Spring Equinox Festival.
Cindy Hopps watched the strange thing carefully.
It wasn't here last night before her father insisted she and her nine littermates go to bed. Colorful and decorated in many colors which was what caught her eye soon as she hopped into the main hallway on this level of the burrow. It was oval-ish with one end slightly larger than the other; if grandma was here she'd say it was as big as when she was born. She touched it with a paw and it gently rocked for a moment until it settled back on one spot. Her curiosity was almost satisfied until something caught her attention, her ears turning instinctively towards it.
Somewhere down the hallway a commotion was occurring and judging by the sound it was headed her way. Moments later it became clear what it was.
Several of her siblings were chasing another thing remarkably similar to this thing she was sitting next to. Wither they were purposely batting it or it stubbornly escaped their paws she wasn't sure of, but it was clear it remained wholly in one piece. She quickly pushed her thing against the wall, placing her body between it and the wildly moving mass of bunnies that quickly passed her by and moments later disappeared out the front door.
She waited, letting her ears move one direction then the other, trying to determine if they were coming back or another group would be coming her way. It was about half her littermates that just passed by, those most likely to be active and getting into mischief. She wondered where the other half of her litter was.
"Good morning Miss Cindy. What do you have there?"
She smiled. It was Grand Tracker Marquis and the elder wolf was smiling with a strange twinkle in his eyes.
"Good morning Mr. Marquis. I found this... thing... and my siblings just passed by chasing something similar. This wasn't here last night and I haven't figured it out just yet. Do you have any idea what it is?"
The elder wolf sat down on his haunches and looked at the strange thing. "Let's use our minds and see what we can deduce. What can you tell me?"
She put a small paw to her chin. "It moves when I push it and comes back."
"Ah... so it isn't difficult for you to do that. Can you lift it?"
She grasped both paws around it and pulled up. A smile creped upon her muzzle but a moment later she put it back down, sitting next to it and huffed.
"So it is a bit heavy for one so young, but not so heavy that your siblings can't chase it through the burrow. Good thing they are outside, grandma just might have pulled their ears for running through the burrow like that."
"Where is grandma? Momma and daddy were not in bed when I woke up."
At that moment Bridget walked out from the kitchen and smiled at the little doe. "What do you have there, Cindy?"
The little bunny raced over and hugged her grandmother's leg, receiving a kiss and her maternal mark shortly afterwards. The elder doe walked her back to the strange object which the wolf kept from rolling away.
"I don't know, grandma. Mr. Marquis was helping me figure it out. We know it moves, I can pick it up but only a little bit, and it's pretty."
The two elder mammals smiled.
"She will make a fine scientist someday" the wolf said as he gently patted the young does' head.
"Perhaps we should wait until she is grown up. There's so much life to live before she travels down that path" Bridget said as she bent over to get a better look at the object.
"Grandma, do you know what it is?"
The elder doe exchanged glances with the wolf. "We do indeed. But it would be wrong for us to reveal it. Here's a hint... what day is it today?"
Cindy rubbed her chin for a moment. Then a smile crossed her muzzle as her ears flew up. "It's Easter! Then this must be..."
She grasped the colorful thing with both paws. "This is an Easter egg."
Her grandmother hugged her as the wolf gently patted her head between her ears.
"Congratulations, young one. I knew you would figure this out all on your own" the wolf said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"But I had help."
The wolf picked her up and sat her on his lap, his foot keeping the egg corralled.
"We all need help from time to time. The teams were up all night putting netting up and hiding these throughout the burrow and..."
The young does' ears perked up. "There are more of these?"
"Yes. Most of the others have already been found by your siblings. You and Ginny are normally late risers on weekends so we made certain both of you had a fair chance to discover an egg for yourselves. Ginny is in the other room decorating her egg, guess she thought it needed something more."
At that moment said little doe stuck her head out the nearby doorway.
"Sis can you... oh, you found one too! Bring yours in here, there's tons of stuff to put on it to make it much prettier."
Cindy slipped off his lap and with encouragement from the wolf rolled the egg into the room her sister was in. She entered stopping suddenly and looked around the room. There was several cauldrons half-full of liquid each a different color, several more of granular things and along the wall were wire racks some still holding eggs in various stages of drying or decorating. Hung haphazardly throughout the room were towels drying on racks or various shelves as if the user was too busy to properly place them. This room was a mess but it seemed orderly as well.
A few of the Trackers and Scavengers were in here, obviously decorating a batch of eggs and had just put a batch onto a metal rack. An Arctic fox and a Gray fox, both vixens, stepped next to the bunnies and asked how they would like to decorate the egg. Ginny had stopped Cindy's egg and both young bunnies picked up the egg and put it on a table, then listen to the vixens as they described what each cauldron contained and how they could make the egg something they liked. Soon both bunnies were happily doing something with the eggs and Bridget suggested they could be left alone with these females, besides she had something she said the wolf needed to do.
Grand Tracker Marquis kissed both bunnies on their forehead and left the room, and then found his ear grasped by the elder doe and pulled mercilessly towards the medical room. He was protesting against something call a vaccination but his words fell on deft ears.
Mindy found this holiday strange but Ralph assured her the eggs would not be wasted. When the egg hunt for the day ended he and his siblings would go and collect them, especially those not found and put them into the large refrigerator. Since rabbits didn't eat eggs these would be donated to the orphanage and a few would be sold at the Hopps vegetable stand the next day. Those that were cracked but the insides not exposed would be given to the predator neighbors that afternoon. This year with the outcasts from the caverns below living on the farm these were not being forgotten and were participating in the festivities, the last batches were being prepared and decorated for those that were out on a mission.
Years ago there once was a craze about using wooden eggs painted in pastel colors but for the Hopps family it didn't have the same feel. There was something about putting the effort into boiling and decorating real eggs that made it worthwhile. Today these wooden eggs were used as trophies, something that could be kept by the finder and played with all year long. Some Hopps siblings had a few of these wooden eggs and the older ones had family of their own and brought their kits to the farm, watching their kits find their own wooden egg to treasure. Albert and Opal decided only bunnies 5yrs old and older could hunt for these wooden eggs, by then they would be mature enough to understand that not everyone would find a wooden egg and they would have another chance next year.
A commotion from the direction of the old burrow told them their litter had discovered the eggs hidden on the first level, and now most likely chasing the runaway thing somewhere outside the burrow. Even though her mother were keeping an eye on them, Mindy still couldn't help but keep an eye towards the burrow. Ralph was as well but hid his glances a bit more effectively masked. Their litter was still a few months old and would get lost if eggs were hid outside, thus hiding their first Hide-n-Seek in the burrow was a wise choice. Someone simply forgot to lock the door.
Judy and Nick were here along with their daughters, Marilyn and Caroline. John and Jackie, Marilyn's paternal grandparents were here. Gary and Wendy Dennison, Caroline's paternal grandparents were here and brought some of their cubs that were still unmarried. Carl and Kimberly Wintersprite, maternal grandparents of Marilyn & Caroline were here and brought along Kathrin who was studying to become a private investigator. Once Marilyn and Caroline understood the rules of the game they were dashing around competing with the bunnies trying to find more eggs than the others, especially the wooden ones.
Kathrin was taking notes and watching the festive activities. It was interesting how hiding eggs varied with the age of the bunnies; she asked Judy if the yearlings were allowed an egg hunt to which the ZPD officer replied that these were purposely restricted indoors. Thereafter the hunts were divided by age groups and these varied each year mostly because not every sibling of hers would have a litter each year and now that rabbits weren't hunted and eaten it would be disastrous if rabbits kept their ancestral multiplying. Now married couples had medicine to limit their reproductiveness which also greatly increased their sex life.
Bonnie smiled as she watched her grandkits run around searching for the colorful and richly decorated eggs. She enjoyed the small victories as one-by-one the treasures were found, recalling her own kithood memories doing this with her siblings. It was her younger litters still living at home that hid the eggs and kept track where each session were hid. Rule of Thumb was no egg could be hid beyond the first field; the orchard and small vineyard nearest the burrow were acceptable hiding places. Each session normally took 90 minutes from hiding eggs to the last one brought in; normally two Hide-n-Seek were completed before Noon and a few more afterwards.
As the morning wore on the damaged eggs were put on ice and these foxes were allowed to eat any they wanted, which for the first few dozen were devoured as soon as they were brought in. Sometime around noon Gideon showed up to see if any eggs were available for sale; this was an opportune time to make egg salad and he was going around a few burrows checking and buying damaged eggs before by legal standards he couldn't use them. Egg salad kept well in the new commercial refrigerator he just had installed, something that would save him time and could be sold at a moment's notice for the summer picnic season.
By now the Dennison's and Wintersprite's ate their fill and had reserved a few dozen of the undamaged eggs to take home, insisting making payment upfront as society would judge them harshly if they did not. Foxes had to be very careful not to tempt Murphy and his laws hence the payment. Albert and Opal didn't mind these foxes reserving the eggs, they were happy knowing these would not go to waste and Gideon didn't mind the fox relatives had first dibs. The baker fox kept in touch with the Dennison's and Wintersprite's because he was trying to expand his customer base and he almost had enough business to hire an employee or take on a partner, which option he was undecided at the moment. The Elders of the Burrow assured him any damaged eggs suitable to be eaten they would refrigerate overnight and the baker-fox could collect them at his leisure, if he wanted any unsold undamaged eggs he had first dibs on them.
By the time the sun decided to set along the western horizon Mindy and Ralph's litter had worn themselves out. Mindy's sister, Kimberly came home from a mission and enjoyed helping put them in a cuddle pile. After putting a blanket over them she went to see how her mother and sister's day went. Opal, Elizabeth, and Bonnie was here and offered the young doe carrot juice and toast with marmalade. Grand Tracker Marquis stepped into the room and listened to how the recon mission back into the Dark Underground caverns went. He had several teams making discrete intrusions into their former homeland on behalf of General Rommel's plans for the upcoming campaign against the Council of the Twelve.
They were lucky thus far, the stealth units they were using borrowed from the GSD enabled his teams to get by the additional guards placed at every access tube, especially those known only to Trackers and security. Thus far Tracker Kimberly was proving suitable to lead several teams, a position he would personally assign her if and when the Council of Twelve was overthrown. Her skillset clearly had evolved enough to be a mission leader, and he wanted her as such.
It had been a much harsher winter than normal, harder not due to the weather but due to the conflict raging between the Dark Council and Zootopia's government. City Hall decided a special celebration was in order so they inquired discretely many of the shop owners. Thanks to the recent operation in Pachydermia the empress were willing to send cocoa beans as many as they wanted. Thus the local chocolatier shops was able to make that delectable treat in as many formulations in any amount, something the shopkeepers had said would greatly please the citizens. The recent war against the Kodiak Grizzlies brought another unexpected addition to the celebrations: honey. Marcie Strongpaw, Great Mother of the Svalbear Empire decided to show her appreciation for the Zootopians by sending a large batch of the very best honey in her empire. Candy makers were happy beyond belief, those bears had the best honey in the entire world and to receive it was an incredible stroke of luck.
Shopkeepers decided this year that to minimize unsold chocolate was have the citizens place orders for specific treats. One of the most favorite was something that annoyed rabbits every Spring Equinox: chocolate bunnies. Milk chocolate in any size was the paws-down favorite, but white chocolate or dark chocolate was a perennial favorite. It wasn't unusual to have a variety pack of small squares of chocolate in several flavors, this year these were to be in the holiday shapes of bunnies, ducks, lambs, and flowers. This year's most unusual request was to have a lamb in white chocolate instead of bunny, something most citizens couldn't fathom.
Mr. Big was with his lieutenants in the Blue Ice Palace, they had been surprisingly productive considering the ongoing disruption caused by the Dark Underground. He had made a secret bargain with the Empress of Pachydermia as well as the Great Mother of the Svalbear Empire. He paid a good price for the chocolate and honey as such he got a decent amount of the very best. As a businessmammal he knew not to drive the price below a certain amount, after all the value paid always reflected the value one placed on what was being purchased. The Arctic shrew made certain either side was neither cheated nor excessive usury.
He smiled satisfactory as Little Judy enjoyed tasting a little of everything in her basket. Fru Fru kissed her father for giving her the favorite treat she adored since kithood, kissing her husband as well for the other treat she received earlier that morning. Now everyone was enjoying the holiday soup Grandmama always made that prevented tummy aches from eating too much of the holiday sweets. Ziva Big kept her eyes on the polar bears as she was traditionally tasked with ensuring the hired help was properly fed, and in regards to this holiday it meant ensuring they received proper treats. Svalbear Honey was her treat this year, something Colette assured her was the proper thing to do. Polar bears may not by ancestral standards eat honey but there was something deep inside every bear that desired the golden treat.
Ramington Steele, wolf and owner of Details-R-Us Detective Agency sat in the rarely used lounge in the back of the building. Charlotte Fields, the elderly Ewe and secretary that faithfully kept their trainees motivated, sat nearby. She enjoyed his usual gift of a large basket of assorted chocolate sweets. A roaring fire crackled and popped in the fireplace over in the far wall, it would not be unexpected for some of their former students to stop by to enjoy the holiday. At the moment several of their current trainees were sitting nearby and updating what they had been doing recently.
Janis Wallow, a female swine. Mindy Riverbay, a female river otter. Rachel Canny, a red fox vixen. These three were enjoying some of the sweets from the large basket the ewe insisted sharing with them. They had brought a gift for their mentors, something they were certain their subtle inquiry pried at least one item each of that was a favorite of these older mammals. Mr. Steele gave these females his best hustler smile, how they discovered marshmallow peeps were his favorite when he left clues to the contrary was testament to his teaching. Who would have figured the ewe enjoyed Swedish fish over anything chocolate?
When the three students PI's left, the wolf and ewe weren't surprised they went into the Italian eatery. It was nice knowing the group bonded well and had habits together outside the assignments they were sometimes given. Charlotte kept nibbling on her Swedish fish which the wolf merely grinned.
"Keep this up and soon you'll develop fangs."
He endured a hoof slapping his chest.
"These are neither flesh nor gelatin therefore I'm in no danger of becoming such. They are food of the gods... want some?"
She chuckled knowing that although he liked the flavor it was the bits of the candy that always stubbornly stuck to his teeth that he detested. Toothpicks were made for a reason and she sometimes wondered why he had an aversion to the wooden ones. Oh well, his refusal meant there were more for her. She smiled; his subtle hint at a prey eating fish was his way of humor and continuing their friendship. As she nibbled on a grape-flavored fish she went about her clerical duties, there was work to be done and the wolf already busy doing research on their next case.
Jonathan and Emma Longears, patron and matron of the Longears Family, were tending to their guests. Marcie Strongpaw and her attaché Magnus Southpaw were visiting this week. This gave the Great Mother of the Svalbear Empire a break after making her diplomatic trip to the Zootopians, something she always enjoyed to visit her long-time ally. It also gave them a chance to fish for salmon in streams normally not where her subjects would be; it was refreshing knowing she was not interfering in another bear's fishing, not counting her entourage. The Longears didn't mind the empress wading into the streams and making her lunges at the quick and slippery Aquarians. Those salmon that succeeded evading her jaws were inspected further upstream and any that were injured were removed, their eggs and semen removed so at least the next generation could retain sufficient diversity in genetics. These were also used to reseed streams that had for whatever reason failed to have salmon runs. It was not known why these salmon made their end of life spawning run in the springtime, scientist theorized it was the action of a glacier eons ago that somehow trapped and frozen an ancient run. It could have been by the paws of a mad scientist sometime in the last century.
Whatever the reason the streams in the Longear Territory had two salmon runs each year, it was something Jonathan and Emma tried to keep secret if nothing more than to preserve the natural order of things. Their Svalbear allies always had first dibs as did any bear that worked regularly in their lands; the ambassador sent a list of recommendations to the Great Mother explaining in detail why any of her subjects was being demoted to a waiting list. With the new treaty making the Zootopians allies Jonathan and Emma took Marcie Strongpaw advice: Svalbears working in the Longears Territory or directly for the Longears government had privileges to the first week of salmon fishing. All other bears in the Svalbear Empire and the mammals in Zootopia-controlled areas had fishing privileges starting the second week.
Currently negotiation with the Vulpinstan Empire were ongoing, mostly to determine if they would be allowed in the third week or partially in the second week. Expanding access for mammals that historically never entered the empire was something demanded careful consideration, this due mostly to their new relationship with the Empress of Pachydermia.
Marcie and Magnus were using this visit as their holiday escape. The Great Mother had briefly returned to the capitol and performed the official opening ceremony for the Spring Equinox Festival and afterwards discreetly departed.
Clifford and Margret Rorschach sat on the balcony watching their grandcubs frolicking below. Every holiday was a treat and they never tired of watching their family enjoy the warming days that Spring brought, in a couple months the hot days of Summer would beat down and like most mammals they would seek shelter. Thanks to the recent discovery where the family fortune had been hustled and conned, these elder foxes now could treat their young ones to a proper holiday.
As always the young of their staff were allowed to romp around, in ancient times this was forbidden but it changed when Margret married into the family. It was a Wilde Family tradition to have friends enjoy holidays together and each family brought something to serve at the brunch. Thus it was her insistence that the servants be allowed to join in with the festivities. The additional cubs of various ages made the baroness pleased, and in her opinion it brighten the atmosphere and families that had few cubs blended in with those that had many.
Rhon Rorschach, who was the most studious in handling his own finances thus favored by the baron, sat next to his parents watching the young below. He also held the title of steward, which meant he oversaw his family's fortune in place of the Wilde-Hopps who because of their obligations to Zootopia and the Council of Elders couldn't be in Vulpinstan daily. He enjoyed working with his parents every day now that his official title allowed him into the daily discussions. He had access to the GSD agents operating on the estate and sent messages through them when he needed the Wilde-Hopps authorization for something. Through this he got to know Director Wilde quite well and she made sure his messages went through quickly.
At the moment the three foxes were watching a small group of bunnies running around. These were the young of the ambassador and his staff; they also were the young of Melissa Leporidae and Janice Rosenberg. These were Mr. Big's employees and since he was up here on official business they came along to enjoy the holiday from a different perspective. The bunnies were moving quickly throughout the estate, at least within the walled-in areas. The young foxes were no slouches and finding most of the hidden eggs, probably because they were more familiar with the area.
Margret decided to have a hunt solely for the visiting bunnies; this would give them a better chance to find the special eggs they could redeem for a treat. She also did this to butter up to Mr. Big, who insisted it was unnecessary. Janice and Melissa simply enjoyed their kits romping around someplace new, the treat to them was happy kits.
Beside the egg hunt Vulpes enjoyed chasing rabbits. This was a pricy endeavor because the rabbits were hired every year and the company that managed them kept track from the starting line to the final rabbit to be caught. Rules were simple: the route was twenty miles of grass-covered track that went through valleys, through woodlands, over multiple hills, across streams some of which required all runners to swim across. Rabbits had a head-start and when they were a good distance ahead the foxes were allowed to start. This was somewhat like a marathon: the goal was to catch a rabbit before they could cross the finish line. No harm was allowed to befall the rabbit other than a sprain due to falling or the act of grasping the bunny. Every fox had to watch a video before the start and sign his-her signature signifying they understood the rules and proper handling of the *prey* they caught.
It was not unusual for both sexes of foxes and rabbits to participate as it made the chase more interesting, but for obvious reasons more todds participated than vixens. As far as rabbits it varied year to year, reasons were not as clear-cut. Some thought does enjoy the thrill of being chased and some thought it was for the challenge of beating a fox to the finish line. Previous runners simply said they enjoyed catching a rabbit as much as they enjoyed the challenge of beating the Lapin to the finish. Last year's race had several couples disqualified; they were discovered snuggled under bushes... and they were mixed species.
The king of Vulpinstan allowed the Zootopians to run in this year's chase, but only in the marathon and jogging-walking events. This was to thank them for ridding his kingdom of the underground invaders, even though the tasking was still in progress.
This year because of the battle going on in the great city of Zootopia and its surrounding ecosystems, some of the rabbits that normally participated as the prey were injured thus the replacements were undergoing training, the king of Vulpinstan granted them special privileges to run the route multiple times. After all, the route was not marked except for small signs indicating a change in direction and in past races it was not unusual for a rabbit to become confused while evading a fox hot on its tail. Once caught the bunny had to switch bandanas with the fox, and the fox was allowed to catch another bunny but only those that were ahead when the Lapin met its fate; the second rabbit caught traded its bandana with anything the rabbit wanted, usually it was the clothing the fox wore. Rare was it when a fox succeeded in catching more than one rabbit, but it didn't deter some from trying. To some it was worth the glory of crossing the finishing line with a very rare proof of catching two rabbits, worth crossing completely naked. It was not known how long ago this became tradition, in the early years the fox had to carry the rabbit to the finishing line to be properly credited.
Rabbits caught were allowed to continue running to finish the race where they would receive applause from the mammals watching and a token for completing. Shame was only in not finishing the chase, especially sulking away as this was considered dishonorable and the rabbit would have to appear before a panel of race veterans to explain its actions if it wanted to run in next year's chase.
During the chase the rabbit was allowed to use any tactic to evade the fox or foxes, they were allowed to kick said fox but could not break limbs or other bones. If this happened the Lapin was required to call for medical help and remain with the injured fox. The rabbit kept its bandana but could not finish the chase until the fox was in proper medical paws. Usually by that time the jogging group reached the position and said bunny simply joined them to finish the chase which by now was officially over. Finishing kept the rabbit in good standing thus no shame and an automatic acceptance in the next year's chase.
Foxes that harmed a rabbit in any manner considered suspicious went before a board to explain their actions, those suspected of intentionally harming a rabbit was beheaded as foxes had a bad enough reputation and this would make it worse. Especially among rabbits who normally returned to be the prey in the following years chase. This probably explains why fox families in Vulpinstan had a law firm on retainer and in recent years purchased mammals to follow their chaser-fox(s) videotaping them as they ran the course. This year the wealthiest families hired drones to record their chaser-fox; this proved much smoother video and as long as they received a copy of the entire chase they didn't mind what the operator did otherwise. Many operators sold their multi-directional camera views to any participant that discovered his services.
The chase started off with the cap-gun firing off it smoky and very loud bang.
Lots of rabbits raced forward and soon were not to be seen. Soon as the last rabbit left foxes walked up and took places along the starting line, a decent size gathered this year which promised something more than expectations of the head-start given to the bunnies making an easy trip unscathed towards the finish line. Many vixens were among these and their running shorts left little to the imagination, obviously this was meant to distract the todds and get them to chase them instead of nabbing a rabbit. For some it worked but the most focused it would not.
Another cap-gun fired and the group of chaser foxes raced after the Lapins, and soon was well out of sight.
The announcer signaled everyone who was going to run to position themselves at the starting line, all others that would be jogging or walking was to form two lines along the sidelines. It was no surprise that many were young foxes that were not fit enough to chase rabbits but nevertheless enjoyed running marathons. While it was no surprise that some were couples dating, friends, or married it was a surprise some of these were mixed species of a rabbit and a fox. One would have thought the crowd would howl in disgust but they didn't, at least those regularly attended these runs knew the answer and newcomers would be educated soon enough.
ZNN news reporters Victoria Harridon and Audrey Drew interviewed these and discovered they were once competitors in this race and simply wanted to enjoy running again as friends in a less-strenuous run. But there were few that were dating, obviously encouraged by Zootopia's favorite fox-rabbit couple. When asked why there were many answers ranging from satisfying a curiosity to a genuine relationship. Back when Judy and Nick were dating a few rabbits tried dating a fox, many became lunch or seriously injured but a few found a satisfying partner.
The final cap-gun fired and off these runners went, quickly emptying the starting area which allowed all others to start their way at their own chosen pace.
Rabbits whose families lived near Vulpinstan were the ones first contacted ages ago. Originally as slaves whose condition for freedom was to run this event, victors would return to their families only to be captured years later. It is not known when this practice stopped, probably due to the Zootopians or perhaps the two priest factions. Ever since a contract for services was rendered and the original rules quite similar to those of today were put into place. Foxes still enjoyed the thrill of the chase and rabbits enjoyed outfoxing the predators at their own game. Receiving payment didn't hurt either.
The chase ended hours later and this year a record was set for the number of rabbits caught, obviously due to their inexperience. A record was also set for the number of injuries suffered by foxes, and to a lesser extent a record set for the number of chaser-foxes failing to cross the finish line. Many were never located, as many vixens in the chaser-group also disappeared. When their families were notified the constable was surprised at the lack of concerned for the vixens, their parents explaining the promiscuous nature of their daughters.
This was the first time many Zootopians were allowed to join the chase, mostly those that were employed by the government. Rabbit citizens didn't go because they held onto their family traditions, and then there were celebrations at work not to mention trying to survive the near-daily onslaught from the Dark Underground. It was the citizens of Happy Town that made-up the majority of those that went; probably an excuse to visit relatives or those distantly related but nevertheless they did go.
The citizens of Vulpinstan were gracious towards the many different species that visited during the holiday. As usual tourist traps both figurative and literal became the norm, and the Zootopia ambassador had his paws full, which naturally meant the GSD had theirs full as well. The constable in the various towns was forced to deputize citizens to clear out the physical traps and free the visitors. He didn't force a refund of monies offered because he figured if one willingly bargained to trade it for release then it was a binding contract, he only forced the release and nothing more.
Later during the evening feast the baron and his wife thanked their guests for making this year's festivities much better than recent years. While roasted meat was available for anyone the baroness made certain these were placed downwind so the vegetarians wouldn't be uncomfortable. Foxes had little problems with the smell of roasted vegetables; rabbits had a completely different reaction to cooked flesh.
The king of Vulpinstan issued a proclamation that next year the chase would be a two-day event, the second day opened to foreigners while the first reserved for his citizens. He stipulated wolves and other canine species were preferable to the actual chase, but all others would be allowed for the marathon and/or jogging-walking events. Meanwhile additional rabbits would be needed and he was willing to open the prey-spots to hares. These newbies would have to undergo training and accept the existing rules before being allowed to participate.
Mother's Day.
Judy woke up to a surprise.
Two excited vixens were singing something that she couldn't comprehend, it was a long day yesterday and paperwork still needed to be processed. Clifford and Margret had graciously offered to cubsit Marilyn and Caroline so she could have the whole weekend to please Nickolas. The baron mentioned something about having a belated holiday to occupy the vixens, something Judy was seriously considering last night as she fell asleep.
She finally banished the effects of the sandman and looked at what her daughters were holding towards her on a plate. Pancakes with marmalade and a small glass of carrot juice. Hmmm... she put on a false smile and graciously thanked the vixens as she prepared to stuff down what she was certain was improperly prepared and most likely burnt main course. She mentally searched where the Pepto-Bismol was at as she took a bite of the pancakes.
These were good... smooth, buttery, light... almost as if her mother had cooked them.
"Wake up sleepyhead!"
She knew that voice anywhere, and standing in the doorway was Evelin, her younger sister and best friend. Figures... this sister could tap burnt toast and it would instantly become a moist slice of bread.
"So you're the guilty one that made these."
"Oh no... I merely helped them measure the ingredients, mix the batter, and told them when to flip them. They were excellent students and followed every letter to a tee. But if you ask me they really need a mother that was less police officer and more motherly."
Judy threw a pillow at the doorway only to see it batted away by a paw, one that remarkably looked like it belonged to her husband.
"No horseplay in this house, especially from the adults!"
It was a surprise when Clifford and Margret entered the room along with Rhon. Judy yelped as she covered her naked chest with the blanket, not being aware of the breakfast still sitting on her lap. Thankfully Marilyn and Caroline had the foresight to grab the tray when Judy threw the pillow. Now they placed it on the nightstand and were guarding their handiwork lest it find itself on the floor. They were proud of making these and their father said mom might be clumsy so he asked them to make sure she didn't spill it on the bed.
"Ummm... why is everyone here?"
The elder vixen leaned down and rubbed her matriarch scent upon the bunny.
"We just happened to be in the area and Audrey suggested we come over. That's when we noticed these two cuties making pancakes and it was a no-brainer to help. There's some of my old family cereal you like and your parents were waiting outside with your weekly supply of vegetables. I like them, so when you're ready to get up and after sharing the shower with your sexy husband, we'll have the remainder of breakfast waiting."
"Thanks... but why is Rhon here?"
The younger fox smiled. "I have paperwork that requires your signature. As your steward I can only do so much, unless I wanted to arrange your assassination."
She gave him a wry grin, receiving the same in return. "So this is the real reason everyone is here."
Clifford smiled and gave her a gentle hug. "No, he traveled here on his own, now that Zootopia has given him a visa to travel here anytime necessary. Mayor Lionheart has given him his personal assurance that transportation and protection will be afforded at all times."
Judy struggled to keep her face neutral. She knew the mayor most likely gave Mr. Big a phone call and it was the Arctic shrew that arranged all this. As Rhon held the paperwork she signed where indicated every paper he turned to until the last one was signed. She blushed when he leaned down and hugged her firmly, then whispered his thanks for receiving her twins pressed against him. She would have slapped him but Nick was chuckling as he pulled the fox away and the two high-fived and then went out the door.
"I told them not to do that, but your husband has a strange sense of humor. I recommend flushing the toilet when he's showering."
Margret could be devious and Judy liked this part of the elderly vixen. But punishment comes in many forms and she was in heat. Nick didn't know it but she was going to be rough in the shower and he had only himself to blame. Putting poor Rhon up to that when the fox was here to ensure the estate was properly taken care of. She had other methods to punish her steward, like removing his shirt and then giving him a big bunny hug after she got out of the shower still dripping wet... and in front of his parents. It would be too dangerous to do so in front of his wife.
"Ok... let's give our favorite bunny some privacy. It's Mother's Day and this year we decided to celebrate over at your parents burrow."
Clifford shoo'd everyone out of the room. The pancakes still rested on the plate on the nightstand. She ate the remainder and smiled. Now she could tell the subtle differences, one that young inexperienced paws made. It warmed her heart; this was her first Mother's Day as a mother. She didn't birth them but they were hers nevertheless. She did everything trying to raise them as if they were her flesh and blood and they gave her great satisfaction. They had been through so much in their short lives. Lost their birth mother, been abducted and watched as their nursemaid was brutally killed before their very eyes, and then their adopted mother was kidnapped twice. If all this wasn't enough the city they lived in was being ransacked by unknown mammals, sometimes having to dodge to avoid bullets and dying mammals thrice their own size falling towards them.
Judy sighed as her clothes fell off and she headed to the shower. Nick was waiting and soon both were under the hot stream as fur shampoo was rubbed into their bodies until both were clean. She grinned as she motioned him to remain inside as she stepped out and headed to the kitchen. Voices louder than normal signaled something unusual just happened and Judy quickly came back into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and turning the lock. Nick swore he recognized most of the voices and his mind replayed the short amount her heard before the door closed.
"You did something to someone and your parents weren't happy" he said as the bunny pushed herself against him.
"Maybe... but he deserved it. And you deserve this!"
The todd fell onto the shower floor as the bunny pushed herself upon him. She accomplished exactly what she set out to do and soon her husband had an exhausted but completely satisfied look upon his face.
"Hmmm... this will do for now. My old bedroom calls for you, hope your energy returns, mister *set up our steward for a fall*."
"Where will our daughters sleep?"
She looked into his eyes with mischief dancing in hers.
"Clifford and Margret will be entertaining them in Vulpinstan. Your parents promised to cubsit them this weekend so I made the decision to allow both of them together. Our daughters get to be with your side of the family and Jackie gets to visit her auntie. Win-win for everyone."
Nick looked back into her eyes. "Especially you. Bringing the full bottle of anti-irritation cream?"
"Have one in my old bedroom, and bringing the new one with us. Oh by the way... Ralph wants to see you. Your world famous storytelling is demanded by his kits."
He sighed. "Price of marrying into a rabbit family?"
She fondled between his legs. "Price of loving a bunny, that and being quite talented in bringing a storybook to life. Don't worry my love, you know what will be waiting for you when you finish."
He grinned. Her family always fed him a certain snack he swore had been spiked, one that made certain he was ready to service his wife.
They shut off the shower valve and after shaking off some of the water from their fur both stepped onto the fur drier. Paws roamed over each other's body until the timer turned it off. They helped each other put on clothes and when they were ready went out into the kitchen. Marilyn and Caroline served her another plate of pancakes they made and she happily ate them, giving each a kiss and remarking them before turning them over into the care of their elders. She kissed her daughter's good bye and watched the elder foxes take them out the door. Evelin and her parents helped get the home straightened and after Nick locked the front door they departed. Finnick and his fiancée Valarie waited down the hall and gave her a coded message from Mr. Big. She kissed him and gave the little fennec fox a big bunny hug, Nick received a hug from the female fennec fox, and then the two small foxes left.
The old pickup truck was not fast but Judy loved riding in the back. Evelin, Nick, and she snuggled together and talked to her parents through the open rear window, something Mr. Big had altered when Stu absent-minded muttered about wanting one. The Arctic shrew also had that mysterious engine problem fixed as well, replacing a part Stu had damaged inadvertently because the manufacture didn't design it to be fixed by a non-factory-trained mechanic. The family talked all the way to the Tri-Burrows and stopped only when Stu parked the truck in the old garage. Nick was swamped by lots of little bunnies, these were Bonnie's grandkits and every one wanted a story to be told. Judy giggled as the fox was pushed and shoved by many little paws towards the playroom where they had a book already opened and waiting to be brought to life.
Ralph brought over his kits, saying it was time they enjoyed a story with their cousins. Nick looked down the hall just in time to see Judy walking away with many female rabbits, obviously her siblings and many sisters-in-law not to mention the grandmothers and Bonnie. As he started his storytelling he noticed many of the mammals from underground living in the old burrow stepped inside. These obviously were enjoying the story before they headed out on a mission, leaving only when it was clear the fox was finished.
Nick joined her brothers down by the lake, talking about *things does' wouldn't understand*. Most kept a watchful eye on their kits as they laughed and told tall tales, something Nick did by instinct as he surveyed the landscape for two vixens. He caught himself before getting alarmed; quickly realizing his parents had them for the weekend. He received some good-nature ribbing for this from his brothers-in-law, thankfully short in duration. When the sun was low in the sky his zphone buzzed and a message appeared on-screen. It was from Judy telling him time was up and to bring her brothers and kits to the main dining room. Obviously this was for the official Mother's Day dinner and the husbands would be doing the serving while the older kits kept their siblings in line.
Soon the dinner was finished and many young bunnies fell asleep at the table, the mothers were busy taking as many pictures as possible. Bonnie, Opal, and Elizabeth walked around gathering up the kits that were able to run around and herded them into the main play room where some of the female mammals from underground were there helping to control the newly energized bunnies. Judy helped her sisters and sisters-in-law move sleeping bunnies into the nursery and pile them into groups, covering them so drafts would not harm them. When this was done they rested on overstuffed chairs as their husbands massaged their feet, not necessarily that this was needed. Since Judy claimed and Kimberly testified that Nick was the world's best foot massager, he had to demonstrate his technique to all the husbands.
Soon the mothers left to gather their kits and husbands and departed to go to bed in rooms Stu already designated for each family. Evelin kissed her favorite sister good night and warned her not to wear her fox out on this night; tradition said Mother Nature would bring revenge for him and impregnate the wife. Judy hugged her favorite sister and assured her the anti-pregnancy medication the ZPD still had her on would prevent this. Evelin grinned and said something about modern techniques couldn't overcome the supernatural. Nick walked his bunny to her bedroom and went back to the small kitchen to bring her a bowl of her favorite ice cream. When he reentered her bedroom his eyes bulged and heart stopped. Thankfully he already set the tray on the nightstand before looking towards her.
She was wearing a black see-through nightgown with bra and panty made from same material. Nylon stocking held up by garter belt and something like an elastic band above her foot with tiny bowties on the front. Her finger beckoned him closer as her eyes made it clear he was not going to sleep anytime soon.
"Good Evening, Mr. Wilde. Your presence is required and don't worry about removing your clothes. I'll take care of that."
If one were to eavesdrop and listened to the door, the sounds would have indicated something occurring between two adults. Both obviously enjoying what was happening and it seemed the female had every intention of becoming a mother this night. Modern science insisted it was impossible, but when the supernatural gets involved all bets are off.
M.