FSE

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Chapter Three: Better on the inside

The first thing she saw as Don pulled the van up to the complex was a particularly nervous and irritated looking weasel. He was dressed in fine clothing, but it wasn't in great shape. The green suit had been patched several times, and seemed to be coated in dust despite clearly being worn often. His eyes were beady and blurry behind his large frames, and the little fur he had left on his head had been crudely combed over. The little brown mammal was wringing his paws as the van pulled up next to him. Polaraski rolled his window down and leaned out to greet him.

"Eddie my boy, how you doing?" The bear said with a jovial tone.

The weasel simply grit his teeth, his reply was too low to be audible.

"Parking here to unload okay? Won't take me very long." The bear's tone had the undercurrent of sternness below the friendly demeanor that time.

"Oh um." The weasel jumped slightly. "Yes, yes of course Don." He replied, running a paw through his terrible comb over.

The bear leaned back into the van, turning off the engine and placing it in park. He then turned his glance to Dawn.

"Last stop, everyone out." He grinned widely.

The bear exited the vehicle with a confident stride, Dawn less so. She stumbled back a bit as she climbed out of the large vehicle. After she regained her balance, she quickly scurried over to the bear's side. As the bear made minor small talk with his rather small friend Dawn's eyes began to roam over her new surroundings.

"Seaside Towers" was a misnomer of a name. It was clearly one building. The building looked relatively nice despite its location. Harbor Street, and its surrounding areas were mostly that, a harbor. Nearly all the structures were ocean adjacent warehouses, shipping ports and industrial structures. Dawn was actually surprised that there were any residential zones in the district at all, but here "Seaside Towers" stood. It was on the edge of Zootopia, with the ocean directly at its back. The scent of the nearby sea was surprisingly pleasant. Dawn chalked that up to the countless "Keep Zootopia Clean" laws and ordinances that kept the port pollution to a minimum. While it wasn't nearly close to the quality of the home she had before the "incident" it was still a massive step up from her dank little cell. The Weasel's voice suddenly broke her reverie.

"A-Ahem, Ms. Bellwether." She snapped her head back to find him standing in front of her, holding a clip board and pen aimed at her.

"O-h Oh, I'm sorry." She quickly took the clipboard and pen from his tiny paws, as he walked around to look at the document with her.

"This is your lease. Just sign, date and initial...erm." He flipped a few pages of the form before he pointed a claw at the correct line. "Here."

Dawn quickly scribbled in her information, and as she finished the last swoop of her signature the weasel snatched the form back tersely. She heard him sigh slightly as he began to sign the paper as well. She was about to ask what was wrong when Don sharply nudged the weasel.

"You'll have to forgive Eddie, he's had a rough day and forgot his manners." The bear stared daggers at the little mammal, causing him to wince. "You forgot to introduce yourself."

The weasel wiped his brow before turning his attention to Dawn. He reluctantly extended a paw.

"Edward Weaslow, I'm the owner of this place. " He said flatly. He shook Dawn's hoof weakly before returning to the paperwork, muttering as he scribbled. Don let out an annoyed sigh before turning to the ewe and dangling a key from his paw.

"Apartment 308, here's your key." He smiled, but it was clear he was somewhat uncomfortable. "Why don't you grab a few light things and head on up. I'll catch up after I finish my chat with Eddie."

Dawn slowly took the key and reluctantly returned to the van to grab a few bags. Something was wrong, and as she made her way back around the car with bags in tow she could see the tension written on the officer and landlords faces. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to find out what was going on. But thought it better not to press the issue, and made her way into the building.

The apartment was as small as the pictures had made it out to be. Everything was inside the one room that made up the bulk of the studio. A simple kitchen, a small living area, and a place for her bed could all be reached in less than three steps. And for a mammal as small as she was, that was something. There was a separate bathroom slash laundry room, and a very small closet. The place smelled old, and the faded and decaying jungle green print wallpaper reinforced the idea that it hadn't seen a tenant in a long time.

Getting everything into the apartment took less than an hour, and while the room itself was somewhat shabby her furniture was still quality. As she began to roll fresh sheets out onto her bed joy washed over her at the mere idea of sleeping on it instead of a poorly padded cot. In a flash she threw herself on the mattress, splaying her body as wide as she could will it. A throaty sigh erupted from her as the comfort hugged her tiny form. She laid there with her eyes closed for a solid minute, melting away in the downy ruffles before she was interrupted by the door swinging open. She sat up to see the polar bear enter, placing the last box on the floor.

"You look like you're enjoying yourself." He grinned.

She simply beamed in response.

"Heh, welp I'm happy to let you get back to it. I gotta get back to the office." He chuckled.

The lamb scrambled to the edge of her bed, hopping off and scrambling up to Polaraski. In a swift motion, she wrapped her arms around, well more across the front of the bear tightly. She held it briefly before releasing him, and her stance shifted to one of embarrassment.

"S-Sorry, I'm just so h-happy." She stuttered, twisting her foot as she spoke. She looked up at the bear with wide eyes. "T-thank you....for." She paused for a moment, face twisted in contemplation. "For everything."

The bear hunched down to the lambs height once more and opened his arms, allowing her to come in for a more proper hug which she gladly accepted.

After a few moments Dawn broke away from the big bear hug, smilingly widely.

"Now I have one more thing I have to give you before I go." The bear reached into his pocket and produced a wad of Z bucks.

"Prison resettlement act supplies two hundred bucks a week for the first three months or until your first paycheck. So here's your stipend. This should tide you over till ya get your bank account in order and get back to work." He held the billfold out farther, and reluctantly the lamb took it.

The bear rose to his feet. "Goodbye Dawn, we'll talk tomorrow." He adjusted his cap, and turned to leave. He was only a few steps out the door when he turned back to her one last time. "I know you'll make the best of the chance. You're a different lamb now; it's time to show the world." He grinned broadly before turning to leave again.

"Goodbye!" she waived, and after the bear disappeared down the hall she gingerly closed the door. In moments she had skittered back onto her bed and flopped down, taking more time to relish in its creature comforts.

After several minutes of laying face down in the mattress she forced herself to move. Doing her best impression of a sloth she dragged herself slowly across the mattress to its edge. Looking down she could see several boxes, one of which was marked "computer stuff". She sluggishly tore it open, and after a few moments of digging she dragged her laptop to the surface.

She plugged it in, and after taking some time to affectionately caress the lid which was still covered in cute sheep stickers, she opened it up and powered it on. It had only gotten a few seconds into its boot up process before it detoured to install updates. It had been four years after all; of course it wasn't up to date. She flopped backwards onto her mattress letting out a soft sigh.

She lay like that for a few minutes before she heard a light knock at the door. Hopping off the bed she walked over and carefully opened the door to find Eddie, the landlord.

"Oh h-hello." She stuttered. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, I just wanted to make sure you were settling in okay." He responded with a strained smile.

The lamb could sense something off, but tried to ignore it. "Y-es..I'm fine. The apartment is lovely." She smiled.

"Yes, well I try to keep a clean house, you understand." He shook his head.

"Well it shows." Dawn replied, hoping the compliment would dispel the uneasy feeling.

"You know-" The weasel brushed off his slightly tattered suit. "Weasels have it particularly hard in Zootopia. Everyone looks at them and sees them as untrustworthy, thieving vermin. We're one of the few mammals whose name is also a term for an unsavory personality." He placed his paws behind his back as he continued his story. "A lot of weasels fall into the crime life because of that public perception, we become what the public see us as."

Dawn nodded uncomfortably. The air was becoming thick.

"I was no exception as a youth, but Don helped me turn my life around and be the weasel I wanted to be." He sighed deeply as the lamb listened. "Now I'm on the straight and narrow, and I even own my own apartment complex. But despite how far I've come most mammals still see me as a shiftless treacherous rodent, and what you did four years ago only made it worse."

Dawn's stomach sank, and it was becoming harder to breath. Whatever Eddie's next words were going to be, she knew they weren't going pretty.

"Don is my friend, and he called in a long owed personal favor to get you into this place. I don't like this, I didn't want it, but I couldn't say no to that damn polar bear. He's a great mammal, and I owed him big time." The weasel's face had soured as he spoke, as if bile were rising in his throat.

"I'll treat you like any other tenant, anything you need fixing call me, and as long as the rents on time I won't bother you." He gritted his teeth.

"But if I didn't owe Don this big favor-"He pointed a claw sharply at the ewe. "I wouldn't even rent a bitch like you a wet cardboard box in Tundratown." He sneered.

Dawn suppressed the urge to cry, but the sting of his words were written all over her face. As she raised a hoof to reply, the weasel turned and began to walk away.

"Good day Ms. Bellwether." He muttered bitterly as he tromped down the hallway.

As he faded from view Dawn slowly closed the door and shuffled like a zombie back to her mattress. As she slumped back into her fresh sheets her mind reeled. She had been expecting that kind of treatment when she returned to society, just not so soon, and certainly not in her home. The dark thoughts pooling in her mind were suddenly silenced by the chime of her laptop as it finally opened to the desktop.

She was elated for the distraction, until she found herself staring at a factory restored desktop. Her ears drooped.

"Of course they wiped it. There goes all my music." She muttered.

Then a second thought rose in her mind. "And all my puzzle games too! Argh!" She slunk her head down into the mattress and groaned in disappointment. The laptop was rifled through and purged following the investigation years ago, it was standard procedure. Dawn chastised herself for not remembering. She was lucky the ZPD had even returned it at all.

She spent a moment sulking before she was hit with a realization that filled her with hope. "B-but my furbook games! Ohh...I bet I've got tons of stuff waiting for me there!" She perked up, the thought of getting lost in the mindless games filled her with glee as she opened the browser.

Only seconds after logging into her old account did she realize what a mistake she made. Her friends list was completely empty, vacant of even the closest of relatives. But worse still, the page was bursting with comments. Being a public official she'd never made the page private, and boy was she regretting it now. Bitter and hateful screeds covered the screen from corner to corner. Laced with acrid and violent sentiments from the citizens whose lives she had turned upside down. And she quickly became lost in the endless tide of black thoughts.

"May Holt: I'm not mad at you for what I had to go through during the predator hate campaigns you fueled, it's not like that was a new experience. But I'll never forgive you for the pain you caused my pups. They came home from school in tears everyday during your scheme because of the harassment they faced from the prey students! You are a monster."

"Eric Ossicone: U ARE THE REAL PREDATOR DAWN!"

"Darren Rhebok: I can't believe I voted for you and Lionheart, but at least he was just a liar like any politician. You were a psycho! My best friend is a puma, and he lost an eye defending himself from one of those hate mobs you stirred up! I hope you rot in jail forever."

"Honey Badger: I have been saying for YEARS about these sheep! They've been trying to control predators for centuries! And that trial was a joke, if there was any real justice she and her cronies would have been strung up in SAVANNAH CENTRAL STATION! But what do you expect with the secret sheep cabal running the world! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!! IT'S ALL A CONSPIRACY!!! If you read this Dawn, you better hope we never meet IRL!"

And most chillingly, there were just as many posts recently as there was when she was first arrested. The one dated yesterday, sitting atop the page was the one that caused her to close her laptop in sheer terror.

"Richard King: I heard they are letting you out soon. I can't believe it! What is wrong with society!?! Letting a BITCH like you walk free after what you've done! I PROMISE YOU I'LL FIND OUT WHERE YOU ARE AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE SAVAGE! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHEEP MEAT TASTES LIKE!!!"

She was filled with the desire to run, to just get out of the apartment. And in just a few minutes she had locked up the place and found herself on the front stoop gasping for breath. It was all too much to take in, too much too soon. She needed to walk, somewhere, anywhere. And in short order she found herself briskly walking toward the subway terminal to Savannah Central.

She sat in silence, quietly slumped down in a seat on the subway as it made its way to Savannah Central. Inside her mind however, it was a torrent of screaming voices. Each comment from the page looped endlessly filling her with a deep sense of shame and fear. She found herself grasping to think of anything else, just something to focus on so she could shut the door on the painful thoughts.

Her prayers were answered by the soft growl of her stomach. She had been so wrapped up in everything she read that dinner had slipped her by, and she found herself ravenous with hunger. She rubbed her stomach sympathetically. In prison mealtime was set to a strict schedule, and the meal choices were limited. Now she was burdened with options, for the first time in four years she could choose anything she could think of. Luckily it didn't take long to make a choice. Grazer's Grill had been her favorite spot to eat in Savannah Central, and it had been far too long since she had one of their signature "Turf Burgers". She licked her lips at the thought of the savory seasoned clover and forb patty topped with a hay process bun. It had been far too long since she had a meal of that caliber, and she practically drooled at the thought of sinking her teeth into one.

Her daydream faded when she became acutely aware of eyes of the various mammals that were cast on her. The car had several other occupants, and it was clear by the glare of some and the look of disgust of the others that they had recognized her. Her breathing shallowed once more, and she quickly looked down at her lap. She tried again to focus on her future meal, but she could still feel the judging eyes of the passengers burning a hole through her. She brought her knees up to her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible in an attempt to be as invisible as possible. Still she was aware of the passengers gaze, and now she could hear low mutterings of her name between them. She clutched her chest as she felt it tighten with anxiety. How long would it be before one of them came over to chew her out or worse?

"Now arriving, Savannah Central Station!" The P.A. rang out, and as soon as the doors opened Dawn flew out in a flash. She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her until before she knew it she was on the surface again. She leaned against a nearby lamppost and tried to compose herself.

"Keep it together, keep it together." She thought as she caught her breath. "You knew it was going to be like this at first, you have to push through it." She scolded herself.

"Okay, I'll just keep my head down, get my food, and go home." She said as she glanced at her surroundings. The streets were surprisingly inactive; very few mammals were strolling about. This meant she'd have an easier time of laying low.

She cowed her head and made herself as small as she could as she began to walk, keeping a healthy distance between her and any nearby citizens. Before long she reached the familiar restaurant. Its green neon sigh casting a glow so bright the front sidewalk was bathed in its hue. The "Grazer Grill" was neither the biggest or busiest place, but to Dawn it was unsurpassed in quality prey cuisine. Dawn stood outside its double doors, staring up at the sign. She stood nervously clacking her hooves, debating for a moment whether she should enter or not. Her stomach answered for her, and with a sigh of resignation she slinked into the establishment.

The restaurant was surprisingly quieter than usual Dawn noted, thankful for the small miracle. Even so she was still nervous, and the journey from the door to the front counter was arduous and slow. When she finally arrived she kept her head down as she called for the attention of the Antelope running the counter.

"Huh? Whozzat?" The Antelope crooked his neck only to see the top puff of Dawn's hair.

"U-um...can I o-order...a um..." She mumbled, trying to keep her already timid voice quiet.

"Giuseppe can't hear you lady lamb, Wha'dya want?" The Antelope asserted.

"One turf burger please, u-um to go." She stated, reaching up and placing a twenty on the counter.

The antelope eyed her suspiciously. Taking the twenty in his hooves and inspecting it. After inspecting it for a moment he eyed the lamb again, her head still down. He scratched his chin.

"You-uh, you seem familiar lady? You been here before?" He asked.

The lamb was getting more nervous, she could feel her knees shaking. Still she tried her best hide it in her demeanor.

"N-no...no I haven't." She muttered. To Dawn, his stare seemed to last forever. But eventually he shrugged and began to process the order. As he punched a few buttons on the register Dawn sighed with relief, it looked like she was going to get away clean this time.

"Wait! Dawn Bellwether!?" A voice piped up, causing Dawn to freeze. A second antelope, clearly older, who had been further down the counter had spoke. He made his way over to the younger one working the register. He craned his neck down at the ewe, who was still as stone. She was caught, she knew it, and slowly she raised her head to meet his gaze.

"Um- H-hello Mr. Antelli." Dawn mumbled. Of course the old antelope still worked there, he was the owner after all. She had just hoped he had retired, or at least wasn't in that day. With how frequent Dawn visited the establishment as the Assistant Mayor he had come to know her quite well, and there is no way he wouldn't recognize her.

The Antelope stood back up, a look of deep disgust on his face. He didn't break his gaze as he spoke.

"Giuseppe, give her back her money." He said coldly.

"Dad is that-"

"Give her back her money so she can be on her way." He growled.

Dawn bit her lip, unsure of what to do as the antelope returned her twenty. She looked up at Mr. Antelli in disbelief.

"P-please, I just w-want some food. Can yo-?"

"We serve mammals here! Not a beast like you!" The Antelope raised his voice, now catching the attention of several other patrons.

"B-But!" She protested, stepping backward in fear.

"GET OUT OF MY RESTARANT YOU DEMON! GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK! YOU GOT THAT!?!" Now he was screaming.

Not even giving the crowd of curious patrons a chance to swell around the scene the lamb fled, sobbing hysterically as she ran.

She was still crying when she made it back to her apartment, albeit reduced to slight sniffles. She locked her door and leaned against it, sliding down into a heap on the floor in front of it. It was too much for her, even if she expected it. She never knew what it was like to be so reviled.

"I can't do this...I just can't." She choked, wiping the tears from her reddened eyes. She thought about vowing never to leave her apartment again, but she knew better.

Not only would she have a job soon that would require her to leave her apartment, but locking herself away in her own home would be little different from being in prison again. No, she decided she was going to get through this, and after a few more minutes of getting her tears out she clambered to her feet. Somehow she was going to eat tonight.

Using her laptop she located the nearest pizza place with prey options and called in a delivery order. As she waited she began to dig through her boxes of clothes, eventually finding her old Meadowlands University hoodie. She hugged it tightly for a moment, basking in the nostalgia from her college days before pulling it on and tightening the hood. When the knock came at the door, she quickly placed her glasses aside. After turning off the lights in the small apartment she slowly opened the door a crack.

"What do you want?" She said making her voice as deep as she could.

"Clover pizza and Zoo-cola for May Shears?" The teenage dingo asked, squinting to try to make out the form in the darkness.

She quickly shoved the money into his paw, and yanked the pizza and drink away from him.

"Keep the change." She said, and quickly slammed the door.

Keeping her back to the door she listened carefully, waiting for the delivery boy to leave. After a moment she heard him mutter something about her being weird before hearing his padding disappear down the hall. Letting out a sigh of relief, she turned on her lights and placed her food on the counter. After taking a few minutes to change into her nightgown, she popped an old DVD in her laptop and settled in on the couch. As the intro to Giraffic Park cued up, she took a bite of clover pizza and smiled. She did it, her stupid attempt at a disguise had went off without a hitch, and at the very least something worked out for her today. It may have been a small victory, but she was more than happy to take it. She knew there would be worse days ahead, she was sure of it. But for now she was fed, relaxed, and away from Zootopia's scornful eyes. As for tomorrow, that was another day.