Wilde Card (Zootopia Original Story)

6: Snapdragon

Song: Blame, Transluzent

Konni and Flayre had been given lunch to eat in a small room, isolated from the rest of the ZSS. It appeared more like an empty office: Black blinds were closed against the windows; there were a couple of tables pushed against the walls with old, black spin-chairs tucked underneath them; the flag of Zootopia was hung on one wall while a dusty clock faced it from the opposite wall.

As they finished their food, Agent Golding entered the room. "When you are finished—"she looked only at Flayre—"someone would like to speak with you."

Flayre nodded and as the possum left the room, she looked over her shoulder at Konni. "Oh, and the video has been dealt with."

Fifteen minutes later, Flayre was in the office of Agent Jessie Maverick, AKA Oracle. "You guys must love your codenames, huh?" She asked. Oracle didn't laugh. "I'm guessing I'll need one, too?"

Oracle slowly blinked his eyes. "Yes. But for now, our priority is making sure you have the information you need about us, and making sure we have the information we need about you."

"What do you wanna know?" Flayre asked, getting comfortable in her chair.

"What do you know about your mother?"

Eloise shuffled on her paws as she stood at the side of the room. She disagreed with the blunt questioning Oracle often relied on – especially with someone so young.

Flayre's fur bristled. What did they know about her mother? Would her occupation prevent Flayre from joining the ZSS?

"She died when I was a few months old." She shook her head. She couldn't lie to spies. "She was... killed when I was a few months old. She was part of a rogue group and went under the alias 'Foxtrot'. My dad tried to get her to use her skills for something useful, such as the ZPD: She refused. It wasn't enough of a thrill for her, I guess."

Oracle nodded slowly. He filed through some cardboard folders on the desk between them. He found one entitled 'Cyra Steel (Foxtrot) Wilde' with the word 'Steel' crossed out with one red pen line. He turned it and slid it to Flayre.

She opened it to reveal two pictures of her mother: a headshot showing her face, and an almost-full body image showing all of her markings. She had a white tail tip, and white spots on her left forearm. Flayre's spots on her right forearm mirrored them exactly – though hers were a dark brown. Her eyes were yellow, and contained a wildness that was almost uncanny. Nick barely spoke about her, as if she was a part of his life he regretted.

"Cyra Wilde was one of a rogue group led by a Vampire Bat known as 'Rooks'. These rogues are currently working for the Herrenvore rebels."

Flayre cocked her head to one side: Vampire Bats were not prey.

"We don't know why. I've just returned from the police department to gather some information on Rooks," Oracle continued. He glanced over at Eloise; he hadn't told her much about this yet. "He knew Chief Bogo." Flayre's eyes widened. "You must, of course, keep that between us." She nodded eagerly. "Good. Cooper told me that you've been introduced to Agent Brannbolt and Quicksilver."

"Yes."

"Cooper does most of his work in the field. So when he's out of office – which is half the week – I recommend going to Quicksilver."

"Thank you."

"We'll put you through a series of tests over the next few weeks to see if you're capable of being an agent. Agents Tone and Bleren will oversee these and report back to me."

"What will Konni be doing?"

"We've spoken to the mayor: he will be driven home next week. He will not be leaving the mansion until the Herrenvore rebels have been taken down."