Deathtouched - Chapter 28

Lemon sequence in this chapter.

"Good afternoon Mayor Lionheart, Chief Bogo." Zoe said as she entered the mayor's office dressed in her official garb.

"Good afternoon Priestess." Mayor Lionheart said as he motioned her to sit.

The seat was made for medium to large sized mammals, but Zoe had no problems hopping into the seat. Standing, this put her eye level with the mayor. Chief Bogo was standing behind the mayor and off to one side, looking stressed.

"Before we begin, let me say that both Chief Bogo and I are sorry for your loss." He said sincerely.

Zoe waved off the apology. "It's no more than what's happened to the family of other victims of the Cannibal Killers. At least I was able to say goodbye to her, which is more than most of the victims families were able to do. But your sentiments are well appreciated gentlemammals."

"Ahem. Yes, I hope that was able to bring you some comfort. Second of all, we'd like to thank you for your aid in getting the priesthood to assist us in this trying time."

"Mayor, the priesthood is always ready to help the citizens of Zootopia in any way that we can. Although the Sons and Daughters of Ares always seem to be looking for a fight, so getting them to help was no problem."

"Now, we've taken the information you were able to give us about your sister's attack."

"Murder." Zoe interrupted Lionheart. "Someone's directing these attacks giving specific orders to kill and eat their victims."

Mayor Lionheart nodded, ceding the point. "Murders, yes. We found your sisters murderer using what you've given us."

Zoe sighed. "Mayor Lionheart, let me be clear here. Those mammals that have been attacked are victims, but so are their attackers. I don't believe any of them asked to be kidnapped, tortured, and drugged into obeying this insane mammal behind these attacks. They are weapons, it's the one behind the weapons that is the murderer no matter how removed they are from the sites of the violence."

The mayor seemed a bit stunned at Zoe's words, spoken by such a young mammal. Chief Bogo nodded in agreement at her assessment. Not really ready to respond to Zoe's statement, Mayor Lionheart turned to the cape buffalo and said "Chief?"

"Yes sir." Turning to focus on Zoe, he continued. "We've been analyzing blood and saliva samples from the victims, including the wolf that attacked you Priestess. And it seems that the chemical composition keeps changing between attacks. We believe that the one behind this is still attempting to perfect the formula."

"I agree. I take it that no other mammal has been stopped from attacking?"

"No Priestess, although we have had instances where the attacker was driven off shortly after the attack began and the victim survived. But other than glimpses of the mammals, we haven't been able to apprehend them."

"What about finding an antidote?"

"Since the chemical composition keeps changing, finding a usable antidote is problematic at best."

Mayor Lionheart shifted his focus between the two mammals much like watching a tennis match.

"Was the information I gave you about Frannie's attacker helpful?"

"Yes." Bogo stated as he pulled a small notepad from his shirt pocket and flipped it open, reading what was written there. "Aimee Ginger, female, aged 17. A business major at Zootopia University. Reported missing three weeks ago by her boyfriend, Carl Splay."

"Gods." Zoe said sadly. "She's only slightly older than I am."

The other two mammals were a little startled to be reminded exactly how young this rabbit was in actuality, the way she carried herself and her presence was that of a mammal much older.

"If there's anything else that we find out, we'll be sure to let you know Priestess." Mayor Lionheart assured her.

"I thank you both and if there's anything those of us in the priesthood can do to assist, please let us know. Chief, I'm on call if you need me."

"Thank you Priestess, your assistance is always appreciated."

Zoe nodded and left, heading for the temple to begin setting things up there for her trip to the unknown lands beyond Zootopia. When Mayor Lionheart was sure that Zoe couldn't hear, he turned to Chief Bogo and spoke. "You didn't tell her about your plan to capture one of the attackers using one of your officers as bait."

Bogo shook his head. "No sir, the officer that volunteered was Judy Hopps, her wife. There was no way I was going to get between the two of them."

Mayor Lionheart thought about that and shuddered. He couldn't blame the Chief at all.

oooOOOooo

"... and the reports of hauntings in Tundra town proved to be false. The rumors were started by the hotel manager in an effort to force the owner to sell at a low price so that he could take it over. We notified the ZPD fraud division, and they arrested the manager." Dan finished.

Zoe sighed. It wasn't normally something the order had to do, but when crimes were uncovered, they had to be reported. She turned to Wendy and awaited her report. "First, here's a letter from Fabienne Growley for you."

The tigress said as she handed over the envelope. "While the populace is on edge due to the Cannibal Killer attacks, their opinion about the orders have risen drastically in the last few weeks since the Priests and Priestesses of Ares, Athen, and Artemis have been seen patrolling with the members of the ZPD."

Zoe nodded. There had been an uptick in the number of mammals wishing to join the different orders. In particular, the three orders just mentioned.

"On a sad note, we've been notified that the police have decided to release the body of your sister to you." The tigress's face falling at having to give such bad news to Mother. She saw something flash across Zoe's eyes at the mention of her sister.

"Okay. I'll be taking Frannie's body home tomorrow. After that, I'm going to finalize planning for my trip. I don't know how long I'll be gone, so I'll rely on both of you to take care of it. Should you need help, talk to Baron."

"I wish we could talk you out of this Mother." Dan said, showing his distress at the idea.

"You can't Dan, I am The Chosen and this is part of my destiny. I don't know what I'll find but find it I must."

"It's just that we only now got you Mother, and we don't want to lose you." Wendy said, reaching her paw out to stroke Zoe's ears with affection before suddenly stopping, alarmed at her reaction. Zoe reached out and grabbed the enormous paw with both of hers, smiled, and kissed it.

"It's okay Wendy, I love you both also and I worry about you as well."

Wendy felt warm inside and held the paw that Zoe had kissed in the pad of her other paw.

"Let me come with you!" She abruptly offered.

Zoe shook her head. "No dear one, your place is here leading our brothers and sisters in my absence."

"Yes Mother." Wendy capitulated even though it wrung her heart.

After her aides left, Zoe opened the letter and read:

Zoe, High Priestess of Melinoe,

I wish to thank you for the advice you gave me and want you to be the first, besides Peter that is, to know that I am pregnant! As a mother yourself, you know how joyful such news can be, even if unexpected. After years of trying, Peter and I can now start a family! My husband and I are forever in your debt and if there is anything I can do for you, please let me or Peter know.

Highest regards,

Fabienne

oooOOOooo

"You tell her!"

"I'm not going to tell her!"

"You're her wife, she'll take it better coming from you!"

"You're her husband and the father of her kits, she'll take the news coming from you better!"

Abby opened the door, tired of hearing Nick and Judy argue on the other side of it.

"She's not going to take the news from either of you very well from the sound of it. Come in, sit down, and we'll see what we can do to soften whatever blow you plan to give her."

Gabriel was currently cooking supper at the stove, the heavenly scent actually letting them taste the spices he was using.

"What news is it that Zoe isn't going to like?" He asked.

"Judy has volunteered to act as bait in the Cannibal Killers case!" Nick blurted out, leaving the other two mammals stunned. Those expressions changed a second later when the front door slammed open against the wall. Everyone turned to see a very angry Zoe standing in the doorway, her paw still out from having shoved the door open.

"What. did. I. just. hear?" Zoe asked, her voice low and controlled, but cold.

"Well, uh, we, that is, the ZPD, has decided to try and lure one of the Cannibal Killers out by using an officer as bait, kinda like the prostitution stings we do." Judy explained, a little nervously.

"She volunteered." Nick added, earning an angry glance from Judy.

They waited for Zoe to explode, but were surprised when she slowly turned, and very carefully, shut and locked the door. Turning back to the others she started talking directly to Judy in a very angry tone that they could tell she was barely holding in check.

"You volunteered? We just lost a sister, and you volunteer?! We're supposed to be taking Frannie's body back home tomorrow for final rites! And now you're putting yourself at risk?! How can you do that to me? To us?"

They could all feel the fear that Zoe's words gave off. Judy showed the type of mammal she was, just like during the Night Howler case, by walking up to Zoe and taking the distraught doe's paws in her own.

"Zoe, Love, I'm a cop, it's what I do every day, protecting the mammals of Zootopia. It hurts so bad that we lost Frannie, but she's also the reason I'm doing this. If we can find who's behind this, we can stop others from losing family members and keep them from having to go through what we are."

Zoe broke, her ears drooping and her shoulders falling. She pulled Judy close and buried her muzzle into the nape of Judy's neck, crying. "I can't lose you Baby! I just can't! You are too important to me!"

Judy began rubbing Zoe's back through the thin fabric of her robes and mantle. "Baby, you have Nick and Abby as well as Gabriel. And you have our kits my Love. So even if something goes drastically wrong, there will be mammals here that need you."

"No!" Zoe cried. "You come back whole!"

"We're taking all the precautions possible Zoe, we promise." Nick said, trying to reassure Zoe about Judy's safety.

"It's not enough!" Zoe's said, her voice muffled by Judy's neck. Pulling back, Zoe looked desperately at her wife. "Make love to me!" She pleaded.

Judy smiled and then led her into the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. Abby and Nick went over to Gabriel, both wrapping their arms around the coyote and hugging him tight. Gabriel hugged them back and then kissed them both before releasing them and turning back to the stove to finish dinner.

Maybe I should make some of those habanero poppers that Zoe likes so much to try and cheer her up. I can make some jalapeno poppers for the others at the same time. With that thought, Gabriel began his preparations and tried to ignore the sounds coming through the bedroom door along with Nick and Abby.

oooOOOooo

It was early afternoon when the two vehicles pulled into the parking lot in front of the Hopps Burrow. Almost the entire family was outside waiting for them as they arrived. Her parents, as well as Candace, Gloria, Gideon, Willa, and Oscar were at the front of the group. Zoe had gotten up early the next morning after the life affirming sex with Judy and took Frannie's body to the temple where her and her assistants prepared the remains for cremation.

Wendy and Dan helped load Frannie's body into the back seat of Gabriel's car and Wendy went to the apartment to take care of the babies while Mother was gone. Abby rode with them in the front seat, Zoe between them, while Nick and Judy rode in his car. As they all exited the vehicles, the mammals at the vanguard of the group came forward with Oscar hanging back a little to allow the family to re-connect.

He looked at the coyote that had gotten out of the car with Abby and Zoe, wondering if this was the coyote that Zoe had seen in her vision. Oscar shifted his sight to the astral and looked at the coyote again. He could see love and grief, care and concern, the coyote had for Nick and the doe's. He could also see lust for them all, especially for Zoe. Yep, this was the coyote.

While the family was sharing renewed grief, Oscar approached the coyote and held out his paw.

"Oscar. I helped train Zoe as an Acolyte. She's told me a little about you."

"Gabriel. She's told me about you. She loves and respects you very much."

"As I do her."

While the beaver and coyote got acquainted, the family commiserated over their loss.

"I've been telling Willa that it's not her fault!" Their dad was saying.

"But we went out even though Zoe warned us!" Willa cried.

"Willa, I talked to Frannie, she admits that she basically dragged you out to go clubbing. So, as your sister, I'm telling you to stop blaming yourself. She was happy at the end, even joking a little bit. And she got onto me for taking the blame for not giving you two enough warnings or keeping track of you. So, I think that she would tell you the same thing."

Willa seemed to be a bit better after hearing Zoe tell her what Frannie had said.

"That's what I've been trying to tell her!" Her mom said, happy to have support.

"Yeah, the only mammal whose fault it was, was the one behind the attacks." Nick said.

"And their day is coming!" Judy said forcefully.

Zoe agreed, and then turned to where Oscar and Gabriel were conversing. Both mammals turned as she approached with Oscar bowing and saying "Mother.", making Gabriel glance at him.

"Oscar, thank you for being here. I see you've met my boyfriend and future husband, Gabriel."

"Not fiance?" Oscar asked.

"Not yet, she hasn't asked me." Giving Zoe the look.

"Too much going on Love."

"Mother, I'm sorry for your loss. I've set up the pyre where your parents told me to. If you would like, you may conduct the rite."

"No Oscar. While I am High Priestess, I am also a family member and that is how I am here today. Besides, this is your territory."

"Very well Mother."

"Oscar?"

"Yes Mother?"

Oscar smiled slightly when Zoe opened her arms. Their friendship had grown during their time together in service to Melinoe until a gentle affection existed between the two. Not in the romantic sense, but like they were siblings. So, he happily moved into the younger mammals' arms and hugged her back.

With more than 500 mammals in attendance, there was a need for a lot of space. Instead of all of them standing at the foot of the pyre with Oscar at the head, they were actually surrounding the pyre in concentric rings, each holding the paws of the rabbit next to them with Gideon holding the paws of his wives. The pyre itself was the old-fashioned stacked wood sort, nothing fancier was needed for those who tilled the earth. As simple life and a simple death suited them just fine.

"Sunset is the traditional time to cremate the dead as it symbolizes the passing of day into night, light into darkness. Yet, those of us who serve know that the darkness is nothing to be feared, it is merely the tunnel to another life. Frannie has embarked on that journey, and we have the sure knowledge that she will return to the Wheel in another life. We pray the gods grant her a good life, one of ease and comfort, having her life here taken too soon. Having spoken with Zoe, her sister, she assures me that Frannie was happy before she went through the veil, her last words being 'So beautiful'!"

Oscar nodded to Willa, who had asked to be the one to set the torch to the pyre. Those close enough heard her whisper, "I'm going to miss you Frannie, I love you."

The naphtha-soaked wood caught easily and rapidly, engulfing the wrapped body of their sister and daughter. The heat was so intense, the front two rows had to step back, yet Zoe never moved, never gave an indication that she even felt the heat, simply staring into the flames.

"Okay, okay, so Frannie stumbles up to this fox sitting at the bar and invites him back to our room for the night and the fox says, 'I only sleep with vixens.' Then Frannie goes 'Too bad big boy, you don't know what you're missing'!" Willa said, laughing along with the rest of the family.

"No, he doesn't!" Nick agreed, hugging and kissing his wives. Gabriel sat there next to Zoe, a little uncomfortable, not quite feeling like a member of the family, kind of like an intruder. He was only here at Zoe's insistence. It was tradition for the family to get together and share stories amongst themselves of the loved one that had passed.

Brian, their older brother, talked about how he put a dead lizard in her bed and then how she got him back by putting a live one in his. The stories continued through the night and into the early morning hours. All of the stories gave Gabriel a picture of a smart, happy, fun-loving bunny that enjoyed the life she had. The Remembrance for Frannie eventually ended, and they all sought their beds, most deciding to spend it with others if they were single to share comfort. Gabriel, being a larger mammal than the others, was forced to bed down in the entrance hall, the only place large enough for him to lay down. The family had taken mattresses from unoccupied rooms and put them together for him to lay on.

Gabriel lay there, curled up on the mattresses, thinking about the Hopps family and how close they seemed. While he was close with his family, seeing so many mammals love and support each other was amazing. And the way they treated him, as if he were already a member of their family, meant a lot to him. Gabriel smelled her before he heard her, and his tail began wagging slightly. He forced it to stay still as a naked Zoe crawled up onto the mattresses with him and snuggled against his side.

"I thought you were staying with your husband and wives?"

"You shouldn't have to be alone." Zoe replied to his question.

"You don't have any clothes on." He pointed out.

"We don't usually wear clothes in the burrow, only if we are expecting company. And even then, we go around nude deeper in the tunnels."

As they lay together, each enjoying the body heat of the other, Gabriel asked something that had been on his mind, not sure if it would be appropriate. "Can I ask you something and not get you upset? After everything that's happened in the last several days?"

"Ask me anything Love."

"When are you going to make an honest coyote out of me?"

He was heartened when he heard Zoe giggle and push her muzzle deeper into his side.

"Sorry, I was just thinking of when Judy asked Nick to marry us, and I had played around with the idea of doing the same thing."

"And how was that?"

"I'm not going to tell you."

"Why not?"

"A girl needs some secrets."

"C'mon, tell me!"

"No." She laughed.

"I'll ask your husband and wives!"

"They won't tell you."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because I asked them not to!"

"You're being mean!"

Lemons warning

Zoe began stroking the fur on his bare chest and, in return, he began caressing her back from her shoulders and then down until he could feel her little poofy tail. When she didn't complain, he began running his fingers around and through it, feeling how soft it was. The thought of how close he actually was to her center excited him, making him worried about what she would think about it.

"What will you give me if I tell you?" Zoe asked, her coy tone making his heart beat faster.

"What would you like?" He asked, sliding his paw down over her butt cheek and onto her upper thigh.

"That would be cheating." Zoe said breathily, already feeling herself respond. Gabriel's nose twitched when Zoe's scent hit it. He breathed it in deep and he could feel his penis begin to emerge from its sheath.

"Are you sure?" He asked her as he ran his paw up to her thigh until he could feel the heat coming off her core. He smiled when he heard her breath hitch.

"Y... yes." She gasped.

"Are you really sure?" He asked her as he his finger probed between her slick folds, finding the entrance to her innermost self, delighted when she threw her leg up onto the side of his stomach giving him greater access. When she didn't respond, other than her beginning to breath hard, he asked "Well?"

And then he ran his finger around her opening, teasing her. Zoe swallowed hard. She could feel her need for him threatening to overwhelm her senses, but she'd grown stronger in the last several months and it was that willpower that let her resist him. For a little while longer at least. Zoe couldn't speak anymore, so she just nodded rapidly.

"Too bad." Gabriel said, smiling as he withdrew his finger and hearing her whimper.

"Gabriel, please." She begged him. She'd hoped that he would push his finger into her and help give her release. He was teasing her something awful and she felt like she was about to explode with need. He wondered how he could have ever felt they were unequal when he could make Zoe into the quivering mess she was just by touching her. She was begging him, and he loved the sound of it.

She tried grinding her pelvis against his erection through his boxers, but he moved his hips back making her whine. Yeah, she was his. Well, his and Nicks as well as her wives, but right now she was his. He was certain that, if he wanted, he'd be able to knot her before morning.

"Promise you'll tell me?" He placed his paw back over her, feeling how much wetter she'd become in the short time his paw had been away. He felt her immediately begin grinding against the pad. He stopped that by grabbing her entire mound hard to stop the friction. Her squeal as she came was a surprise to him, telling him how turned on she was. He could feel it as her juices hit the pad of his paw, soaking the entire area.

She felt the rough pad of his paw clamp onto her, one hitting her clit and it was enough to send her over the edge. A wave of euphoria ran through her, and she felt herself cum. When she was once more aware of her surroundings, she gasped out, "I'll tell! I'll tell! Just don't stop, for the sake of the gods don't stop!"

Gabriel was only too happy to comply and was able to jam his soaked finger into her sopping wet core. The heat was fantastic, and her walls gripped his finger so tight, her walls fluttering as she came again. Zoe yelped when he jammed his large finger into her, the slight pain causing another orgasm to grip her. She rode that wave to completion, coming down to feel his finger still lodged deep into her. Zoe held his eyes as she pleaded, "Make love to me my Heart."

"No." Gabriel told her. "When we make love for the first time, it's not going to be on the floor in the entrance hall when someone could show up at any time. When I have you for the first time, it's going to be special."

The sincerity of his words pierced her need and lodged in her heart. He was willing to forgo having her to make it meaningful for both of them. She didn't want to wait any longer, she would ask him to marry her. Tomorrow, at the lake.

"But" Gabriel continued, "that doesn't mean I can't leave you exhausted." After he said that, he began slamming his finger into her, making her yelp and whine over and over. He knew it was hurting her, but she seemed to like it. Zoe was cumming continuously as his finger rammed into her, each thrust hitting her clit and sending those lightning bolt tingles through her. How long he kept it up, she didn't know since she lost all touch with reality. When she did become aware of her surroundings again, she couldn't move a muscle.

"Baby? You okay?"

"Ggghhhh." Was the only response she could give, not having control of her vocal cords.

"Good night Love." He told her. He waited until she fell asleep before heading outside and relieved the pressure his erection was giving him, spewing his seed all over the grass near the burrow. He wanted so much to fill Zoe with it instead, but he descended from hunting stock, and he could be patient. He went back inside and cleaned Zoe up as much as possible, actually happy that he had tired her out so much that she barely made a sound.

While Nick was missing Zoe, he was enjoying himself. But laying here on his back with Abby riding him down to his knot and Judy sitting on his muzzle with his tongue buried deep into her tasty core, his paws supporting her and keeping her stationary, he was happy. Both doe's were facing each other, sharing a deep kiss, twirling their tongues around each other. Judy pulled away from the kiss enough to gasp out,

"I want to try something." reaching down, she pulled Nick's jaws apart until they were wide open. Easing herself down as far as she could get, she shuddered as she came. The sight and feeling of his teeth against her stomach to just under her breasts and the feel of his teeth against her back, didn't just push her over the edge, it threw her over. It was even better than being bitten!

"Hhhaaaaaaaa!" Judy screamed out as she came again. Then Nick shoved his tongue up and went deeper than ever before. Judy felt it penetrate her cervix and lick the back of the organ. Nick loved the taste of his wives, and when Judy put herself down and in his mouth, he lost it. Grabbing Abby's hips, he pulled and thrust his hips up, knotting her, cumming as the pained squeal hit his ears. All three of them came at the same time, their cries echoing through the room.

Lemons end

She was warm and happy, cuddled into Gabriel's side, not wanting to move. She was still so tired, and she wondered what had woken her up.

"Zoe."

Oh... that. Cracking open one eye, she looked up to see Candace standing over her.

"Please tell me you didn't have sex in the entrance hall."

"I didn't have sex in the entrance hall." Zoe croaked out.

"Smells like it."

"We just... played... a little."

"Well, be that as it may, there will be a lot of mammals coming through soon, so you need to get up, you're kinda blocking the way."

Zoe groaned. She hadn't gotten enough sleep to function yet, not having planned the little make out session with Gabriel, it being something that just happened. Granted, it was something she wanted to happen, but she hadn't planned it.

"Baby, Love." She said quietly as she gently shook her coyote. She vaguely noticed Candace as she left, heading for her office.

"Gabriel, my own hearts Darling, you need to wake up."

Gabriel just groaned, snorted, and then began snoring. Zoe started kissing the side of his muzzle, working her way up to his ear, where she whispered.

"Gabriel, your Zoe wants you to knot her."

"Wha?" Gabriel responded, making Zoe giggle. It figures that would be the thing to wake him up.

"Wha time it?" He slurred, his tongue thick with sleep.

"Um, about 7. We got about 3 hours sleep so far Love. But we got to get up, the hall is going to get busy soon." He huffed, not wanting to move.

"Baby, let's get up, get dressed, and go get something to eat. Then we can go down to the lake and I'll tell you what you asked me about. And, if you're a really good coyote, I'll even let you knot me."

The release that Gabriel had given himself earlier only took the edge off his desire. Zoe's words, especially the word 'knot', started his engine firing on all cylinders. They kissed before Zoe left to go clean up a little more and get dressed. Meanwhile, Gabriel stacked the mattresses up against one of the walls and folded the blankets, laying them atop the mattresses.

oooOOOooo

Gabriel and Zoe were eating at one of her favorite restaurants just to the north of downtown Tri-Burrows. It catered to all species, and he was enjoying a fried chicken patty with pepper gravy, home fries, and a biscuit. Zoe was enjoying her biscuits with a topping of country gravy and an extra-large helping of hash browns, also with country gravy. Both ordered a pot of coffee and told the waitress to keep it coming.

The waitress, a ewe named Esther, was ecstatic over serving someone so important. She watched, only slightly interested in watching a hometown girl be invested as the new High Priestess of Melinoe, until she saw the miracle. And, after seeing the mark up close in person, could see that it wasn't some trick done on camera.

"So, you promised that you'd tell me how Judy proposed to Nick."

Zoe giggled. "Yeah, your probing really made me confess."

"Well, if you won't tell me, then I guess I'll have to probe you even harder and deeper!"

"You may have to Love, I'm a tough knot to crack."

Gabriel laughed. "Okay, that was a bit too corny."

"Hey! I was starting to run out of innuendos! It's not like I have a lot of experience with flirting."

"Oh, is that what we were doing?"

"You know it was!"

"So, are you going to tell me or knot?"

"Okay! Gods, I surrender!"

"Mmmm. I love it when you surrender to me." Gabriel was rewarded by hearing her gasp and smelling the beginning of her arousal.

"Mmmm. Maybe I will propose to you the way Judy did Nick after all."

"Okay, enough. Spill."

"Okay Love. Nick was having issues getting past heavy petting, afraid that he'd hurt Judy. Judy took it upon herself to prove that she could handle his large size. Her and I had been with bucks before, but Nick was a much larger mammal, and I mean more than just how tall he was. Anyway, she took him in paw, and they began having sex. It helped when she told him that we were all into a certain amount of pain."

"Yeah, you seemed to enjoy it last night." He interrupted.

Zoe's breath hitched again, and a new wave of her arousal hit Gabriel's nose.

"... Anyway, they were making love and when Nick hit his peak, he knotted Judy. While they were tied together, she proposed to him."

Gabriel stared at her for a moment before barking out in laughter.

"You're serious?" He chuckled.

"Yep."

Then Gabriel got a seriously sexual look on his face and leaned forward. "So, if I want you to propose to me, I have to knot you."

Zoe was unprepared with how much that look would affect her. She stared back at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"Well?" Gabriel asked.

Zoe swallowed and breathed, "It wouldn't hurt."

Gabriel grinned. "Well, it probably will, but you said you like a little pain. Let's head down to the lake and find out, shall we?"

Zoe quickly threw a wad of bills onto the table, not caring if it was too much as she slid out of the booth. She took Gabriel's paw, pulling him to the car. She couldn't get to the lake fast enough. Esther was surprised at the sudden departure of her customers but went to bus their table and almost fainted at the amount of money there, three times as much as the bill was, leaving her with a 40 dollar tip!

The cabin of the car was filled with the scent of Zoe's arousal and her heart was beating rapidly in anticipation. Gabriel was ready as well, given how tight his pants were at the moment. He had no sooner turned onto the main road heading for the turnoff, when Zoe's phone rang. Zoe groaned, but when she saw the caller ID, she had to answer. Speaking so that Gabriel knew who she was talking to, she said

"Chief Bogo. How can I help you."

"Priestess, we've gotten one of the attackers... alive. We'd like you to see if you can get anything out of him. All he does for us is say 'kill' and 'eat' over and over again."

Electric jolts of shock ran through her, making her fur literally stand on end.

"I'm on my way."

Closing the phone, Zoe looked at her lover, disappointed that they would have to wait a little while longer before indulging in their libidos. "I'm sorry Baby, but we need to head for Zootopia. They've caught one of the Cannibal Killers, alive."

Gabriel couldn't say he wasn't disappointed in not being able to have his way with Zoe. He'd been looking forward to seeing her stomach bulge with his knot buried inside of her, but this was too important. He slowed and made a 'U' turn in the middle of the road, heading back to the burrow.

Everyone was getting ready to leave, the new spread like wildfire through the burrow. Zoe called the local branch of the ZPD for an escort to Zootopia. After calling Chief Bogo who authorized it, they were on their way, lights flashing and sirens blasting through the intersections. The normally four-and-a-half-hour trip was accomplished in a little over two hours.

oooOOOooo

They stopped by their apartment so Zoe could grab her garb, with her dressing in the car on the way. Gabriel and Nick held the door open for Zoe as she walked into ZPD headquarters. Her ears erect and chin up, she was every inch the High Priestess. Even Bogo was a little unnerved at how regal she looked.

And then they began to feel it, the chill that they could sense in their bones. It hadn't started until Zoe had entered the building, but it was evident now. Both Gabriel and Nick looked at each other, and Judy paused at the doorway, feeling it as well. Gathering himself, Bogo stepped forward. "Priestess."

"Chief. You wanted me to speak to this attacker?"

"Please. We have him restrained, so you won't be in any danger, and he's being recorded in case he says something other than what he's been repeating."

Zoe nodded. "Very well, let's see if we can help this poor mammal."

Chief Bogo escorted her deeper into the building, past several offices to a door that said 'Observation.' Entering, Officer Rhinowitz shuddered as he felt the cold that the other mammals with Zoe had been dealing with, each one of them shivering internally. Zoe approached the two-way glass to see a tiger strapped to a metal gurney, tilted upright and facing the glass. Bandages were wrapped around his chest, upper arm, and thigh. The one on his chest showing some blood seeping through.

The tiger kept mumbling 'kill' 'eat' for a few more seconds before it stopped, looked right at Zoe, and said "Death approaches." All of the mammals in the room looked at Zoe, but she didn't appear to be fazed by the statement.

"Thaddeus Pelt, age 37. Disappeared between his law office and home seven weeks ago. We've linked his DNA to the attack on Isabel Haskins. He was interrupted stalking a hippo in Sahara Square near The Palm Tower. The wound to the chest was from a spear wielded by a Priest of Ares, and the one in his thigh by an arrow from a Daughter of Artemis. It took seven darts to slow him down enough to capture him. "

"Gentlemammals, please wait here." She said as she turned and left the room, the temperature seeming to return to normal.

"That was freaky." Rhinowitz remarked.

"She can hear you, you know." Nick told him, making the rhinoceros even more nervous.

Zoe had indeed heard the rhino, but she didn't care. She knew that she was changing, she had been ever since she accepted her destiny, whatever that ended up being. Opening the door, Zoe stepped into the room with the tiger who turned his head toward her as much as his restraints allowed. There was a small table and a rabbit sized chair in front of the mammal. On a stand in one corner, recording everything in the room, was a tripod with a camera.

"Death is here." The mammal whispered, staring at Zoe.

"Death is always here." Zoe returned.

"Yes, by the master's will I live, by the master's will I die."

"No. It is by the gods will that you live and by their will that you die. Tell me, who is your master?"

"Master says 'kill', Master says 'eat'."

Zoe shifted her sight to the astral and that's when she saw it. The tiger's soul was writhing in agony, only peripherally connected to his body. It became aware of Zoe watching him and he looked imploringly at her.

"Please! Make it stop! It hurts so much! I can't stop myself; I've tried! Please help me!" The tethered spirit begged her.

"What can you tell me of the master?" Zoe asked, her voice echoing in her ears as she spoke in both planes of existence at the same time.

"I never saw him, but he smelled of bear, smaller than me but not by much. He injected me with something, some kind of blue liquid."

"We'll see about developing an antidote. We'd have one but the formula keeps changing."

"Priestess, promise me. If I can't be cured... kill me."

The tiger's spirit grit its teeth against a spasm, visible even on the material plane.

Zoe opened the door as the tiger said "Death walks amongst us. The Master says 'kill'."

The door closed, but Zoe could still hear the litany he spoke.

"The master is some type of bear, at least, that's what it smelled like to him. A bit smaller than him so it wasn't Grizzly, Kodiak, or Polar. He was injected with a blue liquid. I would ask that we find an antidote as soon as possible, the tiger's spirit is in agony and only touches on his physical body. He did request that, if an antidote wasn't possible, that he be killed. Gentlemammals, this tiger is as much a victim as those that have been attacked."

Zoe leaned against Nick as she sat between him and Judy, her eyes closed trying to get a grip on everything. To see a spirit so treated angered her past all reason. After all, what was ghost except a soul without a body.

"Z?" She heard Nick ask. She could hear the rumble in his chest when he asked that was well.

"Hmm?"

"What did the tiger mean by 'death is here'? It was almost like he was saying you were death."

"I don't know. Death is my lady's servant, as am I. That's probably it."

"Maybe." Nick said, not entirely convinced.

A/N: Okay, a little more excitement, a little closer to discovering this mysterious master. And Zoe still has to take that journey to find the 'lost ones'. Poor girl. And her changes? Only the gods know what they mean, and they haven't told me yet.

So, stay tuned.

Speaks With Spirits