Animal Instincts

Chapter 11

Nick's POV

Training today didn't seem so hard. I already knew I wasn't going to be cut from training since agility courses were my strong points.

As of now, Judy and I were just heading inside from the training field. It was time to start heading home and all the officers lingered in the break room, talking about the officers, who got cut today. Judy and I decided to head to the shower rooms where it was less commotion.

"I was so nervous about today. I didn't even finish the course." Judy rambled on as we took a seat on the bleachers.

We weren't really in a rush to leave. It wasn't like we had anything planned to do after work.

"I noticed you weren't ahead with everyone else. Did you get stuck?" I asked, throwing my towel over my shoulder.

She nodded her head. "On the monkey bars."

"How did you make it pass cuts?"

"Well, while I was practicing on it, Tessa came over and gave me some pointers. She noticed how determined and motivated I was so she gave me a chance." Judy said it with full happiness in her tone.

"That's great, Carrots!" I patted the top of her tiny head.

It was good to see Judy have a positive attitude towards Tessa. It improved tremendously from yesterday.

"Yeah. She seemed nicer to me than she was yesterday," Judy's words rolled right off her tongue like her statement did not seem important.

Something about what she said made me wonder.

"What happened yesterday?" I asked intently, letting my ears droop in concern.

"What. Oh, nothing, Nick." she laughed, trying to sound calm, but I wasn't buying it.

"Judy," I looked her dead in the eye. "Did she hurt you? Because if she did I'll talk to her myself."

Judy froze, stiff as a statue and her eyes never left mine.

Just because Tessa is my boss doesn't mean she can run over Judy like road kill. It's not fair. I know how Tessa can be. It's in a fox's behavior. Once they get ahold of someone they don't know when to stop manipulating and taking advantage of them. Trust me, I've been down that road plenty of times with vixens.

After a moment she replied, "Nothing happened, Nick. I swear."

I still didn't believe her, but there was no point to keep pressuring her for answers.

"Well, okay," I gave in as a thought crossed my mind. "You still have her perfume bottle?"

"Yeah," Judy dug through her carrot patterned duffle bag and pulled out the blood red glass bottle with the golden top. "I'll give it to her the next time I see her."

Coincidentally, Tessa just so happened to stroll out the female's shower room with steam still escaping from her damp, gray fur. She had her towel resting on her shoulders and she took out her phone and started tapping on the screen like crazy until she disappeared down a hallway.

"You know what, Carrots," I heard myself say still staring at the beginning of the hallway Tessa disappeared from.

"What?"

"I'll just give it to her myself," finally looking down at Judy, I reached for the bottle in her paws.

I grabbed it, but as I pulled away her grip tightened. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of concern and wonder.

"Why can't I do it?" she asked warily, eyebrows crinkling in the process.

"Because I just so happened to see her pass by. You can go take your shower and I'll go return it to her. I'll be right here when you come out, Judy. I promise." that's not really what I wanted to say, but it'll suffice.