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The fox looked around, flicking its fluffy tail. It made its way down to the river that was now half frozen. It lapped up the crisp water, its ears flicking back and forth warily as it drank.

It was currently a time of danger for the foxes. Wolves had invaded the forest, chasing out foxes from their dens and filling the forest with howls.

Red-Fur was currently part of one of the largest packs of foxes, Pack-Mind. The only reason this particular pack had survived for so long was because of their cunning and cleverness. Red-Fur had helped mentor many young pups to be aware in the forest. To be constantly watching out for danger. To be vigilant.

Red-Fur stretched out his legs one by one. He hadn't ventured out of Pack-Mind's den for so long, and his legs yearned to run. He gazed at the trees surrounding the river, orange, red and gold leaves swaying in the wind.

"Come back now, Red-Fur!" a brownish snout poked out of one of the many den entrances.

Red-Fur yipped an answer back. "Fine, fine! I'm coming!"

Leave it to Small-Paws to be the one to have noticed he had snuck out. Small-Paws was the mother of the pack. She had mothered about half the pack. She had even mothered Red-Fur.

Red-Fur slipped into the entrance, his smooth fur making it easy to not get caught by the many brambles, thorns and vines that covered the hole.

"There you are," Small-Paws breathed in relief. "I was getting worried."

"I was fine, Small-Paws," Red-Fur rolled his eyes and padded into the tunnel system.

He entered the sleeping cave, where his brother, Brown-Fur, was waiting for him. Brown-Fur and Red-Fur were extremely close; they were always together, mucking about. Brown-Fur, being slightly less reckless and curious than Red-Fur to as what the outside world had to offer, always stayed at the mouth of a tunnel, watching as his brother frolicked.

Red-Fur plopped himself down on the beds of soft moss, his jaws gaped open in a yawn. Brown-Fur curled up next to him, Small-Paws licking their heads affectionately before leaving them to sleep. Pack-Mind had developed a taste of hunting at night and sleeping in the day, as there weren't as many wolves around at night. I'll probably go out again tonight, Red-Fur thought before he drifted into a slumber.

The next day, or rather, the next night, Red-Fur chuckled slightly at the thought of it, still quite unused to the different schedule, he snuck out again, Brown-Fur waiting patiently for him, his yellowy-grey eyes shining in the darkness. Red-Fur crept around, nosing under bushes and crawling through the undergrowth, excitement sparking in him as he spotted a huddled shape on the ground.

Perhaps it's a fox from a different pack! Small-Paws would be pleased.

On closer inspection, Red-Fur realized this was definitely not a fox. He was small, with silver-gray fur that shone dimly in the moonlight.

Small-Paws would not be pleased.

But instinct told Red-Fur what to do, and he gently picked up the shape in his mouth. He couldn't be too old, barely a pup, really. He was small and his eyes were closed. Red-Fur hurried through the woods until he reached the familiar entrance to the tunnels.

"What've you got there?" Brown-Fur peeked at it before gasping. "You didn't."

"I had to! He was going to die!" Red-Fur begged his brother to believe him. Brown-Fur shook his head, turning away, the brown fur he was named after darker than ever.

"What in the Pack is that?" Small-Paws thundered upon seeing it.

"I had to save him!" Red-Fur burst. Why didn't any fox understand?

"I'm sorry, Red-Fur, but Good-Fighter will have to know about this," Small-Paws scraped her paws on the stone before leaving the sleeping den, hurling some words over her shoulder. "That's a wolf, Red-Spark-Sunset-Fur. A wolf."

Red-Fur knew that, obviously. He stood there in shock, bristling. Small-Paws had said his whole name. That was rare. Normally when she was angry at him, he was only ever Red-Spark-Fur. He felt himself flushing as stares were directed his way. He glanced at Brown-Fur, his eyes pleading for him to help him, but Brown-Fur merely turned away, his gaze trained on the tunnels.

The wolf pup stirred, his bright yellow eyes taking in his surroundings. He let out a small bark and Red-Fur licked his head, trying to soothe him. The foxes around him murmured their disgust, some even calling him names...

"Wolf-Friend..."

"Fox-Traitor..."

"How could he..."

"Thought he was loyal..."

Red-Fur held his head high. He had been trying to help that wolf pup! If he hadn't taken it, it probably would've died!

Small-Paws was back, Good-Fighter a few pawsteps behind him. Good-Fighter was Pack-Mind's leader, and he was vicious, deadly and powerful. Red-Fur and Brown-Fur had often joked about fighting him and dying. Red-Fur didn't want to admit that it was a possible future for him. A shiver of fear crept its way down his fur and he started to regret bringing the wolf pup back.

"What have you done?" Good-Fighter growled, his tail lashing in fury.

"I can't just let it die!" Red-Fur retorted before snapping his jaws shut. The first rule he had ever learned from Small-Paws was no talking back to your leader and commanders, and he had already broken it. Not even twelve moons of age and he was going to be exiled.

Good-Fighter's eyes registered surprise before he snarled. "You are hereby exiled from Pack-Mind. Take that...disgusting discrimination of nature and leave."

Red-Fur turned to Small-Paws, seeking assistance from his mother, but she was tall and proud. She agreed with Good-Fighter.

"Brown-Fur?" Red-Fur asked tentatively, knowing the answer. His brother was loyal. Brown-Fur wouldn't desert Pack-Mind for him.

"I'm sorry, brother," Brown-Fur didn't look at him.

Red-Fur wasn't even able to say goodbye to all his friends before he was marched out of the tunnels by a set of unfriendly guards. He nudged the wolf pup to move, misery radiating through his body.

I'm so dumb. I have no one.

A whole moon cycle passed. Red-Fur had grown to love the wolf pup. While he still missed Brown-Fur, Small-Paws and everyone else, and he still regretted his decision, he had to admit there were some benefits. He wasn't restricted anymore. He could go anywhere, anytime. But it wasn't as fun as if it would be with Brown-Fur...

The wolf pup had picked up on Fox, and in turn, Red-Fur had picked up on a little Wolf, and started to speak to Red-Fur. Red-Fur had named him Silver-Fur, for his thick, bushy, silver pelt.

Suddenly, Red-Fur's peace was interrupted by Silver-Fur crashing through the bracken. His eyes were alight with fear and Red-Fur felt something coming towards them.

"Hide!" Red-Fur hissed, shoving Silver-Fur towards a log. Red-Fur leapt behind a tree, watching the clearing. Luckily, Silver-Fur managed to scramble into the log swiftly and silently.

Red-Fur used his limited knowledge of Wolf to eavesdrop on their conversation. The first wolf, a brown-red she-wolf, barked at the other. "Come on. We need to...the foxes..."

"I get it!" The second wolf, another she-wolf, but this one black with streaks of gray, replied. "Their leader cannot live. It is...our plan."

Red-Fur froze. They were planning to kill Good-Fighter. While he was amazing at fighting, wolves were too strong.

"We found their home in..." The first wolf growled. "They live in...tunnels. I don't..."

But Red-Fur had already stopped listening, retrieved Silver-Fur, and made a mad dash to warn his brother, mother and leader.

Red-Fur scrambled down into the tunnels, Silver-Fur right behind him, both of them knowing full well what was going to happen. But Red-Fur did not expect what he saw.

Red-Fur burst into a battle, foxes and wolves leaping about the place, fury in every animal's eyes. Red-Fur scanned the foray before finding his brother. Brown-Fur now had sleek muscles shining underneath his fur, although his ribs stood out. Shocked, Red-Fur spotted Small-Paws next. Her ribs were visible.

Were the foxes starving?

"The big fox!" Silver-Fur whispered to Red-Fur, pointing at Good-Fighter.

"Oh no," Red-Fur gasped, seeing a dark wolf, his fur so close to black, leaping at Good-Fighter while the massive fox was fighting off another.

Red-Fur and Silver-Fur leapt forwards as one, crossing the cave within seconds. The cries of battle faded as Silver-Fur launched himself at the black wolf, knocking him off course. Red-Fur helped Good-Fighter up, pleased to see that he wasn't injured too much.

"We need to leave," Silver-Fur panted, having made his way back to them.

"You!" Good-Fighter spat. Then, his eyes softened. "I'll deal with you later."

"Better than nothing," Red-Fur commented lowly to Silver-Fur, watching Good-Fighter to see what he would do next.

"Foxes! Retreat! And yes, I suppose you two can come as well," Good-Fighter added upon seeing Red-Furs question written across his face.

Many foxes were lost that day. It was a little selfish of Red-Fur, but he was glad. The fight had given him a chance.

He stood before Good-Fighter, Small-Paws, and a couple other high-ranking foxes. They all glared down at him before finally, Good-Fighter spoke up.

"You have saved my life. You with your...wolf," Good-Fighter was clearly struggling not to call either of them names. "But you have also betrayed us. We shall have a vote."

Red-Fur quickly counted the high-ranking foxes. Seven, not including Good-Fighter, who would not be voting. He needed at least four votes. He tilted his chin up, Silver-Fur imitating him.

"All in favor of Red-Fur and the wolf staying?" Good-Fighter questioned.

Red-Fur closed his eyes, unable to look. He opened them when Silver-Fur let out a howl of joy. It made a few foxes grumble, but Red-Fur didn't care.

Five foxes had stood up. Five votes.

He was staying. The foxes would continue to mutter at him behind his back, but that didn't matter.

It isn't much, he thought ruefully, thinking about the amount of freedom him and Silver-Fur were allowed. But it's a start.

For now, Red-Fur was just glad to be back.