Copper folowed his nose, curiously. Where was Todd?! He remembered what had happened just the other day...

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  Copper reced into the town. He had never been there. Amos wouldn't allow it.

   Copper felt his body collide with that of another dog. He looked up and saw a tan female.

 "Sorry," he gasped, getting to his paws.

 "No problem," she replied, shrugging. "I'm Aleu, the wolfdog."

  "Copper," Copper responded, "the foxhound." A thought struck him. "Have you ever been into the forest?"

 "Plenty," Aleu replied. "Why?"

 "Have you ever met a fox?"

  "Two."

 "What were their names?"

  "Todd and Vixey!"

 "Are they still alive?"

  "I should think so! I met them yesterday!" Aleu replied, confused.

 "Alright!" Copper almost laughed aloud. "Thanks!" He took off into the forest.

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  If Aleu had told him about them, where were they?! He folowed his nose to a den that went partially undergground.

 "Todd?" he asked, hoarsley. Nothing. Copper kicked the ground angrily. "Come on! I'm sorry! Chasing you was the worst mmistake I've ever made!"

 "Copper? What are you doing, howling to the sky?" a farmiliar voice demanded.

 "Todd?" gasped Copper.

 "Yeah." Todd came out of his den. "It is you, copper."

  "Yeah, it's me," Copper told him. "So, gosh! I'm sorry! I'm so so so sorry, Todd. I should have known that you wouldn't do that to Cheif."

  "Yeah, you should have,"Todd told him, harshly. Copper flinched. "But I forgive you." Those were the words Copper had longed to hear for a long time. "You saved my life, Copper."

 "You saved mine," Copper said.

  "with the bear?" Todd asked.

 "Yeah," Copper nodded, grinning. "Ya know, we said once that we'd be friends forever and I think we've managed well so far."

 "I agree," Todd grinned.

  "Todd, who's that?" A female fox appeared.

  "This is Copper, he's been my best friend since we were kids," todd replied. "Copper, this is Vixey."

  "Todd," Vixey hissed, "Didn't he, well I don't know, try to kill us?!"

    "Um..." Copper sighed, "yeah. I guess it's fair to say that that was me."

 "It was you?" Vixey growled. "Oh, well, I outta!"

  "I know," Copper told her. "Yuo want to attack me and I can't blame you. How could I? I tried to kill you two because Cheif had an accident. I was wrong and I've realized it."

  "I don't trust you," Vixey growled.

 Copper bowed his head. "I don't expect you to. I don't expect Todd to but if he does.... Well, anyway, I just came to check up on you so..." Copper turned to leave.

 "Wait, Copper!" todd ran to him. "Don't go yet. I'll show you the den." Copper glanced at Vixey.

  "But, I'll be intruding," he disagreed. "It's better for me to leave."

 "Copper," Todd said. Copper began to run. "Copper, wait!" Todd took off after him.

  "Todd, I won't bug you anymore!" Copper yelled. Todd put on a burst of spead and ran infront of him.

 "Vixey's just Vixey," Todd said. "She holds grudges but she'll get passed it."

  "That's not it."Copper looked at the forest floor. "It's just that, I know how bad I must have hurt you and I can't put up with that."

  "Copper, you didn't know," Todd disagreed.

 "I should have," Copper growled.

  "If you want to make it up to me, visit more," Todd told him.  

  "Alright, tell me if there's ever anything else," Copper said.

   "I will," Todd told him. "How'd you find me?"

   "A wolfdog named Aleu told me," Copper replied.

 "Really?" Todd asked. "How is she? She stole some meat for us, when we couldn't find any food."

  "She looked fine, I don't exactly know her myself," Copper said.

 "COPPER!"

  Copper sighed.  "I have to go."

   "Alright, see ya tomorrow." Todd tried to hide his disopiontment.

 The next day, Copper visited again. Vixey had about excepted him.

 Copper jumped when he heard a bark at the enterance. Todd snuck to the enterance and hissed, "Who's there?"

  "Aleu," said a farmiliar voice. "I've got my dad, Balto with me."

  "You do?" Todd asked. "Well, we'll come outside." Copper and Vixey followed him out.

    "Hey, Copper," Aleu said. "Hi, Vixey." 

 "Hey, Aleu," Vixey nodded. She gave Copper a look. "You know him?"

  "Yeah," Aleu replied. "He asked about you."

   "I see." Vixey turned her gaze from Copper.

  "I'm Balto," Balto said.

  Copper nodded. "I've heard of you."

  "Alot of dogs have," Balto sighed. "I just folowed my instincts."

  "I brought you a ton of meat!" Aleu put in.

 "Thank you," Vixey smiled. Copper hadn't ever seeen her smile! To be honest, he didn't know she could.

  "I thought you'd be extra hungary given your condition," Aleu continued, "so I brought extra sasagues and an extra steak."

  "What condition?" asked Todd and Copper in unison.

 "I..er..." Vixey stammered. "I'm pregnant, Todd."

  "With my...?" Todd gasped.

  "Yes." Vixey nodded.

   "Woooh!" Todd cried. "I'm gonna be a dad!"

 Vixey chuckled. "Yes, Todd."

  "Woah," Copper whistled. "Go, Todd. Go, Todd."

   "Oh yes, Aleu, you have a message for this young dog," Balto said. ALeu nodded and turned to Copper.

 "I saw a gray dog sniffing around the trees saying, 'Copper where are you?' Do yo uknow him?" she asked.

  "Cheif," sighed Copper. "I have to go." He said goodbye to Todd, Vixey, and balto. When he reached Aleu, she spoke up.

  "I'll go with you," she offered. Copper nodded, taken aback.

  "Thanks," he managed. Aleu shrugged and htey began to walk towards the cabin.

 "What's your story?" Aleu asked, sudennly.

  "What do you mean?" copper asked.

 "How did you become who you are?" Aleu asked.

  "Ah," Copper sighed. "Well, I guess my story started when I was a pup. You see, I followed my nose and it led me to the best friend I could have, Todd." Copper explained his story up to the end, when he hesitated. "In conclusion, Todd saved me ferom becoming a huntin' dog that was obsessed with hunting."

  "You have a complicated life," Aleu told him. "So do I." She explained all about runnign away then coming back eventually. "So, I wan't saved like you, but I found out what family means."

  "I understand," Coper nodded. "Cheif, Amos, and Todd are the only family I have. I'd die for them."

  "I get that." Aleu looked at him and their eyes met. Though it lasted for a few moments, it felt like forever.

 Finaly, Copper spoke. "This is it. I should go." Copper trudged to his barrel and looked at ALeu again. "Bye."

  "Bye." Aleu turned then spun back around. "Um... meet you at Vixey's tomorrow?"

  Copper grinned. "That can be arranged." Aleu nodded then took off.

  "Where have you been, youngin'?" Cheif's voice woke Copper from what ever thoughts were running in his mind.

  "With..." Copper had ot think fast.

   "With Goldy?" Cheif asked.

 "Er..." Copper had to think. Goldy was a golden retriver that was copper's girlfriend. "Sure."

  "Sure?" Cheif asked, tilting his head.

  "I mean, yeah!" Copper replied, quickly. Too quickly.

  "Who was the wolf with you?" Cheif narrowed his eyes.

   "Aleu," Copper replied, without thinking. "She's a friend!"

  "Sure," Cheif teased. "A friend. Old or not, I ain't stupid!"

  "Right." Copper lay in the barrel. Cheif had it all wrong! He was with Aleu, Todd, Vixey, and Balto. Not just Aleu. And he was quite please with Goldy.

  Some part of his brain snickered, "Please! Are you trying to pull that on yourself?"

  No! I'm not pulling anything! Copper snapped in his mind. Was he right?

 Aleu began to walk back to Vixey's. She heard the thudding of paws and stopped. A golden retriver leaped at her, snarling!

 Aleu gasped and slid to the side. Who was this dog?

  "So, you think you can take my guy?" she growled.

  Aleu cocked her head. "Huh?"

  "Don't play innocent!" snarled the golden retriver.

 "Who do yo umean?!" Aleu demanded, frustrated.

  "Copper, who else?" snapped the retriver.

    "Look, I barely know him," Aleu told her, neck hair standing up.

  "Keep it hat way," growled the retriver. With that, she ran inot the trees.

  "How about not?" Aleu muttered. She headed back for Vixey's.

 Copper woke to a orangish-yellow face above his. "WOAH!"

  "Calm dow, Copper," giggled Goldy's voice. "It's me, Hunter."

 "Don't call me that," Copper grumbled. He stood up. "So, other than trying to give me a heart attack, why are you here?"

 Goldy errupted into a fit of giggles and copper had to wait for them to subside.

 "I saw you wiht  wolfdog yesterday," Goldy said, seriously. "I don't want you say her name ever again. What ever her name is."

  "Her name's June," lied Copper.

  "Oh," Goldy sighed. "Want ot hang out?"

  "Sorry, I've got plans," Copper replied. He slid past her and ran to Todd's.

 "Hey Todd," he greeted when he arrived. "Have you seen Aleu?"

  "Ya, she went to get you," Todd said.

  "Dang it!" copper growled. "I gotta go, fast!" He ran towards the cabbin ad when he arrived, he saw Aleu talking to Goldy.

  "Are you June?" Goldy demanded.

  "no, I'm Aleu," Aleu replied, crossly. "Where'd you get June?"

  Copper groaned and said, "Aleu, Todd's looking for you."

  "He is?" ALeu asked. "I told him I'd be here."

  "You forgot," growled Copper.

  "I did?" Aleu asked. "Oh ya! I did!" She and Copper ran back to Todd's and Copper collapsed.

  "Man, Aleu!" he growled. "I had a good covr up too! Goldy saw us together and got the wrong impression so I-"

  "-said I was June," Aleu nodded. "Dang, I'm sorry."

  "It's all right," Copper sighed.

  "What's up?" Todd asked. Copper explained evry thing. Vixey looked at Copper, with pity!

  "Oh, poor puppy," she cooed.

  "Shut it," Copper hissed.

  Vixey grinned. "Maybe I will and maybe I won't." 

   "Right," Copper groaned.

 "Dang!" growled Vixey. "I have to meet up with someone." Copper sensed panick in her voice. Why?

 "k. Bye!" Todd called, as Vixey took off.

   "I have to use the restroom," Copper lied. He went behind a bush ten took off after Vixey.

  When she stopped, Copper hid in a bush. Vixey was with another male fox!!

 "What do you want, Phil?" she growled.

  "To father my pups," he replied.

  "Their Todd's," Vixey snarled.

  "You mean the fox you ditched me for?" Phil asked.

  "i ditched you before I met Todd," Vixey snapped. Copper thought she had been mad at him! He hadn't seen her actually lose her temper before this!

  "There's still a chance the pups are mine," the fox snarled.

  "I-" Vixey glanced at the ground. "I know! But they're not!"

 "You sure?" Phil smirked.

  Copper couldn't take it. He ran back to Todd.

  "What took so long?" Todd asked.

  "I followed Vixey," Copper said. "She met with a male fox and apparently he was her mate before you were! So, the pups might be his."

  "No!" Todd growled. "You're joking! She'd tell me!"

 "I'm not!" Copper hissed.

  "You're lying!" Todd snarled. "Why, Copper?"

   "Todd, trust me," Coppper murmured.

 "NO!" Todd lunged at Copper! Copper gasped and slid to the side. "Leave, Copper! Your welcome has left!"

  "Don't shut me out," Copper begged.

 "I'm not," Todd told him, sadly. "You shut me out."

 "Todd," Copper whsipered.

  "Leave!" Todd groaned. He looked away. "please. Your debt is repaid if you leave." Copper hesitated.

  "You said you'd do something for me when I asked!" Todd growled. "So leave!"

  Copper turned to go. "Your the best friend I could have. And you saved me." Copper began to trudge away.

 He heard Aleu say, "Copper! Todd, it's true!" He then felt Aleu's fur brushing against his. Suprisingly, it comforted Copper.

 He sat down in puddle. "What do I do?"

  "Talk to Vixey," Aleu replied. She sat down beside him. "She'll listen, believe me."

  "She doesn't trust me," Copper sighed.

  "You've earned it," Aleu told him. Copper looked at her. Her soft blue eyes were filled with emotion.

 "Thanks," he whispered. Copper didn't know what he was thinking, but he found himself licking Aleu's ear. He pulled away and looked at his paws. "Sorry. Cheif rasied me better. I can't cheat on Goldy."

  "Ya know," Aleu said, "if you don't like her anymore..."

  "Leave her?" Copper asked. "Well, I don't like her at all!"

  "Neither do I," admitted Aleu.

  "Stay put," Copper told Aleu. "I'll be right back." She nodded and he ran to Goldy's home.

  "Goldy," he said. she turned to face him.

  "Hi, Coppy!" she cried.

  "We're over, just so you know," Copper growled. He then turned around and walked back to Aleu. "I ditched her."

  "Good for you," Aleu replied, averting his eyes.

  "I really like you Aleu," he blurted.

  "Copper, I-" Aleu sighed. she looked at him. "I like you too."

  "Really?" Copper gasped.

   Aleu nodded. "Ya." Copper walked to her and nuzzled her. "Copper? Does this mean we're dating or we're mates?"

  "Um..." Copper hesitated. "I'll ask..." A sinking realization hit him. "...Todd..."

  "Copper." Aleu licked his ear. "Go talk to Vixey. Trust me."

  Copper grinned. "Alright but, Aleu, let's take our relationship slowly, okay?"

 Aleu nodded. "Sounds great." Copper ran to Todd's place. When he arrived, he realized that they were gone! He followed their scent to the spot where he saw Vixey and Phil.

 Sure enough, they were ther, with Phil!! But it was no friendly gathering. Phil was snapping at Todd!

 Copper leaped onto Phil's back and tore at his fur.

  "Huh?" Phil fell back wards to try to get Copper off but Copper leaped off. He jumped on Phil's stomach and snarled.

  "Keep away from them!" he growled. Copper lunged at Phil's throat, but Phil moved his head and kicked Copper in the throat! Copper went rolling off and soon Phil was ontop of him!

  Phil lunged at Copper's throat. That was what Copper what waiting for. When Phil wasleaning in, Copper kicked him and sent him flying into a tree.

  Copper leaped and attacked Phil once more. He soon had the dead fox at his paws. Copper looked at Todd.

  "You were wrong," he panted. "This is how I chose to repay my debt."

  "Copper, i'm sorry," Todd sighed. "I was wrong."

 "Todd, I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Vixey shuffled her paws. "There's a big chance that they're yours but even if they're not, I've always cared for you you."

  "I know," Todd grinned. "I care about you too."

    Months passed. Inmstead of being a stray, Aleu was adopted by Amos. Cheif always poked fun at the two. and, of course, it didn't help when Copper and Aleu became mates and had 2 pups. One was named Buster, the tan and copper colored male. Then there was Daisy, the copper female wiht a tan spot on her back.

 Todd and Vixey had two pups as well. There was the male, Rusty, ad the female, Rosie.  Todd and Copper are still best friends to this day.

 After the last argument, they began closer than ever. That was how it was supposed to be.

 The end!! I hope you liked it! Please Review!

 Author's note: This is dedicated to a friendship I've had for a long time. I think that I'll tresure the time spent with the friend always.