Hanging Around

Watching as the purple girl speaks up, admonishing them for leaving a trap out in the open. Brows knit together with confusion and amusement as Ricin wonders if she knows how traps work. When Chade reminds her that nothing would run into if he sat next to it, the lighter pup adds, “Yeah! Besides, traps are made to not be seen. You might say we did a good job. I mean… if we can catch a wolf, imagine all the rabbits we will get now!” Ricin looks toward Chade with pride on his face at the cleverness of his brother’s handiwork. No matter how much his stomach hurts, Ricin will always praise Chade’s smart ideas.

When the Ricin asks what they are going to do now, he never expected the answer the purple pup gives. Worry knots his stomach at the prospect of having to meet adult wolves and he looks to Chade for guidance. When the darker pup glances to him before suggesting they do it, Ricin feels his eyes widen. Sure, his stomach hurts and a free meal sounds amazing but who knows what they want in return! Just as the lighter brother opens to mouth to question his brother, Chade offers this new wolf their names.

Ricin’s brain grinds to a halt and his mouth hangs open as Chade moves toward the stranger. Chade is negotiating for food as alarm bells ring through Ricin. When the darker brother looks back, Ricin finally acts. Snapping his mouth shut and moving toward Chade, Ricin says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out. Chade, I know we are hungry but… is this the smartest idea?” Looking toward the purple pup he adds, “No offense Miss. We just…” voice trails off as he shrugs and tries to smile, “don’t trust many.”

Indeed, the brothers had lost faith in others but what pups that had been abandoned by their mother and watched three siblings die wouldn’t have? Sure, this purple girl appears to be similar in age to them but still… the world is against them and they know it. Anxious crimson eyes flicker between his brother and the stranger as Ricin tries to whisper to his brother, “Besides, we don’t know what kind of food she is offering. It could just be berries for all we know.”

Ricin’s tummy gurgles unhappily as the thought of berries causes his mouth to water and stomach to cramp. Dang. Had it really been that long since they last ate? As he weighs his options, Ricin sighs heavily and turns his cynical eyes to the purple stranger. Swallowing down the excess saliva that is pooled in his mouth, Ricin clears his throat and asks, “If we do take food from you… promise not to poison it?” While it might seem like a poor attempt at a joke, Ricin’s question holds no humor in the words. If the world is against them, who knows what strangers might try to do?


"Speech"