While this story is fictional the characters excluding the fox aren’t. Ever since I was about ten I’ve wondered about my dog Sasha a now 6 year old tri-color beagle and of her escaping and finding a scrappy young male fox to mate with. While I’m aware the idea of a fox and a hound joining is unlikely, so was the idea of a hybrid stray leading a group of hatful dogs back to safety! Anyway enjoy the story of my pup Sasha (who’s age has been subtracted back to 3 years in this story ‘bout the time I’d first wrote this) and her hopeful mate umm………we’ll call him……Charlie. (Sasha and Charlie get it). Oh umm before I forget just so you understand my dog suffers from separation anxiety so basically she hates being alone it’s boarder line severe just so you’ll understand why I have the character say certain things and act a certain way while alone.

 Dedicated to my cat Patches: 1990-2007

Sasha paced uneasily on the false hard wood floors of the apartment, after 12 years, her family had decided to pick up and move. She whined and yipped as her girl (me) picked up a box labeled “ Sasha’s stuff,” and brought it down stairs to the car. “Don’t worry,” said Patches, the family cat who’s age matched the number of years the family had been living there, he was a tuxedo/American short hair mixed and Sasha’s brother and alpha who she loved deeply and admired greatly. She wagged her tail slowly and glance at him as he lay on box marked “Mom/Dad bedroom T.V”  “What if they forget us Patchy? What if-what they leave us here? What are we going to do?” she asked. Patches smirked, “They won’t leave us they love us, we love them as much as they us, they won’t forget us Sasha,” he said, reassuring her. “Sash, Patch, come on, dad and big bro are coming for the heavy stuff,” her girl called. Patches looked at her, “I told you they wouldn’t forget us,” he said smiling. Sasha raced to greet her girl as the leash was picked up, she played with her a while before letting her girl clip her collar to the leash. Patches came behind and rubbed his girl/little sister on the head, telling her to rub him, but instead he groaned as she picked him up and headed out the door. Sasha sighed as the neighborhood started shrinking more and more from the back of the car window, her girl joined her sigh, “It’ll be fine Sasha don’t worry,” Patches said, her girl repeated the words both to herself and to the dog in hopes the words held some truth.

Six month later;

Sasha yawned as the smell of breakfast awoke her, it just another Friday morning and that meant work. She stretched and let out two swift barks to awake her girl for school. As much as Sasha hated for her girl to leave, she loved walking her to and from school. It took three months  but Sasha learned how to stay focused enough to walk back home, she now knew when and when not to cross the street and as home, her nose was way to keen for her to get lost unless it was on purpose. She whined when her barks were of no use to the girl and pawed at her girls stomach. The teenager groaned and looked at Sasha with one eye, “School time again? Can’t wait for summer,” she said sleepily. “Yeah me either,” Sasha thought.

After breakfast the two set out side by side walking slowly to school, Sasha enjoyed the long walk as her girl would often speak her about life. “The world is filled with many dangers, it’s why so many are afraid to leave home, the trick is knowing that while your likely to be killed outside, there are better things out here in the world that we’ve yet to experience that are worth seeing,” she said. Sasha’s ears perked as she intently listened to her girl’s wise words, the longer they talked, the shorter the distance became between home and school. Sasha sighed as she often did, as the scent of her girls friends entered her nose, she knew it was only was blocks off now and there was nothing either of them could do about it. Her girl caressed Sasha’s head and soft earlobes as she greeted her friends. They joined her, rubbing Sasha’s head, ears, chin and back gently as they walked to the building. Sasha paid no attention as they talked, the only thing that concerned her now was the sudden since of loneliness as her girl and friends left for school. Sasha sat and watched as the immense group of young teens and preteens disappeared into the world forbidden to those with four legs. The command “Go home Sasha,” caused the young beagle to turn and trot back home to see what her den brother Patches was up to.

Sasha nosed the back gate open as she reach home and kicked closed with her back legs. She panted as entered the home via doggy door and thanked “mom” for leaving fresh water down for her. “Enjoy your walk sis’?” Patches asked from the kitchen counter. “Why do they leave us Patches? Why can’t they stay here with us and play with us? Is it something we did? Is it something I did?” Sasha asked. Patches shook the loose fur from his big cheeks, “It’s nothing we do, if it was they’d get rid of us why would they leave their territory instead of exiling us? Just like you leave to walk our girl to and from school, they leave to work as well. Trust me Sasha, they’d never leave us, they love us, take a nap, our girl will be home at 3:00pm and you’ll be happy again, same as always,” Patches said. Sasha whimpered again, dreading the lonely walk upstairs. The cat sighed, he looked to make sure no one else was around and leaped down from the counter, he rubbed against the plump dogs’ side and lead her to her girls’ bed, there he curled beside her, keeping his eyes and ears alert for danger as she slept. “Thank you Patches,” she whispered as sleep tempted the young dog, Patches said nothing, only purred as the sound of a relaxed dog soothed him.

Patches yawned as Sasha sat up suddenly, “She’s coming!” Sasha announced excitedly, which meant her girl was about thirty minuets away. Patches smelled the air for signs of new scents, there were non saved for a young dog starting her heat cycle, “Hate to ruin your moment but that time of the year is in the air again Sasha,” Patches said. Sasha cocked her head and smelled the air again, her own scent reigned through and she could feel her body ache for a male’s touch. She sighed, “I hate this time of the months there are no males around here to court me,” she said. Patches stretched, clawing the bed sheets, “It’ll be fine you’ll find a mate this year,” he said as he began to groom his right arm. Sasha smiled, “Your sweet but you know how likely it is that I find a mate? Even if a male comes here I can’t be the only female going into heat now, he’ll want one of the other females for sure,” Sasha said to him. Patches smiled, “You’re the most beautiful dog in the universe there’s no male alive that would be stupid enough to pass you up heck if I weren’t a cat I’d chase you down right now,” he said. Sasha smiled, “Thank you Patches, you’re a great friend and wonderful brother,” she said.

As the days became weeks Sasha’s urge to mate became greater as well as her fear of being alone. It was during these times which she wondered into town and visited the equally lonely shop keeps who’s businesses were slow in the afternoon. She’d return home in time to meet with her girl at the end of school but other then that, she was home about as much as the humans were on weekdays.  As such, her weekends were spent with much needed sleep although she was often to restless to do so. One Monday after her usual walk with her girl to school, Sasha’s nose lead her on the trail to a curios scent which was a strange mix of wild and untamed, as though the canine had never had a human hand touch its head. She followed it through town, bypassing all females for fear of a fight. She sped up, rounding corners and slipping through ally ways, barely noticing as the building and houses gave way to trees and deep, cold, soft earth. The scent lead her to what seemed to be a recently dug den belonging to a small creature. She looked up as the sound of broken branches filled her ears, “Yoooouuuu whooooo!” she exclaimed (hold on, this You who thing, Sasha truly does when she’s looking for someone it’s one of her loudest barks) as a figure appeared. It was unlike any creature she’d ever laid eyes on, she could tell by his stature that he was indeed of canine descent, his size was no larger then herself and his coat, matched her own  in fall, a vibrate fiery reddish orange color with a white chest, belly, and the very tip of his tail, his legs were pure black, his figure, short and scruffy yet Sasha could tell he resembled a wolf, her heart couldn’t help but speed up for him. “You! This is my territory! Leave! Now!” he exclaimed. Sasha’s ears flattened, she backed up a few steps but never turned her back on him. The fox advanced on the beagle, preparing to attack the young house pet, “I told you to-“ the scent of Sasha’s body stopped  his words, he realized she was only a lingering female in heat and figured she wanted  a mate as bad as he did. The sight her was suddenly beautiful to him, she was only a dog but he scenes the call of the wild within her heart by the fire in her eyes. Sasha growled at him and lounged, just missing his neck, the young fox growled and pushed Sasha off him, knocking her a few feet. She lifted herself snarling at the creature, his ears flattened into his head, “My apologies dear cousin, I thought you were a male, preparing to overtake my land,” he said. Sasha sat and looked at the fox, his golden eyes piercing through her causing her heart to skip a beat. “My name is Sasha, I’m from New York, forgive me but, what and who are you?” She asked. The fox smiled, “My mother dubbed Charlie when I was seconds old, I am known by man as a red fox, as for my place of birth, it was and always will be here, may ask what breed for canine you are?” he asked.  “I am a dog, a breed known as a beagle,” she answered. Charlie moved close to her and sat, curling his tail around his legs. “So what brings to my neck of the woods dear Sasha?” he asked, her ears fell at the reminder of her family came to her,” Actually Charlie, I think I’m lost,” she admitted. Charlie moved close enough to feel the hairs of her back against his paws. Sasha stood and moved to face him, she sat placing her tail between her legs still very aware she was in heat. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you, I can get you home, I know this forest like the fleas on my back just tell me where you live,” he said. Sasha sighed, “That’s the thing, I don’t live in the forest, I live with humans, a girl her parents and my cat Patches,” she said. Charlie sighed this time, “I was afraid you’d say that, I should have noticed when I saw that collar and I.D. tag hanging from your neck, Sasha your in heat and I know for a fact the closest things they have for males in that town are the cats that wonder around there. Stay with me, I’ll relive your pain, give you the children I know you so deeply want and deserve,” Charlie pleaded. Sasha shifted in her seat, Charlie had a point, this could be her only choice to become a mother and part of her, much of didn’t want to give up that chance, but she also knew how much her girl loved her and would be looking for her, that her best friend, her sister had left. “We’ve only just met Charlie, I don’t even know you, besides, my girl needs me she has never been that social with her own kind, I’ve seen them, they growl and attack her except for two of them, the cat and I are all she’s got,” Sasha said. “Your human will forget you, she will move on after a while, she will buy another dog and have a replacement you, I’ve seen it happen every time, your human will be no different,” Charlie said. Sasha growled, although she knew her girl admired wolves but not enough to replace her, never enough to replace her, “My girl loves me, she cares for me and in return asks only for my friendship and love, I live the life others envy and one you cannot understand it is freedom,” she said. Charlie walked up beside her, “You have not lived until you have experienced my life you are not free until you’ve lived life like a fox,” he whispered. Sasha grinned mischievously, “One day Charlie, I’ll give you one day but at its end you will lead me back home,” she demanded. “A fine deal one that I’ll gladly take but at its end, should you love my life take my offer and be my mate,”  he said. Sasha laughed and nuzzled Charlie, “We’ll see my clever fox either way I cannot stay here,” she said as she licked his nose. He smiled, knowing she liked him and for now, that was enough for him, “Tonight we sleep soundly in the den side by side, rain is on its way,” he said, Sasha smelled the dew in the air, the scent told her there would be a storm some time tonight and much of the next day, she wondered if they’d be able to find their way back to town in spite of it.

Rain indeed greeted them that morning and yet to our young beagle’s surprise, Charlie did not retreat to the safety of his den. As he woke hunger struck him, causing him to head out in search of food. “Hold on,” Sasha said as she stare out at the storm. “What’s wrong, aren’t you house pets used to a little rain?” Charlie joked. “No, I don’t like the feeling of rain or snow falling on my back between the thunder and the tingling of the snow/rain, it brings back horrible old memories of my past owner,” she said. Charlie sat beside her and cocked his head, Sasha sighed, “Before my girl there was this guy my first owner gave me to, he mistreated me, leaving me on the fire escape daily, feeding me nothing but scraps of stuff he’d eaten, it was disgusting and degrading. When my family found me, they took me in with loving arms, I was no more then 6months and instead of treating me like an object, I was family even the cat was nice to me, my girl is lazy sometimes and sometimes doesn’t want to walk me but, she’s saved me from more pit bulls and rott weilers then I know what to do with,” she said. Charlie’s ears fell to the side, “Very well then our agreement is postponed until tomorrow, but I still need to go and hunt less we’ll starve,” he said. Sasha panted heavily as Charlie left the den, she couldn’t help but whimper and cry knowing he’d left. Charlie remerged into the den after hearing her cries, “I’m sorry,” Sasha said. Charlie shook his head, “No need, our pasts are not our faults, all we can do is make sure our futures are well enough,” Charlie said as he laid beside her. Sasha sighed happily, in truth, she had grown to love him in this short time. His quick wit, his charm, even his wise cracks, if she could, Sasha knew she’d stay with him and together, they’d bare many pups(kits) together. She knew she would have to leave him soon but she figured why not allow him the one thing he wanted most of her, herself. Sasha licked Charlie’s muzzle tenderly and allowed him to lay his chest against her for comfort. He looked at her, “Are you sure?” he asked, she nodded and licked his muzzle once more.

 Sasha yawed as the smell of dawn and freshly fallen rain hit her nose, Charlie groomed her scruff tenderly, “My mate,” he said quietly. Sasha laughed from the feel of him, “Charlie, you know I can’t stay with you. On this night I’ve pledge for you as my mate, there shall be no more after you, however you know I have to return to may family,” she said. Charlie looked at her, “But what of us? As we speak our bodies continue to merge, inside of you our kits(pups) are forming and I would like to be there to father them,” he said. Sasha sighed, “I’ll stay until I bare them, when they are strong enough to walk we leave, understand?” she asked. Charlie licked her, “Oh thank you, thank you Sasha you shall not regret this,” he said excitedly. Sasha groaned at the thought of how much she’d truly regret it.

As the moths rolled on, Sasha had learned to hunt very well for a dog raised in houses her whole life. She was beginning to enjoy her time without a leash and even so, she enjoyed it even better with Charlie. Each day of her pregnancy was spent with the two of them either at play or speaking about life. One night, under the stars he’d told her of his past life, “My father, my sire, he died at the fangs of a wolf when we were was very young, he left my mother with four kits to raise all alone, it was my job as the eldest to learn quickly so that I could provide for our family,” he said, “Oh I’m sorry Charlie, I was to young to remember my family any more then the fact that my mother had a warm gentle voice and an even warmer body filled with milk,” she said. “How long do you spend with your parents that you don’t even remember them?” Charlie asked. “Six-eight weeks, what about you?” she asked, “Three years sometimes longer, after mom got shot by a hunter my brother Todd and I split up,” he said, his tone a tad bitter. Sasha licked his muzzle, while she loved him more then any other canine she’d ever dated, she still missed her family deeply. Speaking of which, since she’d gone missing, the family had been on ends. They’d all been miserable since she’d been missing and both Sasha’s girl and her (girl’s) father had figured she’d been stolen but after weeks of searching and investigation with the cops, they’d found nothing to support their theory. With the cops no longer helping, the family took matters into their own hands. For two months they combed the town and the forest with no success. Feeling guilty, some of the neighbors set out to help with their own dogs to smell out the lovable beagle.

Sasha sighed as the life with in her kicked, urging their mother to start the day. “Their restless I see,” Charlie said as he dropped a thick piece of meat at her nose. Sasha scarified it down in a hurry, “I think they want out,” she said when she was finished. Charlie smelled the lump of a puppy nearest its mother’s front paw, “My first son,” he said to the lump. Sasha laughed, “She’s a girl,” she said. Charlie smiled, he licked Sasha’s muzzle tenderly, “Whatever he is, I’m still glade you’re my-“ the sound of humans calling Sasha’s name interrupted Charlie’s words. Sasha’s ears rose at the sound, she laid up and inadvertently barked. “That’s…. that’s my girl,” Sasha said. Charlie’s ears dropped into his head, “Your not going back are you?” he asked. Sasha’s heart started to race as the sound of her voice began to become more clear, true she was now wife and soon to be mother of half wild hybrid dogs, but she was also a sister, a child, a beta, and a friend to a family that desperately needed her. “I-umm, I love you Charlie I’ll never love another like I’ve loved you,” she said. Charlie sighed, “But your still a pet,” he said, Sasha nodded. “Why don’t you come with me, you’d love life as a pet, its fun,” she said. Charlie laughed, “Didn’t you learn anything in the past few months? That life isn’t for me, I’m free sprit going where I want when I want, listen we’ll always be mates and every six months, I will come back for you to and help you bare more pup/kits, every night for six weeks I’ll come to see my young and if you need me, just give a howl, you’re my mate the only one I’ll ever love or mate with, until then, get out of here house pet,” he said with wink. Sasha smiled and licked her mates muzzle  one last time, he licked hers back and licked her belly as well, “Till we meet again, my young boys,” he whispered. Sasha stood and laughed, “Their girls,” she said. Charlie playfully growled and bit her scruff, she growled back nipped his paws, “SASHA!!!!” someone called again causing her to jump. Charlie and her shared one last loving glance at one another before she ran to greet her family, belly wobbling as she did.

Two weeks later;

Sasha panted as the last puppy left her body, “Four mixed breeds, two boys are the oldest although the girls aren’t so small either” the vet announced. “Can you tell what breed their mixed with?” her girl asked. The vet examined the bodies of the pup/kits, “I may be wrong but it looks like red fox to me,” the vet replied. The family looked at Sasha as she lay with her head in her paws, smiling, she sighed happily, “My lovely mate, I thank you for helping me create these little treasures, I can hardly wait until we meet again,” she whispered to herself. “Nor can I my love,” Charlie said as he over looked the house where his beloved now and forever would resided.