Chapter Eight
The Circle

	The badger girl was a little shorter than her father, but she was strong and stocky. Gray fur covered the majority of her body. A thin white Mohawk spiked on top of her head and ran down her back in a broad white stripe down her back. The spotlights gleamed off of the several piercings in her face. Clad in a pair of baggy green fatigues and a black tank top. The look on her face told Judy that she wasn't to impressed to be standing in front of such an enthusiastic crowd. In her hand was an old, battered electric guitar that looked like it came from one of the pawn shop they'd passed on their way through the run down part of town. The badger green eyes scanned the room, it brought a hush to the crowd.
	Baron Bouncer put an arm around his daughter. He was much more broad than she was, his darker gray fur was peppered with white fur. His muscles tensed and rippled under his expensive black suit. The front of his jacket hung open showing off the white silk shirt underneath. A few buttons at the top undone, showing off a few golden chains. The crowd went nuts again, woofs, grunts, and shouting hurt Judy's ears.
	Finnick worked his way up to stand on the tops of the four-by-fours in front of Judy and Nick for a better view of the stage. Nick hadn't even bother to look at Baron, his gaze never left Honey. Other animals filed in behind the baron and his daughter. Each taking an instrument that was ready for them. Honey paid them no mind, her face still as indifferent as it was when she first walked on the stage.
	“Alright, alright, shut it.” Baron barked, motioning with his hands for them to bring down the volume.
	“Dad.”
	“Come on, pumpkin, lemme do this. As you all know, this is my daughter...”
	The baron paused for the new wave of applause that filled the room. It quickly stopped with a swipe of his hand. Nick's shifted closer to Finnick, whispering something in his ear. The small fox snatched around to glare at him. Judy could hear the not so whispered response of the little fox.
	“I was trying to tell you, fool.”
	“She's the light of my life. Tonight she opened up to me-”
	“Dad, please stop.”
	“She wants to be a rock star, isn't that precious. I for one, want that. I want you to want it too.”
	“Stop!” Honey glared at her dad, red peaked in her round ears.
	“Alright, I'll stop. So put your mitts together for her.”
	The cheering started in a whole new wave but it stopped once Honey started playing. The crowd drew in closer around them. It didn't take long for the crowd to start getting rowdy. Shoving and throwing bottles. The glass shattering at the edge of the stage, glinting in the spotlights. Judy could the baron's proud smile fading fast. Another bottle hit the stage sending shards scattering all over. Lavender ran out to check on Honey. The badger girl simply rolled her eyes and kept going.
	Judy watched in amazement, she'd expected the badger to have no real talent. As if the only way she could get a gig was because of who her father was. The badger girl had a sweet husky voice that vibrated the bunny's ears. The bass rumbled through the room tingling her feet. Nick smiled softly, biting his bottom lips, Judy could begrudge him the look amidst the melody Honey was playing.
	Then the world went topsy turvy. Something hit Judy hard in square of her back. The hit was so sudden it lifted her off her feet, hammering her into the backs of both Nick and Finnick sending them sprawling into the sand at the bottom of the circle. Luckily she managed to brace her fall so her entire weight didn't hit the pair of foxes. In a quick move, she rolled away from them and came to her feet. She looked up and saw the wolf from before, the one that bumped into her. He was cackling and pointing at her. When he noticed her looking, he pumped his chest in her direction before jumping down into the circle.
	“Don't you have a warren to be scurrying back too, bucky.”
	“Hey buddy, what's your deal?” Nick was up on his feet, moving towards the wolf, rewarded with a cuff across the muzzle sending him down into the sand again.
	“N...Patrick.” Judy knelt down pulling him into her lap, blood dribbled down from one nostril tracing his jawline.
	“I'm alright, Featherweight here, hits like a mouse.”
	The wolf took a step forward, retreating once Finnick stepped in between them. By now the music stopped, Lavender was escorting Honey from the stage. Baron was snapping his fingers to gain the attention of his lackey's pointing them through the crowd. When the baron reached the edge of the stage he glared down at the three of them and then to the wolf.
	“Manx!”
	The wolf snatched a look at the baron, he was still shifting from one foot to the other. “She's a rabbit, she don't belong here.”
	“Shut up!” The badger pulled a tranquilizer gun from under his jacket, aiming it at the wolf. “Everyone useful is welcome here, not that you would know.”
	“Sir!?”
	“Did I say you could speak?”
	“No, sir.”
	“You disrespect the house, you've place a friend of the family in danger, and you have the audacity to make me look bad in front of our guests.”
	There was a low 'ooh' floating around in the crowd. When it broke, it just became whispers. Judy could see the mammals looking from her to the wolf and then down to Nick, who Judy was helping to his feet.
	“Oh Manx. After everything I did to help you out, this, is how you repay me. I just don't know what to do. I seek the wisdom of the family.” The baron's steel-gray eyes sought his followers for guidance. He held his out his hands to them as if he were a pastor grandstanding for the commune. “What do we do with this, filth?”
	“Dart.”
	Someone in the crowd yelled, another joined and then another. A few more voices joined in until the whole crowd was chanting 'dart' over and over again. They were pumping their fists in the air, their voices getting louder and louder. Manx, the wolf recoiled, trying to plead with the crowd. His voice falling on deaf ears.
	“Wait!”
	A small but powerful voice called out above the tide of judgment. Nick and Finnick both looked at the source of the command. Judy stood as tall as she could, her fists clenched tight at her sides, trying to look as menacing as she could. Nick winced and shook his head, wanting to get involved, but it was too late now.
	“Our guest wants to say something.” The baron smiled, there was a playful nature in the way he leered at the bunny. “What is it...Miss?”
	“Call me Fiver. Everyone does.”
	“Well, Fiver. How can the family help you?”
	“You darting him ain't fair to me, nor my husband.”
	Judy winced when she heard someone in the crowd laugh. “A fox married a bunny.”
	“Show some respect.” The baron barked, the mammal went silence instantly.
	“Honoring yourself and your husband eh? Do you want the pleasure of darting him yourselves.”
	“Nah, that's too cowardly.”
	Nick shot a glance at Judy, who wore a confindent smirk. The crowd let loose a myriad of 'whoas' and 'oohs', before the badger waved his hand hushing them up again.
	“I like your spirit, a bunny with the heart of a lion.”
	The crowd cheered. Judy's head swam with her new-found confidence. She could see fear in the Manx's eyes. It was the same fear mirrored in Nick's face. His hand finding hers without even sparing a glance. Finnick patted her thigh comfortingly as he looked back at the wolf.
	“Name your poison then?”
	“Bare knuckle boxing, just him and me.”
	“Are you crazy, Flopsy” Finnick hissed under his breath, his heckle raising.
	Nick's jaw fell open. “No...no. I won't let you do this.”
	“You can't stop it.” Finnick glared at the taller fox.
	“Well, we can't just let-”
	“I can do it.” Judy gripped Nick by his bicep, turning him to look at her.
	“Listen-”
	The baron interrupted Finnick, the small fox stopping to listen. “It's been decided. Please escort brother Finnick, and what's his name out of the ring.”
	Finnick began again. “...we ain't got much time. You gonna fight him, but don't worry. I have an idea. Manx has a slow reaction time to things coming from the left. If you want to earn a sucker punch that's how you do it.”
	“Anything else?”
	“Yeah, uhm. He always swings twice. First right, then left, it's a knock out play. Hands up, head down, he won't hit you.”
	“Thanks, Finnick.”
	“Good luck, Hop Along.”
	Nick gripped her shoulder. “I-”
	“Trust me, Nick. I can do this.”
	Nick kissed her forehead. “For luck.” He whispered, his breath warm against her face.
	The gesture sent a flutter through her entire body. They faded almost immediately when she saw the badger with an eye patch drop down into the ring. He walked towards them, grabbing Nick by his shoulder pulling him along. Nick held Judy's hand as long as he could before he was pulled away. Now she was all alone in the ring with this wolf and no plan for what she was going to do.
	“You chose wrong, cottontail. I'm gonna whoop you and then...” The wolf didn't finish his threat he simply licked his lips.
	Judy didn't strike a fighting stance, instead she took a deep breath, calming herself. “Bring it!”
	“Fight!”
	The Baron's voice boomed. The wolf charged across the ring on all fours. Judy dropped down into the sand under the wolf as passed over her kicking up sand on his way by. Judy kicked up onto her feet and took off running towards the other side of the ring. Manx scrambled to recover, the wolf was fast, but the bunny was faster. When he reared around to give chase, Judy stole a look over her shoulder, Manx was closing the distance. Counting in her head, Judy was able to determine how many steps she took to each of his, two and a half...she ran up the wooded wall, kicking off of it. Her quick thinking was rewarded with a heavy thud and a grunt as Manx's slammed into the wall hard.
	Judy landed behind him in the sand, dropping down into a sprinters stance launching herself towards him. All she needed was one good...a white light filled her vision for a single second and then the world spun out of control. Her body was thrown across the ground end over end, until she settled several feet away. At one point, through the ringing in her ears, she could hear Nick yelling her name...or some name that was meant for her. When she sat up, her face throbbed, blood dripped from her nose into her jean jacket. The punch was solid enough to make her vision blurry, but not enough so she couldn't see Manx coming for her again.
	Judy got to her feet trying to stabilize herself. One more punch and it would be over for her. She would be Manx's dinner, or worse. A shadow cover her, her recover time was at an end. Quickly she raised her hands, crossing them over her head just in time to take a punch. The force pushed her back an inch and even though it hurt, her block stayed strong. Then came another hit, Finnick had been right and now was the time. Judy snapped her hands around gripping Manx's wrist, curling her whole body around his fist as pulled it back to go for another punch. Even with her added weight the inertia lifted her off the ground. Judy saw Manx's eyes open wide and then she kicked with all of her might. Both of her feet connected with the wolf's muzzle, the force threw him off of his feet, sending them both through the air. When Manx landed, his arms flailed sending Judy tumbling once again. This time her shoulder struck the sand allowing her to roll to her feet.
	The crowd exploded in a cheer, even the baron was screaming her praise. Nick dropped down into the circle at a full sprint towards Judy. He swept her off her feet and spun her around in his warm embrace. Finnick's deep voice booming over all the rest.
	“You get it, bunny! You did it. He wasn't s-”
	Judy couldn't hear the rest over Nick's voice directly in her ear. “That was beautiful Jude, I've never seen anything so incredible.”
	“Thanks.”
	Nick let her down so he could get a better look at her face. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing her nose. Her head was still spinning. There was a ringing in her right ear, the same side of her face that she was punch on. Despite all of the pain and fatigue it was the best she'd felt in a long time. Her body was alive with electricity. Her hands gripped Nick's biceps to keep herself from losing her balance.
	The large badger with the eye patch approached the pair cautiously. “The baron requests your presence upstairs at you earliest convenience...which is right now.”
	Nick nodded, wrapping an arm across Judy's back helping her walk to the edge of the circle without falling. Judy pushed her forehead against his shoulder smiling at the feeling of the fox's protective grip on her.
	Finnick pulled Judy out of the ring and then Nick. There was a concerned look on his face. Judy leaned on him and he helped keep her stable until Nick could resume his grip of her.
	Finnick wore a grim. “Baron didn't ask for me. Looks like you two are on your own, good luck up there.”
	The badger lead them to the bottom of a metal stairs that lead up to the catwalk. He didn't say anything, just pointed up with a thrust of his muzzle and resumed his position at the bottom of the stairs. The pair started up, Nick used the banister to keep them both stable.
	“I'm scared, Nick.” Judy whispered.
	“Me too, Carrots.”