AN: And so the madness and cooking continues! But first, a detour!

Hunters, Strangers, and Primal Nights

Ch2: Meeting the Neighbors

It was five in the afternoon when Judy and Nick rode the elevator up to his apartment in Savannah Central. As it turns out, Nick had somewhat... taken advantage of helping save the city to solve a small issue of his. Namely, city records said he had now back taxes to pay. After all, we cant arrest a public relations hero for tax evasion now, can we? But Nick had decided to invest it rather well, as Judy had found out the previous night.

It wasn't the best building in the city, but the Royal Lions penthouse suites were far above and beyond the Grand Pangolin Arms. There were only two, each taking up half the top floor of the building. An absolutely massive living room, a kitchen that looked fit to feed a small, non-rabbit, army single handed, master bath and bedroom, the list went on. There was just... one awkward thing about it.

"Dammit... I forgot to order the second bed today!" Yeah, no one had thought to stock a guest room... Well, there was a spare room, but it had no furniture. Things had been... awkward when the two nearly came to blows over who would take the couch. Especially when they flipped for it and the coin vanished. Not the most... uncomfortable nights rest, though both were feeling conflicted about it.

"Its alright Nick. Hell, after what we heard earlier today, I'd forgot myself." That, and I feel safer aro- SHUT UP HEART.

When they got out of the elevator however, something unexpected was waiting for them. Namely, several cardboard boxes, a crate, and a wheelchair bound raccoon.

"Dammit... did they give me the wrong key... or do I have the wrong side?" As the raccoon said that, he turned his chair around, and Nick and Judy finally got a good look at him. He seemed to be wearing a fairly high quality clothing, black dress shirt and grayish khakis, but his face... his face looked like hell warmed over. Scars liberally littered his face like it had been on the receiving end of a belt sander, and he wore an eye patch over his left eye. Given the large gouge going back along his skull, it looked like it had been ripped out by someone.

"Ah... I take it I was trying to get into your apartment wasn't I? Sorry bout that... can't exactly see the room numbers from here. I take it 4002 is the door across the hall?"

Judy was the first one to speak up. "Um.. yes, but, do you need some help sir?"

"Don't call me sir, I'm barely over 22. Call me Han. Han Lecter. Former sailor and explorer, now semi cripple. But yeah, I could use some help." The coon started to wheel his chair over to the door to unlock it. "Oh don't get me wrong, I'm no invalid. I just cant walk long distances, its why they gave me the chair. Oh, careful with the one on the dolly. She's rather heavy."

"Well Nick care to help our new neighbor?"

"Sure thing Carrots, I'll get the big one."

"Ah, thank you both. I find people in this city aren't exactly that comfortable round me. Its a breath of fresh air to find someone who cares."

Judy had picked up a pair of boxes while Nick was struggling to get the large crate to move. Whatever was in it had to weigh a ton. Elephant sized couch?

"Your not from Zootopia, Mr. Lecter?"

"Ma'am, I said don't call me sir or Mr. I'm willing to bet your at least 8 years my senior. Bt as you said no, I ain't. I'm from pretty far away, out cross the sea. I signed up on a ship full of explorers, trying to chart out some uncharted islands, maybe find some lost treasure or two. Kinda always been one of my dreams, call it genetics. Well, we found a few, and made a fair few friends long the way. Then we met Croc..." The way the coon growled out the name sent shivers down Nick and Judy's spines. " But who cares about a poor coons tales. So, who are y'all neighbors?" Something seemed off about just how fast the coon was able to shift from hatred to calm conversation.

"Ah, I'm Judy Hops of the ZPD. This is my partner, Nick Wilde."

"Heh. Ya did good man. May want to step up on getting a ring though" Judy and Nick both started blushing profusely. Han continued almost obliviously, his back turned to them. "Ah, I don't judge. Back home we gots a saying. 'Don't matter if your pred, prey, or blue with purple stripes, its who YOU are that counts.' Part a why all this specism caught me off guard when I got off the boat. Its like everyone expects me to rob em blind as I pass em." Han had finally turned his chair back around. "Though judging by the fact that the two of you are beet red right now, I think I may have overshot. Or y'all are in denial, but eh. Go at your own pace." Han started chuckling. "Sorry if I seem a bit blunt. Being honest is in my nature when it comes to opinions. And hey, ya both seemed to be living under the same roof, and yer partner's words were a bit misleading."

Nick was the first to stop blushing, though that may have just been his fur color hiding his complexion. "Well, uh, Han, we..." The stuttering killed it though.

"We're just partners right now." Though I wouldn't mind... "My apartment got wrecked in a recent accident, and he offered me a place to stay."

"Ah. Sorry bout that. I'm prone to making leaps of judgment. Though... aren't these only one bed suites?" And that sent the blood pressures up. God I am such a shipper at times...

After about an hour of teasing and aid, Nick and Judy had finally helped Han get his things into his apartment. It was decorated much like nicks, but most of the furniture had been resized for someone who was handicapped.

"Ah, thank y'all for the help. Tell ya what. Come by in about two hours, I'll make y'all a nice home cooked meal. I'm a bit of chef at heart, and I feel like repaying your kindness."

"Its no problem Han. Judy and I are just happy to have been of service."

"Oh, nonsense. Let a poor humble coon do enjoy one of his trades. I ain't totally crippled, just got leg braces. I'm perfectly able to hop round my own home, and I had a pretty decent set of groceries sent up earlier today before I moved in. Two omnivores and an herbivore... salmon steaks, baked sweet potatoes, side salad, full one for the lady... think I can pull off a nice carrot cake as well..."

"Nick lets not be rude and accept Hans offer. Eight o'clock?"

"Ah, yes Ma'am. I should have everything read by then. Oh, and by the way. If you hear some odd noises, well..." He started rubbing the back of his head. "I'm a bit of a metal head."

As Nick and Judy left they could swear they heard Han start humming a tune as he headed to the kitchen. This was confirmed when they could hear a song start from his apartment.

"Crossed the valleys, the dust of midlands, to search for the third key to open the gates..."

"Huh... weird tune, eh Judy?"

Eight o'clock

I was standing on a fourth story building, overlooking a warehouse near the docks. Through a pair of binoculars, I could see my target. A group of bears, grizzlies by the looks had set up a drug distribution in there recently, couldn't be more than a few days old. Yet I could see what they were stocking. Only drug in the city that's a blue liquid. Had have have three 55 gallon drums full of it. They could turn the damn city savage with one. Worst of it, no damn sign of them being able to make the stuff... Good news, I had been able to deduce the ringleader. A big grizzly by name a Stone, looked like he could bench press a Hummer. I flexed my shoulders and listened to the sounds of raindrops on metal.

"I need one alive...big guy's getting off easy tonight. But do I break out the good toys tonight... Might break the public ice..." The media had stirred up quite the frenzy over my actions earlier, but the idiots had decided to call it, of all things, a sick prank. Then again, the reporter on the case was a half blind sheep... Maybe I should have sent the head in to them? None the less, they hadn't even tried to contact the ZPD. Seems like I would have a bit more animosity for a while. Unexpected, but beneficial. The ZPD surely knew I was true to my words. Or perhaps they were keeping it hush hush?

Eh, whatever. After tomorrow morning, there would be no doubts that I was here. And with that thought, I hit play and leaped off the building. (Begin playing Only a Chilling Elegy)

The sounds of a heartbeat filled the building seconds before I came crashing through the windows, revolvers in hands. Acrid black smoke clouds poured through with me as the first two shots rang out at the guards, slamming into their heads, taking them down before the knew I was there. Four guards were left standing between me and the boss. Even with the echoes of the shots, the song still filled the room.

In time, the birds will cease their chirping
In time, the winds will overflow with deceit
In time, the flowers will hide their buds
In time, the moon will forget its cycle
In time, the sky will be captured by the night
In time, the sea will freeze over

He's coming. Hell will be exposed.
He's coming to attack. Even dreams will freeze.

Ten more shots poured out from me, every one aimed at the chest of one guard. Grizzlies were big, but .45-70 JHP hit with almost literally like two tons. He wasn't getting back up. I tossed my guns back, dissolving them into gas, and grabbed my knives. Thick smoke covered almost the entire room know, but I could see through it just fine. The guards frantically started spraying away at me, 9mm from a local equivalent of a TEC-9 ricocheting off of my suit whenever they managed to land near me. Darting forwards, I curved around one, a clothesline connecting with his jaw, slamming his spine down into the blade of my second knife. He wasn't dead, just paralyzed for life from the head down, probably gonna bleed out. The last one managed to find me and rushed me, a hard jab connecting with my left arm as I brought it up to block. I barely felt the punch. I audibly heard the bones in his paw shatter. Both blades flashed out towards his neck, severing the arteries in a fountain of gore. The boss was trying to bolt, as I sent out tendrils of smoke, wrapping around his legs and tightening into chains.

"NONONNONONONONO... OH GOD NO-" Tendrils of iron wrapped found his mouth, locking it tight.

"Now now, little bear. The night is still so young, and I have so many things to ask... and you can be of so much help to me." Gasses in his mouth changed to chloroform, drugging him into unconsciousness. Wouldn't do to have him wake on the trip. I tossed him over my shoulder and dialed up a number on my phone.

"Yes? ZPD? I would like to report a quintuple homicide, in warehouse on the corner of Walrus and Narwhal. And... oh, call it 110 gallons of Night Howler?What? How do I know this? I'm the Gespent Jaeger, I'm the one that did it." I ended the call there before the poor operator could ask anything else, and dialed up a new number.

"Yes? ZNN? Boy, do I have something for you guys!"

The voices of you insects gradually wears on my nerves
I'll teach you your place, you lower life-forms

Time for the perfect emperor to get his wish
The poem of love is only a chilling elegy

Even today, the bugs crawl over the ground
Flattering me as they seek their prey
Fine words are nothing but empty consolation

AN: And just what does the Hunter want with him