My, What Long Ears You Have!

For having to admit to such a horrible thing it was still good talking.  Nico hadn’t talked for a few days since his parents were killed by the tiger.  For some, maybe that was normal but Nico had loved talking and singing and not worrying about a thing in life.  Everything in life had stopped the moment he had gone back to see the remains of his parents.  It was pretty horrific how fragile a coyote's body apparently was versus a tiger's teeth.

The donkey was quiet and seemed upset as well from Nico’s news.  After a bit of the two looking at each other Oscar leaned down to offer him a ‘secret.’  Did he reallllyyy find coyotes scarier than wolves or was he just saying it?  Nico wasn’t born yesterday after all.  Either way, it did the important thing causing a smile to creep up on the boy's face.  “Most wolves got maggot-infested heads.” Nico might as well add to why wolves aren’t as scary.  “They survive cause of size and bulk but they dumber than a sun-tanning turtle.”  Now, Nico hadn’t met a wolf up to this point for his own knowledge but insulting them was a way to pick up his mood and change the topic.

Then Oscar came up with the idea of Nico protecting the donkey and his herd.  “Protect you?” Well, that was a crazy notion.  Nico hoped to be hunting things the size of that rooster in a season or two or, well, whenever he was big enough too.  The donkey might need another coyote or two but still!  He was supposed to protect potential future meals?  Of course, right now said meal could step on him way too easily.  Not like he wanted to eat the guy, not when he was being nice right now.  

Nico couldn’t protect them from anything today but maybe the donkey was imagining a time when Nico got bigger.  Well, he wasn’t going to agree to lifetime guard duty of prey.  What if another coyote saw them?  They’d probably die laughing before he ever had to fight them.

He didn’t want to be alone.  Around prey that talked was better than alone.  Oscar was a nice sort and he had something Nico wanted. “Well, on a condition.” Nico looked at where the rooster sat then back to Oscar, “I want a ride too.”



"Nico"