Still somewhat hot-tempered, Reszet strolled through the denser part of the forest. He'd managed to sniff out a goose, which allayed his thirst for blood some. Though it wouldn't be enough to sate him for long. He gnawed off the wings and feet, but left the good bits and took the quarry with him. The smell of blood might scare off what other critters there were about, but there weren't many about to begin with. This forest was oddly abandoned. Possibly has been the hunting ground of a larger pack not too long ago? Anyway, the night was still young and if he managed to find Chen, then he might be coaxed into joining him for a bigger target.
Sure enough, he eventually found the white wolf, sitting under a tree, in the middle of a wild field of Azure Bluet. Hunched over, he was mumbling something to himself about a returning streak of luck, or something. His back was turned towards Reszet, though his twisted ears suggested he already had heard him coming. What really caught the oncoming wolf's eye, though, was what lay beside his friend in the middle of the four-flowered plants: A half eaten roe deer.
"Share?" Reszet asked, dropping the dead bird to offer it to the bigger wolf.
Chen didn't turn, but sniffed the air. "I think I should accept, don't you agree? It's goose, after all. Full on deer and bird for desert, luck truly might return."
Impatiently, the smaller wolf crept closer and eventually pushed his wiry side against the other's bigger body. "Baobei!" he mewled, rubbing his face up and down the white wolf's stately chest. "Don't be a spoil sport too and eat my goose already!"
Chen remained unfazed and calmly continued to stare right down at the ground. "If you will excuse me then..." he mumbled and coldly left Reszet standing to enjoy the bird he was brought.
Upset, the gray wolf puffed his cheeks, but swiftly dropped the subject. Instead he got his teeth into the deer and filled his belly. They ate in silence. Chen never talked while eating, so there was no reason to bother. Actually, he never talked much at all. Though eventually Reszet couldn't hold his trap shut any longer. "What is he thinking to let that fox run?!" No answer. "Did he want to eat it all by himself, or what?" Still no reaction. Crestfallen, Reszet looked over to his comrade. "The bird is good, yeah?"
"Hmm."
"I... I think I've heard one, or two more, where I snagged that one," he swindled. "We could catch the whole flock?" Though once again Chen didn't pay him any attention and Res got fed up. Leaving the carcass be, he crouched down and crawled towards the white-furred sitting pretty. Carefully he rolled onto his back between the wolf and his meal, and bared his throat submissively. "Baobai! Say something!" he begged.
Without much of a reaction, Chen turned his head the other way. "So meddlesome..."
Once again ignored, Reszet stared up with folded ears. Why was he always like this? So dismissive. "I don't want to be a bother," he murmured, rubbing his cheek placably over the strong leg that stood right beside him. "Don't you want my company? It's a good day. We made rich booty. Let's have some fun?" Enticingly he pushed his black nose up into Chen's chest and sampled his dusty scent. Maybe if-- "KJAHI!!!"
Shocked Reszet slammed his head down onto the hard ground, when Chen snatched at him out of nowhere. His teeth missed, but the hurt was palpable on Res' scared, gray face. His gentle, blue eyes were wide and his jaw trembled. And while he cowered there like a scolded pup, Chen resumed eating - right above him - as if he didn't care.
Slowly Reszet wiggled backwards, tail tucked, and then retreated with his head low to the ground. Why was it always like this? Was it his fault? Did he do something wrong? He just wanted to--
"We should return," Chen said, leaving the few remnants of the goose behind for later, or the bugs. "It was just a small herd, but it's probably still close by. Together we can probably take them all down and feast for a few days." Determined, the white wolf marched off.
His smaller pal involuntarily followed suit with a meek, "Y-yes..." Chen was always so focused. Always up to the task. He knew where to find the good prey, always found his way, never messed something up. He was easily the smartest of them, Reszet had to admit. It was alluring! That poise too. Maybe he was just too deficient in Chen's eyes? A disappointment once more?
Glumly he trotted along behind the impeccable, white hunk, his sad eyes fixed on those firm, strong haunches. Chen's tail was a bit shorter than his own, but it fit him nicely. Everything fit! Why couldn't he be more like this? If he was more like Chen, maybe the other's wouldn't disregard him anymore? But he wasn't! He was Reszet. The small. The weak. The flawed!
"Will Toshi still be mad at us?" he asked.
Chen's answer was sparse as always, "Doubtful."
"Yeah, hehe," Res chuckled timidly. "He's too dumb to hold a grudge for long." Sheepishly he peered over, but the taller canine was looking straight ahead, not at him. Cautiously he came a step closer to catch his attention. It didn't work. "Baobei...?" he mumbled softly, though didn't get a reaction. In a final attempt he then bumped into Chen's flank and cuddled up to him. The white wolf was at least staggered enough to pause and look, but then he snarled unwelcoming and Res flinched.
Stoically the taller wolf marched on.
Awkwardly, Reszet lingered behind for a moment, digesting the once again rude rejection. If only he knew hot to win Chen's favor. "Alright, piss face!" he eventually spat sulkily and strutted past the silent grump. "I'll go ahead then. See ya."
Not caring for a response this time, Res started running towards their turf. It was a mossy patch under a particularly dense spruce grove, that provided good shelter against the rain and wind. On his way, the runt banned Chen's handsome, indifferent mug from his mind. Instead trying to focus on more promising prospects. Toshi, though wasn't at their usual resting place, but Res soon found his track. It honestly wasn't hard to make out!
The familiar scent led him upriver, close to the waterfall, where the massive wolf idly sat on an equally massive boulder. The falling water made a lot of noise, the constant splashing let the plants grow high here. It was a pretty nice spot. Fleet-footed Reszet hopped onto the flat rock as well and knocked his shoulder into the red-furred giant. "Chen sniffed out a small herd of deer," he informed. "He wants us to go after them." Tenderly he pressed his muzzle to Toshi's fuzzy chest. He smelled strong and potent. Having him in the team was a real blessing. "They taste good. But if you want to fool around some, before we go, I'd be down!" he murred, lifting his tail saucily and wagging it.
Lackadaisically Toshiba peered down, though only pushed the gray wolf aside with his thick arm. He didn't even have to try hard, Reszet was a lightweight, not only compared to Toshi, but for a wolf in general. He almost fell off the flat stone.
"Hehe-hey! No reason to be shy," Trying to laugh it off, Res pranced around his friend's perch. "You could ju--" he trailed off when a rustling noise caught his attention. That couldn't be Chen, it was coming straight from the river! With bristled fur Res turned and found a small fox timidly emerging from the thick shrubbery, his fearful eyes flicking imploringly between the two wolves. "The fox is still here?!" Reszet determined disapprovingly, all jest now gone from his features.
"Why not?" Toshi shrugged uncaring, then beckoned the vulpine over.
Hesitantly, Turnipper stepped through the tall grass, careful not to drop what he was holding. He made a wide circle around the gray wolf, who followed him with his evil, blue eyes, then hopped up to his protector and nestled himself against his front.
"Wuh...?" Res stared stumped when Toshi bent down to lick the fox's neck. What the hog was going on here?!
Carefully revealing what he was holding, Turnipper held a little crayfish up to the wolf. "Here. They taste way better when you cook them over a fire. An otter once showed me. But unfortunately I can't make fire." Skeptically Toshi took the weird creature out of the vulpine's hand and gave it a sniff, while being advised to be careful with the nippers. The gray wolf was still staring and Turnipper got aware. Sheepishly he glanced back and forced a faint smile. "I c-can bring you one too... if you like?" he offered carefully, in hope to somehow get on his initial attacker's good side.
Though Reszet turned his head away with outright disgust. "Pff!"
"Don't bother with him," Toshi said just before his gigantic jaws destroyed the wriggling shellfish. He didn't seem very fond of the taste, but swallowed the bite anyway. "Kinda crunchy and slimy." Done with the now lifeless thing, he offered it back to the fox.
"What by the rising moon is going on here?!" Reszet asked with a growl, unable to watch the fondness between the two any longer. Why was this snack feeding Toshi walking fish, while he was shoved aside like a stranger?!
"He's fucking it."
"What?" Res asked the just arriving white wolf, completely flabbergasted. Then his head spun back to Toshi and the fox he basically cradled. "WHAT?!!!" With wide open eyes to see it right in front of his nose, Res couldn't believe it. His rump involuntarily hit the ground when Toshi merely shrugged unapologetically.
This couldn't be. No. This was not fair! Why was this measly fox eligible for Toshiba's affection, but not him?! It wasn't even a wolf! It was food - FOOD! - that comfortably leaned against that big, warm chest! A light snack that Toshi blessed with his tongue so gently, while he didn't even grant his pack mate to sit beside him! Was he this abhorrent, that his buddy would rather lay with a lesser creature? The thought was unbearable! Res knew he was imperfect, but was he that much of a waste? In the eyes of the only people that even bothered to put up with him at all?!
Hurt pounded in Reszet's chest and he growled to hold back a tear. "What the shit is wrong with you?! Get rid of that thing! Eat it, or chase it off, I don't care as long as I don't have to see it again!"
While Turnipper cowered and pressed himself tighter to his guardian, Toshiba merely sent a lazy growl down to the gray-furred runt. He could do whatever and whomever the fuck he wanted!
"This is disgusting!" Res continued to shout. "Play around with your food, if you have to, but don't expect me to put up with it prancing about. This thing will only cause trouble! Chen, tell him to put an end to this!"
The wolf sat calmly in the grass, his sharp, treacherously calm, brown eyes focused on the fox like a lurking cat on its prey. Then they flicked up to Toshiba. "Do what you want with your haul, I don't care. But I won't trade hunger for your lust!" And with that, Chen left under Toshi's dismissive glare.
"Chen, you fucking bitch!"
"You will put up with whatever I decide to have prancing about!" Toshi snarled, ostentatiously pulling the fox closer against his chest, while showing the other wolf his teeth.
Crumbling under the domineering brute, Reszet only managed to hold his ground for a mere few moments. He simply couldn't oppose to this much power. He would once again get the short end of the deal. With a last defiant growl, he left.
"Y-your friends hate me..." Turnipper noted meekly, cozy yet awkwardly nestled against Toshi's chest. He'd gotten himself into a real mess here!
The red wolf, though, took it easy. Possessively he rubbed his large hand over the smaller canine's lank belly. "Don't worry about them. You're safe with me."
"I know, but..." He looked up. "That's not the point. I don't want to drive a wedge between you and them. But... at the same time, I don't want to leave you either, Toshiba."
It was true. Being with the wolf had been a huge improvement in Turnipper's life, however messed up that sounded. Toshiba was a bit rough around the edges, and definitely not the brightest star in the sky, but he had a kind and caring side Turnipper wanted to rely on. He also was a formidable fuck! Not to mention the fact that no creature far and wide would harm him with this brute around! But in the brief time they had been together, Turnipper and Toshiba had already developed past their initial agreement. This wasn't a deal anymore. It was lust and joy and curiosity and a weird kind of fascination for their many vast differences!
"Then stay," Toshi suggested, as if it was that simple.
He laughed dryly. "A fox in the middle of a bunch of hungry wolves! Uhh, what are we supposed to do...?"
