FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Predaton was a light with joy, as the festivities began. All down Duclaw ave, one of the cities two main commercial streets was decorated for the event. The towns Oceana Festival was well underway, a carnival on the streets celebrating the industries that help found the city. Predators dressed in blue, white and green danced in skimpy clothes, following floats as a parade began. Parker was leaning on a road block, watching the festivities unfold, doing his best to blend in with the crowd around him. He had on his favorite denim vest and black Guns N Rodents T-shirt. Blue jeans, ripped and frayed in a few places to compliment it as well. He watched a troupe of lioness dancers, dressed in very tight blue thongs, decorated with white tassels and blue and white pom-poms, danced down the street as an announcer spoke up behind them.

"Ladies and Gentlemammals, welcome to the Predaton Oceana Parade!"

"WOOO!!!!" Many in the crowd cheered, a few with their cubs perched on their shoulders.

"Please welcome, class of 87's radical raccoon rascals!" Parker watched as a pack of raccoons began playing a vast array of brass instruments and drums. Some of which forced Parker to fire back his ears, trying to ignore the harsh percussive sounds. "Don't forget to pick up your passes to the shore side carnival, and at 8:00 tonight. Performing live, our very own hometown rock stars; Deaf Leopard!"

"WOOOOOO!!!!" The crowd really cheered on, hooting and hollering at the announcement.

"Huh. I should try to catch that." Parker thought aloud to himself. "Oof." He huffed, as a young tiger cub bumped into him, wearing a white and green color shirt and brown shorts. Parker spoke down to him. "Watch it kido."

"Humph!" The little tiger cub huffed right back. Parker unimpressed with the display chose to ignore it and continue watching the parade. "Raphael! Get back here!" A larger tiger called back, but Parker seemingly kept his gaze fixed on the parade. After a while and growing weary with the floats, he headed toward one of the concessions and got in line. He checked over the fairly short menu and then dug out the few bucks he had in his pocket. Over all he had enough to pay for a hotdog and soda, which he figured would be enough to tithe him over for now. Waiting a few minutes, he noticed the same tiger cub rush in front of him in line. Parker threw up his arms and shook his head.

"Hey, are you for real? Back of the line, rug-rat." Parker insisted, nudging the cub out of line.

"Hey, you're not allowed to touch me." The young tiger pointed out.

"You're not allowed to cut in line." Parker quipped right back with a toss up of his brow.

"I'm allowed to do what I want."

"Yeah I'm sure. Not!" Parker fired back with a smile.

"Raphael! What are you doing?" A bit white tiger with a light blue polo shirt and brown slacks approached. "I told you to get a soda."

"This guy's getting in my way." Raphael pointed out.

"Kid's trying to cut the line." Parker explained rather calmly. The big tiger rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

"Raphael my son, I have told you a thousand times. Back of the line, back!" He pointed out, ushering his cub to the end of the line. "It's a respect thing eh? Come on, you're smarter than this, yes?"

"Yes papa."

"That's my boy." He smiled, patting his head. Strolling up to Parker he gave a passing mention. "Forgive him, he's young."

"Course." Parker briefly nodded, as the big tiger headed back into the crowd, pulling in a female white tiger beside him. Parker could only assume it was his wife. Finally it was his turn to order, a young teenage lynx was working the stand.

"Hi, what can I get you?"

"Yeah, I'll have a hot dog, everything on it and large orange soda, skip the ice please."

"Sure." She answered in a rather monotone voice, snatching up the cash. Parker waited a few moments before turning back to the line. He could see the young cub pouting at him. Parker gave a quick smile and was about to turn back to the counter when a clouded leopard approached and took hold of the cub's paw. Leaning down, he whispered something before trying to drag him off.

"Hey, hey hey!!" Parker shouted rushing off, knowing that it wasn't his father. The leopard pulled a gun, but Parker strafed the line of fire and snatched it from his hand. "Yeah, feel real smart now?" He asked, as the leopard slowly backed off.

"Whoa whoa whoa, ok."

"Raphael?" The real father called out. Just as he spoke a barrage of gunfire erupted and the crowed started to scream and scatter. "Raphael!! Vinnie, boys, get my son!" Parker managed to avoid getting trampled but saw that the same leopard was getting away with the cub. Rushing after him, he tried to flee to down an alleyway between two apartment complexes. Parker had a clear lane and although his paws were shaky, opened fire, hitting the leopard in the leg. He went down hard, taking Raphael with him and Parker rushed over, keeping the gun fixed on the leopard.

"Don't make another fucking move, you hear me!?" Parker bellowed.

"Ok ok I give!" He submitted. Parker took the cub's paw and garnered his attention.

"You ok? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm ok." The leopard looked down the alley to see a collection of other big cats gathering.

"Well, you got me down but, you're fucked now fox." He laughed from the ground. Parker folded his ears back in fear, pulling Raphael closer to him.

"Aw shit. Move!" He cried out, heading toward a branching path with the cub in tow. Sadly it led to a dead end, but at the end of the alley were a small divit on either side he hid within. Keeping the cub pressed against the wall, he pressed the gun close to his chest and waited for the group to round the corner. "Aw damn. I'm gonna kill someone now aren't I? Fuck me, I'm really gonna have to." Parker nervously panicked. Raphael whimpered and clung a bit tighter to his waist, making him very aware of why he was doing this. "Right, it's ok I got it." Just as the leopards rounded the corner, Parker peeked out and fired. He nailed two of them right in the chest, but the others took cover and opened fire.

"Help me! Help me!!" Raphael cried out.

"I got you, it's gonna be ok!" Parker insisted. Another barrage of bullets flew through, taking chunks out of the brick side they were hiding behind. Parker shot blind around the corner, managing to hit another one of them in the leg, but not enough to bring them down. The gun clicked over and over, realizing he was out of ammo. "Shit!" His breathing grew ever more rapid, the three remaining leopards were closing in on him now. Slowly approaching he could hear the footsteps coming. Parker pulled Raphael in nice and close, whispering over and over. "It's gonna be ok. Just stay with me. It'll be ok." When a new barrage of gunfire started. Parker feared the worse, that they were firing on him, but he heard the screams of the leopards as they fell. As it subsided, he chanced a look around the corner to see all three dead on the ground. The father with his gun drawn along with a very large lion, a polar bear and dingo. They paused for a moment before holstering their guns.

"Hey fox!" The tiger called out. "You better let my son go right now!"

"Hey, I've been keeping him covered." Parker called out back, as Raphael ran from his side. Parker exited the corner with his hands up as Raphael lunged for his father.

"I got you son, I got you." He whispered, holding him tight in his arms. The big lion looked Parker over for a moment.

"He's not one of Cazzini's."

"How do you know?"

"I know. You asked me to keep tabs on em, yeah?" The big but gruff lion smiled.

"Hey relax." Parker spoke up. "I'm new in town here. Some welcome, huh?"

"My son." The big tiger asked. "Did he protect you? Keep you from those bad leopards?"

"Yeah Papa, he was really brave." Raphael answered.

"My god, I'm so sorry." The tiger approached swiftly and kneeled down to shake Parker's paw. "You saved my son from those cowards, I'm grateful to you."

"Notta problem." Parker smiled, giving him a firm handshake. "Names Marcus. Marcus Foxtrot."

"Marcus, thank you. I'm Allesandro. This is my son, Raphael. The lion here is my good friend Vinnie. That's Rupert." Allesandro pointed to the polar bear. "And Dominick." He pointed to the dingo.

"G'day."

"Nice meeting ya."

"Please, Marcus." Allesandro waved. "Allow me to take you to dinner, yes? Show my appreciation for saving my son. My wife she cooks lasagna that would knock you off your feet."

"It's a lovely offer, thank you but. I have somewhere I have to be." Parker bowed, stuffing his paws in his pockets.

"Oh please, surely you can make an exception."

"I really do appreciate the offer, but from one father to another, I'm just glad your son is safe." Parker nodded.

"Ah." Allesandro smiled. "Your kit, a lucky fellow."

"Yeah. Real lucky." Parker laughed. "Thanks fellas, pleasure meeting you. Raphael, be safe. No more line cutting." Parker winked, giving him a peace sign and wave. Allesandro watched him leave, as his wife Maria rounded the corner. She was wearing a simple blue and white dress to match the festivities, frantically running toward her husband and son.

"Oh there he is! Thank god thank god!" She cried, rushing in for a hug. "Oh my baby boy, let mama have a look at you." She carried on, frantically kissing his cheeks and head.

"He's fine mama." Allesandro soothed her, with a kiss to her cheek. "Vinnie, look into our friend there."

"Sir." He approved with a quick nod.

Parker was asleep in his room, a stuffy and broken down room atop of a record store. The mattress was small and shallow, his covers a broken sleeping bag and pillow his backpack. The room had one dresser that was missing two drawers and a single window that was predominantly taped up. A male skunk was working downstairs, heading toward the hall that fed up to Parker's room.

"Hey Marcus!" He called. Giving it a moment he called again. "Mark!! Get up off your ass, you're supposed to start now." Parker rolled out of bed, clasping his head.

"Yeah yeah, I'm on my way." He called back. Pulling open the dresser, he yanked out his denim vest and threw it on as he headed for the bathroom. The skunk, dressed in a Deaf Leopard shirt and black pants shook his head as Parker finally got downstairs.

"You know, you're the only one I know who can live right above his workplace and still be late." He snickered.

"Yeah yeah, shut up Michael."

"Hey come on, I'm supposed to be training you remember?"

"What's to train me on, being a cash jockey?" Parker threw up his brow.

"Nah you know, we gotta do all kinds of stuff. Today we're doing inventory on the vinyls."

"Which?"

"N to Z."

"K, got a sheet?" Parker asked.

"Yeah here, dad printed it off before he left." Michael stated, handing it off to Parker.

"How generous. Mind if I do a coffee run first?" Parker asked. Michael smiled and pulled from behind the counter a brown bag and drink tray with two coffees. "My fucking hero." Parker laughed.

"They were out of poppy seed, so I grabbed honey oat."

"That's fine." Parker dug into the bag and pulled out a bagel and butter packets. He had barely gotten a few bites in when the same white tiger entered through the door. Michael recognized him right away, and backed up behind Parker.

"Whoa."

"What? That's the guy I met yesterday. Hey Allesando, good to see you again." Parker greeted. Raphael came scurrying in behind and smiled, rushing up to the counter.

"Hey, do you guys have any guitars or drums?"

"Yeah. Michael, show the kid one of the Gilson Les Paws we just got in."

"Yeah, ok." He agreed. Allsandro dropped his paw on the counter and surveyed the place.

"So, this is where you had to be that was so important."

"Eh well. It's something huh?" Parker answered with a smile.

"Allow me to be blunt." Allesandro stated, leaning down on the counter to meet Parker eye to eye. "I'm furious with you."

"Serious?" Parker threw up his brow.

"You lied to me." He whispered. "I hate it, when mammals lie to me. A mammal that lies to me, is one without integrity."

"Look, I'm not looking for any trouble. I just want to be left alone." Parker stated with little fear. "This the way you thank someone for saving your cub?"

"It's the only reason you're alive right now." Allesandro answered. "Now, I will give you one chance. Just one." Allesandro spoke slowly and clearly, extending his paw. "Your name, fox."

"Mar-" Allesandro snatched his muzzle.

"Think carefully on your answer." He growled. Parker was figuring it out. He knew what Allesandro was asking. Letting his muzzle go, he gave his answer.

"Parker. Parker Wilde. So hello, and goodbye, tiger."

"Why?" Allesandro asked, as Parker made for the stairs. Up in his room he snatched up his bag and stuffed his few belongings inside from the drawers and snared up the strap on his guitar bag. "What are you doing now?" He continued to press as Parker rushed down the stairs and toward the counter.

"You know who I am, so I'm not safe here. I'm out, thanks a bunch." Allesandro pulled his arm and turned him around.

"Don't walk away, I want to speak to you."

"There's nothing to talk about, I'm a wanted fox. If you know who I am it's only a matter of time before the fucking pigs do. I'm out."

"Just stop, take it easy." Allesandro insisted, ushering him back he kneeled down to get more level with him. "I'm aware of who you are. Your reputation, what happened in Zootopia. Vinnie, he's good with these kinds of things. He can find dirt on anyone, anywhere."

"So why did you dig me up?" Parker questioned.

"You have a hatred for police." Allesandro smiled.

"Putting it lightly."

"Listen, I am a business mammal. My organization could help you."

"I can't." Parker turned away, closing his eyes.

"Why not?"

"If I keep doing this." Parker shook his head. "I'll never see her again. I'll never get back home."

"Your wife, and kit."

"Yes."

"Parker. Mammal to mammal here." He gestured with his paw. "You're wanted for murder 1. The pigs in Zootopia, they don't want to clear your name. They want you in the ground."

"Don't think I don't know that?"

"Just come with me. I feel I owe you that much. Perhaps you could be of value to my business, yes? Besides. My son, Raphael, he can't stop talking about you." Allesandro explained.

"Why?"

"You save him, he calls you hero fox. All night last night and all day today it was mama did you meet the hero fox? Hero fox coming to dinner? Papa is hero fox coming today?" Allesandro playfully carried on.

"Jeez, made an impression huh?"

"He looks up to you. Come now. Surely you can do better than this place?"

"But I was really looking forward to my career as a record store flunky." Parker seemingly pleaded. Allesandro threw up his brow in disbelief. "Haha, psych." He laughed.

"That's better. Raphael! Come! We're heading home for some pizza with your hero fox."

"Pizza!!!" Raphael cheered rushing toward the door. "Heya Mr. Fox!"

"Can call me Parker. Hey Michael." Parker called back as he pushed open the door. "Cover for me, I'm heading out for a while."

Riding in the limousine, they drove through the gate and Parker was in awe at the sight. A lush garden and circling roadway that lead to the front door of the massive mansion. A good chunk of it covered in glass ceilings and walls, while the rest of the structure spanned to either side. To the right was a ramp that led down to a garage where the car was to be kept and to the right, a stone pathway that fed to the back gate. Walking through the front door he was stunned by the beauty inside. Lavish furniture in various colors of purple, burgundy and white. Glass ornaments and vases, a massive painting of the city hung over the fireplace. In the living room were a few other mammals, a mix of coyotes, panthers, wolves and hyenas. Allesandro gave them a quick nod before heading toward the kitchen. Parker smiled as he peered in, seeing a humbly dressed tigress stirring a pot of tomato sauce while the two does were kneading the dough needed for pizza.

"Marzia, can you start the pepperoni?" The tigress asked.

"Of course, Maria, of course." She joyfully agreed, ducking into the fridge.

"Eh my love." Allesandro opened up his arms wide as he stepped inside.

"Oh hoho! My strong handsome tiger." She cooed, shuffling over she clasped his cheeks and gave him three good kisses. "Welcome home my love-love."

"Mama! Look, it's the hero fox!" Raphael pointed out, shoving Parker forward.

"Look at you!" Maria squealed with delight. "The big hero from the parade! Welcome, welcome!" She praised, kissing his cheeks. "You stay for dinner ok? What you like on your pizza?"

"Thank you!" Parker bowed. "I'll have anything on it, minus anchovies or pineapple."

"That's the right answer!" Maria laughed. "Raphael, want to help me grate the cheese?"

"Sure mama!" Raphael snagged a stool and bolted for the counter.

The dining room table was filled with mammals, all members of the Barone family. Vinnie, Dominick and Rupert were off to the left of Allesandro, while to the right was Maria, who had just set the last pan of pizza down.

"For you baby, pepperoni, sausage and provolone."

"Ah, my sweet-heart. You spoil me." He chuckled softly, kissing her cheek. Parker had taken a seat near the middle of the table and settling in right across from him was an old white tiger alongside Raphael.

"So, is this the fox you were talking about?" He gruffly asked, his voice quite gritty.

"Yes grampa-pa."

"Ah." He extended his rather scruffy looking paw over the table. "Barthello Delgatoro Mauricio Barone." He greeted.

"Parker Mathias Wilde, it's a pleasure sir."

"So Parker." Allesandro spoke up from the head of the table. "What do you think of our fair city?"

"It's nice. Can't shake off that smell of the fisheries though." He quipped, rousing a few chuckles from the table.

"Do you work there?" Rupert questioned.

"Nah, just liked to browse the fish market. Zootopia had passable predator food but, this place gets it fresh."

"Very true." Allesandro nodded. "Why don't you tell us about your wife and kit eh?"

"Ah well." Parker began fiddling with the pepperoni on his pizza. "That's a... It's a tough story."

"I read up on you." Vinne noted. "Had CPS on you, not to mention the murder."

"I didn't kill em." Parker brushed off.

"Yeah right." Dominick chortled, taking a bite of his pizza.

"I'm serious. That two timing rat in Zootopia could have saved me too if he had come forward. Daryl, drunk as a skunk lost control of his car, went over a ridge in the Rainforest District."

"Well, it's not the place for those shrews to come forward to police you know?" Dominick reminded him.

"They wouldn't have anything on him. Asshole drives off a cliff, they just say they saw it and called it in anonymously." Parker shrugged. "I swear, I get a chance I'ma blow that rat bastard away."

"Eh eh, easy. Language, please Parker." Allesandro waved down.

"I'm sorry." Parker retracted, taking a bite of his dinner.

"You know. There is a place in my organization for you if you want it. Do as much or as little as you want but. Something tells me, Parker. You could really use our resources." Allesandro gestured to the table. "With us, you would have anonymity. We have mammals on the inside of just about everything in town. We could keep you covered."

"And in return?" Parker threw up his brow.

"We keep it simple at first. Deliveries, errands, clean up, that kind of thing you know. Build some stature with my boys here." Allesandro smiled. "Heh, maybe even just the occasional babysitting for Raphael." He chuckled, ruffling his cub's head.

"Well." Parker hung his head.

"We may even be able to bring your dear wife and son here." Allesandro threw in.

"No, no." Parker adamantly refuted. "I appreciate the thought but. I don't mind getting my paws dirty if it can keep theirs clean, if you follow me."

"Mmm, devoted. A sure sign of a mammal of integrity. Still, perhaps a visit or two here and there? I own a hotel downtown. Soothing Currents Inn, you seen it?"

"Yeah, nice place. Too bad I can't afford a night there." Parker chuckled nervously before taking another bite.

"You work for me, I'll put you up there and help you fly your girl into town, yes? Keep things quiet and clean. No business talk, you know?" He hinted, making sure he understood what he was suggesting.

"Of course. I got a knack for keeping things quiet and quite frankly, when it comes to just about anything I do, discretion is the better part of valor."

"Then let's settle it, yes?" Allesandro rose up from his seat to stride over to Parker's. "Welcome aboard?" He offered with his paw extended. Raphael let a big smile loose with a mouth full of pizza. Parker shook his head and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm in."