Chapter 8: Vocal, but without Thought

Judy fixes her eyes of amethyst upon the wooden bridge before her. It stretches between two great trees that reach towards the sky like the arms of a giant grasping for the hidden sun. Despite she and Nick being far above the ground, a delicate mist swirls about their heads, casting a grey filter on every plant and shimmering lamp. It's not the grey of depression, she notes, but of mystery, of the blurring between black and white. It's the color of complexity. She smiles. Unlike the previous visit, she's able to study such details with extra vigor. This district, she decides, truly is one of her favorites.

Nick begins to walk across the bridge and she follows, her gaze never staying in one place. Using the gaps between the rope railings, she glances downwards to look upon a moss-filled lake hundreds of feet below. With engines humming, crafts glide across the water. They cast a soft, yellow light from lanterns mounted, by use of netting, to their bulwarks. Wooden buildings with roofs sloped like the crests of waves line the shore of this lake, aging docks protruding from their fronts.

"Judy."

She looks towards him.

"I'll show you another.

She shifts her focus to a point ahead of Nick and spots a tiger walking casually towards them. She rolls her eyes. "Would you stop it?"

Just as the tiger is about to pass, Nick pretends to trip and falls into her.

"Oh. I am so sorry," he stammers.

The tiger is thrown off a moment before quickly smiling. "Oh, that's quite alright."

Nick grins. "It's just… I'm absolutely terrified of heights."

With a nervous chuckle, "don't worry, you're not the only tourist to say that."

"It's that obvious, huh?"

"If it makes you feel any better, you don't stick out as badly as some I've seen." The tiger says as she begins to walk away. "Now, take care! Wouldn't want you to fall."

Nick bows slightly, his most luscious grin spread across his face as she turns away.

Judy stares at him, slightly confused. But then, Nick reaches into his pocket and pulls from it a wallet she's never before seen. Anger and shock bubble up and, as she's about to correct the situation, Nick beckons the tiger. "Miss!" She turns back around to see him holding it out towards her. "Is this yours? I saw it lying on the planks. It must have fallen when I bumped you."

"Oh! Yes, yes it is." She walks over and Nick hands it to her. "Thank-you very much. Really, I would have been screwed."

"Now, don't thank me. After all, it was my fault." Nick places a paw upon his chest as he says this. "I'm just glad it didn't fall between the boards." He states with concern Judy knows to be fake.

"Oh definitely, me too." She smiles and, as she walks off, "Again… thank-you."

Nick turns to see Judy staring at him with a disapproving glare, a foot thumping the ground to a slow rhythm.

"Good, wasn't it?" He grins.

"I never took you for a thief."

"Uh, no-no." He says, turning his back to her—his tie flipping—and resuming the journey across. "That's exactly how it would have gone. With additions, of course."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed."

Judy rolls her eyes again and follows.

"You see, normally, I'd be dressed in not-as-fine attire."

"And how would that help?"

"I'd also be pushing around Finnick."

Understanding comes to Judy. "Oh, you pretended to be a poor father."

"Exactly."

Confusion hits Judy again. "Wait, so how would that help?"

"Fluff. A poverty-stricken father who obviously cares deeply about his son returns your wallet with everything still inside. What do you do?"

And here, again, returns the understanding. "Tip him."

"Bingo."

Judy thinks a moment, pondering. "So, you never just kept them?"

"There's a reason you never took me for a thief. I wasn't one. I was a con-artist."

"Is there a difference?"

Nick halts and peeks back at her, his green eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before they dash away. "Big difference. A thief steals outright. Con-artists outsmart their associates. Picture what I just did. If I had simply stolen that wallet, she wouldn't have known until much later. If, however, I had conned her into giving me some of her money, she would have had the opportunity to use her own knowledge and experience to catch me. Understand, Carrots?"

She thinks a moment, interested in what he'd said. Never before had she thought of it like that. "Yeah, I think. So you're saying conning is like a duel."

"Well, more of a test."

"Hmm… Alright, but it's still wrong…"

He chuckles.

"At least you had a code of ethics… even if morally grey."

He sends a grin her way, again glancing away quickly when their eyes meet. "Well…" He says in mock admiration. "Leave it to you to find the positive."

She glares at the back of his green shirt with confusion, her ears starting to droop.

'He hasn't looked at me directly all day.'

Her mind goes back to that morning.

'That's when it had started. This weird… whatever this is."

She thinks of the look he had given her.

'He had seemed so shocked to find me awake...'

They make it to a large wooden platform that circles a massive trunk, a few thick support beams angled against it. Mammals of various species go about their business. Some approach market stalls nestled against the tree. Others sit at tables that lie around the edge, against the railing, while sipping on various hot beverages and looking out over the thick vegetation. A capybara, resting on a stool behind the counter of a wooden magazine stand, waves a paw at Nick.

"You there. Do you read the news?" He asks.

"Depends."

"Well, you may be interested in this. It concerns you."

Nick looks over at Judy, an eyebrow arched. She shrugs. The capybara grabs a newspaper from the counter and holds it out to him. Nick walks over and takes it.

"Page 4."

He flips to it.

"Second article, begins towards the middle."

Nick reads the headline. 'Psychologist States There is Proof Predators Are Unstable' He rolls his eyes and hands the paper back. "I've heard it all before, thank you."

"Keep reading."

Nick scoffs, but continues.

Studies, led by Dr. Warren, were conducted by the Institute of Species Cognition and Mental Welfare to determine the difference in violent tendencies between predators and prey.

'86 couples were used,' Dr. Warren stated. 'Forty-three were prey/prey and forty-three were prey/predator.'

Nick arches an eyebrow and looks up at the capybara. He doesn't notice due to another customer drawing his attention. Suddenly, Nick feels a soft paw on his arm. Downward he glances, towards the touch, and sees Judy staring up at him, purple eyes full of concern.

"Nick, are you okay?"

He sighs and shifts his stance so that she stands between his arms and can easily see the article.

"Here," he says, pointing to it.

He continues to read over the tops of her ears.

The study was conducted over a period of two months. Each couple went about their daily activities while notes on behavior were taken.

Nick doesn't have to look over them for long. Her ears fall, he having to move his head slightly to avoid having his face covered.

'The predator/prey relationships were much more violent.' Dr. Warren stated.'18 of such relationships resulted in at least one violent outburst during the study's time. These outbursts were always conducted by the predator and, in 4 of the incidents, medical attention was needed. This 18 drops down to a mere 3 when looking at the prey/prey relationships. In addition, none required medical treatment.'

Dr. Warren holds two doctorates in Cognitive and Evolutionary Psychology. For the past 15 years she's been Head of Research at ISCMW. When asked about her personal thoughts on the results, she stated, 'Well, it's quite disappointing. Being a predator myself -'

Nick stops.

Her paw returns to his arm. "Nick?"

He shrugs away from the delicate grip. She sees him smile as he turns towards the capybara who stares at them with a smirk.

"Fascinating article!" Nick shouts.

"Think so?"

"Absolutely. I enjoy learning more about myself." He states with a casual tone. "Especially about my subconscious urge to kill and eat prey."

The capybara arches an eyebrow. "Uh…huh. That so?"

"Absolutely. In fact, I'm fascinated by eating habits in general."

The sly grin upon Nick's muzzle and his casual strut as he walks towards the magazine stand is a reaction the capybara did not expect. "Well… glad to meet a predator as enlightened as you."

"There's one," Nick holds up a digit, "that has always fascinated me, however. Fascinated me farmore than the others."

Worry fills the capybara and he tries, with failure, to hide it. "Oh…? And what would that be?"

"Autocoprophagy."

The capybara's eyes widen in terror. No words come to him.

"Yeah, quite intriguing how a no-good Fox like myself knows about that little nugget, isn't it?"

"You better shut it. Right now."

"Oh, you won't have to worry about me. I'm leaving." Nick says, walking off and waving. "I have a busy day ahead of me. Takes a lot of energy to suppress my predatory urges." He flashes one final sly grin at the gaping and fuming mammal. "Ta-ta."

Judy runs to him, noticing how, now that the capybara cannot see his expression, his smile has vanished. "Nick…"

He stops and, without looking at her and in a somber tone, "Look, Carrots. I just need a moment." He steps away.

"Nick…" She stares after him, tempted to follow but decides against it.

Judy turns her attention to the capybara who stares at the back of the fox with a fiery glare. She stomps over, paws clenched.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Bah! Nothing wrong with me."

She points at him, her small claw inches from his snout. "There was absolutely no need for that."

"Look, lady. I didn't write the article. I was just trying to help."

"Help?" She yells. Mammals around her halt and begin staring. "Help!"

"Yes! Help you two see the absurdity of your relationship before it's too late!"

Judy's taken aback. Her eyes go wide. "Wait- what?"

"I didn't see any rings so I-"

"You think-?

"Well, aren't you? No reason for you to hide it now."

"No, I- I mean. Well-" A sudden resolution comes to her. 'What am I saying?' "So what if we are!" She challenges. "Huh?"

"You did read the article, didn't you?"

"That proves nothing!"

"Are you su-"

"Yes!" She shouts. Almost all the mammals on the platform have stopped. "YES! I'm sure! Look, Nick is one of the nicest mammals I have ever met."

"Yeah, he seems like a peach. You just wait until he snaps."

Judy slams her fists down on the counter. The loud boom that emits is not expected from her tiny paws and the mammals standing closest to her flinch. Several magazines fall to the ground. "You…! Gah! You're what's wrong with Zootopia!"

The Capybara jumps from his stool. They are now face-to-face, snouts almost touching. "Am I?" He screams.

"Yes! You and your backwards-"

"Backwards?"

She throws her paws up. "Yes!"

"The numbers don-'

"NO!"

"They don't lie!"

"Do not bring up the numbers!"

"Of course you'd say-!"

"No. You know what?" She says with forced calmness as she realizes the pointlessness of the situation.

"Nope!"

"I'm leaving."

"Alright!"

She stomps off, each thud of her rabbit feet vibrating the entire wooden platform to the point where several mammals become a little worried. Before she's completely out of sight of the stand, however, she turns back around and, with every ounce of voice she can muster. "And I'm doing so while holding the paw of my Fox!"

The moment the words are free of her mouth, she notices the uncomfortable silence of the surrounding crowd. The soft sounds of mammals shifting their weight can easily be heard.

'Did I really just say that?' She thinks, a little frightened, as she continues her leave.

The crowd separates to create a path as she works her way towards where she assumes Nick to be. Every eye is locked upon her and she feels their weight. Because of this, she makes sure to keep a stern face despite her racing mind.

'Yes.' She tells herself, pride replacing the fear. 'Yes I did just say that. And forget about the mammals who find it distasteful!'

As she passes a cougar, he reaches out and grabs her shoulder. She halts and, as she turns to face him, confused, he slowly kneels down so that they're eye-level with each other.

"Your words…" He breathes. "They affect me deeply."

"Oh- uh…"

He smiles as if they're friends finally united after many years apart. "I thank you."

"Oh" She grins meekly. "You're welcome."

He releases her shoulder and stands. "Now. Go and find your fox and never let him go. No matter what anybody says."

Judy feels her skin warm into a blush. She simply nods as she continues onwards. The glances of the onlookers are varied and numerous. Some faces are filled with contempt. But others, many others, are that of respect, of admiration. Through the remaining crowd she walks and, shortly, she sees his form leaning against the railing. His eyes, the color of the surrounding leaves, are locked upon her and a wide grin is spread across his muzzle.

As she nears, he holds out a paw using a slow, dramatic movement. She can't help but release a nervous chuckle as she takes it within her own.

Nick pushes himself away from the edge and they, together, with heads held high, begin their trek across the platform and towards another bridge. They are like a hot knife through butter, the crowd separating before them. Many mammals, whether predator or prey, acknowledge them with a studying gaze as they pass.

Thoughts, hidden within the minds of their creators, fill the swarm.

'Good for you two.' Some scream.

'Completely unnatural.' Others return.

'I'm glad for you.' Some beam.

'It will not end very well.' Others state with concern.

Some of these judgments are voiced, of course, but only in hushed whispers and only to those who the speaker knows to be agreeable. These whispers, these ghosts of the spoken word are heard for quite some time, even after Judy and Nick have disappeared over the bridge and into the mist. But though they may eventually end, the thoughts and memories that have produced them will not. They will continue for a lifetime.