FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Docks - Old Musk Mill Warehouse - Down Pier 23 across from Prairie Boardwalk Sunday - 12:01 AM - Overcast Skies / Pouring Rain

The only thing that saved Murana's life as both Nick and Judy's guns clicked, their aim on her head, was the gargling whine of Don Karnage. The gunshot reverberated throughout the spacious warehouse, causing the pirate captain to wince and shy away from his certain death. The barrel was still smoking millimeters from his eyes. It was aimed just off-kilter to have narrowly missing his face entirely. Murana had spared his life.

She was still furious and heaving, her fangs bared and her eyes malevolent. She wanted nothing less than his utter annihilation. However, she knew she would lose everything she held dear if she killed him here. Continuing with her course of action lest she change her mind, she unceremoniously emptied the pistol of every shell, letting them drop onto Karnage's head painfully before tossing the gun away from her.

"Mom!" Steven sniffled, breaking free from beyond Judy and Nick and rushing straight into her with open arms. She caught him with some surprise, immediately holding onto him tightly and giving him loving licks and kisses.

"Ugh...did we crash it?" Shock surged through everyone as all eyes turned to see Max slowly wobbling back up onto all fours. The only remnant of his fatal head wound was the red blood on the side of his face. The entire hole was completely sealed over and gone.

"Max?" Murana couldn't understand what had happened. "Max!" She screamed, literally picking up Steven as she lumbered over to the raccoon, herself clearly in a lot of pain. Falling to both knees, she gripped them both tightly to her bosom. "I saw you die! How are you still breathing?" She inspected his head thoroughly.

"I died?" Max looked confused, following her gaze as he felt the side of his ears. "I think...it was because of the totem that I survived. I took Mad Dog's life."

"I don't understand..." Murana was confused as she stared at the small fragment Max pulled out of his pocket, turning it over in the dim light. Her mind was slowly turning to mush as her body started to shut down.

"I figured out how they work." Max explained, not really taking into account Karnage nearby or the cops. He was telling this only to her. "I realized the moment Mad Dog and Karnage stood back up at the bank. The moment they steal someone's years as their own, they also get their life too." He could tell Murana still wasn't getting it. "They get an extra life. The moment you kill them, they lose the life they stole and are left with just their own until they steal another's. That's why they were so scared after that bunny shot them, they had no life insurance."

Steven had to chuckle at this pun. "I like him, Mom." He nuzzled up against both of them. "I think he's going to be a awesome little brother."

"And I think you're going to be an awesome tenant in our jail." Nick quickly intercepted Karnage as he started to slink away, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck. "It is foxes like you who give the rest of us a bad name." Nick was not amused.

Smiling at the family reunion, Judy turned her attention to Karnage, flinging out a pair of handcuffs off her belt as she limped over to him. "You are under arrest for murder, kidnapping, theft, destruction of property and I'm sure I could nail you on dozens of other counts. For your sake, you should keep your gurgling to a minimum. Nothing you say will probably save you now."

Realizing that he had finally been beat, Karnage wilted and allowed his wrists to be bound. Nick pulled out a small first aid kit and began treating the stab wound on Karnage's neck. "Wouldn't do no good to have you dead before you got to your hearing, now would it?" This brought a groan from the surly pirate. As if reminding himself, he turned his concerned gaze to Judy, "And that's the last time I trust you on an injury, young lady. I'm taking you to the ER after this." This psuedo-joking condescending tone brought a rolling of eyes from the bunny.

Murana began to feel woozy. The adrenaline was gone and the exertion had taken its toll on her body to the point the painkillers she took were no longer effective. She rotated her upper body to face Karnage, pointing her finger at his belt. "His pouch. Get his totem from it..." She managed to utter before collapsing, exhaustion overwhelming her.

"Mom!" Steven cried out, immediately holding her and trying to shake her awake.

Judy was fast to catch on to what Murana was referring to, immediately seizing the contents of the pouch indicated. "This is very unusual." She studied the jeweled shard in her paw. She looked over to Max, "And you say he was able to steal lives with this?"

"More like it stole souls." Max clarified.

Nick, having finished up his first aid, glanced up at the strange artifact. "Is that even possible? That's just...unnatural." He shivered involuntarily, not liking that prospect. He stood up to stand beside Judy to assist in staying standing herself.

With determination on her face, Judy gripped the talisman in her paw. "Then it needs to be destroyed." She threw it down on the ground and whipped out her gun, firing a clean shot at its gemstone, fracturing it into a thousand pieces.

The howl from Karnage was unearthly. His eyes bulged as the fragment shattered. His whole body convulsed as his fur turned grey. The muscles in his limbs atrophied and shrunk, showing nothing but skin and bones. His screeching was toe-curling as he writhed on the ground, the many years of his existence disappearing in an instant. Everyone stood stunned as his body turned to ash, and nothing was left of the famed pirate but a pile of dust.

Nick broke the silence first. "Great! Now you killed my patient!" This drew a glare from his partner.

Judy chuckled nervously as she refocused back on the pile that was once Karnage, her heart beating insanely fast. "I didn't mean for that to happen..." She looked at all in attendance, "That wasn't all me, was it?"

Max shrugged. "You destroyed the totem, not the fox."

"Can someone please help my Mom?" Steven was angry now. His mom could be hurt, have internal bleeding, or be flat out dying right now and she wasn't receiving any help.

Nick studied Murana's form for a few moments, "She is smaller than most wolves. Even if my partner was in a condition to help lift her, it would be rough getting her to the squad car by ourselves."

"No need." A deep voice rumbled behind them. Both bolted to the side as the imposing form of Chief Bogo emerged from the darkness, surveying the scene without emotion. His eyes finally rested on Murana lying prone on the floor between her two kits. "Is this the Dark Flame Wolf?"

At a nod from both Judy and Nick, he walked over to her and knelt to one knee. "She needs medical attention." That much was obvious to everyone. "However, she still has to answer for her crimes."

"But she saved everyone!" Steven was affronted. "If it weren't for her, hundreds of young kids would be dead or missing by now!"

"I also would be dead right now if it weren't for her." Max offered, staring at the buffalo's horns.

Bogo's face softened at both the skunk and raccoon. "I understand." He studied Murana's face carefully, her mask askew. "As one parent to another, I do. I'll take her to the hospital myself." Without another word, he effortlessly put a hoof under her legs and behind her back, lifting her off the ground as she relaxed limply in his arms. He looked over at Judy, "Officer Hopps, you disobeyed my orders to go home and rest. We will speak about this later."

Nodding at his two officers, he snorted an unspoken command for Max and Steven to follow him as they exited the warehouse. The rain was still pretty heavy, but had abated enough to not be a raging downpour. However, it was the pelting on her face that woke Murana from her pain-induced stupor. Realizing she was being carried, she jolted a little in Bogo's arms as she realized who he was.

"Do not be alarmed, Mrs. Wolford." Bogo pacified firmly. "I am taking you somewhere safe and your children are okay."

She turned her head to look past him at the two kits trailing behind, both looking miserably drenched. She nodded her head, sensing that no words really needed to be said. She stared ahead blankly, the rotating red and blue mesmerizing her attention. She barely noticed the wildebeest sitting along the edge of the pier until they were right upon him.

"Please stop..." She groaned. Bogo amazingly acquiesced, turning his body to face Ralph. She beamed at the wildebeest, lowering her arm out to him. "Thank you, for helping me."

Ralph took a few moments to realize her intent before smiling back and reaching out a hoof to touch her paw. "The pleasure was all mine, my lady."

Murana regarded the dark shape in the water. "Who is your friend?"

Ralph turned to the orca beside him. "This is Sebastian. He helped me." He put a hoof down to pet and appreciate the brave orca, who just clicked happily in response.

"That was brave of you. Were you the one who saved us?" She could vaguely remember the dark shape splashing out of the water to haul Dumptruck to the depths.

"Yes!" Sebastian was proud, undulating his body in an odd fashion. "He was definitely a squirmer, and it made for quite the fun ride!"

The three of them shared an odd look before Ralph covered for his fishy friend, "He's just still excited at having helped out official police business..."

"Come on, it's time to keep moving." Bogo was unyielding. He wanted to get out of the rain and Murana to a hospital. There was much to discuss and mull over.

The next few moments were a blur. Murana recalled being laid gently into the back of a cruiser, being driven for many miles. Seconds turned to minutes which turned to hours. Familiar faces flashed in her view: a skunk looking worried over her, a raccoon with a bemused smile, and a wolf that looked very much like her husband. The last face she saw was of her little brother, having died decades ago when they were young. Then darkness.

_ _

_ _

Downtown - Mercy Hospital - Southern Savannah off Oasis Plaza Sunday -10:42 AM - Scattered Clouds / Occasional Sprinkling w/Light Winds

_ _

The dull beeping of the heart monitor penetrated through the haze of consciousness. Murana's entire body ached and she could feel the shackles of metal cuffs around her legs and wrists once more. She moaned in misery as she opened her eyes to see herself again captive in yet another hospital room, breathing tubes pushed up into her nostrils. An IV drip shunt piercing a healthy vein in her arm.

A small paw reached out and caused her to gaze over and see her family there beside her. Anthony was sitting in a chair dozing, Max sleeping comfortably in his lap being held in place by one arm from Anthony. Steven was beside her with a relieved look, giving her wrist a small squeeze of encouragement. He leaned forward over the bed and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning, Mom!" He looked a bit beat up, but no worse for wear.

"Is this heaven?" She tried to get up further on the mattress, but was hindered by the cuffs. Her focus drifted towards Ronald Latrinae on the other side of the bed, his glasses perched pristinely on his muzzle. "No...I guess not."

Ron scowled at the remark, "That seems a rather rude thing to say, Boss."

Murana sighed, trying her best to turn over onto her side to face away from him, "Ron, I'm not your boss. I think that became very clear when you stabbed me yesterday."

"Yet you said there was a chance if I helped you out in rescuing all those kids last night." Ron pointed out, looking rather pleased at having rescued every one that fell into the water. "Each one is being held in foster care with the city until they can properly find homes for them, or at least a new orphanage to take them in."

Murana didn't respond for a few moments, "Thanks for that, Ron." The otter gave a grunt of appreciation for the compliment. She shifted slightly to look over at him, "Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be getting back to your father and report I'm still alive?"

If Ron was uncomfortable talking about his true profession so openly, he didn't show it. "I highly doubt my Dad would be so forgiving of my failure. He was never much of a father figure to me and liked me even less than my mother. I don't think staying away from home will be that much of a loss. Besides, I think I've found a better sort of people right here to put my stock into. Also as head of a prestigious bank, you could possibly use a proficient bodyguard as well as a loyal secretary!"

Murana had to stifle her laughter to keep the pain to her sides minimal, "Wow...you are bold and unrelenting, just like when I first met you." She stared off into space out the window for a time, neither she nor Steven wanting to awaken the softly snoring duo of Anthony and Max. At length, she turned back to Ron. "Due to the lack of valid candidates for the job at the moment, you will be retained on a probation basis at the pay of an intern. You will have to prove you have earned the role this time. Given all you've done, I do not think that is unreasonable."

"That is perfectly reasonable." Ron was smug and seemed very happy with this outcome. "I find this sort of work far more rewarding than anything I was doing before. It would be my honor to officially be your secretary this time around."

Extending her paw out as far as the cuff would let her, she waggled a finger at him, "Don't disappoint me, Ron. This is, of course, all provided I have a job to come back to."

"Indeed. There is a lot to discuss." The booming voice shook both Anthony and Max awake as Bogo strode into the room, followed closely by Judy, Nick and Ralph. Judy had her leg bandaged up and she was hopping along on a pair of small crutches. The three lined up along the wall behind the chief and stayed silent as Ralph closed the door. The buffalo inspected those in attendance and glared at the otter. "Other than those officers in the room and her immediate family, all others are to leave." His order was not to be disobeyed.

"I get the picture." Ron waved a paw at the surly police chief. He patted the bedside before leaving quietly, "Let me know how it goes, Murana. I'll be awaiting your call."

With the lone intruder to the proceedings gone, Bogo crossed his arms slowly, allowing his muscles to bulge. "You have a lot more supporters, Mrs. Wolford, than I would have expected given you are a mass murderer."

"Now that is uncalled for!" Steven was incensed on his mother's behalf.

"Silence!" Bogo roared, causing even Anthony to flinch. "I first must have to apologize to you, Mrs. Wolford. I was the one who forced your husband to lie to you to get you to confess your reasons for killing. What I expected was not what I got. I completely misjudged you. Don't gloat, because this doesn't happen often." Both husband and wife shared an odd look.

"Now, to the best of my knowledge, only those in this room are aware that you are the Dark Flame Wolf. As far as I'm concerned, I would like to keep it that way." Even Anthony seemed surprised at Bogo's decision. Apparently he wasn't included in the discussions involving the three standing up against the wall.

"As amazing as it may seem, like Officer Wilde here," He gestured to the fox, who seemed a bit flushed at being singled out, "I also do not like needless paperwork and bureaucracy. You have as much good going for you as you do bad. We get the courts involved in this and with the right lawyer, the entire case could be argued back and forth for months if not years until it is decided what to do with you. All the while you will waste away in a prison paid for by my taxpayer dollar until they come to a sentencing."

He leaned forward, unfurling his arms and gripped the railing at the end of her bed to emphasis his point. "I do not wish to waste my hard-earned money on a criminal such as you." This drew a small cry from Steven, but Bogo pressed onward. "So, I figured we should leave the courts out of this and settle this all in-house."

Murana was starting to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She shied away a bit from his intense glower. "What do you mean by that?"

A mischievous grin slowly crept onto the buffalo's face, giving him a maniacal look, "You'll have to thank Officer Hopps for this idea. We managed to snag a deal with the District Attorney this morning. The papers are still being drawn up as we speak, but you will do twenty years of community service to the city."

This caused Murana to blink a few times as Bogo went on. "Oh yes, you will return to your old life, but you will be tagged and monitored 24/7 with an ankle bracelet by the ZPD. We will know your every location, movement and action for the next two decades. In addition, you will help support our department with your unique connections and skills as the Dark Flame Wolf."

"I'm not understanding. How exactly am I to help you?" She didn't like the shifty way Bogo was phrasing it.

"There is precedent for criminals with uniquely useful skills to be employed by the government to utilize their abilities for the betterment of society. We will have you be the Dark Flame Wolf for us, except you will do what we tell you and operate only within the parameters we set for you. Part of the agreement is that you will lend your services to the ZPD as our eye on the criminal organizations that we cannot openly track. Specifically this 'Arbiter's Hand' or whatever I'm hearing about." Bogo relaxed back into a curled arm posture, looking supremely victorious.

"What?" Murana's mouth dropped open. "That is forced labor!"

Anthony had to set Max down to the side of his chair as he stood up, addressing Judy directly, "And you were okay with this happening? How is this upholding anything remotely legal?"

Judy plodded forward on her crutches, paws gripping the handles tightly as she responded calmly to the question, "Based on my research and Grayz's investigation as well as first-hand witnessing what transpired, I believe this is the only possible option Mrs. Wolford has available to her if she wishes to retain some sort of normal life after this. I wouldn't have fought for this if not for the insistence of Officer Grayz and for the moral character Mrs. Wolford displayed this morning. It was extremely hard to convince the Chief to agree to this, but he was willing to give her a chance to accept. For her sake and for the sake of her family, I strongly urge her to take this opportunity to make things right."

Even Ralph interjected, "Do I accept all the things she has done? No, I do not. She has done some heinous things in her time and she should be held accountable for that. However, taking into consideration everything she has given back to the community, the economy and her family and the many innocents she has saved, I still wish to honor that side of her actions. I am in agreement with Chief Bogo's proposal."

"Well? Do you accept the terms? It's either potential lifetime sentence or this." Bogo was resolute, he demanded the answer now.

"And after twenty years, what then? Will I be free to live my life?" Murana was skeptical and couldn't really trust the law to keep true to its own promise.

"You'll be relieved of active monitoring, yes." Bogo conceded. "However, you will always be watched from here on out. You kill another mammal, you enact your own personal justice, or you do anything to break the law from here on out...you are sunk. I don't care how much you've helped out Zootopia as my officers can attest, you will be going down. I will see to it personally. Do I make myself clear?"

The tension in the air was thick. Murana and Bogo stared each other, everyone wondering which would back down first. Murana steeled her eyes at Bogo, "Then I want a full pardon after my time. I want my record wiped clean. You want me to do this for you, I expect a pardon."

The buffalo stared at her. "What?" One could hear a pin drop in the room as everyone unconsciously held their breath waiting. At last, he grumbled, "What makes you think we can give you that?"

She coolly smirked at Bogo, "You coming to me for my skills means there is a high demand for it. I want pardon."

"Deal." Bogo grunted, his demeanor improving dramatically. "One of my officers will be by later today to assist in your monitoring anklet." He shot a meaningful look at Anthony. "Someone who isn't your husband. Have a good day, Mrs. Wolford." He bowed his head and promptly clopped right out of the room.

Judy breathed a heavy sigh, "Phew, I'm personally happy you took the deal, Mrs. Wolford. I believe you're a good person at heart. You just were never given a fair chance. I just want you to know that." She gave a happy grin, putting her paw on Murana's before heading out slowly with her crutches.

"I never thought I'd be actually saying this, but..." Nick shifted his eyes back over to Judy's departing cottontail, "Can I have your autograph, Mrs. Wolford?"

"Nick!" Judy shouted from the hall.

He rolled his eyes. "Coming...!"

Ralph was the last one in the room, still unsure if he should say something or just take his own leave. "Mrs. Wolford, I have learned a lot of things in the one week I've been working on the force here in Zootopia." He took a few deep, ragged breaths. "I really don't think I'm cut out for city-life, for being on the force in a community so large that I can't even tell what's right from wrong anymore. Where we have to subdue criminals and have them work for us for the greater good rather than having them jailed, either because they had a point to why they did what they did or were too useful for us to put away."

Murana's expression swelled for the inexperience of this country cop. She motioned for him to come closer. "I can't really say I'm much better. There are other things I have a hard time regarding as anything but black and white. These next few years are going to be hard for me, but I've little choice but to endure for the sake of my family, which is far more important." She reached over so both Max and Steven could be squeezed tightly close to her. "However, I think you should do the same and stick it out here. There is a place for good cops like you."

Ralph grunted unconvinced, "Even if I did, I can no longer afford to sustain living here, especially after my wife's operation."

Murana massaged his hoof, "Well, you're in luck, Ralph. I've been given a stay of execution and I quite possibly have my job still. When I get out of here, I can help pay both your wife and son's hospital fees in full."

He practically staggered back at this generous offer. "I couldn't possibly accept such a-"

She shook her head vehemently. "Nope! You are not allowed to refuse. It is my choice and it is the least I can do to show my appreciation for you helping me get my son back." She began coughing again, cringing as she held her sides painfully. "It'll have to wait until I'm well enough to write the check though."

Speechless at her charity, he could only nod. "T-thank you very much! Should I relay the sentiments to Stella and Rodney?"

She warmly smiled, "If you want, but I would prefer you not to. I would not like them having any grand expectations of me when I meet them officially, and I would like to meet your family one day."

This brought tears to Ralph's eyes. "You are a rare wolf, Murana. Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Murana seemed content at having surprised him.

It appeared he had more to say, but he just gave her paw another pat before awkwardly seeing himself out, shutting the door silently.

The silence was broken when Anthony stepped up beside her and addressed the obvious, "You were in pretty bad shape earlier. They did some pretty high-tech surgery to patch you back up again. The doctors said they'll be observing your condition for at least another six hours or so. If you are stable then, they will consider sending you home with some drugs and instructions for us to care for you for the next few days."

"Being back in my own bed tonight sounds lovely." She daydreamed, her own eyelids feeling heavy again. "I'm feeling tired again. Would you mind if I asked all of you to stay with me until I wake up?"

"No problem, babe." Anthony seemed to be back to his old self. He relaxed back into the chair, getting comfy for yet another snooze.

"Come here, you two." She giggled, having both Steven and Max snuggle up next to her on the bed.

Despite the annoyance of having metal cuffs yet again chaining her to the bed, Murana was finally at peace. Feeling the two warm bodies slowly rising and falling with their steady breathing, she quickly went straight to sleep.

_ _

_ _

Savannah Central - The Red Lion Apartment Suites - Forest Penthouse Suite - Den 23A Sunday - 09:00 PM - Clear Skies / Light Chill Winds

_ _

"This feels a bit unreal." Steven commented, setting his spoon down into the bowl with a clink, his legs swinging back and forth under his chair.

"What do you mean?" Murana took a bite before setting her spoon down too.

She had been released from the hospital about an hour ago, and was police escorted directly to her home. The nurse had provided her a set of immediate pain meds to help her manage the remainder of the week, with prescriptions to pick up later to refill. Anthony didn't really have anything prepped for dinner, since it being so last minute, so they just quickly opened up some canned soups and microwaved those.

Steven looked around the table, Max being across from him with Anthony and Murana on either side. "It just feels weird that after so long having you being the Dark Flame Wolf be this special secret that you and I shared to now having everything in our family knowing it. The cops having released you on watch and you're here, free to live your life and be with your family. It's almost like a dream come true that this was the outcome we got."

"Well, she's certain not entirely free to live as she chooses." Anthony reminded, swallowing a rather large mouthful.

Murana stretched out her leg as she studied the small beeping green light of the ankle bracelet locked around her hind paw. "Yeah, it's going to take quite some time to get used to having this annoying thing around my foot."

"It'll make taking baths and showers a hassle." Max pointed out, his focus completely on his food.

"Thank you, Max, for stating the obvious." She rolled her eyes.

"I do my best to help, Mom." Max rejoined, without skipping a beat.

"Mom?" Anthony asked incredulously. He pointed at the raccoon, "Is this going to be a real thing? Are we officially adopting him?"

Murana was going to take another bite, but set her utensil down at his remark. "I don't know, Anthony. Is there going to be a we? I know I'll be adopting him. I would prefer if you would stand together with me on this." Her expression was firm. She was not going to budge on the matter. She wanted a full family.

Anthony split his gaze between Steven and Max. Two unlikely sons he thought he would never have. One was a skunk, which always had a certain pungent air about him, and an unholy fascination with hindpaws. The other was a raccoon which had a rather odd quirk to him and how he behaved. He wasn't sure if he could relate to either. However, he did know he loved Murana, despite all she had done. If this was the hand that life dealt him, he needed to suck it up and roll with the punches.

After a prolonged exhale, he sheepishly met her gaze once more, "You know how I feel about wanting little wolf pups of our own, someone to carry on our blood lineage. It's been pretty big in my family, but yes, I will do my best to be there for them."

Her attitude melted at his sincerity. She reached across the table to hold one of his paws. "Thank you, Anthony. I know how hard that must have been for you." After a moment's thought, her face brightened. "Tell you what. I was reading up the other day on an experimental procedure that's out there that might be able to fix my womb and we can possibly try." His ears rose at this prospect, but she warned, "I make no promises though, but I will at least look into it. All right?"

"That means a lot...thank you, babe." He squeezed her paw back.

"This feels nice." Max spoke up, causing all to stare at him. He did his best to look at each in turn. "It feels good to be a part of a family."

"You didn't have any friends at Tail Hollow?" Steven inquired.

Max shook his head. "Not really. I usually ate by myself in my room. Having group meals like this is new for me. I like it."

Murana beamed as she ruffled the fur between Max's ears. "And there will be a lot more for you to like. I plan to head down to the courthouse later this week to get the paperwork I need to adopt you officially!"

"You sure you'll be well enough for that?" Steven gestured to her wounds, specifically the visible bulkiness of her patch beneath her clothes just over her ribs.

"Well, I certainly won't be going to work anytime soon. Week after next at the earliest." She laughed, tenderly touching where Ron had stabbed her.

"So who is going to be running the bank while you're gone?" Anthony continued to slurp down the soup now, grateful to be away from bland hospital food.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure Ron will have to learn to earn his keep. He's done quite the amazing job this past week already, so I have no doubt he'll continue to do so." She took another spoonful.

"You sure you can trust him? I saw him stab you." Max said bluntly.

"Wasn't he some assassin, like you?" Anthony suddenly remembered, pausing in mid-bite.

"Yes to both." Murana leaned back in her chair, not feeling as hungry anymore. "Time will tell if he proves himself trustworthy. For now, I'll be keeping a much closer eye on him."

"As you should!" Steven nodded, feeling protective of his mom. He squeaked as the phone in his pocket rung out. He flipped it open as the rest continued their meal. "Oh, hey Chris! Um...yeah, my Mom is here." He got a bit flustered. "No, you can't come over right now to see her! She's resting and recovering. Yes, I know a lot went down just outside your house at The Docks. Yes, I'll come by later and fill you in on all the details...geez...yeah, see you at work tomorrow!" He quickly shut it closed and dropped it into his pocket.

"Who was that?" Max was inquisitive.

"I can guess...Christopher Guara?" Murana smirked. "The fox on stilts?"

"You know he hates that, Mom." Steven reprimanded.

"I know." She lilted. "I've experienced that firsthand."

"Come on, you know he's my friend. Yeah, he can be hard to deal with sometimes, but he really is nice once you get to know him." Steven sighed. "He was just upset he wasn't able to help out this morning when he saw the Iron Vulture crash nearby his house. He knows you're the Dark Flame Wolf and wants to know how you're doing now."

"You can tell him tomorrow that I'm fine and he can come visit anytime if he wants another sparring match." She chuckled, cleaning up her placemat in preparation to clear the table.

"He's a weirdo." Max stated.

"Max, that's not nice!" She gave a small bap to his paw.

"What?" He shrugged, taking his last bite. "He reacts crazy to naked bodies and talks too much."

Anthony nearly spewed. "Naked what? Who, what and when did this happen?"

"I came by earlier to see if Mur...er, Mom was here and I found your neighbor having sex with some wolf on your couch over there." He pointed over to the den in front of the TV.

Murana grew cross, slapping her paws on the table, "Zoey!"

"I'm not coming out!" A small voice peeped from within the wall closest to them. It was apparent she had been listening in from inside her apartment.

"You and I need to talk!" Murana was adamant.

"Not until you've calmed down a bit!" Zoey fired back. "You might burn me alive too!"

"I am calm!" Murana continued to growl.

"And she's not allowed to burn anyone anymore anyway!" Steven chipped in, helping to clear off the table with Anthony.

"Small comfort when she's yelling at me!" Zoey's voice seemed to move further into the wall.

Murana scowled at the wall a few more seconds before turning away. "I'll deal with you later. At least it wasn't with anyone I know or my family. I probably would be more furious at that."

Steven cleared his throat nervously, wanting to hurry up and get into the kitchen to dump the bowls into the sink. "So, what do we want to do now?"

"Can I watch TV?" Max tried his best to hide the fact he had not really had many chances to even enjoy a television. He was quite excited at the prospect at watching movies whenever he wanted.

"I don't see why not. Anthony, can you turn on the TV and I'll go grab us a few drinks to enjoy?" She limped over to the fridge to pull out a few sodas. The drugs were doing their work to keep her upright, but she'd probably be feeling it in the morning.

"Hey Max, can you tell me which one they did it on?" Anthony was leery of both sofas in the den. After Max pointed to the blue one, he promptly selected the green for them to sit on for the duration. "I'll just have to steamvac those cushions tomorrow then."

Anthony had already plopped down on the couch and was being besieged by their two sons as they had already curled up next to him, one on either side of his legs. He gave a pleading glance to Murana to help assist him, but she just shook her head as she walked over, wanting him to endure being the father she wanted him to be. He sighed as he took the drink from her and did his best to relax between the two kits as Murana sat just on the far side of the couch next to Max.

They weren't event halfway done with the Western they were watching when a soft snoring could be heard from both Steven and Max. Anthony looked over to see Murana still rapt on the action unfolding. "Steven was right, you know." He said suddenly.

"Hmmm?" She didn't quite look at him, but she did turn her face slightly to indicate she was listening.

"This does feel unreal." He repeated Steven's phrase.

She regarded him more directly. "How do you mean?"

"Around this time last week, I felt I was the luckiest wolf on the force. I had gotten a promotion, was married to a hot, successful wife and was trying to have cubs to start a family." He took a sip of his drink. "Now, I'm sitting on a couch with two kits who are to be my adopted sons, no chance or potential chance for cubs in the future, and am married to a vigilante who used to murder criminals by burning them alive and is now on 24/7 ZPD watch." He huffed. "What a life."

"Hey, you're still married to a hot, successful wife." She bopped him on the nose.

"You know what I mean..." He considered his soda for a long time. "This just wasn't how I expected life to turn out."

Sensing his existential crisis, Murana got off the sofa and did her very best to kneel down in front of him. He attempted to assist, but she waved him off roughly. Firmly situated before him, she put a paw on both his legs. "I didn't ask to be abused, neglected and tortured when I was just an Omega runt living under my bitch of a mother. I didn't ask to be stolen by pirates and used as a pet and object. I didn't ask to be forcibly enrolled into a guild where I killed people for a living. I learned to take charge of my life and if I saw something I wanted, I went for it. I made myself the Alpha. I didn't expect to have anything good to just happen in my life, nor did I feel I deserved it if it did."

She reached out and caressed the side of his snout, "Yet, somehow life saw fit to deliver you to me, alongside two wonderful boys who deserve the love I never received growing up. I could be rotting in jail now for the rest of my days, yet somehow I am back in my home with the ones I love. How can I not be grateful for the things in my life, no matter how weird it might seem?"

"And you're going to be happy with me? With us?" Anthony's puppy-dog eyes bore into her own. "I've seen how AJ looked at you last time we met. Were you ever happy with him?"

Her shoulders sagged. "Anthony, AJ and I happened, yes. It was fun, and I was happy during the time I was with him. However, I was not ready to settle down then and honestly, I don't think I would have been happy in the long term. We were two different people with two different outlooks on life. It probably wouldn't have worked out. He's just a good friend now. You have nothing to worry about." To prove the point, she leaned up and licked him on the muzzle.

"Babe, I know I act tough and stuff a lot of times, but I really don't like change and I'm hesitant to accept it. I'm sorry I lashed out at you this week." He put a paw over hers as she continued to stroke his face. "I just want everything to be perfect."

"Things never will be perfect, but I forgive you. I'm sorry for keeping secrets from you too." She licked him again. "How about we promise to start over and try again at this whole marriage deal?"

Anthony chuckled. "I think I can do that." He suddenly grew serious. "But what will you do now? You've been moonlighting over a decade as the Dark Flame Wolf. You've been targeting rapists, molesters and more and killing them. Can you so easily stop doing that just because you agreed to Chief Bogo's terms? How can we be sure you'll hold true to your promise to us?"

Where Murana would have been offended by that question only seven days ago, she knew there was some sincere weight given to it. She stared off to the night skyline of Zootopia a bit before answering, "It will be hard. My fury burns hot when I see injustice done. Like you, I may be resistant to change, and I may want to kill them for what they do to others. It's what I've been accustomed to doing for years now. However, I think if I have you and my boys to help me, and quite possibly to stop me, I might be alright. I'll try to do my best for you three."

"Then I can accept that." He helped lift her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Max and Steven unconsciously moved aside to get more comfortable as they accommodated her bulk straddled atop Anthony. At length they separated from the kiss as he drew in a satisfied breath, "Amazing. I can't believe I'm in love with the infamous Dark Flame Wolf."

"Please, it's not that impressive." She chided, patting his shoulder roughly.

"Maybe not to you, but for a cop like me who has heard stories about you? For someone who has had dreams of one day finally catching you, to now find I was married to you all along? Come on...you can't say that isn't a little bit kinky." He leered, showing some teeth.

"Anthony...come off it. Now you're being silly." She giggled.

"Am I?" He snapped his teeth, looking rapacious. "You better watch yourself, honey. This big, bad cop is going to capture you and bring you to justice."

Murana could see where he was going with this. "Oh, no you don't! I'm still injured and I can't possibly do that right now!" She began to squirm away.

"Nope! I've been wanting you all week. I'm not going to waste this opportunity!" He smirked, firmly but gently rising up from the couch, holding firmly onto her butt cheeks, causing her to squeal. "Shhh, let's not wake the kids, please?"

Murana was both giddy and nervous. She gave one last look at her two boys, peacefully sleeping next to each other on the couch. Mollified that they would be sound asleep for hopefully the remainder of the night, she latched her arms and legs around her husband as he dutifully carried her to their bedroom. Shutting the door behind them with a hindpaw, he carefully laid her down onto their bed.

"Um...dear, I think I might need some help getting out of these clothes." She gasped, a sharp stab blazing through her ribs. "And quite possibly another pain pill."

Anthony stayed her body with a paw, looking with love and lust at her. "Murana," He addressed her formally for once, which caught her attention. "Let me love you. You don't have to do a single thing. You just lay there and enjoy it tonight."

She moaned as he held his distance above her, bringing his nose down to lick and nibble on her neck. He began to trail his kisses down her collarbone, helping her slip off each article of clothing gingerly. Continuing his journey down her front, she stretched out and relaxed her body for what felt like the first time in ages. She knew she was going to be well taken care of tonight. She was finally home.

_ _

_ _

Savannah Central - The Red Lion Apartment Suites - Forest Penthouse Suite - Den 23A Sunday - 11:37 PM - Spotty Clouds / Calm

_ _

Despite how much it soothed her nerves that night, their lovemaking couldn't lull her to sleep. Murana was just too high strung to just roll over onto her side and immediately begin to dream. If anything they could just be her nightmares again. Even among family who loved and now fully understood her, she would probably always be dealing with them. She instead just laid there naked in the bed next to Anthony, staring up at the ceiling as the minutes ticked by slowly.

A slight tapping on her balcony sliding doors caused her head to spring up. A dark silhouette standing on her verandah was framed by the twinkling lights of the city beyond. The two large ears on the small frame denoted that it was a bunny. Her eyes going wide, she rolled off the bed and crouched low behind the mattresses, grimacing as some pain shot through her body. Jack Savage was the last person she wanted to see right now. In her condition, he could overpower her easily and kill her.

The soft tapping continued, followed by Jack's voice. "Murana, please open up. I promise I'm not here to hurt you."

"Ha! Nice try." She hissed back, not caring if he actually heard her or not through the glass panes. She rummaged around in her nightstand to see if she had anything she could makeshift into a weapon. She considered waking Anthony up, but feared it might escalate the situation into something worse with more casualties.

Jack continued to tap. "I'm serious, Murana. I only want to talk with you. Take a look, I carry no weapons."

She peeked out from beyond the edge of her bed. Jack had both his arms out and legs spread, showing that there were no weapons in hand. She studied his shape to see if she could detect any odd lumps or shapes on his silhouette that might give away anything nefarious attached to his body. She wouldn't put it above that sadistic bunny to go suicidal after a mark and strap a bomb to himself to ensure he finished the job.

"This is getting rather old now, Murana." Jack sighed, folding his arms. "You going to open the door or not? I could always just break in if you prefer."

"No! No...I'm coming." She grumbled, cautiously getting up and walking over to the sliding doors. Her whole body was alert for any foul play by Jack. She unlocked the bolt and slid the door open, looking down at the confident assassin.

"You smell of sex, Murana." Jack's nose wiggled. "Didn't think you'd be celebrating your stay of execution this early. As much as I appreciate your invitation by coming to greet me naked, I'm not really here for that." He snickered at his own dumb humor.

"What do you want, Savage?" She snarled. "Speak your piece and get out of here or do what you came to do. You know I'm in no condition to fight you."

He sniffed haughtily. "You're right. I probably could have easily sniped you in bed right now and nobody would be the wiser. Thing is, word has gotten around that I've failed hitting my mark. Even if I completed the job now, the reputation of our guild is already tarnished. You know how much Rosco..."

"...cares about his reputation." Murana finished for him.

Jack snapped his fingers. "Exactly. Rival guilds are probably going to compete and vie for power now that weakness within his force has been shown. He had a rogue agent defect from his ranks that he sent me and Ron to kill, and now his own son has defected and his best remaining assassin failed. This does not look good and I do believe we'll all have marks on our heads from here on out, and not just from Rosco."

"Then I'll deal with that when the time comes." She narrowed her eyes.

Jack glanced down at her ankle bracelet, its bright green light glaring in the darkness. "I'd wager it'll be a lot harder to resolve this problem now that you're...in a different state of freedom."

"I'll manage. I always have." She surveyed her balcony, ensuring that nothing else was amiss besides this bunny. "Anything else, Jack?"

He folded his paws behind his back, looking bored. "That was about it. I just wanted you to know that I will no longer be hunting you. Consider it a favor from one old friend to another that I'm abandoning my mark."

"How generous of you." Murana mocked. She didn't trust this bunny at all.

Either not catching her sarcasm or just flat out ignoring it, he pressed on, "I'll probably hang around Zootopia a bit longer. I might find refuge working for another mob boss here or there before I move on. You'll most likely not see me again."

"That would be preferable." She leaned against the door frame, arms crossed as she swished her tail in impatience.

"That stings, truly it does." He said coolly. "However, it isn't unexpected given what I've put you and your family through. I do honestly wish you luck on your future. It doesn't look like it's going to be easy for you." He peered down over the edge of the balcony, his ears twitching as he remembered his other purpose. "Oh, right and I was told to give this to you by your friend down there. He said it's currently not tapped like the rest of your apartment now is."

Jack pulled out a small flip phone and handed it to her before saluting and attaching a rappelling hook to the railing before disappearing out of sight down the building. Murana stared at the phone a few moments before looking over to see a tiny figure in a trench coat and fedora. She couldn't make out much more detail than that from her height. Suddenly the phone buzzed and she had to open it since the ring tone was extremely loud.

"Hello?" She whispered into the phone.

"It's me." Billy Silva's voice came through the speaker.

"Could you have not had the volume up any higher?" She susurrated into the mouthpiece.

"I wanted to make sure you heard my call." Dismissing her growl of frustration, Billy dove right in. "I'm afraid it'll be hard for us to meet together going forward given how much the ZPD are swarming around your home. If anything, I'll be relaying to you drop point locations for future gear procurements. I'm glad you were able to work out a deal with the cops, but I would rather their influence not extend into my operations. I want to help you continue the job I heard they'll have you be doing, so to that end, this is how it's going to have to be."

"I understand. Thanks for all the help." She smiled down at him.

"I won't keep you up for much longer, it's getting late and I'd rather not be caught snooping around your apartment complex. I'll be contacting you shortly with the first drop. I've gotten some new ideas for a suit as a result of all this activity, so I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what I've been cooking up."

"I'll look forward to it." She shivered, the light chill in the air finally getting to her bare fur.

"One last thing before we hang up." Billy's tone grew happy. "Check your bathroom sink for one last present. Your secretary, Ron, gave it to us when we asked, and AJ had the bright idea to pay for it remade. I think you'll enjoy it. He sends his regards and his love."

"How sweet of him. Tell AJ I said thank you." With a grunt of confirmation, Billy clicked off. She watched the small figure stride off into the darkness of an alleyway and disappear.

Curious now as to what was so important that Billy had to have either himself or someone else sneak in here to deposit some gift from both him and AJ, she padded quickly to the bathroom. Opening the door, she shut it partially to block the light as she flicked the switch on. There resting on the counter was a small package of craft tissue paper that you'd find stuffed into a birthday bag.

Parting the folds until she got to the middle, her breath caught in her throat as she beheld a simple necklace consisting of a scented pine tree attached. They had taken the lone earring Steven had gotten for her and made it into something far more useful and appropriate for her to wear given what she did. Tears glistening at the edges of her eyes, she opened the loop and dropped it down over her head, straightening it out across her breast. Now she could keep Steven's gift close to her heart no matter where she went.

Murana studied her reflection in the mirror, her paw still touching the pine tree around her neck. This was a far cry from the sniveling cub who would bunch up into a corner, trying her best to appear insignificant to avoid the next inevitable beating. Sometimes she would look at herself and not recognize who she was anymore. Was she a mother? A bank CEO? A killer? A vigilante? A wife? A scared cub pretending she knew what she was doing?

She reached out and touched the reflection of the tree on her breast, a tear streaming down her cheek. "I do not deserve this, but I accept it."