"You think I'm brave because I carry a gun?!

No!

Your Fathers are brave because they carry Responsibility!"

- The Magnificent Seven, 1960

High above in the sky's center, the blazing sun beats down on the land, not a single cloud in the sky to provide some form of shade. Despite the heat, the area was not barren; fields of yellow oats, that move like waves as the wind blows, the colors of yellow, pink, and white buds blooming in the trees, and lush green forest in the distance, frolicking all forms of life.

Stu Hopps sits on the wooden wagon, holding the reins to their draft horse, Bruce, pulling the cart down the trail to Zootopia. Bruce was one of two horses the Hopps' owned; well, three actually, after finding out that their Arabian mare, Gracia, to be expecting. The Hopps, seeing this a good thing, having more horses to contribute to more work.

Stu and Bonnie's oldest child, six-year-old Judy Hopps, jumped with excitement once hearing the news of Gracie going to be giving birth. She has high hopes that her Ma and Pa will let her care for the filly as her own. Judy makes all the promises that kits make when wanting something with so much responsibility: promising her father to feed, clean, and train the horse herself. The only thing giving her more excitement than getting a young filly, was her father finally agreeing to take her with him to Zootopia.

Judy has heard great things about the rising utopia, the weekly BunnyBurrow Chronicle stating Zootopia as "The Place Where You Can be Anything You Want to Be," in one of its printings. Judy repeated those words to herself every night before falling asleep, the place where you can be anything you want to be. The phrase opened Judy's mind to possibilities she would have never considered. Ever since, Judy would ask her Pa to take her with him every time he made a shipment of produce to the city. Every time she would ask, Stu would tell her no.

The reasons why were for the past few years, the country was engaged in a Civil War. Worst, BunnyBurrow seemed to be smack in the center of the two feuding sides. The BunnyBurrow Chronicle announces in the papers that the war was finally coming to an end, armies were ceasing fire and forming a reasonable treaty. Though the war was over, the nation was still an open wound. Tempers were high, with radicals from both sides continuing to fight and causing havoc for all.

After denying Judy a spot on the cart for so long, Stu finally gave in, believing the travel to be safer with the war over. Though Stu still makes sure to bring his loaded 1860 Henry Rifle with him on every trip, especially now with Judy tagging along. Propped against his leg for quick, easy access, he always hopes never to have to raise it at another mammal, much less ever have to fire it.

On the day he and Judy were to leave for Zootopia, Stu loads the Henry Rifle to its fullest with .44 caliber rounds. Looking at the rifle, Stu couldn't help but admire the rifle's beautiful design. The forge of the golden brass frame, with engravings to give it that extra flair. A sad thought always comes to Stu's mind when admiring his gun; that something so beautiful, with a masterful design, serves one purpose: bring death.

Stu set the rifle aside, making sure he had everything else he needed for the trip. Wearing his wool pants, white shirt with suspenders, and thick brown coat. The last item was his brown Open Crown hat with a flat rim,he was ready.

Outside, Bonnie, Judy, and the younger siblings were all helping load the chart with as much produce Stu and Judy could bring on their travel. Mostly carrots that they harvested from their farm, there were also two baskets of turnips and radishes, and a small pail of blueberries. All covered with a thick brown tarp.

Judy, wearing a little blue dress, trying to climb up into the shotgun placement on the wagon, the seat was a little too high for her to climb up. Stu, coming up behind her, grabs under Judy's arms and lifts her up; she giggles as Stu places her on the wooden seat. Walking around the wagon, Stu stops to see Bonnie giving him a concerned look. He goes over to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.

"We're going to be okay, I promise," Stu said, "We should be back in six days, eight at the most."

"I know," Bonnie said, "I'm a little more worried than usual since you bringing Judy with you."

"We'll be fine. I believe that with the war over, the trails will be safer."

Bonnie smiles up at her husband and stands on her tiptoes, planting a loving kiss on his lips. Her kiss brought a smile to Stu and made his ears point straight up. From the wagon, Judy called out to her Pa with glee.

Stu, adjusting his open crown hat, making his ears bend back behind his head. Taking his seat right beside Judy, and placing the Henry Rifle propped next to his leg. Judy tied her white bonnet tight on her head to protect her from the sun. Stu grabs hold the reins, and with a flick of his wrist, the wagon began moving.

Judy, filled with excitement, kept turning around to wave goodbye to her siblings. Before leaving the farm, the wagon passes the Hopps' large storage shed, preserving their stock of vegetables, fruits, and makes sure it's locked, wouldn't want some wandering mammals stealing from their supply.

On the trail to Zootopia, Stu kept the wagon at a steady speed. Judy's excitement settles down after a half-hour, passing the time by reading passages from the holy book out loud. Judy's reading ability, for her age, was still in development; reading out loud helps her sound out the words better and Stu would try his best to help her if she came across a word too hard to sound out. Though, there were many mammals older than her that never learnedlearn such an ability.

The three-day trail Stu and Judy were on changes from vast yellow fields of wheat, to a thick forest surrounding, and then to a barren desert. Usually Stu makes the three-day journey, stopping for the night and setting up camp. With Judy traveling with him, Stu finds getting to Zootopia as quick as possible safer, even if that meant traveling at night. He still stands by his word that the roads are safer, now that the war is over, but still would rather be on the cautious side with his daughter. Only stopping to allow Bruce enough food and rest for him to go on.

Stu knew the trail well enough that he could travel at night, guiding Bruce by lantern, had Stu slow Bruce's speed a little. Judy rests against her father's shoulder, covered in one of the blankets they had brought. Stu wraps his arm around her and brings her in closer, providing little extra warmth for her.

The second night, Stu had to stop and make camp for him and Judy, the draft horse wasn't the only one that needed rest. He had been driving the wagon for more than twenty-four hours, he neededneeds to sleep and make sure he was at his best to make the rest of the journey.

Stu parks the wagon under a large oak tree, the only tree around them. Tying Bruce's reins to one of the hanging tree branches, he got started on building a fire for him and Judy. He gives Judy the job of being the lookout and letting her stand on top of the wagon. Taking off his Open Crown hat and wiping the sweat from his brow.

The camp now set up, they ate and sat by the fire. Stu had the Henry rifle across his lap with the barrel pointing out into the darkness that the fire's light could not reach. He sat on one of the wool blankets and had his back leaning up against one of the wagon's wheels, his hat tilted down to cover his eyes. Judy sat close to the fire, reading the holy book. She would, on occasion, glance over at the rifle across her Pa's lap; she had seen her father carry the gun around on the farm and always taking it with him on his travels, but she'd never actually seen him fire it.

"Hey Pa," Judy said, calling out to her Father. She was not quite sure whether he was sleeping or not.

Stu answers to her, not even looking up, "Yes, Jude-the-dude?" Jude-the-dude, a personal nickname Stu uses on Judy. She could even see a smile poke out from under his hat.

"Your rifle, have you ever fired it?" asked Judy.

"Yes," said Stu.

"Have you ever..." Judy was a little afraid to ask the question, believing he might get angry for asking. "Shot another mammal... with it?"

Stu's smile disappears under his hat. "Thankfully no," he says, "And I hope I never have to."

"But, would you?" Judy asked, "I mean if you had no other choice." Still a little nervous and scared of his reaction and response to her question.

He didn't answer her right away, but when he did, it was with a cold, bone-chilling tone.

"Yes."

What should have been the end of the conversation, Judy continues. "Would you ever, consider teaching me how to shoot?"

Stu lifts up his hat to look at his daughter. "Judy, come here," he says to her. Judy felt a tight feeling in her gut, thinking she might have overstepped her boundaries. Still, obeying her father, she got up from the fire and sat next to him. "Now, why do you want to learn how to fire this rifle?" Stu asks her, patting the golden and engraved bass of the rifle.

"I don't know," she said. Judy being honest didn't know why. "I guess out of curiosity. Or maybe I'll have to use it one day?"

"Judy," Stu said with his sympathetic father voice and looking deep into Judy's eyes, hoping she understands everything he tells her. "This rifle right here is a weapon that serves one purpose. Do you know what that is?" Stu asked. Judy did not answer but stood there feeling a little upset. "That purpose is to kill. That's it, nothing else. But you already have two weapons far greater than this rifle."

"I do?" she asked in a confused manner.

"Yes, this" Stu said, tapping the temple of her forehead. "And this," this time tapping the center of her chest. "Brains and heart, Judy, brains and heart. Always rely on those two weapons, before ever using such a deadly device like this." Stu said, patting the bass of the rifle again. "Do you understand?"

Judy nods her head, understanding what her father was telling her. "Good," he said, "Now, if you're good for the rest of the trip, I might let you practice before we head home. Okay?" Judy smiles and nods her head. "Just, don't tell your mother I let you practice firing the rifle. For both our sakes."

"Now, go throw a few more logs onto the fire and get some rest, I want to leave before dawn," said Stu, tilting his hat back down to cover his eyes. Judy doing as told, tossing a few more logs on the fire, letting the flames grow. She lays down on the wool blanket next to her father, watching the red and orange flames dance in front of a pitch black backdrop. Judy watches and mutters the loving phrase describing Zootopia, till her eyes grow heavy, drifting off to sleep.

After the third night on the road, Stu could tell they were getting close to the outskirts of the city. The path was becoming more structured and finding other traffic on the trail , it wasn't even dawn yet. Judy, again, asleep and resting her head on her father's shoulder.

In the distance, along with the rising sun, Stu could see it: Zootopia. He brings the wagon to a halt and nudges Judy awake.

Judy rubs her eyes and squints, growing wide upon looking down at the city as it basks in the morning sun's yellow glow. Zootopia was more prominent than anything she had ever seen in BunnyBurrow, or ever thought she would ever see. How large and spread out the city as a whole.

Stu explains and points out to Judy all the different districts that form the city of Zootopia and the route they would be making selling their produce. There was Sahara Square, looking like most western settler towns that Judy has seen. The roads are from the dirt and sand of the land, and the sun was beating down hard on the district. The second district was Tundratown, which houses the mammals in need of a colder environment, tall mountains surrounding the sector helps keep the area in shadows and blocking the sun. There was the Rainforest District, the most laborious district to maintain, which most city workers spent their time upholding. The last area was in the very heart of Zootopia: Savanna Central. Savanna Central had all the modern bells and whistles running the district. It's the only district with cobbled paved roads, all main roads from each sector lead directly to Savanna Central. The pride of Savanna Central was the massive clock tower in the very center of Zootopia.

As Stu pointed out to Judy, they make their way to Sahara Square. The moment their wagon rode into the square, they made a sudden halt as a fox ran in front of Bruce, spooking him. Judy caught a good look at the fox, the fox's fur was fire red and wore a blue wool jacket and pants with a golden outline and golden buttons.

Before Stu could get Bruce moving again, a mountain lion, riding on the back of a brown and white spotted Appaloosa stallion, zooms past them, swinging a lasso over his head. He wore a black duster and derby hat with a flat top and one that curves upward at the sides. The mountain lion's horse gallops up on the running fox, narrowing the gap between them. Now in range, the mountain lion tosses the lasso, roping the fox. With one hard pull, the fox flys back and lands in the dirt covered road.

Judy watches the whole scenario play out. The mountain lion hops off his stallion, marching toward the fox while looping the lasso in his hand. He forces the fox to his feet, taking the lasso rope, the mountain lion ties the fox's hands together and ropes the other end of the lasso to the saddle on the Appaloosa. Mounting back on his horse, the mountain lion leads the captured fox back in the direction they came. As they pass Stu and Judy's wagon, the mountain lion tips his hat to them. Pinned on the right side of the mountain lion's duster jacket was a silver star, that read "SHERIFF." The whole event had Judy in awe.

"Not even a minute in the city and you're already getting front row view of the excitement Zootopia holds," Stu chuckles to Judy, as he looks down at her with a smile. Now that the scenario was over, everyone continued with their day. Stu, with a snap of the reins, Bruce gets moving again.

Stu makes trips to each district, conducting business and selling the harvest. While Stu did his rounds, Judy promises to be on her best behavior and not wander off. She was too busy being in awe, looking at the structures of each district. From district to district, she did as her father asked, behaving and not wandering off.

The day was growing late as they made their last stop in Savanna Central. Stu parks the wagon in front of a large trade goods store, Judy helps her father carry the last of the produce from the cart. Once inside, Judy looks around the store, offering all types of products for one to buy, such as fresh produce, soap, candy, and a small selection of hats.

Behind the counter was an elderly looking skunk, with round spectacles perched on his long nose. He wore black trousers, a white long-sleeved shirt, and an ivory work apron around his body. The skunk gave a loud, friendly welcome seeing Stu walking in.

Judy follows her father and places the produce on the counter. While her father made small talk with the skunk behind the counter, she decides to browse the store's goods. Everything seemed practical to her, till reaching the hat selection in the store. There, placed on a mannequin head, was a Brick style hat in a beautiful ivory color and a dark brown leather brim around the top, the folds on the cap were not as straight as her father's Open Crown. Instead, the sides of the hat's rim have a slight curve upward. The last noticeable piece of the cap was the dark brown leather straps that help keep the hat on top of the wearer's head.

Looking around, Judy saw her father still in friendly conversation with the elderly skunk behind the counter. Judy untied and pulled off her bonnet, making her ears shoot straight up. She reached out, taking the Brick hat off the mannequin head.

"Judy," her father called out behind her before she had a chance to try the hat on. Judy spun around, looking at her father glaring down at her. "What are you doing?" her father asked.

"I..." Judy said, trying to find her words, "I saw this hat and wanted to try it on, and maybe buy it?"

Stu, stepping forward, towers over Judy, grabbing the hat in her hands. With a smile on his face, he put the hat on top of Judy's head. Judy smiles as the hat inches down, having her ears pushed to the side and sliding down Judy's head. The hat was a little too big for Judy, covering her line of sight and stopping at her nose.

"I see your daughter has good taste in hats," the elderly skunk says, "That hat is a customer favorite."

"You wouldn't happen to have a smaller size for her, do you?" Stu asked.

"No," Judy said.

"No?" Stu asked, confused.

"I want the hat to be a little bigger. That way, I can grow into it, I can always have the hat from my first trip to Zootopia." Judy said, lifting up the rim of the hat and smiling at her father.

Stu smiles back down at her. "Well Mike," Stu said, "How much for the hat?"

Mike, the elderly skunk, smiling at Stu, "For you Stu: No charge, this time. You just keep bringing me great produce." Mike leans down to look at Judy. "Besides, a little bunny girl's first trip to Zootopia should be memorable," he said, while adjusting the hat for Judy to see better.

"Thank you, Mike," Stu said, turning his attention to a basket of empty bottles behind Mike. "What about those empty bottles over there? I'd be willing to take them off your hands if you'd like?" Mike, still smiling, walked over to the bottles only to turn around and hand the whole basket to Stu, who thanked Mike. Stu put his hand on Judy's back, leading her outside.

Outside, Stu put the earned money into his billfold. Putting Judy in the passenger seat and taking the spot next to her. Reins in hand, Stu pulls up on them, with a loud "SNAP!" one of the leather reins breaks. Stu let a few words of profanity slip out of his mouth.

Stu took a look at the torn reins, Judy could tell that fixing the straps would take a little while. She hops off the wagon to have one more exploration of the great city of Zootopia. She looks at the buildings in awe, coming from BunnyBurrow where everything was flat and dull, it was a significant upgrade in sight seeing; traveling down the street looking into all the shop windows. She didn't want to go too far from the cart, figuring, as long as she was within eyesight of her father and the wagon, she was allowed to keep admiring what Savanna Central had to offer.

A crowd of voices came from around the street corner, noticing mammals gathering together. Looking back at her father, Judy could see he was still working hard on fixing the leather straps. As long as she was back before the wagon repairs and stray not too far, she figured she could see what the commotion was about.

A mixture of mammals gathering in front of some large wooden platform. Moving closer, Judy could see that the wood platform was, in fact, a hanging gallows. Standing in the center of the gallows were four different male mammals: a timber wolf, a beaver, a zebra, and the fox she saw get captured earlier today. Each mammals' hands tied behind their back and had a hangman's rope around their necks.

The mountain lion Sheriff steps forward, putting himself between the crowd and the four mammals on the gallow. With the bunch of mammals quieting down, the Sheriff's spurs click as he walks across the gallows.

Judy could see the Sheriff about to make a loud announcement to the crowd. She knew that her father would soon start to wonder where she was; still, Judy moves in closer to better hear. She stands behind a lamppost on the sidewalk, using it as something to hide behind.

The Sheriff pulls a roll of paper from his pocket, he reads it out loud for all to hear. Adjusting his hat, as if it would help him read what's on the paper better.

The Sheriff speaks aloud, addressing the crowd; from what Judy could hear, the gathering was for a public execution of the four mammals. The sheriff reads out each mammals crimes: Harvey Morrison, the timber wolf, sentenced to death by hanging for the stabbing of some bar patron in the Rainforest District. Morrison holds his head up as if the approach of death does not bother him. Next, the Sheriff addresses the Beaver and Zebra together, the two mammals tried guilty of horse wrangling and murder. The Beaver smiles at the crowd as he stands there with a hangman's noose around his neck, he shows no remorse for what he's done and laughs; the Zebra, looking the complete opposite from his partner, shakes in fear and cries with tears running down his face. The last mammal, the fox, is the only one that remains to have his crimes revealed. Judy pokes one of her long bunny ears up to hear better.

"Robin P. Wilde," the Sheriff says, addressing the fox, "You are convicted of treason. Abandoning your post during a time of war and allowing enemy troops to infiltrate our perimeter, resulting in the deaths of several of your brothers in arms. Thus, sentenced to death by hanging. Do any of you four have any last words before we proceed?"

Each one of the four mammals on the gallows gave their last words to the crowd. First being the timber wolf, asking for forgiveness from his loved ones, and that he did not start the bar fight, but was the one to end it. The beaver laughs at the crowd, demanding they hurry up with his execution because he has to take a piss soon, this comment made members in the crowd gasp and appalled at the beaver. The beaver's partner, the zebra, instead begs for forgiveness and cries out for his mama for comfort, wanting to go home. Last, of course, was the fox, who shoots his head up to look at the crowd of mammals with teary eyes.

Tears ran down his face, and the fox took in deep breaths to say what he needed to say. "I know what everyone thinks of me, but it's not true. Out there in the trenches, I only thought about my wife and child, and how they were waiting for me. How they need me. How they still need me. Please, I beg of you, do not do this for you are sending an innocent mammal to die. By killing me, you might as well be killing my wife and child. My son, my son, needs me. A son needs his father, and a wife her husband. Please, I beg of you, don't do this, please." Done speaking, Robin looks out at the crowd. The crowd only stares in silence at the fox. Some members of the mass group to witnesses look down, not wanting to avert their gaze at the fox.

The Sheriff signals to a water buffalo standing behind the four mammals. The water buffalo wore a large brown Gus hat and a long sleeve white shirt under a leather vest. A silver star, smaller than the Sheriff's, pinned to his chest. Judy looks at the water buffalo, believing him to be the Deputy to the Sheriff.

The Deputy steps forward, performing his duty of placing black sacks over each of the mammals' heads. The zebra fought against this act, jerking his head around, screaming "no" and still calling out for his mama through his tears. Not wanting the black sack to cover his head, thinking as long as the bag wasn't over his head, they will spare him from the gallows. It was a fruitless effort, as the Deputy pulls the sack over the Zebra's head.

Judy felt her stomach churn, she could only imagine what was going through the poor Zebra's mind; darkness being the last thing one sees, feeling alone and scared, knowing death awaits him any second.

Robin was last, tears filling the fox's eyes as he speaks a soft whimper, "Please." Stepping forward, the Deputy places the black sack over Robin Wilde's head.

"Upholding the law, not just in Zootopia, but in our country," the Sheriff says, "All four of you are to hang till death. May God have mercy on your souls." The Sheriff walks over to a lever, placing his paw on the wooden handle and pulls it back towards him. The trap door on the gallows opens up, making all four fall through. Before any of the mammals could hit the ground, the hangman's rope around their necks pulls taut.

Judy jumps back in fright at the horrifying display. She could see that the timber wolf and zebra were dead in an instant, hanging there, not moving, their lifeless bodies swinging back and forth. The beaver and Robin were not so lucky with their fall, the hangman's rope did not snap their necks and provide the luxury of a quick death. Hanging there, the beaver and fox flay and kick into the air, hoping to get loose. The beaver was the first to meet his gruesome end, if Judy had been in front of the crowd, she would have seen a growing puddle of urine underneath his lifeless corpse. Robin continues to fight and struggle to get loose, kicking and flailing. To no luck, Robin's kicks were becoming less frequent till his body stopped moving; the fox became like the three other bodies: dead and swinging, back and forth.

Judy steps back, wanting to get away, but she couldn't take her eyes off the display. It was not until Judy walks right back into something that made her give a loud gasp.

Turning around, her father towers over her. He grabs her arm, and with a rough tug, pulls her close.

"Judy!" Stu shouts at her with a mixture of anger and worry, "I told you not to wander off."

"I'm sorry Pa," Judy said with tears in her eyes, "I didn't mean to wander off. I was only curious. I-I I didn't mean to see-"

Before she could even finish, Stu holds her closer, wanting to shield her from the horrifying sight. "Let's go, Judy. You shouldn't have to see this."

Stu had the wagon all fixed and ready, pushing Judy forward, Stu wanted to make sure his daughter didn't look back at the gallows. He lifts up Judy into the wooden seat, he follows, taking his place beside her. Grabbing the leather reins, Stu got Bruce moving and didn't stop till they were far away from Zootopia.

During the trip back to BunnyBurrow, Judy didn't even make a pep, fearing her father's anger after catching her wandering off. Though, the main reason for her silence was the horrifying images replaying in her head Stu followed the same routine as last time, traveling through the night.

On their second day on the trail, Stu stops near the rocky mountain side, tells Judy that they would be making camp for the night. Judy found this odd for him to do, so early in the day; looking at the sun, late afternoon if she had to guess. Last time, her Father didn't stop till there was an hour of light left in the day. She wanted to ask her father what they were doing, but she still had a nerve-wracking feeling that he was still angry with her.

Stu unhitches Bruce from the wagon and ties his reins to a large tree. He could tell Judy was watching him, he steps over to the parked wagon and pulls out the basket of empty bottles that Mike had given him earlier. The basket under his arm, Stu walks up to the ridge, being careful of his footing, Stu places the empty glass bottles in various spots. He was glad that the bottles were either brown or green, making them easier to see. Done, Stu makes his way back down to Judy and the wagon.

"What are you doing Pa?" Judy finally asked.

Stu smiles up at her. "Well, I said if you were good, I'd let you practice firing the rifle. Although you did wander off that one time," he said with a scold, "You've earned a chance at target practice." Stu saw a smile creep back on Judy's face.

Stu took a few of the sheets they brought and arranged them on the ground, setting up a place for Judy to lay down on, and a few rolled up blankets to help prop up the rifle. He figures it was the best way for her to start, her being way too young to try standing with the Henry; he could only imagine if she tries, she would be rolling backward after the first shot.

He retrieves the rifle from the wagon, walking back, he calls Judy, who was pouring cold water for Bruce into a large pale.

Judy strokes her hand against Bruce's side, making him feel calm before rushing over to her father, leaving Bruce to rest in the shade. Her father was laying on the blankets, pating at the empty spot to his right. Judy lays down beside him. Judy adjusts her Brick hat back and tightens the leather straps, she didn't want her hat distracting her.

"Okay, you see the glass bottles spread out on that rock ridge?" he asked Judy, who nodded, "Good, now do you remember the two powerful weapons you have, the ones I told you about?"

It took Judy a moment to understand what her father was talking about, remembering what he told her on their first night. "Brains and heart!" Judy shouts with excitement.

"That's right, always rely on those two weapons first, before ever picking up a weapon like this," says Stu, patting the butt of the rifle. "Unfortunately," he continues in an upsetting tone, "There might be a time where, and God forbid, using old Henry here is the last and only option." Stu took a minute to compose himself, shaking off the sad thought of having to use the rifle on another mammal. "Now, Judy, I need you to pay close attention."

Judy with a smile, nodded her head in excitement.

He tells her always to know what her target is before ever pulling the trigger, demonstrating by picking one of the brown bottles he set up, adjusts his body to better position and props the rifle barrel on top of the bundle of blankets. Next Stu shows Judy how to load the chamber by slowly cocking the lever on the rifle, she watches with wide eyes as he points to the firing hammer, primed and ready. He takes aim, taking in a deep breath and letting half of it out. Stu fires the rifle. The forge of the golden brass frame, with engravings to give it thFrom the blue tapered barrel, making it strong and reliable from any damage, to the forge of a golden brass frame, with engravings to give it that extra flair. Last, the walnut polish on the grip and stock, giving the shooter a steady aim.

PaPOW!

The rifle spits fire out it's barrel, the empty brown bottle explodes, sending glass shards in every direction, it's loud crack causes Judy's ears to clasp shut. The barrel jumps up an inch, showing the level of practiced control Stu had on the rifle. He looks at his daughter with a smile on his face and chuckles at her covered ears, guess he should have warned her how loud a gun can be when fired. Stu cocks the lever, ejecting the empty cartridge and loading a fresh one in the barrel. He holds out the rifle for Judy to take.

"A few things you need to remember is..." Stu says, trying to figure out the best way to describe the kickback. "You remember that time you walked up behind Bruce, and he gave you a quick heavy kick?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said, "I had a bruise for a week."

"Well, when you fire the rifle, it's going to give you a firm kick into your shoulder. It might scare you at first, but there's no reason to. What you want to do is push the butt of the rifle hard into your shoulder, this way, your shoulder, and arm will absorb the kick and it won't hurt."

Stu helps Judy get in a comfortable position, he pushes the butt of the gun hard into her shoulder. He lines up her shot, the two pieces of metal, one close to her eye and the other at the barrel's end, line up with a green bottle not too far off. He tells her to watch her breathing, this will increase her accuracy and keep her hands from shaking. Judy does as told, taking in a deep breath and letting half of it out. She feels her nerves calming down and her hands stop shaking.

"Now," Stu says, "when you feel good and ready to fire, squeeze the trigger."

Judy lines up her shot, digs the butt of the rifle into her shoulder, takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She fights, trying not to make the rifle shake as she aims and squeezes the trigger.

PaPOW!

The rifle jumps in Judy's arms. Her hat falls forward, covering her eyes, a cloud of dust shoots up beside the bottle.

"How did it feel?" Stu asks her, chuckling at her first attempt. Judy adjusts her oversized hat and smiles up at him, rubbing her arm from the kickback. "You did well for the first time. Now that you know what to expect, you should do better at hitting your target. Try again." Cocking the lever for her.

Judy took the rifle back and did as before: she digs the butt of the gun into her shoulder, slows her breathing, and lines up the rifle with the target. She squeezes the trigger.

PaPOW!

Judy sees the barrel ignite with fire, this time the green bottle shatters. Judy looks at her father with excitement on her face. Stu smiles with pride at her and lets her practice with the rest of the bottles.

Not too bad, Stu thought, seeing her hit almost half of the bottles. It wasn't until the sun lowered to the horizon that he decided Judy had enough rifle practice for one day. Taking back the rifle, he told her to gather firewood for the night, leaving her Pa to himself. Stu stood up and looked at the remaining bottles, in a quick instant, he raises the Henry Rifle and fires. Within thirty seconds, there was nothing left but glass shards. Still got it, he thought.

The next morning, before the sun was even up, Stu got them back on the trail to BunnyBurrow. For the rest of the trip, Judy had been bouncing with excitement, she couldn't wait to get back home and brag to her younger siblings about everything she'd seen and show off her new hat.

By the time they had finally made it back to the Hopps Family Ranch, the sun had gone down and the land was hard to see. The lack of daylight did not concern Stu, he knew he was on the right path and the ranch was only a mile or two away. He could guide Bruce and the wagon back to the ranch without the help of the foggy glass lantern.

Though, as enjoyable as the journey was, Stu was glad that they were almost home. At the ranch, Judy's safety wouldn't be his primary concern. A sense of normalcy, he supposed, is what he was looking forward to; that and Bonnie's loving embrace waiting for him.

Up ahead, Stu sees it: the Hopps Family Ranch. He could see a few lit lanterns shining through the windows. Beside him, Judy was fast asleep, resting her head on her father's shoulder.

Only a few hundred feet to the house, when Stu sees the double doors to their storage shed are wide open. Stu pulls on Bruce's reins, bringing him and the wagon to a stop. Two things were running through Stu's: either someone in the family carelessly left the shack door open, when it should always be locked, or, worst case scenario, someone had broken in.

Grabbing the lantern off the hook and his Henry Rifle, Stu investigates keeping the rifle close and primed, finger near the trigger.

Moving closer, Stu hears loud rustling noises coming from inside, making him stop and proceed with caution. The iron-brass lock busted and tossed to the ground, stepping around the entrance, his lantern lighting up the shed.

Inside, Stu sees a deer in a gray wool jacket and pants rummaging through his family's harvest. The deer had his back turned, having no idea of Stu's presence; raises his rifle.

"Can I help you?" asks Stu.

The deer, as quick as he can, turns to face Stu, tripping over his own feet and stumbling backward. The deer held a lantern in one hand and what seemed like a rusty looking Dragoon Revolver in the other, which was now aimed at Stu.

Stu kept his cool and did not fire on the deer, even with a revolver now pointing at him. He could tell that the deer was shaking with fear, he couldn't even point the gun straight.

"Back off!" the deer shouts. Now having a better look at the deer, Stu could see that the gray wool jacket and pants were torn and caked in mud, some of his family's produce poking out of his pockets. "Back off!" the deer said again, "I don't want to shoot you, but I will if given no choice." The deer's words didn't even seem to phase Stu.

Stu took a few steps back, widening the doorway for the deer. "Why don't you step outside and we can talk," said Stu in a calming tone. The deer didn't know what to make of this.

"Put down your rifle first," the deer demanded, shaking the revolver at him.

"I can't do that son. So why don't you step outside and we can talk? You can keep your gun if you'd like."

The reluctant deer agrees to his terms. At a slow pace, the deer steps out of the shed, revolver still pointing at Stu.

Once outside, Stu places his lantern on a hook beside him, the deer doing the same with his lamp. "Now, if you would so kindly lower your revolver, I will be glad to lower my rifle." The deer still wasn't sure what to do.

"Pa?".

Judy. The commotion must have woken her up.

"Judy!" Stu yells, never taking his eyes off of the deer. "Get behind me and stay there!" He felt her grab tight to the back of his jacket.

The deer could see the young bunny hiding behind, what he could only assume as her father. The deer lowers the pistol to his side; Stu lowers his as promised.

"I'm sorry," the deer said, "My friend and I are running from both armies. Despite the war being over, we were labeled either as traitors or criminals. We're tired and hungry, we saw the shed and hoped to find something to eat. That's all, just a little bit of food."

Stu takes a long look at the deer, seeing someone who was sad, scared, and guilty. "Judy, go grab a white sack and fill it with potatoes, carrots, radishes, some blueberries, and two small jugs of milk. Go now," Stu says, never taking his eyes off the deer.

Judy fetched everything her father asked her, coming back out of the shed with a white sack full of goods. She was a little more than halfway to the deer when her father told her to stop and place the sack on the ground. After doing so, she ran back and took her place behind her father.

"That should be enough to last you and your friend for a while," Stu said.

The deer walks over to the sack on the ground, slowly grabs the bag. The deer looks at Stu in bewilderment. "Thank you, but, why are you helping me? I'm a thief, and you have every right to blow my head off?"

"Forgive me if I answer your question with a question of my own," Stu said, "Why are we so quick to kill each other?"

The deer gave his thanks one last time and apologies for any damage he may have caused. With the full sack in hand, the deer turns and takes off into the night. Stu lets out a long sigh of relief and finally lowers the rifle.

"Why didn't you shoot him?" asks Judy.

Stu kneels to her eye level. "Have you already forgotten what I told you? The brain and heart are the most powerful weapons we have and should be the first we use," he took a breath before continuing, "Yes, he was a thief; but I also saw a young mammal forced to fight in a bloody and pointless war, and only wanting some food."

Even in the dark, he could see the smile on Judy's face. "Judy, why don't you head back to the wagon. I'll be there in a few." She grabs the lantern and heads back to the wagon. Stu stares up at the starry night sky, making him feel small in the world.

From behind, came a loud high pitch scream. Stu, with quick haste, turns around, rifle raised. Standing there next to the lantern and holding his daughter, was a fox. The fox's clothes are in the same condition as the deer. The fox's arm wrapped around Judy, with the blade of a knife pressed against her left cheek. in the fox's other hand was a rusty looking Dragoon revolver, now pointing at Stu.

"Let her go. Now," demanded Stu.

From around the corner came the deer running. "Lester," the Deer said, trying to catch his breath. "Don't do this. I told you, they gave us the supplies. They don't want to do us any harm."

"Don't be so stupid Marcus," the fox, now known as Lester, said, "They play nice now, but the moment we turn our backs, they will round up a posse and come hunting for us. Then next thing you know, we'll be facing a firing squad! Is that what you want Marcus!?"

"I'm going to give you to the count of three, let my daughter go and leave my ranch while you still can," Stu said, "It's your only chance. One..."

"Damnit Lester," cursed Marus, "Listen to me. Let the girl go and let's get out of here. They haven't done anything to us."

"Two..."

Lester was still not convinced by his friend's pleads. "No. Not without some form of insurance. If anybody follows us, she's dead."

Judy's eyes were filled with tears. She could feel the knife's blade start to cut into her cheek, most likely to leave a scar.

Everything was happening so fast, Judy didn't know how to process it all. Her Pa was only a few feet in front of her; that's where she wanted to be, safely beside him. Her breathing was rapid, everything seemed to be going in slow motion.

"Three."

In a quick instant, Stu turns the rifle to the left and fires. Behind Judy and Lester, the lantern explodes into a bright ball of fire, the fox throws his arms up to shield himself from the flames. Judy watches, almost as if all was in slow motion, she could see her father cocking the rifle's lever and redirecting the barrel back towards Lester.

Everything is in pitch black darkness. The only light coming from the barrel of the Henry Rifle as Stu fires a second round. Something wet splashes on top of Judy's head, Lester's grip went limp. Judy falls into the dirt, senses coming back to her. I'm free, she thought. I'm free. I need to run. Where? Forward. Forward to Pa.

Judy, scared and confused, trying to stand up and run, every few feet, she'd end up tripping over her dress. Afraid Lester would grab her again. A firm hand grabs her shoulder, making her scream in fright.

"Judy," she heard her Pa's voice. Hearing him replaced the sick scared feeling with relief. "It's okay Judy. Get behind me," her father said. She listened, grabbing his jacket with a tight grip, never wanting to let go.

Stepping forward, with his rifle still raised, Stu reaches out and grabs the lantern hanging on the door, the one Marcus put up. He holds the lamp up, illuminating as much as he could.

Laying on the ground,looking up with lifeless eyes, was Lester. A bloodstained bullet hole in his chest, turning his wool jacket to a dark red. Kneeling off to the side, Marcus was crying for his dead friend.

"I'm sorry," Marus said, "I'm sorry. I tried to tell him you were good mammals, but he wouldn't listen."

"Get off my ranch. Now!" yelled Stu, not even giving a glance towards Marcus, fixated on the dead fox. Marcus gathers himself up, grabs the sack of food and gives one last look to his dead friend before disappearing into the night.

Stu lowered the rifle and knelt over Lester's body. He takes his hat off and buries his face in it.

"Pa, are you alright?" asked Judy.

"Yes sweetheart, I'm alright," Stu said wiping a few small tears from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, you-you had to-"

"Judy, do you think you can make your way to the house from here?"

"I believe I can."

"I need you to run to the house and tell your mother what has happened, and that everything is alright. I have to stay here and take care of this," Stu says, standing back up. He looks back over at Judy, who was still standing there, "You heard me. Go on now."

She nods, still in a state of shock, and runs as fast as she can to the house, lifting up her blue dress to run even faster. At the front of the house, Judy stops to catch her breath. Inside, she found her mother in the kitchen, wiping some dishes with an old rag.

"Ma!" Judy calls.

"Judy? Is that you? Is your father-" Bonnie stops when she sees the state Judy is in. "Oh my God!" she shouts. The plate drops and shatters, hitting the floor. Bonnie rushes to her daughter.

"Judy. My God, are you alright? Are you hurt?" her mother asks, firing off question after question.

"I'm fine," Judy says, "And Pa's fine. But he's out in the field and needs your help."

Bonnie nods, but still wide-eyed with fear. "Judy. You need to go wash-up and clean yourself. And make sure your brothers and sisters stay in the house till your father or I return. Understand?"

"Yes, mama," Judy says.

Bonnie runs out of the house to help her husband, leaving Judy alone, everyone else in the house was asleep. As quiet as she can be, she makes her way to the washroom. In the room, she found a large washing bowl and a kettle that still had little warm water left in it. Pouring the water into the pot, looking at herself in the mirror. She sees now why her mother was so frantic.

There's splatter of blood on top of her head, which ran down the front of her face and the cut that the fox's knife made on her left cheek. She splashes warm water on her face, cleaning the blood off, along with a few tears. The clear water in the bowl started turning a pinkish red color with every rinse and didn't stop till all traces of blood were removed, the cut on her cheek had stopped bleeding.

Clean, Judy reaches behind her back for her hat, she found that to be a small relief that nothing happened to it. The Brick style hat still looks in perfect condition, till she turns it to the side. On one side, where the fox had been shot, was a splatter of blood. With rag in hand, the small bunny scrubs at the stain in hopes of removing it. It wipes most of the blood off, but some of it had soaked into the hat's fabric, leaving a permanent stain. A stain that she could never remove, reminding her, always, not just of this night, but of this entire journey to Zootopia.