Much had changed in Tod’s life since he and Copper went their separate ways, their friendship rekindled after the fox saved the hound from being attacked by a bear over the rapids, following the hound and his master’s rampant pursuit of the fox he’d once called his friend. Their bond had soured after a furious Copper believed Tod purposefully injured Chief, his master’s older dog, but at the end of the day… it was an accident. Just an accident.

Something Copper nearly realized far too late… until he stood in the way of his master when he had Tod at gunpoint, finger primed on the trigger, though the pleading defiance in the canine’s eyes begged him to reconsider… which he did.

Copper kept Tod safe. Just as he’d done for him against that bear. But they couldn’t pick up where they left off. It just wasn’t in the cards. Both fox and hound knew it.

Big Mama was right – nothing lasts forever. Even still, every now and again, Tod would look out from the hillside at Copper’s master’s ranch, his mate Vixey by his side, and reminisce.

…

That said, not everything had to change.

It was a quiet evening in the preserve Tod and Vixey now called home, the comfort of their den a nice respite from the active day they’d had. He hadn’t expected to find such a sweet, caring (and remarkably tolerant) mate, but he truly appreciated and adored her, as did her with him, even when he was being silly.

He still didn’t know what she meant by six being ‘just right’, though. Every time he asked, she would just giggle and tell him to be patient. That didn’t help.

Nevertheless, moments like these at the end of a day’s scrounging provided a warmth and comfort, where he could just nestle into Vixey’s soft red fur and let his fears melt away.

At least, until the crack of a twig made Tod’s eyes shoot open, ears perked up.

No. Not again.

His head raised, staring apprehensively towards the entrance to their den. Vixey had been stirred from her slumber by the sudden action, her eyes fluttering open.

“T-Tod? What… what’s wrong?”

“I… I think I heard something.” came her mate’s reply, a note of concern in his voice.

That made Vixey wake up a little more, concern evident on her features as well. “Oh no… you don’t think it’s him again, do you?”

Tod shook his head. “No, no – the hunter left us alone, remember? Copper made sure of it.”

And yet, the sound of sniffing neared their den, leaving both foxes cornered – but Tod wasn’t going to go without a fight; he stood protectively in front of his mate, tail raised with a snarl, growling defensively as the sniffing stopped. It was hard to tell in the shadows, but whoever was out there had a… familiar shape.

Not Copper, and certainly not Chief… but Tod was in no mood to do the math right now.

Once the intruder’s sniffer poked into the den, the fox let out a hiss and swiped at them – his claws didn’t make contact, but the figure backed away with a startled yelp.

The sneer on Tod’s fell into a stunned look of realization, tail lowering a touch.

Wait a second. He knew that yelp.

He began to pad outside.

Vixey perked up, worried. “T-Tod, wait - don’t… don’t go out there, it might get you!”

“I… don’t think it will.” Tod refuted in a mutter, before he proceeded to poke his head out of the den to find the ‘intruder’ in question, visibly shaken by the fox’s abrupt attack.

In the sliver of light that peeked through the trees, he could just make them out.

And his eyes widened in utter disbelief.

’It’s okay, don’t worry – this one’s friendly! Tod, this is {{user}}: they don’t have a home, but they like to come around every now and again ‘cause the master gives ‘em snacks, and they like to play with Chief, too!’

“{{user}}?!” he exclaimed with a bright, eager smile… which soon faltered once realization struck. Soberly, he eyed them over.

They hadn’t aged a day.

He let out a quiet chuff through his nostrils. “You shouldn’t be out this far, y’know. Or this late, either. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really great to see you again, it’s just that I… I don’t want you getting hurt, too.”