"We sure showed them!" Judy yells with enthusiasm as she skips ahead, turns on a foot, and smiles back at Nick.

They currently travel upon a path embedded into a cliff. High above, a waterfall spills over and tumbles to the forest floor with a thunderous roar. Nick sticks out a paw and lets the cool water rush over it, his arm jerking slightly at the impacts. A smooth smile touches his muzzle. "We did, one-hundred percent."

Within him, Nick's mind surges. 'But it was you who confronted that nobody.' He thinks. 'It was you who really stood up for me and every other predator.'

As he had listened to the conversation between her and the Capybara, the luminous spark within him had grown a little more. It no longer belonged purely to the subconscious but now oozed, slightly, into his consciousness. He had leaned against the railing because he had felt it, the same feeling he had felt in the motel room.

Judy places her paws upon the stone rail and looks towards a great red blimp hovering beneath the tops of the trees. It moves forward with calmness, swaying a little in the gentle breeze responsible for clearing the morning mist. The propellers on either side rotate and she listens to the soft hum of their engines, her ears twitching.

'During my time at the academy, a time not too long ago, I vividly remember the lengthy weeks that we had spent separated.'

Nick glances over and studies her as she studies the scenery. Her broad smile sends a flood of warmth through him. The proposal to come here had been a good one.

'I had thought of the longing as merely a friend missing another friend. But, perhaps, it had been the hints of something greater developing.'

As Judy watches the blimp move towards a bridge—this one built for cars—and stop just before impact, Nick watches the tufts upon her ears shift.

'Or maybe I'm thinking too far into this.'

As she watches the gates, similar to those found at railroad crossings, begin to blink and lower themselves in front of the traffic, he watches her shift her weight in an unconscious movement.

'Alright, let me entertain the idea. I can do that much, at least. Let's say that, perhaps, my feelings of friendship towards her have developed a bit further and, hypothetically, let's say I act upon them.'

As she sees the area between the two gates split itself in two, each half beginning to rise like the drawbridge of a castle, he sees her nose flick to a slow rhythm as it takes in the scents of moist plants, of dirt and stone, of blooming Passion Flowers.

'Even if she responded in the same way which, I highly doubt she would, the events of today have plainly shown why such a relationship would be problematic.'

As she views the blimp slowly and methodically glide through the newly formed gap, he views her striped pink button-up shirt waver in the wind.

'Could I possibly allow myself to drag her into the world of prejudice that has plagued my entire life?'

As she glances away from the scene and towards Nick, he sees her eyes shift. He quickly looks in another direction but isn't fast enough. Judy catches the end of the movement.

She arches and eyebrow. "Nick?"

'Woops. Okay, act natural.' He focuses on a massive treehouse that has appeared from behind the blimp before glancing at her from the corner of his eye. It's a lazy, casual move. "Yes, Fluff?"

"What's been bothering you?"

"Just-." He folds his ears back, thinking of an excuse for his odd mannerisms. "I want to thank you for what you did back there." What he says is genuine but if it keeps her from digging any further, it will serve a dual purpose.

She gives him a doubtful glare. "First. Don't thank me for doing what's right. I'm simply here to-"

"-make the world a better place," he says, perking up.

"Right. And second."

"I'm listening."

"Even before that jerk back there pulled his stunt, you've been distant."

'Alright, different tactic. Play dumb.' "I have?"

"Yes." She says walking towards him.

He turns towards her with a grin as she approaches. "You seem awfully confident in yourself."

"I'm sorry, but you do realize you're talking to the first bunny cop, right?" She smiles.

"Ah, I suppose that was-"

"Something a dumb fox would say?"

"Yeah."

Her smile lessens and shifts into a delicate grin. "Nick, if you don't want to tell me, that's okay."

Nick pauses and stares down into her understanding glare. She takes his silence as a cue to continue.

"But, just remember, if you ever need to open up…"

"There's a sly bunny around who happens to be a good listener?"

"Exactly." She lays a paw on his shoulder before turning away and walking onwards. "Now, come on. This district is amazing and I want to see all of it before the day ends."

Nick pauses to take in her form, the weight of her paw still pressing into his shirt. Her step has a bounce in it and she looks around with wonder in her eyes.

'I couldn't.' He decides. 'I couldn't subject her to that life, the same life that has taken from me the glow that I see within her.'

As he begins to follow, his phone rings. Reaching towards his back pocket, he pulls it out and studies the screen. 'Oh no…'

Judy stops and turns back to him. "Who is it?"

"Chief." Nick says, answering. "Hey, how's my favorite water buffalo?"

"Shut it, Wilde." He sounds unhappier than usual.

"Yes, sir." Nick says, deciding further joking would likely be problematic. "What can I do for you?"

"Wilde, do you know Damon Maximus?"

"Sir?"

"Damon. Maximus."

"No, sir. I've never heard the name."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well." The chief grunts. "How about a Sebastian Wilde?"

The name clicks and his ears fold back. Judy sees the change in expression and gives him an inquisitive look.

"I know the name, sir, but I've never met him."

"What can you tell me?"

"Nothing much, sir. He's my uncle. My mother mentioned him a few times. Is something wrong?"

This grabs Judy's full attention, her ears point straight up and direct themselves towards Nick.

"Well." The chief sighs. "Damon Maximus is his son. He's now one of the numerous missing cases."

Nick pauses as he tries to place his thoughts in order, his heart beginning to sink. "My cousin is missing?" 'A cousin I've never met, but family nonetheless.'

"Wait, what?" Judy blurts out.

"Yes, Wilde. Apparently so. I'm sending you an email with his profile attached. I need you to fill out a report on everything you know about him and his father."

"Yes, sir."

"I expect it on my desk first thing tomorrow. Goodbye."

Nick flinches as the conversation is cut by the sound of the receiver slamming into its cradle.

Several seconds pass as Nick stares into the blank screen in thought.

Judy's the first to break the silence. "We will find him, Nick." She states. "The ZPD has an excellent record when it comes to missing cases."

"It's just…" he sighs. "It's an odd way to become acquainted with a family member." His phone vibrates and a notification shows. "Here, Judy. The Chief sent Damon's file." She walks over as Nick taps the screen a few times.

The file displays and they study the image briefly before looking at each other in puzzlement. "Nick… you really don't know anything about him?"

"I know as much as you do."

They go back to looking over the file.

"Well, the Chief wasn't mistaken. My uncle is listed as the father."

"But definitely not by blood."

"The only other explanation is adoption."

"But why the different last name?"

The deal had gone smoothly.

Very smoothly.

He takes a sip from a blended drink of bananas and mangos. Now, to sit back and lay low for a few weeks. Maybe he'd catch up on a few movies.

"Hon, you know what that newsstand guy just told me?" The voice comes from an Okapi couple sitting at the table behind him.

"No, dear. What?"

"He sold a newspaper to a Fox and Bunny."

The Babirusa instantly straightens in his seat as all attention is pulled away from the drink.

"Oh?"

"They were together."

The wife pauses. "Surely… you don't mean?"

"Yes! They were a couple! I mean, they are a couple!"

The Babirusa turns towards them. "Hey- hello. Sorry for over-hearing, really. But did you just say what I think you said?"

The husband smiles at him. "Oh yes! You heard right! A Fox and Bunny couple were here."

"And you heard this from that guy over there?" The Babirusa points towards the sitting Capybara.

"Yup."

"Wow, that's fascinating." He stands and begins hobbling over to the newsstand. "Thank-you very much you two."

"No problem! A truly shocking event, can't say I blame you for wanting to know more."

The Capybara gives him a welcoming grin when he notices his approach. "What can I do for you my good sir?"

"I heard from that lovely couple over there-" He gestures over his shoulder. "-that you have a story about a Fox and Bunny couple?"

"Indeed. Saw them with my own eyes."

"Interesting. How long ago were they here?"

"Uh, well. It's been a few hours."

'Dammit.' "That's a shame."The Babirusa reaches into his pocket and pulls from it a packet of papers. He unfolds them and, positioning his hoof and arm so that only the pictures show, displays them to the Capybara. "Was this the right bunny?"

The Capybara narrows his eyes. "Uh, yeah. That's her. May I ask why you have that on you?"

"I'm trying to find them for a story I'm writing." He says, flipping to another page. "And is this the Fox?"

"Uh, yeah, that's him. A story, you say?" He gestures towards the various magazines and papers. "You've piqued my interest. Who do you write for?"

The Babirusa gives him a sly smile. "Now, now! It's unwise for me to disclose such information. As you probably know, the news business is a competitive one. I'd hate for a competitor to nab my story."

"Ah." The Capybara chuckles. "I understand."

"One last question. Did either of them happen to be in an officer's uniform?"

"They're cops?" The Capybara's eyes widen.

"They are, yeah. I'm going to go with a 'no'."

"I suppose they were off-duty."

"Must have been. Alright, thank-you for the info."

"You're welcome. Good day to you."

The Babirusa leaves, a wide smile upon his face. 'This...' He muses to himself. 'This is quite the development. She's going to be absolutely stunned.' He limps to a section of the platform with less mammals and grabs his phone. He dials a number and, after a few rings, an angered voice gushes from the speaker.

"I told you not to call unless it was important!"

"It is, it is! Trust me."

"It's hardly ever important! But, anyways, out with it."

"You know the bounty you placed on the Fox and Bunny cops?"

"Tell me, do you think I know about it?"

"Okay, sorry. Well, about that, you'll be interested to know…" He smiles.

"Out with it!"

"...they're considered partners both on and off duty."

There's a pause. A long pause.

"Mistress?"

"Cordarius!" She screams in the background.

The Babirusa can't make out the response. It's only a deep mumbling.

"Re-print the bounties I have on the Fox and Bunny. Double the reward for bringing them in alive and completely eradicate the reward for their deaths."

More mumbling.

"Does it fucking matter why?"

Additional, rushed mumbling.

"That's what I thought. Now get on it. Oh and add a note that if they do end up dead, the ones responsible will take the place as targets. Fuck-ups aren't allowed with this one. Now leave."