A/N: On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me Chapter Three! I love doing that to some Christmas stories to make it funnier for the introductions! One more week until Christmas! Is everyone excited about Christmas coming? I'm excited because I love to spend Christmas with my family and I hope it snows this year! I mean I do like having a Green Christmas but I LOVE having a White Christmas better because it's more festive that way but we'll shall see. Anyways, here's chapter three of this story! In this chapter: Nero who was an old friend of Rita's come by to visit the fox family after they chatted they decided to go to the forest to play together with her mother's permission of course meanwhile Hugo saw on the news that Rita is alive and well but she's wanted by Animal Control for the death of the alley cats which she didn't kill! Hugo is happy to hear that Rita is alive but he's worried that Rita might get taken away by Animal Control and probably euthanized by them! What will happen next? Read on and find out!

A Very Furry Christmas Night

Chapter 3: An Old Friend

Written by: KingSnow5092

The next day, Rita was fast asleep on the cushions she couldn't sleep well last night after what she had been in the alleyway behind the restaurant but she was glad that she got out of there before Animal Control would come and take her away just like her father did when she was a very young cub. She still remembered that awful night very well she and her father were rooting around the dumpster looking for something to eat when the owner came out and spotted them. The owner screamed after her father had turned around. He had whipped cream covering his mouth and the owner thought that he had rabies so he called Animal Control on them! They hid behind the dumpster as soon as Animal Control came and the owner was talking to the workers about what he had seen they thought they were safe when they heard howling coming from behind the fence which gave them away!

Her father told Rita to run while he distracted the workers she obliged but after she got far away she hid behind the garbage cans to watch her father attack the workers but they were too strong for him they grabbed him by the neck with a noose leash and they took him away never to be see again. She went back home and told her mother everything they all cried for their heroic sacrifice for their late father and husband now Frida was a widow and had to take care of her cubs all by herself ever since that day she became overprotective of her cubs because she didn't want to lose them just like how she lost her husband on that awful night. That was the night that Rita will never forget though she wished she could forget! She missed her father very much she wished she knew who had howled last night that gave her and father away to the Animal Control people on that awful night!

Rita awoke later that afternoon as she stood up, she yawned and stretched, blinked a few times, and she saw her family munching down on a large male brown deer that her mother had killed for lunch. She licked her lips in delight. She felt hungry after that nap so she walked over to her family to join them. Frida turned around and smiled at her daughter. "Oh Rita, I see that you're awake how are you feeling, dear?" Frida asked. Rita smiled back at her mother. "I'm doing a little better now I'm still a little shook up from last night and I still feel sad that I miss my best friend Hugo but other than that I feel much better after that nap I just took." She responded.

"Well, I'm glad that you're feeling a little better my dear I'm sorry about your best friend Hugo and what you had seen last night." Frida said.

"Thank you, mom, I realized that Hugo is still with me in my heart and I'm sure last night will blow over very soon." Rita said.

Frida nodded in agreement and said. "That's right, dear, I'm happy to hear that and you're right I just hope this thing blows over soon."

"But in the meantime, would you care to join us for lunch?" Frida asked.

Rita nodded as she ran over to the deer, she shoved her siblings to make room for herself, they glared at her but they turned back and continued to eat some more, and Rita munched down on the deer along with her family. A little later, they all lied down on her stomach as they rested to digest their lunch some of them burped which got a disapproving look from their mother so they excused themselves so their mother doesn't punish them. Then they heard someone outside walking in the snow as it made a crunching sound. It almost sounded like someone was munching a bag of potato chips outside of their den.

"What was that mommy?" Jerry asked.

"I don't know but you cubs stay here." Frida told them.

The mother fox stood up, she walked over to the entrance, she poked out her head, and she saw Nero walking toward the den. Frida smiled as she sighed in relief she known Nero ever since Rita was a young cub and they had been lovers back then until the night that Rita had lost her father she and Nero then broke up because Rita was too distraught about the loss of her father that she thought if she made friends with another male then she would lose him too so they broke up while Nero was hurt by this he understood the reason so he never came back to the den for a very long time until today that is. Frida ran back into the den and stood in front of Rita.

"Rita, you're old friend is here to see you." Frida told her.

Rita smiled as she stood up and asked. "Is it Hugo? Is he alive?"

Frida shook her head sadly and said. "No dear."

Rita frowned and bowed her head but her mother placed her paw under her chin and lifted up her head to face her.

"But it is someone from your past." Frida said cheerfully.

"And he's right here!" Nero shouted.

Rita turned around as she gasped in delight to see that it was indeed Nero her old boyfriend from her childhood! Nero was standing in the entrance of the den as he smiled at her, he walked passed her siblings, and he stopped in front of her as he stared at her. Rita grinned then she wrapped her arms around him into a hug and Nero wrapped his arms around her into a hug too. Nero and Rita embraced as they rubbed their heads together happy to see each other again as her family watched on with warm smiling faces. After a while, they pulled away from the hug and smiled at each other.

"I've missed you so much, Nero." Rita said.

"I've missed you too, Rita." Nero said.

Rita then bowed her head as she frowned feeling guilty and ashamed of what she had done to him and said. "Nero, I'm sorry that I dumped you it was too painful for me to deal with the loss of my father."

Nero smiled as he patted her on the head and said. "Hey, I understand and I forgive you it hurt me after what you did to me but I still forgive you besides that was the past and this is the present I'll let bygones be bygones."

Rita looked up and smiled at him as she giggled Nero smiled back at her and he frowned.

"By the way, I've heard about what had happened last night I'm sorry that you got framed for the crime that you didn't commit I'm also sorry about the loss of your father." Nero said sadly.

"Thank you, Nero, I still don't know how it happened I mean my father and I hid very well then there was a howling in the distance that gave me and my father away I got away safely but my father got captured! I still can't believe I was blamed for the death of the cats but I didn't do it! Someone else did! I still don't know who but I hope that the real culprit gets caught!" She said as she shook her head in disbelief.

"I'm sure they will." Nero assured her as he patted her on the back.

They both smiled at each other Frida then came over to the two young cubs.

"Thank you for coming Nero Rita really needed some cheering up around here." Frida said as she smiled warmly at him.

"Happy to be of service!" Nero said as he turned around and bowed to her.

Frida giggled at this then Nero turned around to Rita.

"Hey Rita, I was wondering would you like to go to the forest to play in the snow?" Nero asked.

"Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea Animal Control is out there right now hunting for Rita it might be too dangerous for her and for you too as well since you're a wolf." Frida said as she shook her head.

Rita turned to her mother and said. "Oh, relax mom I'm able to take care of myself and Nero will be with me after all he is a strong fighter and I should know since he had beaten me in all the playful fights we used to do as cubs."

"That's right Mrs. Fox don't you trust me?" Nero asked as he a cute face at her with his huge pupils and a pouting lip.

Frida smiled warmly as she patted him on the head and said. "Oh, OK, I can't say no to a cute face like that."

Rita and Nero cheered as they jumped up and down.

"Thank you mom!" Rita shouted cheerfully.

"Thank you Mrs. Fox!" Nero shouted cheerfully.

"However, Rita must come back home before it gets dark." Frida told them sternly as she held up her finger.

"OK!" Nero and Rita shouted in unison.

Frida chuckled and said. "Good, now run along you two."

The two canines ran out of the den the three fox cubs were about to follow until they heard their mother clearing her throat. They turned around to see her staring at them sternly. The cubs frowned as they pouted they wanted to go with Nero and Rita to the forest to play.

"Aw, mom, can't we go with Nero and Rita too?" Sherry asked.

"No, cubs! Give them some space and besides it's your turn to clean the den today!" Frida answered, shaking her head.

"Aw, do we have to mommy?" Jerry moaned.

The adult vixen glared at them then they grinned nervously.

"Just kidding, mom, we be happy to clean the den!" Jerry said as he chuckled nervously.

The three cubs started to clean up the den as the mother fox smiled at them she also started to clean up the den as well so they don't have to do all the work.

Meanwhile, Hugo and Cheddar were lying on the bed in the bedroom watching another Christmas special about Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a bowl of popcorn between them and two cans of cola to eat and drink while they watch the movie together. Charlie and Sally were out Christmas shopping at the mall since animals weren't allowed at the mall except for service animals they let Hugo be home alone by himself as long as he doesn't make the mess of the house that is. Hugo was happy to be home alone and he'll try not to mess up the house even though he loves to be wild since he's a jungle animal he has to be polite in someone else's home he is the guest after all. So, he will be polite about it.

Suddenly the TV screen changed to the blue title screen with a red stripe with "News Announcement" written in large yellow letters on it.

"We interrupt this program for the special announcement!" A male voice shouted.

"Aw, man! I hate it when they interrupt the program for any special announcement!" Hugo shouted as he pounded his fist on the bed.

The scene changed again to the outside view of the alleyway of the restaurant where several cleanup workers were placing the dead cats into black body bags their size as the news reporter who was a female Caucasian-American human walked in front of the screen with a microphone in her hand as she held it up to her mouth to speak.

"Hello, last night we had the report of the cat massacre that had occurred last night behind this very restaurant and the chef named Prego had called Animal Control on the fox who had caused this murder from last night we have him as a witness of the murder and he's here right now to tell us about it." The reporter explained.

The reporter walked up to the chef who was wiping the grease off of on his apron when he noticed that he was on the news. He grinned sheepishly and put his arms behind his back as he waved at the camera.

"Hello sir, you saw the cats' dead bodies by the fox who had killed them is that correct?" The reporter asked.

"That's right, last night I was cooking some food for my customers when I heard some noise coming from behind the restaurant at first I thought nothing of it because I thought it was those alley cats fighting over the food again so I didn't bother looking until later that night I heard the cat screamed so I turned around to see two shadow figures disappearing from the window where the pot was boiling from below it so I looked out the window to check but there was nobody there when I looked down at the pot I saw cat hair in the pot. So, I walked out from the back door and saw several dead cats in the alleyway and the fox standing over one of them! So, I called Animal Control on the fox but it got away before they could catch it but luckily I snapped the picture of the fox before it." Prego explained.

"Amazing! And do you have the picture of the said fox?" The woman asked.

"Yes I do." Prego said.

The man then pulled out his phone, unlocked it, he looked until he found the picture, and he held it up to the camera for everyone to see it was the picture of Rita standing over the body of the leader cat.

"Look that looks like Rita." Hugo said as he pointed to the TV.

Hugo then grabbed a can of cola as he began to drink it but then he suddenly realized what he had seen he then spat out the cola as it sprayed all over the blanket he then coughed a bit as the mouse patted him on the back after a while he felt much better then he rubbed his eyes and looked at the picture again to make sure he wasn't seeing things and sure enough he wasn't seeing things it was indeed the picture of Rita standing over the dead cat! Hugo ran up to the TV and got a closer look at the picture he couldn't believe what he was seeing! Rita was in the picture standing over the dead cat which meant that Rita was alive and well!

Hugo smiled he then turned around, jumped back on the bed, he grabbed his mouse friend, he held him up to his face, and said. "Cheddar! That's Rita! She's alive!"

Cheddar turned to the TV, he gasped in delight, he then turned back to Hugo, and nodded in agreement.

"Yes! It is Rita! She is alive!" Cheddar shouted.

Hugo stood up as he spun around with Cheddar in his paws happy to see that Rita was alive and well then the mouse tapped him on the shoulder he stopped and looked at the mouse to see his face had turned green from all the spinning he did.

"Oh, sorry Cheddar." Hugo said as he chuckled.

"That's okay." Cheddar assured him.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you something about Rita!" Cheddar shouted as he slapped his forehead.

"What?" Hugo asked.

"I saw her last night after I ran away from the alleyway from the restaurant she was walking toward the restaurant to get some food I think." Cheddar answered.

Hugo looked at him confused and asked. "But why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to but I was so stuffed from the food that Sally made last night that I got tired and went to bed early I'm so sorry Hugo." Cheddar explained as he shrugged his shoulders.

Hugo smiled as he patted him on the head and said. "Oh, that's okay Cheddar I understand I also get tired when I stuff myself too and besides it's better late than never that you tell me now instead of never telling me at all."

Hugo and Cheddar smiled warmly at each other. After that Hugo then placed down Cheddar next to him as they both sat back down to watch the news to learn more about what had happened last night.

"Thank you for all your help sir." The reporter said.

"You're welcome and I hope that Animal Control catch this fox very soon or they'll be more than just dead cats around this area there might be dead people too!" The chef said.

"Don't worry sir, they'll be capturing it just in time for Christmas." The reporter assured him.

"I hope so and thank you but I have to go now to prepare food for lunch so goodbye." The chef said as he waved at her.

"Thank you and goodbye!" The reporter said waving back to him.

She then turned to the camera and said. "Well, there you have it folks that's this afternoon news so be on the lookout for the fox it might be dangerous and might have rabies so keep your kids and yourselves safe by locking all doors & windows, keep your garbage can lids on tight, and make sure they come home early before dark! Once Animal Control takes care of this fox it will be safe to walk out of the streets again and hopefully around Christmas time. This has been the important news update thank you and Happy Holidays!"

The screen then changed back to the title screen as the male voice announced that its going to return to its regular programming of the Christmas special as it cuts back to the scene where Rudolph and Zoey are reunited again. Hugo and Cheddar turned and stared at each other with shocked faces after what they had seen on the news. "Oh no! This is terrible! Rita isn't dangerous she would never kill anyone except when she's hunting for food that is but she only does it when it's necessary and to keep in balance of nature!" Hugo exclaimed as he placed his paws on his face.

"Oh! This is not good! This is not good at all!" Cheddar shouted as he shook his head.

Hugo then put on the determined face, he stood up on the bed with his paws on his hips, and he pointed his finger in the air.

"I got to help Rita!" Hugo shouted in a determined voice.

"Yeah!" Cheddar shouted in agreement as he did the same thing as Hugo did.

The mouse then frowned as he turned to Hugo and asked. "But how?"

Hugo frowned as he lowered his arms too and said. "I'm not sure."

Hugo then smiled as he placed his paw on his hip and raised his finger in the air.

"But we'll think of something!" Hugo shouted.

Cheddar nodded in agreement.

"Hugo! We're home!" Charlie cried out.

Hugo and Cheddar smiled after they heard that voice then they decided to think of the plan as they had lunch together so they ran downstairs to help Charlie and Sally out with the stuff that they had bought from the mall.

Later that evening…

Nero and Rita as promised came back to the den as the sun began to set in the sky making it turned a scarlet red with pink and orange clouds passing by as the sun set it glowed on the snow making it a light purple the two canines were laughing and talking about the game that they were playing earlier called Tag and Nero always knows how to beat Rita at that game ever since they were young cubs and earlier Nero decided to let Rita win for once which made her very happy and she thanked him for it. They soon reached the den, they entered the den, they walked to find Frida, Jerry, Sherry, and Terry eating their chicken dinner with two dead female white chickens lying next to Rita's pillow from yesterday.

"Mom! We're home!" Rita called out.

Frida looked up to see her daughter and Nero standing there the mother fox smiled at them and said. "Good! I'm glad that your home safe and sound Rita and thank you for bringing her back home safe, Nero."

Nero bowed and said. "Happy to be of service Mrs. Fox!"

"There is some chicken for you two over there if you're hungry Nero and would like to join us for dinner." Frida said as she pointed to where their dinner was.

"Don't mind if I do!" Nero said happily.

Rita chuckled then the two of them walked over to the pillow, they lied down together, and they chowed down their chicken dinner. An hour later, they sighed happily after the wonderful dinner that they had eaten together then Nero let out a burp and giggled. Rita burped too and she giggled too. The three cubs burped and burped until Frida glared at them. They blushed in embarrassment and they excused themselves. Nero and Rita excused themselves too. Frida smiled as she nodded her head to them.

"Hey mommy! Can I have another chicken please?" Terry asked.

"Now Terry you need to watch your weight if you eat too much then you'll get a tummy ache." Frida said sternly.

Terry huffed as he crossed his arms and mumbled. "Yes mommy."

Rita giggled quietly so her mother doesn't hear her then Nero stood up, stretched himself, and he began to walk out of the den.

"Nero? Where are you going?" Rita asked.

Nero stopped and he turned his head around.

"I'm sorry to eat and run Rita but I have to get back home." Nero said.

"Why don't you spend the night we us?" Rita suggested.

"Now Rita, you know this den isn't big enough for all six of us I would love for him to spend the night here but it's just too small." Frida told her.

Rita frowned with her ears drooped as she lowered her head sadly and said. "Oh yeah, I forgot."

Nero turned his head hack to the entrance of the den and he grinned evilly.

'Excellent! Everything's going according to the plan!" Nero thought to himself.

Nero then turned around with a bright smile on his face.

"Well, I have a great idea how about you and your family come live with me?" Nero suggested.

Rita stared at him with a confused face and asked. "Live with you?"

Nero nodded.

"Yes, you see I live in a large, abandoned church near the graveyard all the humans are afraid to go there because they believed that it's haunted with evil spirits and other hauntings too it would be a perfect place for you and your family to live there also it so large that there's plenty of room for you and your siblings to run around in and have some privacy in many rooms in the church. Plus, there's many of prey animals to eat around there so you can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner or even a midnight snack whenever you like! Nobody will know that your there not even Animal Control would now it's a perfect place for you to hide from Animal Control!" Nero explained.

"Really?" Rita asked, grinning brightly.

"Really!" Nero said, nodding.

Rita turned to her mother and asked. "Mom? Would it be okay if we live there?"

Frida smiled brightly as she nodded her head to her.

"Yes, dear! In fact, it would be a perfect place for all of us to live since the den is small and your siblings are getter bigger I think it would be a wonderful idea to move out." Frida said.

"Great! I'll wait outside of the den and I'll lead the way!" Nero shouted cheerfully.

"Alright, we'll see you soon!" Frida shouted.

Nero ran out of the den and waited for them outside.

"Yay! We're going to the new place!" Jerry shouted cheerfully.

"It's going to be bigger!" Terry shouted with joy.

"And better with plenty of room to play around in!" Sherry agreed.

"Yes, my cubs! And it also would be a perfect place for everyone even me to get some privacy whenever they like and more room to move around." Frida said as she nodded.

"Yes! It's going to be so great!" Rita shouted cheerfully.

Rita frowned as she sighed sadly and looked around the den.

"But I'm sure going to miss this den it was my home ever since I was a younger cub." Rita said.

Frida frowned as she walked over to her cub and patted her on the head.

"I know Rita but it would be good to move out after all your siblings are getting bigger like you and we need some more room to move around and besides we would always come back to visit every often and we would come back here when the heat dies down. Besides, we'll always have memories of this den along with your father." Frida said softly.

"I know mom but still." Rita said.

"I know but now we must leave before it gets too dark." Frida said.

"Would it be alright if I look around this place one last time please?" She asked her mother.

"Of course, dear, but don't take too long." She replied as she nodded her head.

"I won't." She told her.

"OK then see you outside." Frida said.

The four foxes walked outside of the den as Rita walked and looked around the den thinking about the memories she had here she hated to leave her old home but it was for the best since Animal Control was after her and the den was getting too small for them anyways with her and her siblings growing up so fast but she was still going to miss it. She then had an idea she decided to mark her territory for something to remember her by. She walked over to the end of the den, she lifted her leg, she urinated on it, and she smiled now she was satisfied to let the other animals know that she was there. She then put Hugo's life jacket on herself and carried the pillow with her teeth as she walked out of the den where her family and Nero were.

"OK, mom! I'm ready!" She told her with her pillow between her teeth.

"Why are you bringing those with you?" Frida asked.

Rita placed the pillow down and said. "Something to remember my best friend Hugo with."

Frida smiled warmly and said. "Oh, alright but be careful not to leave any tracks in the snow dear."

"Yes mom!" She shouted cheerfully then she grabbed the pillow with her teeth again.

"Bye old den!" The family shouted as they waved goodbye to it.

"Alright fox family follow me!" Nero shouted as he gestured to them to follow him.

The fox family walked down the hill as they followed the wolf to their new home which was away from all humans and they were going to be safe from harm as they were following the wolf they were unaware of the evil smile his has on his face as he was leading him back to his home in the abandoned church that he lived in.

A/N: End of Chapter 3. Rita and her family are moving out of the den to move into the bigger place which is a good idea because the den is too small for them since the cubs are getting bigger and bigger so having a bigger place for them sounds like a great idea if they only known the truth about Nero and his evil plan that is. But at least Rita will be safe from the humans from Animal Control who are out there to capture her but what about Hugo? What will Hugo do if he finds that Rita is not in her den and won't be able to help her out? Only time will tell. In the next chapter, Hugo discovered that Rita and her family moved out of the den but with the tracks made in the snow he follows them to the abandoned church where they reunite with each other and have a wonderful time together. How will the family react to see Hugo alive? Stay tuned and find out.

Fun Fact #1: Chef Prego is named after the Prego brand sauce for all the pasta food I don't own the Prego brand it belongs to it's owners but I do own the reference to it.

Fun Fact #2: Nero has Kostas Becker's voice from The two-part "A Serious Flanders" Simpsons episode who was voiced by Brian Cox I thought he would be a good voice to voice the wolf villain in since he does sound so menacing and polite at the same time! Pretty cool, huh? Sorry I forgot to mention it in the second chapter but here it is right now!

Read and Review please! NO FLAMES ALLOWED! Criticism is welcomed.