How about Chip goes out on his own, gets hard from surviving, but also empathetic because of how he was cast out. He forms a little herd that he is the smarty of, and they do quite well.
The next winter, some really rough looking fluffies come to them and ask to stay with the herd, because they have no food or shelter. Chip realizes they are his parents and younger siblings. Chip tells his father that all of their food is for their next babies. Upon hearing this, his father recognizes him, and bursts into tears of despair.
Fin