behind his back. His gaze travelled up and down the rabbit once, before resting on her own amethyst eyes.
The rabbit gulped at the sudden coldness she saw in them.
"You've...heard of me?" Judy squeaked, her smile waning slightly under Admiral Wilde's gaze.
He nodded once. "Yes, and so far none of it has been pleasant to my ears."
Just like that, the remains of Judy's smile was crushed beneath that single statement. Here she was, meeting the famous Admiral who all her instructors at the military academy had bragged about, and in ten words her personal hero who had crushed all stereotypes to get where he was and paved the way for her to become a Capitan, had completely crushed her spirit.
"Oh..." was all she could muster, wringing her cap in her paws while lowering her head as the Admiral turned to face his son. "I'm sorry that you hold me in such low regard."
Feeling his icy gaze still resting upon her, she did everything in her power to stand there and take it, even venturing to gaze back into his cold blue orbs, offering as solemn an expression to him that he was extending to her. She watched as the corners of his mouth ticked up slightly, a barely noticeable smirk forming before he leveled his gaze upon his son.
"I saw you from the deck of the Nighthowler, Nicholas, and wondered why you had come to visit. Last I recalled your sea legs trembled just walking the docks."
"I was actually just on my way to see Weidii, father," Nick stated curtly, returning the scowl that his father sent his way. It was then as the rabbit looked between the two foxes, that Judy noticed Nick's expression had become just as cold as his father's was towards her.
What is going on between these two?
"Of course you were," Admiral Wilde snorted, waving off his son's comment. "Nothing like having a son who loves nothing more than his parties, his drink and his women."
Judy watched as Nick's mouth opened, a retort on the edge of his lips before he clamped his mouth shut again. He glanced down at Judy, a frown pulling at his lips. "I would retort, but as we have a lady in our midst, it would seem imprudent to reply." Nicholas smiled as his father's scowl deepened, then turned to face Judy. "As I was saying, I was going to visit Weidii when I saw Capitan Hopps here nearly fall into the drink and pulled her back."
The admiral's gaze fell back upon the rabbit. "A pity you didn't let her fall," he stated rather blandly, shocking both rabbit and fox, the latter who's fur began to straighten in frustration and anger. Admiral Wilde let his comment hang in the air as Nick grit his teeth, clenching and unclenching his paw. For several tense moments, no one spoke, though it wasn't long lived as the admiral coughed into his paw. "Well, I have a ship and family to attend to Nicholas. It's a shame you aren't an able part of it."
Judy's mouth dropped as the older fox turned and walked back up the docks towards a man-of-war docked at the pier.
He's the one that everyone at the military academy gushed about? Judy wondered, watching the aged fox walk up the rampart before disappearing onto his ship. Before meeting him, it had always been a wish of hers to see the famous fox who had broken down stereotypes about the failings of smaller mammals in the military, ultimately allowing her to proceed with her dreams of becoming a Capitan herself.
Now after meeting him, she just felt empty at seeing such a bitter personality, personal insults aside. Feeling a paw on her shoulder, she turned sharply to see Nick staring down at her.
"Don't let what my father said even enter your mind Capitan, he is just an old codger with failed dreams." Nick's gaze lifted as he spotted his father standing at wheel of his ship, talking with a tiger in a similar officer's uniform. "The only thing he cares for is his ship and crew so pay him and his vicious tongue no heed."
Judy nodded solemnly as the Don sighed, though was surprised at the sudden smile that flashed across his mouth. "But let's not think on such depressing matters, no? Let me take you to see my friend Weidii and get some drinks to celebrate your dryness." He flashed her an even bigger smile, causing the depressing fog around her to lift. "I'm sure you two will get along splendidly," he added with a laugh while placing a paw on her shoulder. "Come, let us enjoy one another's company and drink to new friendships!"
A real smile fluttered across Judy's lips, and a slight tinge of redness peaked underneath her fur. Friends?
"Are you sure you'd want to be seen with me?" she questioned, fumbling as she replaced her bolero over her eyes. "Apparently I am not the most well-thought of mammal around her."
"Nonsense," Nick laughed before winking at her. "It is those types of mammals I prefer as friends."
Judy felt her blush deepened as the fox began ambling off down the road. "Are you coming Capitan Hops?" he shouted over his shoulder.
Deciding quickly, Judy dashed off after the Don, matching his stride and hoping that maybe she had indeed been able to make an actual friend in the city.
"So, who is your friend you...ah, we, are going to meet?"
Nick grin broadened as he shot a quick glance at the rabbit. "Oh, Weidii is a feisty one, she is. I'm sure the two of you will become fast friends."
Sounds good to have those around here...Judy thought with a small smile, stopping quickly as she noticed Nick halting before a rather obscure building which matched with all the other adobe structures along the road. A sign hung from above the door, a picture of a cat smirking down at passerby's.
Nick opened the doors to the building, smiling as he waved his paw forward for Judy to enter.
"Welcome, to the Feisty Feline."
AN: We have several OC cameo's in here. Admiral Jonathon Wilde comes from Selaxes, and Weidii is KungFuFreak07's OC that they designed. So I hope you enjoyed the chapter, the new characters, and especially let me know what you think of Nick's character and how he interacted with Judy in a review! :D