One Person's Garbage, Is Another Packs Gain

Manea’s praise is met with a huge smile and fast wag before Ricin can control himself. Ducking his head and giving a small cough, he regains his composure as she inquires if there is anything else. His head shoots up with a grin as he places a paw against his lips to signal for quiet. Soon, the sound of tiny paws scampering over the stone can be heard and he says, “There are a lot of small animals down here. If you plan to store food down here we might want to clear out the rodents. There are also rabbits down here! You could send Chade and some other hunters down here to corral them into one of the other rooms. Make it a sort of breeding area to raise them. Then the pack will always have a supply of meat and small pelts.” Ricin doesn’t know much about hunting but he is confident that his brother can take care of that stuff.

With that he waves his paw for Manea to follow him and Ricin begins to lead her through the corridors that branch off the main room. He points out the pages and books that lay scattered in the rooms, voicing his question as to what they could be. Eventually, he takes her to the large back rooms, a bounce in step as he crosses one of the thresholds. Happily, he says, “And in here it looks like tons of healing things. Might be enough to keep the pack healthy for years! Or… so I think.” He allows Manea to inspect the jars and tinctures a moment before he rounds out his tour with, “Now, as for a hideout, we could fashion door to the main cellar entrance. If there are attackers, we build things to slow them down and lead them to traps. We can also put a reinforced door here for those that need to hide.” He moves back to the entrance of the room and runs a paw over the stone, feeling the coolness that lays in them.

Finally, Ricin turns to face Manea, the strong façade of an adult he had been wearing slips away to reveal a child eager to please an adult. Crimson eyes widen as he asks, “Did I do okay?”


"Ricin Dauner"