The family's search only lasted a short time before Charlotte cleverly spotted the perfect place for them to call home. A group of three small hills formed a semicircle around a clearing with a pond at its center. The hill in the middle had a large oak tree growing out of it and provided shade and shelter. Todd and Vixey went to the middle hill and began to dig a burrow in the side that faced the pond. Charlotte glanced at the other two hills then back to her parents as an idea began to flicker in her head like a flame.
"Mom! Dad! I've got an idea!" Charlotte called. Todd and Vixey stepped away from their digging then smiled expectantly at their clever daughter. All of her siblings also gathered closer and wagged their tails with excitement.
"What if we made three dens facing the pond, one in each hill? That way, you and dad can have your own den and the six of us can split into two groups of three to fill the other two. That way we can all have more space," Charlotte proposed with a proud smile. Her parents and siblings all nodded in agreement. While Todd finished digging the burrow for himself and Vixey, Vixey went to help Sorrel dig another one while Dixon and Mason paired up to dig the last burrow. Charlotte watched thoughtfully while Amber lay down beside Faya.
In a short time with combined effort, all three burrows were complete. The family drank from the pond together then went into their usual groups, finally completely at ease and relaxed. Faya gently play fought with her older brother Sorrel, who despite his tougher manner he usually had with his brothers, was surprisingly gentle. Charlotte and Amber playfully rolled in a patch of flowers that was growing in between two of the hills and Mason and Dixon began to play a game of tag in the small clearing around the pond. Todd and Vixey both watched from their den and were calm and content. Vixey licked Todd's muzzle affectionately.
"Thank you for getting us into the reserve. I know our family will prosper here," Vixey said happily. Todd chuckled softly then placed his paw over Vixey's and nuzzled his nose against hers.
"I am glad the whole family made it. It would not be home without all of you here with me," Todd said with a wag of his tail. Vixey's tail wagged a bit as well and she smiled brightly.
"I love you and our family so very much, Todd," Vixey said with an endearing tone in her voice. Todd nodded in agreement and nuzzled Vixey affectionately.
"I love all of you as well," Todd said happily with a clear tone of endearment also echoed in his voice.
"We love you too!" All the kits chimed together, now gathered in front of Todd and Vixey's den. The family shared a warm and cheerful laugh together then Vixey sat up and glanced at the sky.
"Alright everyone. Let's get some rest," Vixey said with a smile. The kits nodded in unison then split into two groups: Mason, Dixon and Sorrel headed towards one den while Faya, Amber and Charlotte claimed the one that was beside to the little flower patch. Soon all of the family members were asleep in their dens. For the first night in weeks, they would not have to worry about finding another place to stay the next morning or sleeping in yet another strange place. They could look forward to growing and living happily for years to come in the reserve. Finally, they were home.