Another 10k chapter? The story certainly wants my attention.
Also due to some feedback, I changed the last name from of the rabbit family from Lepus to Lagos. This has been reflected in the previous chapter.
June 1915,
One month had passed since Judy became a police officer in Bunnyburrow. Her transition was almost effortless, and she grew comfortable in her new role. But the first arrest marred that excitement, and the days after would test her resolve. The limited mammalpower of the police department only allowed for minimal arrests didn't help, but the rabbit refused to quit.
Judy reminded herself that if she wanted to be a police officer in Zootopia, she could not be favorable towards any species. A common factor she encountered on patrol was prey harassing, or worse, attacking predators. Her swift action left a bitter taste among the perpetrators and their loved ones. Wondering why a rabbit would want to protect her species' natural enemies.
Judy knew the war was responsible for the sentiment and the tensions, but it still hurt her knowing that the two groups could be friends.
Thus, her explanation was always the same:
"My duty is to protect the mammals of Bunnyburrow. That includes prey and predators."
The responses to her explanation were mixed but mostly negative.
"Traitor!"
"Predator Pervert!"
"You bring shame to the rabbit species!"
Judy couldn't fault the mammals since Bunnyburrow was a tight-knit community. The rabbit knew her words would fall on deaf ears, so she had to lead by example. Knowing that William suffered from the same persecution brought her strength and comfort in knowing that she was not alone. His stance led her to ask why.
"I owe that to the Chief. While I never harbored any ill towards predators, working under Lupus showed me that helping a mammal in need goes beyond species. I've long given up trying to convince the hecklers otherwise."
"Are you worried that they might try something at your home?"
William chuckled heartily. "It turns out rabbits are afraid of a charging goat as much as they are of teeth and claws. Besides, I'm much smarter than they think."
Judy smiled and nodded.
What didn't help was that the Lagos family's influence remained prevalent in her hometown. After arresting the brothers, Judy took to learning about the family. She learned that his name was Saul, and his family established their wealth through the railroads. Thus, his sons were born and raised in money, scarcely experiencing hardship.
He initially invited her to his burrow to discuss his sons' behavior, but Judy suspected possible nefarious methods in an effort to convince her to turn a blind eye. The doe also knew better than to have Saul come to the police station, so she decided on a neutral location: a park. The openness would allow her an escape should the discussion become uncomfortable. Saul agreed to the conditions and arranged the date and time.
Judy arrived an hour early before the appointed time and chose to sit on a bench and wait. She did not look forward to the conversation, but knowing his influence and wealth, ignoring the head of the family was a bad idea. The one silver lining was that Judy could probe the wealthy rabbit for any weaknesses. While initially disgusted at the thought, the rabbit realized she needed every advantage to put Saul in his place.
The voice of the mammal in question broke Judy from her thoughts. "Thank you for meeting with me, Miss Hopps."
She turned to see a brown bunny in a gray suit and top hat approaching and sitting next to her.
The doe then put on a faux smile. "As am I."
"I hope you are having a wonderful day so far?"
She nodded. "I am. Are you?"
"Thank you for asking." Saul got himself comfortable on the bench. "Now, I want to begin by apologizing for my behavior at our initial meeting. You must understand that I was very emotional over the arrest of my children."
Having seen his true colors, Judy wanted to tell him to drop the act but chose to remain civil. "Understandable, but may I remind you that they attempted to harm Gideon Grey, and I waited patiently until your oldest wound his arm to strike."
Saul showed no hostile reaction to the comment so far. "Surely that fox must have done something to justify such action."
His answer gave her the excuse to drop the smile. "I witnessed your son threatening to vandalize his business if Gideon didn't agree to his protection. He put a lot of time and resources into opening the bakery. And he deserves to be exploited and threatened? How did you expect him to respond?"
"It was a very reasonable offer from my son."
"And a very reasonable response from Gideon."
Saul finally dropped his smile too. "Young lady. I do not appreciate the manner in which you are speaking."
Nick would have been proud if he saw the smirk on Judy's face. "My apologies. I get emotional when it comes to the safety of other mammals."
Saul adjusted his hat as a way to calm himself. "Moving on. I was told that you are unfamiliar with my boys' roles in Bunnyburrow."
Judy resumed her stoic expression. "Continue."
"To my knowledge, the Bunnyburrow Police is struggling because of the war. As a result, many denizens, including my sons, have taken it upon themselves to ensure their home is safe from crime. My family and I have been at the forefront, and Bunnyburrow has been grateful and benefitted from these efforts. Is it wrong not to be more tolerant of our actions with such contributions?"
"Turning the other way does not grant immunity from the law. Which your sons broke when we arrested them."
Saul cleared his throat and adjusted his collar. "I will concede that there must be limits on such vigilantism, and I assure you that their mother and I will properly discipline my children."
Some discipline. "Evidently, your sons have not learned from being disciplined since they felt the need to threaten a predator."
Judy could see that Saul was becoming irritated. "And how could you possibly know that this fox is not supporting their side in the war?"
"What could he have possibly gained? He's not wealthy, so he has no reason to send any money for support. His family has been living here for a long time, so he has no ties to any of the empires at war."
It became evident to Saul that Judy was a different breed from the rest of Bunnyburrow.
He finally spoke after a few moments of silence passed between them. "I see we are at an impasse."
"It seems to be."
Saul stood from the bench. "Very well, Miss Hopps. If you continue on this path, you will find quickly that the consequences are dire."
He then left Judy alone to let the doe stir on his warning. Judy knew she had just declared war on a powerful mammal in Bunnyburrow, but her sense of justice overpowered her fear. She expected the family to cause more trouble for her from now on. If Judy wanted to beat their games, she needed to dig deep and channel her inner fox. That thought brought a smile to her face, and she had to restrain a laugh.
I wonder what Nick would have done.
Judy wasn't the only Hopps affected by the harassment. Her family started receiving questions and complaints from the denizens. When Judy noticed, she confronted the mammals, warning them to stay away from her family and that they could freely direct their ire at her. Eventually, a group gathered outside the police station to protest.
Her family, however, had a different response. At first, they reminded the mammals that she is a former soldier and still in the mindset of using extreme force. But eventually, the animosity grew to where the parents held a talk with Judy. After everyone else had gone to bed, the three sat alone at a table in one of the rooms.
"What is this about?" Judy asked.
Bonnie and Stu looked at each other before the father took the lead. "It's about you being a police officer."
Judy narrowed her eyes at the implication. "Are you telling me to quit?"
Her mother shook her head and waved her paws. "No, it's about Bunnyburrow."
Her anger turned to confusion and curiosity. "What do you mean?"
Bonnie continued. "Mammals are complaining to us about your…aggressive behavior towards them and you appearing to favor predators."
Judy immediately got defensive. "Are you telling me I shouldn't be protecting the predators who live in Bunnyburrow?"
Stu also frantically shook his head and paws. "We're not saying that! It's…if what they are saying is true, then it seems you defend predators more than your own species."
"And did they tell you why?"
The questions caused her parents to fall silent as they tried to rack through the interactions with the mammals.
"No," Stu said. "I guess not."
"Then let me explain," Judy placed a finger on the table. "The war has caused the prey to be hostile towards predators even though they had nothing to do with whatever the soldiers are doing! Are you telling me that if a prey is attacking a wolf pup, I should just let it be?"
Her parents remained silent, unable to come up with a response.
"Your silence is telling."
"No! No! No!" Stu defended. "We're not saying to ignore it. It's…"
"It's what?"
"There's no need to be violent during the arrest." Bonnie said.
"Mother. Father. Did you know that some of them were violent before we arrived? Or that others attacked me when I made the arrest?"
They remained silent as the new information set in.
"I always have my partner with me when stopping the crime, and he needs help sometimes too. Did you know that my partner is a goat? And that the prey also questioned him arresting his fellow prey."
When her parents continued to be silent, Judy ended the conversation, realizing the impasse. She stood and gave a parting remark. "I am not leaving the police, and you cannot convince me to. Goodnight."
Judy left for her room without looking back. She refused to listen to her parents further if they couldn't answer her questions. Judy had her suspicions: they weren't accepting of predators the same as her. She didn't want to assume that her parents believed the predators deserved it, but their silence and reluctance were telling. Judy forced those thoughts back and reminded herself that they simply didn't understand.
However, by the next morning, Judy was in a better mood, able to talk with her family. However, her feelings towards her parents were indifferent. While the three did talk, it was only when necessary and by Judy's intention. Her message to them was clear: I'm not having this discussion until I choose to. Bonnie and Stu understood and reluctantly stepped away from the topic.
It was Nestor and Felix who gave Judy a ride to the station. To avoid having her brothers be surrounded by the protestors, she asked them to drop her off a short distance away. While they initially protested, Nestor and Felix acquiesced to her request. The ride to the police station was quiet, each sibling focused on their plans for the day. When the building came into view, Nestor slowed the truck until coming to a stop.
Judy opened the door and hopped out.
"Have a good day, Judy!" Nestor waved from the driver's seat.
Felix hopped off the truck bed and into the passenger side. "We'll pick you up at the same time."
Judy waved at her brothers. "Bye, Nestor! Bye, Felix!"
She watched them drive off until they were out of sight. The bunny then took a deep breath and walked towards the police station. Judy could see the crowd in front of the building when getting closer. It didn't take long before them to notice her and raise their voices.
"Savage!"
"We want no pred lover protecting us!"
"I hope a predator eats you alive!"
Judy knew there was little else they could do without getting arrested, so she channeled her inner Nick and put on a mask. Repeating the words he lives by since the Junior Ranger Scouts.
Never let them see that they get to you.
When mammals first gathered to protest, it hurt Judy to see their harsh treatment towards her. But soon their words fell on deaf ears and were little more than a nuisance with each passing day. There was little else she could do without bringing harm to herself and the police. Judy finally reached the front doors and wasted no time entering. Her eyes met with that of Dorothy's.
"Good morning Judy," The other female rabbit greeted.
"Good morning, Dorothy," She motioned towards the front doors. "Same thing?"
She nodded. "At least they quiet down eventually. Although I do enjoy seeing their reactions when they see the doors open and think you are coming out."
Judy giggled. "I'm glad you are finding some enjoyment from all this. I'll see you around."
Dorothy nodded and continued to watch the door, waiting for the mammals to calm down again.
Judy passed by William's office, which was open, and decided to poke her head inside. "Good morning, Will."
The goat looked up from his desk. "Good morning Judy. How are you holding up?"
"Well." The rabbit understood that Will, Lupus, and Dorothy were looking out for her, especially after her near breakdown on the first day. Judy motioned in the direction of the front doors. "It doesn't bother me anymore. It's rather annoying that they say the same insult every day."
William got a chuckle out of that. "Welcome to my world. But they did eventually stop for me. So I'm positive it will happen to you one day."
"I'm looking forward to that. I'll be seeing the Chief now. Take care."
William waved a hoof as Judy disappeared from his doorway.
The rabbit went to the second floor, where Lupus' office was open. The wolf was standing by a cabinet and searching for documents. Judy stood in the doorway and knocked on the frame. Lupus turned to see her enter.
"Reporting in, Chief."
The wolf smiled and returned to his desk. "Thank you, Hopps." He placed the collected documents and sat down. "Now, I know you already heard this from Dorothy and William, but I still want to ask."
"I'm feeling better everyday, and I don't mind being asked. I'm glad everyone here is looking out for me."
"Good. Just know that I won't hesitate to reassign you if it gets too dangerous." His face became serious. "It means mammals are willing to throw manners out the window to harm a lady, and I will not tolerate such actions."
"I won't deny your judgment, Chief. Were circumstances different, I would have respectfully disagreed. But since the police station is going through hard times, my reckless actions will only hurt everyone else."
"I'm glad you understand. You may go now."
"Thank you, Chief."
As midday rolled around, Judy groaned and rubbed her forehead after she completed a report from an arrest yesterday. It involved an adolescent rabbit getting aggressive toward a cougar cub. The situation escalated when the offending rabbit attempted to strike the predators and later Judy when she intervened. The buck was promptly arrested and brought to a holding cell. All while calling Judy a traitor for defending the cougar.
While the gray rabbit could tolerate the insults from the prey, she could never tolerate seeing them harm predators. It reminded her too much of seeing Nick either harmed or killed. Seeing kits targeted affected her the most since it reminded her of Nick's time of being muzzled. To see a young predator asking what he or she had done wrong ripped her apart inside. It took everything for her not to cry.
But by protecting them, Judy could show the predators that there are prey who wanted to support and be friends with them. She couldn't fault those who chose to remain hidden. Very few had her determination to see it through. And even if her efforts yielded few results, Judy could take solace in laying the groundwork for others to follow.
The rabbit placed the completed document to the side and would deliver the stack to Lupus later. She leaned back in her seat and drank from her canteen.
You can get through this.
Judy had little else to do, and she could only sit in the office for so long. At the same time, if she went on patrol, there was the certainty of seeing the prey mistreat the predators. With the inner turmoil pushing her to the limit, the rabbit decided to go on patrol to clear her head and direct her frustration in the right direction. She stopped by Lupus' office to deliver the documents and ask for permission, which the wolf granted.
After thanking the Chief, she informed William and Dorothy of her plans to which both mammals cautioned and wished her a safe trip. Before opening the doors, Judy placed her ear against it. She couldn't hear anyone outside, signaling that the protestors must have gone elsewhere. Dorothy had her paw on the telephone, ready to make the call if the situation escalated.
When the doors opened, the crowd saw Judy exit the building and wasted no time raising their voices. The rabbit nonchalantly closed the doors, walked past the mammals, and continued on the path to the center of the town. Thankfully for everyone, none of the protestors followed Judy.
The grey rabbit also thanked the heavens for the current uneventful patrol. Since coming to the defense of predators, the rabbit received more than her fair share of ire from the Bunnyburrow denizens. Those who chose to be confrontational realized their error. Judy's display of force was enough to deter anyone else from attempting to confront or approach her.
But amid scrutiny, Judy encountered mammals who expressed their gratitude for her efforts in secret. The rabbit expected such a response from predators, but it was the response from the prey which surprised her. While appearing neutral in their views, the prey did express that it was wrong for predators to be mistreated for actions they were not responsible for. Those moments fueled Judy with hope each day.
Later, the rabbit heard a commotion, and she ran to investigate. If there was a crime, Judy would stop it before it escalated. More mammals came into view, and the rabbit could see them gathering around Gideon's bakery. The doe wondered why so many were interested in the fox's shop. Judy grabbed the whistle with one paw and the baton with the other.
When getting closer, she could hear the voices clearer but became alarmed when they were neither of excitement nor joy. No, she heard anger. Curiosity turned into fear for Gideon. Judy rushed ahead, and when reaching the mammals, she started pushing forward to see the scene. The words became more clear, and they were insults.
Judy became frantic and began forcing her way through while announcing the presence of a police officer. When the rabbit broke through the crowd, she froze. What Judy saw were three rabbits near a broken shop window and a fox tail peaking out between the rabbits, but what she heard were gunfire, explosions, and an all too familiar cry for help.
Pain.
That was all Gideon could feel right as he curled on the ground. His face was bloodied and bruised. His tongue tasted iron as it ran over a broken tooth. His paws protected his face from further injury, but that left the rest of his body exposed. His stomach and sides felt the beating inflicted upon him. He knew bunnies had strong feet, but knowledge and experience were two completely different things.
Through the tiny slits between his fingers, the fox could see three rabbits towering over him.
"You ain't so tough now, Pelt!" Frank yelled, giving another kick to Gideon in the stomach.
The fox grunted from the pain.
"Filthy pred! " Zachary cried. Another kick. Another painful grunt. Another cough of blood.
"P-please…I-I don't want any trouble…" It hurt for him to even speak.
"Trouble?" Frank said. "You should have thought of that before trying to attack us!"
Patrick was carrying a bat and offered it to Frank. "Why don't we show him our patronage?"
The oldest brother eagerly accepted the object with a wicked grin. "My pleasure."
Gideon could faintly see Frank adjust his grip and raise the bat high in the air. If he could, the malicious look in Frank's eyes and his grin made the fox shiver. Gideon's eyes started to water as he prepared for another round of pain.
As Frank brought the bat down on Gideon, he suddenly found the arm seized. "Wha—"
Crack!
The buck suddenly let out a cry as he felt his arm contort in an unnatural way. Frank thought he heard the sounds of bone breaking but was in too much pain. The buck fell to the ground on his knees, releasing the bat to grip his injured paw.
The crowd suddenly went quiet. Frank's brothers heard his distress and turned to find a surprising sight. Judy stood over the eldest brother and held the bat in her possession.
"Frank!" Patrick cried.
Zachary stepped forward in anger. "You no good-"
Their words died in their mouth when Judy looked in their direction. The brothers were stunned at the sight of her snarl and vacant stare. Enough that they were unable to respond to her next action.
Roaring with fury, Judy charged at Patrick and brought down the bat onto his head. The mammal fell to the ground in an instant.
Zachary watched in horror from seeing blood oozing from Patrick's head. Before he could react, Judy swung the bat and smacked his right knee. A cry erupted, and Zachary fell to the ground. With one final swing, Judy swung the bat onto his left knee, and the force finally caused the object to snap in half. The top flew off to the side while the bottom remained in her possession. Zachary writhed in pain on the ground while clutching his knees.
Frank finally recovered from the injury to respond. "YOU PSYCHOTIC BUNNY! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"
But all that rage was quickly replaced with fear and dread when Frank saw Judy snap in his direction. The oldest could almost feel her vibrating rage. The buck tried to scramble to his feet while still clutching his injured paw. He tried getting up but suddenly felt the wind knocked out of him. Frank looked up in time to see Judy on his stomach and towering over him.
His eyes widened as Judy seized his neck. Frank tried to use his paws to break free, but Judy's grip was too strong, and the injured paw only hindered his attempts. He managed to see Judy raising her other fist, preparing to strike. The buck closed his eyes as he felt the force of her punch, and then another, followed by another. He feebly attempted to stop the beating, but Judy easily broke through.
Left with no other choice, Frank desperately cried for assistance.
"HELP ME! SOMEBODY! STOP HER! SHE'S KILLING ME!"
But his pleas fell on deaf ears as no one stepped forward to rescue him from the relentless beating. The buck continued to cry from the pain inflicted on him. Frank began to taste metal in his mouth and realized he was bleeding. He tried to kick Judy off, but the beating prevented him from doing so. Judy had progressed to where she released Frank's neck and began beating him with both paws, not relenting one iota.
Frank slowly started to lose consciousness and nearly accepted his fate until…
"JUDY! JUDY STOP!"
But Judy neither heard her name nor the command. Only focusing on preventing the nightmare from coming true. In the midst of her assault, Judy suddenly felt herself tackled to the ground and felt a pair of arms and legs wrap around her tight.
Nestor knew his sister's strength from her time in the military, so he took no chances when restraining her, locking his arms and legs around hers. He felt Judy struggle and heard her cries to be released.
"No! Let me go! I need to save him!"
"Stop, Judy!" Nestor continued to hold on tight while trying to snap Judy out of her rampage. "It's me! Nestor!"
Seconds passed, but they felt like an eternity for Nestor. His biggest concern was his strength giving out and being unable to stop Judy from likely beating the rabbit to death.
He turned to Felix. "Check on the others."
The white rabbit nodded and tended to Gideon and the Lagos brothers, despite his disdain for the latter.
Nestor finally felt Judy calm down, but that relief was short-lived when he heard her weeping. The drastic change in emotion startled him, and the buck slowly released his grip. Any words of comfort died in his mouth when seeing the look on Judy's face.
Tears flowing freely. Heavy breathing. Body trembling. She looked like a mammal who lost everything, and it hurt him to see the doe in such a state. He did the only thing he could do. Nestor pulled Judy into a hug and slowly rocked her.
Meanwhile, Felix first approached Gideon and assessed the injuries. Gideon's tail appeared limp, and Felix didn't know if it was broken. The fox was still covering his eyes, and the rabbit could see the blood on the knuckles. He knelt before the fox and placed a gentle paw on his side. Gideon flinched from the touch, thinking it was one of the Lagos brothers, but Felix quickly put him at ease.
"It's me Gideon, Felix Hopps."
The fox slowly lowered his paws, and Felix nearly recoiled from seeing his face. Eyes swollen from the beating. Bloodied nose and mouth. Broken and missing teeth. It took a few painful moments, but Gideon managed to recognize one of Judy's brothers.
"Felix…what….what happened…"
"Don't worry about Frank and his brothers. They've been dealt with. Help will be here soon."
Hearing that he was safe, Gideon let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. The fox lay on his back and breathed heavily. "Thank you."
With Gideon safe for now, Felix reluctantly checked on the Lagos brothers. Zachary writhed in pain while clutching his knees. Frank lay on the ground, groaning. But Patrick lay motionless and bleeding from his head.
This led Felix to investigate to avoid having death added to the problems. The white rabbit knelt by Patrick and placed his fingers on his neck while also holding his other paw over the mouth. The feeling of the pulse and breathing caused Felix to exhale in relief.
After determining that Gideon and the Lagos brothers would live, he joined his brother in comforting their sister. The two paid no mind to the mammals surrounding and watching them. By then, Judy's crying became whimpers, but she still held onto Nestor and Felix tight.
Suddenly, the sounds of whistles dispersed the crowd. Nestor and Felix looked up to see Chief Lupus and a goat officer arriving on the scene and halting just a few steps from the carnage. Like everyone else, Lupus and William were shocked to see what had happened to Gideon, the Lagos brothers, and Judy. It took Judy's brothers addressing him to break the haze.
"Chief?"
Lupus shook his head and promptly took control of the situation. "William, find any doctors around here and help move Gideon and the Lagos brothers to the hospital."
"Yes, sir." The goat then turned to the crowd. "Is there a doctor here?"
Lupus addressed them also. "Move along. If you're not a doctor or a witness, please leave."
It took a couple minutes, but Lupus and William managed to clear the premises and get medical assistance for the injured mammals. The wolf brought the police vehicle closer to cordon off the area. There, Lupus interviewed the witnesses about the incident.
According to them, a confrontation occurred at Gideon's bakery. Whatever happened led to the Lagos brothers striking Gideon, and the fox fell to the ground. The brothers continued to beat him until Judy arrived. They had expected her to put a stop to it. They did not expect Judy to behave in what could be best described as savage. Lupus thanked the witnesses for their time and cooperation, confirmed their identity, and sent them on their way.
After seeing William assisting the doctors, Lupus approached the two rabbits huddling around Judy. Seeing her whimpering and holding the other rabbits ached his heart. The wolf could only imagine how worse it must have looked for Judy before his and William's arrival.
Lupus composed himself and spoke. "Are you related to Judy?"
The bucks nodded.
"Yes," the black rabbit spoke. "I'm Nestor."
"Felix," The white rabbit said. "We're her brothers from the same litter."
Lupus nodded. "I see. I need you to come to the station with me."
"For our statements also?" Felix asked.
"Yes, and something else too. But it's best if we discussed this back at the station. Don't worry. Judy is coming too. She'll be safe there."
Nestor and Felix were initially hesitant to leave their sister but relented after knowing their destination.
"Okay," Nestor said. "We'll come."
"Thank you. Please, follow me."
"Come, Judy." Felix said as he and Nestor carefully lifted her.
The doe said nothing as her brothers escorted her to the police vehicle.
Satisfied, Lupus went to check on William. "I'm taking Judy back to the station." He motioned to the injured mammals. "Are you okay with continuing to give aid?"
The goat nodded. "I'll take care of it, Chief."
"Thank you. Return to the station when you are finished and provide an update."
"Yes, Chief."
Lupus returned to his police vehicle and smiled when finding Judy and her brothers huddled in the back. He entered the driver's seat and began the drive to the station. It might have been inappropriate, but Lupus hoped to get answers from Judy once she calmed down. Sadly, that did not happen when they arrived at the station. Even though she stopped crying, the rabbit became distant, moving only when prompted.
His next concern was the mob in front of the building. The size had shrunk when he and William got the call, but he knew the noise would only worsen Judy's condition.
"Here's the plan. When I stop, I want you two to hurry inside with Judy. The door is already open. I'll take care of the mob."
Nestor and Felix nodded and got ready to move.
Back at the station, Dorothy sat anxiously at the front desk, nose twitching and foot thumping. When she received the call that Judy was in trouble, the black rabbit became terrified at the possibilities. Ranging from the prey finally having the guts to attack her or predators triggering the horrible memories of the war. Regardless, none of them bode well for Judy.
Bang!
The doors burst open, surprising Dorothy and causing her to squeak. After recovering, she saw a white rabbit carrying Judy in, followed by another black rabbit, and finally Chief Lupus. She became alarmed at the absence of William.
"Where's William?! Is Judy alright?! What happened?!"
Lupus put a paw up to halt the flurry of questions. "William is okay. He's helping clean the mess." The wolf pointed to the two new rabbits. "These are Judy's brothers. As for Judy herself…I'll explain later." Lupus turned to the brothers. "Leave her with Dorothy and come with me please."
The brothers obeyed and brought their sister to Dorothy, gently sitting the doe on the floor.
"Is she hurt?" The female rabbit asked.
There was a moment of hesitation from Felix. "Not physically…"
His answer was all she needed to hear. "I'll watch over her."
"Thank you." Nestor said.
Dorothy watched as her brothers followed Lupus before turning to Judy. The grey rabbit sat motionless with a vacant stare. Dorothy saw the red eyes and the tear stains running down her face. What shocked the black rabbit was the blood on Judy's paws. She didn't dare to ask how it got there.
Dorothy wanted to hug Judy, but the possible reaction made her reconsider. She hated feeling helpless but understood there was little else to do at the moment. The black rabbit needed to keep watch for William in case of trouble.
"Oh Judy…"
Shortly after, Nestor and Felix sat nervously before the police chief.
"First off, you boys are not in trouble," Lupus began, trying to put them at ease. "Far from it. But I need to understand how it all went down."
The two brothers looked at each other momentarily before returning their attention to Lupus.
Nestor spoke first. "My brother and I didn't see the beginning. We were running errands around town when we came upon the mammals at Gideon's bakery."
Felix followed after. "We caught a glimpse of our sister entering the crowd. Normally, we trust her ability, but our gut said that this time was different."
"So Felix and I left the truck to investigate. It was difficult with so many mammals talking and clambering to see."
"When the crowd became silent, Nestor and I knew something had changed. Taking advantage of the silence, we pressed forward, and that was when we heard the cries."
"Thankfully, it wasn't our sister, but her roar did make us worry. We kept pushing through and hearing someone being hurt."
"It was when we heard Frank's voice that we realized what got our sister's attention. By the time we got to the front, Judy was beating Frank within an inch of his life."
The brothers went silent, which led Lupus to ask the important question. "So you don't know who started the fight?"
"We think we know, but we can't say for sure." Nestor said.
"But from your sister's actions, can you say that she was trying to defend Gideon before…she went berserk?"
Felix nodded. "Yes, Judy made a promise to protect predators and prey."
"On a personal note, and this is the reason why I asked for you to come here. Aside from protecting your sister, can you think of any reason for your sister's…violence?"
Nestor and Felix bit their lips, and Lupus could see how the question made them uncomfortable.
"I understand. I will wait until Judy is better to ask. You may go now. Thank you for your cooperation. We will let you know when your sister recovers."
Nestor and Felix nodded and took their leave. A few moments later, William entered the office.
"Chief?"
"William, how are Gideon and the Lagos brothers?"
The goat let out a deep sigh. "Gideon has broken bones and cuts on his face. The Lagos brothers…Judy did quite a number on them. They'll make it, but they'll be in bed for a while."
"Did you get a chance to talk to any of them?"
The goat took his seat. "Only Gideon. The brothers are unconscious from their injuries."
"And what did Gideon say?"
"That the brothers started it."
That did not surprise the wolf. "I figured, but that will not help lay the fault on the brothers. We need Judy's side." His look then softened. "How is she?"
William shared the same look. "Poor girl's knocked out. Dorothy said that she eventually slumped over and fell asleep."
"I'll ask when she wakes up…Can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
There was a moment of hesitation. "Do you think we should have done more? About taking care of Judy."
William was shocked at the question. "You're not saying it's your fault, are you?"
Lupus shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I just can't shake the feeling that maybe things could have turned out differently if we talked it out. That I failed one of my officers."
"Chief, you couldn't have known," William tried to reassure. "None of us could. You, myself, and Dorothy understood that we couldn't push Judy. We agreed to let her take that next step when she was ready."
Lupus closed his eyes. "You're right. What about Mr. Lagos?"
The goat curled his hooves and bit his lip. "He uh…wants to talk to you but first wants to make sure his sons are alright."
The wolf took a deep breath. "Okay, we have time to prepare ourselves. Make sure Judy is somewhere safe for when he comes here. I don't care if she objects or if you have to cuff her. That's an order."
"Yes, Chief."
William took his leave as Lupus leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. The wolf promptly squashed the temptation to drink.
After dealing with Lagos.
Everything felt hazy and dull. Judy could only see black in her vision. She also became confused over the lack of strength. The rabbit slowly opened her eyes and quickly discovered a few things.
First, she was not in the town center. After her vision cleared, she slowly took in her surroundings. The second thing Judy realized was that she was back at the police station. Third, the rabbit noticed that she was lying on the floor on her side.
Her training as a lieutenant kicked in, and the rabbit began analyzing the situation.
Remain calm, Judy. What was the last thing that you remember?
The rabbit closed her eyes and began recalling the day's events, starting from when she arrived at the police station.
Mammals shouted at me as I approached the building, but they didn't attack me, or they would have been either chased off or arrested.
Judy then searched her memories once inside the building.
I talked to my fellow mammals and entered my office. So unless a prisoner broke free, it couldn't have been there.
The next thing she recalled was going on patrol and encountering the mammals ridiculing her.
I didn't feel any pain, so they didn't attack me then…
She remembered walking around town and visiting Gideon's store. The thought of Gideon unleashed a flood of good and bad memories. The mammals surrounding his shop. Discovering the Lagos brothers surrounding Gideon as he lay on the ground. The moment she watched…
"Gideon!" She jolted into a sitting position, ears up and a wide expression on her face.
"You're awake!"
Judy turned in the direction of the voice and found a worried yet relieved Dorothy sitting in her chair.
She left her seat and knelt by the gray rabbit. "I was so worried! Are you alright?!"
Judy grabbed the black rabbit's shoulders. "Dorothy, what happened? How did I end up here? And why was I on the floor? Is Gideon…"
The barrage of questions only caused Dorothy to clamp up. It was only when Judy asked about Gideon did she answer, not wanting her to assume the worst.
She put her arms on Judy's and spoke in a soft voice. "Gideon is at the hospital. He's hurt, but he'll make it."
Judy breathed a sigh of relief from hearing the good news. That's one mystery down. "And his attackers? I remember the Lagos brothers being involved."
Dorothy appeared hesitant. "They're…in the hospital too."
Judy became alarmed, aware of the ramifications. "Did Gideon hurt them?" She hoped to the heavens that wasn't the case.
Dorothy glanced to the side before returning eye contact. "No, Judy. You did."
She did not expect that answer. "What?"
"It's true. Your brothers found you nearly killing them."
"M...my brothers?"
"One black and one white. Called themselves Nestor and Felix."
Nestor and Felix...they saw…they heard..."Oh no…" Tears threatened to flow as her body began shaking.
Seeing the signs, Dorothy pulled Judy into a hug and stroked her back. "Lupus and William arrived after your brothers stopped you. They found you crying and hugging them for dear life."
The sounds of crying reached Dorothy's ears as Judy held on tight. "Oh heavens! What have I done? What have I done!"
Dorothy said nothing and let her cry.
When she eventually calmed down, the black rabbit continued. "They brought you and your brothers here. You had stopped crying then, but seemed distant. Chief left me to watch over you. You fell asleep after a while."
Judy nodded into her chest. "That explains how I ended up here." She sniffled before looking up at Dorothy. "What did the Chief want with my brothers?"
"He wanted to ask what happened. Judging from their behavior after they finished, Lupus knows your brothers weren't involved with the beating. He'll want to hear from you as well."
"Is he angry?"
A soft smile appeared on Dorothy's face. "Angry is the last thing Lupus is feeling right now. But I wouldn't keep him any longer. He needs to know your side. Oh, and your brothers came by earlier when you were sleeping. Said they'll be back in a few hours."
Judy nodded. "Okay, thank you for taking care of me."
"You're welcome. Let me help you up."
Judy accepted Dorothy's assistance and was able to walk on her own to the Chief's office, much to the black rabbit's relief. Dorothy never took her eyes off Judy, worried that something could happen to her during the walk. She saw her stop briefly to speak with William before continuing to Lupus' office.
Once Judy ascended to the second floor, Dorothy let out a deep sigh and turned her attention to the front door. She was glad that Saul had not arrived yet. There was no telling what he would do to Judy if he discovered her at the front desk. If Judy was still unresponsive or sleeping, Dorothy could do very little to protect her…well, she did have one option. She could try to take some of the blowback from Saul.
At least with Judy away, Dorothy could now focus on the inevitable arrival of the angry father. Saul didn't know it, but she could stand her ground thanks to her family. Dorothy did have one other deterrence. Her mind drifted to a particular drawer, and the rabbit calmly reached for the knob and pulled.
Inside was a revolver and a box of bullets. Dorothy sighed as she checked the weapon and found it fully loaded before returning the gun to the drawer. Ever since Judy ruffled the wealthy rabbit family, Lupus refused to take any chances with either him or the protestors. So he made the decision to have Dorothy armed in case the mammals became violent.
She was initially hesitant, more for firing the weapon indoors and damaging her hearing. But after encouragement from Judy, she relented.
Don't make me do this, Saul.
Judy meekly walked towards Lupus' office when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Judy!"
The rabbit looked to find that she was passing by William's office. The goat had a look of relief from seeing her up and walking.
The rabbit smiled back. "Hi, William."
"How are you feeling?"
"Better. Thank you. I'm heading to Lupus, but I can spare a few moments."
"I think he wouldn't mind either." The goat paused to decide how to ask the big question. "He and I saw the aftermath. I'll likely hear more from him and Dorothy. But I want to know, did it remind you of the war?"
Judy quietly nodded.
William was satisfied with the answer. "That's all I need to know. We can talk more when you finish with the Chief."
"I promise. Thank you, William."
The goat nodded and returned to work while Judy continued to Lupus' office.
Talking with Dorothy and William raised her spirits, and if their reactions were any indications, Lupus could share their concerns. The rabbit stood before the door, preparing herself for the meeting conversation. After a moment of hesitation, Judy raised her paw and knocked.
"Enter."
Judy turned the knob and slowly pushed the door. It creaked open and revealed an anticipating Lupus sitting at his desk.
"Judy!" The rabbit saw the wolf perk in his seat and could faintly hear his tail flitting. "Oh thank heavens! We were all worried for you!"
She smiled meekly. "Dorothy and William said the same. I'm happy to hear." She took her seat. "I'm ready to give my account of the incident."
Hearing that caused Lupus to deflate: ears pinning and slinking into his seat. "Are you sure? I don't want to push you. From what I understand, those must have been terrible memories."
Judy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I know. But I would rather not prolong this any longer. Especially with Saul wanting revenge for what I did to his sons."
Lupus had forgotten about the wealthy rabbit for a moment. "You're right. Very well. Start from the beginning."
"I was walking through the town while trying to maintain law and order. I encountered both good and bad mammals. By that, I mean mammals voicing their opinion of my equal treatment for predators and prey. My actions and reputation stopped the bad mammals from trying anything, but they also stopped the good ones from approaching me. The most I get from them are smiles, winks, and nods."
"Understandable. Then the incident occurred later on in the day, correct?"
"Yes, I went to a quiet location to rest while also still looking out for trouble."
"Wise move."
"Thank you. It must have been ten or fifteen minutes before I resumed my patrol. I first checked all the predator locations for any harassment from the prey. I went to Luke first before heading over to Gideon's."
Lupus nodded in understanding. His plan to let Judy slowly walk him through the incident worked so far. But he also knew that this part would be the most difficult. The wolf was more than happy to put the pieces together if Judy could not continue.
"I… saw mammals gathering around Gideon's. I started to panic because I thought they might rob his place or-or burn it down!" Her breathing pace increased, and she grasped her legs with her paws. "I should have blown my whistle, but I-I completely forgot! I-I was so focused on making sure Gideon wasn't hurt!"
Lupus couldn't stand making Judy relieve those memories after seeing her reaction. He wanted to stop the questions right then, but he needed to gather all the information. If only to placate Saul's accusations.
"I finally managed to blow my whistle halfway through the crowd." The tears started to flow. "When I got to the front…When I saw what the brothers were doing to Gideon…When I heard the cries of pain…"
Images of the Lagos brothers in soldiers' uniforms came to her mind. Instead of being armed with a bat, the brothers were aiming their rifles at a wounded Nick, who had replaced the injured Gideon. Instead of Gideon begging for mercy, it was Nick begging for his life.
The images proved too much and caused the dam to break again. Wailing filled the room as Judy curled in her seat and hugged herself. She then felt two arms wrap her in a hug. The rabbit knew it was Lupus and felt ashamed for breaking down before him.
"I'm," She sniffled. "Sorry."
She could feel him shaking his head. "No apologies needed. I just needed to know one thing. You did see them strike Gideon, correct?"
The rabbit slowly nodded.
"That's all I need to know."
Lupus continued to hug Judy as the rabbit sobbed into his embrace. While not saying it, the wolf partially blamed himself for the current situation. He should have never let Judy go alone, or at least have William accompany her to the town and go on separate patrols. But Lupus wanted to give Judy her space and not let the rabbit believe her trauma to be a burden.
The wolf sighed heavily and rocked Judy. He could not change that now. Lupus needed to focus on minimizing the damages. The thought led to the oncoming dread. Saul Lagos will demand justice for the harm inflicted on his sons. Lupus considered the options, but only one would protect the BBPD and Judy. Yet he hated its consequences.
"Judy?"
He heard her sniffle before hearing a "Yes, Chief?'"
Lupus wasted no time sharing his thoughts. "You're not safe here anymore."
The statement was enough for Judy to lift her head. The wolf had to keep his composure from seeing her bloodshot eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"When the brothers are well enough to speak, they will tell their father who hurt them."
Hearing this caused her ears to shoot up, and a look of horror overcame Judy. "Oh sweet cheese and crackers…"
"Yes, and Saul will want revenge. He'll call it justice, but the point is that you're not safe at the police station. Sure, we can protect you, but remember that Saul is an influential and wealthy bunny. He'll go to the Council and demand action. Since the police station answers to the Council…"
Judy immediately understood. "They can easily force you to give me to the Lagos family under threat of shutting the place down."
"Exactly, I know you don't want to leave us to face his wrath, but your absence removes that danger. The plan is for you to be with your family."
He saw her confusion, and when she didn't respond, Lupus continued.
"Besides my previous point, family law works with but are separate from laws passed by mammals. It is my hope that Saul will have a more difficult time convincing your family that he should be responsible for your punishment."
Judy considered his words and the scenario. Part of her didn't want to leave Lupus and the others to face Saul. Even if she wasn't there, the father could still punish the police station because they supported her. The other part wanted to heed Lupus' warning and go home. The police station was going to face his wrath regardless of her presence.
But Judy also remembered that she is the reason for Saul's ire. She refused to be influenced or threatened by him, and he didn't take too kindly to the rejection. Determination then filled Judy the more she dwelled on that thought. If Saul wanted to wage war on her, so be it.
"Alright, I'll go."
A smile grew on Lupus' face. "I'm glad you understand. Go back to your office and grab what you need. I'll gather William and Dorothy in the lobby. If your brothers are still around, they could help in your escape. We don't have much time, so don't take too long."
The rabbit understood his warning. "I won't."
Lupus helped Judy to her feet, and the rabbit fixed her uniform before hurrying to her office. Meanwhile, Lupus hurried to William's office and knocked on the doorway.
The goat looked up from his desk. "Chief?"
"Come with me to the lobby. It's very important."
The goat complied.
In the lobby, Dorothy watched the door for anyone unwelcomed to burst through. She also had one paw on the drawer where the revolver was in case the mammal was dangerous. Her ears picked up someone approaching, and she turned in that direction to see Lupus and William entering the lobby.
The black rabbit promptly gave the wolf her attention. "Chief?"
"Dorothy," Lupus turned to William. "Check if Judy's brothers are still here. We'll need them. Use the back door. I don't want anyone else seeing this."
"Yes, Chief."
As the goat went to complete the task, Lupus briefed Dorothy on the situation.
"I'll tell you in more detail once Judy and, hopefully, her brothers arrive. But in short, we must get her out of here before Saul appears."
Dorothy immediately understood. "He's after Judy and not us. But if we get in the way, we'll be caught up in the mess."
"Exactly. I managed to convince Judy to leave. Now, all we need to do is wait for her and hopefully her brothers."
"I assume you have a plan that doesn't involve them."
"Yes. Her brothers are not needed, but it will be more difficult."
"Let's hope they are still here then."
"Indeed," Lupus pointed to a particular drawer. "How do you feel about your skill?"
Dorothy's ears drooped. "Nervous. I held a gun before but never fired one until you started giving me practice. I've only seen my family fire weapons before."
The wolf placed a comforting paw on her shoulder. "You just have to show that you're serious about firing it. Maybe a warning shot if necessary. It's all about appearance. Speaking of which, can you show me your stance? I want to be ready for when Saul arrives."
"Yes, Chief." Dorothy opened the drawer and brought out the revolver. Lupus smiled when seeing her emptying the bullets first.
Dorothy stood facing in the direction of the cells. With the gun in her right paw, the rabbit positioned her feet and immediately raised the weapon. Her free paw grabbed the handle, and she aimed towards the hallway.
"Very good," Lupus said. "Some small adjustments are needed. There is time to fix your stance."
Dorothy lowered the weapon and smiled. "I'm all ears, Chief."
Lupus chuckled at the joke as he circled the desk, grateful for the humor in the tense situation.
Outside, a hidden panel covered by dirt opened, and William stepped out and quickly covered the entrance. He chose to investigate the left side of the building first for Judy's brothers. When arriving at the corner, the goat poked his head out and saw no sign of the brothers or the car.
He then wasted no time going to the other side. To his fortune, there on the bed of the pickup truck sat Nestor and Felix. The two were watching the front entrance and waiting for their sister. The protestors seemed to be unaware of their relationship since the two were left alone.
Good. William wanted it to remain that way.
But the goat couldn't strut out without drawing attention. He needed the brothers to come to him, which would not be easy. First, William hugged the wall and shuffled closer. Once a mammal from the crowd came into view, William shuffled back until hidden again. The officer glanced to the ground and saw a few pebbles at his feet. Hoping his aim would come through, William grabbed the rocks and tossed them at the truck.
The brothers heard something hitting the vehicle. Nestor and Felix looked around to investigate when the former spotted William hiding around the corner of the building. Nestor nudged Felix with his elbow.
"Felix."
The white rabbit turned and also saw the goat officer.
Having their attention, William motioned the two to be quiet and to come towards him.
The brothers were curious but understood that whatever the goat wanted to tell them was important. Nestor and Felix first looked at the crowd and confirmed their attention was still on the front entrance. They then discretely made their way over to William while keeping one eye on the mammals. Nestor and Felix soon arrived safely and were hidden from sight.
Nestor wasted no time asking the question. "What's this about?"
"I'll explain more once we're inside. But we need to get your sister out of here, and the Chief has a plan that involves you two."
Hearing this, Felix showed his determination. "Whatever you need us to do, we're in."
Nestor confirmed with a nod.
"Good. Follow me."
William led the brothers back into the building, and in the process, the latter discovered the alternate entrance.
"I didn't know the police station had a secret entrance." Felix inquired.
"We mainly use this to move mammals that need to be returned to Zootopia and usually at night."
"But Judy's not a criminal, and you can't wait until dark to move her." Nestor finished.
"Correct. The Chief will be relieved to know that you didn't return home. He had a backup plan but would have preferred the one involving you two."
"No way we're leaving our sister out to dry," Nestor said. "She needs all the support right now, however little and wherever it may come from."
The brothers couldn't see the smile on the goat's face. "I'm happy to hear that."
Once inside the station, William led Nestor and Felix to the lobby, where Lupus and Dorothy were waiting.
The goat announced their presence. "Here they are, Chief."
The wolf turned to see the brothers with the goat and put on a friendly smile. "Ah good, Glad to see you're still here."
"Felix and I are part of the same litter," Nestor said. "We look out for each other no matter what."
"What do you need us to do, Chief?" Felix asked.
Lupus raised a paw. "Just a moment. We're still waiting for the mammal of the hour."
The group didn't have to wait long for Judy to arrive. The grey rabbit carried a crate in her paws containing her police equipment and other documents to pass the time.
"I'm ready." She then noticed Nestor and Felix's presence. "Oh, what are you two doing here?"
Nestor answered. "Chief wants Felix and I involved with his plan."
"Is that so?" Judy set the crate down. "Well, I'm glad to hear that."
"Okay, Chief." Felix addressed. "What's your plan?"
The others gave the wolf their undivided attention.
"We're going to fool the crowd into following Judy." He saw the confused and curious looks and continued. "Those mammals are ready to pounce the moment she steps outside, and we're going to turn that against them." Lupus' eyes then fell on Dorothy, and the others noticed.
The black female rabbit immediately understood her role. While still having concerns, Dorothy knew the wolf would not implement the plan without thinking it through. "I trust you, Chief. What is my part?"
Lupus pointed to her ears. "Switch clothes with Judy, and I'll provide you with grey gloves. The mammals outside know Judy's appearance, so as long as we only show them the ears, they'll think you're her."
Dorothy nodded and turned to Judy with a smile. "I guess that opportunity to be a police officer has arrived. You're lucky that we are similar in size."
Judy giggled in response.
Glad to see no objections so far, Lupus addressed William next. "William."
"Yes, Chief."
"Once Dorothy's in disguise, you will lead her to your vehicle and drive away from the station. Take your time so you can draw as much of the crowd as possible. Of course, protect Dorothy as well. Threaten with jail time or your weapon if they get too close. I will aid in keeping the mammals away but will remain at the station since someone needs to look after the building."
William nodded in understanding.
Finally, Lupus turned to Nestor and Felix. "Once Judy and Dorothy have switched clothes, wait by the side of the building until we come out. While we are distracting the crowd, take your sister to your truck and wait until the right moment to leave. Too soon and they'll see through the trick." The wolf then faced his audience again. "Does everyone understand their roles?"
"Yes, Chief." They all answered.
"Good. The clock's ticking, and there's a storm coming."
Nestor carefully poked his head around the corner of the building to observe the mammals ahead. Behind him were Judy and Felix. The sister had switched out of her police uniform and now wore Dorothy's clothes. She also carried the box of her belongings. Felix was last in line to help move Judy along should she trip.
Nestor brought his head back after observing for a few seconds. "Good. They're still focusing on the front doors."
"How long has it been?" Judy asked.
Felix checked his watch. "Ten minutes since we left the lobby."
Judy's nose twitched in anticipation and frustration. She clutched the crate and grunted. "We don't have much time. What is taking them so long?"
"Patience, sister," Nestor said. "Chief and the others understand that time is not on our side, but they also need to prepare for their roles."
"We need to stay ready as well," Felix affirmed. "They trust us, so we need to trust them."
Judy knew that her brothers were correct. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm down. Being tense will not help her or anyone else for the escape plan. Once relaxed, Judy opened her eyes and focused on the truck.
The noses twitched, and the three fought to keep their feet from thumping. The siblings couldn't watch the doors without exposing themselves and had to rely on their hearing. Then, all at once, their ears perked when the voices started to rise.
Nestor put his paw up and poked his head out. He could see Lupus and William escorting Dorothy to a patrol vehicle. Because of the varying-sized mammals present, Dorothy was hidden from Nestor's view. Nevertheless, the crowd began to protest Judy just as they hoped.
"Go!"
The siblings sprinted to the truck. The loud voices masked the noise from their footsteps and the dirt. Within seconds, the rabbits arrived at the truck and stopped to catch their breath. Now they must wait for the opportunity to drive away.
Nestor remained squatting as he checked on the mammals. "I'm going to go around and open the door. Judy, give your stuff to Felix and hop into the bed once you hear me enter."
Judy nodded in acknowledgment and gave Felix the box. She remained on her knees while her brothers entered the truck. The rabbit only waited a few moments before seeing Felix's paw appear over the side. She grabbed the paw, carefully climbed in, and immediately lay down.
Felix then covered her with blankets and leaned in to whisper. "Are you okay in there?"
"Yes."
"We got the hard part done," Nestor said. "Just stay down and let us take care of the rest."
Their sister nodded and did as told.
The three rabbits didn't have to wait any longer as they heard the police vehicle starting up and moving. Judy wanted to see if her friends were safe but stayed hidden. It pained her that they were being persecuted because of her actions.
A whistle broke through, along with shouts of 'Get back!' and threats of arrest. Judy and her brothers knew the voice belonged to Chief Lupus. Despite being outnumbered, the protestors appeared to be aware of the consequences if they harmed the wolf.
"They're leaving now," Felix called out.
"Let us know when they're on the road." Nestor responded.
Being in the truck bed gave Felix a good view. The white rabbit watched William drive away from the station while Lupus did his best to clear the path. Felix could faintly see Dorothy desperately trying to keep up the disguise.
The drive was initially slow, but thanks to the horn and whistle, William managed to break free and went onto the main road. Once his staff escaped, Lupus quickly returned inside the station to protect the building from the protestors.
"They're gone, and Lupus is back inside." Felix reported.
"Got it," Nestor said. "I'll wait a few minutes before we leave."
Felix carefully raised the blankets. "We're almost out of here, Judy. Hold on for a little longer."
His sister returned a smile.
Within minutes, the mammals had calmed down and began to disperse, knowing their target mammal was no longer on the premises. Their actions gave Nestor the opening he needed.
"Okay, some are leaving. Judy, stay quiet until we reach the road."
Judy tapped the truck to acknowledge.
Taking a deep breath, Nestor started the truck and carefully drove to the road. Adding to Judy's protection, Felix sat where his body would block her from being seen.
The minutes felt agonizing for the siblings, and they were worried about their cover being blown at any point. But Nestor remained focused on driving, Judy remained focused on staying hidden, and Felix remained focused on the potential dangers.
Finally, the truck reached the main road, and Nestor wasted no time increasing the speed. Judy could feel the terrain change but remained silent and hidden. Then, Felix said the words all three longed to hear.
"We're good."
Judy let out a huge sigh of relief and removed the covers. As the rabbit sat up, she managed to catch the view of the police station growing smaller in the distance. A part of her felt sad for leaving her new friends behind, but it was for the best. She would return once the current crisis had passed.
Bunnyburrow Police Station,
Lupus stood in the lobby and waited anxiously for William and Dorothy to return. The wolf felt relieved when seeing Judy and her brothers safely leave the premises. The plan had worked. Thank the heavens, it worked. He still hated sending Judy away, but now was not the time to mull over regrets. Saul will be arriving soon.
The wolf also hoped that William and Dorothy would return before then. But again, he could handle himself, being the police chief. Lupus looked at the revolver and pistol in his paws. The wolf hoped that the appearance of two guns would deter Saul from further action.
Lupus was disrupted from his thoughts when he heard the front doors opening. His whole demeanor went on alert. Both scenarios ran in his mind; hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Only to relax seconds later when William and Dorothy, in her normal clothes, entered. The wolf wasted no time thanking the two.
"First and foremost, thank you both for helping me get Judy out of here. I understand how harrowing it must be." The wolf looked at the rabbit. "Especially for you."
Dorothy placed Judy's uniform on the desk. "I won't lie that it was frightening. Getting a glimpse of what you, William, and Judy go through everyday," She looked between William and Lupus. "The experience made me appreciate all your hard work."
William smiled and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Don't think your work is any less important. You're first in the line of defense, and your impeccable record shows."
Dorothy smiled at the compliment.
"I agree," Lupus concurred. "Now that you are back. We need to prepare ourselves for one angry father."
The pleasant mood instantly evaporated when reality set back in.
"What do you need us to do, Chief?" William asked.
"We need to show Saul that we will retaliate if he tries to threaten the police station. You and I are going to get the rifle and shotgun." Lupus then pushed a smaller pistol towards Dorothy's seat. "Dorothy, you will get two pistols and watch the front doors."
"Yes, Chief." The rabbit said.
Lupus and William ran off while Dorothy hurried to her desk to retrieve the first revolver. The rabbit fumbled with the drawer before finally retrieving the weapon. She checked for the bullets before spinning the wheel and cocking back the hammer.
Next, Dorothy checked the other pistol given to her. It was an M1911, a model she had the opportunity to witness being fired and handling herself. The rabbit knew it was loaded, which was good enough for her. Remembering Lupus' words, aim and fire a warning shot if needed. Dorothy sighed as she gripped both weapons and watched the front doors.
Moments later, Lupus and William returned. The wolf held a repeater rifle and the goat a shotgun. The two also wore ammo belts around the shoulders and waists. Lupus and William stood on opposite sides of Dorothy and faced the doors.
"Are you ready?" Lupus asked.
"Ready." William acknowledged.
"Ready." Dorothy confirmed.
No sooner did he receive confirmation. A loud bang came from the doors. All three mammals saw them buckling against an object. The ramming lasted a few seconds before it went silent. Then, one last loud ram finally caused the doors to flung inward and slam into the wall.
A brown male rabbit stood in the doorway with other mammals watching from behind. Fists clenched. Ears up. Teeth bared. Air forcefully being inhaled and exhaled. Eyes filled with rage.
Lupus, William, and Dorothy watched as Saul stomped into the building and stopped a few steps away.
"WHERE! IS! SHE?!"