The fox looked around, flicking its fluffy russet tail. It made its way down to the river that was now half-frozen, being sure to scan the edge of the stream for fox-traps. Once it was sure the bank was safe, it lapped up the crisp water, its ears twitching wearily. 

Enemies were everywhere in the forest. And in the frozen-land season, they were hungrier than ever. Badgers were the worst. They would fancy a nice fox-or a fox cub. Thinking of it, the fox quickly drew away from the river so she could get back to her babies. They were safe for now, hidden in a burrow. But she had to get back to them. It was too risky. As the fluffy fox turned away from the water, she scanned the dark forest. She couldn't get hurt, for she had to stay alive for her cubs. Once she thought she saw nothing lurking, she quickly padded through the leafless trees. Snow crunched underpaw as she walked, and snowflakes floated from the sky and onto the she-fox's red, russet pelt. Once she bent her head to sniff the ground, she caught onto hundreds of scents. She sorted them out rather quickly, soon identifying the smell of a vole underground. She followed the trail all the way to a clearing surrounded by four dead trees. She sniffed harder, then figured out that it was running a few tail-lengths away from her, but underground. The female stalked a few steps closer, then leaped and dove into the ground. Snow splattered everywhere as the she-fox dug for the vole. After a few quick minutes, she raised her head, a soggy vole in her jaws. She shook herself, snow flying across the clearing. Her paws were numb and wet, but she knew she could clean them easily. With a muffled grunt, she began to run away, tracking the scent of her cubs. She twitched an ear once she heard a squeak and a yipe. The fox skidded to a halt and turned her head towards a hollowed-out tree. She dashed over, nudging roots away to find her four fox cubs, curled together and yelping as cold touched their fur. The fox's dark eyes gleamed with love for her tiny cubs. She dropped the vole in the burrow, then stepped in the space. She had dug it to be big enough for her to slip in and groom each one of them, getting them warm and letting them know she was there. Once they all drifted into a peaceful, delicate slumber, she began to groom her paws. She continued this for some time, before curling around her sweet, small babies. She wrapped her tail tightly around the delicate bodies, then joined them in their soft sleep. 

*****

Sorry, but this one was kind of rushed-