A/N: I think I picked the perfect title to describe this chapter.

Chapter 6: A Twisted Display of Affection


Whitebreeze said to me that Nick needs to eat meat, he can't survive on vegetables forever. I refused to believe it back then. I'm forced to face reality now but does it have to be meat? Can there be something else? My fox's life hangs in the balance. I hope I can find something else within the chasm.

The trek to the edge of the chasm takes six hours just like last time, the guards see me but make no move to stop me. I enter the chasm and decide to go in a different direction, instead of hugging the walls to the right I decided to go straight south. Nick's first bite shouldn't be a rabbit anyway. I've heard Alim's tale of how his village contains a blade and how Minty's village contains predators as well. There are other settlements within the chasm, I just need to find them.

The rules are that I can take children or any item from the chasm. The group I was with yesterday didn't seem too eager in finding alternatives, that's fine. That's my purpose now. Walking due south, I finally stumbled upon a town. It seems I've been walking for two hours while thinking about things. The population variety here is similar to Bunnyburrow. Not just rabbits, but a few predators too. I hear a scream in the distance.

I rush to find the source of the scream. I see a bunch of bunnies in a carrot field gathered around something, I approach the edge of the field, just as I was about to step on to the field, a bunch of them tackle me to the ground shouting, "NO!".

Dazed, confused. I ask, "What's the big idea here?"

One of them says, "You never go on the field without protective boots. Poisonous caterpillars bite you if you step on to the field without protective boots. We saved your life."

Caterpillars? I thought insects didn't exist within here. I say, "Are there any insects around here that aren't poisonous?"

Another responds, "Not that we have seen."

I ask, "What's the deal with the kit then?"

"The kit was too young and wasn't supervised well, she went on to the field and got bitten. There is no cure. She will be dead within a week. If that ever happens, we try to give them the comfort we can."

"Can I possibly see one of the caterpillars within the field? Are there safe ways to handle them?"

"I don't know why you would want to. Meanwhile, let's get her out of the field and into safety."

They take the kit out of the field and carry her into the house. Just as well, I can see a few white and black caterpillars clinging to her body, biting her, they didn't look edible at all. I wouldn't want my fox to try these. They get rid of the caterpillars on her. Maybe, Lightbringer had a reason for not telling the truth or maybe he simply doesn't care enough for the lives of prey to see insects. I will be sure to question him when I get back. That still leaves the question of food for Nick, what can I bring him?

I hear the kit in pain after being carried into the house and laid on top of a bed. I place my paw on top of the kit's head, I can feel a fever. I heard the gold crystals can heal animals, would I be able to heal this kit? I ask the family if I could try something to cure the kit.

They don't believe that I can but allow me to try something anyway. I put my hands on the crystal of the necklace and wish for the kit to be well. A golden light appears from the sky piercing the building and enveloping the kit. The kit says, "I feel so much better, thank you."

The parent asks, "Now, that you have saved our kit, what are you going to ask for payment? You bear the mark of the tyrant after all."

I say, "I'm not going to ask anything for payment. You did save my life earlier, fair is fair, a life for a life."

The parent says, "Maybe, not every animal with that mark is bad after all, what is your name?"

I tell them that I am Judy Hopps. I am here to take someone away but it's to save a friend. They tell me they're called The Thunderpaws named for the boots they're wearing when farming. I bid the Thunderpaws farewell and continued onwards into the town.

I notice a store selling collars and remotes, I decide to walk in. The owner of the store is a fox. He asks me, "Why is a rabbit here? Why do you have his mark?"

I tell him, "I want to know what these collars and remotes do."

The fox responds, "These are shock collars, we use them to keep our pets in line, if they should misbehave."

Considering, I don't have anything to restrain my target with if it's uncooperative. I tell the fox, "I want a collar and a remote." I walk out of the store with a collar and a remote in my pocket. I find a store nearby selling maps. I take a map from the store. The chasm is far more expansive than I thought. It stretches on endlessly. It puts Zootopia's size to shame. The map also shows no way out. I visit a few schools, no one catches my interest. I decide to try another town, maybe the answer to Nick's problem will be found there.

I see there's another town further down south. I leave this one and prepare to walk in that direction. It's strange really, there's no cars or faster methods of transportation. The next town is two hours away judging by the map. I walk south until I arrive at the town. The landscape looks rather peaceful grass with occasional shrubs or trees dotting the scenery.

This town is another diverse town, there's far more predators and black collars on prey than the previous town. I walk by a restaurant. It seems to advertise both meals for prey and predators. Predators apparently eat prey here too. I decide to go in the restaurant myself to see what it's like. I can hear screams from the kitchen. There's various species of customers within the restaurant. A wolf greets me, I tell him I want a table for one. I take my seat the table and look at the menu and prices. They apparently, serve fresh prey for predators, fresh vegetables as well. There's tons of ways to cook and season prey for dishes. It didn't get me any closer to solving my dilemma.

I notice a wolf with a black collar and blue markings at a table surrounded by prey and predators. The prey and predators don't seem to be anything special just ordinary citizens. I sit at my table and observe. They seem to be talking, having a good time. I can't hear what they're saying, going too close might end up with me getting caught. From what I can see on the table, their table does indeed include meat. I note none of the other animals at the table have collars around their neck. If the wolf wasn't shirtless, I think I wouldn't even have noticed him as an oddity.

I see the wolf's collar activating, he's shocked for a few seconds. Then everyone laughs, including the wolf. I heard that clearly. I never saw the wolf eat, they seem to be about finished. I decide that I must leave before they do. I left the restaurant without ordering anything. That distraction aside, I still have a mission, I need to find something for Nick.

I decide to check out the schools, is there anyone I can take in good conscience to bring home for Nick to eat? The teachers don't pay me any mind. I'm able to walk freely inside the school. I frequent many classes trying to see who I should take. The next town according to my map is yet another 2 hours away, it seems I must make my selection here or back in previous town, the trek back would be too long otherwise.

I smell a familiar scent, I can't quite recall what it is, I decide to follow it. It leads to a ewe. I notice her attire is rather normal, just white all around. She has the scent of nighthowlers on her. This child must not be so innocent, I can take her to Nick in good conscience, all she needs is a bath to be safe to eat. I tell the fox in charge of the class that I want her. She follows me out of the school obediently. The ewe says, "Where are you taking me. Miss Bunny? My parents decided that today, I should learn how to get along with other animals. It's so nice seeing other animals for a change. It's nice seeing sheep the same age as me, all the other animals at home aren't. I am special at home. I don't want to be special. I want to be normal."

I tell her, "I have a gift for you, I'm taking you to a better place, come." I put the shock collar I bought earlier around her neck. "Don't you think this is pretty?"

She says, "Yes, no one has ever given me a gift before, thank you."

We leave the town and walk north.

She says, "I have never seen this before. It's quite different from where I live. Say miss bunny, do you have any predator friends?"

What a strange question, I decide to humor her and say, "What difference to does it make?"

"The town my parents took me to didn't seem to be friends with predators, sure they live together but they don't seem to be friends, you know? Do you have a predator friend miss Bunny?"

"Yes, I have a very good friend he is a fox."

"Can I meet him sometime?"

"That's where we're going right now."

We walk onwards in silence unable to think of any other topics of conversation. We have arrived at the previous town.

The sheep says, "This town feels much better than the previous one is this the better place?"

I say, "We are not there yet, my fox friend lives really far away. I have friends here though, I would like you to meet them."

I lead her to where the Thunderpaws live.

The Thunderpaws greet me. "Hello, you've come back with a ewe." I ask them if they could give her a bath of some kind. They oblige.

I tell the Thunderpaws, "She's the one I'm taking back with me."

They say, "At least, you didn't take one of us. We're still grateful to you for saving our kit."

The sheep is now clean and I can smell no more traces of nighthowlers on her. The sheep's wool looks ridiculous after being dried off. The sheep says, "My wool feels so comfortable, it looks really nice too. These bunnies are really friendly."

I say, "We still have a long way to go." We continue onwards back to Everlight. We arrive at Everlight, the sheep says something crystals. I'm just about exhausted. Six more hours to walk back home. It takes all my concentration to just keep on walking I tune everything the sheep says out completely. At least, it seems to be willing to walk with me. I open the door to where I live, I see Whitebreeze, I see Nick. I hear them saying something. My first course of action is to rush past them. Run to the bed and rest. I have made it.


The bunny takes off again gallivanting off to nowhere. She really needs to face the truth. There's still time at least before Nick really runs out of energy. Carrots might be able to sustain us for a while and quench the hunger we feel but they aren't good for us nutritionally. I wonder what does food in Zootopia taste like? I am here to assist them during their stay here.

I am stuck with a bunny unwilling to face reality. A fox too proud to ask for food when he desperately needs it. Now, I'm also taking care of two rabbit kits they refuse to eat at least they're sensible enough not to prevent me from eating. It's strange really, watching those two kits, I have come to regard them as more than food, more than something I can just eat. Their innocence is so adorable. I suppose, I should be grateful that school can take care of them most of the day and that Everlight is rather friendly so they can walk about openly. It's not too good to get attached to food.

I send them off to school and now I'm left alone with a sleeping lethargic fox. I just hope he doesn't wake up and do something drastic. They didn't really part on good terms after all. What's that bunny up to? Judy is just too innocent unwilling to face the reality of her situation. It's not my job to make them face reality.

I suppose this is the way of atoning for my past actions. I was part of the group that captured and brought them to Everlight initially. They turned out not to be cultists but rather animals from another place I've never heard of. I suppose Lightbringer perhaps sees potential within them, maybe they can help us end the conflict. These cultists do not die. They kill for fun. There's times where I think the only reason we're still alive is because they haven't tried to kill us yet. The cultists and their strange motives are beyond my understanding, why just yesterday 'The Comet' decided to carve a path of destruction through Everlight but killed no one. How much do they value their life if they can simply return from the dead? How do they do it? We still haven't figured it out. We could simply abandon Everlight when the passage opens again but then what would we eat? Where would we go?

The fox stirs again. I bring him his serving of carrots while I eat a rabbit kit myself. Soon, I hope Nick will ask for food. He must realize he's losing energy because of not eating meat by now, right? He asks where Judy went, I tell him she went off somewhere. I don't really care where Judy goes or when she comes back. Nick finishes his food and goes back to sleep again. Stubborn infuriating fox, why don't you just eat and be done with it? That will be Judy's job and not mine, after all. I suppose Lightbringer does want to keep relations between us and them friendly. Judy won't let the fox starve himself to death, will she? At least, her adventures yesterday might get her closer to the task of making Nick eat something perhaps she's closer to doing something than I think. I watch Nick's form for any sign of movement.

This job is peaceful better than my previous assignment of healing Bloodstorm while he trains in the arena. I think he enjoys inflicting pain. Life is filled with conflict, I have given up on peace long ago. I initially chose to heal animals in pursuit of a more peaceful life.

A couple of hours must have passed. The door opens. The kits are back from school now and Judy's still not back. Judy is highly irresponsible leaving me alone with two kits and a fox that can barely move. The kits are charming through with their tales of how school went. They seemingly accept the fact that we eat other kits like them. That makes them less of a bother. It's rather nice watching them play on Nick's motionless form. It looks rather cute.

What else is there to do? I can't spar or watch animals fight in the arena while here. I'll just lay on the bed myself too. These kits decide to jump on me… something they haven't done before. I suppose it feels rather comforting. They too want to know where Judy went or why the fox isn't moving yet. I tell them that Judy simply went off to do something and I don't know when she'll be back and that Nick is still tired and needs to rest.

I suppose it's supper time, more carrots are delivered to us, this time by a wolf, a rabbit kit is delivered to us too. Carrots are obviously for the rabbits and our one unusual fox. The kit is for me. The kit's wearing a rather peculiar outfit. The white shirt depicting something of an impossibility, the image of an animal with the ears of a rabbit, the tail of a fox. The depicted animal itself was wearing a shirt showing the head of a wolf and it was wearing blue pants just like the kit. The image on the shirt is so vivid, as if the artist had a clear frame of reference.

I gaze into the kit's fire-red eyes. The eyes simply stare back at me questioning what I would do. I decided I would keep this one. I will call her Ember for reigniting the flame of hope I once had. Maybe, we can move beyond the status quo. A possibility of a more peaceful future. Nick hasn't eaten meat for a long time, I suppose missing one meal won't hurt too much. The kit's fur color is rather special too half white, half black as if it was split in two. Just like how I currently feel about the kits right now.

I tell the kit, she will live, she will be called Ember from now on. She's completely receptive to her new name. She acts as if she wants to forget her past. She's completely unafraid of me even though just moments before, she was going to me my supper. I let her go join the other kits, she's afraid. She refuses to leave my side, how infuriating!

It's just as well, Nick is unresponsive, his serving of carrots can be Ember's. Ember won't eat with the other kits. I tell Alim and Minty to go to where Nick is while I feed Ember. I slowly bring the carrots one by one to her mouth while she slowly eats them. It takes a rather substantial amount of time. How absurd, Ember's more afraid of bunnies than me. Finally finished feeding Ember. I watch the kits run around, Ember stays closely attached to my leg.

Judy's still not back, I guess I'll sleep where she normally does. Ember sleeps on my side; the two kits sleep in between Nick and me. It's rather strange, the effect that Nick and Judy have on me. Judy's probably going to be back sometime in the morning just like today. That's another thing to deal with later. I wonder if peace is possible, what about interspecies? Could that be a reality? I spared the kit on a whim. I hope Ember won't be permanently stuck to me, that would be frustrating. I suppose I could always eat her later.

I notice in the morning Judy is still not back. Ember's at least willing to eat with the other kits now. I suppose that's an improvement, I split Alim and Minty's portions into three. I guess I will need to request more carrots for the future. Maybe, I should request other vegetables too, just carrots can't be healthy. Ember finishes her food and hides behind my leg again.

A rabbit kit stops by in front of the house, I undress this one and eat it without hesitation. The kits are watching. Ember still isn't afraid of me. Nick has some energy I guess. He's able to eat his serving of carrots. He's asking where Judy is, I say "I don't know where your bunny has gone. I'm not looking for her, she should be able to take care of herself."

Nick says, "I should go look for her. What was she doing yesterday? Tell me."

"It's not my place to tell you. She will tell you herself if she chooses."

"What's the deal with the kit that's hiding behind you?"

"I spared her on whim, I decided to call her Ember. You have two kits, why shouldn't I have one?"

Nick was unable to come up with an answer, just then the most unexpected thing happened, the door opened, a very tired Judy along with a sheep wearing a collar stumbles into the room.

The sheep says, "Hi, so you're the bunny's fox friend. Nice to meet you. She brought me all the way here, we walked for a really long time."

Nick seems to be unable to process what's happening and says nothing. Judy's first act is to run to the bed and collapsing. She's already asleep. Alim and Minty run into the bedroom and cuddle with Judy. Ember stays by my leg still. Alim says, "Judy's finally back but she's asleep just like Mister fox was all day yesterday."

Minty says, "Does that mean Judy will be asleep all the time too? Just like the fox?"

I move next to the bed. I tell the kits it's time for school. The kits are unwilling to move. Whatever, I've got more problems to deal with. When Judy came into the room, I had a sense of her plans involving the sheep. I suppose it's only fair that I play my part. She really went all out for her fox. Sheep is somewhat of a delicacy. I look at Nick and say, "Do you know what this means?"

Nick says, "She decided to rescue a sheep?"

"Wrong answer, try again."

"She decided to adopt a sheep? After all, I have two kits."

How can this fox be so DENSE? Infuriating! That's it, I'm taking action regardless if it was intentional or just playing dumb. I'm fed up with this. I notice the collar on the sheep. I search Judy's pockets and find a remote.

Alim says, "Judy brought a toy home with her, can I play?"

Minty says, "No, I want to play!"

I lower myself to the kit's level and gaze into their eyes. I say in a commanding tone, "You know where school is, go and take Ember there with you." It takes time to coax Ember. Ember reluctantly leaves my leg. The kits comply and move out of sight.

The kits are finally out of the house. I say, "Now that the kits are out of the house, me and you will be having a conversation while you still have energy. Now, tell me what do you think this sheep is here for?" The last thing I need is for Nick to collapse again.

The sheep miraculously hasn't tried to escape during all this. The sheep asks, "Can I leave the bunny said she was going to show me to her fox friend, now that I have seen him, can I go home?"

I tell the sheep, "No, you can't." The sheep accepts the answer and just stays there.

Nick says, "Why would she want this sheep to meet me? It makes no sense."

Dense, infuriating, time for drastic measures. I press the remote of the collar, the sheep cries out in pain. Nick says, "STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

The sheep says, "The rabbit said I was going to a better place. Where is all this pain coming from? Fox friend, you will protect me, won't you?" She moves next to Nick.

I say, "What she should have done a long time ago." I keep pressing the remote. Nick lunges at me, his claws are out, he manages to scratch my arm enough to draw blood. I drop the remote. I push him off me. "Nick I will say this once, don't do that again."

Nick says, "But you were going to kill the sheep at that rate."

The sheep says, "Thank you fox friend. Why is the white fox trying to hurt me? She's supposed to be my friend."

This sheep is beyond naïve. Predators and prey living in harmony? Not in Everlight, not in the chasm. I say, "I've been eating kits alive in front of you the entire time I've been living with you and this is the part that bothers you?"

Nick says, "But those were food for you, this sheep isn't. She belongs to Judy."

I say, "Judy is asleep right now, I have a pretty good idea what her plan is for the sheep and you will cooperate. Unfortunately, given your recent lack of energy, I don't think she'll be able to make her plan come true herself. Thus, I need to do it for her, just like everything else apparently. Now, embrace what you are and take a bite."

The sheep says, "But the predators back home don't eat us. Why must you?" I guess she hasn't been exposed to her friends back home eating then. So incredibly sheltered. The fox's first meal, the sheep's first lesson in learning what predators eat. How fitting.

Nick says, "I don't need meat to live. It's fine see? I've been eating carrots all this time and I'm still alive. Judy wouldn't want me to eat this sheep, you must be wrong."

I say, "I don't care what you think, I care more about what I think. I think you need meat, thus you will eat the sheep. Now, let's see if I can persuade you." I reach for the remote and press it again. I keep pressing the remote. The sheep just cries out as the remote is pressed. I note the sheep has gone unconscious. Nick hasn't tried to attack me again, he hasn't made any movements to take a bite. I look into his eyes. He's still conscious but not willing to eat. Time for something far more drastic, how far does the bond between these two go? I take the collar off the sheep. I move to the bed where Judy is sleeping, I put the collar around her neck. "Pay attention Nick. Take a good look at Judy and look at what I hold in my hand."

Nick says, "You wouldn't do this to her, you wouldn't I don't believe you."

"Try me, I better see you eating the sheep now." I drag the sheep's unconscious form next to the bed. "You have ten seconds."

Nick doesn't move at all. I say, "Time's Up!" I press the remote. I shock Judy for five seconds. I must admit it feels extremely satisfying shocking the bunny for all the trouble she's caused. I had to convince Nick to eat because she wasn't able to.

Nick yells, "STOP! I'll do it." He slowly moves over to the sheep's body. "I'm sorry Judy, I had to bite her to save you. Please, forgive me. I'm not a monster." He bites off a leg.

I see this and say, "Now, swallow!" Nick hasn't swallowed yet. I don't even think he's chewing. Time for more motivation. I press the remote again. I only pressed it for three seconds until I realize he's chewing and swallowing.

Nick swallows his first bite of meat, he sees Judy just fine. His adrenaline rush must have worn off exhaustion seems to have set in. He barely manages to say, "Please, Whitebreeze don't kill her. I did what you asked." His eyes are full of fear and concern for Judy. He uses his remaining energy to climb on the bed and wrapping himself around her as if that would protect her from my actions. I see him whispering something to Judy. He falls asleep. I guess I'll have to settle for that, for , I'm left with a sheep bleeding on to the floor. I suppose I should take care of my arm as well. I use my staff I heal both my arm and the sheep.

I stand guard over the them. It is my duty.


A/N: First time dealing with temporal dissonance, this chapter doesn't proceed in chronological order. Originally, planned for this to be shorter but Whitebreeze was rather fun to write about.