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Look, I've made my mistakes. Most days I feel like one big, steaming pile of mistakes swaggering around on two stubby legs.
"Judy?"
But no mistake eats me up quite like the last words I said to you.
"Judy?!"
I didn't spend very long in that jail cell. But every minute I spent was a minute lost by your side. Each second not knowing where you are, not knowing whether or not you're safe, being met with radio silence when I call out to you... it's more torture than I can bear. My heart is heavy and my thoughts are slipping. I can't remember the last time I felt this... hopeless.
Or at the very least, I wish I didn't.
A big red light catches my eye. Maybe that's where you all went? I make my way over and thrust open the door. The snow and wind greet me in a loud whirl. You're not here. I stand alone, gazing out into the roaring blizzard. Standing on the edge of oblivion, by myself. I wish you were here to take me by the paw and tell me it's okay.
As I turn back around, I come face to face with the lynx from the gala. His stare devours the chill of the wind and makes my hair stand on end. It's a stare I've met with many times growing up. It wasn't a stare of celebration, it was the stare of unfinished business. When he pulls the injector from behind his back, my fears aren't just confirmed, they're magnified.
He steps towards me, and my legs instinctively retreat. Even after my training at the ZPD, my first instinct is still to run away. Only this time, there is nowhere to run. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Can't hightail it around him since lynxes have us beat in agility, especially in the snow. But every step back is taking me further from Judy.
"Where is she?"
"She uh... She didn't make it."
Carrots... You know I've let you down ten too many times. But in order to make it out of this, in order to find you... I'm gonna have to make it eleven. Just know, I'm gonna make it all up to you.
"... But with snake bites, you go fast."
All I can say for now is... Thanks for the blueberries.
"You'll see."
I reach for my pocket, but in the blink of an eye, he closes the distance with a lunge. When I grip his wrist to defend myself, it becomes so much clearer to me just how strong he is. His appearance betrays him. It's like a rhino's pushing down on my forelimbs. While I thrash and struggle, delaying the inevitable, the snow and wind are sapping my strength from all directions.
"She's gone Nick! Just... get it over with!"
I roll the bitter orb with my tongue, along the inside of my teeth. Taking one last breath of the stinging cold air.
"You're done! Know... when... to quit!"
As I bite down, a tidal wave of warmth takes hold. My vision stains red and my other senses rush to overwhelm me.
'If you thought we'd ever trust a fox without a muzzle, you're even dumber than you look!' Old words echo throughout my skull, and as I lock eyes with the lynx, they get even louder. His eyes soften into dread as I start to overpower him. Within moments, I send him crashing into the snow with my hind legs.
He scrambles to his feet, holding his weapon between us in a panic. I circle him on all fours, bearing my fangs and growling while I insidiously close the distance. He isn't the hunter anymore. And I'm not Officer Wilde. I'm not Slick Nick.
I'm sorry.