It Should've Been Me

Unfortunate News

(Author's note: Hi again. I'm back with another chapter ofIt Should've Been Me. I realize it has been a while since I last updated this, but I've had other stories and school to deal with. A big thanks to all my reviewers, faves and followers for the continued support, and I hope this chapter fills the craving for the next chapter. Last time, we saw just how bad Copper had been hit by the events, as well as Widow and Tod's condition. We pick up the action in the Tweed Farm barn.)

'Finally, some fresh air,' Tod thought to himself as he lay in his basket, which was now set in the center of the barn. His accumulated injuries did not allow him to get off lightly. He was under the complete care of the old widow.

Widow Tweed was unimaginably horrified by the injuries her fox had received, and even more sorrowful for his lack of mobility. She could move him around in his wooden basket, but that was where her help ended.

Laying in the comfortable basket, the feeling of fresh wind blowing through his hair was more refreshing then a jump in the waterhole as opposed to sitting in the house. The morning air, accompanied by the warm spring sun, was enough to cause his injured state to become nothing more then an inconvenience.

Widow sat not too far away, milking Abigale to make up for her being forgotten in the daily chores. At least it gave her fox a chance to sit outside. Staring at Tod, the old widow was unsure of how to react. Was it something which was meant to happen? Was this inevitable? She was unable to answer any of the multiple questions popping into her mind. The crimson glistening on his fur was something which she could not bare to see. She then looked back at the task at hand, milking old Abigale.

A flutter of feather's filled the cool air as Tod was about to take a nap. He raised his tired head, almost working muscles he should not, and stared at he shadows cast before him. One was that of a old bird, with the wing span of about the biggest he had yet scene. On the one side, was the shadow of a tall bird, not as big as the center one, and on the other, was a shadow which did not reach the basket. It was almost instantly confirmed.

"Goodmornin', Tod, Honey," Big Mama said as she kept her distance, expecting the fox to run towards her, but he never did.

"Tod, what's the matter with you, huh? Are you sick? Too tired to come and greet us now?" Dinky's distinctive voice said as he began to slowly bounce toward the laying animal in front of him.

"Oh my g-g-g-gosh Tod, what happened?" Bommer said as he walked up to Tod, seeing he dried blood on his fur, along with the cast around his leg. "W-who did this?"

"Nobody di..."

"I'm gonna sort them out for yea kid, me and everyone I know. We gonna..." Dinky was interrupted by the old owl.

"Dinky, give the child some chance to explain." Big Mama said as she opened her wing to shut the Finch up. She may have had patience with her boys, but not enough for a time like this. Her motherly guard over the two birds seemed to help her keep them silent.

"Thanks, Big Mama. Now, before yea say anythin', I don't wanna hear any 'I told yea so,' or 'yea shoulda' listened, Tod.' Deal?" Tod asked with a strain as he slowly sat up, almost collapsing from the unusual sensation of his sprained paw. The three could easily see that the young fox was in pain, and clearly not in the mood for any remarks. They all nodded their heads in unison.

"Well, yea know I was friends with Copper, the Bloodhound, when I was a kid? I went over to say hi when he came back from the huntin' trip, and..."

"And he decided you should be his game, right?" Dinky piped in as he was confident in what he believed was the truth.

"No, no, no. He tried to tell me that we weren't gonna be friends anymore? I was too shocked to realize that Chief was waking up. He, with Amos and Copper, begun chasing me as if I was the hunt. I pulled a slight lead over Chief, but Copper soon found me. H-he tried to help me..."

Tod shifted his body into a more comfortable position, moaning in pain from his sustained injuries. His broken leg allowed for little movement, and his torn muscles were of no help either. He may have moaned a fair amount, but none of the whimpering sounds reached Widow's ears. Now, laying back down, he continued his story as the trio of birds inched closer with each word.

"I ran off down the train tracks shortly after Copper gave his master a false scent. I had just reached the tracks when Chief jumps out from nowhere. I backed up, trying to keep some distance while I tried to talk him out of it. Then, it came."

"W-w-w-what came?" Boomer asked in utter curiosity.

"The train."

"What happened after that?" Big Mama inquired, purely out of worry, although she was well aware of his current state.

"I tried to warn him, hoping to chase him so I could run off. I'll tell yea, It's like trying to shout at the waterfall, asking it to flow upstream. So, I ran to him, kicked him onto a nearby bridge, and I got hit. Next thing I know, I'm at home with torn muscles, sprained paw, broken leg and a hole in my head," Tod said as he lowered his head to show the dried scab where the whole was.

"WO! We don't wanna see tha'," Dinky shouted as he raised his wind to cover his eyes. Once he was sure that Tod had stopped showing his head wound, he lowered his wing and looked straight at his fox friend. "Does Copper or Chief know your alive?"

Tod had to think carefully. Up until now, he tried to keep himself focused on his healing, completely blocking out all thoughts of the pair that hunted him. He tried looking at it from both angles. The mere thought of Copper suffering from the death of him almost caused the fox to shed a tear. Then, remembering what the Bloodhound had said to him, "Tod... Those days are over. I'm a huntin' dog now." He realized that this would be the end. He no longer had a friend, only enemies.

Before Big Mama could probe Tod for information, the sound of a dropping metal bucket drew their attention to Widow Tweed. The widow angrily chased off the trio who were there for her fox. "Shooo, get gone you pesky birds," Widow begun to swing the broom in her hand, waving it just shy of the birds, causing the to take flight from the fright.

Within seconds, the only trace of the birds were a few scattered feathers. now, Tod was left with a cold hearted answer nobody would have guessed. His pained mind could only think the words his stiff jaw would not allow him to say.

"I don't care anymor'. They are dead to me."

(Author's note: So, how was that? Not too bad I think, considering my time absent. Anyway, please fave/follow and review your enjoyment for this story. Thanks for reading and I'll see you all again soon.)