Just Another Pit Stop

[coljay]

"The life of a travler
Isn't easy, my friend,
For long narrow roads
That ne'er seem to end
The life of a travler
Isn't easy, my dear
So stay home in the den
In your home so near.
Yes, I know the life of a wanderer
And I wander to this day
And stopping, warning you, small one
Is just another pit stop
Along my weary way."

He sang the song slowly, gently, his wonderful voice filling the air. His eyes were closed, the black racoon-like mask on his white face made him appear to be eyeless. He performed a small shuffling dance, tail raised to greet the sun that warmed his back. He had a design of wings on his back, but couldn't fly. Nor, for that matter, was he gifted with any sort of air or wind element. Instead he had a fire's will, strength, and power, marked by the vibrant red of his right forepaw.

This was Coljay Jackson, the singing, dancing lupus extrodinare. He was stopping in the plains for a brief rest, and had hoped to put on a show, but hadn't found anyone there to entertain. Sighing, he halted his song to sniff out a meal. He knew there was a jackalope nearby, but he didn't feel inclined to chase it. Rather, he wandered in it's general direction, following his nose.

Suddenly, there was a break among the grass. The jackalope had bolted. Blue eyes half open, Coljay watched with a look of half-intrest. Slowly, carefully, he raised a paw to cover a yawn, and as he did so, he concentrated on the patch of grass the jackalope had halted in.

Shwoof!!!

The patch suddenly caught fire. He heard a faint shriek, but didn't much mind. Just as quickly as the fire started, he put it out, then went to collect his slightly burnt meal. As he approached the jackalope, he wrinkled his nose.

"Blech," said he, "burnt fur smell..." Dauntless, however, he picked it up and carried it to another, unburned patch of grass. Ah, but what he would do for an audience to witness his fantastic show! He only needed one person, and he would show them what a real wolf could do with a strong voice and some fire!!!

[empathy]

Empathy moved forward through the grass cautiously, his smoky smell clinging to him, his eyes alight with curiosity and suspicion.He wriggled through the tall grass, grey eyes fixed on the stranger. His suddenly flicked his head in the direction were a jackalope had just gone up in flames. His eyes narrowed. That wolf over there probably did it, he was dangerous. Proceeding with extreme caution, he got closer and closer. The smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils, and regretted instantly not saving some of that rabbit for later. He recalled its soft, tender taste, the taste of it sliding down his throat... He swallowed, and shoved the thought roughly from his mind, elbowing it towards the pile of thoughts he didn't want to think. Like what if ruby was dead...
He gritted his teeth and blanked his mind, concentrating on stealth, and stealth only. He was dimly aware that he was moving towards the dead jackalope. At least, he thought it was dead...
Hoping the strange wolf wouldn't see him, he gently tugged at the leg of the jackalope, trying to tear off just a small piece of meat, he was so hungry, and he had no strength to chase a rabbit...
He tugged at again,a bit more roughly this time. he was in a hurry, he had no whim to be roasted alive. He would be useless to Ruby if that happened. He had to find and protect her with his life, if he could...
He gave another tug, and a piece of flesh gave way, and he chewed thankfully in his mouth, and started moving away as quietly as he could.

The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude towards the problem.

[coljay]

Coljay noticed the strange wolf trying to steal his meal, and instantly leapt at him.

"'Ello there!" he said in his strange accent, "Wot's this? A theif? Can't have that, eh?" he shook his head as he placed a firm paw on the body of the jackalope, "If you'd wanted somethin' ya coulda jus' asked me! Names Coljay! Coljay Jackson!" he extended a paw to the stranger, "Nice t'meecha, and, herm.... you... you like shows, right?" he looked beseechingly at the other wolf. If he was angry at the other for trying to steal his food, he didn't show it.

No, Coljay saw each new person as another chance to show off his prowess in the performing arts. His combination of singing, dancing, and fire-play created a spectical and he loved to show off. This wolf... this wolf was the perfect audience. Single audiences were easier to keep the attention of, anyways. Tearing off another piece of the jackalope and dropping it before the other, he began a bribing game.

"I'll letcha have 'alf of this beauty if you stay!" he said, "Not t'mention I'll catcha another! No need t'thank me! I'm a true giver, I know!!!"

[empathy]

The fiery-eyed one year old pup looked up at him, ready for a fight, his lips automatically stretched over his teeth, and low growl came from somewhere inside his throat.
"Don't. Make. Any. Sudden. Moves." He growled, his powerful, bewitching eyes fixed on the stranger. He was sucking him into his eyes, making sure that this wolf couldn't turn away from them. His eyes flickered and danced with rage, and the tiniest flicker of terror. He moldered his eyes, drawing the wolf into his eyes, he almost had him entranced. This wolf seemed like one not to mess with, friendly, but deadly at the same time. But Emp wasn't sure. He then thought back to his previous words.
His eyes flickered to the food, and then to the wolf. They flickered back and forth. A small nagging in the back of his mind reminded him that he'd done something wrong, he'd broken eye contact. But he was so HUNGRY. He hadn't eaten for a few days. But he didn't exactly appeal to the idea of being burned on the spot. He finally came to a conclusion. He sat.
"Ill stay. Don't try anything funny."
He bared his teeth.
"I may be a pup, but don't under estimate me. If you get in a fight with me, then you have no idea what you're dealing with."
It wasn't Emp's fault, he had been taught not to trust strangers. His own mother and father hadn't treated him that well, before they were attacked by a bear, and bits of their bodies were strewn decoratively around the den.
He waited to see what the wolf would do, and eyed the meat hungrily.