Noah clambered out of the bushes he had made a bed out of. The meadows were calm and quiet and the dawn made it look like it was going to be sunny. He feasted on some bread and ham, got up and resumed the path he took.
He travelled through the wilderness where it seemed to stretch on, and on, and on. He finally reached where he could see the road where lay a sign reading Zootopia: Three Miles Onward. He walked the entire day and stopped by a heap of hay bails. For the first time in his life, he felt comfort from closing his eyes resting on something soft.
The next morning he devoured some bread and biscuits and made for the road once again, feeling a stronger sense of freedom as he travelled; no Mrs. Pride, no Mr. Mudway, no elephants, no Blites or Barney, it seemed as if the entire world has opened to him to find what he was looking for. Especially with the food, he packed, he began to feel fattened to health. Nobody had ever mentioned his father being dead so he could only view optimism that his father was in Zootopai somewhere.
The day consisted of muddy paths, crossing through cold rivers, a hot desert (careful so not to get in the way of passing camels), and rafting through what seemed like an ocean, soon to come to shore greeted by a new green hill.
Noah walks for what seemed to be two hours. There were only two biscuits left and there was only a crust of bread. He managed to re-fill his water from the streams he passed, however no matter how much he drank to keep his energy up, it didn't stop exhaustion from his legs.
Finally, he collapsed, but not before making out a little cottage and some figure rushing to him.
He opened his eyes to find himself inside this cottage, on a rocking chair covered by a knitted blanket. There were frames all over the walls of goats young and old and over by the kettle stood the figure. It was an ancient nanny goat in a flowery dress and a blue-checked apron. She turned and smiled at Noah.
"Supper is nearly ready," she said kindly to the fox cub.
"Where am I?" he asked drowsily.
"My little abode," she said. "You collapsed from exhaustion. Not much here, but you are unconditionally welcome."
She places before him some fresh vegetable soup, a slice of bread and cheese and a glass of rich milk.
She watched him eat hungrily, a look of concern.
"What's a young child like you headed to in such a state?"
"Zootopia, ma-am," answered Noah wiping off a milk moustache.
Noah took the last sip of milk as he made himself comfortable.
"I'm too frail to take you there, dear," began the nanny goat, "but I know of a lovely orphanage held a fox. I don't know if he is still there but the orphanage is one where they give predators the respect they deserve. I'd never been there myself for years but I recall the name?"
"What is called, ma-am?" asked Noah.
"Whole Kind Gates," replied the nanny goat. "Zootopia is only down the road form this hill, but you need some rest for now."
Noah woke up early next morning, the nanny goat packing him some fresh bread and cheese. She wished him luck as he made his back to the road and over the hill, waiving to the nanny goat who waved back.
Noah was walking down the path finish the last crumb as he came towards another sign; a map it looked like. Up on top it read Zootopia: Locations.
Noah looked at all of them; Sahara Square, Rainforest District, Tundratown, Little Rodentia, Savanna Central, Meadowlands, Canal District, Marshlands, Nocturnal District, Outback Island. Noah could only make out tiny inscriptions on each of these locations but didn't know what they meant.
As the young fox cub looked on, there standing down below was the welcoming city of Zootopia. His heart enlightened and he ran all the way down to the entrance gates, climbed over them and found himself in a half empty city full of colourful buildings in all shapes and sizes. It really did seem like the very place where anyone could be anything.
Up on a huge screen nearby appeared a very beautiful gazelle in a pink blouse and pink skirt. She looked down smiling and said "I'm Gazelle and welcome to Zootopia."
"Thank you," said Noah shyly. He smiled at this warm welcome, but right now he felt that he needed some rest. He came to a green spot where a beautiful fountain pond was located. He founds some rocks underneath it, crawled inside and closed his eyes for a much needed rest.
"Hey, what's this?"
Noah looked up to see three scout children dressed in green; A giraffe, a beaver and a hippo.
"A homeless predator?" chuckled the hippo.
"Probably makes a living being a one," said the giraffe nastily.
"Hey kid, let's make you look the part," said the beaver.
They grabbed Noah and before he knew it, they were muzzling him, much to his shock for he was hoping the last time he had worn it was the last. He oozed tears as the bullies chuckled is his misfortune. But their glory was short lived when the giraffes short were yanked down, the beaver was pulled by his tail and the giraffe was punched in the face, by a grey flash. They all ran off wailing, groaning and sobbing.
Noah soon made the flash out for a grey young bunny wearing denim shorts, a yellow T-shirt with a blue S imprinted on the front and dark blue baseball cap. He was resting his foot against the rock and stroking it. He looked at Noah and smiled.
"Newcomer to Zootopia I assume?" said the rabbit.
"I thought anyone was welcome here," said Noah. "Even sly foxes like myself."
"Well, that's what Zootopia is know for," remarked the bunny. "A place where anyone can be anything."
"But it seems foxes aren't allowed," said Noah. "Look at me," he remarked pointing at the muzzle. He crouched up and began to to sob.
"Here, now," said the rabbit sitting next to Noah. "You can't let three cadet amateurs take you down like this."
He grabbed the strap of the muzzle and bit into it like a pair of scissors. A garbage truck was passing and with a perfect aim, he chucked it onto the load on the back of it.
"Thank you," said Noah meekly.
"Don't sweat it, kiddo," said the bunny. "You hungry?"
Noah nodded.
The bunny disappeared before Noah's eyes but was instantly back with an apple. Noah took and munched into it gratefully.
"Thank you," he said with his mouthful.
"Always happy to help foxes," said the bunny. "I myself live with a whole group of them, an old fox himself who takes them in and treats like Zootopian citizens, the very same for you if you joined us."
"Really?" asked Noah excitedly. He didn't think he would find a roof over his head in just one day.
"Say and do are two different things, Bush Tail," said the rabbit as he got on his feet and helped Noah up.
"My name is Isaac Carrotford," the bunny introduced. "But everyone subtitles me as the Skipper."
"I'm Noah Sly," Noah introduced as they shook paws. "I'm very grateful for your offer, but a nanny goat told me of an orphanage which I'm looking for."
"What orphanage may that be?"
"Whole Kind Gates."
"Well you've travelled the world and back again," the rabbit chuckled. "That's the very place this old man lives with my companions."
"Oh," reacted Noah unexpectedly. "It wouldn't trouble would it? I've come to seek my fortune in the city."
"No trouble at all, Bush Tail," said the Skipper. "No need for fortune, you've already hit the jack pot! He pays good money for his little job."
"Job?"
"You'll learn as you go along. Let's go."
"Thank you, Mr. Skipper," replied Noah happily.
"Pleasure's all mine," responded the rabbit. "But you can just call me Skips."
Noah followed Skips through an alleyway full of predators acting very weirdly. A very attractive tigress was posing herself and asked Noah what he was staring at and that she was too old for him, Skips shooting her off calling her a very rude, word. Two grizzly bears were wrestling in the corner, others cheering them on and some screaming for the police, a skinny weasel sleeping by a wall, a beer bottle in his right paw, some rough cats were standing together smoking and growing at Noah who backed away but keeping up to Skips.
"Don't mind them, kiddo!" he smiled. "They just don't know you. I'll wager your travelling here was to escape the lion?"
"Lion?"
"You don't know what a lion is?"
"A wild cat?"
"Man, you're primeval. A lion is a judge, a lord, a mayor, anything of high authority. We need to get you some experience and knowledge once we get you settled in."
Finally they reached a building, taller than any of the others, only it was very ancient-looking and nothing compared to the beautiful city out there, but at least it was quite and far from all the ruffians Noah has passed with his new companion. The sign of the orphanage was visible but certain words had fallen off.
"Here's our humble abode," said Skips.
They headed up to the door and Skips knocked.
"Password?" said a voice through the postbox on the door.
"Try Everything," Skips announced.
The door was opened by a fox slightly taller than Noah and perhaps older, around twelve or something. He was wearing a tight-fit T shit with dark blue surrounding neck and short dark blue sleeves and like Noah, he had green eyes.
"What have we here then, Skips?"
"New one," said Skips.
"Where did he come from?"
"Primeval Primary. Is the Barber Figaro here?"
"Upstairs cooking," replied the fox.
Noah was led all the way to the top of the building and not a room full of riches, diamonds, polished wallets and what looked like a money vault in the corner of the room. Skips guided Noah through the people present in the room; all of them fox cubs and older than Noah and a few older than the other fox he met at the front door. They were all chattering, playing cards, drinking from some weird cans and smoking. They joking about and laughing but they all stopped when they all eyed the new ragged fox cub.
Skips guided him to a huge fire place where some rich sausages were sizzling.
"Caught a fresh one for you, Fury!" he announced.
"Fury?" asked Noah.
A snap made him jump back as green smoke floated from one side. Another snap of green smoke appeared on the right. Red smoke erupted from the fire place as Noah watched in fright.
"Nothing to be scared of, Bush Tail," smiled Skips assuringly.
The red smoke whirled and whirled as it transformed into a plum purple cape and a black top hat above it. A paws held it on the left and the figure titled round; an old fox in weird glasses, a magistrate's wig, a grubby looking shirt and strong red trousers, eyed Noah and extended his paw to shake.
"Welcome to our humble abode, my dear!" he hissed through kindness.