The ZNN logo flashed across the screen. Peter Moosebridge sat beside his snow leopard co-anchor. "Welcome back to ZNN," he began. "Another candidate has entered the race for mayor of Zootopia. Predator rights activist and lawyer Todd Renard has officially registered his campaign," a photo of Todd speaking on the steps of a courthouse floated by the moose's head. "Renard rose to prominence after several high-profile defenses of predators during the Bellwether administration. When asked to comment on his candidacy, Renard responded: 'predator rights are animal rights, and as mayor I will fight for animal rights in all forms.'"
The camera switched to Moosebridge's co-anchor. Todd's image was replaced with that of a hippo. "In further election news, Interim Mayor Nileworthy-"
The coyote closed the news app on her phone. She opened her contacts and hit a name labeled "City Hall Guy". After just one ring, the other animal picked up. "Connor," the coyote barked, "I need to get in touch with a candidate for mayor: Todd Renard."
"You got it, Ms. Latrans," the wolf on the other side responded. A keyboard clicked quietly for a moment before he continued. "Here we go. His address is…"
The coyote pulled a notepad from her purse, jotted down the place, chugged what remained of her latte, hopped in her car, and sped off.
Nick Wilde sat in his normal seat in the ZPD bullpen before the morning briefing. A cup of coffee in a paper cup sat by his head, which lay buried in the sleeves of his crossed arms. His back rose and fell to the rhythm of sleep. The briefing wasn't for another hour, so the room was still fairly quiet. That is until Judy hopped up beside him on the chair, making him wake with a start, nearly knocking over his coffee. Judy stifled a laugh. "You're never here this early," she smiled. "Though from the looks of it, you weren't."
"Good morning to you too, Carrots," Nick quickly affected his characteristic smirk and took a sip from the paper cup.
"I see what you're trying to do there, but there's no way to play that off smooth," Judy put her hand on her hip.
Nick rolled his eyes. "I don't get how you do this whole 'getting up before dawn' thing."
"I grew up on a farm. It's what we do," Judy pulled out her phone. "Hey, did you see the news this morning? A fox is running for mayor."
Nick's ears perked up, but his face stayed a sly smile. "Good for him," Nick replied as if Judy had just told him that one of her little brothers had won a little league game.
"There you go again, trying to be all cool, but your ears give you away," Judy flicked his ears lightly. Nick reflexively reached to cover them, his smile replace with annoyance. "Just read the story, it's short."
"If it'll get you off my back…" Nick took her phone before she offered it and started scrolling.
The rust-colored bull stood in front of the massive television in his opulent penthouse apartment. The morning light struggled against the drawn curtains, the room more illumined by the screen than the sun. The bull tapped his fingers gently on the side of the saucer his coffee cup rested on, watching the larger-than-life image of Peter Moosebridge deliver the news of another hopeless mammal attempting to stand in his path to the mayor's office. And a fox no less! Where this guy thought he'd find a dozen people willing to trust a fox enough to check the box by his name on election day, the bull didn't know. Sure there was that new fox police officer, but long-held fears don't go away overnight, especially when they were so aggravated just a month-and-a-half ago. A cop was one thing - most animals would rarely if ever interact with him - but the mayor? His face would be everywhere. He'd be on the news, at the grand openings of buildings, on pamphlets and brochures. Who would want a fox as the face of their city?
A knock came from the open door behind the bull. "Mr. Turnbull, sir, your advisors are here," the deer butler said with a small bow.
"Tell them I'll be right out," Turnbull's deep voice resonated throughout the room, booming even at normal volumes. He set down his coffee, adjusted his burgundy tie, and stepped out to continue his stampede to city hall.
A/N: Fairly short chapter this time. That's just how it turned out. Most won't be this short or out this quickly.