Hanging Around

A warm smile rests on Ricin’s face as he walks next to Chade. His confidence is building as they follow the purple pup. The thought of food does sound amazing and he would never say no to an easy meal. Chade does deserve a break after all. However, when the scent of a fresh kill reaches his nostrils, the lighter pup’s stomach cramps unexpectedly. While Chade has been able to provide food for the both of them, the animals are usually small and can only fill a hungry belly so much. Even as his mouth waters and he has to swallow the drool that pools in his mouth, Ricin tries not to let his hunger show.

When the adult appears and moves towards the purple pup, scooping her up and toward her, Ricin instinctively takes serval steps away eyes widening. While it appears his eyes widen in fear, it is actually to help his limited peripheral vison. Widening his eyes allows him to see slightly more and plan an escape route should the brothers need it. Finding a safe path, Ricin relaxes his eyelids as Chade speaks up for them. The lighter boy nods along to his brother’s explanation, showing support for the darker pup while carefully eyeing the adult wolf.

She is very pretty but Ricin is still wary of her. Their own mother didn’t want them, why would another mother want them? Worry clouds the lighter pup’s crimson eyes as he hears Chade ask permission for the food. Here he had been thinking it was done deal, the purple pup had offered it, so it was theirs… right? Looking from Chade to the purple adult, Ricin takes a tentative step forward and speaks up, “Hello ma’am. My name is Ricin and this is my brother, Chade.” He points a dark dipped paw toward his brother.

Swallowing nervously, he continues, “We… we have been on our own for a while. Chade was trying to make a snare to catch us dinner and it broke.” Crimson eyes fall the purple pup. There is no malice or anger in them, only a fearful desperation for understanding. Eyes flick back to Chade as Ricin tries to find the correct words. Looking back to the adult, tears filling the hungry pup’s eyes, he pleads, “Please… we are so hungry.” As if on cue, his stomach rumbles its displeasure at being empty and Ricin looks to his brother before stepping back and lowering his head. Ricin feels ashamed for having to beg for food and he wonders if Chade is mad at him for not believing his brother can find them food.


"Speech"