<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/528f10a2191d52eaecaaba2e05e210e5/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go4_1280.png" alt="Taste" "width="700" height="500" align="left">
<center>**Taste**</center>
[[P.1]]<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/a875418a2468912db00ecd011d396866/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go3_1280.png" alt="New dawn">
<center>It was a warm, sunny summer afternoon. Hugh was sitting under a tree at a small open park in Savannah Central, listening to a cassette tape he'd recorded himself off of his computer. His mom was at work, and he didn't feel like staying in his room all day.
**Roxy**
"Hey!"
If it weren't for the raccoon girl's loud voice, Hugh never would've heard her.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/e19e38eb2205ecd59fb08b5454062ca5/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go2_1280.png" alt="Sounds cool man">
<center>As the girl walked around the bush she was popping out of, Hugh doubted him ignoring her would have made much of a difference. She was quick to sit right next to him in a very friendly manner. It was amusing, since her clothing would have given anyone the opposite impression.
**Roxy**
"What're you listenin' to?"
Hugh was a little dumbfounded. He wasn't used to people being this friendly with him, especially not kids his own age. After his surprise wore off, he finally managed to answer.
**Hugh**
"It's... Insane Cow Posse."
**Roxy**
"Never heard of 'em."
She smiled rather widely, giving off an air of excitement and curiosity.
**Roxy**
"Mind if I have a listen?"
**Hugh**
"Uh, sure..."
A little reluctantly, Hugh handed his headphones to the strange girl. She quickly put them on her ears and gave the music a listen.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/91a575722e64ef846b958624610fac74/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go1_1280.png" alt="Digging the sound">
<center>After a moment, the little raccoon began to nod her head, her expression changing to one of contentment and a bit of awe.
**Roxy**
"Hey, I like this sound!"
**Hugh**
"You do?"
Hugh almost looked impressed himself.
**Roxy**
"I mean the rapping is kind of rough n' stuff, but the beat is heavy! I like heavier sounding stuff, y'know?"
She returned the headphones to the skunk boy before extending her paw to him for a shake.
**Roxy**
"My name's Roxy. What's yours?"
**Hugh**
"I'm Hugh... Hugh Muskroura."
**Roxy**
"Do you live around here?"
Shaking her paw, Hugh nodded.
**Hugh**
"Sorta. I live like four or five blocks away from the park. It only takes like ten minutes to get here."
**Roxy**
"Cool, cool. I live over there."
Roxy pointed in the direction of the bush. Hugh assumed she meant the houses close by. She then stuck her tongue out at him.
**Roxy**
"Actually I'm just visiting my aunt for the summer. My folks are on a trip for a few weeks so I'm staying with her."
**Hugh**
"Oh, I guess that's cool."
Hugh nodded his head, affirming his own opinion. Roxy took a moment to point at his shirt.
**Roxy**
"What's that buffalo on your shirt?"</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/0677de6c7a5fc87bcc88ced208368859/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go9_1280.png" alt="Buffalos represent">
<center>**Hugh**
"Oh, that's the Hatchet Cow. He's ICP's mascot."
**Roxy**
"ICP?"
Hugh was about to explain it, but she was quick to catch on.
**Roxy**
"Oh riiiiiight, the cow posse guys I just listened to. You got anymore of 'em?"
**Hugh**
"Lots! I got like a bunch of their songs on this cassette... er, they don't sound good though. I had to tape 'em off my computer."
**Roxy**
"Why not just buy the a CD?"
**Hugh**
"I don't have a CD player. You can't really hear 'em on the radio either."
**Roxy**
"Bummer."
Hugh let out a bit of a sigh, nodding his head in agreement.
**Hugh**
"Tell me about it. Mosta the radio stations play crap these days."
**Roxy**
"Oh my god TELL me about it! I've started listening to oldies cuz everything sounds so lame!"
Hugh smiled a little, leaning forward to stand up.
**Hugh**
"I think I better go. My mom gets home in like an hour and she'd flip if I wasn't there."
**Roxy**
"Sounds clingy."
**Hugh**
"No, it's cool. Really."
He said it with confidence before he started to walk away. Roxy tried to stop him.
**Roxy**
"Hugh, right?"</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/b52e9e096dd448f55b900129dc71a8be/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go8_1280.png" alt="Motherfuggin kawaii">
<center>**Roxy**
"Are you gonna come back tomorrow?"
Hugh was taken aback by the question. He did enjoy talking to her, and it was very rare for someone to even engage him, let alone want to talk to him again.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/0a588755ebeee07d08a49a0a78f299aa/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go7_1280.png" alt="New experiences">
<center>**Hugh**
"Uh...yeah! Sure!"</center>
[[P.2]]<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/c93f81d9b6bb8c5ae75ac217186402a1/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go10_1280.png" alt="Sunny afternoon">
<center>Hugh came back the next day. And the next, and the day after that. The duo ended up spending a lot of time together over that summer month, discovering one another's likes, dislikes, and sharing common ground as omnivorous predators.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/77aee78860dd38c929393de53e00a38c/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go6_1280.png" alt="Something in common">
<center>**Hugh**
"So I was like, 'why not just eat a bug salad?', y'know?"
**Roxy**
"Right?! You don't have to like it, but you can at least give the roaches to a friend!"
**Hugh**
"Just saying, everyone wins that way."
**Roxy**
"Yeah, but you can't force people to eat something just because you want a bite."
**Hugh**
"Yeah, yeah. I mean..."
**Both**
"We win either way!"
The two shared a laugh, Roxy having to wipe her eyes. She leaned her head back to rest it against the tree, and Hugh was quick to do the same.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/53a512871a0aadaff86fb897979de456/tumblr_om5txjCSIm1vh9v1go5_1280.png" alt="A lonely life">
<center>**Hugh**
"Roxy, are there really a lot of skunks in the Nocturnal District?"
**Roxy**
"Yeah? It's the NOCTURNAL district, ya goof."
**Hugh**
"Huh..."
He trailed off for a moment.
**Hugh**
"I don't know a lot of skunks. I know there are a bunch in Zootopia, but not many live around here."
**Roxy**
"Yeah, but there's a lot of other cool mammals around here. Y'know I'd never seen a flock of sheep before I came to visit here?"
**Hugh**
"No foolin'? Sheep are all over the place. There's like four in my math class alone."
**Roxy**
"But that's what I mean, right? Depending on where you live some mammals are like, everywhere. I can't walk down the street without seeing another raccoon back home, but here it's like, what, my aunt?"
**Hugh**
"There are other raccoons..."
Hugh was certain he saw at least one last school year.
**Roxy**
"You're missing my point, Hugh. I'm saying it's nice to have a change of pace."</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/7e8b11baa1a873b8a2b9777e4d680b98/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go10_1280.png" alt="Comfy living">
<center>**Roxy**
"Makes you grateful for where you live."
**Hugh**
"I guess..."
Hugh felt a bit stupid. He considered Roxy so insightful and optimistic. Both things he couldn't say about himself. He wanted to curl up and tuck his head into his arms. He wouldn't. He didn't want Roxy to know how he felt.
**Roxy**
"You should visit the Nocturnal District sometime, Hugh. I think you'd appreciate Savannah Central more if you did."
Hugh forced a smile.
**Hugh**
"Maybe someday."
**Roxy**
"Maybe soon. When I go back I'll want you to visit, you know."
**Hugh**
"Really?"
**Roxy**
"No duh! You're like one of the coolest friends I've ever had. Why would I pass that up?"
And just like that, Hugh's spirits were lifted. He almost sighed in relief.
**Hugh**
"Cool. I'd like that."
**Roxy**
"Good."
Roxy let out a light yawn.
**Hugh**
"Need to go back home and take a nap?"
**Roxy**
"Nah... the shade is nice. I think I'm gonna nap here."
**Hugh**
"Aren't you worried about sleeping in public?"
**Roxy**
"Nope."
And so, Hugh decided he'd stay with her.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/4ef313951bdfd6a10f6e0994b4edb29e/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go9_1280.png" alt="Nice and easy">
<center>He decided he'd try to take a nap himself. He didn't like being awake during the day anyway. As he shut his eyes, he couldn't help but gaze over at Roxy. He hadn't realized how close they'd become until today. He was delighted to have a friend, and one like her at that. Roxy was very cheerful, funny, open-minded, had good taste in music... and she was pretty on top of all that.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/e5c9cd2ef03f5b9789479d6402c4138f/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go8_1280.png" alt="I feel it">
<center>Hugh felt his heart begin to race.</center>
[[P.3]]<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/31c31f0cd609c65f506dab1e4e096170/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go7_1280.png" alt="Final evening">
<center>The several weeks flew by for the omnivore duo. On a warm and pleasant evening the two stood in front of the tree they'd grown so familiar with.
**Roxy**
"Aaaugh, this sucks! I just, has it really been like four weeks?"
**Hugh**
"Tell me about it. The rest of the summer's gonna be so boring."
**Roxy**
"Yeah, but it's not like it's forever. We can probably get together again sometime during the school season."
**Hugh**
"I guess so, yeah..."
Hugh looked a little disappointed, and Roxy could tell. She opened her mouth to cheer him up, but he cut her off before she could get a word out.
**Hugh**
"Oh yeah, um..."</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/2ae1618343f29776864725dc8098df3e/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go6_1280.png" alt="Mix tape">
<center>The skunk opened up his cassette player and handed Roxy the tape.
**Hugh**
"Here. I want you to have this."
**Roxy**
"Are you sure? I mean, I could just buy the CD--"
**Hugh**
"No go ahead. I can just make another one. Prolly."
Roxy smiled, and took the cassette with a bit of reluctance. She looked at the label taped onto it, written out in marker. She could tell it was a symbol of friendship from the boy, and despite a need for it, accepted it as such.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/6768dd0df44e1acc77eacf31a4e7ace1/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go5_1280.png" alt="Symbol of friendship">
<center>**Roxy**
"This is... this is really nice of you. Thanks, Hugh!"
**Hugh**
"I know it's not anything great but..."
**Roxy**
"No, it's awesome. I know it's something important to you, so it means a lot to me too man."
She looked up from the tape, a bit of a grin on her face.
**Roxy**
"Man, now I feel like a tool. I don't have anything for you! I guess I'll have to give you something la--"</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/c0688d33404bd5ecbece9243daca06c5/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go4_1280.png" alt="You fucked up">
<center>Roxy could barely process what was happening.
It was brief, but to her it felt like an eternity. A wave of discomfort flooded over her, and she was quick to push Hugh away. She wasn't expecting him to do that at all.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/da64d49d251a77b816eac558a9078c11/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go3_1280.png" alt="Wait, I...">
<center>As soon as he felt her shove him, Hugh knew he screwed up. He wanted to apologize. Wanted to explain he got the wrong signal, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.</center>
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/5cfbdafc46b1b8a5f6ff668dad788571/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go2_1280.png" alt="...">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/eb9afacc670c7dfe31052e2aa326d831/tumblr_om5u2nEvWY1vh9v1go3_r1_1280.png" alt=".">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/b5982d434ef2668717b3382c7a1daf79/tumblr_om5u1znVYL1vh9v1go1_1280.png" alt="...">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/eb9afacc670c7dfe31052e2aa326d831/tumblr_om5u2nEvWY1vh9v1go3_r1_1280.png" alt=".">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/15a36f18caa792a1415e514437b49eb1/tumblr_om5u2nEvWY1vh9v1go2_1280.png" alt="...">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/eb9afacc670c7dfe31052e2aa326d831/tumblr_om5u2nEvWY1vh9v1go3_r1_1280.png" alt=".">
<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/10aded5aec691a08d893a2fb34d7be3a/tumblr_om5u2nEvWY1vh9v1go1_1280.png" alt="To him it felt like night">
<center>And it wouldn't have mattered if he did.</center>