AN: This is my first time writing an AoFW fic and so I hope that you enjoy it. I recently re-watched the cartoon but I've been a fan of this show since I was five and watched it over and over again on VHS. This younger fox story was inspired by Lilly The Omega Wolf and their story Chaos in the Park. I really hope you enjoy.

Out of Loving Protection

Chapter One

The winter mist was settling in and the clouds were blocking the sun more and more each day. This was a definite sign that it was the end of autumn and that they would once again need to stock up on food or else rely on one another to get through the harsh cold. Although the expansion of the park a year ago had brought with it new friends, new places to explore, the fact that it had been a year since Fox had passed the torch to his grandson had shown his decline in his age.

He was reaching the last period of his life now and Vixen felt that she was reaching hers. Their stories were legendary and they lived under their own rules, well, it wasn't as if Plucky had the boldness to tell his grandfather to do anything. Still Fox had taken ill recently and Vixen knew that he needed his rest. She was getting old too.

She looked around. She hadn't been to this part of the park before and she wondered why. They had found it pleasant to explore the park and discover new things but why hadn't they discovered this part together? In fact, it didn't seem that anybody had discovered this part, at least not any of their friends.

Taking a step forward she looked into a pond that appeared to be glittering and she lowered her head, she felt an impulse to drink. As she lapped up the water, she felt it cool and refreshing and as she lifted her head, she could see that she looked slightly younger and more refreshed. She felt more energy through her body and she felt healthier as well.

That was strange.

A bird flew over head and Vixen looked up to see that it was a young male hawk but in its eyes was a lot of wisdom. "Excuse me," the female animal smiled to her companion. "Is this your…territory?"

"It's public land," the hawk replied but tilted his head to the side, "I see that you've drunk the water."

"I did," Vixen nodded, "Was that all right? It was very refreshing."

"It's a magic lake, restores all that youth," the hawk replied and Vixen blinked, she wasn't sure that she had heard the hawk okay. "Looks as if you've gained at least a year of your life," he laughed and Vixen blinked.

"With just that little drink?" Vixen asked as she studied her reflection again, well she definitely looked younger. "Would it be able to help my mate?" she inquired, her eyes connecting with the bird's, "only, I fear that he doesn't have much time left and I would feel terrible going on without him."

"Anyone who drinks from that pool will regain their health and live a longer life," the hawk told her and Vixen nodded.

"Thank you," she smiled before making sure to commit her route to memory. If she could get him here then maybe she could save him.

…

…..

As she entered her den, she took a look at her mate, the famous Farthing Fox and saw him shivering. Maybe she shouldn't have left him but they had needed food. As she approached him, her eyes caught hold of the dead stoat she had killed for him and how he hadn't touched it. He was losing weight rapidly and she could see how ill he had become.

"Fox?" she asked as she took a step forward, "Are you-"

"Back already," Fox whispered without the energy to lift his head or even open his eyes. "I missed you. I'm sorry for making you do…all the hard work."

"Nonsense," Vixen whispered as she walked over to him and nuzzled the side of his face, licking him and smoothing back his fur. She could feel the bones in his cheeks. "You have always taken care of me, now it's my turn to take care of you."

"You shouldn't have to," Fox said as he finally looked at her and gave a slight chuckle, "You are a beautiful Vixen, aren't you?" he said. "I'd say you look even younger than you did this morning. Sorry that I'll have to leave you."

"You might not have to," Vixen tried to persuade him, "May I show you something?" she asked. "It'll be a short walk."

"I don't think that I could take a single step," Fox replied as he closed his eyes once again and Vixen closed her eyes sadly. He truly looked as if he could pass at any moment and she would be left without her mate.

"If you do nothing else," she continued as she stood in front of him, "Then please do this for me, you can lean on me on the way and we can take as many breaks as you need to. I just need to show you this. If it is the last thing that you do for me then please do it," she begged with tears starting to cloud her vision.

Fox took a deep inhale and pushed himself up, his legs shaking a little and Vixen felt bad seeing the bones and how matted his fur had become, she licked his body trying to help him. He was far from his glory days.

"Come on," she whispered to him, "It's not far, still within park boundaries."

Fox nodded as he slowly made his way out of their den and Vixen moved at his pace, she saw the pain he was going through moving from their set but it was worth it if that hawk was right. He noted how his vision wasn't as sharp as it had been but he followed his mate. He trusted her. Vixen nuzzled him again as he stopped to catch his breath. He really had lived a long life.

After some time they had come to the pond and Fox was drawing ragged breaths, he looked as if he could faint at any moment and Vixen didn't know if he would be able to be revived. She led him over to the pond.

"This water is wonderful, it'll at least offer some relief," she told him and Fox turned to her with a smile.

"You brought me here for a drink?" he asked her and Vixen nodded. She waited for him to get to the water's edge but as his front paw hit a rock, he tumbled forwards without her able to stop him. Her eyes widened. He'd drown.

She looked into the pond, her heart beating painfully as she searched for him. Had she just led to her mate's death? She saw some red fur amongst the shining stones and put her front paws into the water, she paddled forwards until she could grab some of the fur and she brought it back to the side of the pond. Her eyes felt different and she shook her body to get the water out of her coat.

"Fox?" she asked before taking a step back.

No wonder his body had felt lighter. This wasn't her mate that she was looking at, this was a child, barely a month old. She went to the pond and studied herself, she was younger too, in fact she looked as she had when she had met him. She heard the young cub coughing up water and moved back beside him.

"Fox, I am so so sorry," she said as she tried to smooth out his fur. Her eyes were wide as she gazed upon him. "Are you okay, my love?" she asked and saw the cub sneeze. Maybe coming here was a mistake. Should she jump in too? Allow the water to turn her young? No, Fox still needed somebody to care for him, he was too young.

"Mother?" the young fox asked as he looked at her, his voice sounding like a child's.

Vixen's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to form a response. The young cub must be terrified, especially if he didn't have his memories though she definitely had hers. She shook her head and saw him looking up at her. He blinked his eyes and let out a yawn.

"Where's Mother?" he asked as he looked around and Vixen sighed.

"Your mother has given me the honor of taking care of you," she said as she pressed her head against his cheek and tried to comfort him as she had her own cubs. "I'm to take you back home. My name is Vixen," she said although her heart was breaking.

"Mother called me Fox because I'm the oldest," the cub said and Vixen nodded.

"It's such a good name, it suits you," she told him, "Now, I'm going to take you home so please don't struggle, I don't mean any harm to you." She hadn't meant any harm anyway and now she was in this very strange situation. She leaned down and took him by the scruff of his neck before returning to their set. This was a result of her actions and she certainly wasn't going to let another take care of her now tiny mate…if he could be considered her mate.

….

…

Vixen kept her eyes on the young cub as he slept in a ball. She could see him shivering and wished that she could help him but was scared of getting too close. He sneezed again which alerted her and she moved over to him. "Why don't you curl up next to me and I'll keep you warm," she advised before licking his head and straightening his fur. "You curled up next to your mother, right?"

"Yes," the young fox squeaked back.

Vixen smiled sadly upon the baby as he curled in as tight as he could to her belly. She let her head fall down and smiled as his eyes closed. It had been a rough day for him today, he had been a fox at the end of his life when he woke up and he was a cub at the beginning of his life when he had fallen asleep. She rubbed her cheek against the top of his head and heard the sounds of sleep.

"I love you, Fox," she whispered as a few tears slid down her face. They had lived such a wonderful life together and he was known as a hero but he didn't remember her and he didn't remember anything about their life together. All of those legendary things that he was known for and now he was a baby who was so pure and innocent.

"Love you too, Vixen" she heard the cub say, "Thanks for bringing me the stoat, you clever girl," he said in his sleep and Vixen stared at him. It was weird hearing a baby say this to her but she licked his head again and put her head on her paws, her tail circling around him.

"You just sleep, my love," she said as she saw him smile, "I'll take care of you and protect you. Just rely on me." As she saw how blissfully he was sleeping, Vixen closed her own eyes and settled down to sleep. Hopefully her body would keep him warm through the night.