This choice: An escaping suspect...Being chased by a certain officer • Go Back...Chapter #4Enter a Small Rodent by: Ëtalfni   Stephanie perked up as she heard a door open to her store, though it wasn't the usual front door. Living in such a diverse place like Zootopia, one had to be accommodating to the mammals of various shapes and sizes. This particular door was the one suited for smaller mammals, like rodents. Sitting up, Stephanie leaned over the counter to get a better look at just who had entered her quaint little shop only to discover a small rat with bent whiskers and a tail that was missing its tip.
Like always, Stephanie was never one to judge even with such ragged appearances and she put on her warmest smile as she greeted the potential new customer.
"Hello, sir. How can I help you today?"
Despite not a bit of sarcasm in her voice, the rat glared up at her like she had just insulted his mother. He then scurried about, ducking under one of the shelves and disappearing from sight. Despite thinking he had hidden himself, Stephanie knew exactly where he was as she let out a bored sigh while she tried to guess her guest's intentions. This rat clearly wasn't here to buy anything, though she didn't get the impression he was going to steal anything either, after all he wasn't being subtle about his presence to her in the slightest. So, if he wasn't purchasing anything or here to rob Stephanie, what was he doing here?
Her answer came in the form of the average store door opening this time. In walked a very out of breath rabbit dressed in a police officer's uniform. Ah, of course.
Stephanie's smile widened as the bunny faced, an expression that asked a question which the old goat knew exactly the answer to. Chin resting on her hoof, Stephanie pointed to a corner of the shop as if to say "he's over there."
The sight was not all that different from watching one of those old cartoons where the colorful cartoons would chase each other with disproportionately sized mallets. Though the bunny was quick, she had the distinct disadvantage of being much bigger than the escaping rat. One thing in her many years of this business Stephanie had learned was that all sizes had their pros and cons. Just because you were bigger, didn't mean you were better. It was a lesson the rabbit learned the hard way as she had to climb over the various shelves and merchandise while the rat could just skitter right through them.
Eventually, the two reached a wall as the bunny skidded to a halt while the rodent slipped through a crack at the very bottom that Stephanie had been meaning to patch up. The rat gave her a raspberry before he disappeared completely beyond the barrier.
"Rats," the bunny cursed and she looked as though she was about to run back out the store before she collapsed on her bottom, still breathing heavily. "Ahh...This is the tenth time he's managed to slip away."
Stephanie couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the defeated bunny cop as she rose from her seat, having been thoroughly entertained by the show her two guests had provided.
"Beg pardon," she said, approaching the rabbit. "I can't help but notice that you seem to be struggling a bit there. Given your uniform, I take it that rat who walked in was a potential suspect?"
"He is," admitted the bunny as she looked up to find the goat lady speaking to her was significantly larger than the average goat. "Wow, uh, I mean, thanks for your assistance...?"
"Stephanie," the goat chuckled, realizing the rabbit was searching for a name. "Just Stephanie. And you must be Judy Hopps."
"Hah. I suppose I'm rather well known now. How many bunny officers are there in the ZPD?"
"Too few, I reckon," Stephanie replied as Judy offered a hoof to pull Judy up. "I must say I've never gotten to see a police chase up close before. You were very close to having him!"
"Thanks...But like I said I've been at it for days with that guy. Every time I think I'm close, he just manages to get away due to being a rat and finding the nearest hole he can slip through. And I need to catch him soon for this big case I'm working on or Bogo will have my hide. It's a Little Rodentia based gang and since I'm already the smallest one in the ZPD, I got picked for it."
"I see...Well, that is a problem, isn't it? What if I said I could help you with that? Beyond pointing out where he's gone, I mean."
"You could? How?"
Stephanie smiled as she offered Judy...  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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