Refusing to Share

Walk | "Talk" | think

His brother had most definitely been improving.  Rudyard watched with one eye shut as his brother easily bested the coyote.  Rudy would have assisted when he saw his brother get bit but Art was already finishing the coyote off a moment later.  Rudy glanced to the other two coyotes that were showing no sign of attacking even as he then looked back at Art with the sword pressed on the coyote's trachea.

The normal thing to do in Rudyard’s mind would be to finish off the thieves if they hadn’t been smart enough to run away in time.  Art clearly seemed to be considering it but suddenly let the coyote go, well, more like flung it away.  It was finished.  The two wolves could kill all the coyotes easily.  If any of them went near his brother or his meal Rudy would finish them off, even injured he was willing to bet he could take them on in their current state.  Ok, especially with Art there also.

The coyote for its part had seen death staring him in the face.  It lay where Art had tossed it, a wary eye on the wolf as it didn’t chase him.  The two coyotes he came with fled at Art’s command, leaving him behind.  The older coyote got up ran off a few strides before looking back at Art once there was some distance between them and the decision to flee clear.  A nod of respect and gratitude was offered to the wolf before it turned again to flee.  He’d have to look elsewhere for prey this night.

Rudyard turned his head, one eye bright watching Art, then head lowering in some guilt glancing to the leg, “How bad’s the bite?”  Once he knew it was fine he could show off the kill he’d made all by himself.  The only thing masking his excitement at the moment was his concern for his brother.  The threat was gone after all.  No way those coyotes were returning.  Rudy couldn’t open the one eye but it didn’t hurt enough to feel the eye itself had been hurt, just blood from above sliding down and clotting up on the shut eyelid.  The leg hurt also, but it worked.  

A moment later Rudy imagined mom seeing them coming back to the castle in their shape.  Why did he expect there might be a lecture coming soon?