What is Normal? Chapter 17: The games, a zootopia fanfic

Judy woke up a bit hungry since she hasn't eaten in a while. She groaned and looked around and saw only darkness and her cage. It was a clean metal cage. 'Must be new.' She thought, again. 'But then again, it is infested with all types of critters.' Then two buffaloes entered letting a little bit of light in. That was the only time where everything was seen inside the room. The room was a large storage room. Grey and unkept. Inside was a whole bunch of cages filled with different small prey mammals. Bunnies, Sheep, Squirrels, Zebras, mice, etc. All were naked and exposed but none cared anymore. "We have your food again." Her eyes darted towards the source of the voice, the buffaloes. They walked over to each cage individually and gave a plateful of the sludge they referred to as food but there wasn't anything else to eat for them. The ones that were new always crashed against their gate trying to get the meal they were so 'graciously' given. The ones that were here longer always leaned towards the back of the cage, Judy also followed this trend. She didn't know why but there was like a little voice that said to stay away.

One of the buffaloes punched against the side of the cage of one of the nearby locked mammals. All that were nearby jumped at the sudden action and started to panic. It was unexplainable but it was impossible to keep calm at this point. The buffaloes laughed at this. "You are all so easy to scare now. I love how easy it is." This enraged Judy but she felt strongly compelled to stay back. She knew she could take them both on... 'But what if I can't, what if I fail? I'll be killed.' The two buffaloes left. Judy looked down on the floor, she couldn't understand why she acted like this, this wasn't normal. She turned to her left, where another mammal was trapped alongside her. At this point they became friends. It was a meerkat named Katherine.

"Ugh, another day in this hell hole."

"Yeah, but I don't think I want to be sent to the next area, you heard the rumours."

"I don't believe them though. Do you really think they would do something so... so... "

"Disgusting, disturbing, uncalled for? Yes, yes I do."

"I hope not, I just want to leave and be done with it. Just live a normal life."

"B-but you're the Judy Hopps. You can't just quit."

"I'm just too scared now, I really don't understand, but I just want to go back home and hide. Forever."

"I-I know what you mean. I just want to stat hidden away forever and never be se-" The doors swung open again.

There stood a raccoon wearing a navy cape with the two buffaloes from before standing behind him."So who wants to leave today? Well there is no point in asking because today we have a special event." He first turned to the buffaloes. "First off, in front of the mammals that are here, I want to show what happens to those that ignore my strict instructions." A bullet was fired and the buffalo on the left dropped to the floor. The raccoon turned to the other one. "Now, do you understand why I did that?"

He was shaking a bit but nodded. "Yes sir, we are to not disturb the participants to avoid any possible outcomes including heart attack."

"Not including, especially heart attack. And with a certain rabbit here, that would extremely unwanted, now wouldn't it. Since rabbits already have an extremely high heart rate. You could've killed that damned rabbit, for what? Your own entertainment? Now normally I overlook such insolence but since you two are too stupid to think about that simple fact, I had to punish the two of you." The raccoon then turned to Judy. He slowly walked towards the cage she was residing in. Every step echoed through the entire room. Everyone stared at the raccoon as he meticulously stepped towards the rabbit. "Speaking of rabbits, we have a police special today. Because of that, you are our guest of honour today." He raised his voice a bit. "Hey, idiot, make yourself useful and take her to the stage."

"Yes master." He rushed towards the cage and lifted it in mere seconds.

"If you are lucky, you will be permitted to leave and don't worry, I know you won't say anything."

"Yes she will. She will help us all." A voice called out from behind. The raccoon turned around bemused.

"So who said that?" He looked around, surveying every cage, to see if anyone would confess.

Katherine stood up. "It was me." Then another mammal stood up and repeated the statement. This continued until about half the mammals all said that it was them. Then in unison they all called out, "We believe in you." A tear formed in Judy's eye, she was in awe. Even in the worst of situations, mammals find the courage to stand together for what they believe in. It was all hope, hope that it will be better.

The raccoon laughed. "Well, if that is the case then clearly we are doing something wrong." He then sighed and left the room. He then closed the door and pulled out his radio. "Get the other one." The cage was brought to an open area with little to interact with. The raccoon walked in a different direction and away from the rabbit. The buffalo then entered a small room and plugged the cage into a small hole in the wall where it was a perfect fit. Afterwards, he opened the cage.

"Good luck, you will definitely need it." was all she heard before the cage was tipped and she was thrust into an indoor garden. She looked around paranoid. She remained an all fours to stay faster and more hidden. Then all of a sudden, all the lights have been illuminated. There were trees for miles.

"Hello Everyone. Today, we have a police special. There is as the escaping prey, who must reach the exit, Officer Judith Hopps. But as you all know, it isn't as simple as just reach the end. Of course there are some hunters in the mix. Three predators as usual, all foxes and all filled with the usual concoction of night howler. However, to make this a show to be remembered, one of them will be her partner, the con-artist turned cop Nicholas Wilde. Today, we will finally see who is truly better."

"Oh no Nick, I completely forgot. A-and h-he i-is completely filled with N-night howler." She started to control her breathing. "J-just avoid everyone and it will be fine." She crawled along, trying to make as little sound as possible, her thoughts drowned out by the panic and stress of the situation. Around her, she saw bushes of berries and trees with fruit. Clearly, it was to ensure that the prey didn't die due to starvation. "They must clearly be thinking through a lot." She skulked towards the fruit and started to pick some of the ripe consumables.

As she gathered some, she ate them as she had nowhere to keep them. She then decided to keep moving as she had to escape, this couldn't be her end. No she had to escape, and if they all have Night Howler in them then they are all savage and thus must be avoided using her cunning and whatever stealth she possesses. After a few minutes of skulking, she then stepped on a twig, just as she heard low level barking.

Elsewhere- Ten minutes earlier.

Nick laid down on his stomach, staring at the vast array of predators that filled the room. They were all confused. One tried to talk to him, a panther. "Hey, w-what is going on here?" Nick retorted by growling then closing his eyes. The caused the panther to recoil and step back. Nick then raised his head, he smelled something approaching. It was a critter, inside his cage. He turned towards it and pounced onto it, all in a matter of seconds. He ate the cockroach, that has wandered into his metal domain. He was commonly hungry due to his heightened metabolism and so resorted to eating whatever he could.

Then, a snow leopard opened the door and looked around for the three contestants she was looking for. "I need two foxes, who is volunteering?" She asked with a sneer of cold command. "No-one? Shame." She looked around again and this time mentally selected two foxes. She then pointed at them. "You and you will do just fine." From behind, three elephants entered with carts. They all approached a cage and placed it on the cart they taken. The third one struggled as he had to try and pick up Nick's cage.

Nick barked and growled, trying to bite the hooves of the elephant. What eventually occurred is that the elephant had a chunk of his hoof bitten off and the cage was carried off by a different elephant, wearing padded gloves to prevent being bitten. His cage was then pushed into a hole in a wall. The elephant gave a small meal to the fox, who ate it quickly. After he ate the food he was given he smelled something in it. 'Night Howler' The cage was then opened and lifted to push the fox out of it. He rolled out of it and growled, trying to jump back.

He slammed his head against a wall as it lowered where the cage resided. Then a whole array of smells hit his nose. There was no way he could identify Judy's scent now, not with the amount of smells that were present. He turned around and waltzed around, searching for things to do.

After a few minutes of pointless motion, he smelled something. A familiar scent that came from recent memory. He walked towards it, not caring for what would happen.

After a few minutes of travelling, he arrived at an open field, where he saw a fox from before turning. Nick looked on in intrigue and walked towards the poor fox. He sniffed the fox and caught a whiff of Nigh Howler from the mammal's mouth. The fox stopped shaking and looked at Nick, who didn't flinch. He stood up and barked at Nick. "What is going on?"

Nick retorted with an array of barks and whines. "You seem to have been affected by Night Howler. Don't worry, I won't hurt you, at least I hope I won't."

The other fox turned his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Instincts are very strong when affected and we don't have full control. But also why are you not attacking me?"

"I don't know, why would I? You seem okay, smell and sight. Maybe it's because we are both foxes."

"Maybe. Weird how us 'ferals' act, isn't it?"

"I guess." The two then turned their heads as they heard something move and smelled something different.

"Food."

"Judy."

Both spoke simultaneously, reacting to the smell the have received. The unnamed fox then charged towards it, Nick followed shortly after. Although both had improved speed and endurance, due to Nick's training as an officer of the law, he was slightly faster, letting him catch up and floor the fox before he could hurt Judy. "What the hell? I want food."

"You won't hurt her."

"It's rabbit though, rabbit is tasty."

"Do you hear yourself? What are you saying?"

"I don't care, I will eat rabbit, and if I must go though you I will." The two took defensive stances and stared each other down.

"I can't let you eat her. Not my Judy."

He then looked at the other fox's legs to ensure that he could react to whatever action would occur. Then he heard the bush start to rustle, he turned to see Judy look through it. He barked aggressively towards her. "RUN!" Of course she didn't understand. He turned back to see the other vulpine launching himself at Nick. He reacted as best as he could by swiping his claw at the running fox's side, who just bit into Nick's shoulder.

Judy's POV

She poked her head through the bush, where she saw two foxes staring each other down. One turned quickly and barked, before turning back and being bitten. The two foxes rolled around with each other in their jaws. "Wow, what looked like an unlikely alliance ended up in conflict, who would've seen that coming."

They then let each other go and one fox charged at the other. This time, the other fox reacted in time by grabbing one of the front paws in his jaw and throwing the attacker away. She decided that now was a great time to flee. She turned around and started to run.

She run by weaving her body between trees, just in case she was chased. She taken a chance and turned around, only to see that there was no-one there. She kept running, hoping that it was safe now.

She slowed down as her body was starting to ache. She was starting to get exhausted. She kept moving at a slower pace until she noticed she went into a corner. "No." She turned around and then heard a growl. She couldn't see the fox, who was currently stalking her. She looked around, stepping back, closer to the wall. "She seems to be cornered now, I guess this is the end for our 'HERO OF ZOOTOPIA' Farewell Judy Hopps. HAHAHAHAHAHA. You won't be missed."

Then a fox revealed itself in the tall grass, baring its teeth and crawling slowly towards the trapped rabbit. A growl emitted from the throat of the fox, until it jumped.

Nick's POV

Nick noticed the fox about to leap through the vegetation and sprinted in that direction. He heard the growl and knew what was about to happen. He charged faster and faster, avoiding the odd branch on the ground. He saw the fox leap into the air and coiled his legs to try and catch him in the air.

He pounced into the air and then aimed his jaw towards the fox's neck. His teeth clipped the fur of the fox and then his jaw clamped shut as best as it could. His teeth cut through the skin and slightly through the throat. The two foxes crashed onto the ground not too far away and Nick let go off the now choking fox. He barked with remorse. "I'm sorry."

A tear rolled down the suffocating fox's cheek. Nick turned around and walked towards Judy, who was still sitting in the corner, cowering in fear. He walked closer calmly. She placed her paws in front of herself and begged in a shaky panic. "Don't eat me." Nick turned his head askew and then leaned in towards the paws. She brought her paws closer to her chest. He leaned in further and licked the paws. After licking the paws a few times, he leaned in to the face and rubbed his admittedly bloody cheek against hers. This caused her to open her eyes.

Judy's POV

She opened her eyes and saw the emerald eyes of the fox before her. "I'm alive?" She then looked closer at the unclothed fox. "N-Nick? Is that you?" The fox nodded slowly. She jumped up instantly and hugged the fox. Her hug was tight and quick. "We need to get out but there is another fox out there. I-I can't fight, I'm too scared." Nick licked her nose then opened his mouth. He turned his head and wrapped his mouth gently around the rabbit's torso.

"Nick? NICK?" He slowly closed his mouth just enough to have a grip but not enough to cut the skin. He then turned his head upright and walked with the rabbit in his grasp. "Oh, you want to just carry me. Th-that's okay, I guess. Just don't hurt me." Nick whined in response. He carried the rabbit and walked cheerfully towards a more open field. He looked around moving his head as little as possible to avoid swinging the rabbit that was in his maw too much.

She looked around and saw something in the distance. She looked closely and noticed it was another fox heading this way. She then whispered with fear clearly in her voice. "Hey, another fox is coming." Nick tried to respond but didn't make any noise. Then he shook his head a bit to force the rabbit to go limp. She got the message and played dead in his jaw. She steadied her breathing and hung her limbs down to the ground.

The fox approached and barked at Nick. Nick responded by whining and making muffled noises due to him holding Judy in his mouth. The other fox then sniffed the rabbit, who tried her best not to react. She held still for as long as possible but then when she was licked behind the ear, she reacted by shuddering silently. The fox looked up and barked. Nick responded again the put the rabbit on his back.

She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck as he sped off. The other fox then followed as much as he could, but since he just turned, he was slower, much slower. Nick then leaned forward to let the rabbit jump off. Judy proceeded to do so, confused at why she should. Nick then turned around and walked back a bit.

The other fox caught up eventually, but was much less built then Nick. He proceeded to throw himself to claw Nick but Nick countered by headbutting the belly of the pouncing vulpine. The fox then fell to the ground, where Nick then threw his paws to scratch the floored fox. Streaks of blood splattered all over the floor.

"Seems that Nicholas Wilde has acted more uniquely than we expected. Well, at least we saw a great fight between two savage foxes, right ladies and gents?"

Nick returned and leaned forward to let the lagomorph climb back on. His paws now red as well from the blood he was in contact with. He then raised his body and started to walk in the direction he assumed was the exit.

"Well, you won't believe this, I'm getting news that we are shoving a grizzly bear and a few other things in there. This could be interesting."

"That's not good." Judy moaned. She tightened her grip. "You'll protect me, right?" Nick nodded slightly, unsure fully if he could.'Wait, why am I asking? I can protect myself. But that is a bear. And even Nick might die.' She started to panic. 'I don't want him to die.' She started to breathe heavily. Nick slowed down and tried to look at the bunny. With how close his muzzle was, he stuck his tongue out and licked the bunny's face. "Nick! Not now." She giggled. Nick then continued on his path.

Then, the Nick suddenly stopped. His head turned left and right violently as his ears shifted quickly. Judy then proceeded to try and listen. She heard slight rustling from her left but nothing from her right.

Nick's POV

Nick smelled a few mammals around him. If he was to guess, the three mammals were an otter, a wolf and a panther, however the humidity of the area messed with his smell. He heard noises to his left right and in front of him, however the quietest was the path before him. With the knowledge he had, he decided that going forth was the best idea. He ran forwards, hoping his deductive reasoning and gamble will pay off.

He darted forwards and crashed head-first into a panther. "Uh oh." He heard from behind him. Nick then turned around to see a wolf. The two savage mammals then charged at the fox, who jumped to the side. "I'm so glad you have some form of cognitive thought." Judy stated out of the blue. The two savage mammals then proceeded to fight each other.

Nick was about to turn but then his leg was caught by something. He turned and saw an otter. He flung his leg and then caught the otter in his jaw. The otter scratched Nick's skin, causing him to lightly recoil and drop the otter. This also caused Judy to fall. She was now lost to Nick's sight and so was the otter.

Judy's POV

She picked herself up and surveyed her area. Behind her was a tree, a barren tree with no leaves. Around her were a bunch of sticks and branches. She was now extremely scared. Her one safeguard was now gone. She assumed the fetal position and sat under the tree. Then she heard hissing.

She looked towards the direction of the aggressive noise. Then she saw the otter. It leapt towards the rabbit, who narrowly avoided the attack and picked up a stick. The otter attacked again, but was blocked by the stick under his neck. She ducked and rolled right just as the stick snapped, once again avoiding becoming rabbit strips. She grabbed another branch from the ground.

The otter lunged again but this time got a hit in the face, sending him to his left. The otter growled and stood back up. He circled the rabbit for a good 30 seconds. The rabbit was getting worried and paranoid, causing her to audibly gulp.

The otter pounced at the rabbit again, who raised her branch towards the otter. This caused the otter to land in the stick, piercing his throat heart and stomach. The otter went limp on the stick, first going unconscious from the pain. Judy dropped her weapon and backed away. She turned away rapidly, disturbed by what she saw. Her paws started to shake fiercely. She grabbed her head, trying to comprehend what just happened. Then she started to vomit.

"That's one way to quickly make a kebab. Looks like the rabbit still can fight."

Nick's POV

Nick ran around the area, trying to find the precious bunny. He started to worry something happened. His head darted in all directions. Then he smelled a stronger, more putrid smell. He headed towards it, hoping it was Judy still alive.

"That's one way to quickly make a kebab. Looks like the rabbit still can fight."

He sprinted then after hearing that. He then saw a vomiting rabbit. He slowly walked towards her and created a small whine. Judy jumped and turned around. Then she finished vomiting. "Nick, thank everything you are back." She hugged the fox tightly with tears in her eyes.

Nick then heard something, something from behind him. He turned around and saw a bloody wolf, standing there. The wolf howled before turning to the fox. He limped slowly closer then bared his teeth. Nick reciprocated the action. Nick quickly looked at his opponent and noticed that the left side was heavily damaged and bleeding fast. Nick stood still and waited for the wolf to charge.

The wolf proceeded to do exactly that and tripped as his injured leg couldn't carry his weight. Nick then pounced at the fallen wolf and ripped a chunk out of the wolf's right side with his teeth, weirdly swallowing what he ripped out.

Nick turned back to Judy and licked his lips, to try and clean the blood from that area. He then leaned down to let Judy climb on. Nick trekked on to try and reach the exit.

After a few minutes of wandering, he saw a few lights that pointed to a small door. "The exit!" Judy exclaimed before they both heard a roar from that direction. Nick took a step back, knowing what was there. Judy wondered why Nick stepped back then remembered, the only mammal left was a bear. A Grizzly Bear.

The brown bear stepped out of the trees and looked at the fox and rabbit duo.

Judy's POV

'Oh no, we are gonna die, we are gonna die!' Her thoughts were demotivating her further. She didn't know how to act here so she just held on tight. She felt Nick turn around and sprint into the artificial forest. The bear followed behind and was slowly catching up. Nick growled. He started turning around trees, making tight turns to ensure their escape.

The bear roared in frustration, while still chasing the smaller pair. "Why do bears have to be so fast?!" Judy questioned. After a few minutes of this, Nick saw the exit again and charged towards it. He hoped that he could make it.

Then the door swung open, and there stood a raccoon with an assault rifle. "GET DOWN NICK!" He yelled, before pulling the trigger. Nick dropped and a barrage of bullets blitzed the bear, bursting the bubbly flesh that was attached to the bear's bones. However, the noise was nothing more than the sound of a BB gun.

Judy rolled off of the fox then asked the raccoon, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"I'm your partner and I'm here to save you both." He then chuckled. "I see I bear-ly made it." Judy groaned at the joke and the three headed off.

"Thanks Jacob. We owe ya."

Jacob's POV

"Ya owe me nothing. You would do the same for me." Judy smiled, before collapsing to the floor. Jacob was about to pick her up and carry her but Nick stepped over and leaned down. He barked. Jacob nodded and picked up the rabbit, before placing her on the fox's back. The two proceeded to walk out of the area. Jacob pulled out his phone and called Fenrir. He reasoned that if he called an ambulance then the police would be involved. He couldn't risk that then try to explain what he was doing.

"Who is this?"

"Unlikely ally."

"Oh, it is good to hear from you again, I feared that the worst may happen."

"I need help, medical help."

"Not good, I'll send the doc to come as soon as possible. 5-10 minutes."

"Good. Thanks."

"Don't worry about it friend and no, nothing is owed. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for 'Zero'."

"Good, I'm pretty sure Koslov wants to use me later, so it could be difficult to convince him against it."

"Yeah, but a bullet is usually convincing."

"I hope it won't come to that. Goodbye." Jacob hung the phone. "5 minutes Judy, just live." They walked up a set of stairs until they reached an exit. "Come on, we're outside, you'll make it." Nick lowered himself and placed the sleeping Judy down. He then wrapped himself around the rabbit and licked her.

Two minutes later, a car arrived. Inside was a honey badger. She stepped out. "What's the iss- HER?!"

The honey badger groaned but proceeded to help drag the lagomorph into the car. The vulpine followed as well. She looked at the fox disapprovingly then at Jacob. "Wherever she goes, he goes. Unless you want to fight a savage fox that is." He then taken off his bag and handed it to the doctor. "These are their belongings, mainly clothes."

"Thank you, I tend to not have any spare clothes so this will be useful." Jacob watched as the car drove off.

He then proceeded to return to his car, happy that he has rescued the famous duo. He entered his car and pulled out his phone. He dialled the police and gave an anonymous tip about the place he was just at. After that he drove off, to return home. 'Tomorrow is another day.'

A/N:I have not written for this story in so long, with all the winding sub-plots seeming unconnected. It really is difficult to focus on one chapter.

Also, I want people to review this style of storytelling, Where perspectives switch rapidly in the middle of the chapter. Honest opinions because if it is liked I might do more of it.

But hey, Jacob found them and got them out safely just like he vowed. He isn't a mammal to give up.

Other than that, I do really want to apologise for not writing too much for this story.

And with that, I'm gonna go. I will see you all in the next one. Have a good one guys.