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Chapter Twenty Five: The Alpha

Alcohol. That was the first thing that assailed the ewe's senses upon entering the wolf's office. The distinct smell of spirits seemed to linger faintly in the room. Dawn immediately recognized the scent of some sort of brandy, the pungent aroma of the liquor masked only slightly by a hint of fruity like sweetness, although the ewe couldn't place the brand. Brandy hadn't been her Father's drink of choice, but it was certainly prominent in his regular alcoholic rotation. The stench alone managed to dredge up flickers of those painful memories long past, and the ewe did her best to shake them off as she pushed forward into the dimly lit study.

The low and intimate lighting gave the prodigious looking study a warm and inviting atmosphere despite what Dawn would have imagined the wolf would have preferred someone like her to feel upon entering. The olive green padded oak furnishings and golden flourishes seemed to twinkle like the flickers of a candle flame, making the room appear almost as if it were something out of the old world. Every piece of furniture seemed to exude a refined and handcrafted charm that only amplified the feeling that the room was a home to a long line of Hunter history in some form or another. The book shelves lining the walls on either side of the room practically spilling over with texts and tomes, many that by the look of them told Dawn they were unlikely to be found in the Savannah Central Public Library. Most of the bindings she could make out seemed to have handwritten labels scrawled on the ends, much of which appeared far too refined to have been written by modern paws.

Easing her way into the room, the ewe followed the source of the low lighting back to the large oaken desk at the head of the room. It was emanating from a lone, jade green office lamp that was pointed toward the center of the desk, the top of which had been covered by a large, wide brimmed Sheriff's hat. Under the most intense portion of the lighting the large white wolf sat, his face obscured partially by the top portion of a large sleek black laptop. The wolf's attention was fixed on the device as he quietly typed away. In his free paw he held a large crystal glass, half full of a deep brown liquid that he idly swished in the container as his attention remained fixated on the computer screen.

"M-Mr. Hunter." Dawn squeaked weakly. Her mind immediately scolding her for already failing to follow Vanna's advice. The ewe cleared her throat before attempting to rebound in a firmer tone. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

Dawn watched as the wolf's eyes flicked her way, his ears suddenly standing sharply at attention before slipping back into a more relaxed position.

"Well..." Dorian grumbled. "This night just keeps gettin' better and better..." The wolf sighed, bringing his paw over the lid of his laptop before easing it closed. Dorian turned his attention back to the glass in his paw. Reaching across his desk, the wolf pulled a large decanter filled with the same brown liquor that had partially filled his glass. Dorian tipped the bottle into his cup, slowly bringing the level of the fluid to the brim before placing the larger bottle back into the shadow of his desk from whence he had pulled it.

The wolf let out a another sigh as he leaned back into his chair, placing his free arm on one of the chairs armrests as he took a small swig of his brandy. His eyes seemed to be studying the lamb, scanning every portion of her with keen attentiveness. It was something Dawn was certain he did when it came to casing criminals, exactly the behavior Vanna had warned her about. He was looking for a tremble, a flinch, something to grab at, and it took every bit of Dawn's willpower to keep still as she waited for the wolf to continue.

"Well, go on..." The wolf muttered, gesturing toward the ewe with his glass. Dawn blinked rapidly for a moment. The wolf had caught her off guard. She certainly hadn't expected him to be so willing to give her the first word. In that moment Dawn found herself unsure of where to begin, how to even approach saying what she felt she needed to say. The surprising turn had seemed to strike her dumb, and her mind struggled to find the starting thread.

"You wanted to talk...?" The wolf added, swishing the brandy in his glass idly. "Well, talk." The tone in Dorian's voice grew irritated, and with it Dawn felt her heart rate starting to rise. The ewe reasoned it was best to just press onward, to lead right into the focus of why she had entered into his office and hope the conversation remained on that particular topic.

"I feel as though we may have started off on the wrong hoof." Dawn said, her voice even and calm despite her elevated heart rate.

The wolf let out a weak chuckle. "That's putting it lightly." Dorian took another small swig of his brandy before returning to idly swishing it in his glass.

Dawn simply tried to ignore the wolf's snide remark, continuing to press forward with her agenda.

"I know my being here has caused a lot of stress." Dawn continued. The ewe swallowed hard, but did her best to hide the muscle movement from the wolf's watchful eyes. "And I'm not going to mince words, I know I've been the cause of quite a number of incidents."

The wolf raised the paw on his armrest, bringing it behind his head as he leaned back into his chair. The old chair let out a groan as the wolf's form dipped out of the concentrated cone of light, his head now obscured in the darkness behind the desk as he swished his drink again.

"We talkin' about all of them or the latest one?" Dorian muttered from the darkness. "The whole breakin' the house rule fiasco?"

Dawn stumbled slightly. She had been uncertain that Dorian would jump to that particular incident so soon in the conversation, but considering it had just happened perhaps she should have been expecting it.

"Y-you heard that?" Dawn stumbled, once again mentally cursing herself for showing weakness.

"Who didn't?" Dorian replied. The wolf had begun to gently rock his chair back and forth, periodically revealing his face to the ewe as it slowly slipped in and out of darkness. "I know my son's howls like the back of my paw." Dorian continued. "O'course hard fer any wolf not to recognize a matin' howl."

Dawn cleared her throat sharply, trying to regain her foothold on the conversation.

"Yes, well that was an unfortunate lapse in judgment on my part, and I can assure you it will not happen again." Dawn added, taking a moment to adjust her glasses.

Dorian leaned forward, his muzzle shifting back into the light of the desk lamp. His face had an irritated expression as he eyed the ewe suspiciously.

"Is'sat a fact?" The wolf gave out a slurred grumbled, taking another swig of his brandy. He drank deeper now, his sips graduating from small to something more average as the ewe heard him emit a hearty gulp before placing the glass on his desk. "I 'spose I should take you at yer word on that?"

Dawn gave a sharp nod. "Yes sir."

"Easy to say somthin' like that after already breakin' the rule." Dorian sneered. "But I guess you Bellwethers aren't much inclined fer followin' rules are ya?" The wolf gave another weak chuckle, but this time it was as if there was slight malice imbedded within it. "So why start now?"

"Mr. Hunter." Dawn interjected despite the sting of the wolf's words. "I'm not here to start picking at old wounds of any kind." Dawn said, clearing her throat again. It felt as though it were drying more and more as the wolf glowered at her. "I came here because I wanted to apologize."

The white wolf quirked an eyebrow, squinting slightly as he stared back at Dawn. The ewe wasn't sure if he was appraising her movements to try to tell if she was lying, or merely trying to process what she was saying.

"Apologize?" Dorian said, leaning back into his chair. The desk chair groaned as the wolf slid back into the darkness behind his desk.

"Yes." Dawn continued. "I wanted to apologize for everything I've caused over the past two days. To own up to my mistakes and try my hardest to make up for them."

Dawn watched as the wolf remained in the dark, his paw reaching out for his glass before pulling it back into the shadows. She could hear another hard gulp as the wolf presumably took another swig.

"I want to try to make a fresh start between the two of us. A do-over if you will." Dawn continued pleading her case. "If not for me, then for Pu-" Dawn stopped to correct herself as her emotions began to affect her professional tenor. "Then for Vernon's sake."

From the shadows the glass returned, now completely free of the brandy it had once been filled with. Dorian however, remained in the dark, leaving the ewe's words to hang there in the silence of the study. Dawn's uneasiness continued to rise the longer the wolf remained silent, but she did her best to keep the rising anxiety below the surface.

"A-All I'm asking for is a chance Mr. Hunter. I really care about your son and I don't want to be the cause of a rift between the two of you." Dawn continued, her voice rising as she continued her entreaty. "And I certainly don't want to be the cause of any problems between you and your wonderful family."

The wolf remained in the dark, still silent as ever, but the ewe could tell by the faint glimmer of light reflecting off his eyes that they were still fixed on her.

"I want to fix the damage I've done, to heal this family I've grown to care about so much. Please." Dawn concluded, offering a weak but hopeful smile. She had managed to remain mostly cool and collected through the most important parts of her planned speech. The ewe felt she may have thrown herself a little at the mercy of Dorian's feet toward the end of it, but she imagined even Vanna would have been impressed with her so far. The ewe waited as the wolf remained silent, seemingly still locked in his position in the darkness beyond the desk lamp. Dawn felt herself begin to wring her hooves, but quickly slapped them down as her anxiety continued to rise.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity Dorian slowly leaned back into the light of the desk. Reaching into the dark, the wolf withdrew the decanter full of brandy before bringing it down on the desk hard enough to make the ewe flinch despite herself.

"There are some types of damage that can never be undone..." Dorian muttered, lifting the bottle once more and pouring himself another glass of brandy. With that simple statement, the ewe's hopeful smile immediately fell. Dawn could feel a lump forming in her throat, but with its rise came the need to protest. Any effort the ewe could make to keep the conversation on a positive level.

"B-But Mr. Hunter, surely something can be-"

"And apologies don't carry much weight when ya'll already tore everythin' apart. Ya'll got nothin' to lose by apologizin' now, nothin' to risk. Ya'll just get to make yourself feel like a better mammal for doin' nothin' but saying a few hollow words." The wolf grunted.

"Mr. Hunter." Dawn cleared her throat. "I mean what I'm saying. I have every intention of-"

"I told ya'll not to go to the fair!" The wolf snarled, taking another gulp of liquor and wiping his maw tersely. "I told that boy exactly what it would do, but did he listen to me!?" Dorian spat. "No!" The wolf slammed his glass down as harshly as he had the bottle before, causing some of the liquid to slosh out onto the desk.

Dawn could feel the fear rising as her stomach twisted into knots. Not only was the wolf starting to raise his voice, but the scent of the alcohol coupled with the increasingly aggressive atmosphere was starting to play on the ewe's childhood trauma. It was the last thing she considered having to worry about when entering Dorian's office. Not only having to remain brave in the face of whatever Dorian could throw at her, but to keep the old wounds buried in her mind from opening back up under the strain of horrific familiarity. The yelling, the stink of alcohol, all of it was starting to call back to those terrible memories. Flickering images of a crumpled lamb crawled up her spine, balled up on the floor with her hooves out and desperately trying to hold back her Father's belt. And while her rational mine told her she was safe, and that the situation was nothing like those that had come before, the rising fear was still something extra she now had to keep in check. She needed to keep her head on straight. To keep the painful feelings from her past from mingling and blurring with the feelings Dorian was now bringing upon her.

"I didn't know until after the fair Mr. Hunter!" Dawn protested, her voice wavering slightly as she balled her fists. "Vernon didn't tell me what you had said! What Zach had said!" Dawn let out a harsh exhale. "If I had known, I would have been willing to stay home. I m-"

"I'm sure you would have." Dorian scoffed, flicking his free paw dismissively at the ewe.

"I would have!" Dawn said sharply, her muzzle tightening into a grimace as she bit back the building anxiety.

"Bullshit!" Dorian fired back. "If' that were true ya'll would have never come out here in the first place."

"I came here to meet my mates family!" Dawn protested, her voice remaining stern despite her growing unease.

"Ya'll came out here expectin' everything to go your way. You didn't think about the strain you bein' here was gonna put on this family, what it was going to do to the community we fit into. You were thinkin' about yer selfish needs! You both were!" Dorian spat back.

The wolf took another harsh swig of brandy, wincing slightly as he choked it back. It was clear in the wolf's rising belligerence some of the liquor had slid down the wrong pipe. The wolf let out a ragged cough, wiping his muzzle as he tried to compose himself.

"Vernon was always a bit naive." The wolf continued, the anger in his voice subsiding slightly, the coughing fit having seeming to have at least calmed the wolf's flared temper. "He makes a lot of choices without really thinkin' em' through. Too much thinkin' with his heart, and not with his head." The wolf tapped a claw to his brow to emphasize his point. "So bein' selfish is natural to the boy. It ain't on purpose o' course. But the boy just expects everyone to come around to his way of thinkin', and doesn't spend the time to reason out the complexities of why someone else can't."

The wolf pointed a claw toward Dawn, his eyes squinting as he sharpened his gaze.

"But you're too smart fer that." Dorian muttered. "I can't imagine ya'll didn't think of the things Vernon refused to think over, but ya still agreed to come." Dorian's tone started to rise again. "You pushed, and pushed, and spurred the boy on, and fer what? What were you thinkin' exactly?"

"I didn't push for anything!" Dawn protested. "But Vernon believed so strongly that you would accept me, so much so that I couldn't argue with him!" Dawn sighed. "He believed in me too. He believed in me from the start, despite everything I had done."

"After what you've done..." Dorian growled. The wolf took another swig of his drink, placing the glass down as he leaned back into the shadows.

"I know you have a problem with my criminal history Mr. Hunter." Dawn lowered her voice, but her emotions were beginning to slip. Her fear was quickly giving way to ire.

Being reminded of her Father, feeling like she was in that place again was causing repressed rage to boil up to the surface on top of Dorian's already unreasonable behavior. She knew she was going against Vanna's playbook by even touching on her history, but it felt like there was no other choice. "But I've done my time, and I'm trying my hardest to make up for my mistakes!" Dawn's breath grew shallow as she did her best to keep her anger from boiling over. "I didn't want to point to what happened during the _'Last Night'_fiasco as if it simply cleared my guilt, but at the very least it should count as some sort of proof that I'm trying!"

Dorian fell silent, leaving the ewe to stew in her own mind as she waited for the wolf's reply. Dawn didn't like feeling angry, but in this situation it seemed the only way the ewe could remain on track. The growing ire was keeping her focused, preventing her from backing down from the belligerent wolf.

Slowly the wolf leaned forward, placing his glass on his desk before following suit with his arms. The wolf leaned his muzzle against his paws, letting out a long and tired sigh.

"Do you even think about all the damage you've done in yer life Ms. Bellwether?" Dorian mumbled. "About all the mammals you hurt when you went about drugging up predators and turnin' em loose on a city full of innocent mammals?"

Dawn froze, feeling the anger begin to drain away as the wolf's words cut deep into her. Her part in the Night Howler Scandal was something that had never left her since the moment she had been caught. The guilt and sorrow had hung over her like a dark shroud, and despite therapy and every positive and negative event that had happened in her life since the guilt had always remained, and she was certain it always would. It was something she accepted as necessary, and well deserved. It remained a constant reminder of how low she had sunk, as well as a motivation to work twice as hard to improve the world around after she had done so much to destroy it.

"E-every day." Dawn said somberly. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the mammals I hurt."

Dorian gave a slight nod, his eyes remaining fixed on the ewe. "All of 'em?"

Dawn arched an eyebrow in confusion. "W-well yes, of course." Dawn replied. "I've even tried to contact the families of those who were targets, and apologized even if they didn't accept it." Dawn sighed sadly. "Only the Ottertons were willing to hear me out."

"What about the city then?" Dorian muttered, pouring more brandy into his glass. Once again it was filled to the brim, and the wolf took a small sip before placing it back down and returning to his position, his muzzle up against his paws.

"I-I've been doing all I can to help those in the city, but relations have improved quite a bit between predator and prey since we were stopped." Dawn replied, unsure of where the wolf was going with his line of questioning. "Even more so since my Father's plan was stopped. I imagine that predator and prey relations are better than they've ever-"

Dorian cut her off with a weak chuckle.

"What?" Dawn asked, placing a hoof on her hip.

"What about the world Ms. Bellwether..." Dorian grimaced.

Dawn opened her mouth, but found she couldn't form a reply. She wasn't sure exactly what Papa Hunter was getting at. Surely the wolf wasn't expecting that she knew everything about what the scandal had done to Animalia as a whole, let alone could even begin to mend something of that magnitude.

"The reason I'm askin' this is because I want to see if you've really ever thought about how what you did affected the lives of each and every mammal from here to Sibearia." Dorian gestured his paw in a sweeping motion as if to symbolize the distance. "About the long term damage you've put on their everyday livin', even if it was miniscule."

"Mr. Hunter..." Dawn paused, putting her own hooves to her muzzle as she tried to figure out how to proceed. "I-I've certainly thought about it, but you can't expect me to know how every single mammal in the world may have been affected by what I did, or be able to fix it. I-I'm just one lamb." Dawn could feel the lump in her throat starting to reform.

"I ain't askin' you to fix it." Dorian replied, taking a sip of his liquor. "As I told ya'll, some things can't be fixed. I'm just asking if you've thought about it."

Dawn nodded meekly. "Y-yes...I have." The ewe sighed.

"Zootopia is the city the entire planet looks to when it comes to the pinnacle of modern society. Outsiders see it as the place that dictates how all mammals should see each other." Dorian grumbled. "What we all want to strive to be."

"Mr. Hunter." Dawn said, wringing her hooves nervously. The anxiety was starting to creep back in despite the wolf's oddly calm demeanor. "I know I'll never be able to grasp just how much I've hurt everyone globally. As I've said, I'm just one lamb. But if-"

"Fine, Fine..." Dorian muttered. "Then let's scale it back to our own little country. Lets say, right here in the Meadowlands. Just shy of the city proper." Dorian sighed, taking another sip of his brandy. "You ever wonder about how what you did affected us out here in the Meadowlands?"

Dawn felt her stomach began to drop as it was becoming increasingly apparent as to what the wolf was drawing her toward. Somehow, some way, the Hunters had been affected by the crimes she had committed over four years prior. Whatever it turned out to be, it must have been what was fueling the wolf's mistrust and dislike of her.

"M-Mr. Hunter." Dawn stuttered slightly. "If my actions have caused any-"

The wolf held up a paw, looking away from the ewe as he silenced her.

"Can you even imagine what the_'Night Howler Scandal'_ did to this community? Hell even with just the tenuous relationship sheep and wolves already have? The frenzy and panic it sewed into the fabric of this community?"

Dorian's voice began to rise slightly as he wrapped his paw around his glass. "Let me paint ya'll a picture. One of a sleepy little police station whose phone lines lit up more and more with each passin' day. Neighbors turnin' on neighbors, and the increasin'ly ornery domestic disputes that came out of that." Dorian grit his teeth. "Mammals that had been friends for years stopped talking because they were afraid of 'em goin 'savage'!" The wolf took another swig. "We had preds locking themselves in their own homes, terrified they'd hurt their neighbors. Afraid of some airborne virus or mental 'tickin' time bomb' that was liable to transform 'em at the drop of a hat."

Dorian sighed as he placed his glass back down before bringing his fingers to his temples. The wolf began to massage them lightly.

"Thanks to that dumb bunny shootin' her mouth off, the predator community was petrified they were all just waitin' to go feral, like it was simply a matter o' time." Dorian groaned. "The resignations were pourin' in. So many of my officers were so wrapped up in the 'savage' frenzy they were afraid they weren't fit for duty. That they we're a danger to public safety rather than its protectors."

The wolf picked up his glass again, finishing the remainder before bringing it down. At this point Dawn had lost track of just how many full glasses the wolf had downed with the growing heat and tension of their argument keeping her attention on the wolf. But As Dorian reached for his decanter, he froze just shy or pouring it. It seemed the wolf had forgotten as well just how many drinks he had, and the look on his face told the ewe he was having an internal argument with himself as to the exact number. Dorian's eyebrows scrunched briefly before the wolf nodded to himself, mouthing what appeared to Dawn as the words 'one more' before topping off another glass. The wolf then placed the large bottle back on the edge of his desk before scooping the fresh glass into his paw.

"Y'know seventy five percent of the North Meadowlands Police Department is operated by Predators?" Dorian asked, arching an eyebrow as he evidently expected a response.

"No." Dawn said meekly. She was certain the figure was accurate. Just her recent research alone had justified why so many wolves had ended up in positions of authority and peace keeping. But it was something that was evident even back in her days working in politics. Predators seemed to congregate at the top, and prey willingly put them there regardless of how times changed and species evolved. They were seen as natural leaders, powerful and strong, and capable of protecting all those under their care. It was a self sustaining cycle that neither side seemed to be able to struggle against, the same one that would force a mammal like Vernon into police work, or Judy into farming whether they wanted to or not.

"Can you imagine what it was like to have half yer office up an leavin' over the course of a few weeks? All while the community is in the throes of eatin' itself?" Dorian grimaced sharply. "Do you think crime just stopped to adjust fer the lack of mammals on the force? Between me, Zach, and the pawful of officers I had we could barely keep this community together." The wolf huffed.

"And that ain't even countin' the demand for resignations from the Meadowfolk." Dorian growled. "On top of the limited paws available, the prey community was pushin' to clear out the remainin' preds from our ranks." The wolf took a small sip of his brandy. "Thankfully ol' Ruddy went to bat for us, or else the department would have been working at twenty five percent or less capacity." Dorian lowered his glass harshly against the table, causing the ewe to flinch again despite herself. "With the rising anti-pred demonstrations and calls fer violence we were strapped to capacity as it was. We were pullin' double and triple shifts, fueled by nothin' more than coffee and devotion to the job. Devotion to the community we grew up in! That my family has been a part of since the county line was re-drawn a century ago! And most of us were prayin' every night that somethin' would give, that somethin' would just turn the tide and end it all."

The wolf lowered his gaze, his eyes fixing on the ewe as the squeezed sharply into hateful slits. Dawn felt a shudder shoot down her spine as she stared back at him, and had to force herself to maintain eye contact despite the overwhelming desire to look anywhere else.

"Then you got caught..." Dori grumbled.

The lump in Dawn's throat gave way to bile as she swallowed hard to keep it contained. Audrey's pumpkin pie was not as pleasant coming up as it had been going down it seemed, and the ewe did her best to keep from wincing as she forced it back into her stomach. Just thinking about that day in particular had always managed to cause the ewe's stomach to turn without fail. It was not the fact that she was stopped that made her feel ill, in fact she was glad for it. But rather, it was how far she had been willing to go before being stopped. How her fear and madness had driven her to attempt to take Judy's life, to force the rabbit's own friend to maul her to death against his will. For Dawn, not a day had gone by that she hadn't been thankful that Nick and Judy had the foresight to swap her pellets with blueberries. For if things had played out the way she had intended in that moment of insanity, the ewe was certain she would never have been able to live with herself beyond it.

Dorian took another sip of his brandy. As he went to lower the glass he stopped just before touching the table. Instead he raised the glass again, pointing a finger toward the ewe.

"You know, The North Meadowlands ain't very diverse when it comes to Pred and Prey." The white wolf said, clearing his throat. "It's mostly made up of sheep and wolves, much like things are back in Schottram and Norwulff." The wolf bobbed his glass slightly from side to side. "With a smatterin' of other prey and preds here and there, but it's largely just wolves and sheep."

Dawn nodded slowly, once again unsure of where Dorian was going with the conversation.

The wolf took another sip of his brandy, letting out a satisfied sigh as he finally placed the glass down. The white wolf leaned back in his chair, allowing the dark to overtake his face again.

"Ever think about how the 'Night Howler Scandal' affected yer own folk Ms. Bellwether?" Dorian asked. "How it hurt sheep folk?"

Dawn blinked in slight surprise. She had always known that to some extent her kind had suffered for what she had done. Sheep already had quite the interesting history depending upon the mammals you had asked. Conspiracy theories about a secret order of rams pulling the strings behind everything that goes on in modern society. About caprids coming from space to enslave the rest of Animalia's mammals. She was sure those were things a mammal like Ulric knew like the back of his paw. But she knew her families legacy had certainly done its fair share to add credence to those crackpot theories. But still, when it came to the duress sheep had suffered as a direct result of her scheme, she was embarrassingly less informed on the subject than she had been with the general effects.

"Honestly..." Dawn murmured. "I really haven't thought about it as much as I probably should have."

Dawn heard a creak from the chair, but the wolf remained cloaked in shadow.

"When you got caught, I was hopin' things would improve. That everything would go back to the way it was..." Dorian sighed. "But instead, it just flipped on its head overnight."

The wolf leaned forward, placing his paws against the tip of his muzzle.

"The anti-pred groups all but disappeared, and in their place came the anti-prey groups. The anti-sheep demonstrations. Angry groups of wolves and other preds stabbing claws toward the sheep in this community and fosterin' the idea that they were at the base of all of societies ills." Dorian drew a paw through his scalp. "Our staff started to come back, but the frenzy stayed the same, even worsinin' in some ways."

Dorian picked up his glass of brandy, taking another sip before letting out an appreciative sigh.

"Crops were burned, homes were defaced, and there were a number of protests that went violent, only now instead of prey supremacy holdin' sway, native wolf ideas about prey were starting to take hold among the pred population." Dorian muttered. "It was the same shit show, with a different face. And once again we could barely keep the peace."

"Mr. Hunter." Dawn spoke. She had let the conversation drift far out of the territory that Vanna had warned her to keep it in. But after hearing the wolf's testimony, she knew just why it had been so important for him to bring to her attention. It was clear Dorian and the Meadowlands as a whole had been through a great deal at her hooves, and the wolf cared deeply about the place his family called home. Her actions had hurt the community in ways that would never be considered by most, in ways she had never been put to trial for. She had hurt wolves, sheep, the Hunters and everyone in the North Meadowlands in some way. And while she couldn't undo all the strain she had caused, she could at least make an earnest try to atone for it.

"I can't even begin to properly apologize for everything I've caused." Dawn said, her voice warbling slightly as the pang of guilt ran through her. " To you, to your family, to this community. I know that nothing I can really say will help fix anything my actions created all those years ago." Dawn sighed, looking down to her feet in shame. "All I can do is try to make up for everything to the best of my abilities. To do what I can to drive the evil sentiments I helped stoke in pred and prey alike back into the shadows where they belong." Dawn placed a hoof to her chin as she searched for the proper words to explain herself.

"I'm hoping the book I'm writing will help in some small way, even if only a few mammals ever do read it." The ewe looked back to her feet as she twiddled her hooves. "I know I don't exactly have the reach I once did to contribute anything major. But that doesn't mean I'm not trying my hardest to find ways to help fix some of the damage I've done." Dawn sighed.

"And thankfully, Pred and Prey relations have recovered significantly since my scheme, and even more so since the 'Last Night' plot. I mean things still aren't perfect, but I can at least help keep the ball rolling in the right direction." Dawn said, a twinge of hopefulness rising in her voice. "To try and help fi-"

"Some things can't be fixed." The wolf snarled gruffly as he finished of his glass of brandy. Dorian turned the glass upside-down before bringing it sharply down against his desk.

"I already told you that..." He grumbled, slurring slightly. he wolf wiped his maw aggressively. "All the tryin' to smooth things over now won't undo what you caused! What you did to my boy!"

Dawn was confused to say the least. The wolf had jumped from blaming her for the communities response to the 'Night Howler scandal' to what Dawn could only assume was blaming her for Vernon's behavior. Or perhaps he was blaming her for Vernon choosing the ewe as his mate. But it didn't seem to go with how the wolf felt about his community, and about prey in general. He cared for prey and sheep as much as his own kind, or it least it seemed that way. The only logical reason the ewe could come up with was once again, that Vernon had chosen someone with such a terrible and very visible criminal record.

"Vernon?" The ewe asked, warily cocking her head.

The wolf chuckled, his laugh ending in an almost pleasant sigh as he drifted back into the shadows. Dawn could see the gleam again, the tell tale sign that though Dorian was in darkness, his eyes remained fixed on her.

"It was just about...two days. Two days after ya'll got picked up." The wolf laughed again.

"We got a call to head down to this rally." The wolf continued, the chair creaking as he began to rock. "A bunch of uppity native types were sewin' unrest into the local wolves about their sheep neighbors. Talkin' about superiority of preds and such. Same 'ol dribble." The wolf sighed. "Only this time mammals were listenin' to 'em."

Dawn watched as the wolf placed his paws on the desk, leaning himself back into the light. The expression on his face one of somber recollection.

"And it was a public place o' course. So naturally there were caprid folk around, doin' their best to mind their business." Dorian muttered. "But the demonstrators we're gettin' too riled, and they started lookin' fer blood."

Dorian placed a paw over his head as he leaned into it. "By the time we got there, they had dragged this little ewe away from her family. She was probably only about seven 'er eight." The wolf grumbled. "The leader of them screamin' some nonsense about how 'it starts with the youngins'' or somethin' like that while his buddies were holdin' her parents back." The wolf sat back up, bringing his paw down on the table as he turned his gaze back to Dawn. "I suspected it was just another show of bravado. Those young native types are always lookin' to put the scare into prey folk, especially with the way things had been since the night howler scare. I was so used to that by then I simply wasn't movin' as fast I should have been to break up the whole thing." Dorian turned his muzzle down to his desk, his paw idly playing with the glass he had left upturned as he let out a sigh. "I was never much to concern myself with the ravings of them native types, as ornery as they got they only ever talked a big game. Words can't hurt nobody."

The wolf let out a grumble as he reached back toward the dark edge of his desk, recalling the bottle of brandy from its hiding place. Dorian flipped the glass, pouring himself another tall glass of the liquor. His paw seemed to tremble as the liquid reached the top, causing it to spill slightly before the wolf placed the bottle back on the end of his desk. Dorian took a long sip of his freshly poured brew, gulping loudly before bringing the cup back down to the desk. The wolf wiped his muzzle before turning his attention back to Dawn.

"But a pistol sure can, one that I barely caught a glimpse of as that fella pulled it out of his coat and aimed it at the kid..."

Dawn drew a gasp, placing her hooves over her muzzle as the wolf's words hit her. "Lamb sakes!" The ewe couldn't stop herself from shouting in shock. She couldn't believe any mammal would do something so horrible, and was now gripped with terror as to the fate of the little ewe. "Did he-?"

"I wasn't fast enough..." Dorian sighed. "But Zach was." Dorian shook his head dismissively. "That dumb boy...damn dumb boy." Dorian muttered, his eyes now wandering to the glass he was holding in his paw. Dawn could see the wolf seemed to be swaying slightly, the alcohol digging deeper into the wolf's system.

"Always has to show off!" Dorian grumbled. "Has to look the hero type!" Dorian spat. The wolf leaned over the table, staring Dawn directly in the eyes. The ewe did her best to keep from shrinking into her shoulders, but the glare the wolf was giving her sent chills down her spine.

"He should have just disarmed him! That dumb boy!" Dorian hissed, taking another sip of his brandy before slinking back into his chair. "But what does he do!? He jumps on the girl, uses his body as a shield!" The wolf huffed. "So instead of stoppin' the wolf from firin', he just made sure he'd get at least one shot off. One shot before I could get to him!"

Dawn's hoof remained over her muzzle as the realization hit her all at once, he eyes widening as her breathing hitched in her throat.

"N-No..." Dawn stuttered, her mind grappling to wrap around just what the wolf was telling her.

"No kevlar, o' course no kevlar." Dorian continued. "We never needed it out here before, so why would he be wearin' it!?" The wolf slurred slightly.

"M-Mr. Hunter, y-you-" Dawn stammered, her mind lost between finally understanding what the wolf was leading her towards while desperately wishing it hadn't.

"Right over his heart the doctors said." Dorian took another swig. " 'Nicked the peri-peri..." The wolf mumbled, seeming to have difficulty with the word. "That sac 'round yer heart." The wolf leaned back into the darkness behind his desk. "Caused it to fill' up with blood, stopped his heart 'fer a minute or two."

She could hear the wolf let out another tired sigh. "If we hadn't been so close to the hospital... Lupa help me. I don't even..." She could hear Dorian's breath hitch slightly, his voice wavering as he struggled to clear it.

This what Dorian had been holding against her above all else, above how her actions has affected Zootopia, the Meadowlands or even the whole world. It all came back to the fact that she had directly hurt the family without even being aware of it. That she had indirectly endangered the life of one of his sons.

"Mr. Hunter. I-" Dawn felt like she could barely breath, the weight of the renewed rush of guilt feeling as though it was crushing her lungs. "V-Vernon never-" Dawn struggled to get the words out. "He never told me. I never knew-"

"O'course he didn't tell you!" The wolf snapped as he came back into the light. "By the time we got news out to the other boys the danger was long over! It had missed his heart, it wasn't serious to 'em!" Dorian spat. "They weren't there when it happened! To see the worst o' things!"

The wolf slammed the rest of his brandy down in a single swig before bringing the glass down hard against the table, eliciting another sharp wince from Dawn.

"Even Zach had dropped yer role in it outta' his mind till I reminded him of it this mornin'! That boy, never takes a damn thing seriously!" Dorian hissed. "That's why I had to get him a partner, someone to keep him from actin' like a damn fool all the time!"

Dawn stared back in surprise as she put the pieces together.

"Y-you mean Vanna was-?"

"She's a damn fine officer!" Dorian sneered. "Calm and collected, and sharp as a tack. Someone to keep a leash on that boy of mine!" The wolf wiped his face, dragging his digits over his features slowly. " Never expectin' to get a daughter-in-law out of it, but now he's got someone to keep him in line even when he's off duty."

The wolf's gaze fell on Dawn again, freezing her in place. The look on Dorian's face was as if he had just noticed her there. It was as if this entire time the wolf had simply been rambling to himself, and was suddenly aware of his audience. The wolf's eyes squinted as his lips curled into a tight sneer. In that gaze the ewe could feel nothing but malice and contempt, the cold and unfeeling stare reaching deep into her chest and freezing the blood within her heart solid. Dawn opened her mouth to speak, but her mind had overwritten any calm, collected words she had planned to say. Dorian's hateful yet hauntingly familiar gaze had stolen her words, replacing them with memories of her Father's same hideous glare.

"And whose hooves do I lay that mess at the feet of Ms. Bellwether? Hmm?" Dorian spat. "Who do ya'll think is at fault fer nearly puttin' one of my sons in an early grave?"

Dawn blinked in shock, her mind trying to parse the wolf's words properly. The stinging memories of her Father's beatings still playing in the back of her mind as she struggled to respond to the situation at hoof. Dawn fought through the painful mess of her own thoughts, trying to get her voice to the surface in an effort to protest the wolf's accusations.

"Y-you can't possibly blame me for something like that!" The ewe managed to croak out despite herself. "I-I didn't make Zach jump! I didn't put the gun in that wolf's paw!"

Dorian snarled back at the ewe, causing her to shrink into her shoulders as her heart began thumping loudly in her chest.

"Not direct enough for ya? What about how yer Father nearly killed Vern?" The wolf spat. "That's two of my sons your family's tried to take from me!"

"W-what!?" Dawn stuttered. "That's not true either! We we're both ca-"

"If my boy hadn't gotten involved with yer mess of a life, if he hadn't been so fixated on you, he never woulda' been in that factory would he!?" The wolf growled. "Knowin' you is what put him there!"

Dawn could feel the tears starting to rise as the battle skewed against her. The wolf was on her now, his words stinging with each baseless accusation and half truth he threw her way. She could feel herself crumpling under his intimidation, her hooves starting to raise toward the wolf in defense despite the fact he hadn't left his seat.

"Let's face it Ms. Bellwether, this relationship you think you have with my boy, well..." The wolf paused, rolling his eyes lazily as he seemed to mull over his words. "Either yer foolin' yerself or your tryin' to distance yerself from all you've done."

"My boy may be foolish enough to think yer in love with him, but I can read you like a book little lamb." Dorian continued, rising from his seat only to slam his paws on the table. "This ain't nothin' more than a hollow attempt to ease yer troubles about all the things you did."

Dawn was feeling sick as the sea of terrible memories from her childhood bled into her consciousness, mixing and mingling with the rising fear being brought on from the wolf's verbal assault. Her mind was screaming at her to run, the nerve endings in her skin stinging as she recalled the feel of the leather strap as it swung down on her. They were trying to warn her, drag her mind back to that of the little ewe she once was and get her to flee.

But somewhere in that swirling sea of emotions a flame began to grow. The words that Dorian was saying were outright lies now, and part of her had heard them. The part of her that was tired of running. The part of her that knew she wasn't a little lamb anymore. The part of her that had fought to keep her alive in the hospital three months prior. It was growing angry, and slowly but surely the tainted memories of her past and the fears of her present were being pushed aside as the primal ire crawled its way to the surface.

"You want to make everyone look at you and think 'Well look at how progressive Bellwether is now! She's matin' with a wolf'!'" Dorian continued, his glare remaining leveled at the ewe. "And now yer here to worm yer way into our pack fer the same reasons! So you can tell yerself you are a good mammal." Dorian hissed. "So you can rest easy thinkin' how much of a great mammal you've become because you'd allow a wolf to-"

"I LOVE VERNON!" Dawn snapped, the ewe grit her teeth as the rage inside quickly boiled over. Dawn took a step toward the wolf, doing her best to match his glare in equal severity.

The wolf looked surprised, raising an eyebrow briefly before seeming to shrug it off. Dorian pounded his paw against the desk again as if to shake control of the conversation back from Dawn's sudden outburst.

"Bulls-!"

"I love Vernon, and frankly I don't care what you have to say about the matter Mr. Hunter!" Dawn cut the wolf off, placing a hoof on her hip as she straightened her stance. The ewe stood tall, despite her diminutive stature, her eyes remaining locked on the wolf's own. "You can refuse to believe in it all you want, but it's there! And I know it's the real thing!

The wolf simply scoffed, easing back down into his chair and crossing his arms defensively.

"And you're right! I am selfish!" Dawn spat, earning an eyebrow quirk from the slightly drunken wolf. "There is a part of me that would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life far away from Zootopia! Some quiet, secluded little farm where Vernon and I could simply live out the rest of our days together. To not have to worry about what anyone else thought of us, or be constantly reminded of the crimes I've committed. Just to live out the rest of my quiet life with the mammal I know in my heart is my soulmate!"

Dawn placed her head in her hoof, letting out a shuddering sigh as the fire inside his continued to lap at her heart. It was pounding furiously now, turning the hateful memories of her Father's beatings into the fuel that was getting her through her confrontation with the wolf. It was as if the fight Dorian had been so dead set on having with her had become the catharsis for those long repressed offenses. The ewe now directing the energy that she had held in to one day tell off her own Father quickly turning on Dorian.

"But I know I can't..." Dawn let out a ragged sigh. " I know I owe the world to try for as long as I can to make things better! To try to make up for everything I've done wrong! And even if I can't fix everything, I'm damn well going to try!"

As Dawn took another step toward the wolf's desk, Dorian opened his muzzle to speak. But Dawn was done listening. It was Dorian's turn to listen now, and whether any of it would sink in or not the ewe had simply stopped caring.

"And I'm thankful every day that by the grace of the gods, someone up there saw fit to send me Vernon despite everything I had done!" Dawn huffed, stabbing a finger at the wolf in the chair. "A reward I didn't ask for and I know I certainly don't deserve!" Dawn snapped. "To stand with me, and to lean on while I try to heal what wounds I can."

Dawn let out a tired sigh, drawing a trembling hoof over her face as she turned away from Dorian slightly. The ewe dragged her hoof slowly down her face, tugging gently at her features as it slipped down and away.

"I only agreed to come here because Vernon wanted me to." Dawn said sadly. "He was so eager..." The ewe trailed off slightly. "So excited to introduce me to everyone." Dawn let out a weak chuckle. "I couldn't help myself, his enthusiasm was so infectious it made me actually hope that maybe, just maybe, you would prove to be as kind as he had been."

Dawn looked toward the ceiling, letting out another sigh. "That you might be willing to give me a chance to be a real part of your family." Dawn squeezed the bridge of her muzzle tightly as she turned her attention back to the seated wolf.

"Vernon was so set on making me a member of this family....and I just..." Dawn shook her head sadly. "I just wanted to make him happy. That's all I wanted. To give him back some of the happiness he was able to give me."

Dawn turned back toward the office door, holding her hooves out to her sides before allowing them drop to her sides.

"And then I come here to find so many of you willing to accept me with open paws. To embrace me as one of your own and fight for me despite everything I ended up causing." Dawn slumped slightly. "It made me start to hope that I really could find a place in this family. That I really could be a Hunter."

"You think..." Dawn turned her attention back to the wolf seated across from her. The wolf rose wobbly in his chair, planting a paw down on the desk to steady his gait. Dorian let out a wheezy chuckle. "You think I'd ever accept you as one of our own? That I'd believe any of that drivel comin' outta yer yap!?"

Dawn grimaced, the fire inside flaring back to a roar as she balled her fists.

"Vernon told me you were someone who believed that rehabilitation could change mammals!" Dawn cried in frustration. "So why can't you find it in your heart to believe me! To give me a chance to prove-"

"I don't believe anybody anymore little miss!" Dorian snarled. "I know better now." The wolf grabbed the glass empty glass from his desk, twisting it around in his paws as he eyed the ewe suspiciously. "As long as I'm head of this household, you ain't never gonna be a Hunter."

That was the last straw as the burning pit in Dawn's seemed to erupt into her bloodstream. It felt as though fire was flowing through her veins, her skin tingling with the scalding heat burning below the surface. Dawn's heart screamed over her logical mind, pouring all her fears and anguish directly into the hateful angry pit that was burning deep inside. Instinct drove the lamb forward, forcing her to the front of the wolf's desk without a second thought. Her size should have made standing so close to the desk that much more intimidating, her head the only part of her able to rise above the edge. But any fear or discomfort Dawn should have felt was buried by burning ire. The ewe grit her teeth as she stared daggers back at the still towering wolf.

"Well frankly, you don't have much of a say in that Mr. Hunter!" Dawn hissed through clenched teeth. "I'm going to be a Hunter with or without your consent, so I suggest you get used to it!"

Dorian snorted in response, evidently only slightly thrown off by the lambs sudden rush to confront him. The wolf remained silent, his hateful stare remaining fixed on the ewe.

"When Vernon and I return to Zootopia on Monday we are getting a partnership license." Dawn flashed the wolf a smug grin. "And we're planning to have a caprid wedding ceremony within the coming weeks!" Dawn crossed her hooves, a wide grin crossing her muzzle as she stared up at the increasingly appalled wolf. "I'm afraid that last name is as good as mine!"

Dorian let out a snarl, baring his teeth to the ewe as he glared down at her with wide, almost maddened eyes. It was clear he was struggling to find the words. That somewhere between the buzz of the brandy and the ewe's sudden aggressive posturing, the wolf was stumbling for a response. Failing to find his words, Dorian let out an angry roar, whipping the glass he had been holding over the ewe's head in a sudden sharp motion. Almost as soon as it had left his paw the ewe could hear the resounding crash as the crystal glass shattered against the wall somewhere distant in the room.

Dawn had somehow remained stoic in the face of the wolf's sudden violent outburst, her gaze remained fixed and unflinching as Dorian stabbed a claw directly into the ewe's face.

"Legally Vernon and Zootopia can do what they please, but without a tithin' ceremony you'll be nothin' more than some cheap lil' gimmer my son is experimentin' with!" The wolf glowered. "That name will be as empty an' hollow as yer intentions."

Dawn thought she was beyond the sting of Dorian's words by now, but that had managed to cut her deep. She could feel the fire finally starting to subside, her fuel nearly spent as the sorrow and misery began to well back up in its place. Dawn blinked sharply, doing her best to keep tears from starting to form as she turned away from the wolf's desk. She marched her way across the partially carpeted floor, not even thinking of the glass that could lay in her path as she made it back to the door.

Opening the large oaken door, the ewe turned back to look at the towering wolf one last time.

"If acting like you is what it means to be a Hunter, than I certainly want no part of it." Dawn eased herself around the edge of the door and back into the hallway. "But regardless, Vernon and I are staying together."

With that, Dawn closed the door behind her, leaving the miserable drunken wolf to himself. Not that the ewe was fairing much better. Now that she was out of the wolf's line of sight she could feel all the weight of what had happened flooding to the surface. The dam she had forged with her anger and resolve had now completely given way, and the deluge of rushing fear and sadness was hitting her like a tidal wave. Dawn tried to walk toward the kitchen, but she only made it about three steps down the hall before falling to her knees.

Dorian was never going to give her a chance, he was completely set in his ways. Regardless of what her or Vernon tried he was simply unwilling to see reason. At the very least she had a reason now, she understood why the wolf had been adverse to her presence from the moment she arrived. Had she known about Zach's injury before hoof she never would have agreed to come. Even now the fresh guilt of her connection to that event was compounding on the nausea gnashing at her stomach chambers.

But surely Audrey had known about the wolf's injury, and she had been willing to give the ewe a chance.

"Audrey..." Dawn mumbled as tears began to form behind her lenses. The she-wolf had been willing to give her a chance before, but what about now? She had let her down, tarnished her faith in her. Dawn's guilt deepened as she placed her hooves on the hardwood floor, balling them into fists.

The sudden clack of the porch door drew Dawn's attention up from the wood below to see Audrey entering the home. Behind her, Vernon was holding the picnic blanket they had left behind during their futile attempt to slink back into the house.

"I swear, yer lucky this thing didn't blow out of the county just leavin' it-" Audrey stopped as she caught Dawn trying to scramble to her feet. Dawn did her best to wipe away the swelling tears, but they just reformed with each terse pass of her hooves.

"Dawn?" Audrey murmured in concern.

Dawn sniffled sharply, trying her hardest to compose herself. but she was beyond that now. She had used all of her resolve up in Dorian's office, and now she was breaking down.

"Oh Darlin' don't cry now!" Audrey quickly kneeled to the floor, scooting toward the now trembling ewe.

"Ma! Look what you did!" Vernon cried.

"Oh hush now!" Audrey snapped back at the wolf before retuning her attention to Dawn. The ewe watched as the wolf opened her arms wide, and before she could react the she-wolf had pulled her into a tight hug. Dawn didn't want to cry, especially in front of Audrey. The mammal who had somehow seen her as being strong. But with her sudden gesture of pure, Motherly kindness the ewe had reached a breaking point. Dawn felt the heavy wave of painful anguish she had been trying so hard to keep buried rise up from deep within, and once it reached the surface there was no going back. The only thing she could do now was bury her face into the wolf's shoulder as the first of the loud sobs erupted from her muzzle. Dawn slid her glasses up into her hair as she wept into Audrey's side.

"Aw Honey..." Audrey tutted. "Shh...Shh..." The wolf cooed as Dawn sobbed heavily against the she-wolf's plaid shirt. Dawn could feel her paws gently patting her back as she gingerly consoled the ewe.

"I didn't want ya'll to take it that badly Darlin'." Audrey chuckled. "You're fine, it's fine, this ain't the end of the world."

Dawn continued to weep despite the she-wolf easing some of her guilt. She didn't know about what Dorian had said, but regardless the she-wolf's presence was something the ewe now desperately needed. Her motherly demeanor only helping to sooth the fresh wounds carved out by her husbands barbed tongue.

"I just want ya'll to excercise better restraint from now on, but that certainly doesn't mean I hate you now or nuthin'" Audrey continued.

Dawn felt a weak chuckle escape through the choking sobs as she pulled herself away from Audrey slightly. The ewe wiped her eyes, trying to regain her composure as she appraised the concerned she-wolf. Even with all the pain, Audrey's comfort was bringing Dawn joy, a ray of sunshine through the gloom of her sorrow and worries. In that moment she could see her own Mother's face reflected in the she-wolf's warm smile. Audrey reached out a paw, wiping a few stray tears from Dawn's eyes with her thumb.

"I...I'm just happy..." Dawn whimpered, wiping her muzzle as she choked back more tears. "It...It's like I'm being scolded by my own Mother..." Dawn shuddered. "I mean, not that I don't respect your rules." Dawn looked down, letting out a sob choked sigh..."It just...it makes me feel like you care. Like I-I'm one of your own."

"Aw sweetie, you are one of my own." Audrey replied without hesitation. "You're a Hunter now Darlin', regardless of what that old stubborn mutt thinks."

With those words a fresh flush of hot tears stung Dawn's eyes, and she quickly returned to her place buried in the she-wolf's shoulder. Her ragged sobs causing her to tremble with each harsh exhale. She had said the perfect thing, the most sweetest, kindest words Dawn could stand to hear at the moment. Dawn felt awash with renewed love for the family, but at the same time the hollow sting of just how contradictory Audrey's statement inadvertently was.

She couldn't know they were a direct contrast to what her husband had said moments before. That the head of the family had seen fit to forever brand her as an outcast. And as she thought of what that might do to Vernon's relationship with the older mammal, as well as his relations with the other members of his family, her sobs grew deeper and more pronounced. How could she tell them? How could she tell Audrey or Vernon what Dorian had said to her.

"Shh...easy Darlin'." Audrey cooed, patting the back of the ewe's head. "Yer gonna hyperventilate." The she-wolf's voice was laden heavily with concern. "Vernon, get me a hot washcloth."

Dawn continued to sob harshly, getting as much of her pain out as she could with each wracked gasp. She had lost track of the time, or the area around her as she let herself go into the warm motherly embrace of Mother Hunter.

It was only when the she-wolf pushed her away slightly, did Dawn regain her sense of self awareness. And as Audrey brought the warm washcloth to her face, Dawn returned to her concentrated effort to push the tears back down.

The hot towel stung slightly as Audrey gently wiped the ewe's eyes and cheeks. Holding Dawn steady as she squirmed uncomfortably away from the towel.

"Now, now, quit yer fussin'." Audrey tutted. " This'll help, just trust me Dawn."

Dawn gave a hard sniffle, doing her best to follow the she-wolf's orders like an obedient child. There was something rather comforting about being doted over so carefully that kept forcing a smile to the ewe's face despite the lingering tears.

"T-Thank you Mrs. Hunter." Dawn stuttered.

"Aw Darlin', call me Audrey."

Dawn caught a wave of fresh tears in her throat, pressing it down sharply as she resisted the urge to cry again. The fact that they were back on a first name basis was enough to push her right back into another sobbing fit.

"There, now that's better." Audrey sighed, giving the ewe another gingerly wiping with the cloth before passing it back to Vernon. "You look so much better when yer face ain't all red and puffed up Darlin'. Don't she Vern?"

Vernon nodded without a moments hesitation. "Yes Ma'am."

Dawn giggled slightly through the lingering sniffles as the she-wolf handed her thick glasses back over to her. At some point the must have fallen off the ewe's head. Dawn wiped her nose one last time before sliding her frames back on.

"Feel better now?" Audrey said, giving the ewe a playful boop on the nose.

Dawn laughed, squirming into her shoulders as she pushed free of Audrey's grip.

Dawn let out a sigh of relief. She was feeling better, at least in the moment. But still, the thoughts of Dorian's words hung heavy in her heart. And so the ewe was hesitant to reply, her words coming out shaky and awkward.

"Y-yes.." Dawn muttered, twisting a hoof awkwardly against the hardwood floor.

"Hmm..." Audrey said, rising to her feet. "I tell you what, I think it would do the both of you some good to come back to the fair tomorrow with me. Help me run the stand."

Dawn looked up at Audrey in shock, the ewe's mouth hanging agape at the she-wolf's surprising suggestion. Glancing over, Dawn could see her mate bearing an equally surprised expression.

"Ma?" Vernon asked warily. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean Pa said-"

"Ah to hell with what old Dori says." Audrey huffed, crossing her arms. "Until that stick finds its way out of his butt he ain't worth listenin' to."

"Mrs. Hun-" Dawn paused to correct herself. "Audrey." Dawn was certain returning to the fair would only lead to more trouble. And if things weren't already bad with Papa Hunter, returning to the fair would only make things worse. "I'm not sure-"

"I ain't takin' no fer an answer." Audrey said with a firm expression. "Besides, Malcolm is cookin' fer the barbeque back here tomorrow so I need the extra paws." Audrey flashed a wide grin. "It'll be fun, plus I can teach you all the family recipes!"

Dawn couldn't help but smile at the she-wolf's enthusiasm. Much like Dori, the ewe knew this was another argument she wasn't going to win. But at least this one, she was more than happy to lose.

"But what about-"

"Oh Dori can pitch a fit all he wants when we get back Vern, this ones on me." Audrey tutted, giving her son a pat on the shoulder.

"Audrey?" Dawn asked timidly.

"Yes Darlin'?" The wolfess replied.

"I-if it's possible....could I..." Dawn trailed off, looking down at her hooves. "Get another hug?"

"Darlin' you never have to ask." Audrey chuckled as she kneeled back down to the ewe's level, inviting Dawn back into her embrace. The ewe scurried back into her arms, hugging her as tightly as she could muster. This moment was perfect, and that's what Dawn wanted the rest of the weekend to be.

Even if Dorian never came out of his office, even if he refused to accept her, Dawn could still bask in the acceptance of the other Hunters. Dori's words, his stance on her was something the ewe was going to have to bury. To keep to herself until the weekend was over at the very least. If she told Audrey or Vernon now, it would destroy any chance at squeezing joy out of the remaining days she had left on the ranch, and she couldn't bear to do that to herself. She couldn't bear to do that to everyone. Dawn elected right then and there, to simply grin and bear it.

Letting out a soft sigh, the ewe released her grip, pulling away from the she-wolf's warm grip.

"So..." Vernon muttered, drawing Audrey's attention back to him as she rose to her feet. "Since you two made up, does that mean I still gotta do all the dishes?"

Audrey crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow at the wolf. "Of course you do! I ain't lettin' you off the hook just yet, you ain't paid yer dues like she has." Audrey gestured to Dawn.

"Aw c'mon Ma, can-"

Audrey glared the wolf, and in a flash he scurried into the kitchen. As Dawn heard the water turn on full blast, Audrey offered the ewe a sly smile.

"If yer good, I may teach you how to get a boy to heel like that tomorrow too." Dawn placed a hoof to her muzzle as she tried stifle a laugh, but Audrey's own laughter proved too infectious to resist.