Tick Hunter

**Skulksmarshall Tick Hunter** is a recurring character in *Contact* and *Revolution*.

In terms of the series narrative, Tick is a deer from Cartonia who arrived in Toontown with five other Cartonians in "They Came From the North." Tick's true intentions were revealed in "Wistful Oceans" as an ally of the Vixen Queen.

## Appearances

### *Contact*

Tick made his first appearance in "They Came From the North" when he and five other Cartonians (Blair Fawkes, Cale Metfin, Evelyn Quin, Jerockle Padraic, Rook James) arrived at the shores of Toontown by ship. Seeking asylum after a long journey from the Kingdoms, Tick and the others were shocked to find themselves arrested and hostilely received by the Toons. Tick was as skeptical of the Toons as they were of him, and he did not fully cooperate with the Toons when interrogated.

   Tick was released in "Welcome to Toontown" to a house arrest program, sponsored by Horace Calves and Tori Dorrance. He partook in an interview with Declan Antlin and his fellow Cartonians, in which he spoke of his life in Cartonia. He was a laborer in Cervidium, and fled due to fear of being grouped with his treasonous girlfriend and family. He met Blair Fawkes on the Cervidian coast and the two agreed to flee Cartonia. His sponsorship raised red flags in "Truth Will Out" when Horace described him as "broody" and feared he was planning something.

After the Lawbot attack in "Revenge of the Lawbots," Tick and the other non-fox Cartonians were taken to see Dr. Artery who concluded that they likely did not have laff and that they were impervious to Cog attacks. Tick resolved to help the Toons defeat the Cogs. Blair was broken out of jail at the end of the episode and taken by the Lawbots. Tick and the others pressured the Toon Resistance to find her in "This Too Shall Pass." Tick and Aleck got in a spat over the issue, as Tick and Rook both disliked how the Toons refused to corroborate her innocence. Tick made a brief appearance in "Split the Heavens" wishing Cale and Evelyn luck before the Deluge.

Following the Deluge in "Song of the Siren," Tick and the Cartonians found themselves in a more cheerful town. As a token of gratitude for their help defeating the Cogs in the Deluge, the Cartonians were invited to a private dinner in the Gardens. Rook posed the idea of a dinner cruise, and the Cartonians volunteered to staff the events.

Tick and the other Cartonians served the maiden voyage in "Wistful Oceans." Tick and Blair staged a ruse to extract Piggy Pie from the ship's festivities by pretending that there was an urgent Toon Resistance emergency on the shore. They took Piggy Pie in the ship's only lifeboat. Shortly thereafter, the *Chipper* exploded, killing nearly all onboard. In "Out of the Frying Pan," Tick, Rook, and Blair--now going by her true name Vella Vixen--ordered Piggy to bring them to shore safely. They hid out in the Speedway and confided to Piggy their plan to find the heirs. Tick knocked Piggy out, and the three disappeared.

As the Vulpus Armada invaded Toontown in "Into the Fire," Tick stood by Vella's side as she shot her mother and crowned herself Vella I. Tick and Rook taunted Eileen Irenic and Constance Miller during their parley with the Queen, and were aboard *The Imperial Conqueror* as the Armada sailed north for Cartonia, carrying the seven heirs and their guests.

### *Revolution*

In "Aurora," Tick returned to Cartonia with Vella and Rook, as well as the Toons. He helped transport the Toons to the historic House of Intended Design, where they were all gassed to death on national television. However, it was revealed in "Billow and Breeze" that all but two Toons survived with the lion's share being rescued by the Free. Tick was ordered by Vella to find the missing Toons. Tick was also promoted to the rank of Skulksmarshall, second only to the Vixen Queen, and equal to Rook James.

In "Common Sense," Tick separated from Rook to inform Vella of the status on a mission on Eusuchia, a mission that he did not wish Rook to know about. Tick later got a call from the jungles of western Vulpus that Piggy Pie, Alice Carver, and Usa Uhuru were found by a tribe of bandits. He flew on the aerowings to collect them, where Usa admitted to being in possession of the Harmony Crown. The three fugitives were deported to Eusuchia, and Tick brought the Harmony Crown back to Vista. Vella received the Crown in "Night of Shattered Stone."

Tick updated Vella on the Obliteration (mass extinctions) in "Hang Together" in which he pointed out that keeping Rook in Vista defied the order to deport all crocodiles to the Eusuchian death camps. However, Vella insisted on keeping Rook by her side.

In "Assailants Unknown," Tick, Rook, and Vella discovered the dead bodies of the Beckers, killed by Scuridian pirates.

A flashback in "All the Queen's Men" explored Tick's backstory. A lifelong Vulpine Unionist, Tick believed that Cervidium should be ceded to Vulpus, the superior power. His hometown was located on the Leap, which was part of Vulpine territory. He met a young Vella Vixen while attending a Unionist rally, and the two became allies. Vella sought to overthrow her mother and usurp the succession from her sisters. Once the signal from the south of the continent was discovered, Tick and Vella plotted to conquer whatever settlement existed in the south. This set in motion the events of *Contact*.

Tick spearheaded the retaliation on the Scuridian pirates in "Tarry Not the Final Quest," sinking many of their ships. He and Vella realized that one ship was being protected by an unnatural maelstrom, and that maybe Evelyn Quin or Cale Metfin survived the *Chipper* explosion.

After the collapse of the Cervidian government in "For Tomorrow We Die," Tick worked overtime to organize a military offensive into Cervidium to conquer it. However, Vella, Tick, and Rook then learned from Macaw Kitt that a revolution was about to begin.

Tick led the Vulpus Empire's offensive in "Vulpus Aflame," charging at the Free. He confronted Mickey Elias on the Death Fields in "Toontown Asunder," but the old Mayor defeated him. Tick was shot in the face and died. He never knew about the fall of Vulpus, or the death of Vella Vixen.

## Character

### Namesake

Tick Hunter is named after the Hunter from *Bambi* that killed Bambi's mother. His first name is a reference to deer ticks, which cause Lyme Disease in humans.

## Trivia

* Tick is the first deer to arrive in Toontown.
* Tick is the first deer character introduced.