The Tribute

Once upon a time, there was a vast and resourceful land. It was full of forests, and lakes, mountains and valleys. Naturally, the land was full of animals of all kinds, as time went by there came predators who decided they wanted specific acres of land for themselves and their families, through fighting and debating territories known as Regions came to be. Predator couples ruled each and were known as kings and queens they would protect and rule their territory and the other predators and prey that inhabited it until it was time to past it on to their children.

Many different Regions were founded and named, each unique with its own resources. And, naturally, many stories came from these Regions, epic tales of adventure, betrayal, danger, friendship, and love. While all respectable stories in their own right the tale we will be telling today is without a doubt one of the most peculiar but also one of the most memorable: The tale of a bunny and a fox.

Our story starts in the Region known as Foxhollow, an average sized territory flush with forests and vegetation; it had been many, many years since it had seen a bad harvest.

The rulers of this prosperous land were the royal Wilde family. The King and Queen, Maximillian and Amelia Wilde, had decided to retire and announced their son, Nicholas Piberius Wilde, would be taking the throne. The news brought other royals and citizens of Foxhollow to the castle.

The minutes before the coronation is where this grand tale of bravery, romance, and change, begins.

.

Nicholas Wilde was in every way, shape, and form: neutral.

He would not reject the crown of Foxhollow, his birthright. But he would be a liar if he said he was jumping off the walls, overjoyed at the thought of taking his parents' responsibility. It was odd, he had spent much of his childhood in stuffy study rooms, pouring over history books, sitting through dull meetings alongside his parents as they talked over trading and taxes, going to sleep with sore arms and legs after hours of sparring.

All those years, all that time, had led up to this moment, a day that was going to change his life. Yet all he could muster was an apathetic 'hmm'. Maybe he'd become more invested after he was crowned and had a few days to adjust to it all.

Nicholas turned around, fully clothed in his Region's colors: emerald and amethyst, as his bedchamber door was open, in stepping his mother who was dressed in her own royal garb.

Amelia Wilde's eyes and lips were decorated with both laughter and age lines, caused by years of running a kingdom and laughing at the eccentric quims of her husband and son. She smiled warmly at her child as she walked toward him, her green eyes the exact same shade as her kit's, were glittering with pride and tenderness.

"You look so handsome, dearest," she praised him, "And so regal."

He returned her smile, accepting the embrace she provided. "And you look stunning as always."

She giggled softly at him, stepping away, her tender grin now more humorous and messy, showing off her white fangs, "Don't you go wasting that charm on your mother, I already love you."

"No other woman is worthy of my praise," he smirked but it quickly dropped when Amelia gave him a pointed look. "No other woman is worthy of my praise," he repeated firmly.

"That's because you never look," his mother replied in a clipped tone. Her words made Nick's shoulders droop, they had had this very conversation weekly since the day he turned eighteen. "Mother it's not like I need a queen to be a successful ruler. Look at King Lionheart, he is an eternal bachelor and is doing just fine on his own."
Amelia's nose curled, revealing her opinion of the lion who was now in their throne room, a guest for Nicholas' coronation. "But so is King and Queen Otterton, which is more impressive considering they have one of the smallest Regions in the lands."

"You realize why, Mother? Because they are two mammals who, as you said, are ruling one of the smallest Regions known." He placed his paws on his hips, "Besides, those two are a good match because they married for love. Love doesn't happen after one conversation, it takes time."

"Yes, but you aren't even looking," the elder vixen pointed out. "Nicholas, you're father and I aren't getting any younger and I just hate the thought of leaving you by yourself with all of Foxhollow to run."
Nicholas bit back another sigh, he could never banter long with his mother, "Let me get through this coronation first and then I'll look." He linked his arm with hers and headed toward the door, a relieved smile already across the vixen's face. "In fact if I spot any vixens as lovely as you then I'll even talk to her."

Amelia nodded in satisfaction as they left Nicholas' bedchamber. As he walked it didn't go unnoticed that he was leaving his room as a prince…and would be returning as a king.

.

Judith Hopps straightened up, rubbing the dirt covering her paws on her foggy grey skirt, her dress more rags than anything at this point.

The farm bunny was with a handful of her other siblings, having planted the last seeds for this harvest, she noticed how her brothers were filthier than she or her sisters, they truly did not mind looking the part of peasant. While Judith didn't mind having to work to live she knew that the animals of Foxhollow, the middle class and nobles and royalty(though the latter she knew she would never meet) would look down at her even more so if she was caked in dirt.

"We should be heading back," Rose, the eldest of the current group stated, her head turned up as she studies the darkening sky. Night would soon be upon them.

Rose's siblings made no arguments, walking across the rows and rows of not yet grown carrots as they made their way to the burrows that were their home. It was almost time for supper, their mother no doubt slaving away in the kitchen.

Judith was having a pleasant conversation with one of her younger sisters, Gwen, asking about a brush that had gone missing when they noticed a carriage.

It was a few yards away, passing the Hopps carrot fields as it dashed across the gravel path. The carriage was a beautiful color of sapphire, silver lining the doors and wheels. The black mare pulling it looked incredibly pompous and self-important. Adding that all together it wasn't hard for Judith to deduce that it was a royal carriage.

"Isn't that the emblem of the Riverway Region?" her brother George asked, pointing to a symbol of what looked to be an otter on the carriage door.

Rose nodded in confirmation, "Tonight is the coronation of Prince Nicholas."

"That's tonight?" Judith looked to her sister. She could recall a few mammals talking about the coronation on her last tri p to the last marke.t She had not paid much attention since buying apples had been of more importance in her eyes.

"Yes," Rose told her. "Poppa said he saw King Lionheart's carriage pass this morning, must have wanted to get there early to show a good impression."

"What is Prince Nicholas like?" the youngest of the current group, Agatha asked.

Her older siblings shrugged their shoulders, none had ever seen the prince. Years ago Judith had caught a glimpse of him as he visited town with his father, but once again food held more importance.

Suddenly Rupert, the youngest of the brothers there, shuddered, "When I hear about a new predator getting crowned I always get uneasy."
George crinkled his nose, "This is the first coronation you've ever lived through." w

"Yeah but I've heard of others. You know they crowned some real brutes before." He wrapped his arms around himself, "I heard some were even bloodthirsty." A few of the sisters joined his shivering at that word. It was a word whispered not only by the Hopps family but many a prey in many a Region. It was the reason they were always sure to lock their doors at night and give their predator neighbors a wide berth. You just never knew…

"And Prince Nicholas is a fox," Rupert hadn't stopped his fear mongering. "And we're rabbits! By nature we're born enemies. What's to stop him from sending his guards over to snatch us ad make rabbit stew?"

Agatha gasped in fright while Rose scowled. "I really do not think Prince Nicholas, or any predator, for that matter is going to make any stew-rabbit or otherwise. That hasn't happened in centuries."

Rupert didn't look convinced but by then they had arrived home and talk of bloodthirsty predators ceased. But one problem was replaced with another when they saw no smoke rising from the chimney of the dome of earth they called home. Their mother wasn't cooking…which could only mean something bad had happened.

They hurried inside, Rose sending the youngest away to the safety of their rooms and other siblings while Judith and George followed her to the kitchen.

There was a mob waiting for them. All crowded up before the kitchen doorway but none daring to even stick a whisker in. Judith's stomach twisted in dread but she forced herself through the mass, murmuring excuse me's and resorting to elbow shoving. She couldn't stay in the back of the crowd, not knowing what was going on. But when she had finally made it to the front of the group she wished she had.

The bane of the Hopps family existence stood at their kitchen table, before her parents: the red fox known as Gideon Grey.

He was a landowner, running the farms of the quaint village of Bunnyburrow. When the harvest came in he decided how much a famer's family got and where the rabbits sold the produce. And since he owned the burrow the Hopps' called home he made them pay a steep rent to stay there. Tragically it was a rent too steep for them to pay this month which was why the fox was polluting the kitchen with his stank musk now.

"We've given you all we can afford, sir," her father said, spreading his arms in an I-don't-know-what-else-to-do fashion, keeping himself firmly between his wife and the fox. "One of our little ones got sick and we needed an apothecary."
"Yes, I heard ya the first time," Gideon replied, his lip curled to reveal the glint of fangs. "But that doesn't solve my problem, does it? I needed that money so I could buy a gift for the new king of Foxhollow. They could easily take these lands away from me-and you-if I don't stay in their good graces." He placed large, clawed, paws on his hips, looking around the kitchen, unimpressed and disgusted. "I'd take something of yours as a gift but there's no way in hellfire he'd-" Gideon's long jaw shut as his eyes reached and stopped at Judith and the other rabbits watching the scene before them. Immediately the bunnies behind her scampered back but Judith forced her legs to remain still. She may have been terrified of Gideon, probably all foxes if she knew any others, but she refused to let him see, especially when he was looking straight at her, his blue eyes thoughtful.

Eventually his scowl pulled up into a nasty and deceitful grin fitting for a fox.

Gideon turned back to her parents, trying to appear pleasant. "I was wrong, you do have something of…average value." He pointed one claw at Judith. "Give me her and you'll be free from three months' worth of rent."

Her parents already frightened expressions morphed into ones of horror, Gideon might as well have bared his fangs and gone for their throat. "But-but," her father stammered, "Wha…"
"Many prey were given as tributes to newly crowned royalty decades ago," the fox explained, his smile making the rabbits sick. "I'm sure soon to be King Nicholas will love this call to the old traditions."

"You can't!" Judith's mother finally spoke, her voice tight and fierce. "You will not take my daughter all the way across Foxhollow as a gift to an animal I've never met! Take me if you must have a tribute but Judith stays here."

Judith wanted to step forward, to tell her mother it was fine, but she could not, her legs were stone and her mouth was cotton. All she could image was what this fox prince looked like, acted like, she knew he was older, she could see a creaky old fox with graying fur, snarling and snapping at her, mouth wet with saliva as he tried to have a taste…

Gideon's eyes were dark as he glared down at the two. "You don't have a choice, either give your daughter up or your entire family will be homeless."

The conflicted expressions on their faces made Judith's stomach twist even more. Again she tried to say something but again nothing came out, she blinked and could see the prince rubbing his claws across her face and neck and chest as he skinned her alive.

Gideon must've been getting impatient and not wanting to deal with resistant rabbits because he added, "Surely you can save up money to buy her from the king? You do have three months to do so." He wrinkled his nose in distaste as he looked at Judith. "And I doubt she'll fetch a large price. I wish I could find a prey more presentable but beggars can't be choosers." His eyes slid to Mr. and Mrs. Hopps, "And you are beggars."

Judith could see it the moment her parents looked at her with heartbroken faces. She could see the self-disgust in their eyes. Judith wanted to tell them it was okay, she was a big bunny she could take care of herself, that they needed this home otherwise they'd die starving in the streets, but she couldn't. All she could do was see her innards falling out of her torn abdomen, blooding spray as the fox she was about to be given to ate her. She could only hope she survived until they collected the money.

Her father nodded, refusing to look at Gideon. Smug and satisfied he immediately grabbed Judy's arm and dragged her to the door. She bit her lip to keep from wailing, the fox's claws digging into her skin. She looked over her shoulder and reached her free paw out to her parents, wanting to say goodbye to them, to her siblings, wanting to get one good look at them in case this was the last she ever saw of her family, and her home.

Before the burrow door shut behind her she saw her mother fall to her knees in tears, and her father demanding that Gideon ask the prince how much it would take to get his daughter back. And then the door was shut and Judith was leaving her old life behind.

Gideon had his old cart parked near the burrow, his friend, a mule, ready to pull it. Unceremoniously the fox tossed Judith into the back of the carriage that was full of filthy hay and old crates.

"Get going," Gideon said to the mule, climbing onto the seat of the cart, "We have a lot of ground to cover and little time to do so."
The mule obeyed, jogging away from the burrow, heading for the capital of Foxhollow. It was when the burrow, her home, disappeared from view that Judith snapped.

"No," she breathed, moving to jump out of the moving carriage, terror pumping through her veins and bringing tears to her eyes. "No, no, no, no!"

Gideon let out a snarl as he saw the rabbit trying to escape, he quickly grabbed her waist, claws digging through the worn fabric and painfully pricking her skin. Judith struggled against her captor, kicking and slapping at him as he pinned her down. "No, no, no!" she repeated over and over, her voice rising, becoming hysterical. But she wasn't strong enough to fend off Gideon who found some coarse rope in one of the crates and managed to tie her wrists and ankles.

"There, that should hold you," the fox growled, moving back to his seat leaving the bunny lying on her side. Judith could feel her body shaking, her tears staining her fur and dampening the hay, she felt like her thumping heart would burst through her chest. Helplessness and dread weighed her soul down as they headed to the Foxhollow castle which would soon be known as Judith Hopps' grave.

.

King Nicholas Wilde stood between his parents as he was greeted by both royals and nobles who offered him well-wishes and praise.

He had to fight back a smirk as King Lionheart of the Kingsland Region hammed it up, exclaiming how both their lands would prosper together as brothers in bond. When he finally stepped away for the next well-wisher Nicholas noticed his mother rolling her eyes.

King and Queen Otterton were much simpler, smiling up at Nicholas and offering him the best of luck. Queen Otterton told him she had brought him a few jewels native to Riverway, adding teasingly that it was a good way to catch a fair lady's eye. Nicholas smiled politely and thanked her, ignoring his mother's pointed smile while his father chuckled behind his paw.

"I think it's time to mingle," former King Maxmilian decided as their last well-wisher departed. "Emmit brought some of his finest dishes and I must try a few." He patted his son on the back, smiling proudly at him before walking across the room to the buffet that waited for him.

Amelia let out a small sigh of strained fondness, "You're father was wasted as a king, he should've been a court jester." She smiled at her son, "You have fun, talk with animals and get to know them. You're their king now."

Nicholas smirked at her, "And talk to a couple of vixens."
She returned the playful grin, "My kit's so smart."

Nicholas separated from his mother, looking for a specific mammal. It didn't take long to find him; his eternally furious personality always granted him a lot of personal space.

Sir Ele Finnick, a noble fox that found his riches instead of being born into it like most, was the one animal in the world Nicholas considered his friend; having known him since he was a kit and the fennec was a street urchin.

Finnick was leaning against the wall, directly under a tapestry that showed the first Wilde claming the Foxhollow Region as his own. He held a half empty goblet of wine, swirling the red liquid around, his brown eyes looking down into the glass's contents.

When Nicholas' shadow fell over him the fennec looked up and smirked, "Good evening, Your Majesty."

Nicholas playfully narrowed his eyes, "If it isn't my favorite street rat."

Finnick snorted in a very un-regal way before turning his eyes to the crowd around them, "Quite a party."

"Isn't it," Nicholas followed his friend's gaze.

"So, how does it feel knowing you can behead anyone you wish," the fennec smiled evilly, baring his small but sharp teeth.

Nicholas gave his friend a droll look, "There is something so very wrong with you, Finnick. But to answer your question I'm more worried over finding a vixen to appear my mother than running the Region."

Finnick laughed, it came out raspy, "You would be more stressed over that."

"I've spent my entire life getting ready to be king, not finding a suitable queen," the red fox reminded his friend.

"Well, better get to hunting," Finnick waved his goblet carrying paw toward the crowd.

Nicholas studied the party goers, picking out the vixens and trying to figure out which one he should approach, he knew he wouldn't be rejected by any-none would dare reject a king. But that was the problem, wasn't it? Many women would look at him and only see a crown.

Finnick must've caught his friend's hesitation because he spoke once more, "What about Lady Winter? She's a good catch, smart and kind, and attractive."

Nicholas studied the artic fox who was having a pleasant conversation with Queen Otterton. He had spoken with her before, whenever her family visited the castle or when he walked the streets of the capital. He supposed he could at least try to talk to her, see if they could find some common ground to bond over.

"Wish me luck," Nicholas told the smaller fox beside him before heading toward the vixen.

He was halfway across the room when a scream split the air, sending everyone's fur on edge.

Nicholas whirled around toward the large doors of the room, wondering if the castle was under attack but instead the door opened to see a husky red fox in dirty peasant clothing walking in, dragging a bound rabbit behind him.

The nobles of the room exchanged confused silence as Nicholas remembered he was king and it was up to him to figure out what was going on. He marched over to the fox and the rabbit, the latter having been released and fallen to her knees.

"May I help you?" Nick asked the peasant.

"Ah!" the plump fox exclaimed, bowing dramatically to him. "King Nicholas, it is an honor to meet you I am Gideon Grey, I manage the fields of Bunnyburrow."

"Oh, I see," Nicholas replied, remembering that Bunnyburrow was one of the most prosperous fields in all of Foxhollow. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Sire," Gideon Grey gushed. "I'm afraid I can't stay long, but I wanted to bring you a gift for your coronation." He stepped back and indicated to the rabbit, "I've brought you a tribute."

Nicholas finally got a good look at the bunny. She was dressed in an old gray dress that was caked with dirt, her ankles and wrists tied, her gray fur matted and ears drooped across her back. She was staring up at him with violet eyes that popped in contrast to her fur, said eyes were full to the brim with terror as she stared up at him, unblinking. Nicholas noted this was the closest he had ever been to a rabbit.

"Tribute?" he echoed, confused.

"It is an old-tradition for royalty to receive prey tributes on their coronation," Gideon Grey explained.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes at the rabbit who seemed to shrink into herself, her body shivering like she was in a blizzard instead of a warm space. He could vaguely recall reading about such a tradition but it hadn't been performed in years and Nicholas couldn't help it, he glanced over his shoulder to seek advice from his parents. But he received none, his father going back to his meal and his mother turning away.

So Nicholas decided it would be rude to not accept the gift, as bizarre as it was. He turned back to Gideon Grey with a polite smile, "Thank you, it is much appreciated."

The fox smiled proudly, "It was no trouble at all, Your Highness."

"Guards," Nicholas spoke to the two antelopes standing by the doors, "Please take my…tribute, to my bedchamber along with the other gifts."