Hanging Around

Chade didn’t want to rely on others but he had failed on his last few hunts and he hadn’t explained to Ricin how each hunt got harder the longer he went without food.  It didn't matter if he caught them meet a week ago, it hadn’t been enough to tide them over for long.  He needed energy or they were back to fish which was still something but he wanted meat.  To get real strength back he wanted a big meal with meat of any kind.

He listened to Ricin’s concerns and imagined they needed to have a talk later about that later.  Ry might not understand how important regularly successful hunts were with what they were doing. He gave Ricin an apologetic look but as Ry spoke to the other pup Chade grimaced as she turned away.  Chade had pride, plenty of it, but he also was hungry and struggling to hunt for two.  They had seen the reality of death.  It was gruesome and once you were dead there was no reason for pride.

She had also said something interesting.  Poison?  It wasn’t that Chade had an interest in killing by poison but that would mean knowing what plants were dangerous!  “Wait,” Chade cast Ry an apologetic look as he jogged a few steps after the other wolf.  “Hey, we’re sorry.  It’s true we are a bit wary but, the food would be appreciated, and” hopefully Ry wouldn’t kill him for asking for more, “You know how to make poison? I assume that means you know which plants are poisonous?”  If they knew which ones were poisonous they would know which ones were safe to eat!

Chade glanced quickly at Ricin again, hopeful he realized the importance of the question.  Chade could worry later about if she’d lie or not.  Hunting animals that were sick was already a danger of risky either way, but if they came to a point they had to eat plants he’d take a bet on trusting their words over not.  Most likely they wouldn’t bother lying as he couldn’t imagine what they’d get for it, right?  There were a lot of things Chade didn’t know about the world.  Everything was dangerous but they wouldn’t survive without taking some risks.  Every time Chade hunted it was a risk but it determined if they lived or died.

“It’ll be ok Ricin,” He spoke softly to his brother, wishing he fully knew it.  Chade recalled all to well what it could look like to die from something poisonous.  They would probably never know which plant had done it.  It had been a horrible way to go though.  Chade imagined Ricin remembered their brother's death well also.

"Speech"