Chipi continued on, tearing across the forest floor. "Chipi!" Copper called yet again as he followed after her as fast as he could. "Wait!" he called again as the puppy got farther and farther away from him. Chipi appeared to not hear him as she continued on. She'd picked it up, the scent of Binx's parents that she'd met before and the puppy was determined to continue on in her mission.
Copper had no idea what Chipi's true reason for racing off into the forest was though. The older hunting dog figured that his poor ward was just confused and scared over everything that had happened with Chief chasing Binx and that the guilt over her having to resort to biting Chief in order to get him to stop and not kill Binx was what drove her to rush off like she did.
In fact, Chipi was feeling a huge amount of guilt over what she had done. She could only hope that Chief didn't hate her forever over it and that the old dog would at least listen to her when she got back. Chipi also felt fear. Fear that had gripped her ever since she'd first seen the bite on Binx's leg that almost covered the young fox's whole leg, making it one red limb. and the fear over the new knowledge of what would have been Binx's fate if she had not stopped Chief.
All of these frantic thought racing inside of Chipi's head were stopped though as she came to a clearing and found herself looking over at a fox hole on the farther side of the glade. In front of the fox hole stood Tod and Vixey. The two foxes appeared to be in a serious conversation and Tod would step out to pace a bit as he continued to talk.
Copper panted as he finally reached the spot where Chipi stood. He also sighed with relief. "Finally, you stop" he panted, "Now Chipi, look. I know what--what happened with Chief. You--you shouldn't blame yourself" Copper glanced up as he spoke and suddenly whatever else he was going to say died right on his tongue at the sight of the two foxes not a few yards away.
"Is--is that" Copper gasped, already knowing the answer to his rhetorical question. Chipi nodded, "Yep, that's Binx's parents" she said. Copper turned a surprised look at the puppy as she said this. "You--you sure?" he asked, "I mean, you sure those exact foxes are Binx's parents?". Chipi nodded.
Suddenly, the situation came crashing upon Chipi once again and the puppy suddenly realized what she was doing. "What am I doing?!" she gasped, "I shouldn't be talking! I gotta tell them what happened to Binx! They're the only ones who can help!". With that, Chipi took off running again, charging across the clearing.
"Chipi, wait!" Copper called again. From the story she had told him, Copper knew that Tod and his wife Vixey didn't have the best view of the puppy. Sure, Copper was sure all he had to do was talk to Tod for a bit for them to see, but still, a hunting dog puppy charging towards your den at full speed probably wouldn't be the most comforting thing for poor Vixey, and Copper didn't want his friends wife having any heart attacks due to his young charge.
Meanwhile, Tod was struggling with his own battle. With another sigh, he sat down in front of Vixey after his pacing throughout his story of telling Vixey about Copper, "So, that's why when we both heard that bear roar while running from the hunter, I disappeared like I did" he said.
Vixey just continued to stare at her husband for a while. Finally she shook her head, "Oh Tod--" she sighed. Tod looked down guiltily, "I know, I mean I've officially lied to you through withholding information, but honestly Vixey I wanted to tell you before, I just--I didn't know how--I--".
"Tod" Vixey interrupted as it looked like her husband would pace again, "It's ok" she continued, placing a paw over Tod's, "I mean, I understand that it's not something the others in the forest would support you on if they found out, but I want you to know that I do". Vixey sighed, "and that I'm sorry for the misconceptions I've been building about this dog over the years". Tod smiled sadly, "Well, it was kind of inevitable".
Just then the barking of a small puppy was heard getting louder and louder. Tod and Vixey both turned towards the sound and found Chipi rushing up towards them. Copper exited the bushed right behind the puppy. Tod looked shocked at seeing his old friend again after so long.
"Mr. and Mrs. Binx's parents!" Chipi called as she rushed up. Tod and Vixey found themselves smiling slightly at the puppy's greeting as she rushed up. Vixey raised a paw as Chipi approached, "Hold up, if you're looking for Binx, I'm afraid we still have to--".
"That's just it!" Chipi exclaimed, "Binx probably isn't where you think he is, he's over at Mr. Copper and Chief's place. Mr. Chief bit him!". Tod and Vixey looked worried at this and as Copper finally caught up to where Chipi was again, he smiled slightly as he looked at them. "Hey Tod" he panted, "not the best conditions for our meeting up again after so long and I'm afraid your son's not doing to well" he added with a grim look.