A short while later, Copper found himself standing outside the hole that led into Tod's den. The den where his family lived. Copper stared at the hole, debating. "I can't do this. I've never even met Vixey. This is a stupid idea; I should just leave." He turned around and started walking back toward Amos Slade's farm.

Big Mama swooped in front of him, blocking his path. "Now, now honey, don't do that. You can do it. Just think of Tod; he wants you to do this remember? Just take a deep breath honey; everything will be alright."

Copper stopped, staring at the owl. "How do you know? I mean, how do you know everything will be alright?"

"The truth is honey, I don't know how things will turn out. But I do know this; it takes courage to do what you're about to do. You just have to go in there and trust that everything will work out in the end. You have to be brave. You stood up to Chief, didn't you?"

Copper gave a weak smile. "Yes."

"See? You can do it. Come on honey, I'll even help you along." With that, Big Mama gently pushed Copper back in the direction of the hole.

When he was standing in front of the hole once again, Copper looked back at Big Mama, hoping for some reassurance. "Good luck honey, I know you can do it." With that, Big Mama flew off into the trees, leaving Copper to enter the den by himself. He was on his own now.

"Well, here goes nothing." With that, he disappeared into the den hole.


Vixey's ears perked up at the sound of quiet footsteps padding along the den hole. Was that Tod? Checking to make sure the cubs were still asleep, she quietly went to the source of the noise, her heart pounding. Please be Tod, please be Tod, please be Tod, she thought. The footsteps were getting louder; any second now, wait for it…Vixey stopped dead in her tracks. Right in front of her, looking a bit scared and lost, was a tan dog with brown spots and floppy, brown ears. Vixey let out a loud yelp, then raced back toward the den; she had to protect her cubs. At any cost.