Prey Can Go Savage

Mr. Harold

Nick shivered as he waked down the Tundra Town streets, his tail fluffed out in an attempt to keep warm.  It was so strange how just earlier in Sahara Square it had been nearly 80+ degrees, and suddenly two miles over into Tundra Town and it was reaching 30 degrees.  The machines used to regulate the temperatures of this city were no joke, and the fact that the animals could control the temperatures throughout town really made you think about how far they had come from the Stone Ages.  The sun was visible, but it was slightly covered by clouds, creating an even cooler chill throughout the neighborhood.  The fox looked around, spotting some rather nice looking snow vixens standing near a small coffee shop.  They wore dresses, and were chattering over steaming got cups of coffee and one shoved a cookie in her mouth. One noticed him strolling past, and they both waved hello.  He smiled, waving back, before quickening his pace.  The fox didn't want to cause a scene, or have to talk to those women.  He had one girl in mind, and he didn't want to get off track by talking to some vixens he met on the street.  But a simple wave hello was fine.  Maybe he should get some white fur as well.  It was amazing how though he and the snow vixens were the same species, their different fur coloration made them suited for different climates.

Nick passed the thought on, trying to remember what he was doing.  He figured maybe he should start asking around, surely someone around here knows Cole.  So he did.  He spotted a small fish shop across the street,and crossed the busy road, nearly getting hit by a car.

"Get out of the road, fox!" shouted an angry tiger, who was driving past, going far above the speed limit.  But Nick didn't have time to catch him now.  And once the tiger saw Nick was wearing a police badge, his facial expression turned to that of worry, and he drove on.  Nick chuckled to himself quietly, enjoying the satisfaction of having animals afraid that he was going to arrest them.  Not so long ago, he was the one running from the police.  Now, he was the police, and animals ran from him.

He reached the small fish shop, opening the glass doors that led inside.  The smell of cooking salmon reached his nose, and he took in the scent, enjoying every bit of it.  Predators in this world ate insects and fish, and fish was certainly more appetizing than bugs.  The meat table stood in the corner behind the main counter, where an old polar bear was chopping fish with a giant knife.  He wore a black shirt, and a apron over that, and also a big fuzzy hat on his head.  Nick came to he counter, barely reaching the top where he could actually see the polar bear.  Sometimes being such a small animal had it's disadvantages.

"What will it be today" began the polar bear, his voice hard and creaky.  Nick grabbed his badge, showing it to the bear.  The bear looked at him, raised his eyebrow, and then turned, facing the much smaller mammal.

"I've not done anything illegal.  I chop fish, I sell fish.  My store is very clean, you know." he finished. The fox smiled, offering a friendlier attitude.

"No, don't worry Sir, I'm not here for you.  I am here to ask you some questions though." he said.

The bear waited.

"Is there a name I can call you by?" asked Nick, raising his paws a little bit.

"Hm... Mr. Harold."

"Alright, well, Mr...Harold, there's something I need to ask of you.  You see, I'm on a case to find a certain predator, a snow leopard, named Cole.  He's in his earlier twenties, might be from around here.  You know a guy like that? Maybe..a guy who's parents were..killed in an attack a few months ago during the savage predicament?"

Mr.Harold looked at the fox with a sad face, then nodded.

"Aye.  I know who you speak of."

"Can you tell me where to find him?"

"Why do you want to know where he is?"

"Sir, this Cole is going to be put under arrest.  He attacked a fellow officer, and caused her to turn savage using night howlers.  Not only did this animal attack my friend, he also has illegal night howlers in his possession."

"You mean, Cole is the one who turned Judy Hopps savage?"

Nick's ears raised a little bit.  Why couldn't the bear just say where he was?

"Hm..Cole has always been a good kid.  Never stole, never hurt anyone.  I have a hard time believing this is the right predator you are looking for."

"Sir, my friend who saw him and spoke with him knows what she is talking about.  This cat attacked her because he believed to be getting revenge on her for causing hatred and fear with the speech she gave about predators a few months ago.  His parents were the ones killed in an attack by prey animals.  He blames Officer Hopps for their deaths.  He has motives behind this, and I need to find him.  What he has done is wrong, and he will be put under arrest."

"Uhh...So, he's gone and done something, hasn't he?"

"Yes."

The bear sighed, leaning over the counter to get closer to Nick.

"Cole has had it tough the past few months.  The death of his parents and how they died really has taken its tole on him.  I understand where he is coming from."

"Yes, Sir, I know.  But attacking an officer and causing her to attack others because other animals murdered his parents is wrong."

"Hm..You do have point."

The bear rubbed his face, then sighed.

"Alright, alright...He's lived in the area his whole life.  In fact, he used to work here not long ago.  He quit and went somewhere else, and then I heard of the story of his parents being murdered.  He sort of disappeared after that day. Well, I see him come in here every now and then, buying food.  I am the best fish shop in all of Zootopia.  He talks to me sometimes, saying of how his new home is garbage, and he lives in the apartment buildings just north of this shop."

"Right. Thank you Sir."

"Officer, go easy on him."

Nick gave the bear an angry glare.

"Should I?  After what he did to my friend?"

"Cole has been very emotional since his parents passed.  If you were in the same boat, would you have done what he has too?" he asked.  Nick thought for a moment, then shook his head, his tail swishing back and forth across the cold floor.

"No."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Mr.Harold.

"Yes."

"Are you being truthful?" He asked again, tempting the fox to grow more aggravated.

"I would never put the blame on anyone else but the animals who committed the crime."

"Hm.."

"Thanks for the information, have a good day, Sir." Said Nick, before he walked out the glass doors, leaving the shop behind.