Hello, all! Some time passed, but this story is not dead-far from it, in fact. Even if another chapter-plateau like this happens again: this story will only end once it's truly over or when I have drawn my last breath, but even then, it won't end before it's finished. This is my promise to all of you.

Anyway, let's break what happened (and will happen) down into more digestible subpoints.

0. Current progress (TLDR):
All chapters will be replaced by new ones, starting with the first. The first new chapter will be set way earlier in the timeline. Don't worry; the focus of the story remains the same; it'll just be way better executed. The replaced chapters won't be deleted; they'llbe re-used (I've got them all backed up)-sometimes more, sometimes less changed from what it was originally to fit the new context/timeline-when the time comes.

Chapter 1: The Utopia That Is Zootopia (WIP Title. Further, the title is ironic) - In the process of being written. Expected release date: 24. April/(more likely) 01. May 01st May/08th of May.
Edit: As of the time of writing this (25th of April), I have to inform all of you that it may take me an additional week to get everything fully fledged. The first chapter is very important for any given story as a whole. Trust me on this: You will love the chapter. The "new" story is everything this one wanted to be, but, in contrast to this one, it doesn't fail at it. The release dates are already changed to reflect that.

1. The problem I had and the solution:
I am severely unhappy with some parts of the story. This is why I consulted some key members of my Discord for advice-in addition to my surveys (here and on the Discord), of course. Thank you to all of you who already participated and left comments/kudos-your commitment is invaluable and genuinely leaves me happy (and makes me write all of this). Further, thank you to the aforementioned Discord members; you know who you are. Through multiple weeks of brainstorming (sometimes alone, sometimes with them), I've finally figured out more or less exactly how I want to portray the story. If you care for further details, please read on.

2. The problem in detail:
I've now recognised that some parts, especially the beginning, are not how I would like them to be. I am referring not only to the writing itself-I think I've improved from when Chapter 1 was conceived and can do it much better now-but also to the plot. Most notably, we'll start earlier in the timeline where Nick just left for the ZPD. I've taken some things for granted that really shouldn't be taken for granted in my universe. I've skipped some really good writing because I didn't want to write the whole "they love each other, but they won't admit it" kind of cliche. I do still hold onto that opinion, but that is in regular stories; we'll see at least a bit of that in the chapters I am now writing leading up to the "original" Chapter 1 (Chapter 1: The Admission) because we need to read about this phase of their relationship. I want to be frank here: when I wrote Chapter 1, the vision had been very narrow; I had a few crass, major scenes I wanted to include and kind of tie them together with some interlude. I still want to do that (but not as jarringly, mind)-stories inherently consist of climax and plateau-but I want to write a lot more. I want to worldbuild a lot more. I want more worldbuilding from the get-go. This is not the Zootopia you know, and I want to make that instantly apparent.

I don't want to reveal too much, but I am basically portraying the metropolis of Zootopia as a much grittier place where predator and prey try to live together for mutual benefit. Instincts are prevalent, so uncountable preventive measures exist that aim to reduce conflict. Further, most establishments are divided for either predator or prey but also sometimes for both. This "segregation" of predator and prey is not enforced by law (this point is crucial to the story as a whole). Instead, it is just instincts. Both parties just feel better when their instincts aren't subjected to unnecessary triggers.

The overarching point of their romance is that they are different mammals. They are predator and prey, and I won't gloss over that. I don't "just" mean the things you'd immediately think of, though they still are paramount (fangs, claws, size, appearance), but also the traditions and habits of the respective species. As a result, there will be challenges, prejudice, injury, and trauma. That shouldn't be a surprise, given the existing chapters, though.

Some of this is not 100% true and ambiguous by design, but I intend not to give everything away in this post. I believe I've already revealed too much, so I'll stop here. I hope this above is enough to make you see the vision I have, at least enough to understand where I'm going with the story.

I just keep on rambling, don't I? I want to keep at least some stuff secret :3 I just hope I'm not turning away too many readers with this. Not only the exact definition of my aims but also the fact I'm rewriting the story. Believe me, this decision hasn't been easy for me, but I feel it's for the better.

If you want to get info like this earlier, feel free to join the Discord (the link is found in any other chapter).

Until we meet again (see bullet point 0),
-Meiko