Deathtouched - Chapter 13
When Zoe returned to school she was wearing the pin that identified her as a Priestess of Melinoe. This caused as much a stir in the school as her eyes had. Zoe didn't have a lot of friends at school since most of the mammals were still a little weirded out about her eyes. Her only friends were Larry, a groundhog, Serena, a vixen, and Paul, a Lynx.
They had found her to be a great friend and were, admittedly, a little nervous about her being a priestess. However, after the first few hours where Zoe had shown them that she was the same Zoe they'd always known, they relaxed and were happy to hang out together.
oooOOOooo
Zoe was helping Candace get ready. She had never seen Candace be nervous before and she couldn't help giggling a the sight. Of course, this didn't help Candace any so she snapped a Zoe for doing it.
"I'm sorry Candace, but it's just that I can totally relate to what you're going through. You should have seen me, as nervous as I was in front of everyone, I was a total wreck in the tent."
Whatever Candace was going to say was stopped when the Priestess of Hera walked in, followed by Gloria.
"Greetings ladies. My blessings to you on your wedding day." Vivian stated as Gloria hugged Candace.
Then she turned to Zoe and said, "And I am overjoyed to see you Zoe, congratulations on earning Priestess."
Zoe dipped her head in an almost bow and replied "I am pleased to see you again as well Priestess."
Vivian smiled at Zoe and said "No need to be so formal Zoe, we are, after all, both Priestesses of our goddesses are we not?"
Zoe grinned "You are correct... Vivian."
Vivian grinned back at Zoe. Gloria and Candace weren't upset at the small interaction between Zoe and Vivian, seeing as how they seemed to let everything else fade from their awareness except for the other. Vivian turned to the two does, one of whom was noticeably older than the other.
"And may I have your names young does?"
Gloria blushed at being called young considering she was 31. It had bothered her that she had been so attracted to Candace who was 13 years her junior, but Candace had shown how much she just didn't care about the age difference, repeatedly.
"I'm Gloria"
"And I'm Candace"
"Greetings Gloria and Candace. You already know the ceremony, so we'll begin shortly and you can expect it to be over within the next 30 minutes. Although it will be both the longest, yet shortest, 30 minutes you've ever experienced."
This made Zoe giggle, remembering her own wedding "She's right."
Vivian and Zoe moved a ways away so that the two soon to be wives could spend their last few minutes as single does together.
"I never thought I'd see the day that Candace would get married Vivian. She's been one to like her sex whenever she wanted it and whomever she wanted to do it with, without anyone telling her if she could or not."
"We all change Zoe. I've noticed several changes in you just from the last time we conversed."
Zoe nodded in agreement, also recognizing the truth in Vivian's words.
"True, very true. Getting married, becoming a Priestess, being away from my loved ones, it changes you."
"But it hasn't hardened your heart Zoe. If anything, it's made you a more loving, caring mammal."
Zoe shrugged "Or it's just given me more confidence to show that love."
"It's my understanding that you spend a large amount of your free time with the young kits and toddlers in the Nursery."
Zoe again nodded "I do. I enjoy taking care of them very much and they seem to fill a need that I never knew I had, so it's for me as much as it is for them."
Vivian grinned "I'd say it does for every female Zoe. I know I feel the same way with my own children. Have you given any thoughts about having kits of your own someday?"
"Kinda? I know I'd like to have kits of my own sometime in the future, probably after I've settled in my career first. But I've never really given any thought as to who I want the father to be. None of the bucks I've met seemed... appropriate."
"When the time comes, in both instances, you'll know. I did. My husband, Gregor, is a panther. We were one of the first ever mixed species mammals to be married in Zootopia."
Curious, Zoe asked "Wasn't it hard, with you husband being a panther I mean?"
"It was. Gregor was a lawyer just starting out and I had just made Priestess and my business was in it's infacy, so both helped in it's own way. Both of us being feline aided as well, but we helped set the precedent for other mixed species relationships. Mayor Lionheart helped make such relationships legal, even though it's still not widely accepted."
"It's a shame that there are mammals that reject such things. Mammals should be free to love whom they will and not be subjected to being judged by others for it."
Vivian tilted her head sideways and grinned at Zoe in amusement "Are you sure you're not a Priestess of Aphrodite as well?"
Zoe snickered "I don't think so, and I'm quite happy with my goddess."
Still grinning, Vivian gave her a half shrug and then said "It's time to get these two married, so you need to head out and go get seated."
Zoe grinned at Vivian's words and then walked over to the two does who were holding on to each other.
"Candace," she greeted her sister, "congratulations sister. I wish you well in your marriage."
Zoe then gave Candace a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Turning to Gloria, Zoe greeted her.
"Gloria, you're already my mother and now you're about to become my sister as well. Welcome to the family. I wish you nothing but happiness in your marriage." She leaned forward to kiss Gloria when she was suddenly engulfed in a huge hug by not just Gloria, but Candace as well.
Soon Zoe left to go sit next to her wives.
"What's happening Zoe?" Judy asked.
Zoe couldn't help it. She'd developed a bit of a mischievous streak since her interaction with Kevin in Oscar's office.
"Well, Candace and Gloria were going at it on the floor of the tent when Vivian walked in, which caused her to pass out. I was able to revive her and then we found out what caused the two of them to not wait for the wedding night."
Not only did Judy and Abby's eyes spring open in shock, but their ears were up and quivering, along with some of the guests.
"So, what caused it?" Abby asked inquisitively.
"Candace is pregnant." Zoe answered calmly.
Everyone within hearing dropped their jaws, stunned. Not that it was unusual for a doe to be pregnant before her wedding day, but this was Candace.
"You're kidding." Judy deadpanned.
"Actually, yeah." Zoe snickered.
Judy and Abby groaned, realizing that they'd been had by their wife. Judy leaned over and whispered quietly in Zoe's ear "I am so going to spank you for that tonight!"
Zoe's breath hitched as she whispered back "Promise?"
Vivian guided Candace and Gloria out of the tent to stand in almost the exact same spot that Zoe and Judy had when they were married. Zoe's right paw sought out Judy's and they held each other's paw tightly. Zoe's other paw was latched on to by Abby. Abby's happiness was making her tremble and cry. Her mother had finally found another mammal that made her happy and it made Abby so grateful for her wives who changed not only her life, but her mother's as well.
Vivian performed much the same ceremony as she had before, with the exception of adding a third. The thud that sounded when Stu fainted went unnoticed by everyone. When they were sitting during the reception, Vivian once more sought out Zoe.
"Zoe? Would you walk with me?" Vivian asked.
Zoe gave out a little laugh at how history seemed to be repeating itself, at least in a way. Zoe kissed both her wives and promised she'd be back soon.
"So, Zoe. I understand that you met Aaron? How did you find him?"
Okay, Zoe had been expecting to have a serious conversation with her sister priestess, but Vivian's question was just too good an opportunity to pass up.
"Well Vivian, it was easy. I went to the mother temple in Zootopia and there he was." She said with a straight face.
Startled, Vivian stopped in her tracks for a few seconds before barking out a laugh. "A Priestess of Melinoe and and adherent of Thalia. Someone told me what you said after leaving the tent. Oscar also told me about what you did to his receptionist. And I agree with him, when you become High Priestess, you'll give those Zeus priests a run for their money."
Zoe snickered "I'm sorry, but the opening you gave me was just too good to pass up!"
"Okay, let me rephrase my question, what did you think of Aaron?"
It was Zoe's turn to pause as she collected her thoughts and memories from her meeting with Aaron. It wasn't easy, and she let Vivian know that.
"It's kind of hard to explain. Being there with him, he just seemed to exude this... presence. It was like serenity and experience all wrapped up in wisdom and coated with the feeling of Melinoe. He is awe inspiring."
Vivian nodded "Would it surprise you to find that there are those that see the same things in you already?"
Zoe stood up straighter in surprise, her ears fully raised. "ME? But I'm just a priestess, and then only for a few months!"
"Word's spread. It may surprise you Zoe, that a lot of the priests and priestesses don't share such a close tie to their gods that you do, nor are there ones touched by so many different gods. The more advanced priests and priestesses, including the High Priests and Priestesses, can read your aura and see how you're touched by so many. No one in memory has walked so close with so many gods."
"I didn't choose to be."
"No, but the gods did! And I should warn you, there are whispers that the gods brought you here because a great calamity will occur in Zootopia."
Again, Zoe knew.
"And some of them think that my being here will be the cause of the calamity."
Vivian nodded. "Not those among the priesthood, but among the populace and even some of the acolytes, yes."
Zoe sighed heavily "Why does it have to be doom and gloom Vivian? Why couldn't it be because I usher in a new era for a better Zootopia where everyone can be happy?"
Vivian smirked "Zoe, to some mammals that would be a calamity."
Zoe sighed again. "Thanks for the warning, I'll keep both ears up."
Vivian smiled gently at Zoe "Anytime. And know that I'll help you any way that I can... Sister."
Zoe looked up and grinned at Vivian "That's right! We're technically sisters aren't we?!"
oooOOOooo
Zoe was taking care of little Brittany when her phone started sounding Judy's ringtone. Holding Brittany with one paw, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and answered.
"Hey Love! How's my beautiful purple eyed wife?" She asked while getting Brittany to coo at her.
"I'm doing great in school, number one in my class!"
Suddenly, Zoe knew.
"He's that interesting is he?" There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Judy responded.
"Do you know how unsettling that gets sometimes?"
Zoe suddenly felt bad at making her doe unhappy.
"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I can promise not to spill everything I know from now on. Please don't be unhappy with me!"
"I'm sorry my beauty. But think about it, I give you a present on your birthday and you tell me it's the wrong size before you unwrap it, or worse, even before I buy it."
"I'll do better Sexy."
"Yeah, I am rather sexy aren't I?"
"You know you are, now are you going to tell me or not?"
Zoe could hear Judy sigh.
"Well, his name is Steve and he's cute and he's an Engineering Major. He has dark grey fur with a black stripe on his left ear. He's smart and articulate. He's been hitting on me for a while now and I thought I'd see what he was like. Do you have any of those nudges of yours about him?"
Zoe set the now sleeping Brittany in her crib before letting her soul embrace the spirit world.
"Nope, not a peep Love. Sorry."
"That's okay, it was worth a shot. So, Abby's already given me permission so if it's okay with you I'll accept his date."
"Sure. You know I can't deny you anything Baby. But I expect some extra consideration when I come visit this weekend."
"Mmmmm. Sounds good to me Gorgeous! A win-win if I ever heard one!"
Zoe giggled "Have fun on your date Love."
oooOOOooo
Zoe hadn't heard from Judy or Abby about how Judy's date went. So, that evening, Zoe called Judy's number. It wasn't until the seventh ring that Judy answered.
"Hey Z." Judy's answered, her voice not the normal, upbeat, cheerful tone that she usually had. Instead, she sounded depressed. Zoe heard Abby squeal her name in the background.
"Bad date Love?" Zoe asked.
"You have no idea Zoe!" Abby broke in before Judy could say anything.
"Beyond bad." Judy confirmed
"It was absolutely the most horrible date I've ever been on. Z, he wouldn't shut up about himself, I couldn't get a word in edgewise! I tried to brag about my wives and he just started in on his. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking he just might be nervous. We ended up at a motel and let me tell you Love, he came up short in more than just the personality department."
Zoe muzzlepalmed.
"Oh gods."
"Yeah, and even then, he didn't have the skills to make up for it like he'd bragged about when he was flirting with me."
"I hope our Abby has been able to make up for your suffering Love."
Judy sighed and Zoe had a flash vision of Abby standing behind Judy as she was sitting on the couch, massaging Judy's shoulders.
"Loves, I think that the next time I come to Zootopia, we should have a spa day. What do you think?" Zoe suggested.
"That's a great idea Zoe! I'll book us a day right now!" Abby declared.
"I think I'd really like that Z." Judy admitted.
"Then it's a date." Zoe said with a smile.
oooOOOooo
They made the spa day part of their joint anniversary and Judy's 17th birthday celebration. That night, after the spa day, they continued the relaxed atmosphere and made slow, yet passionate, love to one another on the living room rug, the couch, the dining room, the kitchen counters, the bedroom closet, how they ended up in there, none of them could remember, and finally in their bed itself. Judy had to admit that it had been a great day and wiped away any negatives from her abysmal date with Steve.
oooOOOooo
Gloria, who no longer had anything keeping her in The Meadowlands, moved in with Candace at the Burrow. It was different for Gloria, but very soul affirming, by being surrounded by such a large, loving family. Zoe spent the night with them a few times and learned that, even though Gloria had never been with a doe before Candace, she was a fast and enthusiastic learner. The two does would occasionally invite a buck or two to spend the night with them, Gloria having gotten over her aversion to males that she had developed when her first husband had left her.
Zoe had even accepted Drake's invitation to spend the night with him. She confirmed Judy's statement that some bucks preferred using the other entrance and not using a condom. Zoe discovered that she'd rather not have to use a condom either, even though it was a bit messier. After Drake, several more bucks issued invitations to spend the night with them. While Zoe was flattered, she didn't really want to imitate Candace in that way.
oooOOOooo
The wives celebrated their anniversary and Judy's 18th birthday together once more. Zoe made her wives promise that, once they were together again they would celebrate each one on the day they had occured since there would be no need to combine them again. Her wives readily agreed.
Zoe was spending the day with Abby, being introduced to her friends and coworkers while Judy was taking her finals for her first year at college. They were on the fifth floor, the Geriatric Ward, when Zoe felt a nudge. She touched Abby on her shoulder and then tilted her head down the hall in the direction the nudge was pushing her. She then turned and began walking in that direction.
"What's she doing?" asked Faith, a Lynx, the head nurse for the ward.
"We call it her 'Zoe' thing, just watch." said Abby.
They followed Zoe to room 518, where she opened the door to see an extremely old Camel. Zoe slowly entered the room and climbed the steps at the head of the bed. Faith and Abby watched nearby.
"Gus." Zoe said softly.
Faith turned to Abby and whispered "How did she know Gus's name?"
"I told you, it's a Zoe thing. She's more than just a Priestess of Melinoe."
"Gus." Zoe repeated.
This time the elderly camels eyes opened to see Zoe standing by his bed.
"Heh, took you long enough to get here. Didn't think you'd take the shape of a rabbit though." Gus stated before breaking down into a coughing fit.
"No, Gus," Zoe said softly, "I'm not Thanatos. My name is Zoe, and I'm here at the prompting of my goddess Melinoe."
"You mean I'm already dead?" Gus's asked, his voice cracking with dryness. Zoe held out a cup of water with a straw, allowing Gus to drink before she answered him.
"No Gus, but you don't have long to wait."
Gus sank back into his pillows saying, "Thank the gods!"
Gus looked closer at Zoe, his eyes squinting, trying to focus.
"Your eyes made me think you were the Reaper. Is it bad that I'm a little scared to be going?"
Sympathetically, Zoe replied, "No, I understand completely. But I can tell you there's no reason to fear."
"A ghost tell you that?" Gus asked irritably.
Zoe just gave Gus a gentle smile and said, "No, I speak as one who has been there. I'm an Entry Gus, are you familiar with that term?"
Gus was shocked. An Entry! He'd actually met one when he was younger.
"Yes, I knew old Lester, worked as an engineer. Cantankerous old bastard, at least until he got to know you. Made me want to be an engineer too."
Faith turned her head sharply at Abby with both of her eyebrows raised in surprise at Zoe's admission to being an Entry. Abby just nodded.
"So you know that we're mammals that have died before waking up here in Zootopia."
"I'm not that familiar with rabbits, but you don't look that old."
"No, I'm almost 15. I was 13 when I died."
"I'm sorry, that's way to young." Gus said sadly, his wrinkles lending gravity to his statement.
Zoe shrugged.
"Perhaps. But here I found a family to adopt me, I met my wives, and I became a priestess of my goddess. Things that wouldn't have happened if I'd stayed in my old reality."
"So, what's it like dying?"
"That question is a little difficult to answer, It's different for everyone. I died in an auto accident. It was so sudden that I didn't even know that I was dead until after it was all over and I had passed beyond the veil. I can tell you that, even though I can't remember the details, is that the place I was in was bright and peaceful. I know that you will move on from there to someplace new when you're ready."
Gus nodded, accepting her words at face value. After all, who was he to argue with someone who'd already died?
"So Zoe, Priestess of Melinoe, why are you here with me now?"
With compassion, Zoe said softly, "Because Gus, no one should have to die alone."
Gus grunted, content with her answer.
"Would you talk with an old camel? Until it's time that is?"
Zoe smiled. "It would be my great pleasure Gus."
Gus began talking, about his youth and growing up in Sahara Square. About marrying his wife who'd passed several years before and their regrets in never having any children. He talked about his career as an engineer and the old Entry he'd met. He told her of the friends he'd made. His voice began to fade until he seemed to fall asleep. Minutes later the monitors flatlined, singling his passing. But Zoe didn't need the monitors, she watched as his spirit rose from his body, where it paused and gave Zoe a smile before continuing to ascend to the bright place.
Faith picked her jaw up and silently entered the room to turn off the monitors. Faith looked at Zoe and the pin on her collar before addressing her.
"Thank you Priestess, for easing Gus's passing. He was all alone, not family or friends left, and we weren't due to check on him for another 30 minutes. We'd talk to him when we were here and all of the nurses had grown fond of him."
Zoe smiled at Faith. "You are welcome, though no thanks are needed. This is one of the reasons I now walk the path of my goddess, to help where I may. I can tell you that his spirit was smiling as he went through the veil."
"Will he see his wife again?" Faith asked. "
Maybe, if she waited to be reborn. Trust me, it's frustrating knowing that I was there but not being able to remember exactly what it was like."
Faith sighed sadly.
"Well, I guess I'd better call the orderlies and have Gus's body taken to the morgue."
"Is there anything that Gus needs as far as arrangements go?"
Faith shook her head. "No, he already had it all planned out, just like a good engineer would do. But thank you for asking."
Abby took Zoe around to other friends of hers in the hospital. Many of whom were happy to meet Abby's other wife.
oooOOOooo
Zoe was happily packing a suitcase to take with her to Zootopia for the weekend. Her wives were going to treat her since they were celebrating her birthday then instead of the upcoming Thursday that her birthday actually landed on. She was placing some items she'd bought from Bunny Hearts that she was eager to try with her wives. Part of the excitement was that she was turning 15. Only one more year and she'd be living with her wives full time!
Zoe felt something shift and realized that a spirit was near. Turning, she saw Marge standing by the foot of the bed.
"Marge? Is everything okay?" Zoe asked, startled.
Yes dear, everything is fine.
She seemed to straighten a little prior to saying Priestess, I need you to come to our house.
And then she disappeared. Marge telling her that everything was fine, but then using her official title seemed contradictory. Quickly donning her Priestess garb, she signed out a set of keys and headed for the Grey farm. It wasn't a long drive, but a tense one, as Zoe tried to figure out what would require her to be present in an official manner. Parking next to the Grey's old, battered, truck she walked to the front door.
Zoe knocked and heard Darla answer "Be right there!" seconds before the door was opened. Darla saw Zoe there in her Priestess garb and wondered what was going on. Of course, the fact that Zoe was in her Priestess garb didn't stop Darla from giving her spiritually adopted daughter a hug prior to calling out to Gideon.
"Gideon! Your sister's here!"
"Sis!" Gideon cried as he came racing through the house to the front door. He almost collided with Zoe before noticing what Zoe was wearing. But, just like his mother, it didn't stop him from giving her a hug.
"Zoe, you know that you're welcome to come over at any time, but why are you dressed like that?" Darla asked.
"I don't know mom, grandma just asked me here as a Priestess."
Zoe saw Marge appear, standing in the living room and waving them in. "She's in the living room and waving for us to join her."
All three living mammals were confused by the actions of the dead one, but they convened in the living room anyway.
Priestess, I ask for you to translate for me.
"She called me Priestess and asked me to translate."
You three mammals are the ones I love most in the world. I am so proud of each of you!
"She says that we are the one she loves most in the world and that she's proud of us."
I swore to myself I would stay and watch over my daughter and grandson until I could be sure that they would be okay. I never expected to gain another grandchild during that time. Now that Greg can't hurt them anymore, I feel that my oath is done. Gideon will be in his late 40's before Greg gets out of prison, if he lives that long, and they're related to a Priestess of Melinoe now as well. I've been feeling the pull of the veil a lot recently, and I feel that it's time for me to move on.
Zoe could feel tears running down her muzzle as she translated.
"Grandma says that she swore to watch over you two to make sure you would be okay. And she said that she never expected to gain another grandchild in me." Zoe paused to sniff, dealing with the pain of loss once more.
"She said that since Greg can't hurt you anymore, from being in jail until Gideon would be near 50 and that you are now, in a way, related to me, that she feels that she's done what she said she would. And that... that she feels the... the pull of the... veil... and that she's ready to... to... to move... on."
Zoe couldn't help crying and hiccuping towards the end. She loved the elderly vixen a great deal and her loss hurt. Darla hung her head and cried over losing Marge again. Marge had always treated her as a daughter more than a daughter in law and she had loved the vixen as a mother. Gideon's reaction was predictable as well as heartbreaking.
"Grandma NO! Don't leave me! Ah still need you!"
Gideon's tears matched his mom's and Zoe's, running down his muzzle.
Ah, my little cub-cub, you don't need me anymore. You have your mother and Zoe now to help you. You're turning into quite the young baker and I know that you will be happy now. Find yourself a nice young vixen... or doe, settle down and raise a family.
"She... she says that you don't" sniff "need her anymore, that you have" sniff "your mom and me. That you're a really good" sniff "baker and she knows that you'll be happy now. She wants you to find a nice vixen or doe to settle down with and raise a family."
Zoe was starting to recover. She knew better than most how the wheel of life turned. She remembered helping that bobcat the day she met her Abby, and how she was a bit curt with his wife. She felt very bad about that now and promised herself to take as much time as needed with the deceased's grieving family.
Good bye my loved ones, until we meet again in the next life.
"She says goodbye and that she loves us and until we meet again." Zoe stated, calmer now. She rose and stood in front of Marge, her white eyes showing the love she had for the vixen.
"Marge Grey, go with the blessings of my goddess, Melinoe, to your well deserved reward. May you find peace and happiness in your next life." Zoe intoned. She watched as Marge grinned before fading away.
"She's gone." Zoe stated simply and then sat with the Greys as the held each other and talked late into the night, recounting tales of Marge and her life here in Zootopia. One of the questions that Darla presented was if Gideon was to marry a rabbit doe, could he get her pregnant. Since Gideon admitted that he wouldn't mind dating a doe, all the research that they did in the next few days didn't show it to be promising.
oooOOOooo
"I'm sorry Zoe." Judy commiserated with her wives as she drove to their apartment from the train station. Zoe had informed them of Marge moving on just a few days ago. Judy promised herself she would do her best to improve Zoe's mood. Abby was snuggling into Zoe's chest and Zoe laid her head on top of her wifes, nuzzling between her ears. Abby clasped Zoe's left paw in her right and was stroking Zoe's paw with her left one, trying to comfort her. Abby and Judy didn't know it, but simply being with her wives was helping tremendously.
Zoe was unpacking her suitcase when Judy walked in, stopped, and then moved to the bed where she picked up one of the items Zoe had brought. Judy picked it up and held it out as Abby walked in and stopped as well, staring at the item. It was a strapon harness with the accessory already attached to the front.
"Zoe, what is this?" Judy asked as she jiggled the harness, even though she knew what it was.
"I saw it and thought that we might try it out for my birthday Love." Zoe answered, grinning.
"But, there's two of them Zoe." Abby stated the obvious. There were, indeed, two buck sized dildo's attached to the front of the harness, one right underneath the other, their use rather obvious.
Still grinning, Zoe said, "I know."
Judy started grinning as well, now just as eager as Zoe to try out the new item.
"But, we... that is... I've never done that before." Abby said, staring at the two pronged dildo anxiously.
Zoe walked over to Abby and nuzzled her neck before kissing her and whispering, "You won't be able to say that after tonight."
Judy and Zoe's noses twitched at the scent of Abby's arousal as it filled the room.
oooOOOooo
Judy graduated college, with honors naturally, and the wives celebrated by going to Good Eats, leaving Tammy with a substantial tip. Judy applied, and was accepted, into the ZPD training program. Bonnie and Stu wasn't happy about that, wanting their daughter to have a safe job, but they also knew the inevitability of it happening. They also realized that they'd have to face it again when Zoe turned 18.
Judy's calls home were enthusiastic as she started her career as a police officer. While she was just a Meter Maid, she felt that, if she showed them what she could do, she'd be on the streets stopping crime in no time. But it seemed that, no matter what she did, she wasn't going to be able to do anything other than ticket vehicles. Judy told Zoe that she felt that Chief Bogo was the one preventing her from advancing. He just didn't seem to be an adherent to Mayor Lionheart's Small Mammal Initiative. It was only because of her wives that Judy was able to stick with her dream of being a cop.
oooOOOooo
Zoe was asleep, comfortably nestled between Sam and Hank. She'd decided to give two bucks at the same time a try and enjoyed it very much. She still hated using condoms though, thank you very much.
Zoe started to have an oppressive feeling, darkness and danger, fear and hunger, and Judy right in the middle of it all. The feelings increased to such a degree that Zoe sat up straight out of a dead sleep screaming "Judy!"
Both males just grunted and went back to sleep, having previously worn themselves out. Zoe scrambled to her pants and pulled out her phone. She speed dialed Judy's number and paced back and forth in the room mumbling "Come on, come on, come on!" over and over. When she received no answer, she hung up and dialed again, doing the same thing, unfortunately with the same results.
Zoe then called Abby. After four or five rings, Abby answered the phone with a very sleepy voice.
"Z?"
"Abby! Something's wrong, Judy's in danger, something was chasing her in the darkness. I tried calling her number, but she's not answering!"
"Z, calm down Baby. Judy's a strong doe and she's trained for emergencies. Have you gotten any nudges? Any feelings about what's happening?"
Zoe tried to calm herself, but it wasn't easy. Her concern for Judy was pushing her into a panic. But, with Abby's calm voice on the other end of the phone, she was finally able to calm down and open herself up to the impressions she always felt on the edges of her awareness. There was still the sense of danger, but it had minimized in the last five minutes since she had awoken screaming Judy's name.
"No, nothing. Whatever it was isn't directly threatening her right now."
"So she's okay then?"
"I think so, no feelings of doom and gloom anyway."
Zoe could hear Abby sigh in relief. "Well, that's good to know. I'll talk to Judy when she get's home and I'll let you know what I find out, okay?"
Zoe relaxed somewhat, but not entirely. She wouldn't feel balanced again until she know what was happening with her wife. She whispered into the phone, "I love you Abby."
She grinned when Abby answered her back, "I love you too Zoe, forever."
oooOOOooo
It turned out the Judy had enlisted the aid of a fox named Nick to help her with a missing mammals case. While he was frustrating at times, he'd helped her track down clues to the mammals in question. What Zoe had felt was them being chased by a black panther that had turned savage less than a minute after they'd talked to him through his apartment door. After many close calls, they managed to evade the panther by falling through the canopy in the Rainforest District. That was what Zoe had been feeling.
Judy had said that Chief Bogo had tried to take her badge, but Nick stood up to him and helped her to not only keep her badge, but give her time to solve the case. They believed that it was possible that the mammals that were missing, all predators, had actually gone savage. Somehow it involved something called Night Howlers. Zoe only felt better in a very minor way. But still, she prayed to the gods that Judy and Nick would be safe and solve the mystery.
oooOOOooo
It all fell apart. Judy became the hero in finding the missing mammals, but in the ensuing press conference, unintentionally maligned the cities predator population. This had placed a rift between Judy and Nick. Judy quit the department and, according to Abby, was laying in bed all day feeling sorry for herself. Zoe went to Zootopia to try and make her wife feel better but nothing seemed to work, even licking her ears. When that didn't work, Zoe looked at Abby who shrugged her shoulders sadly. They took a stroll outside, needing to talk without Judy hearing.
"What can we do?" Zoe asked anxiously.
Abby shrugged again.
"Sometimes they just need to work it out for themselves Love. It shouldn't be a problem unless it lasts too long."
"And what if it does?"
"Then we'll have to seek professional help." Abby said sadly. "As it is Baby, you still have to finish school. I'll keep you updated okay?" Abby continued.
"I don't want to go when she's like this."
"We don't have much of a choice. Pray Love, hopefully, as a priestess, your prayers will hold more weight."
With great reluctance, Zoe agreed, but stopped by the Hall, talked to Aaron for a few minutes, then left to go to the Temple of Apollo to leave an offering for Judy's health.
oooOOOooo
"... so if I can get fresh fruits and vegetables from your farm cheaper than what the Oakfields are charging me, I can make more of a profit. If you would just help me talk to your dad, I pay him a little bit more than he currently charges and we'd both make more money."
Gideon was giving Zoe his spiel. The Oakfields were charging Gideon and an outrageous amount for produce to use in his baked goods. He wanted Zoe to run interference for him with her dad since he still wasn't comfortable around foxes. So Zoe took him to where her parents were working in the fields. Stu was wearing gloves planting flowers with pretty blue petals around his crops while Bonnie was helping.
Zoe parked the truck and walked with Gideon towards her parents. Stu shot Gideon a wary look, but didn't say or do anything to show hostility toward Gideon, which Zoe was happy about.
"Careful Zoe! I'm planting these flowers to keep away the bugs and they can be dangerous. Your moms brother, Terry, ate a whole one once and he went berserk, attacking her and biting the dickens out of her. Isn't that right Bon Bon?"
"Oh yes! It was awful! I still have a piece missing out of my arm where he bit me."
Curious, Zoe asked, "What are they dad?"
"They're called Midnicampum holicithias."
Gideon spoke up.
"Now there's a four dollar word Mr. H. My family always just called them night howlers."
Zoe and Darla had been working with Gideon to control his rather thick accent and all their hard work had been paying off. Judy froze in place and her jaw dropped and her ears sprang straight up, surprise and horror on her face. She slowly turned her head to face Gideon and said, in a soft voice, "What did you say?"
Gideon looked at his sister and said, "Night howlers. We never needed any big fancy words for them."
Zoe frantically dug her phone out of her pocket and dialed Abby's number. Thankfully, Abby picked up after a few rings. Before Abby could even greet her, Zoe was practically yelling to have Abby give Judy the phone.
"But she's still not responding to anything Z." Abby said worriedly.
"Then put me on speaker phone! Judy needs to hear this!"
Zoe heard some rustling and then a door opening before Abby said "Okay Z, you're on speaker."
"Judy! Listen! Night howlers aren't a gang of wolves! They're a flower Love! And they made our uncle Terry go berserk and bite mom! Night howlers Judy!"
There was a pause before Zoe heard a loud rustle of cloth and then Abby yelling "Eeep!" before finishing with "Judy! Where are you going?"
Zoe heard Judy's voice yell "I gotta talk to Nick! Thanks Z, I love you!"
"Well, looks like she's better Z."
"Seems like it. I hope that everything works out for her." "
I hope so too, these last few days have been murder."
"I know Love, but she's ours."
"That she is. Hey Zoe, did you notice how close Judy seems to be to Nick?"
"Well, he did stand up to Bogo and saved her badge while helping her on the missing mammal case, it just seems to reason that they would grow close. I did with Gideon. Plus, he seems nice and"
Nudge.
"Oh crap."
"What Z?"
Nudge
"I'm getting a nudge."
"Oh? OH! You mean... Nick? And Judy?"
"That would be Nick and us Love."
"A fox?!"
"Baby, it doesn't necessarily mean marriage. Just that he'll become very important to us."
"Is there any way you can check and see? Maybe use those super senses of yours again?"
Zoe thought about it, but she kept getting a bad feeling about it.
"Abby, Love, it doesn't feel right doing that for personal gain. The nudges I had with Judy and you were given, not asked for."
"I understand. It would have been nice to have some heads up though." She said disappointedly.
"I know Baby, but we're all in the hands of Fate."
A/N: Okay, nice place for a cliffhanger I think, don't you? Zoe should be in Zootopia at some point in the next chapter depending on her cooperation. Like I said before, this is going to be a poly fic, I just never said how many would be involved. That's because I didn't know when I started writing this. But, the characters just decided to act this way. Abby herself was an unforseen addition, as well as Gloria getting married to Candace. But, that's what I love about writing, it will take you to unexpected places and in unanticipated ways.
Until next time, take care and be safe!
Speaks