Hey all, DLW here. A huge thank you to all the readers, follows, fav's and reviews (helps me think more so thank you all)!. Disclaimer: Zootopia and its characters are copyright Disney. (I own none of the characters in the story aside from the O/C's.)
A note to all my readers out there. I wanted to try something different with this story and found that... the long story type can be a little intimidating. With some chapters being about... 12-17k words in length, I wanted to try shortening them by a bit. With that being said, the first... 6 chapters are going to be reuploaded pieces of the first two chapters. So starting at chapter 7 is all new content. So I apologize to anyone of my readers that see the first few chapters and are confused as to why I've re-uploaded it with some tweaks. TLDR; slightly shorter chapters to make reading easier, fun, and dramatic.
Prologue
'The Hunt'
[August 17, Little Rodentia 10:05 PM]
She had been pacing through the streets of Little Rodentia for some time now. Still unable to find the slightest hint of her suspect and still more than a little cautious.
With the areas tiny fixtures and lower lighting, she took care in rounding every corner to avoid stepping on the street lights and small cars. She was glad she took her flashlight with her.
With rain-water seeping through her gear and finding it increasingly more difficult to navigate the area than she had first thought, Judy kept her pace as her reputation and the city's safety was on the line.
Steadily walking down another street for maybe the third time that night, she huffed in frustration. She should have seen some kind of sign by now, some kind of suspicious action or move or anything out of the ordinary.
"Where is he?" she whispered, knowing nobody heard her but finding peace of mind with her voices company.
Her light shown on various smaller buildings that she towered over. She could see many small rodents looking from their windows, but was unable to see much of their expressions from behind her rain-soaked visor.
Some of the residents stared in awe while others shut and locked their windows, likely horrified from the tall and menacing figure standing outside.
Having no clue of where to continue, she stood still in the middle of the street. Shoulder high buildings cascaded in either direction and no strange activity was in her sight.
Weighing her options, she thought to gain better ground and hopefully find some trace of the pred at large.
"Town center maybe?" she asked herself, thinking the area may be the best hiding place for him. He was wearing his collar in the rain, and the town center may just be the largest place for him to stay.
Nodding with this plan of action, Judy searched for the direction of the town square. She had been paying attention, mentally mapping out where she had been and where the heart of the town should be.
Turning her head in the most likely direction, Judy briskly walked there. She didn't want to miss any new info about the area or overlook any corner that she passed by.
Nearly a minute passed by and she closed in on a large and open area. From what she could see with her flashlight and the decorative lighting in the area, there were several restaurants of reasonable size scattered throughout the area.
One in particular was fitted with a giant doughnut. Its smooth and rounded surface made it look more realistic and appetizing, though biting into it would mean dentures for sure.
Walking through this side of town, she scanned constantly for something out of place. Unsure of what could even be off, she had her shoulder light graze over everything.
She passed by other restaurants, never failing to give each a once over. There were several chain style fast food shops that she recognized for larger mammals, and one that seemed to pride itself on its service of cheese.
Slowly and with keen detail, she managed to cover much of the square in just one sweep. Nearly coming full circle and back to where she started.
Not willing to give up on her search, she trained her flashlight on the next building as she did the others. Her advance was slow enough to give her details in advance and ready her weapon as necessary.
Oddly, she felt something suspicious about this building in particular. She didn't know what it was, but readied her finger on the trigger.
"Is everything alright Hopps?"
Judy, jumping at the sound of her radio, fired the net gun in the direction of the building. Its net deployed landed with a distinct flutter on the ground, and its captured contents nothing more than a few fixtures and grass.
Finding the moment embarrassing to say the least, Judy lifted her visor and picked up her radio.
"Two more rounds, great!"
She flicked the switch and walked towards the misfired net.
"Yeah Chief," Judy replied, very familiar with the buffalo on the other side "Just the rain and some... complications."
She picked up the net and folded it, mindful to watch the area while she slung the unusable net over her shoulder. She certainly couldn't leave it there for the residents to deal with, but didn't know what to do with it now.
"The fox on your mind?" Bogo asked, causing Judy to freeze momentarily.
Hastily, she pressed her talk button on the radio.
"Why would you think that?" She replied, hoping that Bogo wouldn't catch on.
With silent moment and a sigh of relief from Judy, the radio hissed back.
"This is a private two-way call, Hopps." Bogo's stern voice called, somehow always catching Judy off-guard.
"Yeah." she replied with a twinge of guilt in her voice.
Knowing what was to come, she stood there awaiting Bogo's answer.
The first thing she heard was him sigh "I won't pretend to understand how you feel Judy-"
To this, she held her head aloft, memories flooding through her mind. The thought caused her ears to droop, folding over her helmet and having the torn piece drip with freshly fallen rain.
"However you're the only one small enough to get into that part of town with ease, and one of the best members of our force."
Hearing his encouraging albeit coarse and stone sounding voice, Judy felt slightly better. He was right, though he didn't understand, she was one of the best there. And being the best meant working through her problems.
"Understood sir."
Judy acknowledged, thankful that the chief seemed to have her back, usually.
"Splendid," Bogo chuckled "I've phoned for the Little Rodentia police to get all civilians inside, they're still working to keep out of your way."
Silently, Judy was wondering where everybody was. Even in the rain, she'd see any number of the small mammals running to and fro when she was on patrol.
"Good to know."
With that, Judy placed the radio back and shut her visor. The town would be safe thanks to the police coordinating.
"You've captured him before Hopps, good luck." she heard Bogo's voice echo over the radio and fade out. She was always amazed at how prompt he was in keeping the force running well.
Still carrying the net, she looked over the area once more. Detail after detail etched in her memory as she hadn't overlooked anything.
Turning back to where she had deployed the net, something was slightly off to her. She had fired the net and managed not to hit any meaningful target, but still something wasn't there in that spot anymore.
Running towards it, she inspected the building further. It was as tall as she was with green brick siding. Where she was sure that she had seen the side of a red building next to it, there was an empty space and an alleyway.
"That wasn't there before." Judy whispered, feeling her heart race. It wasn't that she had overlooked anything, but the call had caught her off-guard.
Walking towards the curious occurrence, her eyes went wide with excitement and horror.
On the pavement next to the building, she could see matching sets of muddy paw-pad prints heading away from her. A feature as subtle as it was ominous.
A smile creaked its way across her face. She had been so close to her target without knowing, and as short as her conversation was, he couldn't have gotten far.
Thinking that this was her best chance to catch the fox, Judy readied herself to pursue once more.
She looked over her shoulder, still carrying the net that she had failed to use properly. She couldn't bring it with her as it would slow her down.
"I'll get it later." She said to herself, placing it where the footprints started and getting it soaked in a small puddle.
She shown her light on the muddied tracks. Net gun at the ready, she briskly followed beside them and onto a nearby street.
The familiar sight of rows of buildings surrounded her, though she hadn't been down this street yet.
Having followed the tracks a short distance, they began to dissipate and disappear altogether at an intersection just ahead. Stopping at the junction herself, she peered down each street.
Holding her ground, she trailed her weapon left to right. With her light shining just far enough, she could see movement of something taller than the surrounding buildings.
Just in the distance, she could see the outline of what she hoped was her mark.
Clutching her gun; finger on the trigger and inching toward the figure, she felt her heart nearly skip a beat.
Without moving farther than a foot, the distant shadow ran away from her. This action alone was proof enough for her, she found her fox.
"Freeze!" She shouted, mindlessly running after him and forgetting that he voice could only carry so far behind her face shield.
In an instant she found herself running full speed without care as to how quiet her footsteps now were. She would capture him again, he couldn't escape her.
Tearing down the street and feeling her heart race with every step, she could see more and more of the fugitive mere blocks away just out of the range of her flashlight.
He was holding something over his head, and awkwardly weaved as he ran. His frantic motions said that he was in distress, but her mind said he was more dangerous than ever.
She didn't know what he held, but it couldn't be good for her to find out too late.
Strides later; seconds seeming like hours, she was finally able to see the fox in full.
There he ran, sporting the prisons signature red jumpsuit for his offense and his shock collar fastened to his neck with a bright yellow light.
Judy, still in tow raised her weapon. She was close enough for capture, but couldn't afford to waste a shot if he turned too quickly.
"Nicholas Wilde, you're a fugitive of the law," she shouted, making no mistake in conveying the truth "If you turn yourself in now, you may lessen your sentence."
Haven spoken this filled Judy with disgust, but was willing to at least bluff to get the fox captured easy.
Her voice carried far enough to be heard, but not a single step was missed by either of them. If the fox wouldn't stop running, then rabbit wouldn't stop her chase.
Their run continued from one street to another, narrowly turning corners and no more than a few meters away at any given time.
Though Judy was the faster of the two, she couldn't easily clear sharp turns and catch up in her armor. It was protective, but slowing her down just enough to keep out of reach.
Frustrated that the fox could elude her for this long, she readied her net gun until she was sure that a nearby street would give her a clear shot.
Soon enough, Nick turned down a path that Judy had memorized as having no intersections for a while. That would be her chance, she could attempt to capture him there.
Picking up her pace slightly to round the corner at a good speed, Judy took no time to stop but instead slid into position. A small puddle flung water towards the sidewalk as she forced her feet to skid while firing her weapon.
With the net deployed and making its way toward the fox, Judy rushed forward. She wanted to ensure that escape was impossible as the net had hit something and fell to the ground.
Nearly smiling that her mission was nearly over, the sight of the fox still up and moving was something she didn't expect.
She could no longer see the object that he held though, but that wasn't enough. She had to take him down.
"You can't run from me Wilde," she chided, locking in her last round of capture ammo as she made her way past the used net "You're better off willingly going back into custody!"
Glancing at the net, she could see what appeared to be a flag like object resting within.
With one shot left, the she continued down the street. Her eyes focused on him once again, now noticing him slowing down slightly.
He was covering his head with his arms and stumbling ever so often.
She could see a flashes of red and yellow around his neck and he twitched ever so often.
All too well she knew what was happening, his collar was going off. To this, she knew he could be more dangerous.
Taking her net gun and fastening its tether over her shoulder, she readied her dart gun. She couldn't afford any risks now.
In the short time she prepared her dart, Nick had disappeared between several buildings. He wouldn't easily be caught.
Thinking of how to follow him now that he was using the closed spaces as cover, Judy stood close to the nearest structure.
If he was going to sneak around and try to evade her, then she would have to stay close and listen for his movement.
She breathed heavily, making her way through narrow passageways. Her ears bowed in every direction as she heard light steps and faint echoes of fizzling electricity.
Any time she heard the splash of puddles she would inch over to the location, just barely missing it by seconds.
Closer and closer she got, feeling her ears hone in down a dark corridor that lead back to the street that she left the net with his flag for cover.
They had been going in loops, having passed this place a handful of times with his sound disappearing every time she got close to it.
Thinking that he may be trying to go back for it, Judy jolted away from the alley. She dashed towards the street, just barely catching the Fox scramble as he finished untangling his prized cover.
"Stay where you are" she screamed, aiming toward Nick with darts at the ready.
The fox froze for the first time since their chase began. Having just freed his cover, he placed his hands above his head to shield himself from the elements if only a little.
"Please," he shouted, feeling the sting of his collar go off just moments before "I did nothing wrong."
"Shut it fox!" his words fell on deaf ears as Judy inched forward.
She could see a terrified gleam in his eyes as he held dearly onto the flag.
"Don't move!"
Before she could say another word, a vicious wind whipped past them. Causing her to stumble and him to lose grip of the makeshift cover.
Instinctively trying to defend himself, Nick turned around, reaching for the flag. A mistake that Judy wouldn't allow for any reason.
Firing the tranquilizer at her target, a sharp yelp of pain echoed off the nearby buildings as the dart sank into his shoulder.
"I said don't move!"
Having successfully landed a shot, Judy put the tranq away. She only needed one to seal the foxes fate, and now all she had to do was wait for him to fall asleep.
Feeling the sting in his arm a new wave of dread wash over him as he knew what he was hit with, Nick stumbled backwards.
Fearful that this would be his end, he did the only thing he could do. He panicked; visibly breathing heavier, crawling away from Judy and feeling the familiar sting in his neck again.
He writhed in pain, trying to find his bearings. No sooner did one shock end, he picked himself up; clutching his throat, he found what little strength he had left to hobble away.
Disappointed that the fox was still able to stand, Judy shook her head. He was too dangerous to approach directly as he could still fight, and too much of a threat to the nearby citizens to let him walk off.
Though within minutes he'd be ready for transport, she unlatched her taser and followed him at a short distance. There was no need for her to be bitten at the last moment, and her taser ensured that he wouldn't be able to try.
The few streets they crossed lead them ever slowly towards the town square.
Passing by the many restaurants and tripping on the edge of the large imitation doughnut, Nick tumbled forward landing with a splash in a puddle nearby.
Several shocks eliciting weak and pained outcries from the fox went unaccounted to his pursuer. Barely able to lift himself from his struggle, he crawled toward the side of a building that he had welcomed as a crafty hiding place from the weather.
It was more comfortable for him now that it was accompanied by what would have been his capture net.
Nick trudged along as best as he could, finally managing to press his back against the buildings side and rest even though the inevitable was about to take place.
He could no longer stand, unable to shake the numbness taking hold of his body. Exhaustion and pain were present in every breath that he drew.
A sudden shock caused his body to tense, leaving him gasping for air. He sputtered from the agony and reached for his collar in desperation.
Having been in the rain for so long it had begun to frizzle now and again without warning.
"Get this off me." he pleaded, struggling with no avail to remove the device. In the end, he let his arms fall back down to his sides.
Having finally caught up and seeing the effects of the dart take place, Judy held her flashlight and taser at him without hesitation.
"That's never gonna happen."
Huffing out of both frustration and weariness, Nick weakly raised his paw to his collar.
"I never wanted this."
Though his voice was no longer carried the same weight it did minutes ago, it now carried with it a pang of regret.
Averse to even the sound of his words and the obvious lie he had spoken, Judy grit her teeth and raised her visor in anger.
"You were found guilty of violating the Predation Clause," she shouted, grasping her weapon and moving mere inches away from his muzzle "You got what you deserved."
For the first time since she started her chase, Judy could see the fox up close. His emerald colored eyes stared back hazily at her, his breathing steady and collar turning back to green.
Nick, on the other hand, could only dimly see the sharp gaze of purple eyes whose only purpose was to hunt him down.
"You've got me already, okay?" Feeling more tired now, Nick accepted his fate. His eyes drifted away from Judy, away from the danger that stood above him.
No longer having the strength to move nor the will to fight the tranquilizers effects, Nick began to slump to the ground.
"Just, don't let me die in the rain rabbit." he whispered, causing the slightest twitch from Judy ears.
The force of his fall caused a splash in a small puddle below him. Soon enough slight pops of electricity caused him to unconsciously twitch.
Idly, Judy stood there looming over Nick. Her weapon still drawn at the sleeping fox; she herself trembling for all manner of reasons known and unknown.
She had stopped him again, but she couldn't understand why she felt sudden anxiety. He was asleep finally, no more would he run causing Judy to give chase.
This part of her mission over, she reached her spare hand to her radio; stopping as her right hand trembled, having never taken the weapon off the fox, she nearly pulled the trigger several times.
Feeling as though she could fire the weapon at any time, she crossed her left hand over her right and steadily brought the gun back to her side.
Breathing heavily, she flicked her radio back on.
"I've apprehended the fox Sir."
An eerie silence crept by as she waited for her response.
A buzz from her radio soon tuned in "Good work Hopps, keep him where you are while I get reinforcements to close in."
Acknowledging that her night would be over soon, she took a deep breath of relief. But something in the back of her mind still bothered her. She wanted something more, she wanted no mistakes.
Then it hit her.
Before she even heard the radio signal again, Judy holstered her taser and called once again "Sir, I can bring him to the gate."
A long silence settled in, she was unsure if she was too late, or if he wouldn't approve of her decision.
"As you wish."
Hearing the chief, she needed to get them both out of the area quickly. Though he was by far heavier than she was, she was too resourceful let anything stop her.
She walked up to the sleeping and slumped over fox; seeing the dart still sticking out of his shoulder, she twisted and pulled it out, drawing a few drops of blood that barely stained his already red jumpsuit.
After placing the used needle in the chamber of the dart gun, she reached down to grab the capture net still stuck under Nick.
"Come on you!"
She tugged harshly at the material, feeling it give way as Nick rolled to his side with an audible zap from his collar again.
With the net in hand, she shook it out, and laid it back on the ground fully unfolded. She still had to transport Nick, and for her this would be the hard part.
"Here goes..."
She started by tugging at Nick's tail; never having to haul someone herself, she made things up as she went along. After no more than a few seconds, she felt a strange tingling coursing through her arms.
"Ah!" She snapped back, now mindful that she would endanger herself from the foxes collar without insulation of sorts.
Noting this, she tried again. This time, she grabbed Nick by his jumpsuit and dragged him over the net with all the difficulties that came from bearing dead weight.
Huffing from the effort, she reached down and grabbed a corner of the net. She knew how to get back to the gate, but was mindful of one last stop she needed to make.
"Still need to get the other net."
She sighed, dragging Nick with her as she made her way through the town.
To her, it wasn't too difficult to handle. She was far stronger than she looked, and more experienced than most on the force. But something burned deep inside her about why she wanted to personally transport the fox.
She could feel the weightiness of the net in tow while dragging it closely behind her.
He was among one of the smaller predator species that she had to deal with on a daily basis, but by far he was the craftiest.
Having grabbed the other used net on her way out, Judy could see the familiar flash of red and blue lights as she marched up to the gate of Little Rodentia.
Dozens of officers raced towards her, each saluting or cheering her on for the capture.
Having her work complete, she removed her helmet and heard the faint sound of her radio signaling.
"Well done Hopps, this may just put you a step closer to being a Huntress."
Judy watched as the squads worked together. Some walking around her and dragging Nick with them to the closest vehicle, others calling dispatch and heading to other parts of their great city.
"Thanks Chief," Judy responded, making her way towards her squad car and soon enough her home "Hopps Out."
With the next few chapters (until 7 which will be posted soon) being re-uploads, I'm truly sorry, but I wanted to do this sooner than later to make it a much lighter load to read. I just wanted it to be something you could pick up and read in a few minutes rather than try to squeeze in time to read.
And I hope you get a chance to read this and the other in your leisure. Also, these stories can be found here as well:
fanfiction:
~dancinglunarwolves
deviantart:
dancinglunarwolves
archiveofourown:
users/DancingLunarWolves/works
If you'd like updates, please check the profile page and or P.M. me. I feel as thought I'm writing a lot more these days.
Also, I'm placing my other stories (non zootopia) on hold (just on hold) until I'm done with a good chunk of these. More info on my profile page.
If you liked this story and have time please post a review, fave and follow. If you want to keep up with the story fav or follow. Questions, comments, concerns, feel free to pass me a P.M... More to come soon.
Till Next Time DLW.