The den's warmth was a relief after Firestorm's fur was hit with the cold rain. He shook the water off of his pelt and sat down, beginning to groom the water off of his back with swift flicks of his tongue. At least he hadn't been completely soaked.

But suddenly Firestorm's ears lifted as he heard pounding footsteps and ferocious barks in the distance. His hair stood up in fear. Don't let it be them, he thought. He lifted his nose and tried to sniff out the source of the sound, but the rain made it hard to smell clearly. Firestorm hoped that it was also because they were far away. But just to be sure, he called out to the skulk, "Guys? Do you hear that?"

~

Candy was more then happy about all the name suggestions, seeing his mate relax a little helped him to feel a bit more at ease. He always did hate to see her upset, when nightshade was done trending to his tail he stood and looked at her handy work. It was a bit awkward to move his tail now and it felt much heavier but he trusted that it would stay and heal nicely. He was just about to thank her when he felt a faint trembling below his paws, it didn't feel like an earthquake but something heavy was moving fast nearby. That sick feeling settled back into his stomach as he rushed towards the entrance to the den and stuck his head out, his ears swiveling around his head to try and pick up any sounds that could tell him what was happening. His whole body began to tremble when he heard the unmistakable sound of dogs baying excitedly and he hissed angrily as he turned back into the den, putting himself between Nori and the exit as he angrily said "it's a hunt! Those damned humans and their stupid mutts. They're in the forest and they're close I can hear them and feel them running. We need to leave, now. It's not safe, maybe if we can get into a tree the darkness and the rain could hide us. We can't stay in this den, they'll set it aflame with their stupid tools and set their dogs on us when we try to run out the other entrances. Damn it all!"
~
To say candy was angry was an understatement, he was absolutely furious, both with the cursed humans hunting them and with himself for putting them in this situation. He should have waited to get his tail treated, he should have just dealt with the pain but no! He just had to go get help from a strange fox deep in the forest, far away from the safety of the skulk. Now his mate was in danger, his pregnant mate could be killed because of him! His mind raced as he remember his mother's death, those damned creatures had lured her in and taken advantage of her trust and then they'd killed her and now they were back to take even more from him! He wasn't sure if he could survive losing Nori and their kits to those wretched things, he'd lose his mind if he lost her, even the thought made him want to drag her out of the den and hide her high in a tree hollow so nobody could ever find her.

~

Poor candy was lost in his own panicked and angry mind, he was frozen in place as his entire body trembled, his breathe coming out in short gasps as his emotions took him over. What could he do? What could he do? He knew from experience that humans were smart and tricky and their dogs were terrifying and determined. He didn't know how they were supposed to survive like this, he suddenly knew all to well how the mice he killed felt and he didn't like it, not one bit.

Growling when she heard barking, the brown and white fox shoved Nori and Candy aside gently then pointed to one of her escapes. She promised to help the two foxes and no dogs were going to stop her.

She faced the two with a apology in her yellow eyes because she would help the two regardless.

"Humans. Could be campers but I said I'll help you both. Turn around and run straight ahead while I head out this way. I'll draw the humans and dogs away for you", she said to Nori and Candy while staring outside.

After a while she growled, "Run out the other exit, get to your skulk, don't look back and don't do anything stupid. Stay together"

With those words, the vixen ran out the den and realized the humans were campers who were trying to catch their dogs. Once they saw her only then did she run away from her den leading both dogs and humans running after her. Away from Candy and Nori.

Thoughts flashed through her mind as she tried to plan. Stay in sight of dogs, don't let them get bored, stay at a distance from the humans and dogs, repeat. She hoped that Candy and Nori had left.

"Stupid dogs..." Nori whispers under her breath. At least Nightshade did not have a chance to check my stomach. She nudges Candy to the exit. "Come on. I am not letting you become dog chow." Nori yips as she flattens herself to squezze out the opening. She turn and waits inpationtly for her mate.

Firestorm's red fur stood on end as he heard Candy's words . He knew how dangerous dogs could be, especially in a group. And humans were even worse....

He rushed over to join Candy and Nori. "How close are they?" He wasn't sure exactly where the best hiding spot was.