Share the workload

Rudy smirked at the ‘not minding’ his company.  Rudy had already decided his brother would enjoy his company which sounded better than not minding it. “Sure,” responded on their leaving as he moved to follow along.  Patrol really didn’t sound like a bad idea other than the fact sleep sounded like a better one.  Either way, it was worth a bit less sleep to be near Art with all that had and all that was going on.  Keeping busy and keeping good company seemed the best ways to keep moving along with life for the time being.

Rudy’s mind imagined what Art had mentioned in their last conversation, about wanting to go traveling together and as they patrolled now Rudy imagined it as exploring some new location.  They’d have to do that at some point so it was more than a thing to pretend a patrol was. Rudy knew this area as well as his own paws, so did Art, so while it was nice to patrol together it wasn’t nearly as fun as exploring.

“I was gone a while.  You had a vacation from not letting me get into trouble so, you might have gotten soft.  Someone has to make sure you’re safe out there.” The quip came easily and was more light-hearted than to admit he just wanted to be near Art for a little while.  It was worth waking up early to be with Art today.  Rudy had no plans to do this again tomorrow though.  There was still hunting to do in the evening and hell if he was going to miss out on any sleep time afterward.  Sleep was important!  He could try to hunt earlier in the day?  Rudy knew he could be he liked hunting in the fading last rays of sun or the dark of night.  It felt right and Rudy always went with what felt right.

“Nah, I hate early hours, or you could say I love them, for sleeping.” Rudy glanced up at the sky, enjoying the feeling of the breeze running along his face, and even his brother's playful nudge which earned an entertained and challenging eye, “I’m not worried about it, if I pass out you can take a break.  Call it work, having to protect me while you get to stop doing stuff for a few hours.  I’m sure I’d wake up once the sun raises up a bit more.”

Rudy was playful and even making a big deal of being tired but he was also scenting the air that felt so good.  The boy chuckled at a thought, “You won’t know what to do with yourself if we go traveling.  I’ll be asleep while you deal with the fact there is no border to patrol and,” Rudy stopped there took another whiff of the air, “You smell that?” His eyes scanned the horizon and while it wasn’t close there was a shadow of black further away that he knew would take the shape of a bear as they got closer.  “See?” The word came out more solemn yet then the jest just had to follow it, “you did need me today.” Whether or not Art needed him wasn’t really important, they were both stronger together.

“I’ll take the right,” Rudy offered before striding ahead, a flick of his eye to his brother to make sure he agreed with the plan.  Rudy assumed that Art would also aim for teaming up on it from different positions.  They both had the same amazing teacher after all. Rudy had never chased off a predator before with Art, guess he'd get to see how good his brother really was now.

Rudyard Carpathius