(Author's note: Hi all. I'm sorry for taking so long, but I fell out of the grove for a while due to come changes in my life, namely college and a part-time job. However, I have managed to finally finish what I have started. This will not be my last work, but it will be slow. I hope you enjoy the ending to my latest story. For all my readers, followers, reviewers and favorites, I can not thank you enough for not giving up on me. I hope you all enjoy.)
"What ever tomorrow brings, I'll be there with open arms and open eyes."
Drive by Incubus
The sound of silence filled the air as tension filled the small gap between the separate groups. It was a feeling like nothing ever felt before. Was it guilt, or was it the supressed pain which had come to surface? The indescribable blanket of emotion was the only certainty in this moment.
This was a moment which remained for quite some time, prolonged by a mutual reluctance to converse following the last few minutes. Finally, Copper turned away from Chief to look at his long lost friend. He wanted so bad for this to be true and had to ask, "Tod, how are yea...?"
"Alive? I don't know. All I remember is the train, and waking up in my home. Oh, Copper, I-I'm sorry for everything," Tod said as he slowly started to stand up. His injuries may have been worse off after his action with Chief, however, he was determined more then ever to stand and be in contact with Copper.
"Tod, why are you sorry? I'm the one that should be saying sorry. I should have..."
"Copper, you did nothing wrong. You helped me get away from the hunter, therefor you had nothing to do with it." Copper took in the vocal tones and immediately started to sob as the nightmare hit him. It was unlike anything he had ever been told. It meant more to him then taking over Chief's position as The Masters main hunting dog.
"Copper, Tod's right," Chief said as he sat down in an attempt to be seen as calling a truce. "It wasn't yea'r fault. I was the 'ne that didn' wanna listen to him. Tod, I'm sorry for what I done put yea through. I was just tryin' to be top dog again, and we all know how the master and yeah got a rivalry..."
"Chief," Tod cut him short, "I understand."
The silence which had left only moments ago had returned to continue it work, placing everybody in an uncomfortable situation from which only one of them knew how to escape. Although it had taken it's toll on Tod, he began to realize that he had not only been holding a grudge against an animal which was brought up to hunt animals like him, but that he himself was like the hunter he opposed. He too had hunted many chickens and rodents. They too had family. Who gave him the right to critisize someone for hunting him when he himself was hunting others?
"You were only doing what you were trained for." Tod said as he slowly approached Chief with Rose following close behind, waiting for the defensive procedure she may have to make.
"But next time, Chief, you might want to observe your surroundings more." Tod chuckled, knowing all to well that his banter would irritate the Wolfhound, but he didn't care. His pleasure came only moments later.
"Tod, there ain't gonna be a next time, I'm getting to old for this anyhow. It's time the youngin's to take over," Chief said as his had swivelled over to Copper who stood mere feet away with his mouth wide open. Cooper's mind was on another planet. His guardian would never have said something like that before now.
Chief shifted his head, aiming square at Rose. He didn't realise just how much she was willing to do for her remaining kit, the last of her family. She was the only one whom had ever been evasive enough to find a way of out of his hunt, and he knew that she would do anything for her son. He had to do something. He threatened her life without an inch of remorse or thought as to what the effects would be. He also stared long enough for the elderly Vixen to notice and shift her attention and the one looking directly at her.
She sized him up, only to realise that Chief had no interest in chasing her down, but rather to say something. his rather blank expression was the sole indicator that he was thinking hard, but was unable to think about anything to say. He finally drew the courage to not think at all and started to speak, "Sorry, I didn' catch yea' name."
Rose merely replied back, "Well, you were only in the mood to hunt me down so I can't imagine the thought ever crossed your mind."
"I'm Chief."
"Rose."
"Rose, I'd like to apologize for everything I've done. I caused yea nothing but pain. If we were to go our separate ways, would yea eve' forgive me?"
Rose took only a few moments to take in the words that were spoken to her. She then looked over at Tod and Copper, who had moved next to one another and were exchanging stories of what had happened to them over the time they had spent apart. She realised that the two of them would never accept not being able to see one another. She then settled her sights yet again on Chief. "Chief, I can't accept that. Look at our boys, they will never stop meeting up outside of our control. We may as well make peace with what has happened in the past. It may take a while, granted, but if it benefits my boy, I'm willing to start over again. I must make one thing clear though, if you ever threaten my son again, you'll regret it for the remainder of your life."
"Yes, ma'am," Chief said mockingly as he watched the two younger animals approaching them.
Tod and Copper sat next to their elders as they started to converse more casually. However, the bright blue sky had started to darken as the sun set over the hill. Seeing this, Chief nudged Copper softly as if indicating that he needs to notice something, "Sorry Sonny, but it's gettin' dark, we gotta head home. We can come back tomorrow."
"I guess yea're right, Chief. Sorry Tod, we gotta head on home."
"That's alright, we'll see each other tomorrow." Chief and Rose exchanged nods as the two dogs turned around and started heading off.
"Copper," Tod said, causing his best friend to turn around and face him. "You're my very best friend."
"And you're mine too, Tod"
"And we'll always be friends forever, won't we?"
"Yeah, forever."
