i'm so sorry its been so long, I've been caught up in exams, work and then i had some family issues so just haven't had the chance to update until now, i really hope you can forgive me.

I hope this starts to make up for it.

Or not...

The sense of panic within Judy's veins was overwhelming. She found it increasingly hard to breathe, her vision turning fuzzy while her brain whirled through all of the worst possibilities. But what was worse was that for the moment she could do nothing but sit in a taxi on the way to the train station, preying that time would go faster so that she could be with her family and ensure their safety.

Yet despite time feeling awfully slow, she was on the train before she could even think about what her next strategy would be once she arrived at Bunnyburrow. She felt the soft rumble of the train's engine beneath her feet as she thought out her plan. She would first make sure that everyone was accounted for, every last parent, sibling, niece, nephew and cousin. And she would keep an eye on them, promise them their safety. Then she would find out what happened to Gideon and make sure that he was okay, too. Only then would she call her work back in Zootopia. Only then would she call Nick. Right now, her family was number one.

She tried to call them again, and a fresh wave of panic flushed in when she received no answer.

The journey was almost more than she could bear. She was alone and frightened, unable to get in touch with her family, the signs of a mass prey attacker too big to ignore. She counted each beat of her drumming heart, tried to think rationally, but with the sun slowly beginning to set and the world succumbing to the dark, the dread only thickened in her blood. For the first time in her life, she felt like a real, stereotypical rabbit.

She never dreamt it would come to this. She never believed that becoming a cop would put her family in danger. Never in her entire life did she believe that doing something for the greater good would possibly ruin everything she had ever known and loved. Was she truly cut out for this anymore? If it meant putting her home and family in threat's way, what was the point? She could protect herself. She could protect the many civilians she had never known. But could she honestly keep her cool around her loved ones? Could she act professionally if she saw her mother being mauled, or her father trapped between the claws of a tiger?

Pull yourself together, Hopps, you're better than this and you know it.

If it came to it she would call back up. She would put herself between the danger and her family for as long as she could before help arrived. She couldn't call for backup yet. Her family might be just fine. She might just be over thinking everything like she has always done until the truth came out.

She felt up her belt. She had her cuffs and she had her badge. She didn't have a real weapon, but the fake black model was enough to threaten a looming threat into submission without firing. She was also armed with her radio, her voice never far from the station. She was good with words, and she was fast. If those she loved cooperated, she was confident that she could handle whatever situation came her way alone until backup arrived.

She could do this. Everything would be fine.

The train finally came to a stop, and Judy didn't take a minute to appreciate the green hills of Bunnyburrow before she was leaping through the barely open doors.

Tala Hopps was the youngest of the last litter of the Hopps family. Surrounded by thousands like herself, she always considered herself as invisible. She preferred it that way, really. It meant she could keep to herself, do her own thing, without her needy parents interfering. At twelve she was becoming more independent, and like one of her eldest sisters, Judy, she hoped to one day make a name for herself and prove that rabbits weren't as useless as they seemed.

Tala was on one of the many sofas in the one of three living rooms, her long, lean legs propped up on the back whilst her ears grazed the floor. Her mother said she was yet to grow into her legs, which she found to be a funny term. She loved her legs, simply for the fact that she could run faster than anyone else in the family. Tala was often scolded for it, told that running was too dangerous by her father, but she never let it stop her. She was a rabbit, after all.

The book that was in her hands had entertained her for so long until the words began to blur and the noise of her family became unbearable. Among the squabbling, shouting and laughing, one of her ears pricked ever so slightly to the sound of her mother's concerned tone. She continued to try and read, but her hearing ran away with her.

"Why is she rushing back if nothing's wrong? She sounded so scared and I'm worried. Stu, what if something happened?"

"Bonnie, you know how she is, always overreacting. She's always been the same. She'll come back, see that everything is fine, have supper and then go back in the morning."

Tala frowned. Judy?

"I don't want her worrying the children with those frantic eyes of hers, she gets them from you." Her mother mumbled.

Tala sat up in the right position, carefully closing the novel between her paws. Judy was rushing home. Why? Was she bringing Nick Wilde with her? Tala had been dying to meet the fox that has helped Judy get to where she was now, he sounded like a cool guy. But why would they come here?

"Hey! Stop it, that hurts!" screamed one of her younger cousins, hurting her already sensitive ears. She glared at the little kitten, Penny pinned beneath her older brother.

"Knock it off, you two." She snapped at them.

Penny stuck her tongue out at her. Tala threatened to throw the book back in return, and the youngster screamed.

"Mommy! Tala's being grumpy again!"

"Oh, shut up!" Tala snapped as her aunt Kelly walked in, her older eyes annoyed.

"Tala, I know you're going through an angry phase, but try and keep the attitude to a minimum."

"Judy's coming home." Tala said. Her aunt frowned, trying to figure out what possible reason her niece would be coming home for.

"Tala! Where did you hear that?" Tala's father demanded.

"You just said it. What other family member works away other than Judy?"

Stu Hopps looked ready to retort as he marched into the room, Bonnie in tow, but neither could get out a word before the main door burst open, allowing a gust of wind to blow in and startle everyone in its wake. Tala searched for the door, jumping up and moving towards the archway of the living room.

In the porch, Judy stood shivering and panting, her uniform dishevelled and her fur rustled and in desperate need of grooming. Her violet eyes looked worn, exhausted, and her usually beaming smile was vacant. Despite this, Tala didn't miss a beat.

She shoved through her parents and her siblings and cousins, running straight for her big sister. Judy met her gaze and opened her arms, allowing Tala to leap into them and nuzzle her face in Judy's neck, wrapping her legs around her waist as she hugged her with all her might.

"You have legs for days, missus." Judy murmured.

"You tell me every time." Tala whispered back.

Little Tala was the mirror image of Judy, only her eyes were a little darker, the violet rich and alive. Judy adored her, of course no more than everyone else, but she was the only sibling that she could relate to, no matter how young. She would always babysit her and the rest of the litter back in her teens, yet there was something about those shockingly curious purple eyes that always reminded Judy of her in a funny way.

Yet they were very different, too. Judy as a youngster always made a point of getting noticed and being the one everyone talked about, whist Tala kept to the shadows with her novels and planned her future in silence. But as she got older, thought still resistant, she was bold and voiced her opinion where she felt necessary. Granted she was no doubt going to be an angry teen unlike Judy, but she had dreams far greater then the others none the less.

After greeting all of her family with more hugs and kisses you could ever imagine, Judy finally faced the concerned face of her parents whilst she idled with Tala's ears and the rest of the youngsters went back to playing. They were perched on the sofa, as soft as she remembered, with Tala nestled between her crossed legs. Her parents resided opposite near the fire, Stu taking the armchair whilst Bonnie leaned against the wall.

"What's going on, you scared me half to death!"

"I know and I'm sorry, I just had to come home, work was becoming to much." Judy said, partially telling the truth.

"You can't just run away from your job, Judy. You could get into huge trouble."

"I'd rather that than the alternative." Judy replied.

"And what alternative is that?"

Judy bit her lips furiously, looking away from her scolding parents. I'd rather get fired than have you all mauled to death. She wanted to say, and she then cursed herself for even thinking it.

"I just wanted to make sure you were all safe." She murmured.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Bonnie asked quietly, lowering her voice as she stepped closer. "Are you worried about the storm coming in? We have underground burrows for that, you know that."

"Storm?" Judy inquired?

"You didn't hear? It was all over the news!" boomed Stu. "Torrential rain for three days and three nights, they say! And blistering winds, and thunder and lightning. It's meant to set in tonight."

Maybe that would be enough of put off any bloodthirsty predator. Her stomach, clenched with dread, slowly eased.

"Where's Gideon?" Judy asked.

"We don't know, he's not been in touch for the best part of a week now." Said Bonnie.

"Do you have his number?"

"No."

Drat.

They sat in silence for a moment. "Judy, sweetheart, your ears are droopy." Bonnie murmured. "What's wrong?"

Judy just looked away, finally beginning to feel silly for rushing all this way. "I… I just…" she closed her eyes and took a breath. "I missed you all."

Bonnie looked as if she were about to say something more as she reached out her paw, her eyes turning soft, when there was suddenly a knock at the door. Judy started, frightening Tala in the process who looked up at her accusingly.

"Don't answer that." Judy rushed, setting her sister down on the floor as she moved towards the front door.

"What do you mean don't-'

And suddenly, emanating screams from multiple kittens, the lights went out and the knocking grew louder.

Everyone fell silent and moved away from the door, shuffling behind the only member of the family in a cop's uniform with her eyes looked on the door. Nobody uttered a word or even dared to breathe. After a few seconds, the knocking turned to banging, making Judy's heart leap into her mouth.

"Mom," she whispered as quietly as she could. "I want you to take everyone to the burrows as quickly and quietly as possible."

"What? Why?"

"Just do as I say."

Without taking a further order, Bonnie and Stu set to work, guiding every last family member down below. They all shuffled towards the kitchen, where the hatch was locating in the floor. Everyone apart from Judy, and unknown to her Tala.

The banging became violent now. Ducking low to the ground, Judy crawled to the small window that was on the left of the door that peaked out to the porch. She didn't know was she shaking violently until she moved the curtains out of her way. Slowly and carefully she reached up, working up every bit of courage to peek out.

To her horror, she was meant by the wild eyes of a black panther, his teeth bared and his intention clear. They stared at once another for a mere two seconds before Judy screamed and glass shattered.

Judy had never screamed so loud in her life, and when it was met by Tala's matching cry, the real horror of her situation finally sunk in.

She grabbed Tala and fled for the hatch in pursuit of her family, the panther's roar all too real.

This wasn't a game.

She was in danger and her family was in danger.

She jumped down into the burrows below, keeping the petrified Tala close to her body as she did. Desperately she tried to grab her radio, and screamed down it for her partner.

"Wilde, Wilde I need you, come in! NICK!"

The radio remained silent. Judy slammed closed the catch door above her, and dropped into the darkness below.