A/N: Day 2 in Zootopia. I finally have a loose idea of where I want to take the story now.
Chapter 25: Accommodations
We go outside of the house. I notice the order is back together again. Everyone that left yesterday were led by the sheriff back here. Sheriff Jags, a yellow jaguar wearing a Bunnyburrow police uniform greets us. He asks, "Is there a reason why I found these two inside a place we were planning to raid?" I notice he has Frostfang and Tom in his cruiser. Their clothing was definitely different. No longer wearing the color blue favored by the order, they're now wearing grey pants. "They said they killed everyone there under your orders. We found all the sheep inside torn apart and these two sleeping in an intimate position. I demand an explanation Wilde. They also helped me locate everyone else of their group as you can see behind me." He points to the order. "and who are all these animals?" He points to the crowd.
I reply, "I was informed by Chief Bogo that there is trouble with nighthowlers in the country. He also authorized both lethal force and enhanced interrogation in dealing with these animals. I told the order that I joined about this problem, they agreed to help. I gave them permission to kill anyone that's planning to turn others savage. I've met everyone here on my… camping trip let's put it that way. We ended up escaping from a mountain and blasting our way out. You can see the trail of destruction that stretches from Bunnyburrow to the mountain. They need a place to live and food. They've spent yesterday sleeping under the open sky." The order rejoins the group. Frostfang and Tom stay in the cruiser.
"What madness made them think it was okay to walk into a crime boss's turf and kill everyone? Is there a reason why some of you are shirtless and have blue markings as well as collared?"
"Fighting in teams of two is what they've done for so long. They can handle themselves as you have seen. The markings and collar are a symbol of the order that I ended up joining while I was out 'camping'."
"What mess have you gotten us into this time? Can't you and Hopps be normal for a change? Soon, there should be enough demand for Wilde and Hopps insurance. Are you aware of the lives the fire took?"
"Three of Hopp's kits, is there anyone else?"
"A family of sheep as well."
"It wasn't our intention, we just wanted to escape the mountain. I led the twenty thousand here because they were searching for a better life. Living conditions in that mountain aren't exactly ideal compared to here. We also escaped from fifty thousand predators… but not all of us got out. Bogo is going to rally the military to rescue Hopps."
"Is there a reason why we haven't evacuated?"
"I don't believe that army intends to invade and there's a chance that they only hate us and no one else. I thought it wouldn't be necessary it would create unneeded panic. Since, you're here I was wondering if you can help us integrate everyone here into Bunnyburrow. I don't think living as a crowd outside the Hopp's home is ideal. Everyone came here to search for a better life – Not needing to eat someone and to not be eaten. There's children as well, everyone that wanted a better life – came."
"One more question, does Chief Bogo know about you giving permission to others to kill animals misusing nighthowlers?"
"I haven't mentioned it to him. I trust them though."
"Then, I will." He calls Chief Bogo. "Wilde has authorized the order he joined to kill animals that are using nighthowlers against us. We found two them killing an entire place that we were planning to raid." He informs me, "The chief wants to talk to you." He hands me the phone.
"Hello again, Chief."
Bogo yells, "WILDE! Don't make a mess. What's this I hear about you giving permission to others to kill ones involved with nighthowler shootings?"
"Sir, you told me of a problem that Zootopia was having with nighthowlers. I told the order that I joined about it, they agreed to help. You've authorized both lethal force and enhanced interrogation to deal with them. I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Are they police?"
"Do they have to be? To help police? I wasn't but was roped along in helping Judy on her first case. The order that I joined does not make mistakes and are highly effective especially in dealing with nighthowlers. You can say that they have tons of experience."
"Very well, I will permit them. Make sure they do not harm anyone else. You realize they might also get killed in the process, our line of work is dangerous. I don't know what kind of laws the place you got taken to have but we have laws here and they will obey them."
"The order has apparently been fighting against overwhelming odds in that mountain for an extremely long time. They are aware of the risks.
The group I'm with is just happy for food and not being eaten. Since, Sherriff Jags stopped by today, I'm asking for his help in integrating them into Bunnyburrow. They don't want much but I feel like an extended stay in front of the Hopps household under an open sky isn't really ideal."
"Very well, the two Fangmeyers, Wolfard and Delgato will remain in Bunnyburrow and help with all the integration efforts. Please, don't have anything else surprising for the rest of the week. Do you know the amount of paperwork this is going to generate?"
"I can't promise anything sir." I hand the phone back to the sheriff. Bogo brings the sheriff up to speed on everything that's going on. The sheriff releases Frostfang and Tom from custody and they rejoin us. The sheriff decides to help us. He tells us he will inform all of Bunnyburrow about us. He tells us he will be back in an hour.
Frostfang and Tom want to talk to me and the Prime alone. We moved to an isolated location away from everyone. I ask, "So, what did you do last night."
Frostfang says, "This place is different from the one we know. I can't easily call upon my powers here."
Tom notes, "All they kept trying to do was shoot us with darts. Easily repelled."
"I had fun ripping them limb from limb." Upon hearing that, I myself wanted to rip others limb from limb.
The Prime remarks, "Wilde, control yourself. Your other half is not here to keep you in check. Prey halves manage it somewhat better. I can see that you want to cause others pain and suffering right now. If you ever act upon it without cause, I will end you."
I comment, "I haven't even done anything yet."
"No but you were planning to and if an opportunity presents itself you very well would as such you won't be permitted in engaging anyone in combat. You are needed as a diplomat anyhow. This is your world with many strange technologies and species."
I couldn't deny that. "How come you don't struggle as I do?"
"A tragic loss, a clarity of purpose. The order needs you here. There's a reason why if only one of you survives the rite, the other is killed. I will end you before it comes to that point then you can relay my message to them. However, I think then the chances of rescue are slim. The best course of action is you retaining your sanity and using your connections to help us find peace which I'm sure won't happen if you lose control."
"I understand." I suppose death and rejoining Judy wouldn't be so bad but then how would we ever see the outside world again? We need Zootopia to help us end the conflict. I'm pretty sure Bogo couldn't muster political support if I was gone. Integration with Zootopia might also fall apart if something happened to me.
Tom continues his tale, "We were following your instructions on searching for animals misusing desire's embrace. We found this group of sheep. We took them down after it became apparent that their motives weren't pure."
Frostfang notes, "It was fun. I wish I could have used ice to impale them all. Fangs and claws had to do. What did they hope to gain by shooting desire's embrace at us?"
"They hit you a few times with desire's embrace. I didn't want to shock you to your senses so I let you take me then and there."
"When we woke up the sheriff found us. We explained the situation, led him to round up all of our order and he drove us here and talked to you." I guess that explains a lot.
I comment, "The order has been given full authority to execute animals involved with misusing desire's embrace but only those. Do not make a mistake. If uncertain, you can inform me or the police."
The Prime declares, "I will tell our order that. We do want peaceful integration with the locals after all." We return to the crowd. The Prime calls all of the order together and they move to an isolated location. Frostfang, Tom and I remain to supervise the crowd. They return after a while and having been briefed upon their duties.
The sheriff returns, it's been an hour. He has us lead the group to the town's center. Bonnie and Stu tag along as well. I notice a ton of animals have shown up. Our group is strictly in the center and easily identifiable. He steps on a stage and behind a podium where he makes an announcement, "Nick Wilde has led twenty thousand animals here from inside a mountain. Living conditions there were quite horrible. They simply seek a better life. We ask anyone kind enough to give them temporary shelter until a more permanent solution can be found.
Of the group. Two of them have toppled a crime ring led by Crime Boss Uwe part of the nighthowler shootings that were plaguing Bunnyburrow." As soon as he mentions that Tom climbs on top of Frostfang. Frostfang jumps into the air and lands in front of the podium. This was the first time Bunnyburrow as seen our wings. This was in no way planned. A disaster is waiting to happen.
Frostfang takes over, "Thank you for the introduction. We came here because of both Nick Wilde and Judy Hopp's tales of Zootopia. We decided it would be worthwhile to try to find Zootopia ourselves. We shattered the wall and created a path out of the mountain. You can see a path that stretches from the mountain all the way to here. We are sorry for any harm we have caused. All that you see before you simply desire a better life. A minimal standard of living – to not be eaten and to not need to eat another. The predators that have lived in the mountain have eaten live prey at some point during their lives. Nick has as well when he lived within.
We desire food from Zootopia, a way for predators to live without eating prey. I would like to tell you more about the place we lived in. Existence was harsh within the mountain there are basically three factions. The savages the prey upon the chasm. The chasm which most of the group is from and us, the order that protects the chasm. Members of the order are easily identified by blue markings.
We devised of a way to leave the mountain, we shattered it and created a way out. We allowed everyone to join us some of the savages did. The savages betrayed us after we shattered the mountain. Thus, not all of us are present at the moment.
On the first day, we arrived here. Nick has informed us of problems occurring with desire's embrace – or as you call them, nighthowlers. Members of the order are innately attuned desire's embrace. We can feel if it's nearby. We decided to spread out and see for ourselves. The two of us have stumbled upon a group that were planning to misuse it. We killed them all because Nick has given us permission. Members of the order are used to fighting against insurmountable odds.
We have no issues using our powers promote the ideals of peace. That's the goal the order is founded upon. All we ask in return is shelter and food for our group. Everyone that you see before you came because of the promise we gave them. A hope for a better future. A place where predators do not need to eat prey to live. A place where prey do not need to fear being eaten. I ask of you citizens of Bunnyburrow to help make this a reality."
The reaction was immediate. All of the predators in attendance now wanted their collars taken off.
Sheriff Jags now speaks again, "I ask anyone willing to give them both food and shelter for the duration of their stay."
ZPD and Bunnyburrow's police department all help out with the removal of the collars. The entire crowd dispersed within Bunnyburrow. All of them living with different families. The ones of the order without a pair went with a couple of the order along with the family that wanted to take them.
Frostfang, Tom, Lasan and the Prime stayed with us living at the Hopps household. I guess I should be thankful that Saberclaw is living elsewhere now. Fangmeyers, Wolfard and Delgato all headed to Bunnyburrow's police department.
I suppose for the first time in a long time, things are starting to get back to normal.
A/N: I wonder if Nick will go insane before Judy is found. I for once don't think anyone's being forced to act a certain way this time. Reviews appreciated. Let me know if there's things I can improve. Suggestions welcome.
