Crocodile tears

Damn it.  Rudy hadn’t been right in the head himself when he had said those cruel words to her.  She’d had to take them to heart, didn’t she?  The motley wolf didn’t even know if he should blame the sickness or his own twisted venomous mind for those cruel words and then his striking out at her.  Some part of it had been the sickness but couldn’t he have fought it better?  If Rudy wanted to blame himself he’d have to do that later.

Rudy walked over to her as she started to label herself worthless.   She was crying because of him. “You aren’t useless,” Rudy spoke then licking away the path a tear had made.  “You just helped me fight away a giant crocodile, that’s not worthless.  You did that without experience.  Imagine how great you’ll be with training.”

Rudy considered his words, wondering how to explain without making an excuse as they were both along the same lines.  “I was wrong.  My words were from the madness, I should have stopped it but I didn’t.” Rudy lowered his head, eyes on the dirt, “I shouldn’t have bit you.  I was scared.  I’m a coward Fern.  If I feel trapped or pin I strike out.” His eyes swiftly jerk up after saying it, “Please don’t tell anyone.  Only you and Art know, ok? I don’t want others knowing I’m a coward.”  She deserved to hear it after having bitten her.

"Speech"