Looking at the charred remains of his burnt down home, Cody was thinking of the wonderful memories he had with his parents before his whole house went down in flames. That terrible tragedy that costed the life of his parents, but on the other hand; he had many fond memories of this area. He even recognized a piece of carpet and tapestry that were charred.

Despite all the good memories he was receiving, it wasn't really helping him feel better from the whole Blitzo and Stolas ordeal

The boy sat in front of the remains and, even after the fire was burnt out, it still had the stench of burnt wood and rubble around it. Most of it was disposed of to the dump with a few wall pieces, roof pieces, had a few other kind of debris. Looking around at his surroundings, Cody felt something sniffing his hand and he smiled to see who was to the left of him. "Hi Tod." He said to his fox friend with a smile.

Tod was always happy to see his human friend and licked the boy's left hand to ask for affection to him. He fluffed his tail and stopped licking Cody's hand to sit next to him like a dog.

"I can't even look at Blitzo after messing up the relationship between him and Stolas. And... I might not understand love and romance so much, but I know that they are meant for each other. But I've screwed up, messed everything up just like that."

The fox then ran off and left Cody confused

"Tod, where are you going?" The boy followed his fox friend about five hundred yards until finally, he stopped in front of a small knoll and a tree on top of it. "What is the place?" Cody asked

"a smaller fox with slightly browner fur than Tod came out of the burrow and looked at Cody, looking cautious. This fox was smaller and less colorful than Tod is and a less bushy tail. The human boy realized that she was Tod's mate. Not long after, a total of nine small creatures popped out of the burrow to see what was going on outside. They were all baby foxes, a whole litter of kits."

It did not take long for Cody to realize that they are Tod's own family. "Wow, I didn't know you had a family, Tod."

His mate sniffed him snd walked up to Cody to sniff his right hand just to get a better look at him. Immediately, the vixen took a liking to the human boy, and licked his hand like her own mate did before. Cody was touched that she liked him, and their own pups ran up to Cody to curiously look at him.

Cody sat next to the burrow and the whole Fox family cuddled around the human kid to show some affection. "You got a beautiful family, Tod." He said to the male one. The canine smiled gratefully and made a howl that sounded like he was thanking the kid for the compliment. "Still wish I can understand what you are saying." He felt the vixen kick his right cheek for affection. "I hope you guys are surviving being hunted." The next thing Tod did was scoff, probably telling him that he shouldn't worry about him or his family so much. They are wild animals after all. "Looks like you guys are still learning how to hunt."

Despite seeing Tod's own family, he still didn't fully feel better and still felt the guilt of the plan failing kick inside of him.

Tod couldn't bear to see his human cohort sad like this, so he tried everything he could to make Cody feel better by snuggling with him, and licking him a few times like domestic dog. His loving mate also helped in trying to make him feel better, and the pups tried to look playful, wanting belly rubs from him.

Whenever Cody gave them belly rubs, the kits were all letting out little adorable squeaks and growls as they were being scratched there. The human then rested his head on the green grass, looking at the sky, and seeing the scattered clouds flowing away to the east. His face was then greeted by Tod, his mate, and his children, who all gave Cody some affectionate licks around his face, making him laugh. "OK, OK, that tickles." he chuckled as he felt all those tongues lick all over his face. At last, he got back up and the fox family stopped licking him. "How can i just screw up on something like that? What more can i ruin?"

The fox family tried to give him some more comfort with Tod laying on his legs like a cat or a domestic dog would do affectionately. Animals can soothe the minds of most human beings after all. He almost couldn't remember what he hated himself about in the first place thanks to the fox family's support here. It's wonderful what nature can bring to people if they earned that kind of privilege. Another ten minutes had passed and he was approached by a familiar figure. Well, three familiar figures.

The female fox growled at what appeared to be Loona, Stolas, and Octavia. Tod gave his mate a reassuring look on his vulpine face, telling her and his kids that it was alright, and they were Cody's close friends. "There you are, Cody." said Loona. "I've been looking all over for you, and i had to use my scent to find you."

"Are you alright?" asked Stolas with concern.

"No." Cody admitted. "You wouldn't understand. Look, Stolas the whole dinner-"

"It's perfectly alright, Cody." Stolas knelt down, making the kits around the boy scurry and back away with their parents so the owl demon can bend down and have a proper talk. "Octavia told me everything."

The human boy looked at the female hellhound, who nodded her head to him. "I heard how you and Blitzo had a fallout and i was just trying to help you guys. I didn't mean to make things worse. I swear."

"Shh, shh, shh, you did not make things worse." Stolas hugged him. "Really. I understand what is going on."

"My dad can never hate you." said Octavia.

"But i made things worse between you guys."

"You did not." Stolas reassured him. "And... it's not entirely Blitzo's fault." he looked down. "I guess... i do not know how to talk to him either. I want to tell him how much i care about him, and how much he means to me, but... he doesn't really see it."

"Well, Blitzo... he's not one to show his feelings." Loona pointed.

"Yes, i noticed." the owl demon rolled his eyes. "And he really hurt me back there. But, the bottom line is that: do not worry about me and Blitzo, Cody. Everything will be fine. I promise."

"So... you're not mad at me about the whole dinner thing?"

"Of course not, my boy." Stolas said "The pasta was really yummy anyway, so it was not a total loss. Nothing can ever change our friendship between you and me, or Octaiva and Loona's friendship. Just because me and Blitzo are having a disagreement doesn't mean i do not want to see you anymore."

Cody smiled and hugged Stolas. "Thank you for not being mad at me."

"You are welcome, Cody. And admittedly, it was a well-thought out plan you came up with for someone your age."

The boy was flattered to hear that. "Thanks. I did my best to help you guys."

Loona looked at the fox family. "Tod?" she said. "You have a family now?"

"Yeah it looks like he's had a family for a while."

"Heh, yeah by the look of these pups he has, they still don't know how to live their lives." Tod gave the female hellhound a small growl with his teeth showing. "What? Just saying." she admitted to Cody's animal friend. "Not saying anything bad about your kids."

Back in Hell

Cody was feeling rather better about everything. He was glad that there was no hatred or animosity towards him from both Biltzo and Stolas. In fact, the imp sat with Cody on the couch, and wraped his arm around his shoulders. "You ok, Cody?" he asked the human kid.

"Yeah. I was worried you guys would hate me or be really mad at me." Cody admitted

"I would never hate you, kid. You're too likeable. I mean, fuck, that was a good plan you brought up."

"Thanks."

Loona came in the room with Johnny alongside her. "Things ok in here?"

"We're fine." the boy replied

"Cody, I just want you to know that there is nothing to worry about." she sat next to him. "I will always be there for you, and you can always call on me when you need me."

The boy remembered something really important. "We need to feed the animals out there." Loona prepared the food for the three animals in the pen to eat and the four went outside to feed Chop, Dusty, and Bombproof. All three of them were happy to see the food being brought out to them. As soon as the chow was filled in their bowls, they just engorged themselves in the meat and greens mixed in it.

On the other side of the fence, Johnny, who was standing alongside Loona, said to her: "He's quite the little brother you got, Loon."

"Yeah. He really is. Cody is a really special kid, Johnny."

"Why can't more kids today be more like him?" Johnny wondered.

"Good question."