Chapter 5 – Arrival

As the years slowly continued to pass by for Judy, since the death of Gazelle, no one was ever able to fill that space in her heart at Ravenswood again. Though she would never forget their memories, Judy blossomed into a gentle and knowledgeable bunny. Surpassing many of her older classmates in learning, she instantly found a calling for her in life, education. So, after finishing her fifth year at Ravenswood, Judy requested entry into a teaching apprenticeship at the school from her teachers' advice. The now aged Bogo, ever watchful, took this under careful consideration and reluctantly gave his consent to the young doe.

As part of the arraignment set by the headmaster, Judy was to be allowed to shadow different teachers throughout the year. Learning from each of them, she was also required to finish her remaining three formal years of education at Ravenswood. Dedicated to her chosen path, Judy embraced every bit of knowledge given to her by the teachers. So after completing her final year as a student at Ravenswood, Judy joined the facility there, remaining at the school for a further six years. But in the end, there was still something missing. She longed for liberty, to see her life beyond the school walls.

"Could this be all simply a dream?" Judy asked herself, staring into the old dormitory she once called home, dressed in a plain brown dress and a black traveling cloak. She moved along the rows of beds before stepping out into the school's courtyard. She thought back to her late friend, remembering her laughter as the pair made their way to and from classes. Judy, her thoughts interrupted by a child's voice, turned around as she reached a narrow gravel path.

"Ms. Hopps?" A young female Puma lowered her head as she continued to speak to her. "Ms. Bellwether sent me to find you. Your transportation is here; it's waiting for you at the gates."

Judy reached out and touched the young feline's chin, lifting the child's face to see her. She smiled at her before saying, "Thank you, Lizzy. Tell the headmistress I'll be there shortly. I need to say goodbye to someone before I go." Judy turned around and started to walk away.

Quickening her pace along the back end of Ravenswood, Judy emerged along a rarely ventured area of the school grounds where a large white marble obelisk towered over what appeared to be a modest-sized cemetery. Like the school itself, the cemetery had been left in a state of abandonment, whereas the obelisk seemed well maintained. As she passed the marble stone, like the countless times before, she read a bronze plaque attached to its base. "Rev. Idris Bogo, God's humble servant, beloved headmaster, and founder of Ravenswood Institute." Hatred seemed to bubble within the doe as she passed by it before walking through a kissing gate. The simple cemetery, ornamented with small stone crosses spaced evenly apart, contained the young mammals with no family to mourn over them. Judy walked along the pathways before reaching one stone marker in particular. Escribed on it read the name Gazelle Preyda.

She stared at the name for a moment as her emotions swelled in her. "I wanted to say goodbye one last time." She wiped a few tears from her eyes. "I miss you so much, Gazelle." Then, taking a deep breath, she lowered her head. "Remember the conversation we had two months ago? I received a reply from that advertisement I had placed in the Zootopia Herald." A slight grin spread over her face. "I'm finally leaving this place, forever hopefully." She glanced over at the obelisk once more out of hate before returning to her friend. "My new employment will be taking me south, toward..."

"Ms. Hopps, are you still planning to leave us, or shall I inform the driver you change your mind and return without you?" The firm voice of the Headmistress, Dawn Bellwether, spoke from the kissing gate.

Surprised by this sudden interruption, Judy looked over at the aged ewe dressed in charcoal-colored dresses. "Yes, Headmistress." She looked back down at the stone cross and touched it before walking away. "Goodbye, Gazelle."

Arriving at the main gates to Ravenwood, the doe noticed a few of her pupils standing huddled around the entrance. Two of the younger girls saying their farewells, a zebra and brown ferret, took turns in hugging her. Taken back by this affection for her, Judy struggled to hold back a few tears as she moved past the young mammals. It was not until Bellwether cleared her throat that all the girls turned and left the two adults alone by the gates. Her stern eyes ever watchful, Bellwether wordlessly nodded to Judy before closing the gates to the school as the doe stepped out onto the lane where a single travel bag waited for her on the ground.

"Ms. Hopps? Oh...m...goodness, they really did hire a bunny." a tall chubby cheetah, dressed in light gray pants and a buttoned jacket, called to her. He held out his paw, almost bouncing as he approached her.

"Oh, hello," Judy replied questionably, due to the cheetah's surprising behavior toward her. However, his friendly smile seemed to put her at ease as she held out her paw to him. "Yes, I'm Judith Hopps, and you are?"

"Benjamin, Benjamin Clawhauser, Ms. Hopps." The chubby cheetah spoke as he continued to shake her paw. "But you can just call me Ben; everyone does." He moved over to pick up her bag from the ground. "Let me get this for you, Ms. Hopps," Ben spoke, surprising her with his speed, due to his size. He motioned toward a 1924 Sunbeam limousine parked a few feet from them. As they both approached it, Ben rushed forward to open the door to the back seat. "If you need help, just say the word." He laughed as he ran to put her bag in a rear storage bin.

"Thank you, Ben. I can manage." Judy could not help but smile back at him. "You can call me Judy if you like." She hopped inside and settled down on the car's soft fabric seat that ran the length of the vehicle. For a moment, Judy sat there in silence before what felt almost as if fear started to consume her. Then, rising to her feet, she moved next to the side window and gazed out at the school. Judy lowered herself back on the seat and clasped her paws over her face. Dreaming of this day for so long, it was as if, for a split second, she felt the unmistakable urge to race back to the safety of the stone walls before her. "I can do this." She told herself as the car suddenly vibrated to life.

"Is everything okay, Judy?" Ben noticed something upsetting the grey doe as he glanced back at her.

"What?" Judy spoke as she struggled to clear her mind. "Yes, I'm sorry, Ben. I was a little lost in my thought for a moment." She returned a warm smile to him as she leaned back in the seat. "Ready whenever you are."

"Okay, let's go." Ben laughed as he put a cap on his head and moved the car forward. As the vehicle passed through a few small towns, Judy, unable to control her curiosity, could not help but stand at times to glance out the window as they passed. So much of the world seemed to have changed to her. Her mouth opened in utter surprise; she admired the newer architecture and clothing fashion. Eyeing a few of the dresses some of the ladies on one street wore, she glanced down at the plain old dress she was wearing. Her ears fell limply on her head as she slowly sank onto the seat.

As the sun started falling, Judy, waking from a short nap, felt a cold shiver on her fur. Her travel cloak draped across the seat next to her; she grabbed it as she asked, "Ben, how much further are we?" Covering herself with the cloak.

Ben, noticing her shiver as she started to rub her paws over her arms, began to pull the car along the side of the road. "I'm so sorry, Judy, you must be cold from all the driving. Hold on a second." The pleasant cheetah spoke as he set the parking brake and bounced out of the driver's seat. A few moments passed before the side door opened and Ben, holding a quilt blanket, laid it across Judy's lap. "Here you go, Judy. You can wrap yourself up in this until we arrive." Ben closed the door and got back in the driver's seat. "We've got about another hour or so left. I'm sorry to say we will be arriving a little later than I expected."

"But what about you, Ben?" Judy asked as she began to wrap herself in the warm quilt. "It must be freezing up where you are."

Ben started to laugh as he released the brake, and the car began to move once more. "No need to worry about me, Judy. With all this insulation I have," He patted his stomach jokingly and looked back at her. "I'm more than warm enough to make it home."

The car made its way along a narrow bridge before appearing along an open field. Judy, her eyes struggling to see by the light from the moon above them, noticed a strange silhouette emerge and grow as the car continued to approach it. Closing her eyes, she opened them again and observed as a grand manor house began to take shape out of the night sky. "Ben, is that the house there?" She pressed a finger against the glass window as the car started to turn along the winding road before being covered by thick trees.

Ben laughed as he leaned his head back to the car's partition. "Yes, it is, Casterly Manor. Though seeing it at night does not do it justice." As they descended a small hill in the road, Ben eased up on the car's acceleration. Judy struggled to keep sight of the house as they approached a set of worthy-iron gates. Her face pressed against the window, she looked up at the gate on her side as the car passed through them. Awe and amazement flooded over her as the ground changed from asphalt to stone gravel. Ben turned the vehicle along the main entrance and then toward the back end of the house before coming to a complete stop. "Here we are," Ben said as he turned off the engine.

Judy slowly stared out at the towering manor house as her head moved up with her paws gripping the window lip. Ben opened the door and held out his paw to help her down and out of the car. Judy stepped down onto the gravel road with wonder and slight hesitation. Her eyes still transfixed on the building before her; she lowered her head and was surprised to see three mammals standing close to her. An aged female otter, dressed in a black dress, and a young female Flemish rabbit stood together while a male, grey and white timber wolf stood behind the otter on her right. Judy turned to the small party and addressed the aged otter, "Mrs. Otterton?" She asked in a kind voice.

"Yes, my dear." The light-haired otter replied, stepping forward and taking her paw in her own. "You are most welcome to Casterly, Ms. Hopps." Mrs. Otterton smiled as she let go of Judy and turned to her left. "This is the head maid, Tabatha." The white rabbit, dressed in a dark green dress and white apron, gave her a friendly nod. "And our lead footman, Gregory." The otter turned and pointed back to the timber wolf, dressed in a black and white suit, giving Judy a friendly nod.

"Ben," Mrs. Otterton addressed the chubby cheetah as he fumbled with Judy's bag. "You can give that to Gregory and put the car away for the night." She then looked back over at Judy. "Come, my dear, inside so you can warm up a little from your journey." Both she and Judy walked past Tabitha and entered the house. "I know Ben can be somewhat of a slow driver at times. But, as fast as he is naturally, he never wishes to harm any of us, so he is a little overprotective when driving. Tabitha..." She looked by as the young rabbit closed the door behind them. "Head upstairs, and be sure the fire in Ms. Hopp's room been lit." The pair walked along a narrow corridor, past the kitchen and servant's area, before stopping outside a modest office. "Please." Mrs. Otterton motioned Judy inside the office.

A fire crackled in a small fireplace near the corner of the room as the pair entered. After removing her travel cloak, Judy draped it over her arm as she turned to look back at Mrs. Otterton. She walked closer to the fire to warm her paws. Mrs. Otterton, eyeing the grey bunny, took a seat next to a desk placed along the opposite wall. The office, used by Mrs. Otterton for her day-to-day business, felt warm, containing a few decorticate furnishings and a miniature painting hung on the wall. The otter spoke suddenly as the light illuminated Judy's face. "Oh my goodness... how young you look." She paused for a moment. "How old are you, dear?"

"I'm twenty-four, Mrs. Otterton." Judy turned to face her. "I've been a teacher for about six years now at Ravenswood School.

"Well, no matter. We are very fortunate to have you here with us now." Mrs. Otterton got up from her seat and walked back to the door. "If I'm correct, Ms. Dammore has gone to bed, so..." She turned to Judy. "Oh, again, no matter." She smiled. "Sit, sit, my dear, down over there." The female otter pointed to a chair with a padded cushion on it. "I'll go and fix you up a quick cup of tea. Is there any type you may like?"

"Carrot if you have it," Judy answered as she took a seat in the chair. "Or green tea with a little honey in it." Nodding her head, Mrs. Otterton turned and left the office.

Mrs. Otterton returned a few minutes later, carrying a small tray with a cup of tea and a few vegetable crackers. "Again, we are very pleased to have you as a staff member." She set the tray next to Judy and handed her the cup. "This is such a large house, and I have to admit that a person can feel a little lonely during the year's colder months. Tabitha is a good girl and has been with us for only two years now. Like much of the rest of the staff, Ben and Gregory have been here much longer."

"How many are there on staff here?" Judy asked before taking a sip of her tea.

"Well," Mrs. Otterton thought for a second. "Living here full time at the house would be about eight if I'm correct. The grounds staff live in the village nearby. Due to Casterly's location, the grounds only need minimal maintenance. Mostly just the lawns and gardens."

"Mrs. Otterton?" A soft knock came from the hallway before Tabitha appeared in the doorway. "Ms. Hopps' room is ready for her. Should I show her the way up?"

Both Judy and Mrs. Otterton looked at one another before the otter answered as she rose to her feet, "No, it's alright, Tabitha, it's late, off to bed with you. I'll show Ms. Hopps up." Tabitha, nodding to the pair, left at once. Mrs. Otterton walked over to a small oil lamp and lit it with a match. Adjusting the flame slightly, she turned to Judy. "Well, if you are ready, follow me, please. I instructed Gregory to take your things up when you arrived."

Judy, setting her cup down, picked up her cloak and followed Mrs. Otterton as the pair left the office and walked to a short stairwell to the main floor of the house. Stepping out onto the house's main foyer, Judy could barely make out many of the manor's elegant features in the low light of the oil lamp. However, when she began to climb the manor's grand staircase, she noticed a few of the large tapestries and paintings, which sent a chill through her. Turning in every direction, her head imagined the sights that awaited her in the morning. "Will I be meeting the young Ms. Otterton tomorrow?" Judy asked.

"Who, my dear?" Mrs. Otterton stopped and turned to look at Judy.

Judy, taken aback by this, looked at Mrs. Otterton in confusion. "My new pupil," Judy replied.

"Oh," Mrs. Otterton suddenly realized Judy's meaning and continued climbing the stairs. "You must mean Sophie." They both stepped onto the second floor and turned down a long hallway. "Little miss curious." The aged otter laughed. "No, she is not my daughter, heavens. She is Mr. Wilde's ward."

"Who?" Judy asked. A look of surprise and confusion again appeared on her face.

"Why, Mr. Wilde, my dear. The owner of Casterly." Mrs. Otterton stopped a further time and noticed the shocked look on Judy's face. "Did I not say that in your letter of employment?"

"No, you didn't," Judy took a deep breath as both stood in the dark hallway. "I just assumed you were the owner."

Mrs. Otterton covered her mouth in shock at these words. "Oh lord, I'm so sorry. No, I'm not the owner; I'm the housekeeper." She began to laugh before setting the oil lamp on a nearby table. "I'm so sorry. Let me quickly explain. The master's full name is Nicolas Piberius Wilde. He is a red fox and is the sixth Lord of Heathbrook. Since the beginning of the confederation, his family has been the wardens of this area." She picked up the oil lamp and continued to walk on.

"Oh, when do you think I'll meet this, Mr. Wilde?" Judy, her nose twitching nervously, quickened her pace.

"When indeed," Mrs. Otterton rolled her eyes at these words. "When he decides to return and grace us with his presence. Which I am afraid to say is not often, Ms. Hopps. He is a restless soul, Mr. Wilde is." They passed by a short dark side passage, ending in a closed door. The light illuminating their way along the hallway, both came to a halt near the end. "Here we are, my dear; this will be your room. Sophie's room is two doors down from you." She pointed back from where they had come. "There is a full washroom across from her room. Since only two of you are on this wing, you both will be sharing it." She smiled as she fumbled with a ring of keys and quickly found the one she needed.

Inserting the key in the door's lock and twisting it, a soft click sounded before Mrs. Otterton withdrew it and pressed down on the door handle. The aged otter led the way into a lighted bedroom, where a small fire burned in the small hearth. "Mr. Wilde, no sooner returning to us, we find he is dashing away again on some grand adventure." She sighed a little. "I just wished he stayed home more often. Sophie always seems to behave herself and not cause trouble when he is." Mrs. Otterton walked about the room, checking the furniture for proper cleaning.

On the other paw, Judy glancing around the room, felt utterly speechless as she walked further inside. The room made her think she was in a dream, with its elegant bed hangings and furniture. Moments before hung low behind her, her ears sprang to their fullest height in excitement as she toured the room. "This is my room?" She asked, turning to the otter. "Tell me, how many rooms does a house this size have?"

"Oh dear, far too many is all I will say." Mrs. Otterton laughed at the question. "But don't worry too much. Your room here is more sizeable than some. Not too drafty. The majority of rooms are used for visitors when Mr. Wilde entertains.

"How many floors?" Judy asked again before hopping up on her bed, feeling its softness.

"So many questions." Mrs. Otterton answered, laughing again as she walked over to the door. "Mainly two. There is a third above us, but it is not in use. Mr. Wilde had it locked up some time ago. It makes up the oldest part of the once stronghold the manor was built from." She turned back to Judy. "If you need anything, please let me know in the morning. I'll say goodnight then, my dear. Oh, yes," She reached into a pocket and withdrew a key. "Here is the key to your room." Placing it down on a small stand by her, the otter closed the door on her way out, leaving Judy alone in her room.

Judy hesitated for a moment before walking to a small table and padded chair in the corner of the room. She laid her traveling cloak over the chair's back and continued to take in her new surroundings. Still smiling, she walked to the bed and noticed her travel bag and where Gregory had deposited it. Opening it, she withdrew a nightgown and a few personal items. A sudden high-pitched laugh seemed to pass outside the bedroom door. As if someone had just run past. The doe turned and looked at the door as she felt the hairs along the back of her neck stand. She walked over and placed a hairbrush on the elegant vanity near the bed as she stared back at the door.

Unsure of the voice she had heard, Judy placed her nightgown back on the bed and reached for a small lit candle set in a bronze holder. Then, walking over to the bedroom door, her ears high over her head, she listened for the laughter again as she started to open it. Almost at once, the same high-pitched laughter sounded again. "Mrs. Otterton?" Judy called out into the seemingly empty dark hallway as she raised the candle higher to see properly.

"Hello?" Judy called into the darkness as she started to walk back along the hallway. As she turned to glance back toward her bedroom door, Judy noticed something move from the corner of her eye, followed by the sound of rapid paw steps. "Hello?" She called out again as she walked a little faster before coming to the small side passage she had passed earlier. "Is someone there?" The doe noticed a single wooden door illuminated slightly by her candle from her location. For a few moments, she stood there, in the darkness, before hearing what seemed to be a faint click coming from the door. As if someone had carefully closed it. Judy took a step closer.

"That door is locked, my dear." Mrs. Otterton appeared suddenly behind her, causing the grey bunny to jump in fright at her sudden appearance. "It leads up to the closed-off third floor."

"Mrs. Otterton!" Judy struggled to breathe as she turned around. "I heard someone laughing from my bedroom, and I thought I saw someone come this way." She looked back over her shoulder at the door. "I could have sworn I heard the door click shut." She looked back at the aged otter, her heart racing within her.

"It must have been Anna, one of the older staff members you heard." Mrs. Otterton said as she approached Judy. "She likes to have a few drinks late at night sometimes." Not sounding thoroughly convincing, the aged otter noticed the questioning look coming from Judy. "It makes her somewhat giddy, this time of night." The pair slowly made their way back toward Judy's bedroom door. "I'll have a few words with her in the morning. Goodnight." She stopped a few feet from Judy's bedroom before turning back along the long hallway.

"Goodnight," Judy replied as she watched the otter disappear into the darkness. Still unsure of the situation that had just taken place, she raised an ear one last time, only to hear silence. Slowly she stepped into her room and closed the door.