Disclaimer: "The Fox and the Hound" is property of Daniel P. Mannix and Walt Disney Company, not mine...unfortunately.

The Next Political Dynasty: Thanks! Okay, the story's picking up pace now, so keep reading!

Forever Young: Here's some slight action/suspense for ya! Keep reading!

Anonymous, but Impressed: No, he's definitely not stupid! Okay, the drama that has been building up in the previous chapters is now going to cause some action, starting with this chappie! Keep reading!

The Fox and the Hound 2: Friends in Need

Chapter Twelve: Feelings of Betrayal, Part One

Chief wasn't having much luck having a peaceful night's sleep. Ever since he dozed off that night, he'd been having that old nightmare of his—the one that played back the events leading up to his getting hit by a train engine. It always worked out the same way every time he dreamed it: he'd see a red fox, then start chasing it down the railroad tracks. He'd be three inches from the fox's tail when suddenly a loud noise and a bright light appeared. Then he'd freeze up and just stare in horror as the huge engine got closer and closer...and then he'd wake up right before it hit him.

He hadn't had that dream in a while. In fact, he thought he'd gotten over that ordeal. But obviously not, and he jerked himself awake and glanced around to make sure there wasn't a train anywhere near him. Seeing he was safe, he gave a sigh of relief and then looked over to see if Copper was still sleeping—what? Where was Copper at?

Chief got up on all fours, wondering where his young friend could possibly be at this time of night. He got his answer when he heard the rustle of some bushes behind him, and he turned around in time to see Copper's tail disappear into the forest. What in the world? What did that pup think he was doing?

The old dog knew that Copper wasn't prone to sleepwalking, but he had been wondering as to why the pup seemed so tired during the day and why he always turned in early. Had he been taking these nightly walks the whole time they had been out here? Curious, Chief quietly decided to follow him, keeping a very good distance between them, and see just what he was doing.

Copper returned that night, or rather that morning, about an hour before sunrise. He and Tod's family had done quite a bit of traveling that night—the family was now safe from any hunters. They were completely out of range of the hunting party. Copper could remember the feelings of gratitude that Tod and Vixey gave him for helping out.

"How can we ever repay you?" Tod had asked when they had moved into a decent new home, a cozy den under a thick pine tree.

"We couldn't have done it without you," Vixey added as she put the last cub in the den.

"Shucks it was nothing," Copper told them. "Just trying to help out is all. I wish you both the very best, as well as the kids."

"Thanks, pal," Tod smiled. "It was great seeing you again."

"Yeah...well, I'd better get on back before sunrise. Don't want anybody waking up and finding out I'm gone," Copper lightly joked as he turned to leave. "Bye!"

Yep, Copper had done a good thing and he felt good about it. Tod and his family were safe from harm, and the good part was that nobody had found out about their secret friendship. He came into camp happy as a lark, not sure if he could get any sleep, but right before he came up to the tent, he was stopped by—

"Chief?" he asked, shocked that the Trigg hound was awake at this hour. "Uh, hey, what are you doing up so early?"

"I should be asking you the same thing," the older dog growled lowly.

There was something in his voice that told Copper that he should be backing up, which he did. "Now, Chief, I don't know what's wrong with you, but maybe if we talk about it–"

"Talk about it? You are going to tell me to talk about it? Son, you've haven't been talking to me all week, so why should I tell you anything?"

Copper was starting to get scared. He'd never seen Chief so mad about something before, not even when he was a puppy did he ever get to harsh with him. So what could possibly be his problem?

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he confessed, still slowly backing up.

"You know very well what I'm talking about. Have you been getting up in the middle of the night to take little walks in the woods the whole time we've been out here?"

Copper's heart stopped beating. "What?" Oh, don't tell me that he followed me out there—

"I know you heard me. Answer the question, now."

Copper didn't know what to say. He was in shock that his worst fear had seemingly come out into the open. How was he going to tell Chief, his mentor, his father-figure, that he had obviously betrayed everything in the laws of nature to help out a fox family in danger?

"Well, yes, but I can explain–"

"Explain? Explain that you've been hanging out with a bunch of game animals?" Now he was really closing in on him, and Copper could see almost every white fang as he started baring his teeth. "Explain that you've been keeping stuff behind my back? Do I really look that stupid to you?"

"No, I never said that you were–what were you doing spying on me anyway?"

"Because I was worried about you, Copper! You haven't been sleeping well, and I happened to wake up just when you were leaving and wondered the heck you were doing."

"So he followed me out into the woods and spied on me? Look, none of that was any of your business! You didn't have a right–"

"Don't try pinning this on me, sonny, I'm not the one who betrayed their breeding and started associating with the wildlife. You keep that up and every wild critter in the forest will think us hunting dogs are wusses."

"Don't be ridiculous," Copper glared. "I didn't hurt anyone, so just back off!"

"You little brat. I taught you everything you ever needed to know, and this is the thanks I get? You getting friendly with a bunch of foxes? You know how I feel about foxes–"

"Look, Tod did not cause your accident!" As soon as he said Tod's name he wished he could take it back. It was bad enough having Chief find out they were friends now, much less having none him since puppyhood.

"Tod? This fox has a name? How long have you known this guy?!" Chief was really starting to looking evil right about now and Copper was scared he might get jumped.

May as well admit it, now that I've opened my big mouth. "Since I was a pup."

Chief was in total shock. Copper, the pup he had raised practically all of his life, had been keeping a secret friendship with a fox almost the whole time they had known each other. He felt...betrayed. Ever since he had taught the young dog the ropes in hunting, the Master had seemed to like him better. And now he was shoving it all in his face by having been friends with one of the prey?

"And this...Tod...he was the one from the train accident?"

"Yes...but it wasn't his fault, I let him go, and somehow he managed to get up to the tracks and—"

mwahaha! Left you with the ultimate cliffhanger!! What will happen now that Chief knows about Tod? Will Copper get into huge trouble about this? From the way things are looking, I'd say YES. But you'll have to read the next chapter to get the full picture, so be patient and PLEASE review!