Passing through the doorway, Francine tried not to stare at the simple, yet beautiful trappings of the Hopps' estate. Since moving to Bunnyburrow, the Wildes had overheard many a conversation about the various grounds held by the local aristocrats. The Bellwethers, for example, leaned toward anything loud and gaudy, opting for statues of fine marble and bronze, the most expensive persian rugs, random assortments of priceless paintings, vases, and trinkets that would loudly shout their wealth and status and taste… or lack there of.
Such frivolity was often paired with parties, many involving food and drink that clashed with one another and were only served because of what it meant to serve them. And it was certainly not cheap.
The Hopps estate, however, was decorated in such a way that could only be described as 'Home'. It was bright, but not blindingly so. One could turn comfortably without worrying about some priceless something or other being disturbed. Wall hangings featured lovely landscapes and added texture to the bright halls. And the mansion seemed to be filled with laughter.
Perhaps the it was the amount of kits brought into the world thanks to the good lord and lady ( some stereotypes are true, it seems), but everything, from the sturdy furniture, to the many living house plants to bright, happy wall colors that lit up halls and rooms, said, "This is home and you are welcomed." They passed through one of the hallways, painted a soft green, towards the open doors at the end, which welcomed the breeze from the large courtyard just beyond. The vixen smiled at the sound of many happy voices she heard from the other side.
So many voices…And so many bunnies… Francine had taught many a class that had a full litter in it, but to see so many bunnies and know that they all shared the same two parents was a bit overwhelming.
How were they doing it? Nick sometimes drove her crazy with questions ask for hours on end, as children are want to do. But close to two hundred young bunnies, all who seemed to be 11 years old and younger, Bonnie and Stewart were nothing short of heroes. She stopped with Bonnie on the stone patio, overlooking the expansive grey wall lined yard and stretch of grass.
A small stoned pathway lead to and around a fountain and the walls beyond allowed the some ivy to grown upon it, though Francine noticed a length of the plant from top to bottom seemed to be dying off. The right side of the courtyard had an entrance leading to what looked to be many expansive vegetable gardens and orchards.
The patio was certainly the hub of the yard, with five stone tables and benches seating a handful of the fuzzy young kits each, as she observed the sea of long ears, fluffy tails, and big eyes, all playing with various hoops, dolls, balls, and skipping ropes. Lady Hopps clapped loud and strong twice. To Francine's amazement, all activity ceased almost immediately, the kits running and laughing towards their mother and grouping themselves up.
They faced the older females with much giggling and some shoving, but otherwise well behaved. Many pairs of uncertain eyes watched the vixen standing next to their mother, all perched above small pink twitching noses.
Why are they grouped like that? Thought Francine, just before the answer came to her. It's their litter mates! It must make it easier to account for everyone when they stand like that. How clever!
"Hello, my darlings!" Bonnie said happily. " Will my seven eldest litters come forward, please?" What could only be described as a herd bounced their way to front. "Thank you, my loves. Before the rest of you rush off to play, I would like to introduce to you our new governess, Mrs. Wilde. She would like to spend the afternoon getting to know you and will officially start tomorrow morning. Mrs. Wilde?" Bonnie turned to her and stepped back, allowing Francine to step forward and observe the sea of cuteness in front her.
They don't like words like that, so stop! She thought to herself before speaking aloud, "I am delighted to be of service to you, young Hopps'. But I must insist you call me Miss Frankie or Francine! And please, I love questions and will be happy to answer as many as I can, the best I can. I look forward to teaching much and learning more!"
The invitation for questions was a terrible idea. Most of the kits started shouting theirs to her all at once, each hoping to out shout the others. Small paws tried silencing muzzles, resulting in some bitting, followed by more slapping and elbowing. Bonnie clapped her hands again to stop the onslaught of noise that came to follow.
"Think up your questions for tomorrow, my loves! Otherwise we shall be here all night! Now, the ones I have called forward shall stay. The rest of you, please start tidying yourself for your afternoon tea!"
In a surprisingly well ordered group, all but the seven litters called forward went to stand in line at a large fountain the center of the courtyard to clean their paws and straighten their clothing. Bonnie turned to consider the groups standing before her and the vixen.
"Francine, these are my children I would like you to take charge of. They are old enough to start improving their numbers and letters, as well as mature enough to not be a terrible handful. The others are still too young and are not quite there yet…." Bonnie had been walking from kit to kit, smoothing whiskers, straightening bows, brushing off grass bits, or simply stroke a soft, sweet cheek.
She trailed off from her statement as her brows knotted together and her head bobbed from each little face, obviously taking inventory of her children. After a thrice over, she adopted an expression of exasperation followed by a small sigh before turning to the group closest to her.
"Where is your sister?" She inquired of a tan furred, brown eyed male.
The small buck, no older then seven, looked around before answering, quite cleverly (to Francine at least), " All I see are sisters, mama." Said sisters giggled softly, and Francine had to bite her lip to avoid doing so as well. Bonnie adopted a stern expression and opened her mouth to retort, when another kit, this one a white furred and grey eyed doe, rose her hand meekly to get her mother's attention.
"Yes, Vivian, what is it?" The small paw pointed just beyond Bonnie's right shoulder. Both females followed the direction towards the figure of an irate honey badger marching towards them, his paws struggling to contain what looked like a wiggling ball of earth. "Oh no…", sighed Bonnie softly.
"Eight times! Eight times! This past week I have pulled you out of one of the numerous trenches you've dug in my garden. Another twelve times I have to pull you off the ivy in an attempt to climb the estate walls. My poor ivy is crushed where your paws were! You are a rabbit, child, not mole or a squirrel! Blasted, be still you little devil, be still I say!"
Little devil seemed accurate. The small creature wiggled and twisted, trying throw it slight body weight to free itself from it's capture. As he approached closer, Francine saw that the ball of earth he held in his paws was most likely the missing kit.
The badger continued to struggle with his burden, who thrashed and squeaked out "Lemme go!", as he rushed towards the waiting group.
"My Lady Hopps! I believe you are missing something? I would have been honored to have returned a daughter, but I hope you will settle for some of the best dirt and soil Bunnyburrow can offer."
Reaching Bonnie, Francine and the remaining kits, the gardener unceremoniously dropped his squirming package in front of her mother. The kit landed on her tail and sat, head down, obviously fuming at her predicament and angry at being caught. Her fur at one point had been grey, her long ears graced with a slight kiss of black on each tip.
"Thank you, Fredrick, for tending to the most talented grounds in the land!" Exclaimed Bonnie with a small smile. Fredrick gave her a slightly confused look. "Our soil can now produce bunnies and our gardener can mature them into being somewhat coherent. No small feat, good sir! I applaud you!" Bonnie gave him a bigger smile, which Fredrick returned with a slight nod to them and a glare to the bundle on the stone patio, before returning to his gardens, grumbling under his breath. Bonnie considered the small doe in front of her, before stooping down to lift her chin and look into her kit's eyes. She spoke with a slight warning to her offspring.
"You will righten yourself, now, and using your best manners, introduce yourself properly to your new governess and apologize for you tardiness and appearance. Then you will wash up, have your tea, and pray to Serendipity that she is not put off by your behavior. Is that understood, Judith."
A slight nod of her head, followed by a soft "Yes mama", and young Judith allowed her mother to help her to her feet. Bonnie stood aside as Judith stood in front of Francine and raised her eyes up to met her own, causing Francine to hold in the gasp she felt come upon her. The other kits, almost all of whom where watching with interest, had an assortment of different colored eyes, from sky blue to dark brown.
All the colors had repeated themselves in the siblings, but none viewed the world with such lovely amethyst eyes like the small kit in front of her. And while those many other eyes held some trepidation towards Francine, these lovely amethyst orbs held only curiosity. And fiery defiance. Though her twitching nose could not be stopped, it a small curtsey of what had at one point been a lovely buttercup yellow dress, Judith began her apology.
"How do you do? I am Judy Hopps and I do apologize Miss….er…" she faltered with embarrassment and looked at her mother for help, who only shook her head.
"Mrs. Frankie Wilde, my dear. Please continue," the vixen smiled back at the bunny's grateful look.
"I apologize, Miss Frankie, for not being here sooner. And for my dress. And for my fur and whiskers!" Judy's eyes suddenly became bigger and brighter. " But there is a war going on and I had to build the trenches before the enemy arrived. They have had us cornered for weeks and have been trying to steal our treasure long enough! I….I just had to make a stand!" One small hind paw stomp the stone underneath it and her small form became straighter. " For I, Colonel Judy Hopps of Salamandastron, will not surrender to pirates! Not now, not ever! Eulalia!" And with that, and a small fisted paw in the air, Judy turned on her heel and walked back the way she had been delivered, only to be stopped by Francine gently grabbing her paw. Green met purple as she knelt down to speak to the young rabbit.
"I don't believe I am familiar with Salamandastron. If I may, Colonel Judy, escort you to the washroom. Perhaps after we find the rabbit hidden under all that dirt, you can discuss with me your battle plans over tea. After all, what colonel can fight pirates alone? If that is agreeable to you, Lady Hopps?" The vixen and Bonnie exchanged small smiles, hiding their humor of the situation. Bonnie nodded with a smile and slight chuckle, before herding up the younger litters and gesturing Francine to follow.
The vixen chuckled as well, before rounding up the litters she had been put in charge of and marching them to fountain to wash up. The others followed their mother and siblings while Francine lead a bouncing, talkative Judy to a bath.
Salamandastron, a fabled fortress defended by warrior hares and ruled by a wild badger lord, was all she spoke of. Soon she was washed and dressed, this time in a dress of blue, not the breeches and shirt her brothers had (to her dismay), and enjoying tea with strawberries and muffins with the rest of the household. Or rather pretending to while trying distract the vixen enough to slip away again.
Francine spent much of the afternoon learning names and routines, who liked what, who liked whom, and various lists of preferences among her group. All the while, trying to stop little Judy from vanishing like smoke. And vanish she did.
Under furniture, out of windows, behind shrubs, and, to Francine's chagrin, up the ivy walls of the estate. The young doe certainly gave her Nick a run for his money.
Though, as the afternoon drew to a close, and Francine had laid out her lesson plans for the Hopps family, she could not help but admire Judy. It was seemingly easy to get lost in the crowd that made up her siblings. She had, unmeaningly, found a way to creatively and effectively stand out. The other kits had taken amusement in their sister's constant need to explore and fly off on whatever wind blew by her, but none of them thought of life outside of the land they were born and lived on.
In her seven short years of life, Judy had "escaped" no less than 300 times. Many of those escapes held multiple times a day. She, along with her siblings, had been prohibited from venturing outside the estate. And for good reason. A bunny kit from a family such as hers would go for an impressive ransom or be sold or traded for an even higher price.
But those stories of warning only encouraged her. She, Judy of Bunnyburrow, would bring justice and order to the world. She would reignite the flames of Salamandastron and become a warrior bunny. A knight! Fighting for those who could not fight for themselves. She would become a shinning beacon of justice to serve to the world. And tonight she would make her most daring escape, if the knotted sheet she had hidden in the armoire had anything to do with it.
For Judy Hopps, adventure was out there. And, by Serendipity, she was going to find it.