Maple dipped her head towards him, then began a slow run towards the sun, Poppy following.

It didn't take long to get to Ash's territory. Now Maple was slowly creeping towards his den, her nose twitching until she found the scent she was looking for. Fire! She followed the scent to a hole covered with brambles and saw a red shape.

Maple rushed forwards. "Fire!" She yowled. Her pup turned. She saw his little sad snout light up with happiness.

"Mommy?" He asked. "I missed you so much!"

Maple placed a paw over the brambles and tried to untangle it as Fire yipped on and on. Suddenly he fell silent and stared at something behind her. Maple gulped, and slowly turned around to face a black fox.

"Ash." She whispered. Then she gasped, seeing that Poppy was behind him, unconscious.

Ash smiled menacly. "So you know my name, don't you?"

Maple drew herself up and stared into his gray eyes. "Let my pups go!"

"Never!" Ash leaped at Maple, pinning her down.

"We hold no grudge against you! Why are you doing this?" Maple cried.

"You think you can just come in here and establish a home in this forest. My family has lived here for generations! This is my place!" Ash responded, eyes blazing with fury.

Maple slashed at Ash's muzzle. He backed away, blood dripping from his snout as he shook it from side to side. Maple jumped up, using this chance to attack. She ran towards him, jaws open. Maple rammed into Ash, knocking him backwards. She leaped up, deciding to use the leap and pounce on him. Maple dove for his stomach, but at the last moment, Ash rolled away and Maple hit the ground hard. She felt Ash dig his claws on her back and winced as he bit her shoulder. Blood rolled down Maple's side, staining the ground. Ash couldn't hold on to Maple's back for much longer, for red foxes don't have claws for gripping and climbing. Ash slipped off, giving both foxes a break. Maple stood up and charged once more, this time successfully clawing Ash. The two foxes were again locked in mortal combate.

Maple saw her chance. She bit down hard onto Ash's paw, smiling with satisfaction as he yowled in pain. I wish I had a stronger bite force like you. She thought bitterly. Then it would hurt more! But as Maple got distracted by her thoughts, Ash limped forwards and pushed her over, pinning her down. He placed his paw on her throat.

"You're dead, Maple." Ash growled. "And after you die, I get to kill your kits and claim your territory!" He let out a cruel bark. Maple struggled beneath his claws, but it was no use. She couldn't get free. No! No! Maple thought, panicked. This can't be how it ends! It can't be! Ash dug his claws deeper and watched with glory in his eyes as Maple choked. He lifted his claw and let the blood flow. Maple could feel life slowly ebbing out of her. Her vision swayed and darkness began to flicker around her. Ash raised his claws once more. Maple knew what was next. The death blow. Maple fought to stay awake as darkness descended upon her. She saw, with her dying vision, Ash plunging his claws down, towards her throat. She saw the crazy look in his blazing gray eyes. She saw, with the last of her breaths, how he got bowled over by another red fox.

Maple gasped, taking a big breath of air. She weakly stood up, half-crawling, half-walking towards the thick patch of moss nearby. She reached it, ignoring the fighting around her. Maple grabbed a pawful of moss and pressed it against her bleeding throat. The moss, having no vascular tissue, soaked up the blood like it was water. She kept the moss there for a bit longer, using it as a bandage. Maple let go of the moss, letting it fall to the ground. The bleeding had stopped.

Maple looked around her, still a bit dizzy from the amount of blood she lost. Poppy was awake now, playing tug-of-war with the brambles that covered Fire's prison. Ash was pinned to the ground by the newcomer.

But it was no newcomer. Maple knew this fox. A brown tail flicked, and the new fox turned around and looked at Maple with her brown eyes.

It was Hazel.