The sun was beginning to crest over the horizon, preparing to make its way from the sky. The streets had started to clear as animals made their way home from school, from work, from their daily activities. Most made a point to get in early these days, and he didn't blame them. Were he anyone else, he would probably do the same thing. The ZPD had actually given good advice at the conference. But as an agent, this was the time he was often most active. Especially now, and in recent days.

It wasn't his first choice, stalking a bunch of kids but they were currently one of the best leads he had. Unlike his jobs in the past, this one was giving him substantial trouble. There was something about this particular case that was different than the others. For one thing, whoever was heading this operation was organized, very organized. They were moving the product throughout the city, across all five districts, without raising suspicion.

They were also careful. Typically, even the best in the underground would slip up eventually. They would leave loose ends, clues, or someone would eventually become compromised. But in this case, it hadn't happened. Not even once. And above all, they were very, very subtle. To this day, he still couldn't pin down exactly how the drug was getting around in the first place. Only that its users all shared common traits.

And it was driving him crazy.

He knew the clock was ticking on this case. What had happened in Furbank County only solidified that fact. If the distribution network had made it all the way out there, there was no telling how far it extended. Which meant that, inevitably, he would likely follow after receiving approval from the higher ups. A trip that he was not looking forward to. But he would cross that bridge when he got to it. For now, he would do his job, which at the moment consisted of hiding behind a large tree like some sort of creep.

After parking his sedan in an inconspicuous parking lot, he had strolled his way into a nearby café. Ordering a pastry, he left the shop and casually wandered into the park, Agent Snow keeping him abreast of their position. Of course, he ultimately pocketed the treat once he was out of sight; he didn't need it. It was merely for his cover. No one would question a business mammal taking a walk with a snack after a long day. Keeping his sensitive ears peeled, he made his way down the forest path, remaining out of sight.

With its distance from Central High and close proximity to food and entertainment, the park made an ideal hangout spot for the young ones, which was precisely why they were there. Without a care in the world, the three males conversed among themselves, utterly oblivious to the fact they were being watched. The agent's ears swiveled around taking in the sounds all around him. The wind brushing through the leaves, the quiet ambience of the city… the familiar crunch of rubber on gravel. He backed into the foliage, ducking further behind his cover as a police cruiser drove by. That wasn't a risk he was willing to take; being seen here could compromise his investigation. That, and he had no interest being caught watching a group of teenage kids from the shadows. That would open up a whole new can of worms he didn't feel like dealing with. Once the car was out of sight, he peeked his head out and turned back toward them, listening in on their conversation.

"You've got nothing to worry about, man. You're the fastest runner on the team; hell, probably the entire district. ZU would be crazy not to take you," came the low voice of an aardwolf.

The raccoon standing across from him nodded emphatically in agreement. "He's right. I don't think anyone in Zootopia is faster than you, Cameron."

"Yeah, I'm fast. So, are all the other preds trying to get in." The tallest of them was leaning against the back of the bench. Cameron, the oldest. A seventeen-year-old black fox, he was the captain of the track and field team, and clearly dreamed of joining the renowned athletics division at ZU. Young, male, and a star athlete, he matched the description of the predators going hostile throughout Zootopia to a T. Which was precisely why he had been following them for the last few days. That meant that, if his hunch was right, he would either have access to what he was looking for or know someone who did. And if he waited long enough, this kid would eventually lead him right to the source.

As the trio droned on, the agent listened boredly as their topics shifted to mid-terms and whatever animals had caught their fancy. From what it sounded like, all of them were single which was honestly a little surprising. It was hard to imagine that a fox like Cameron would have difficulty finding a vixen. He was charismatic and talented with a promising future. Exactly what the average female would be looking for at that age; at a time when hormones overrode common sense.

The raccoon picked idly at the wood, fiddling with a loose splinter on the bench. "Hey, did you hear about Carrie?"

"What about her?"

"I hear she's going out with Kevin now. Gotta say, I didn't expect that pairing."

The aardwolf huffed. "Yeah, I heard about that. What the hell, man… Wonder what she sees in him."

"Fuck that guy. I couldn't care less," Cameron spat.

The agent's ears perked slightly at the vicious tone. Perhaps, that was one of his problems. He wondered if the fox always had such a short fuse. It wasn't too surprising; any male overflowing with testosterone tended to be a little testier than the others. But this one seemed particularly short-tempered. With an attitude like that, it wasn't a wonder he was having trouble with the ladies. Few things were less attractive than a loose — and emotionally unstable — cannon.

"Anyway, I should probably get going before they close," the aardwolf said. Jack's ears lifted immediately. Finally, something interesting.

"Before who closes?" the racoon questioned.

"The store down on Seventh. I'm almost out of juice."

"Oh, yeah, that makes sense."

"Yeah. Anyway, what are you guys gonna do? Hang out?"

"Nah." The fox tossed something — perhaps the last bite of a snack — into his mouth and finished downing his sports drink before tossing it in the bin with a shake of his head. "It's getting late. My mom's still pissed about that party last week… She's gonna flip if I don't get home soon. Besides, I've got a killer headache."

"I'm heading that way too," the racoon mentioned. "Should probably get back before dinner. I think we're having casserole tonight."

"Lucky," Cameron smirked. "Your mom's casserole is to die for."

"I'll bring some for lunch tomorrow if you want. You know she always makes more than all of us can eat."

"I'd owe you one if you did. Honestly, there's just something about…"

Their conversation faded into the distance, as he moved away from them. His focus was now on the aardwolf wandering down the sunset street. He had mentioned the 'store down on Seventh.' Finally, his patience was paying off. Those kids had just given him everything he needed. As the three of them matched the profile, they were the most likely to be utilizing the substance. And it sounded like the middle student was looking for a refill. So, he would follow the animal, find his contact, and put together whatever evidence he needed to shut them down. The kid would be dealt with at another time. He was a minor anyway, and hopefully a first-time offender. If he was quick enough, maybe he could stop this kid from ruining his future.

Tapping his headset, he heard the dial tone through his Bluetooth going off. It stopped after two rings, the other agent answering immediately. "You moving in?"

"Yup. The aardwolf is heading down Birch now."

"Understood. And the others?"

"Heading the opposite way."

"You sure you want to take your eyes off him?" she asked curiously. "I thought you said he was showing symptoms."

"Possibly… but it's been days and aside from a nasty attitude, he hasn't shown much else. I won't be gone long, I'll circle back once I get the information I need. Right now, the other one is our biggest lead."

"Fair enough."

Or so he thought. After two minutes, this animal was starting to test his patience. For someone who wanted to get to a place before it closed, he wasn't moving with very much purpose. After popping in a pair of ear buds, the kid strolled casually down the street, humming a tune to himself with his paws in his pockets.

How aggravating, if he didn't know any better, he'd think this kid was taunting him, leading him around on purpose. After all, he didn't need to follow him the whole way, he just had to figure out what store on what street he was headed to. Supposedly, he was going to Seventh. Seventh and what? As the kid was about to turn the corner, the agent came to a stop, and felt every hair on his body raise.

His sensitive ears caught what sounded like a female voice, calling from back somewhere in the forest. It was very faint, so quiet he was almost sure he'd imagined it. And were he another animal, he probably would have ignored it. But he wasn't any other animal. And years in his profession had taught him three things. Never underestimate an opponent. Never overestimate yourself. And always listen to your intuition. While mammals had evolved over the centuries, their instincts were still hardwired; and if your body was telling you something was wrong, then something was probably wrong.

"Damn it," he muttered.

Much as it frustrated him, the agent slowly fell back, circling in the direction of the sound. This kid was probably the best lead he had found in weeks; he might even be the key to finding a dealer. But ultimately, everything should be fine. The aardwolf went to Central High; he should be easy to find. And if he was purchasing a 'refill' now, it was only a matter of time before he would do it again. He could always follow him another time, he would just need to be even more patient.

But whoever screamed might not get another chance. With homicides on the rise, it was a risk he couldn't afford to take. Getting a lead wasn't worth ignoring a possible murder in progress. Not for his career or his conscience. He didn't feel like cleaning up the mess either.

"Everything alright?" He could hear her paws tapping rapidly on the keys. "What's wrong?"

Jack picked up his pace. "Snow, I need you to get a ping on my location and send backup immediately."

"Transport, artillery, or cleanup?"

"All of it."

The closer he got, the faster he started to move. His prey instincts were screaming at him now. Danger. Danger. Something is wrong. And they were absolutely right. "Nick!" He heard the sound again, this time much louder. It was certainly female, and from the frantic sound of her voice, she was definitely in trouble.

"Timeframe?" she asked.

"Now!" Leaving her with his instructions, he took off. Jack was in full gear, paw adjusting his holster as he broke into a sprint. The familiar sounds of combat reached him through the trees, grumbling, rustling, and what sounded like a snarl. His instincts were on fire. Predator. Danger. Run. He ignored them, steeling himself, drawing his weapon, and rushing into the forest. After checking his ammunition, he quickly — but carefully — approached the scene.

It was dim in the area, and it was difficult to see what exactly was going on. On the ground and rising to her feet, he could see what appeared to be a female, small in stature. A rabbit. A rabbit who looked oddly familiar. A short distance away, he saw two figures struggling. One appeared to be latched onto the other by the fangs, certainly something he didn't see very often.

'Lovely,' he thought to himself, clicking the safety off. His mind worked quickly, trying to assess and decide the best way to handle the situation. He couldn't afford to take the shot. Between the darkness of the woods and the struggling predators, he couldn't risk hitting the wrong target. Running into the center of the fight could also prove problematic, possibly even backfire. A panicked mind tended not to process information very well, most certainly not matters of life or death. It was more than possible the victim might even see him as a threat.

He calculated his options, quirking a brow when the rabbit sprinted across the clearing. Leaping into the air with a well-placed kick, she dislodged the predator from her companion. It was a solid hit, sending the animal tumbling across the ground several feet. Impressive. Now, standing at full height, the agent was able to vaguely make out the color of her their clothing. Blue like the morning sky.

The realization set in; he now knew why she looked so familiar. This wasn't just any rabbit. It was Officer Judith Hopps of the ZPD. The animal of legend that turned the city on its head with her bravery and cunning. It was her work — along with that of her partner — that had brought an end to the infamous Night Howler case. She was someone he knew rather well, for both the good reasons… and the bad.

A low rumble reached his ears, drawing the attention of all three of them. He watched the shadow rise and hop to its feet. When it did, the agent felt his ears droop slightly. Standing there on all fours was a shadow; the shadow of what appeared to be a fox. Based upon how difficult he was to see; his fur was black. There was no doubt about it. It was the same fox from earlier: Cameron, the track team captain. And he was snarling incomprehensibly, like a rabid killer. 'The kid's gone savage…? Damn it.'

Things just got a lot more complicated.

If the animal had gone savage, that now added a new layer to his ever-growing to-do list. This was no longer a rescue; it was a clean-up operation. It was a good thing he called Snow when he did. He clicked the safety back on, reaching into his jacket to change out the magazine. Cameron paused, his eyes moving around to assess the situation. Then, he did the last thing he expected. He turned and ran off into the trees, leaving the two behind. Strange. He was about to leave when Judy started shouting, making him pause to listen.

"This is Officer Hopps! We need immediate backup, Central Park, east side! We have an officer down! Suspect is at large and dangerous!"

Great. Things just got even more complicated. Based upon their proximity to Headquarters, street distance, and the speed of the cruisers, he had approximately nine minutes before their reinforcements arrived, on average. That left him eight minutes to act, depending upon how far his target had gotten from the scene. Turning and bolting into the trees, the agent was already in motion. His tracking was on, for Snow's convenience. The countdown had started, and the chase was on.

Holstering his weapon, he fell to all fours and sprinted through the trees, keeping his ears open for any movement. The rustling of the brush was his guide, leading him deeper into the woods. It became immediately evident why this kid was team captain. Fast didn't even begin to cover it. But not fast enough to lose him. He followed at a clip, only slowing his own pace when the noises up ahead stopped. The rustling came to a halt. The woods grew silent. And now, he was on high alert. Because if his target had stopped running from him that meant he was no longer the hunter.

He was now the hunted.

Foxes were predatory by nature; and clever at that. Cameron had only fled the scene because, even in his current state, he somehow realized the situation was unfavorable for him, two against one. But now, the tables had turned. He was chasing said fox into the growing darkness of the woods, and foxes possessed excellent night vision. The agent himself was a prey animal, and one not suited to the forest to begin with. Cameron now had the clear advantage.

And if he were operating entirely on instinct, as he suspected he was, that drive would urge him to cease his flight, switch to fight, and take out the much easier target. His nature would put him on the offensive. And that was precisely what the agent was counting on.

His ears tracked the movement of the grass, alerting him to Cameron's proximity. At this distance, he was set for an ambush. He needed only to wait. His eyes flicked to his arm watch. Six minutes. He could hear the sound of sirens in the distance. It seemed he couldn't wait after all. Hopefully his agents were nearby as well. His eyes quickly scanned the canopy, the types of trees, the size and shapes of the branches and bark. They looked strong enough. Time to make a move.

For the sake of luring him out, he lowered his gaze to his firearm, removing it from its holster and switching off the safety. But rather than take aim, he kept his eyes on it, making a purposeful show of distraction as he backed away to a nearby tree. To appear unaware. Vulnerable. To trigger Cameron's predatory drive. His instinct.

And it worked.

Moments later, he heard the sound of paws tearing through the grass in his direction. Perfect. The moment the fox emerged from the trees, he leapt into the air and grabbed a low-hanging branch. Below, Cameron smacked head-first into the tree with a yelp. He felt the vibrations all the way up to the branch he was suspended from. Full impact. No time to waste. Letting go, he landed on the ground beside the other animal, now shaking his head in confusion. He was given no chance to react.

Raising his weapon, he placed the barrel against the back of Cameron's neck. His fur wouldn't protect him, not at pointblank range. He pulled the trigger, the sound ringing out into the empty clearing. One shot. Cameron slumped to the ground. Threat neutralized. The sirens were growing louder now. Four minutes. To his great luck, he could hear the sound foot falls approaching from the opposite direction through the brush. Record time. Grabbing the motionless form, he hoisted Cameron up by his shoulders and started dragging him toward the noise.

. . .

With the excitement over and his day at an end, Jack flopped onto his bed with a huff. This was not what he had signed up for today. A simple tailing mission ended in a combat situation, a takedown, and a cleanup. Wonderful. He didn't bother to turn on the news, he knew what the bulletins would say.

Instead of the remote, he grabbed a bag of seeds from his bedside table for a late-night snack. Heavens knew he needed it after the day he had. His quiet munching was the only sound that broke the silence of his apartment for a few minutes. Until the loud buzz of his cellphone interrupted it, rattling against the wooden surface of his bedside table. Expecting the worst, he swiped the device from its perch and scanned lazily over the caller ID.

'Well, fuck me.'

Somehow, things had gotten even more complicated.