(Authors note: Hi all. Sorry I've been under the radar for so long. First of all I would like to make it plain that this is not entirely mine. The original story line belongs to "jerod2447". I have permission to post this so please, no flames. Please read the original first before mine. Updates will take a while due to year end exams. Please fav/follow and review. This takes place after the last update of "The Fox and the Hound: Upbringing")

"Things are not getting worse. They are becoming uncovered. We must hold each other tight and continue to pull back the veil."

Author unknown

As the sun disappeared behind the waterfall, a cool breeze picked up, causing the kits to climb out. Fyre was the first out, loathing the idea of having to stay close to his father's killer. Copper wasn't on this planet. His mind had become flooded with painful memories. It was only when Bolt shifted between his legs that he hound dog snapped out of his trance. He glanced down at the shivering ball of red fluff, unaware of the suns disappearing act. "Uncle C-Copper, do you think w-we could start heading home?" Bolt asked between the attack of shivers. Copper nodded and led the small group of kits home.

At the Tweed farm, Vixey waited patiently for her kits and Copper to return. Although the sun had disappeared behind the mountains and night was fast approaching, she was sure the hound dog would have them on their way home. Rustling from a nearby bush soon grasped her attention to an unexpected visitor. "Oh Cop... Chief? What a surprise! Did the master let you off the leash?" Vixey asked with slight disappointment turning into sarcasm.

"Well, I guess yea can say that. Where're those kids o' yours?" the wolfhound asked, shrugging of the sound of disappointment.

Vixey was about to reply when she was crowded by her kits who were eager to tell her about the days fun. Copper arrived a good few seconds later, clearly disturbed and focusing hard on something. Vixey quickly tells her kits that food is ready and to go inside. Once the circle of red fluff had shuffled inside, Copper wasted no time reliving his long awaited tears. As the tears rolled freely down his face, he felt his sides being sandwiched between two warm bodies, the bodies of his "family".

Once his sobbing had subsides, Vixey decided to test the waters," Copper, what happened?"

He looks at her, tears still trickling slowly down his exhausted face, he said, "They... They went there." Chief had no clue about what his adopted son was saying. "Where?" he curiously asked. Copper's sobering became louder, loud enough to alert Fyre.

Sitting closer to the door then his siblings, he was just out of earshot. He decided to get closer to listen in on the conversation. He swiftly ran behind the patio rails, where he could see and hear everything without being seen or at least where he hoped he wouldn't.

Copper tried to lower his volume, but was not as successful as he would've hoped. "The w-waterfall! Where else?" he blurted out.

It took a while until his sobbing subsided, but when he did, he began to explain, "After you told me the kits were at the w-waterhole," he said, turning to face the vixen beside him, "I set out to find them, but I picked up their trail going somewhere else. I followed it and... And I found them paying in the pool at the bottom. I-I-I tried to act normal and join in, it was working, and then Fyre walked off. I didn't think much about it, un-til he returned. He seemed upset, tired and just overall weak," he began to cry until he was basically screaming blue murder.

"It reminded me about his father's last moments... I co-couldn't help..." His crying had now been heard by everyone, including the kits.

The kits put a hold to their eating once they heard the sound of their uncle whaling.

The worried kits dashed towards the door and, once they found the hound dog without physical injury, they walked over to him and pressed their little bodies against him, all but one.

Fyre stayed behind. Although he had just seen and heard that Copper tried to help his best friend, his main thought was still fixed on his earlier conversation with the porcupine.

Chief knew this wasn't doing Vixey or her kits much good.

Slowly rising to his feet, he nudged his adopted son and softly said, "Come on Sonny, let's get on home."

Copper shakily stood up and, with tears still streaming down his now soaked face, walked off home without making any eye contact or saying goodbye. Chief was almost speechless. He never understood how much Tod meant to him until his death, and was not expecting this sudden change of character.

Before leaving, the wolfhound turned to face the foxes, "I'm truly sorry 'bout that Vixey. We'll see yea tomorrow again."

"No! Copper, I'm coming!" Tod shouted and screamed, trying to call out to his friend, but his efforts were fruitless as the spirit world wouldn't allow him. He could hear and see everything around him, but could not be seen or heard himself. "Copper, I'm here! I'm here," he said as he ran towards his best friend.

His own tears forming from the sight before his eyes. He hated the fact that his friend was still affected by his death; let alone being unable to do anything about it. Although he knew Copper couldn't hear him, he always tried to get across. His mother was right behind him as he closed in on his friend, who was curled up in his bail, crying himself to sleep.

"I'm... I'm sorry it ended like it did," said Tod's mother, "He may never forget you, but over time, it will become easier for him to cope."

Tod never took his eyes off his friend, who by now, had become quiet and was about to call it a day. Without looking away, as a tear of pain fell onto the grass below him, he softly whispered, "I will find a way to talk to you, mark my word, I will."