Riding in the truck, York finally learned the little red fox’s name.
Nadelier.
But that was a mouthful, so York decided to call her Nana.
And Nana, without missing a beat, started calling him “Big Brother York.” From what Nana told him, York gathered that she was a runaway too, just like him (technically).
But while he had come to Zootopia to carve out a future for himself, she was here searching for her older sister.
She never found her.
Not long after arriving in the city, a weasel had charmed her with sweet words, promising to help track her sister down.
Instead, he led her straight into a traffickers’ ambush.
She fought back with everything she had, but she was hopelessly outmatched and got herself kidnapped.
And that was when York had saved her.
If he hadn’t shown up when he did, she’d probably be wandering the streets of Zootopia alone by now or worse.
As for why she couldn’t simply go home?
When York brought that up, Nana didn’t answer.
She just stared out the window, silent for a long, heavy moment.
York didn’t press.
Every family had its own brand of trouble.
He understood that better than most.
Outside, snow began to fall.
York noticed Nana hugging her arms, shivering faintly.
He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
It wasn’t much, thin and worn, but it was better than nothing.
“Here.
Don’t catch a cold.” “But what about you, Big Brother?” Nana clutched the jacket with both hands, looking up at him with a mixture of surprise and worry.
York reached out and ruffled her hair.
“I’m a grown-up, not some little kid like you.
This weather’s nothing to me!” “Whoa!
Big Brother, you’re amazing!” Basking in the little girl’s awe, York puffed out his chest with an exaggerated air of pride.
That smugness didn’t last long, though, because it was freezing out here.
Thank goodness he was a husky.
If he’d been some hairless breed, he probably wouldn’t last more than an hour in this frozen wasteland.
In Tundratown, night fell like a curtain of black velvet.
The Aurora Club seemed to be buried in the middle of nowhere.
There wasn’t a single streetlight in sight, just the feeble glow of the truck’s headlights cutting a narrow path through the thick darkness and swirling snow.
York had no choice but to slow down, squinting through the windshield as he crept forward.
Fortunately, he soon spotted a faint glimmer of light at the very end of the road.
As he drew closer, a four-story building emerged from the gloom, European style, elegant in a cold, sterile sort of way.
The Aurora Club.
He’d made it.
Parked out front were three trucks, nearly identical to the one he was driving.
York’s heart dropped at the sight.
The worst-case scenario was that every single one of those trucks was loaded just like his, packed with children.
Nana noticed them too.
Her voice came out small and trembling.
“Big Brother…
do you think those trucks are carrying kids too?” York didn’t answer.
His throat felt tight.
He pulled his truck up in silence, parking right alongside the other three.
No sooner had he put the vehicle in park than the club’s front doors swung open.
A goat and a zebra stepped out, both wearing the club’s crisp uniform.
The moment they spotted York’s truck, wide, eager grins spread across their faces.
“Nana, stay hidden in the truck,” York said quietly.
“Don’t come out, no matter what.” He opened the door and stepped out.
Nana ducked down obediently, curling into a tiny ball beneath the dashboard.
The instant York’s boots hit the ground, the gravity on his face vanished, replaced by a mask of oily, sycophantic charm.
He hurried toward the two animals, practically bowing as he approached.
“How many layers of snow have fallen?” That was the code phrase his employer had given him.
He had to speak those words upon delivery to collect his payment.
The goat and zebra exchanged a glance, their smiles widening until they practically split their faces.
“The footprints that shouldn’t be there must be erased.” The goat recited the countersign, then stepped forward and grabbed York’s hand, pumping it enthusiastically.
“Welcome, welcome!
Thank you for getting the merchandise here safe and sound!” York’s stomach churned at their warm welcome.
But he kept his face fixed in a grateful, flattered expression.
“Don’t mention it!
Well, since the goods are delivered…
about the payment…” York rubbed his thumb against his forefinger, his eyes gleaming with poorly concealed greed.
Three hundred Zootopia bucks.
That was the deal.
“Of course!
Three hundred Zootopia bucks, not a single buck short!” The goat reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick stack of bills.
York’s eyes nearly popped, that stack had to be at least a thousand!
The goat counted out three bills and extended them toward York.
Just as York’s fingers were about to close around the money, the zebra spoke up.
“Hey.
Did you happen to take a peek at what was in the back?” “No!
Absolutely not!” York shook his head so fast it was almost comical, bending his back even lower.
His entire demeanor screamed one thing, coward.
“I’m just the driver!
My job is to haul the cargo, pick up the cash, and disappear.
I wouldn’t dream of sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong!
I know the rules!” The zebra studied York’s cowering, spineless posture.
The last flicker of suspicion in his eyes guttered out.
He snorted lightly and nodded.
“Mm.
You know your place.
Take the money and get lost.” “Right away!
Thank you, bosses!
Thank you so much!” York’s face was a symphony of fawning gratitude as he bobbed his head and reached for the bills.
And then, right as his fingertips brushed the money, that pathetic, groveling expression twisted into something cold and ruthless.
His fist slammed into the goat’s solar plexus.
“Ugh!” The goat’s eyes bulged.
The breath exploded from his lungs in a soundless wheeze.
His legs buckled, and he hit the ground, clutching his stomach, mouth gaping like a fish gasping for air.
No sound came out.
He couldn’t even scream.
“You?!” The zebra’s jaw dropped.
He opened his mouth to shout… But York was faster.
He clamped a hand over the zebra’s muzzle, spun behind him, and brought the edge of his palm down in a sharp, precise chop against the base of his skull.
The zebra’s eyes rolled back.
He crumpled like a sack of potatoes.
York finished the goat with the same efficient strike.
In the span of a few seconds, both animals had been sent into the deepest, most silent sleep of their lives.
York let out a breath.
He turned… And nearly jumped out of his fur.
Nana was standing right behind him, staring down at the two unconscious bodies with wide, curious eyes.
“Big Brother, why did you knock them out?” “GAH!” York staggered back, hand flying to his chest.
When he realized it was just Nana, he let out a long, shaky exhale.
“What are you doing out here?!
It’s dangerous!
If someone from the club catches you, you’re in serious trouble!” Nana pouted and jabbed a tiny paw at the two animals on the ground.
“Honestly, I think you’re in bigger trouble if they find out you knocked out their guys.
Compared to that, me being spotted is nothing.” York opened his mouth, then closed it.
She wasn’t wrong.
“…Help me hide them first.” Together, they dragged the goat and zebra into one of the parked trucks, using the snowy darkness as cover.
York stripped off the goat’s uniform and pulled it on.
Fit like it was made for him.
Nana watched him change, her tail giving an excited little flick.
“Big Brother!
You’re wearing that to sneak inside and be a hero, aren’t you?!” “Hero my fluffy tail!” York sighed, exasperated.
He reached out and flicked her forehead with his finger.
A tiny red mark blossomed on her skin.
“Ow~” Nana rubbed the spot, her eyes watering with exaggerated hurt.
York ignored her pitiful look and walked over to the truck cab.
“I’m going inside to see what’s going on.
You stay here.” “Okay.” Nana nodded, this time serious.
York paused, then turned back.
He grabbed the entire stack of Zootopia bucks and pressed it into her small paws.
His expression grew heavy, his voice low and firm.
“If I’m not back in two hours, you take this money and you get out of here.
Understand?” Nana’s playful pout vanished.
Her large eyes shimmered with worry.
“I understand.
Be careful, Big Brother.” York waved a dismissive hand and strode toward the Aurora Club.
He was going to find out exactly what kind of filth was hiding behind those gilded doors.
He walked in through the front entrance without hesitation, confident, deliberate, like he belonged there.
The lobby was grand, lavishly decorated, with a sweeping spiral staircase climbing to the second floor.
About eight animals milled about the hall, all in club uniforms.
Herbivores and omnivores, every last one of them.
They stood in small clusters, glasses raised, chatting and laughing as they sipped a dark red liquid.
York’s nose twitched.
That liquid smelled of blood and alcohol.
————•★•————★ Author Note: Thanks for reading!
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