Copper tore through the forest at breakneck speed, the cubs huffing and puffing behind him

"Uncle Copper, wait! Slow down!" Chloe yelled after him, but Copper didn't slow down. "What's he doing?!"

"I don't know; maybe he wants to impress Mom or something," said Little Copper.

"Well, whatever it is, we have to keep up with him. Come on!" Cinnamon picked up speed, trying to keep up with the racing dog; his brother and sister trying to stay with him.

Copper wiggled his head back and forth. The fish was still trying to get free; it was wiggling so hard, it was spraying water everywhere. He clamped down on the fish again, but no use; it refused to be beaten. Well, he would not let it beat him. He could see the den hole up ahead. He charged toward it.

Down in the den hole, Vixey heard a faint sound. Like…yelling. She pricked her ears forward; it sounded like the cubs. She walked cautiously to the den hole, poised to run if necessary. There was yelling, but it didn't sound scared; it sounded like…

"Mom! Mom! Mom, you gotta see this!" Cinnamon charged through the den hole, practically knocking Vixey off her feet. "Mom! Come quick!" The cub jumped around the den excitedly.

""What is it Cinnamon?"

"I can't tell you! You have to see it! Quick! Follow me!"

"Sweetie, what—"

"Come on, hurry!" Cinnamon wrapped his paws around Vixey's legs, attempting to pull her toward the den hole. "Come on!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Vixey followed Cinnamon to the den hole, trying to keep up with the cub's frantic pace. She poked her head out of the den hole, sniffing cautiously.

"Mom!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Vixey came out of the den hole, looking around. She couldn't figure out what all the excitement was about; there was nothing to see. And then, she saw it; running toward her at breakneck speed was Copper, a fish wriggling around in his mouth. Both dog and fish were putting up a fight; Copper wiggling his head back and forth to prevent the fish from escaping, while the fish wriggled as hard as it could, trying to free itself. The sight was comical to see. Vixey put a paw over her mouth, stifling a laugh.

Copper ran up to her, skidding to a halt. He skidded so hard that it made him sit down. The cubs jumped around frantically, all talking at once. "Uncle Copper caught a fish! We helped him! It took all four of us, first Little Copper tried, but he couldn't do it—"

"I could to!"

"Then I tried it, but the fish smacked me in the eye!"

"Then I tried to wrestle the fish, but it got away from me!"

"We pushed Uncle Copper in the river!"

"He wasn't happy."

"We got in trouble."

Vixey smiled at the frantic cubs. "Kids, kids, calm down. One at a time, one at a time; what happened?"

"First Little Copper was trying to help Uncle Copper catch a fish," started Cinnamon. "But he couldn't do it, so then Chloe tried to do it."

"Stupid fish smacked me in the eye,"

"Then Cinnamon tried to do it, but he couldn't do it," said Chloe.

"Then Uncle Copper had a plan. He said we had each tried to catch a fish," stated Little Copper. "But I pointed out that he hadn't caught a fish, so he had to try first."

"So he did, but then we pushed him into the river. He was mad, then he told us we had to help him get supper," said Chloe.

Vixey chuckled. "And then…"

"Then all four of us tried, but the fish escaped from us. We were all over the river."

"I was trying to chase it, but it dove under a rock," said Cinnamon.

"Then I came to me and I tried to slap it onto the bank, but the stupid fish wouldn't stay still, said Chloe.

"Then I tried to snap it with my teeth, but I got a mouthful of twigs! Ew!" Little Copper stuck out his tongue in disgust."

"The Uncle Copper tried, but he couldn't get the fish either."

"Then we tried again. We teamed up and went for the fish at the same time—"

"But Uncle Copper caught the fish before us, then he ran toward home. We had to run to keep up with him; he was to fast!" Cinnamon sat down, panting. That was a lot of explaining.

Vixey smiled at the cubs. "Wow. Sounds like you had a big day. Sounds like—"

"Mmmmppphhh!" Copper interrupted, the fish still putting up a fight between his teeth. Vixey smiled teasingly.

"What was that Copper?"

"Mmmmpppphhhh!"

"Would you like some help?"

"Mmmmm!" Copper was annoyed; here he was, waiting for someone to rescue him from the wriggling fish while the cubs told Vixey about their fishing adventure. The fish was beginning to leave a horrible taste in his mouth.

Vixey leaned over, effortlessly grabbing the wriggling fish tail out of Copper's mouth. In one swift movement, she had the fish down on the ground, paw on top of it, effectively holding it down. She leaned down and bit the fish near the head, causing it to finally stop wriggling.

Copper meanwhile, was spitting on the ground. "Yuck! That fish tasted terrible! How can you eat that?"

"It's all part of being a fox," said Vixey kindly. "Don't worry; you'll learn. It takes lots and lots of practice. I'll show you tomorrow if you want."

Copper smiled. "I'd like that."

"Mom, can we come too?" Cinnamon looked at his mother expectedly.

"Yeah, can we? Pleeeaassee?" Chloe chimed in.

"I'm not good at catching fish yet, but I want to get better at it. I want to come too," stated Little Copper matter-of-factly.

"You can't come runt," said Chloe.

"Why not?"

"This trip is for big foxes, not little ones."

"Mooommm!!

Vixey smiled. "You can all come. We'll make a day of it tomorrow. But right now, we have to eat dinner. Come on, in you go." Vixey pushed the cubs into the den hole. "You coming Copper?"

"I don't have to eat the fish, do I?"

"Well, it's either that, or you can eat twigs."

Copper groaned. "Great. My choices are twigs and fish. What have I gotten myself into?" Vixey stared at him. "Just kidding Vixey, just kidding. Come on, I'll help you."

Vixey disappeared into the den hole, leaving Copper outside. He glanced over his shoulder before disappearing into the den hole. He looked around at the familiar forest, the trees, the grass; everything seemed right in the world. He smiled. It felt good to be home.

THE END