Shhh! Don't tell mom!

Walk | "Talk" | think

Wow, Art sure had something against Briar.  Rudy wanted to ask what had happened but figured he’d wait and do that at some point when she wasn’t there with them. Rudy smirked in a bit of amusement as he and Art both challenged her authority to be out but at her response to having permission, he gave the pup a thoughtful look, taking an assessing eye.  

Whatever opinion he had decided was left unseen as Art caught his attention on the complaint on sharing his technique. “You know,” Rudy was about to add more about others in the pack not finding his style worthy of copying but decided to keep that quiet for now.  Briar wasn’t of their pack and for whatever reason Arty didn’t like her.  Besides that Rudy listened to a lot of wolves and their stories, a few of which actually hadn’t caught him at it since their focus had been elsewhere.  Rudy had also had to come up with his own concoction of excuses and blurring truths.  So he had no naivete in the fact others could do the same and he saw no logic in any pup being allowed out here alone.  The more he thought on it the more he had to acknowledge there was probably a good reason they shouldn’t be out here either.  However, he wasn’t going to call Briar out on that lie either.  Sometimes it was best to keep what you know the secret.  They were all small and weak, good fighting as a pup wouldn’t do much good against some of the creatures out here.  Running and hiding was their best option at this stage.  Unless Rudy was wrong, but he rarely questioned his deductions because of course, he was rarely wrong.  The pup was full to the brim on confidence, or arrogance whatever name it would go by.

“Don’t worry Arty, I can’t imagine Briar the sort to tattle,” Rudy offered cheerfully, lying as well.  She might tattle, but he didn’t see her bothering with this bit of information.  It was another thing he would tell Art when the girl wasn’t there.  Not that he minded her lying, it could be useful and Rudy was sure he’d catch any lie she tried to feed him.  He was too smart for her.

He’d let Rudy describe the stick shape and size, it was what he’d choose after all.  “I’m gonna check to the west a few paces but I won't get out of sight.  I saw some roots that might have been loose earlier.” Rudy wanted a bit of distance, not so far that he couldn’t hear them but far enough that he wouldn’t be expected to talk until ready or be watched for his reactions.  The little spy wanted to work on important things.