Ask Dawn and Vern; Relics of the Ice Age.

 

Dawn: Oh yes, there are actually quite a few ice age species around Animalia that still exist.

Vernon: Most folks like to consider 'em our livin' ancestors. After all they were the first in the archeological record to show signs of developin' societies and farmin'.

Dawn: It's not really fair to call them 'our living ancestors', as they have been subjected to just as much evolution as the rest of us since then. The modern Mammoth and Saber-Toothed Tiger are somewhat different than the ones that existed several thousands of years ago. Not to mention many of them have branched off into newer species.

Vernon: Oh yeah, like the Wooly Tiger, the Dagger-Toothed Tiger, The Short-Snouted Mammoth, the Musk Mammoth, there's a lot of different offshoots walkin' around. 

Dawn: Granted some of those are the result of interbreeding with the Bindian Elephant or the Bengal Tiger, while the others are the result of regional evolution.

 

Vernon: As fer Assistant Representative Uki...I'm purty sure she was born here...wasn't she?

Dawn: Fifth-generation Tundra Town native. Her family is one of the few 'original' breeds of mammoths that actually immigrated here. Most of the direct descendants of ancient mammoths have remained up near the arctic circle.

Vernon: Funny, y'all think there would be more since Tundra Town's climate is perfect for 'em.

Dawn: I think most native mammoths don't want to stray too far from their culture. And Tundra Town is largely devoid of ice age cultural staples. It was shaped by more modern arctic cultures. Polar Bears, Snow Leopards, Arctic Wolves and Foxes. I imagine it just doesn't feel enough like home to them.

Vernon: Also, considerin' the issues Giselle has to deal with livin' up there, I wager they'd have a hard time findin' megafauna housin'...I wouldn't exactly feel super comfortable 'er welcome livin' in a house er' goin' in a store where I had to live at a permanent crouch.

Dawn: Thankfully Zootopia has free healthcare, or Giselle's chiropractic bills would bankrupt her. *Giggles*

Ask Dawn; Writing Tips.

 

Vernon: Sweet Sawgrass, that's a long one.

Dawn: It's lovely though. Thank you for such a thoughtful and interesting letter. I absolutely love your idea! It sounds like an amazing project!

Vernon: As someone who loved 'Who framed Roger Rabbit" as a pup, I gotta agree.

Dawn: That said...I've...always found it very hard to give someone advice on writing myself. It's not like I went to school for it. (mutters bitterly) Thanks to my father's meddling. (Normal voice) That said I only...sort of know all the little writing rules and when it comes to grammar well....there's a reason I have an editor, that's all I'll say.

Vernon: Aw Honey Lamb, yer sellin' yerself short. Yer a great writer despite all that. I mean, the proof is in the book sales.

Dawn: Well, Fifty Shades of Hay was a best seller too, and you didn't have to be a talented writer to know that was complete and utter Dags.

Vernon: *Chuckles* Y'all always go to Fifty Shades...

Dawn: It's the worst thing I've ever read! And the only book I couldn't bring myself to finish! During my tenure as Assistant Mayor, I actually looked into the old and forgotten bylaws of the city hoping to find a basis for a book ban. And you know how I feel about banning books! That's how much I loathed that book!

Vernon: *Chuckles* Yeah, I know. Since I've known ya, you've always said, 'no book deserves to be banned.'

Dawn: Except?

Vernon: *Laughs* Fifty Shades of Hay.

Dawn: Exactly! Anyway...recommendations I can make...hmm...well, I think creating a series bible is always a good start. A nice outline of the lore of the world, the characters' motivations, where they are at the start and end of the story you intend to tell, plot and subplot elements, that sort of thing. It helps you keep track of all the ideas you don't come up with on the fly. And hmm...*scratches chin* When it comes to tenses, I really feel that's a decision you have to make, I'd just tell you once you make that choice, stick to it. I mean, you can change tenses in a story certainly, just be careful to keep them consistent when working on the same part. And...hmm...you could always weave the mystery and the troubled life of Fictions together, just as long as the flow is organic. I think with a world like this, the lore is going to be very interesting...but I would just be mindful to not cram every little bit of the establishing lore in right away...I think it makes for a more compelling story if it's spread out, and you pick up bits here and there as you read...though that is just personal preference if I'm being honest. At the end of the day, you can pretty much bend any rule of writing you like if your work is quality. And based on what you've told me about your series, I think it has serious potential.

Vernon: Me too. It already sounds like it's got more to it than that miserable Chip and Dale thang...

Dawn: Yeah, that wasn't very good at all...and a bit too adult for the lambs. I wish we had been better warned about that.

Vernon: *laughs* The pups 'ill be fine, heck Edi fell asleep halfway through. I just feel bad fer actual chipmunks who'er gonna get a whole new mess o' Chip and Dale jokes thrown at 'em now...

Dawn: As for a quote, I'd be more than happy to supply a little soundbite...or text bit when I read it. So feel free to share it when it's released. I wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors! I know it can be a little scary putting yourself out there, but it can also be a lot of fun! 

Found Ask; Parenting and Adoption.

 

Dawn: Oh it's just wonderful! I...honestly, I've always wanted to be a mother, but I never really thought I'd ever get the chance...

Vanna: Why is that Dawn?

Dawn: Well...criminal past aside...my father had fertility problems, and what with me being a runt...I was...I mean there was a real fear that pregnancy could kill me.

Vernon: I mean, it was a close call in the hospital on the day Paige was delivered...even though we went with the c-section fer safety reasons, they couldn't get Dawn to stop bleedin' fer a while...*Whines* I was purty scared iffin' I'm bein' honest.

Dawn: *strokes behind Vernon's ears affectionately.* Aww Puppy...I'll be honest I was pretty scared too...but bringing Paige into the world was worth the risk. And as much as I wouldn't want to leave you or my lambs behind, at least I know they would have the best father in the world to look after them.

Vernon: I think my Pa might take umbrage with me stealin' his title iffin' that's the case.

Dawn: *Giggles* No I don't think he would. In fact, I'd go so far as to say you were made to be a Dad.

Vernon: Well, you were made to be a Ma' Lamb Fry. *Smooches*

Dawn: That's not to downplay Vanna being a Mom either, from what I've seen of her with Marcus, she's amazing.

Vanna: *Blushes* Y-you flatter me.

Vernon: Shame Zach's such a terrible Pa.

Zach: HEY! I'm standin' right here ya know!

Vernon:  Relax, y'all know I'm kiddin'. Despite all that...Ully tier conspiracy nonsense, watchin' you around Marcus, y'all are takin' to bein' a Pa real well.

Zach: W-Well...uh...thanks Vern...Really. 

Dawn: When it comes to adopting, I think the biggest challenge we weren't prepared for was...well, actually getting pregnant.

Vernon: *Chuckles* Fer multiple reasons...

Dawn: It kind of rolls into the other question about reconsidering adoptions. That was something we never even thought about, not for a second. Trevor, Allison, and Lily are just as much our lambs as Paige is. There was no way we'd ever consider giving them up.

Vernon: I think it's safe to say you'd have to kill us both to have a chance of taken our pups away!

Dawn: Exactly.

Zach: *Ears sag* A-am I bad fer...sayin' I thought about it?

Vernon: That depends on 'why' y'all thought about it...

Zach: Well...*sighs* There are times...sometimes, when I feel like I'm really doin' such a bad job of bein' a Pa to Marcus that...I think he might be better off with a different Pa. Especially with how often y'all bring up me makin' an ass out o' myself tryin' to look out fer him...I'm kinda worried he sees that too...

Vanna: O-Oh Goofball...

Vernon: Aw...Zach...

Zach: I just wanna do what's best fer my boy...the last thing I want him to do is hate me...but I just feel...like I mess up a lot.

Vanna: *hugs Zach tightly* You are fine Goofball...Marcus loves you. And you don't mess up...that much...

Dawn: Zach, being a parent means messing up sometimes...it's kind of a learning process...

Vernon: Yeah, even with Ma and Pa there to coach us...there really ain't no guide on bein' a parent, and there ain't such a thing as a perfect parent either. 

Dawn: Exactly, we're all going to make mistakes. Audrey told me it comes with the territory. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Vanna's right, Marcus loves you...

Vanna: And I love you too...*Purrs* *Snuggles*

Zach: Aww....Darlin'...*smooches Vanna*

Vernon: That all said, I'll try to lighten' up on makin' so many cracks about y'all bein' paranoid...though I'm still gonna pull y'all aside and have a brother to brother chat about it iffin' I think yer goin' too far with somethin'...

Zach: That I'm okay with. If my kitten isn't around to reign me in, I expect y'all to...gently do the same.

Dawn: You have our word.

Vernon: As fer yer other questions...well...I think we all covered the 'takin' our pups away' bit before. Naturally, that applies to my lil' princess. There's no way we'd let anyone take her away from us, even if they came from that there city.

Zach: We feel the same way about Marcus, especially after what he went through! We'd never let them take him!

Vanna: *nods* I'm not normally a violent mammal but...just the idea of someone trying to take Marcus away makes me feel like clawing someone's eyes out.

Dawn: Makes me wish I had claws myself...I doubt I could put up much of a fight against some adult humans...I'm just glad I have Puppy to back me up.

Vernon: And when it comes to relatin' to Lily...we really haven't had too much of an issue with that just yet.

Dawn: Things might change as she gets older as...we don't know much about human puberty or adulthood, but for now much of Lily's concerns are no different than Trevor's or Allison's.

Vernon: She's got the same sort o' worries and issues that every pup deals with...includin' bein' teased fer her species...which, though it makes my blood boil...it's somethin' everyone deals with.

Vanna: I think we've been rather fortunate Marcus fell into a group of very accepting and caring friends so quickly, or we may have had more issues with such things. That's not to say Marcus doesn't get teased, but aside from having us to fall back on, he has them too...

Zach: Much as I hate to admit it...They do seem to look out fer my boy...

Vanna: As for the future...well, it's like Dawn said...we don't know what puberty or adulthood will bring...and we are worryingly closer to experiencing that than you two are...

Dawn: That is true...Marcus is pretty much on the cusp isn't he?

Vernon: A'for you know it, he'll be a full-grown ma-

Zach: *Covers his ears* I ain't listenin'! La la la! I ain't hearin' this!

Vanna: *Giggles* Oh Goofball...

Found Ask; Zach's Stalking.

 Ada: Oh yeas, we is all aware. At least us goils is...

Dawn: Yes, Vanna has kept us in the loop about Zach's...um...let's just call it, parenting difficulties.

Vanna: I've been trying so hard to keep on top of him when it comes to letting his imagination run wild about Marcus and his friends. But sometimes he...well...he can still slip through my paws. With Aiko, I literally turned my back for a few minutes and he was grilling her as though she was a suspect at the station.

Ada: Sounds a lot like Ully behavior...*Cackles*

Vanna: Oh don't even get me started on Ulric, that fact that he supplied Zach with all that spy gear...I'm still furious at him over that.

Honey: Just so you know, I had absolutely nothing to do with it. Though I will say, while Ulric gave Zach that gear, he certainly doesn't agree with him about Aiko and the rest of Marcus' friends.

Yuri: There's a surprise. Even the mad mammal is sane about somethin' fer once...

Vernon: I...I mean I'm tryin' to be sympathetic to what Zach's goin' through and all...I know I can be a helicopter parent myself...and y'all wanna make sure yer pups are hangin' around good influences, but...I mean at this point Zach has proven to us again and again them pups are as good as gold despite aimin' fer the opposite. I don't think Marcus coulda asked fer a better group o' friends, and I'm real happy fer him. I just wish Zach could mellow out just a bit over 'em.

Trenton: I think it's normal for a parent to be suspicious of their pup's new friends...but at this point Zach's got nothin' but evidence clearin' them pups names. He's gotta let this go...fer all out sakes, but especially Marcus'.

Dorian: We can only keep playin' off Zach's episodes fer Marcus before the boy starts to figure out what Zach's really up to. And findin' out the truth about that could hurt the boy.

Vanna: Honestly...I'm at my wit's end on exactly how to ease Zach's fears over Marcus' friends. I feel like I've tried everything.

Vernon: Well...I know this is risky...considerin' how thangs went with lil' Aiko...but have y'all considered maybe forcin' Zach to interact with 'em might help? Like, maybe make him take Marcus and them pups on a camping trip er' somethin', make him actually get to know 'em. It might finally cement fer him the fact them pups is good.

Vanna: Are you nuts!? Can you imagine all the ways that could go wrong?

Dorian: That actually ain't the worst idea, so long as y'all tag along Vanna, that way you can keep Zach in check iffin' he goes too far.

Vanna: Oh...I don't know...

Ada: Hey, what's da worse dat could happen? After all, if Zach's really goes nuts you can just 'keep on top of him' like youse said earlier...literally I mean. *Chuckles* Like sit on him. 

Dawn: *Laughs* Well, I suppose that's one way to keep him out of trouble...

Found Ask; The Dice Sting

 

Vernon: Honestly, I kinda regret doin' it...'specially since I didn't tell my Honey Lamb, since she'd probably kill me fer doin' somethin' so risky...and rightfully so...but after what I saw and heard...*shudders*, I'm honestly just glad I got out of there with my pelt still stuck on me.

Yuri: I've seen and heard some twisted things working cases in Seaodder...but I gotta admit, this guy got my fur standin' on end...when I wasn't frothin' at the mouth with rage that is. He was just so...damn blunt, and smug too. Like he thinks he's untouchable. *Growls*

Dorian: I'll admit, the North Meadowlands is a purty quiet community. Murders and other serious and morally offensive crimes don't tend to happen much 'round these parts. Fer the most part everyone 'round here is real friendly, and most folks know each other. Keeps folks honest. But this fella Kirin...I don't think I've ever seen a fella so cavalier about his obvious criminal history, and how well he preyed upon and manipulated others. I mean, the fella turned that ol' manner into a temple devoted to the darkest aspects of mammalian nature, and the fact that he actively revels in it....makes my stomach turn.

Yuri: I hate to say...I mean I know it's related to my Sister-In-Law after all...but I'd say his choice in decoratin' ain't far off base when it comes to the vibe of the ol' Bellwether Manor, disgustin' and sickinin' though it may be.

Vernon: I'm sure Dawn would fergive you...though as bad as 'ol Ash was, I can't see him settin' up charred up slot machines with mammal remains still fused to 'em in the hall of the manor...Teeth to Tails, where do you even buy somethin' like that?

Dorian: I dunno son...I've been lookin' into things to see iffin' it was illegal to own somethin' like that...but sadly there's nothin' on the books about it.

Yuri: Once again the snake slips right through the lang arms o' the law.

Vernon: C'mon now Yuri, comparin' that fella to a snake is an insult to snakes.

Yuri: Oldwyn's great grey muzzle, my pelt was crawlin' all over the place when he was tellin' that story about his family...

Vernon: How do y'all think I felt? Not only did I have to listen to it, but I had that creep smilin' back at me the whole time he told his lil' Kittish royal drama. I was torn between wantin' to punch that fella and hightailin' it out of there as fast as my legs could carry me.  My stomach was doin' barrel roles the whole time...And what he told us about Marcus' Pa...

Yuri: Figure's he'd know all about that...he seems to be collectin' the most morbid stories he possibly can just to regail all those folk's who'll listen. I honestly wouldn't be surprised iffin' he didn't have somethin' to do with it somehow.

Dorian: He might have...though I don't think there's anything I can do about it even if he did...I think that'd be limited to the city Marcus came from's jurisdiction...and they don't seem like they cared all too much about justice when it came to those in positions o' power...

Yuri: I can't believe Marcus' Pa would do that to him...it's so damn...brutal...and to make it such a public show...

Vernon: I can. I'm tithed to an abuse victim after all...but bein' a Pa myself now...I just...I can't imagine doin' that to my pups...it makes me sick thinkin' about it.

Dorian: I'm just as disgusted...I'm just glad Marcus is in safe paws now, with mammals that actually care about.

Yuri: Care about him? Sure. 'safe paws'? Mhh...I dunno about that one...