Is That A Smudge?

‘Oakwoods!’ Yarrow’s voice ripped through the air like a crack of a whip. Reflexively, Amenii folded her ears back and a second later checked that impulse, it would not due to show weakness in front of her superior.

Moving with deliberate care she worked her way through the parking garage of the Rainforest District Center. Though less than half the size of the Zootopia police department in the central region, the rainforest district made up for it with economy of space. Something Yarrow had made clear was highly important here, often referring to central as a bloated waste of resources.

Not that Yarrow would ever say so in front of Bongo, or any of his superiors Amenii knew. But his distinct loathing of lax behavior was well known, even outside of the district, and it almost rivaled his loathing for a gray bunny, who’s name Amenii had learned should never be mentioned in his presences. What exactly Judy Hopps had done to offend him, Amenii did not know, only that the mere mention of her name would set Yarrow’s eye into a spasmodic twitch.  

‘Judy!’ He had bellowed, when she had come to the defense of her hero and inspiration. ‘Let me tell you something officer Oakwoods. Judy Hopps is a loose cannon, held up by one success on her carrier file, and in her lofty position, Only, because she was the first bunny cop to ever be put on the force!’

Yarrow had made it very clear after her first day that she was going to be held to a higher standard, and that no special treatment was going to be sent her way, regardless of her standing within the organization.

His crisped words still ran in her head, as he had her stand at ridged attention in his office.

‘You know Oakwoods, that’s what I love about you. You’re the Second.’ A mocking smile crossed his black muzzle, as his green eyes flashed. ‘Confused? Well, let me clear it up for you. No one. No. One. Remembers the second mammal to do anything. The second mammal to walk on the moon, the second mammal to break the sound barrier, the second mammal to climb Mt. Evert. Their just historical footnotes, never known in their time, and ignored by history.’

Leaning forwards over his desk, Yarrow laced his paws before her.

‘And you, Officer Oakwoods, are going to be nothing until you prove to me otherwise. Dismissed.’

Amenii’s paws clenched at the memory, anger welling up within her as she rounded the last of the patrol cars. There standing beside the lead vehicle, equipped with all terrain mudding tires, stood the black nightmare himself. Lt. Yarrow, of the ZPD Rainforest Division.

The panther wore his best glowering expression and oozed with a barely controlled anger that she had come to expect whenever she was in his presence.

‘Oakwoods!’ He snarled upon seeing her. ‘Explain yourself!’

Snapping to attention, Amenii’s mind raced, what had she done, or failed to do this time?

‘I- I don’t understand…Sir.’

Yarrow’s green eyes narrowed to slits as he jabbed a finger at one of the patrol cars. It took Amenii a second to register what he was pointing too, there, nestled just past the door frame was a smudge of dried mud clinging to the door.

‘Sir…’ She began, but Yarrow cut her off with a slicing motion.

‘Incompetent as well as insubordinate.’ He ground out between clenched teeth. ‘I told you to clean these vehicles for inspection, and this is the best you can do?’

Amenii knew better than to recoil from his verbal assault, that would only make him angrier and she knew first hand how much he hatted weakness in any perceived form.

‘Sir –‘ She tried again.

‘No excuses!’ Yarrow bellowed, closing the distance and putting his snarling muzzle half an inch from her face. ‘You’re a disgrace Oakwoods! A blight on the reputation of this agency!’

Amenii felt her cheeks begin to burn, but she bit back the tears forming in her eyes.

‘-This insolence will not be tolerated, now get your fuzzy butt in gear and clean these vehicles properly!’ His voice dropped to a menacing whisper as he leaned in invent closer. ‘And if I find one speck of dirt on them by the time I get back, it will be on your permanent record.’

Without dismissal Yarrow spun on his heal and marched out, leaving Amenii standing alone in the garage.

C.S. Notes: This is a little snip from Zootopia: Underbelly, and takes place before Amenii lost her legs. Fun little fact, Amenii was the second bunny to join the ZPD, but her involvement was downplayed dramatically due to her short time in active service, and her assignment to the rain-forest district. Her superior, Lt. Yarrow, also went to great lengths to make her a wraith of the ZPD, harboring a great hatred for Amenii's hero Judy Hopps.