This story has ways of making up for the lack of attention I give to it. Another 10k chapter!
The mammals inside and outside the police station remained silent but expressed different behaviors to the scene before them. A mixture of anticipation, fear, and a little excitement.
"I SAID! WHERE IS SHE?!"
Lupus, William, and Dorothy did their best to show no emotion in the face of the raging rabbit and paid no attention to the spectators. They kept their paws and hooves on their weapons but showed trigger discipline.
It was Lupus who finally answered. "She is not here."
Saul flared his nostrils. "What do you mean, 'She is not here!'"
"Judy returned to her burrow," William answered.
The brown rabbit directed his anger on the goat. "And you didn't arrest her when she nearly killed my sons?!"
"Mr. Lagos," Dorothy said. "Judy Hopps was kept under our watch while we contacted her family. They requested that she be returned to them, and we complied."
The father then set his rage at Dorothy. "You just let her go free?!"
"What crime did she commit?" Lupus asked, trying extremely hard not to inject sarcasm. "According to eyewitnesses, Judy was defending Gideon from your sons. Again. They seriously injured the fox this time."
"Well, that fox must have done something to deserve the beating!"
"Again," Lupus said. "According to witnesses, your sons were outside his establishment, and their actions caused Gideon to come outside and confront your sons."
The answers only incensed Saul. "How dare you accuse my sons of such actions?! Of course, a predator such as yourself would be defending that pelt!" Saul directed his ire to William and Dorothy. "You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves for working under this wolf!"
The goat and the black rabbit didn't take too kindly to the buck's word.
William clenched his hoofs around the shotgun and resisted the urge to snarl. "How dare YOU disrespect the Chief?! When YOU are the one who refuses to discipline your sons!"
"And you want to talk about shame?!" Dorothy exclaimed. "I am ashamed that a mammal of your character is a rabbit!"
While showing no outward reaction, Lupus still felt proud of his colleagues. William and Dorothy were only defending themselves for working under him and were aware that the wolf could defend himself.
Their words sent Saul's rage levels through the roof. The brown rabbit growled and took a step forward.
Click!
Click!
Click!
The mammals outside the police station gasped. Saul halted when seeing Lupus, William, and even Dorothy pointing their weapons at him.
Saul's nose began to twitch. "You dare aim your weapons at me?!" The anger was still present, but hints of fear began to surface.
"How do we know you're alone?" William demanded.
The question was enough to make Saul pause. "W-what?"
Lupus continued. "Did you come alone, or are your family and acquaintances here also? Because if you came alone, we would be wrong for threatening you. But if you came with a group, we would be justified in our actions to protect ourselves." The wolf then looked at the mammals behind the rabbit. "We're going to assume that you offered something to those who helped break down the doors."
Said mammals tried to hide themselves among the others.
"So which is it, Saul?" Dorothy proposed.
The standoff between the four mammals continued in silence. Saul remained defiant as ever in the face of possible death. The police mammals were of the same mindset: defiant in the face of possibly losing their freedom and livelihood. The spectators watched with bated breath and promptly moved out of the way to avoid getting caught in the firing.
The standoff continued for what felt like an eternity until finally, in a rare moment of reason, Saul took one step back.
"Mark my words," His tone was cold and deadly. "You may have absolved yourselves of the responsibility, but the consequences remain."
Saul turned around and exited the building, but Lupus, William, and Dorothy did not lower their weapons out of precaution. They watched as the father leave the premises. The spectators had not moved and were looking between the direction Saul had left in and the police station.
Lupus lowered his weapon and stepped outside. "Leave before I trespass all of you."
The mammals didn't need to be told again and scrambled. It took a few minutes as they tripped and fumbled during the retreat. Soon, the police station mammals were left alone. Lupus closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. William and Dorothy lowered their weapons and allowed themselves to relax. All three still held the trigger out of precaution.
Lupus walked back inside while William checked the damage to the front doors.
"How bad is it?" Lupus asked.
"Hinges are still good, but the locks need some work."
"It could have been worse. Grab some tools and do what you can to at least get them to close. We can barricade the doors when we go home for the night. I will join you later after I take care of a few things."
William nodded and began repairing the doors.
"Chief?"
Lupus turned his attention to Dorothy when he heard her. "Yes?"
"Pardon me for asking. Were you really going to shoot Saul? Or give us the order to?"
There was a moment of silence between the two. The longer it went, the more worried Dorothy became over the Chief's answer. "If I was to shoot, it was either a warning shot or to make him deaf. I would have hit Saul with the gun if he came too close. I know you and William would not put me in harm's way unless ordered."
Dorothy smiled and nodded. She knew Lupus was in the unenviable position of having to make such decisions. Before, the rabbit was aware of the many responsibilities as Police Chief. Now, she had a much more appreciation and a better understanding of why Lupus delegates tasks to her or William.
By this time, the goat returned with the tools, and he and Lupus began working on the doors.
At that moment, the landline rang, and out of habit, Dorothy answered. "BunnyBurrow Police Station, how may I help you?...Judy! Oh, I'm so happy to hear from you!"
Hearing her name caused Lupus and William to stop their work and listen in on the conversation, eager to know of the rabbit's status. Dorothy motioned the two to wait so she could focus on their friend.
"That's wonderful, Judy!...Yes, Saul did come to the station. We had a standoff, but no one got hurt. Except for the front doors…Don't be sorry! We are all alive, and that's what matters…Unfortunately yes, Saul is on his way to your burrow right now…You're welcome, Judy. Hope to hear from you soon."
Dorothy let out a big sigh as she placed the headset back on the phone. The black rabbit looked up and saw the anticipation on Lupus and William's faces.
"If you haven't already figured it out, Judy made it home safely to where she can call us."
Lupus smiled and nodded. "We assumed she was calling from elsewhere, so it's good to know."
"Has she spoken with her family yet?" William asked.
"About to. Her brothers and parents are finding a good place to talk."
Lupus leaned against the desk. "It's in her paws now. If Judy can get her parents' support, the rest of the family will follow, including those who oppose. Help William out with the doors. I'm going to go check on the prisoners."
"Yes, Chief."
The wolf proceeded to the cells to speak with only two mammals residing there. After Arlen was released, Lupus moved Travis and Canis closer to each other so he could address them both if needed. Such as this occasion.
Upon seeing the wolf, Travis wasted no time asking. "What was that all about, Chief? It sounded like someone wanted to shoot up the place."
"No need to be concerned. Just an angry citizen demanding answers from one of our own."
"It's about Judy, right?" Canis speculated. "I could hear the yells from here."
Lupus sighed in resignation. The wolf was a fool for thinking he could keep the incident quiet. "That's unfortunate. Regardless, I wanted to speak with you and Canis about something."
Travis raised an eyebrow. "You're not pulling my tail, are you?"
"No, I'm serious."
Canis approached the bars with interest. "Well then, let's hear it."
Once at a safe distance, Nestor parked the truck off the side of the road. The siblings wanted a moment to rest and plan the next moves. Nestor had left the driver seat to join his brother and sister on the truck bed. No one spoke as they were recovering from one problem and thinking about the next one.
"We can telephone the station once we arrive at the burrows," Felix assured. "Let them know that you are safe."
Judy nodded. "Yes, that would be a good idea." She then smiled at her brothers. "Thank you. Both of you. I'm certain Lupus would send home at some point, but this would never have happened without your help."
Nestor and Felix hugged her.
"You're our sister." The black rabbit said. "We would do anything for you just as you would do the same."
"I agree," Felix concurred. "We know you need our support more than ever right now. Yes, you like to be independent, but don't forget about us."
Judy giggled. "I'll try to remember."
The three reluctantly broke from the embrace.
"So," Felix said. "How do we go about telling the family?"
"Simple." Nestor said. "Judy explains the situation, and we try to convince them to protect her."
Felix gave Nestor a raised eyebrow. "Sure, let's waltz in and expect them to throw their support."
"You know what I mean! By now, word has likely reached the burrow, so it's futile to beat around the bush."
"Doesn't mean they should overwhelm Judy. We might have a repeat incident. But Mother and Father need to know first before everyone else."
"You have a point there." Nestor conceded.
"Brothers, please," Judy interjected. "I know what to say to our parents. As Felix mentioned, keep the other family members away while I talk to them." She sighed heavily. "I brought this on myself, so I must face the consequences."
Nestor and Felix looked at each other with concern before facing Judy again.
"Very well," Nestor agreed. "When we get there, let us bring Mother and Father to you. It will help keep the kerfluffle away when they see you."
"Good idea," Judy said.
"That settles it," Felix remarked. "Let's not wait any longer. Saul will have already gone to the station, and the Chief will have pointed him in our direction."
The realization quickly came over the other two, and Nestor scrambled into the driver's seat. He fumbled with the keys before finally starting the engine. They hurried to their home, knowing that time was not on their side. Upon arriving at the Hopps burrow, Nestor parked the car near the barn. He and Felix jumped out of the bed while Judy remained sitting in the bed.
"Stay here until we return," Nestor said.
"And try not to attract too much attention to yourself," Felix said.
"I promise. I'll lie down to hide myself."
The brothers nodded and proceeded to the burrow while Judy did as she said. The doe placed her paws behind her head and stared into the sky.
Judy used the opportunity to calm down and review the upcoming conversation with her parents. The rabbit hoped that Saul wouldn't arrive to interrupt, but even she knew it was unlikely despite her optimism. Should that happen before or after, Judy planned to hide in her room and have the conversation at another time. But if he arrived during it, she would have to trust her parents and family to keep him away.
Lupus did have a point about families dealing with their own. Her only concern is whether Saul would respect that or try to carry out the punishment himself.
While lying down, Judy could hear in the distance the many Hopps kits playing in the fields. She closed her eyes, wishing she could join them. But then that would lead the older ones to ask about the incident, and she would rather avoid reliving the painful experience. Only her parents would know, and that's it.
The rabbit shook her head and took deep breaths, pushing away the worrying thoughts. Judy was determined to enjoy the moment of respite before everything came crashing down on her.
Judy started to think about Nick to distract her. If his High Command behaved like hers, there would be no reason for them not to send Nick home, seeing his view of prey changed over the truce. Knowing his species, Judy suspected the leaders to be more than happy to get rid of him. She giggled at the one time the prejudice against his species became helpful.
Judy's ears perked when she heard footsteps approaching. Thinking it could be a family member, the rabbit remained lying down and still until the rabbits passed by. That was until two familiar faces peered into the bed of the truck.
"Mother! Father!"
Judy sat up and promptly jumped into the open arms of her parents. Bonnie and Stu eagerly embraced their daughter, hugging her tight. Judy opened her eyes and caught Nestor and Felix standing and smiling behind the parents. Despite how their last conversation went, Judy was grateful for her parents' love and care.
"Your brothers told us what happened earlier today," Bonnie said.
"Word reached the burrows, but we didn't want to believe it at first," Stu said.
Judy reluctantly broke from the hug to speak. "I know. You will hear my side of the story." But then, a more pressing matter came to mind. "What about Saul? He will come here once Chief Lupus tells him where I am."
Stu instantly went into protective mode. "You let us speak with him."
"Your father is correct," Bonnie concurred. "You are our daughter, so you are our responsibility."
Judy hugged them again. "Thank you. May we go inside now? And may I use the telephone before we talk?"
"Yes," Stu agreed. "We can do both."
Bonnie and Stu led the way while Nestor and Felix remained a few steps behind to protect Judy. A few younger kits did manage to get close, but a quick hug and a kiss from Judy were enough to satisfy them. Once inside, the parents led Judy to the phone so she could make her call and stood a few steps away with her brothers.
She dialed the location and waited a few seconds before the mammal on the other end responded.
"BunnyBurrow Police Station, how may I help you?"
It felt good to hear the black rabbit's voice again. "It's me, Dorothy."
"Judy! Oh, I'm so happy to hear from you!"
"I'm happy to hear from you too! I'm calling to let you know that I'm home now."
"That's wonderful, Judy!"
Pushing the introductions aside for now, Judy asked the worrying question. "Did Saul come to the police station?"
There was a moment of silence before Dorothy answered with trepidation. "Yes, Saul did come to the station. We had a little standoff, but no one got hurt. Except for the front doors."
Judy gasped and became horrified. Even though no one got hurt, she still felt terrible at the outcome. "I'm sorry! I should have never left you!"
"Don't be sorry! We are alive, and that's what matters."
Judy managed to reign in her emotions and ask the next important question. There would be time to help the police station later. "Is Saul on his way here?"
"Yes, Saul is currently on his way to your burrow."
Judy resisted the urge to curse. That would mean Saul could arrive in the middle of the conversation. No matter. The situation was left to fate now. "Thank you for telling me, Dorothy. Tell Lupus and William that I'm alright and I miss them."
"You're welcome, Judy. We hope to hear from you soon."
Judy placed the headset back down and let out a deep sigh. At least she could take solace in that the police station was temporarily safe from Saul's wrath. The rabbit turned around and faced her parents and littermates.
"We can have our talk now."
In the privacy of the parents' bedroom, Judy gave her account of the incident at Gideon's bakery. While leaving some details out, her testimony was similar to that given to Lupus. Nestor and Felix stood guard outside with a surprise presence from Cotton. The kit felt it was her duty to protect her parents and Judy as the brothers did. Nestor and Felix figured that having Cotton present could help with the more active kits. So far, the three only had to deal with wandering kits and older rabbits pursuing them.
While Judy didn't suffer as before at the police station, the memories still brought her pain. To her surprise, it felt cathartic. If only she could tell them everything. The one truth she did speak was how the cries of a mammal brought her back into the trenches. How the memories caused Judy to confuse the Lagos brothers as predators, causing her to attack them so viciously. The thought of having to cover for the brothers made her feel ill.
Bonnie and Stu sat and listened to their daughter. They knew how vulnerable Judy was at that moment and waited until she finished for them to speak. But the more the parents heard, the more they became at a loss for words. Bonnie and Stu were aware that Judy would have trouble adjusting, but they never knew the extent of the struggles. Caught up with the explanation, Judy did not see her parents' emotional distress.
The room became silent after Judy finished speaking. She did not make eye contact by keeping her face low. The rabbit had no expectations of their response and would not protest whatever punishment they deemed fit. The bedroom remained quiet, and none of the rabbits moved. But Judy suddenly felt an embrace and looked up in surprise to see her parents hugging and crying.
"We're so sorry, sweetie," Bonnie said.
The surprise feeling soon waned, but Judy still had questions. "W-what for?"
Stu sniffled. "We should have done more for you, Jude."
Judy felt Bonnie nod. "We thought that giving you the time and space would help. We were worried that trying to talk to you would only make things worse."
Judy immediately understood that her parents were taking full blame for her actions. No. She would not be blameless for this. The daughter returned the hug and put a stop to their guilt.
"No, you were only respecting my wishes. Giving me the time and space helped me so much. I wouldn't be able to speak of this had I been pestered constantly. I am also at fault. I should have told you about my attacks."
"But we still understand why you kept quiet," Stu said.
"Perhaps I can try to be more open with you. You're my parents, so you deserve to know."
Bonnie smiled at her words. "That sounds good."
The rabbits remained embraced, happy for the big step forward. For Bonnie and Stu, they suspected that this war was unlike what other family members experienced. But they saw no reason why Judy couldn't heal as they did. To Judy, it was a reminder that, while her parents may not always agree or understand her decisions, they still loved and supported her. They want to see her happy and successful.
While Judy wanted the moment to continue, a looming forgotten threat resurfaced with fury. Judy reluctantly broke from the hug. When seeing the look on her face, Bonnie and Stu wondered why the sudden change again.
"Saul will be here soon. He'll want my head for what I did to his sons."
Hearing that Saul will be coming to their home for Judy caused a change in Bonnie and Stu.
Bonnie became determined. "We'll make sure that doesn't happen. I don't care who he is or how much money he has, Saul will not lay a finger on you."
Stu nodded. "Truth be told. You did what many mammals here in Bunnyburrow have wanted to do to his kits."
Bonnie snapped her head to glare at her husband. "Stewart!"
Stu put his paws up in surrender. "Sorry. I thought I would try to raise our spirits."
Judy did giggle from the remark. "We can talk more about how you can help me later. Let's focus on the demon heading our way."
"Right." Stu got up from the bed. "You stay with your mother. I will gather the boys."
Bonnie became concerned with her husband's intention. "Stu. What are you planning to do?"
The buck stopped at the doorway and turned to face his wife and daughter. "Saul may own this town, but he doesn't own this family."
Stu opened the door and saw Nestor, Felix, and Cotton. His eyes fell on Judy's older brothers.
"Nestor. Felix. Follow me. I'll explain on the way."
"Yes. Father." They said and left with Stu.
Bonnie and Judy exited the room and saw Cotton watching the bucks disappear into the hall.
The niece looked up at Judy with a questioning look. "Aunt Judy, where are they going?"
Judy picked up and held Cotton. "Something important. Do you want to help Aunty Judy and Bonnie with something?"
Cotton became excited and vigorously nodded her head. "Yes!"
"Sounds like you two have it under control. I'm going to find myself some help."
Judy nodded, and together, the three rabbits returned to the living room, where they could see Stu gathering the boys. Judy could have sworn that her father was a commanding officer from the tone of his voice. What started as a small group consisting of Stu, Nestor, and Felix blossomed into a fluffle. It turns out that word of Saul's arrival led to no shortage of participants. Judy never knew how many of the Hopps family held a grudge against the buck.
Meanwhile, Bonnie rushed everyone else to safety from the looming confrontation. She enlisted Violet and a few others to help inside while Bonnie, Judy, and Cotton went to round up those outside. Meanwhile, Stu led the fluffle to the barn and began passing out the rifles and shotguns before assigning the bucks to various positions around the front entrance.
Soon, the Hopps fields became devoid of mammal life. Anyone not part of Stu's posse was inside the burrow and kept away from the windows. With everyone in place, the Hopps family could only wait. They hoped it would only be the father but expected a posse to escort, protect, and enforce his will.
On the porch were Stu, Nestor, Felix, and Otto. The elderly rabbit insisted on joining because of his own history with the Lagos family. None of them said a word as they silently watched the path, expecting a vehicle to arrive any moment. That time came when dust clouds appeared on the horizon and then a couple of vehicles were spotted on the driveway.
"Father!" Nestor pointed out to the trail of dust in the distance.
Stu took a few steps forward and squinted his eyes to get a better look. Indeed, he could identify the lead vehicle belonging to Saul.
Stu clutched the rifle to his chest. "Get ready, boys. Let me do the talking."
Otto waved the revolver in the air. "Just say the word, and I'll shoot!"
Felix quickly lowered his grandpa's arm. "Father will let you know, Grandpa. Be patient."
The front porch became silent as the vehicles made their final approach. They soon stopped a short distance from the home, and the doors opened. Out stepped Saul first, followed by the mammals he recruited and armed for the visit. The posse consisted of rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses.
Flanked by two rabbits and surprisingly unarmed, Saul approached the front porch where Stu stood at the top step. The patriarchs of the family said nothing as they stared at each other.
"Mr. Hopps." Saul finally said.
"Mr. Lagos," Stu said.
…
"Do you know why I am here?"
"Yes."
"Then you know what I want."
"And the answer is no."
Saul was somewhat surprised at the refusal. From his history with the buck, Stu rarely put up resistance to his requests and, to a lesser extent, threats. Perhaps since the matter is related to a family member, Stu would be more defensive than usual, which Saul admitted he should have known. The Lagos patriarch decided to give the Hopps patriarch another chance.
"I'll ask again. Bring me your daughter, Judy Hopps. She needs to answer for her actions."
"And I'll say it again. No. She is my daughter. I will handle it my way."
Saul took a few steps forward with his paws behind his back. "I don't think you understand the serious crime your daughter has inflicted on my family."
"I am well aware."
He made a circling motion with his finger. "So how does this bring justice to my family? Justice to my sons for nearly being beaten to death?"
But the words appeared to have no effect on Stu. "We can work out an arrangement, but giving my daughter to you is completely off the table."
Now Saul was losing patience. "Your mistake is thinking you have a choice." He raised a finger, and the posse aimed their weapons at Stu, Otto, and Judy's brothers on the front porch. "I didn't want to do this, but you are forcing my paw. This is your last chance."
Whatever reaction Saul expected to get from Stu, the one he got was the complete opposite.
"Your mistake? Thinking this is the town," Stu cocked the rifle and aimed straight at Saul's face. "This is my home!"
At that moment, bunnies appeared from their spots with their weapons aimed at Saul and his posse. From the grass. From the roof. Even from his chair, Otto managed to aim his revolver at the buck. The posse quickly shifted their focus to the nearest threat. Even if their weapons were more powerful, the group was outnumbered and outgunned.
"We have 365 rabbits in the family, and roughly half are pointing at you right now. I don't want to do this either, but you are also forcing my paw."
The standoff continued for what seemed an eternity. Saul and Stu never took their eyes off of each other. The other Hopps members kept their weapons on the posse while avoiding Saul. They dared them to give them a reason to shoot. The mammals with Saul began to show signs of nervousness. Regardless of who they shot first, there would be no time to respond to the flurry of gunfire that would end in their deaths.
Finally, Saul pointed a finger at Stu. "This isn't over. Your daughter will pay for what she did."
Stu scoffed. "We'll be waiting."
Saul motioned for the posse to leave, and the mammals carefully retreated to the vehicles. Even after they lowered their weapons and started to leave, the Hopps family remained alert for anything. The family silently watched them drive away from the burrow. Finally, the dust cloud disappeared from their view, and the rabbits slowly lowered their weapons and relaxed.
Immediately, Stu started to shake. In truth, the buck nearly wilted under the eyes of the wealthy rabbit. But Judy being in danger overpowered his fear. Sure, he may have made things worse for himself, but as Judy once told him, times are changing. And perhaps it was time for him to make a change. He just hoped this feeling would continue in the next interaction with Saul.
Stu's knees buckled, and the only thing keeping him from collapsing to the floor was him using the rifle to stand up. "That was too close."
Nestor and Felix immediately helped their father while the rest of the rabbits gathered around the front porch. Bonnie and Judy came outside once hearing Saul leave.
"You did amazing, Father!" Judy exclaimed.
"I'm so proud of you!" Bonnie concurred.
"T-thank you." Stu looked at the large group of rabbits gathered before him. "We're safe for now, but that doesn't mean it's over. I want ten of you to remain on watch. I will return later with the next plan."
"Yes, Father."
The group talked amongst themselves to select the ten to guard before dispersing.
Stu gave his rifle to Felix. "Put it somewhere close by in case I need it. Please."
"Yes, Father."
Nestor and Felix left while helping Otto back inside the home. Only Stu, Bonnie, and Judy remained on the porch, and the three decided it was a good time to discuss the next steps.
Judy wasted no time getting to the difficult part. "You'll know he'll return."
"We know, Honey," Bonnie said. "We only need to keep you hidden until the situation changes in our favor."
"How are we going to do that? I can't stay inside forever."
Stu's fatherly instincts took over. "Not if I say anything about it!"
"Stewart…"
He quickly wilted under his wife's glare. "Sorry. You're right. Since threats failed, Saul will resort to talking or using his wealth. We should expect him to send a telegram or sort. So until that day arrives, you must stay indoors or be accompanied at all times if you must go outside. I suspect Saul will try something to get you in his clutches."
Judy nodded. "I would disagree, but this time it's for the best. I doubt I can show my face in town after today. That reminds me. I need to tell Chief Lupus that I'm safe and ask about my job."
Bonnie smiled. "You do that, Honey. But I want you to eat and rest later. I'm surprised you haven't collapsed from exhaustion."
Judy gave a small laugh. "That's one thing the military taught me. How to be alert with only a few hours of sleep and rations."
Stu places his paws on the hips. "Well, you're home now. So I insist you get food in your belly and plenty of sleep, young lady."
Their daughter could only smile. "I will, Father. Let me make the phone call first."
Her parents nodded, and Judy went back inside the burrow. Everyone else either tended to their business or asked the bucks outside about the confrontation. Judy soon reached the telephone and dialed the police station. It rang for a few seconds before someone on the other side answered.
"You've reached the Bunnyburrow Police Department. How can I be of assistance?"
Hearing Dorothy's voice made her happy and sad at the same time. "Dorothy. It's me. Judy."
"Judy! Oh my word! Is everything alright over there!? Did Saul hurt you!?"
"He never made it to the front porch. My father and brothers stopped him and his posse."
She heard Dorothy's sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness! All of us at the station here are worried for you."
"Speaking of the others…"
"Right. Please give me a minute."
"Go ahead."
Judy waited as Dorothy went to grab Lupus and William. No doubt they were worried just as the black rabbit was.
A heavy voice soon came through the headset. "Judy! It's Lupus! Are you there?"
Hearing the wolf also brought a smile to her face. "Hi, Chief, I'm here, and I'm alright."
Another sigh of relief came through. "That's good. William's here too."
"Hello, Judy!" The goat's voice sounded farther because he wasn't holding the headset. "It's good to hear that you and your family are safe."
"Will's right," Lupus said. "We were worried about getting calls of a shooting at a home. Not looking forward to coming out for that one."
Their words nearly caused her to cry. "Thank you. All of you. How are things over there?"
It was William who answered. "The front doors are barricaded. Mammals will have to knock, and then we'd have to move the stuff for them to enter. Someone is coming to fix the doors soon. The others and I will use the back exit in the meantime."
Judy still cringed from hearing about the damages. "Sorry to hear that, but at least the police station is safe."
"Silver lining," Lupus said.
Judy took a deep breath as she finally broached the reason for the call. "Chief. About my job."
"You can't come to the police station until this blows over? I understand."
"But I still feel terrible. You finally have the help you need, and then this happens."
"Judy. This is a difficult time for all of us, and I've been through this before. Yours is the exception since you neither left on your own accord nor I had to relieve you of your duties. Don't consider your job lost. Consider this a break after working nonstop since the beginning. You'll always have a place here, and we'll be waiting for you."
The words nearly brought her to tears again, but Judy kept her composure. "Thank you, Chief. I won't take up your time further."
It was Dorothy who answered next. "You can always write to us, Judy. We'd love to hear how you are doing. Take care now."
"Goodbye, Judy," William said.
"Goodbye, everyone."
Judy quietly placed the receiver down. The rabbit would be lying if she said losing her job as a police officer didn't hurt. Getting discharged from the military hurt, but that goal was an alternative to being a police officer. The only saving grace was that it was for Bunnyburrow and not Zootopia. The rabbit didn't want to consider the idea of not achieving her main dream.
Her stomach growling shook the rabbit from her thoughts. Now that Judy considered it, she had not eaten since breakfast. Her mother's awe was not unfounded. With that, the rabbit went to the kitchen, where she found her mother cooking. Upon her entrance, Bonnie turned around and smiled to see her daughter. Neither spoke as Judy sat at a small table and watched Bonnie bring over a bowl and a cup.
"Thank you."
"Enjoy."
Judy looked down to see that her mother brought a bowl of vegetable stew and a cup of grape juice. When taking the first bite, the ingredients did wonders, and her mind was in a haze as she heartily ate. The juice complimented the stew as well. Before long, the bowl and the cup were empty, and Judy sat back in her chair, feeling content.
Bonnie smiled as she came over to clean up. "Do you want more?"
Judy shook her head. "No, thank you. I think I'll go to bed now."
Her mother nodded and kissed her on the head. "Rest well, sweetie."
"Thank you, Mother."
Judy got up from the table and mindlessly headed to her room, smiling and acknowledging any family member encountered along the way. Upon arrival, the rabbit wasted no time entering her room and locking the door. Judy checked that no one would accidentally come in before leaning against the door.
What a day…
Needing comfort but not wanting any interaction, Judy went to her wardrobe. She opened the doors and was greeted by the fox plush sitting on her uniform with the hat over its face. Judy giggled at the sight before removing the hat and picking up the plush. She then reached under her uniform and pulled out her journal. With the items in possession, Judy closed the wardrobe and sat at the table by the bed.
The rabbit retrieved a pencil from the table, opened to the most recent page in the journal, and began writing.
June XX 1915,
I was hoping it wouldn't happen so soon. If Nick were here, he would enjoy calling me a dumb bunny to no end. And he would be right. I lost control of myself today, and almost everyone in Bunnyburrow has either seen or heard of my actions. I had expected this to happen, but not this soon. Not when I didn't have better control. Now, all I can do is wait and see the consequences. With any luck, the true reason will remain a secret for a little longer.
A part of me wants to remain positive. That somehow I would come out of this unscathed. But even I have to admit it being naïve. I will do everything I can to spare my family from the consequences of my actions. They do not deserve to suffer as I have. I only wish I could have been more open with them. Perhaps my biggest mistake so far is trying to be too much like Nick. He would have reminded me of that. Straying too far from the bunny he knows and loves.
It was all Judy could write before her mind expended the remaining energy. When she finished, Judy closed the journal and stared at the fox plush before her. Her pain led to the rabbit imagining the fox speaking in Nick's voice.
At least you didn't let them get to you.
Do I know that? Yes. Yes, I do.
Finally, drowsiness started to take over as her eyes became droopy. Judy collected the plush and tucked herself in bed. The rabbit held the plush close as she closed her eyes and relaxed. Just before falling asleep, one last sentence escaped from the heart.
I miss you.
After the confrontation with Saul, the Hopps family knew he would not cease his pursuit of justice for his sons. They knew of the family's wealth and influence and prepared for the worst-case scenarios. As a result, all able-bodied bucks were given sentry duty around the clock and in shifts, and no one traveled alone when venturing beyond the burrow.
After Judy got some well-deserved rest, she met with her parents and a few siblings the next day to discuss an arrangement. The goal is to protect Judy until the Hopps and Lagos families could agree on a resolution. While initially reluctant at being limited, Judy acquiesced after considering the factors against her.
One. Her family was involved now as a result of their intervention. This meant Saul could harass any member, hoping to convince them to hand Judy over. She had to protect them.
Two. She hated to admit it, but the rabbit started to become weary of having to fight alone. Judy must conserve her strength in keeping her secret, even if it meant relinquishing some independence.
The discussions lasted nearly the entire afternoon before all parties agreed to a resolution. Judy would not be allowed to leave beyond the burrow unless accompanied, but she would have freedom within their home. Judy could also participate on the patrols with the idea of her presence drawing out intruders. It helped that she construed it as being stuck in a trench on the frontline, waiting for the order to proceed into No Mammal's Land.
Two weeks later,
With a heavy heart, William rode the police vehicle to the Hopps burrow. He, Lupus, and Dorothy always knew this day would come, but the anticipation didn't alleviate the pain. The goat volunteered for the task upon receiving the information. The wolf acquiesced after a moment of deliberation. The only positive? The task was not the worst he had to carry out…yet.
William stopped the vehicle at the front entrance. When the goat stepped out, he finally noticed two rabbits standing on the porch. One black carrying a rifle and one white carrying a shotgun. There was also a third elderly rabbit sleeping in a chair. William made his approach before stopping at the bottom of the steps. The three mammals looked at each other in silence.
"Hello, Nestor. Hello Felix," William finally said. "Not with Judy?"
"Hello, William," Nestor said. "Judy's elsewhere, but rest assured. She is not alone."
"I-" Felix said anxiously. "I assume you're here for her."
A small smile appeared on William's face as he reached into his uniform. "Yes, but not for what you are thinking." He brought out an envelope and offered it to the brothers. "Better to see it with your parents and Judy."
Nestor nodded. "We understand."
Felix approached William and accepted the envelope. "Thank you. Is there anything else?"
The goat shook his head. "That will be all. Hopefully, the next time I or the Chief come, it will be to deliver good news."
"As do we," Felix concurred. "Have a wonderful day now.'
William tipped his hat and returned to the vehicle. Nestor and Felix watched the police vehicle disappear in a cloud of dust from their burrow. Felix returned to the porch, and he and Nestor looked at the envelope in the former's paw.
"Do you want me to give it to Mother and Father?" Nestor asked.
Felix shook his head. "I'll do it. Can you be on watch by yourself?"
His brother pointed to a sleeping Otto in the chair. "I'm not alone, remember?"
The elderly rabbit let out a loud snore.
The white rabbit chuckled. "I see. Very well."
He set the shotgun down and pointed away before entering the burrow. Felix found his mother sitting on a sofa with other older rabbits, including Judy.
"Mother. Judy."
The two rabbits turned their heads when hearing their names and saw Felix approaching.
"Felix!" Judy said.
Knowing it was his and Nestor's turn to be on watch, Judy and Bonnie knew it must be important if Felix had to leave his post.
"Can we speak alone, and where is Father?"
Bonnie stood up. "I'll get him. You two go to the meeting room."
Felix and Judy nodded and headed there while Bonnie went to find Stu. The siblings arrived and began the wait for the parents. But that didn't stop Judy from trying to get information, having noticed the envelope in Felix's paw.
"What's in there?"
"From the town. William came by to deliver it."
Healing that a police officer was the delivery mammal raised concerns.
"Oh…"
"Nestor and I felt the same. I'll explain more when Mother and Father arrive."
Judy nodded and stood with her paws in front and crossed. The siblings didn't have to wait much longer before their parents arrived.
"Felix," Stu said. "What's going on?" His eyes fell on the envelope. "What do you have there?"
"The police came by to deliver this. I saw the address and saw it was from the council."
Hearing of the sender caused Judy and their parents to become nervous.
"Did you open it yet?" Bonnie asked.
Felix shook his head. "I wanted to open it in front of you."
"Go ahead, son," Stu said. "Don't keep us waiting."
The white rabbit carefully tore open the envelope and reached inside. Felix felt only one document and pulled it out. Felix set the envelope and the document on the table so everyone could read it. The title immediately stood out.
Summons - Court of Common Pleas
Commonwealth of Bunnyburrow
You are hereby commanded to summon Judith Laverne Hopps to appear in the Court of Common Pleas before the Judge thereof to be held at the Court House in Bunnyburrow on the 29th of June, 1915, to answer the complaint of Saul Lagos in a bench trial.
The four rabbits skimmed over the rest of the document but understood what had occurred.
Stu slammed a fist on the table, nearly causing the flower vase to fall over. "That no good snobby rich-"
"Calm down, Father," Judy said, putting her paws up. "We knew this would happen."
Bonnie placed her paws on her husband's shoulders. "She's right, Stu. It could have been much worse."
Stu closed his eyes and took deep breaths as his body relaxed. "You're right. He could have led all of Bunnyburrow against us. But our stand must have made him reconsider. I'm sure we're not the only family against him."
"Do we need a lawyer?" Felix asked. "I'm worried that we may have no support for this."
"Excuse me."
The four rabbits turned in the direction of the voice and saw Violet standing in the entryway.
"Something wrong, Violet?" Bonnie asked.
"Everything is good. I happen to overhear that Saul is taking us to court?"
"Yes, we were about to discuss the preparations," Stu said. "Starting with getting a lawyer."
Violet brought out a paw. "May I see the document?"
Judy gave her the court order, and the spectacled rabbit began reading.
A few moments later, Violet looked back up at the others. "Good news. This is a bench trial, meaning no jury and only the Judge."
"How do you know?" Judy asked.
"I may have had aspirations of going into law."
Stu pointed at the spectacled rabbit. "If we come out of this alive. I will give you the freedom to pursue that."
"Oh, thank you." Violet then brought the conversation back to the document. "Now, I advise that we begin tomorrow. Give time for the family to hear the news."
"You're in charge, Violet," Bonnie said. "You do what you think is best."
June 29, Bunnyburrow Courthouse
Stu, Bonnie, Judy, Violet, and a few other family members approached the front entrance to the courthouse. Judy insisted on joining despite their protests. She reasoned that without her, the judge could not hear from her directly and would not be favorable to them. He might see her parents' protection as suspicious, and her absence would provide more merit for Saul's case. The reasons were more than enough to convince Bonnie and Stu.
The judge overseeing the matter was Christopher Varia, a white rabbit with broken black patterns. Him presiding the case brought small comfort to the Hopps. The Varia family had come from a long line of judges who existed before Saul incurred his massive wealth. Thus, the Varia name held more prestige than that of the Lagos. But the Hopps fluffle remained cautious over the meeting being neutral.
Seeing the Lagos vehicle outside the building signaled that they were already waiting inside.
"Are you ready, Stu?" Bonnie asked.
The husband nervously nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be. I hate this, but we have no choice."
"Remember," Violet said. "The goal is not to let Judy fall into their crummy paws. Anything else we can live with."
"And unless Judge Varia addresses me," Judy said. "You will have to speak on my behalf."
The rest of the rabbits nodded in agreement.
Stu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes. Let's go inside now."
Once inside, the group silently navigated through the halls until arriving at the designated courtroom. The layout consisted of tables for the parties and chairs in the back for the audience. The judge's place consisted of a stand overlooking the room with a chair to one side and a table and chair on the other.
There, the Hopps found members of the Lagos congregating on one side of the courtroom seats. Both families made eye contact upon the Hopps' entrance. The Lagos silently glared while the Hopps quietly took their seats on the other side of the room. They calmly looked ahead while the Lagos continued to stare them down.
It was not lost on the Hopps that Frank, Patrick, and Zachary were noticeably absent. Still, they were surprised at the seriousness of the injuries for the brothers to still be bedridden.
Amid the silence, the doors at the front of the courtroom suddenly opened, and all eyes turned in that direction. Out stepped a boar in a bailiff's uniform.
"All rise."
Both families stood and watched the Bailiff take position before Judge Varia entered the room with documents in possession. His mere precedence radiated an aura that commanded respect from both families. Underneath the robe, he appeared to wear a brown suit and red tie. The checkered rabbit took his seat, followed by the families.
"Thank you all for coming and for being punctual." The Judge said before overlooking the audience. "Before we begin, we must follow the proceedings."
There were no objections from the families.
"The matter before the court is a dispute between the families here. It is my hope for a peaceful and fast resolution. Let's begin." He banged his gavel and arranged the documents before him.
"Yes, Your Honor," Saul said before beginning his case. "As you are aware, my sons have been severely injured by Judy Hopps. And while it pains me to admit, they were the instigators that led to Miss Hopps intervening. But I do take issue with the extreme prejudice she took to bring about peace. There was no need to be violent towards my sons. Thus, I am requesting some measure of justice, even just a small role."
"Thank you, Saul." Varia turned to the Hopps side. "Miss Hopps, since you are the mammal at the center of this matter. I will allow you to speak. Please step forward to the stand."
"Yes, your Honor."
Judy approached the stand and took her seat.
"Bailiff."
The boar retrieved a Bible from Varia and then stood before Judy. The bailiff used his right hoof to bring forward the Bible and raised his left hoof.
"Please place your paw on the Bible and raise your right paw."
Judy complied.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God?"
"I do."
The bailiff returned the Bible to Varia and resumed his position.
"Thank you, Bailiff." Varia finally addressed the reason for the trial. "Miss Hopps, can you recall why you reacted with extreme prejudice towards Saul's sons?"
"I…I cannot, Your Honor. The last thing I remember was arriving at the scene…and I cannot recall anything until I woke up in the Bunnyburrow Police Department." Despite the preparations, Judy could not recall what occurred between seeing the Lagos brothers surrounding Gideon and waking up on the floor of the police department.
Varia nodded. "I see. But I sense there is something else?"
Judy fidgeted her fingers. "Yes, your honor. I'm…not sure how relevant this is, but I fought in the Great War."
Saul quickly stood to his feet. "That has nothing to do with this matter!"
Varia slammed the gavel and pointed at the brown buck. "Control yourself, Mr. Lagos."
Saul took a deep breath before slowly sitting back down. "Sorry, your Honor."
Varia then turned back to Hopps. "Outburst aside. I am inclined to agree with Mr. Lagos. With all due respect to your actions, what does your role in the Great War have to do with all this?"
"It is the reason why I acted so violently."
The reason intrigued the checkered rabbit. "Proceed."
Judy bowed. "Thank you. I struggle with the memories of the fighting ever since returning home. I was afraid of being shamed for speaking about my troubles and sought to remedy it myself. These memories can return through various means. A car making that loud noise…or a mammal crying for help. The last thing I heard before confronting Saul's sons was a cry for help from the victim, Gideon Grey." Judy paused to calm down and suppress the oncoming painful memories and emotions. "Apologies, your Honor."
"Proceed."
Judy nodded. "But I realize now that I do have the help to conquer these memories and heal. I only wished I had sought help sooner."
The room became silent after Judy finished speaking and sat back down.
"That certainly adds to the context. I understand better why you responded the way you did." Varia said. "Thank you for being truthful, Miss Hopps. You may return to your seat."
"You're welcome. Your honor."
The courtroom was silent as Judy returned to her side. Once she was seated, Varia turned to Saul.
"Mr. Lagos, please step forward."
The brown buck complied, and the Bailiff swore him in for his testimony.
"What I want to know now is," Varia began. "Why were your sons the instigators? And be truthful, or there will be consequences."
Saul coughed nervously as he stood. "Your honor. While I have been unable to ask them for their account due to obvious reasons, I have asked the witnesses. According to them, my sons were visiting Gideon's bakery when the incident occurred. They reacted…strongly to Gideon's words and decided to respond with violence. What the fox had said to them was unknown, but he had to come out and confront my sons."
While Judy wanted to call out the lies, in truth, Saul was correct. She did not witness the exchange between Gideon and the Lagos brothers that led to the confrontation. Begrudgingly, the rabbit bit her lip to keep silent on the matter. This was about her and not Gideon. There will be a time to bring justice for Gideon later.
"Did any of the witnesses see Gideon strike your sons?" Varia asked.
Saul was silent.
"Saul…"
"No, your honor. But the fox must have said something for my sons to respond that way."
"There will be time for that later. You may return to your seat."
"Yes, Your Honor." And the rabbit did so.
Varia sat in silence for a few moments and tapped his fingers. "Let me see if I have the full picture. Your sons went to Gideon's bakery for whatever reasons, and their actions, whatever they may have been, caused him to come outside. Your sons then acted with extreme provocation to a mammal's words. When Judy arrived, Gideon's cries for help brought back memories of the war. This led to Judy acting on her instincts to protect the mammal being attacked. Is this correct?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Judy said confidently.
"Yes…Your Honor." Saul said hesitantly.
The room became silent as Varia folded his paws together. Judy had hoped that the information she gave satisfied the Judge's questions. She had gotten better at construing it without revealing the true reason for her breakdown.
While her focus was on Varia, she could detect the noise coming from the Lagos side. It was clear that under penalty, Saul had to admit the truth. She knew that he knew that Varia was one of the few mammals in Bunnyburrow who could not be swayed so easily by promises of wealth. Regardless of the outcome, seeing the father taken down another peg was satisfying for Judy.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Varia sat up in his seat. "I shall issue my ruling then."
The Hopps and the Lagos family waited in anticipation to hear Judge Varia's ruling. Both sides hoped for outcomes in their favor.
Judy glanced in Saul's direction and could now see the small clues of the wealthy rabbit showing concern. While she didn't show it, it brought her joy that, for once, Saul got a reminder that Life dictated him and not the other way around.
Judy then glanced at her parents and saw their visible anxiety. Bonnie tried to calm Stu down while the latter looked to explode at any moment. She couldn't fault their behaviors. Judge Varia could drag them into the punishment with her because of association, and Judy didn't want them to suffer for her mistakes.
Varia finally turned to Saul's direction. "Mr. Lagos. While I do not fault your reaction to your sons being harmed, threatening the police station and the Hopps family leads me to believe that you will not act fairly towards Miss Hopps. Therefore, if you wish to contact the Hopps for any reason, you must obtain permission from the court."
Varia's words caused Saul to stand up and slam his paws on the table. "How is that justice for my-"
SLAM
The checkered rabbit slammed the gavel and pointed the object at the wealthy rabbit. "Do NOT interrupt me! Or I will rescind my previous ruling!"
Saul clutched his paws and slowly sat down. "Sorry, Your Honor."
Varia shifted his attention to the Hopps. "Since your actions were the results of old wounds being opened, the consequences will only be as a result of the extreme actions. You will not face any jail time or fines." Expecting Saul to object, Varia quickly put his paw up. "One word from you, and I will hold you in contempt."
Saul just looked down and grumbled.
"That being said. Because your actions have now attracted the attention of Bunnyburrow, the town feels compelled to get involved in finding a resolution."
The answer confused the Hopps, and Varia took it as a signal to continue the explanation.
"Having seen the predatory behavior from you, Miss Hopps, the town fears you may attack them should your memories surface again. Thus. For the safety of Bunnyburrow, I am ordering you to undergo treatment in the asylum. I will allow you three days to get your affairs in order before an escort arrives." Varia then directed his attention to both tables. "The Lagos and Hopps families will be involved in the process, but the town will carry out what it deems best. The matter of this court is adjourned. And I will only say this once. Take this feud outside."
SLAM
Were it not for the fact that threatening a judge was a crime, both families would have voiced their objections to the ruling. However, they remained silent and filed out of the courthouse. Once outside, the two patriarchs let loose their emotions.
"Don't think this is over!" Saul pointed his finger at Stu. "I will get justice for my sons!"
But Stu appeared to be undeterred. "But at least you won't get your dirty paws on my daughter. That I can live with."
"I may not have to get my paws dirty, but I have ways of getting what I want. You, on the other paw, can do nothing."
Stu scoffed and crossed his arms. "I guess you haven't noticed, but my daughter is not one to surrender. It may be out of my paws now, but Judy will see that your plan fails."
The rabbit in question said nothing, only nodding and staring Saul down.
Wishing to be rid of their presence, Saul turned around and returned to the vehicle with his family. The Hopps quietly watched as they rode away from the courthouse.
Once out of their sight, Stu quickly turned around and held up a paw. "Let's go home first. Then we can discuss it later."
The others wondered about the delay in celebration but quietly nodded and followed Stu to the family truck. The ride to the burrow was mostly silent. Small conversations were made about the family business in an effort to avoid discussing the trial. The truck finally arrived home, and every rabbit left except for Judy, Bonnie, and Stu.
Once the rest of the family was gone, Stu slammed his paws on the steering wheel. "I hate this! I HATE THIS! I thought Judge Varia was supposed to help us."
"He did, Father." Judy quickly intervened. "I never expected to avoid the consequences. I could only hope they would be light. He could have done anything to you and the rest of the family. Instead, I'm the only one suffering, and that's how it should be."
Despite her assurance, it did little to quench her father's anger. "But you'll be taken away! And we don't know for how long!"
Bonnie placed a comforting shoulder on her husband. "Then we make the most of my time left here before she leaves." She then turned to Judy. "I wish we could have done more to help. Maybe this could have been avoided."
Judy offered a comforting smile. "You were only doing what you thought was right from other family members. I am also responsible for it coming to this."
Her mother smiled for a moment before giving a look of determination. "Alright. We can't change Varia's ruling, so let's use these next three days wisely."
Having finally calmed down, Stu accepted his daughter's fate. "You're right." He turned his head to Judy. "We'll tell the rest of the family. You get everything in order."
Judy nodded. "I will."
With that, the three rabbits finally exited the truck and entered the burrow.
Judy was grateful that she had minimal interaction with the family while going to her room. The rabbit wanted to be alone and didn't want to be bothered. She finally arrived and was about to enter when a voice got her attention.
"Aunt Judy?"
Judy turned to find her favorite niece standing a few steps away.
"Cotton?"
The kit immediately approached her aunt, and Judy could now see the worried look on her face.
"I heard you were going away. Is that true?"
Judy bit her lip as she tried to find a way to break the news to Cotton without breaking her heart. She knelt, and Cotton jumped onto her knees.
"Yes." She decided to be truthful in that aspect.
The worried look became frantic. "But you just came back!"
"I know, Cotton. I know. But the mammals in charge of Bunnyburrow have asked me to go away with them."
Her answer only made things worse for Cotton as tears formed in her eyes, and the kit grabbed onto Judy, holding her tight. "No, I don't want you to go! Please don't leave!"
Cotton's cries nearly caused Judy to do the same, but the older rabbit held back just enough. Judy wrapped her arms around Cotton and began petting her, letting the kit cry.
When the crying became sniffles, Judy took the opportunity to speak. "I'm sorry, Cotton. I don't want to either, but the whole family will get in trouble with the town if I don't. I can't let you and everyone else get punished because of me."
Cotton finally managed to look up, and it hurt Judy seeing her niece's tear-stained face. "When will you be back?"
"When I get better." It was a half-truth, and it was better than lying to her. "But I want you to promise that you will be strong for Aunt Judy. When I come home again, I want to see how much you've grown up. Can you promise me that?"
Cotton sniffled and nodded. "I-I promise."
Judy kissed her on the head, which caused the kit to giggle. "Thank you. Aunt Judy needs to be alone now. She needs to get ready for when she leaves. Don't let others see you crying. Okay?"
The kit began wiping her tears and nose. "Okay."
Judy set Cotton down, and the kit slowly returned to where she came from. Once out of sight, Judy promptly entered her room and locked the door. She took a moment to release her emotions before calming down.
Stay strong, Judy. Stay strong.
The wardrobe was the first thing to appear in her vision. Her mind instantly went to the fox plush and journal stored inside. Judy strolled to the furniture and opened the doors where said contents greeted her. With Judy being absent, her secrets would be left unguarded. Even if she told her parents to keep the doors locked, she couldn't keep them completely out of her room. No. Judy had to move the plush and journal somewhere safe until she returned.
They must never find these.
The three days passed faster than any of the Hopps could hope for, but they managed to prepare for Judy's departure. Reasons for her leaving remained ambiguous, only that Judy was getting the help needed from the town for her scars from the war. Bonnie and Stu convinced the rest of the family not to raise the matter with Judy or face severe consequences. Judy also chose to spend as much time outside as possible, knowing she would be spending most of her time inside the asylum.
On the third day, Judy woke up early. Her parents shared the same mindset, and the three ate a quiet breakfast before walking onto the porch. The three agreed to save everyone the trouble of searching for and bringing Judy out of the burrow. The three rabbits were soon joined by Cotton, whom Judy gladly accepted. The niece quietly snuggled on her aunt's lap while everyone else watched from inside.
Out in the distance, the three older rabbits saw a vehicle approaching. As it got closer, they could see the markings of the Bunnyburrow Police Department on it. Realizing it was time, Judy got up from the chair and gave Cotton to her parents. They descended the steps and stopped just as the police vehicle did. When the door opened, Judy saw a solemn Lupus appear. The rabbits and the wolf silently approached each other until they stood a step apart.
A sad smile appeared on Lupus' face. "Hi, Judy."
The same appeared for Judy. "Hi, Chief."
"Are you ready?"
She nodded. "I am."
Judy turned to her parents and Cotton to give them one last hug. "Goodbye, Mama. Goodbye, Papa. Goodbye Cotton."
"Goodbye, Sweetie," Bonnie said.
"We love you," Stu said.
"I'll miss you," Cotton said.
Judy reluctantly broke away from the hug, and Lupus escorted her to the vehicle. Her parents and Cotton silently watched as the vehicle rode away from their home until only the dust trail remained. Before long, it too disappeared, and once again, their daughter was gone.
Judy watched as her family and her home grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared from view. Once that happened, the rabbit leaned to the side and stared at the scenery.
Lupus would occasionally glance at Judy while driving. When the wolf received the news, he was initially glad that his friend avoided prison, but at the same time, the stories he heard about the asylum made the wolf wonder if prison would have been better.
"You know," Lupus said, hoping to make a conversation. "I volunteered to be the one to take you to the asylum."
That certainly got Judy's attention. "You did."
Lupus nodded. "I thought you deserved to be in the company of friends one last time before going into a place full of strangers. Unfortunately, William and Dorothy had to stay behind at the station, but they send their regards.
The gesture brought a smile to her face. "Thank you. For everything."
"You're welcome."
The rest of the ride was silent but in better spirits. Soon, the vehicle arrived at their destination, and Judy took in the architecture.
They passed through a metal gate that displayed an engraving of the building's name: Bunnyburrow Asylum. A large clock tower overlooked the rest of the building. It was three stories high and expanded wide as far as her eyes could see. A few chimneys dotted the roofs and had smoke coming out. Judy could see the bars that covered all the windows, knowing it was there to prevent the mammals from escaping or killing themselves.
The vehicle finally came to a halt at the front entrance.
"Here we are," Lupus said.
Judy sighed as she and Lupus opened the doors and stepped out. The rabbit then joined the Police Chief and was escorted into the building.
Upon their entrance, the lobby appeared clean and well kept. The only mammals present were those who worked for the asylum, and none were predators. Knowing the ratio of predator and prey in Bunnyburrow, Judy wondered if the asylum staffed any predators to treat their species. She remained hopeful that they did because the rabbit could only imagine how much worse the asylum treated predators. Judy's thoughts were interrupted when Lupus stopped at a desk and greeted a white female rabbit.
"Hello."
"Welcome to the Bunnyburrow Asylum. How may I help you?"
The cheerful tone somewhat put Judy at ease.
Lupus pulled out a document and placed it in front of the rabbit. "This is a court order from Judge Christopher Varia for placing Judith Laverne Hopps under treatment."
The white rabbit brought the document closer and looked it over. The three mammals remained silent as the background noise permeated around them. Until…
AAAHHH!
Judy's head snapped in the direction of the noise. She then snapped to the front desk and was surprised to see both Lupus and the rabbit receptionist unfazed by the noise.
"Did you…"
"Yes, Judy," Lupus answered. "We heard it, and that's normal around here." Judy detected the resignation in his voice.
The white rabbit nodded in agreement, not taking her eyes off the court order.
Judy's anxiety returned full force, nose twitching and foot thumping.
If that was going to be a regular occurrence, getting a good night's sleep will be a rarity. Then again, that was also true while on the Western Front. Still, if the goal was to heal Judy from her war scars, putting the rabbit in a place that would bring back those memories would be the opposite of Judge Varia's intentions. But if the checkered rabbit had experience with mammals such as herself, then Judy could give him the benefit of the doubt.
Finally, the white rabbit looked up from the document and nodded. "Everything looks in order." The doe then dialed the telephone on the desk. "Hello, please have room 372 in the female ward prepared.." She returned the headset back on the phone. "Take her to room 372."
"Thank you," Lupus said. "Come along now, Judy."
The gray rabbit nodded and followed the wolf to the assigned room. When Lupus opened the door to the female's ward, Judy resisted the urge to react. While the lobby was clean and organized, the halls were the complete opposite.
A foul smell, a mixture of dirt and decay, reached her nose, and visible spots of uncleanliness dotted around the walls. Mammals occupied the hall as well. Some were in chairs who Judy assumed were the patients. She also assumed those standing to be the caretakers and physicians. Seeing the various conditions of the patients worried Judy.
One mammal was struggling against a caretaker and had to be restrained.
Another sat in a chair, cradling his head while the caretaker was gently tending to the mammal.
The rest were either sitting alone or led around by the staff.
"Judy!" The sound of Lupus' voice broke Judy from her haze.
The rabbit looked up to see a worried look on the wolf's face. "Yes, Chief?"
"Are you okay? You were shaking there."
Judy looked down and saw that, indeed, her arms were trembling. She quickly grabbed them, and the shaking slowed but was still present. She meekly looked back up at Lupus and gave a weak smile. "Yes, it's the memories. They're coming back."
Lupus gave a sympathetic nod. "Come on. Let's not keep the staff waiting."
Judy closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "You're right."
Lupus continued to lead Judy to her assigned room in the wad. None of the patients or staff paid heed to her or Lupus. The smell and sounds continued to assault Judy, and her body started to shake more. Clutching herself did very little to stop the trembles. In an effort to distract herself, Judy struck up a conversation with Lupus.
"Did you ever have to do this before?"
"Whenever they need to have a predator placed in here. I've brought prey here before when they were the violent kind or too large for anyone else."
Judy then asked another pertinent question since they first entered the ward. "Was the asylum always this way?"
Lupus became hesitant for a moment, which didn't encourage Judy. "Only recently did conditions become better. Consider yourself fortunate that you were not committed here at the beginning of the century. But still, some mammals are set in their ways."
Judy understood the implication. While reforms were announced, it didn't mean they had to be implemented in a timely manner.
The rest of the walk was silent as Judy tried to prepare herself for the potential treatment from the staff. The walk also helped mask Judy's trembling. While the rabbit understood her mind and body's reactions, she couldn't understand why the intensity increased.
Before long, the two arrived at the assigned room where a uniformed tan rabbit was waiting for them. Judy assumed she would be either the primary or one of the caretakers during her stay. The room was already open and ready to receive its new occupant.
"Hello, Chief." The tan rabbit said with a smile.
"Hello." Lupus greeted.
It didn't surprise Judy that the tan rabbit had no adverse reaction to the wolf. She likely saw much more violent mammals while working at the asylum.
The tan rabbit's eyes fell on Judy. "Is this the patient?"
Lupus nodded. "Yes. Her name is Judy Hopps."
The caretaker kept her smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Judy. My name is Jennifer. I will be one of the mammals providing you care. You have my word that you will receive the best treatment."
Judy didn't want to present herself as a problematic patient to the caretaker, so she forced out a weak smile. "Thank you."
Jennifer nodded. "Now, we would room you with other mammals. But because you are a former soldier, the heads of the asylum determined that a room to yourself would keep the staff, the patients, and yourself from harm."
Lupus placed a comforting paw on Judy's shoulder. "My role here is done. I must return to the station now."
"Thank you, Chief." Jennifer looked back at Judy. "You may enter your room. I'll give you some time to get acclimated while I take care of this errand."
"T-thank you."
Judy reluctantly entered the room while Lupus made his departure, and Jennifer stepped away for a moment. Once inside, Judy inspected the state of the room. The only furniture was a bed and a chair. The only other feature was a window with bars for allowing sunlight and fresh air.
From Judy's observation, the stains on the walls were from years of neglect. "Greasy walls…"
She approached the bed and sat down on it. Creaking noises emanated, and she could feel the structure bend slightly under her weight. "Rickety bed…"
AAAHHH!
The sounds of a struggle occurred after the screams. Judy needed no imagination to understand what transpired. "Insane neighbors..."
Judy fell on her back onto the bed with her arms and limbs spread out. "I loathe this…"
Much thanks to the folks at ZAA for their feedback and assistance
Let's just say that late 19th and early 20th century asylums were described as hell on earth. The silver lining? Lobotomies were not introduced until the 1930s.
