It Should've Been Me

Lost And Found

(Authors note: Hi all. I'm back with yet another installment of this story. Now, the last chapter seemed to shoot a hole in my plan, so I had to adapt a little. I am also hoping to set a schedule to biweekly updating. I was not too sure on how this chapter would come out, but I decided to throw yet another spanner in the works. I hope you find it intriguing. Rose and Dr Mulligan belong to me. The rest are property of Disney. Thanks to 'Faith' for the continued support as well as my other fans.)

"Chief, yea need to let it go. He ain't comin' back!" Copper responded to the inconceivable though the old Wolfhound seemed to have lodged in his mind. He was tired. A new grasp on his current situation had just been clasped, but the new information was threatening to unravel a side he had wished would remain sealed behind. For days after, more then that, maybe weeks later his pain remained present. Although in small quantity, he found the strength and determination to carry on, but now his mind was probing at him to find out more.

"I'm telling yea the truth. Why would I bring somethin' like this up if it ain't true?" Chief asked. His unusually angry side pulled back the curtain to reveal a more sensitive one. He had only shown it once before, but ended up having it seep though for a second round. His words, like bells, rang in the younger Bloodhounds ears.

'Could he be tellin' the truth? Was he not mistaken? No, it can't be true? I saw what happened. I saw him fall.  I saw him laying in the shallow pool surrounded by rocks, but I didn't see after that. He couldn't just up and off, he was injured bad. I can't even describe the sight I saw.'

"Sonny, say somethin' to me,"

"Chief, I just can't believe what yea'r saying." The hound's slow and deep statement was justified. How could Tod still be alive? This seemed too much for the young hound to handle. He slowly stood up and was about to walk off when something caught his attention, something unique, something fresh, something like freshly baked biscuits.

"Chief, what's that smell?" Knowing all too well that the hounds nose was a force to be reckoned with, his trademark in hunts that proceeded him. His absolute saviour. "Why does it smell like baked food?"

"I don't know? Maybe I picked it up at the Tweed farm."

"What made yea go there?"

"My old rival. Yea guessed it earlier. I saw Tod there. If yea don't believe me, I'll show yea."

"Show me then." Copper walked in front of Chief, eager to see if what his adopted father was saying was true or not. His self control left that him behind as quickly as he left the building. With the speed of a hunting dog in his prime, the pair made hast to the other farm.

............

The once well spoken air which filled the room in which Tod and Rose stood was now at a pike of defining quiet. The shortly lived banter between the long lost family had cessed. The pair were no longer looking at one another as if seeing friends, but that stare was replaced with one of familiarity, a weary glance of insurity in the words that rolled effortlessly of their tounges.

The thought of seeing her son once again brought tears to Rose's eyes. Her mind was a mixture of questions. Was this truly her son? I wonder if he remembers me? How much does he know? But one rang out far more intensely than the rest floating around in her drowned head.

Who saved him?

The elderly vixen was but a few moments away from her question being asked when the sound of knocking on the door took the pair by surprise. Swinging their flexable necks, facing the duo's heads in the doors direction as Widow Tweed stood up and casually strolled over, not expecting anyone to be there. She flung the door open wide where a trio of fluttering birds awaited. Tod instantly recognised the smaller Finch and Woodpecker. Rose had no interest in the two on the side, but was more focused on the owl hovering in the center.

The pair took this as a que to come outside and quietly slipped out while Widow chased of the feathery fliers. The birds then departed, having noticed that the animals they seek no longer stood inside but had retreated to the barn.

Tod was the first on scene. His fur's glowing orange was now back, with exceptions in a few areas. His bushy tail now in it's former glory. His eyes were fresher than ever, instantly noticing Boomer, Dinky and Big Mama settling down in the far corner. He slowly padded over to them as they looked around for the vixen their eyes had caught earlier.

"Hello Big Mama, and fellers. What brings yea hear to my neck of the wood?" Tod greeted, surprised to see them the first time since the morning after his injured body was found.

"Hello, Tod. We just came past to see how you were coping. A lot better by the looks of it." Big Mama says as she softly chuckles to herself. She realized her support may have been absent over the past few days, now causing her to try and find a way in which she could create opportunities for her visits. 

"Oh yeah, we did, we did," Boomer's usual stuttering ever present as he tried to show his agreement with the statement.

"Hello, Big Mama," a soft greeted from a small distance away. The subtle old voice drifted through the air as it floated gently into the air in front of the mostly curious animals standing in a row. 

But it wasn't long before the old owl recognized the voice from her past, a past she had failed to inform Tod of, even after his numerous times begging and pleading to find out the truth. "Well, I'll be damned. It's my old friend, Rose! Hehe, how yea been, Honey?" 

Much to the elderly vixen's surprise, the friend she had once laid a large burden upon now greeted her with open wings. Her face could not contain the excitement in her soul, but before Rose could reply, barking in the distance turned all eyes to the opening across the barn.

What was about to happen could never have been anticipated.

........

(Authors note: Well, what did yeah think. I would really appreciate some feedback as to what you think will happen next. Also, I was thinking about adding quotes to each chapter, having them briefly describe what the chapter would contain. Please let me know and don't forget to fav/follow and review my stories. For more on Rose, you can read my first story, "The Past And The Present." Until we meet again.)