Aithor's Note:This is just a tiny chapter, and you guys deserve way more and way more often. But I have been super busy, and my interest in this story is next to dead. I know it's not fair on you guys, and I wish I could keep my motivation up, but when it comes to fan-work I always end up feeling distinctly that I should be working on my own projects instead. It is completely uncertain at this point what will become of this story, and I do apologize if I don't finish it. I know you guys liked it, and I am really happy for that. Hope you enjoy this little flesh-out scene.

Chapter 13

Rain

Cowering together under a large green leaf in the Rainforest District, a fox and a rabbit sat back to back. The air smelled of wet asphalt and wet fur, and the bunny's nose was twitching with the overwhelming sensation of humidity heavy with scents. The moisture had crept through her clothes and fur and left her cold and shivering. Only the body behind her, Nick's firm back, provided some source of warmth in the early morning hours.

They had walked for an hour trying to get back to Honey's place via a detour so to not be detected. Police cars were hurling past them when they walked through a ditch just below a busy motor way. The sirens were like excitedly shouting birds, seagulls that had spotted a swarm of fish in the moving waters. They were on a track – Judy's dutiful senses as a cop told her so. Not knowing any better, she assumed they were after them. Nick and Judy.

Runaway criminals. Scum in the eye of the law. Did the police know she had betrayed them? Or did they think Nick had master minded her abduction? Was Chief Bogo worried?

"There is no point in waiting out the rain", Nick yawned tiredly behind her. "We are soaked already. Might as well walk on."

Judy nodded, but made no effort to get up. She leant her head back against Nick's back, surprised by the comfort his presence provided. Not two days ago she had carried a fox repellent in her pocket, after all.

"Why did you build Wilde Times, slick Nick?"

She felt him shrug. "I thought predators needed something like that in their lives. You know, some outlet. Some place to be themselves. I got the idea when my collar was taken off at the doctor's. First time in years. It was the best feeling; you know? I felt…free. I felt like myself."

"You don't feel like yourself now?"

"Yeah, but…not quite. I mean, I feel like I am only eighty percent of myself, you know? I can be all my calm and collected self, play it cool, be the good old casual Nick – but I can never be angry Nick, or frightened Nick, or actually-having-fun Nick."

Judy tried to picture the Nicks he described. It was hard to think of Nick as anything but cool and collected. Had he been angry, it might even have frightened her. But she knew there was comfort in sharing one's feelings with another – sharing them openly, loud and ugly. It was like a wave of hot water that washed all the poison out of the body. Cleansing, freeing. What shadows crept around the fox's heart? What heartbroken beasts slept within each predator?

"Wilde Times was more than I could ever have dreamed", Nick continued unprompted. "Mammals were happy. Really happy. Even if it was just for an hour or two. But they still couldn't go all out, you know? They'd be laughing on the way up on the roarer coaster, but when it came to the down, the sudden surge of adrenaline…you can imagine. So only a few actually dared to try it. I talked to Koslov. We were going to have a collar check at the entrance, and remove the collars for a few hours. You've got to believe me, Fluff, it was all with good intention – none of these people would have been a danger to anyone! I knew these guys. I trusted them. I saw myself in every one of them."

Shared suffering – Judy idly wondered how it drew the predator community together. The prey community had nothing similar to speak of. Maybe there was some solidarity amongst species or mammals of similar size. But Judy knew nothing about their struggles. Each new mammal was an enigma to her.

"I never thought it could…go wrong like that. If predators are murdering prey right now…"

"We don't know that yet.", Judy reminded him calmly.

"It's fine, carrots. We are both thinking it. Someone struck out against predator enemies. Maybe someone finally snapped and found a way to take his revenge. Maybe, when they took their collars off, they really did get angry. So angry they…."

He didn't finish the sentence. There was a heart breaking anguish in his voice.

"Why did you become a cop, Fluff?"

"I had something to proof. I knew I could make the world a better place – and I wanted to show everyone that even small guys like me could do it."

She smiled as some of the old enthusiasm crept back into her bones, setting them alive with inspiration. But the sensation left her soon as huge droplet of water exploded on her head, dropped from the tip of the leaf above. "And…I've decided I want to make a difference for predators, too. You guys need the police now more than ever. And if it is predators committing these crimes, we will bring them to justice. And then we need to have a good, close look at what we are doing as a city!"

"Good luck with that, noble Carrots."

"Right now we don't need luck, we need action!"

The bunny jumped to her feet and swung around to pull Nick up by the collar. The fox, looking startled, turned to face her. "What?"

"Right now – let's head to Sahara Square and investigate this circus."

"Carrots, it's nearly four in the morning! By the time we get there it will be at least five. No one will be around yet. It's late. We are both tired. We are soaking wet."

"You haven't given me a single good reason yet not to go", beamed the officer. "The sooner we clear this up the better. And the emptier the circus, the easier for us to snoop around! Come on, Nick! It will be fun."

"You scare me sometimes, Fluff."

But he didn't protest when she grabbed his tie and started dragging him out into the rain.