I hesitated but ultimately gave in to Ethan’s curiosity. There was something urgent in the husky’s demeanor that I couldn’t ignore. Together, we followed CJ into the woods, with the only sound being the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. After about twenty minutes, CJ stopped abruptly in a small clearing.
There, tangled in a hunter’s snare, was a pregnant fox. She was weak and struggling, her leg cruelly caught in the trap. “Oh my God,” I whispered, rushing to free the fox. Ethan knelt beside me, his hands trembling as he gently stroked the animal’s fur.
With CJ’s watchful eyes guiding us, I managed to loosen the trap and free the fox. We wrapped her in a blanket and rushed her to the vet after a frantic call to Kyle. CJ never left the fox’s side, whimpering softly as if willing her to survive.
The fox’s surgery was successful, and when she woke up, her cries stopped as soon as she saw me. It was as if she recognized me as her savior. “She knows you helped her,” the vet marveled at the animal’s calm.
When the fox, whom Ethan named Vixen, recovered, we brought her back to our home. I set up a cozy den in the garage where Vixen could rest. A few days later, she gave birth to four tiny kits. To my amazement, she allowed us to be a part of the moment, a sign of trust rarely given by wild animals.
As the kits grew, I knew it was time to let them return to the forest. We built a proper den for them, and Vixen led her babies to their new home. However, she never completely disappeared. Every weekend, Ethan, CJ, and I would visit the forest, and Vixen would always greet us, her kits playfully following behind.
It was clear that CJ had found his place in our family too. He was no longer a mysterious visitor but a cherished member of our household. Watching Ethan play with CJ and seeing Vixen thrive with her family, I realized that the husky had brought more than just companionship to our lives. He had brought healing, connection, and a little bit of magic.
“Mom,” Ethan said one day as we walked back from the forest, CJ trotting beside us, “Do you think CJ was meant to find us?”
I smiled, looking down at my son and our loyal husky. “I don’t think he found us, Ethan. I think we were meant to find each other.”