Chapter Eight: Fire Giraffe

A/N: Looks like there was more story there than I first thought. We'll get to Finnick and Bellwether next chapter. After that, Nick and Judy's kids put on a little rock concert.

Evening in Little Rodentia

Duke was proud of his hastily constructed dome. The wood panels covered the entirety of Little Rodentia and he had put the final beams in place. While it looked good on the inside, it looked nasty on the outside and that actually had purpose. Duke built it mostly from inside the city, so he had pounded the nails toward the outside. Any predators from the outside trying to get in would get stuck by those nails.

One puma didn't care. Victor Velvet had seen better days. But once he was fired from his factory job, making ends meet became impossible. He lost his wife, he lost his self-respect, he just about lost his will to live. Then came "The Big Cheese", King Lionheart and the rebellion. He may have to do some nasty things, but if predators ruled the city, then he could finally find work.

Then it all came crashing down. Quite literally. A huge chunk of the thick glass that was hit by the explosion finally cracked enough that it fell into the lake and now...now Lionheart was announced dead. He lost all hope.

He heard the cheering coming from inside Little Rodentia. The mice were dancing in the streets celebrating the death of a once great predator. He took a peek inside the entrance and saw Duke Weaselton, a weasel, a predator, a traitor celebrating with them.

"They dare dance on his corpse?!" Growled Victor. "And that damn weasel traitor is celebrating with them?! I'll kill him! I'll kill them all!"

He fought through the pain of the nails piercing his paws as he started to rip, tear and break the boards keeping him from entering the tiny city..

Duke and the others heard the puma trying to break in. "Everybody run to your homes and hide!"

The mice panicked and ran as fast as they could. The puma smashed his way through and was stalking Duke. "Filthy prey lover! How can you defend them after all they've done to us?!"

Paco got in the puma's face. "Leave my Papi alone!"

Duke screamed out for the step son. "PACO!"

Victor slapped the boy hard, knocking him into the side of a building. "Out of my way!"

Duke was shocked at what happened. Now the weasel was less scared and more enraged. He yanked one of the beams that they recently put on and charged at the puma. "I'll teach you to hit my kid!"

He swung at the puma with the beam, but the puma swiped his claws at the same time, slicing the top of the beam and leaving it with a pointy angle.

It knocked Duke back into the park, knocking over some banzai trees. Duke got himself up and the puma pounced into the air. Duke had no time to react and in an act of self-defense, aimed the now sharp end of the beam up with the ground as support as the puma came crashing down.

It was like a moment frozen in time. The mice all watched from their buildings as the puma landed his left side right into the sharp end of the beam. It pierced into the puma's gut and he rolled and slammed into the side of a building. The beam came out and the puma starting bleeding to death. "You got me." he panted. "I hope you're happy. Got...GASP! Got nothing to live for anyway."

Duke surprised himself at his own concern. "You okay 'dere? No! Wait! You hurt Paco and tried 'ta kill me! Why should I care?!"

Suddenly, an angel version of Duke appeared on Duke's right shoulder. "No Duke! He may have attacked in anger and desperation, but we can't just let him die! We have to be better then that!"

A devil version of Duke appeared on his left shoulder. "Nothin' doin'! 'Dis guy hurt yer son and almost killed you! You gonna let him get away with that?! Let him die!"

The angel argued. "He's a predator just like you! He's faced the same prejudices and hardships! You can imagine the hard life he's probably led!"

"An eye for an eye!" said the devil Duke. "You ain't got no obligation to save him!"

"Yes he does!" the angel argued.

"No he don't!"

"Yes he does!"

"No he don't!"

Paco was watching his stepfather in confusion. "Papi. Why are you looking back and fourth at your shoulders?"

"I got a devil and angel arguin' wit' me about what I should do. What? You ain't never seen a cartoon animal have a moral dilemma before?!"

Duke decided. "I'm probably gonna regret this, but we gotta save his life." Duke then took off his shirt. "This ain't enough 'ta make a tourniquet. Paco, gimmie your shirt. I'll need Rico's too. RICO! Where are you?"

Rico was busy...well...filling up an empty pool. "Aww man! My back fangs were floatin'!"

Duke was shocked. "RICO! What are ya doin' whizzin' in public?!"

"I had to pee and we're trapped inside!"

"And I'm enjoying the view." said a chubby, middle-aged lady mouse who was sticking her head out the window. She winked at Rico. "Never seen one that big before. Why don't you come to the window and bring that big thing into my bedroom?"

Duke was disgusted. "Eww. Rico, just gimme your shirt!"

"Yes!" said the chubby lady mouse. "Take it all off!"

"Have some self control lady!"

Duke took Rico's shirt and quickly returned and tied the shirts together. He approached the puma. "Now don't attack me. Okay?!"

The puma was shocked. "Y...You're helping me?!"

Duke wrapped the tourniquet tightly. "Just hold still. Gotta slow down the blood from comin' out...'dere! 'Dis should do until an ambulance arrives...and then you're goin' 'ta jail!"

The puma had tears welling in his eyes. He put his arm around Duke. "You...you saved me! You had no right to after what I did! You're...SNIFF!....You're so wonderful!"

Victor hugged Duke tightly surprising everyone watching. "My life has been hell and...and I thought that there was no good in the world anymore! SOB! I'm so sorry! I'm indebted to you for the rest of my life! Anything you ask, I'll do for you!"

"Seriously?!" Duke asked.

"Yes!"

"Well...ACCK! First off...can you give me some breathin' room? Yer kinda chokin' me."

Victor eased off. "Sorry!...Sorry sir."

" 'Sir?!' I like 'dis guy! Alright, second, no attackin' anyone tonight. Yer gonna help me defend these mice, not attack 'em! Okay?!"

"You got it boss!"

"Third! Yer darn right I'm yer boss! Y'know, we could use a big guy like you at your construction place. You know anythin' about buildin' stuff?"

"Errr...Not really. I had some Erector sets as a kid."

"Close enough! Rico will fill you in on the rest."

"You...SOB!...You mean you're giving me a job?!"

"Yeah...But I'm not payin' much! It's unofficial and under 'da table. Just enough 'ta put a roof over yer head and some food in yer belly and 'dat's it!"

Victor hugged Duke again. "You're so wonderful! I love you Mr...ummm..."

"Weaselton. Duke Weaselton. Paco! Rico! C'mon! Group hug!"

"I love you Duke Weaselton!" The puma cried. "SIGH! But...I'm gonna be put under arrest."

"Not if I don't file no charges." Duke replied.

"SNIFF! You have to be like...the best weasel ever!"

Duke put his arm around Paco. "Well...I got a great stepson who helps keep me on 'da straight and narrow lately."

The mice cheered and watched from their windows. "Wow! That weasel's a real hero! Maybe we should have made him mayor instead of Nick Wilde?" said one mouse.

"Naah!" said the other. "Although, the assistant mayor's job will be open. You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think so. Maybe we can convince Mr. Wilde to hire him on?"

"Yeah!"

"Meanwhile..."

The Zootopia fire department was doing their best to put out the large fire on the rooftops of three tall buildings and keep them spreading further. Some mad mammal was leaping from rooftop to rooftop and spreading the flames. The fire department was having a problem. The giraffe fire fighters were on the other side of the city. "There's like, no way we're gonna be able to put these out eh?" said the moose fireman. "We don't have anyone tall enough don't-cha know!"

They then felt a shaking on the ground as Suzie the giraffe ran over their way. "I can help! I can help! That orphanage is where I grew up!"

"We can't let anyone just use the fire hose!" said a rhino fireman. "It takes a lot of strength because it has a ton of kickback!"

Suzie fireman. "Please! I can handle it! I have to save my old foster family!"

The moose agreed. "It's not like we got much options eh? I say we let her give her a try. She can reach the roof!"

"Thank you!" Suzie replied. "I promise I'll keep my feet firm and hold my stance."

"Beauty! Okay ya hoser! Turn on the hose when she's got a good hold of it eh?"

Suzie took the hose and planted her hooves firmly to the ground.

"So like, okay eh? You ready?" Bob asked.

"Yeah! I can do this!"

"Let 'er go dude!"

The rhino pulled the wrench on the hydrant and the water shot through the hose quickly. Suzie lost her balance for a moment as the pressure from the hose was incredibly strong, but she grabbed the hose tightly and got control.

"Sweep left to right!" the moose yelled. Suzie followed his commands. She did what he asked and the fire was dying down. There was just one problem. The building next to them was ablaze as well and another building across the street was on fire too. Both were getting worse and worse.

Suzie then heard someone calling out her name. "Suzie!" It was Lisa. A groundhog who was one of Suzie former foster sisters.

"Lisa! What are you doing?!"

"We're trapped! We were escaping to the bottom and the door locked! Help us!"

On the other building, A mother leopard was trapped with her baby cub. "Someone! Please help me!"

Suzie couldn't save both at once, but she had an idea. She had the firemen turn off the hose momentarily. Then, she put her hoof through one window and stretched herself to put her hoof into the other window. "Everyone! Climb onto my arms and climb down me! I won't move! I promise!"

They did just that. Carefully, they grabbed Suzie's arms and shuffled their way onto her and started climbing down.

The fireman made sure Suzie hurried herself. "Hurry up eh? We got multiple fires and we can't hit them all at the same time!"

"I know!" Suzie replied. She wanted to help, but putting out the fire and rescuing people at the same time was a bit too much. Plus, there were multiple fires happening. Then, she saw something in the distance. At a used car lot there was a wacky, waving, inflatable tube mammal. Air was blowing out of it's arms and it's head. Suzie's mind for mechanics went to work. "Of course! If it can take the pressure then...it might work!"

She looked down on the ground. "Is everyone off?"

"Yeah!" they said.

"Good! Mr. Fireman sir, keep rescuing my foster family! I'll be right back!"

The moose saw Suzie run off. "Where you goin' eh?!"

"I got a plan!"

Within moments, Suzie came back with the tube mammal. "Sorry. The dealership was closed and I kinda had to...borrow it."

The moose was confused. "So like,...I don't get it."

"I need duct tape or zip ties."

"We got both."

Suzie quickly attached the tube mammal to the end of the hose. "If this works, it will shoot the water in three different directions and we can hit all the fires at once!"

"I dunno. The pressure might rip it apart."

"Or splitting it three ways may help relieve some pressure. Worth a shot!"

"Okay eh?! What do we got to lose?!"

Meanwhile, a news chopper was capturing the entire event. "We are LIVE near the corner of Hill and Trip in the Downtown district where a young giraffe girl seems to be helping our firemammals put out some blazes in the local buildings. Due to the riots tonight, fires have been breaking out all over Zootopia in both the urban and suburban areas and our firemammals are stretched thin across the city."

The Wolfords and Clawhausers were on the edge of the sofa watching the events unfold.

"Go Suzie!" James exclaimed.

Terry was real nervous. "Ooooh! I hope she doesn't get herself hurt!"

Wolford patted the tiger on the back. "Relax Fangs! She's doin' okay."

Gazelle was watching intently too. "I wonder what she's up to?"

They watched as Suzie once again picked up the hose. "Turn it back on! Slowly!"

The rhino slowly turned the crank on the hydrant. Suzie held firm as the hose started to blast again. It was out slowly, but got more and more pressure.

It worked. The water was blasting out the left arm, right arm and head of the tube mammal. Suzie was able to spray in three different directions.

The news chopper was still reporting. "What quick thinking! The young giraffe too one of the waving tube mammals from a car dealership and made an attachment to the hose that spreads three ways! She's hitting three buildings at once!"

Meanwhile, the family was cheering loudly in the living room.

"Yaaay! She did it!" shouted Sarah on Terry's lap. "My foster family is saved!"

James pumped his fists. "YESS! My big, little sister is awesome!"

Terry was crying tears of joy and relief. "My baby! I'm so proud!"

Tim was laughing. "Your baby?! Ya just got her last week!"

"Oh shut up! James. I'm out of tissues could you be a dear and get some out of the closet? It's that room behind the TV."

"Sure thing aunt Terry." James jumped off the couch and headed towards the closet.

Terry had one more thing to say. "And see if you can call Suzie and tell her to come back as soon as those fires are completely out!"

"Okay!" James went inside the closet and immediately popped back out. "Dad! You gotta see this! It's amazing!"

This got Tim curious. He slowly got off the large couch. "What's 'da big deal?"

"Look! Look!"

The wolf walked inside the closet and couldn't believe what he saw. "Cheezus Mice! It's freakin' huge!"

He wasn't kidding. It was a walk-in closet...for giraffes. The room was half Suzie's size which was still about the size of the entirety of James' house, not including the ceiling. Tim had to get a flashlight out just to see the ceiling as it went up incredibly high. "They should get 'dat weasel 'ta make some small mammal apartments outta 'dis closet! It's crazy!"

"I know! Right?!"

James got the tissues off the one shelf in the closet that had anything on it. He and Tim both walked out.

Tim couldn't believe what he saw. "How does Ben afford 'dis place?! 'Dere's so much space!"

Terry explained. "I asked him about that once. You remember that he used to have a giraffe roommate? Well apparently, the landlady is old and senile and charges a flat fee for all of the apartments."

"'Dats crazy! Giraffes make more money 'dan a a smaller mammal. Our economy is size-based!"

"I know! Ben got lucky I guess. James dear. Have you called Suzie yet?"

James apologized. "Sorry aunt Terry. I got blown away by the size of that closet." As he got one the phone, he looked up at the large TV and his jaw almost dropped.

"What an amazing girl! The fires on those three tall buildings have almost been completely extinguished. But as you can see, there are still some blazes in the suburban areas including those near downtown."

James watched the video on the TV and pointed at a familiar place. "DAD! BURNIE! LOOK! That's...THAT'S MY HOUSE! OUR HOUSE! OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!"

James tried to run to the barricaded door and Tim grabbed him just in time. "Oh no ya don't! It's dangerous out 'dere!"

"I don't care! My room's on fire! My mom's stuff is gonna burn!"

"We can replace the stuff! I can't replace you!"

He started to cry. "My mother's belongings! AAAHH! I can't lose those! They all I have of her now! Let me out! PLEASE!"

"I got an idea." Tim got on the phone to Suzie. "Hey Suzie! Ya done over 'dere?"

"I know. I know. I'm coming home. Camella and the kids are all safe now."

"Wait! 'Dose firemammals owe ya! Yer on Hill and Trip right?"

"Yeah?"

"I've patrolled 'dat area before. Look over to yer right. You see 'dat suburb area?"

"...Yeah. There's a few houses on fire!"

"Good! I mean, that's bad! One of them is OUR house! 'Da one with the swing in the backyard! Get 'dose firemammals over 'dere quick!"

"Oh no! I'll run over there right now! Mr. fire...moose! My brother's house is on fire! Please hurry! Follow me!"

Tim hung up the phone and Terry was very upset. "TIM! She was supposed to come home!"

"Relax. She's just got one more job. You don't want our house to burn down, do you?!"

"Well...no, but..."

"She'll be fine. Let's watch 'da news."

They watched the news and the news chopper followed Suzie into the suburbs. "The young giraffe girl seems to be leading the fire crew into the suburbs! They're now setting up the hydrant to attack the houses. The giraffe still has the tube mammal attached to the hose so she can hit multiple houses. They're setting up...Oh no! The tube finally ripped! They're going to have to go house by house now."

The Wolfords watched intently. All three were nervous.

"The giraffe seems to be trying to get the firemammals over to one house, but the others are in worse shape and they're concentrating on one house at a time."

James was panicking. "No. No. No! NO! Those bastards! They owe her!"

Tim patted James on the back. "As much as I hate to say it, 'dey got 'dere job 'ta do and 'dose houses are in worse shape right now."

James cried into Tim's shoulder. "It's not fair! How much more am I supposed to lose?!"

Tim hugged the boy close."We'll get through this kid. I promise."

"The giraffe seems upset...What is she doing?...There's a back yard with a pile of dirt and a shed...She's ripping the tin roof right off the shed! I think she just uncovered a marijuana grove underneath!"

Auburn was confused. "What is she doing?!"

Tim started to smile. "I don't know, but I like it! We got a neighbor 'ta bust now."

"She's using the tin roof as a scoop and is picking up a ton of dirt! She can barely hold it!...This is an incredible child for risking her life to help the fire department...So what is she doing with the...OH! She's dumping it on the other house!"

James leaped to his feet. "YES! That's my big, little sister!"

"It seems to be working! There's only two rooms ablaze and the dirt she's throwing in seems to be helping the flames die d-...Oh no! Two wolves are attacking her legs! I think they live in the house she ripped the tin roof off of!"

"NOO!" Terry screamed.

"She's much larger than them and is trying to kick them off, but they keep attacking! What's she?...She's reaching across the block towards the fire engine...She's got the hose! She's spraying the wolves and it's knocking them all the way down the street! She's now using the hose and finishing the job. The firemammals seem to be a little upset but...she's got the fire out!"

James jumped up and down. "YES! YES! YES!" He then hugged his mother, Auburn tightly and cried a little. "She did it! SNIFF! I love that giraffe!"

Tim got on the phone. "I'm gonna call 'da ZPD and let 'dem know about 'dose wolves a few houses down. Don't want no criminal element livin' near me. In 'da meantime, you better call Suzie and get her butt home!"

Terry handed Sarah over to Gazelle. "Gazelle, could you do me a big favor and cover Sarah's ears. I'd do the same with James, Auburn. By the way, does Juanita know English?"

"If she did, she would have actually had some lines." Auburn replied.

"Good." Terry got a hold of Suzie on the cell phone. "Suzie honey?!"

"Yes Mom?"

"GET YOUR FUCKING ASS HOME RIGHT FUCKING NOW! I DON'T GIVE A SHIT HOW MUCH BIGGER YOU ARE THAN ME, I'LL TAKE A 2X4 TO YOUR GODDAMN ASS YOU HEAR ME?!"

"Y-Yes mom! Right away mom! I love you mommy!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GO OR I'LL MAKE THOSE WOLVES LOOK LIKE PLAYMATES!"

Terry looked over and saw not only James trembling on Auburn's lap, but Wolford trembling on Auburn's lap too. Juanita was on Gazelle's lap, shaking with Sarah.

"I love my children but I do not mess around." Terry replied.