You'll never expect this!

So, had Art had it the same way then when it came to Briar and him on how fast or slow things moved along? Somehow he doubted Briar had beaten him to the right of asking for the marriage of course though it would be funny if that had been the case.  Nah, not likely though.  Rudy snorted at the next part, “She got a drop on me that time,” with some extra emphasis on ‘that’.  “She might get harder to surprise than most but no one gets the jump on me easily.” There was merriment to show no true concern whether or not that was accurate.  

“Pups?” Rudy watched Art go to grab the goblets, smirking, “You first Art.  Once I see all the mistakes you make I’ll know what to do right.” The tease was aimed back even as Rudy wondered how he’d manage being a dad.  The idea of a bunch of pups reliant on him… may any higher powers protect them if any of the pups turned out like himself.  Rudy would never get a chance to sleep! “I bet Fern and Briar both will be good moms.” Actually, Rudy paused thinking on that.  Neither Art or Rudy had a father in their past but instead two mom’s.  Well, that shouldn’t matter.  It was just something that hadn’t occurred to him before.  “You ready for that Art? You ready to be a dad?”

The drinks were poured as Rudy spoke and Art pointed out two top hunters leaving the pack at the same time for an entire season.  What would Rudy do?  The motley grey wolf hadn’t expected the question or planned for it but in typical fashion, he was happy to come up with an answer. “Well, you saw of your best hunters.  The pack made do without Fern a long time before she came and I taught her how to fight.  You are right,” Rudy paused the real answer to tease a moment, “It’s really hard to not have me around,” a pause before adding, “or my apprentice and mate.  “So, that proves you can do without one of us for a season already easy enough.  As to me?  Hey, we preserve food, I make a lot of traps and explain how they work.  We can always train others on how to hunt.  You know, I could get inj…” Rudy stopped from finishing that sentence.  Yeah, Art knew he could get injured.  “More wolves should be able to back up hunt anyway.”

“So,” Rudy wrapped his paw around the goblet grinning at Arc before taking a swallow of its contents.  He’d had a drink here or there though he’d never tried getting drunk yet.  He’d have to try it someday. “Art I’m always talking to you as my brother, just my brother who is also the Aegis.” Rudy’s first explanation had just been rough drawn plans that came up as he spoke, ever the used car salesman.  Now as he took another swallow of the wine he thought on it.  “We have time.  I got an idea for a good fish trap a while back I haven’t used.  It should be effective but it’s a boring way to get food.” How did he feel about his own other suggestions, “Fern and I leaving or not,” the young man’s words going more serious, “We should get a few more backup hunters.”

Rudy grinned at Art, one paw lightly touching the cup, “So, how many pups of your pups are coming to me for hunting lessons?” How many little Art’s would there be someday running about the castle?  It’d be great to train his brother's pups.  Then there was what it would be like when Rudy and Fern had their own pups.  “My other main concern is you quit keeping a sharp eye out when I’m not here to attack you.” Welp, see if he’d sold his ideas to Art.  On top of that had Art planned to say yes all along but wanted to see if Rudy would come up with his own work assignments instead of Art giving them to him.  If Art really thought it couldn’t be done then Rudy would relent and go to just one month but Rudy waited expecting Art would agree.

Rudyard Carpathius