A cold, crisp breeze begins to blow through the woods. Well to put it more accurately, the woodland oasis that stands in the middle of the Rancho Camelot Estates, a sprawling residential subdivision. For RJ the raccoon and his, some might say, oddball new family, things were calm and relaxed even with the fast approach of winter. This grouping of woodland creatures consisted of porcupine parents Lou and Penny and their three little ones Bucky, Quillo, and Spike. There is also an opossum father named Ozzie and his daughter Heather. Then there is a timid turtle named Verne, a hyperactive squirrel named Hammy, and a sassy skunk by the name of Stella.

The approach of winter was not weighing too heavily on there minds. Before the arrival of RJ, Verne and the rest of the gang had survived several winters together and though RJ's arrival caused problems to begin with, things returned to normal soon thereafter and, many would agree, things were better than normal now. They had gotten through their first winter with RJ without incident thanks mostly to Hammy being able to find the nuts he had stashed away shortly before RJ's arrival and the subsequent foraging of the suburb that now surrounded them. Recent events led to more interesting changes with this woodland family. They had gained a powerful ally in Vincent the bear, once their most dangerous adversary. They had also, with the rescue of Heather from Dwayne the exterminator, destroyed the main VermTech campus. VermTech was what they considered to be Dwayne's main stronghold so bringing it down brought peace and tranquility to their lives. Dwayne was also known to them as the Sniffer, probably because he was able to identify animals by smell. This was a name RJ came up with or so his new family thought. The truth will actually be revealed much later on but for now our focus is the cave-like log they have gathered in to sleep through the chilly night.

Everyone had already settled down in their spots inside the long, all that is except for Stella. She always slept behind everyone else as a courtesy to them. After all she is a skunk and it would be hard for many to sleep downwind of one. She did not mind this at all but it was a little hard to enter the log without disturbing anyone. Ever since meeting Tiger the Persian cat, Stella has spent a lot of time with him and it wasn't uncommon for her to be the last to enter the log and get ready for bed. She was usually real careful though when she got in not to disturb anyone. As for this night, it would not be Stella that wound cause the others to stir. For now, however, the others sleep, possibly dreaming. The dream of importance will be that of RJ, and from this dream will come the solemn reminder to him that no matter how much joy and happiness his new family brought, deeper, repressed memories of guilt and sadness were bound to surface.

In his dream, RJ is lying in the log when a familiar voice calls out to him in the night.

Cobalt: RJ…RJ

RJ: What the…Who is it? Who's out there?

Cobalt: Come out here RJ. It's time we talked.

RJ: That voice…I know that voice. It's not Tiger. It's definitely not Stella but it's so familiar. That deepness, that slight southern twang in it…Could it be? Cobalt!

RJ ran out of the log and came face to face with an average-sized coyote with big brown eyes staring down at him. His fur is a silvery color except for white running from under his muzzle, his neck, chest, and belly, and on the tip of his bushy tail.

RJ: (slightly nervous now) Cobalt it's you! I don't believe it! Didn't think I'd see you again. What brings you...?

Before he could finish, Cobalt began to speak again. Almost as if he did not hear, or at least not acknowledge what RJ said.

Cobalt: It's been awhile old friend. I see things are well for you.

RJ: Yes…well things have been going my way. I have a good family now. I can't believe it took me so long to embrace family life.

Cobalt: (shaking his head) Family…that has always been a concept you couldn't grasp. We taught you so much about the humans and about foraging food from their territory but we could never get you to understand what family means.

RJ: Whoa now…you and I were good buddies and I got along with your pack alright but come on, family? I could never have been part of your family. I was just a helpful tool to aid in your foraging of human food…

Again RJ was cut off by Cobalt.

Cobalt: We were going to let you in our family. We were going to teach you everything about what family is. You had to abandon us before we could teach you about family. Now my pack is nothing. They are all gone. Did you think to remember me when you became part of your new family? Did you think of Travis? Did you think of my dear sweet Katrina? I bet the answer is no right?

RJ: (getting choked up) No…you guys were in the back of my mind. I (sobbing) I never meant for any harm to come to your pack I just panicked. What could I have done differently? Now if you've come to avenge your family just go on and kill me and get it over with but I would ask that you let me say goodbye to everyone first.

Cobalt: Haven't you figured out yet RJ? This is nothing but a dream. Your guilt that you've tried to repress has broken forth in the form of me. This is too reminding you of the wrong you've done me and how you can't erase it so easily with a new caring family.

RJ: (still sobbing a little) so…are you dead?

Cobalt: That's a question you may find the answer to soon enough. For now I will be here in the back of your mind. You can't escape the past RJ. The blood of my kin is on your paws.

RJ did not notice Cobalt disappear from site as he was too busy curled up in a tight ball crying over and over "I'm didn't kill them."

Back in the waking world we see Stella returning from her date with Tiger. She is puzzled to here in the direction of the log a lot of sobbing. She realizes that it is RJ and rushes over to see what is going on. The others are already stirring as well. In fact Hammy is in the process of tickling RJ's toes with a feather to try and wake the strangely sad raccoon.

Stella: What on earth is going on round here? RJ..? RJ...! What's with all the waterworks?

Hammy: I don't know what's going on here. I woke up hearing RJ crying and I thought something bad was the matter so I asked him what was wrong and he didn't say anything. I figured he was still asleep so I'm trying to tickle him awake now and if that doesn't wake him then at least it might cheer him up in his dream.

Verne: What's he saying? It sounds like he's saying something over and over.

Heather: I'm hearing that too. It sounds like he's saying "I didn't kill them."

Lou: Could he be referring to us there then.

Ozzie: Kill…us…Uhh!!! (faints)

Heather: (looking embarrassed) Dad!

All of a sudden, RJ's eyes flew open and he then began to double over with laughter at Hammy's tickling.

RJ: (giggling) Whoa there Ham-Star…enough with the tickling. I can't stand being tickled.

Hammy: (stops) Sorry RJ…don't be mad, it was just that you were crying…in your sleep. You sounded very sad and I was only trying to help.

RJ: (catching his breath) It's ok Hamilton. I'm fine now. Thanks for your concern.

Heather: Exactly what was that dream all about uncle RJ? You were saying something like "I didn't kill them" over and over and over.

Penny: Yea hon. Tell us what all went on in your dream there. It might help ya get back to sleep.

RJ: Thanks Penny and all you guys but I don't need to go into it tonight. It can wait until the morning. Besides I managed not to wake your young ones Penny and I don't want to risk doing so going over what I dreamed. Let's just all get back to sleep now. We'll discuss this tomorrow morning.

Verne: Alright RJ but remember everyone when we wake up, there will only be 23 days till winter.

All: We know Verne…We know!!!

Hammy: (grabs hold of RJ's paw) I'll hold your paw to you get back to sleep RJ. I'll be here to help get you through that nasty ole dream should it return.

RJ: Thanks Hammy…that's real nice of you…very clingy but still real nice. In fact, I think I'm starting to feel a lot more secure already.

Hammy: Well that's what I'm here for. I want sleep till you are able to drift off to sleep yourself. I'll…

Before he could finish his sentence, Hammy fell asleep and began snoring.

Verne: Ah the consequences of the little guys hyperactivity. I guess you can shake him off ya now if you want.

RJ: I don't think that's happening. (he held his right paw in the air to show Hammy clinging tightly in sleep)

Hammy: (while sleeping) I'll protect my best bud RJ no matter what.

RJ smiled at what the little squirrel was saying and after saying goodnight to Verne started to settle in himself. Best bud, he thought, haven't had that in a long time, not since…Oh Cobalt I'm a mess here. I'll probably never truly be able to hold onto any kind of family life. I should probably face the facts. Tomorrow I should just leave before anyone gets hurt. These were the thoughts that stuck with him as he drifted off to sleep.