“But Karna, I’m HUNGRRRRRY” Russe groaned up at Karna.

“Russe! For the 10th time, we aren’t stopping to eat until we get to the next town and meet up with the others. Its not that much further anyway so be quite and eat on of the sandwiches I packed and be quiet please. Toboe and Gehl aren‘t whining are they?”

“Heh heh” Russe Laughed to himself, “ Karna’s not going to get rid of me that easily. I’ll admit defeat now but I’m going to eat something sooner or later”

At that Russe trailed to the back of the group of 4s tiny line after grabbing a sandwich out of Karna’s bag. He opened up and revealed a some turkey and cheese swimming around in what looked like honey mustard salad dressing and lettuce. He wretched at the sight of the vegetable and strange condiment and threw it aside on the overgrown forest path.

A few minutes went by and Russe seemed to have done everything he could think of to entertain himself. He couldn’t whistle, so that was out of the question, and every time he’d start to hum something Karna would ruin his fun by attempting to join in. Every song that Russe would choose would some how get morphed into another by Karna and 9 times out of 10 it‘d involve food. “Valse De La Lune” would somehow get turned into “Food Glorious Food” and  “Stray” into “Strawberry Jam”  Russe even went as far as counting how many rocks they passed on the trail. After getting to 105 rocks that looked like exactly like hunks of meat he had had enough. Not only was he hungry but he had been walking in his human form for hours. He shifted back to his natural wolf state as the thought of food filled his mind once again.

“Psssssst! Toboe!” Russe whispered.

“Yeah Russe?” Toboe answered a little on the loud side.

“Come here a second.”

As Toboe followed Russe’s  request to come over he also shifted into his wolf form. “Is something the matter? Russe” Toboe questioned.

“Shhhhhhhhhhh. Karna might hear you!” Russe hissed glancing ahead to make sure he wasn’t listening in already.

“Why would it matter if he-”

Russe Cut him off by covering his muzzle with his paw,” I’m getting bored of just following Karna for hours ,so I’m going to find something to eat besides those weirdo sandwiches Karna made. Wanna Come?”

Russe lowered his paw as Toboe lowered his voice, “I dunno Russe, sounds like a good plan, but don’t you think it may be a little dangerous to wander around in this unknown territory? There could be bobcats, bears or even an unfriendly wolf pack nearby. And if we got hurt or lost, you dad would smash Karna’s face into his skull.”

Russe scoffed at the very idea, ”Toboe with me around to protect us, nothing can go wrong! Besides, even if I wasn’t as awesome as I am, look around to you see or smell anything that could be even the slightest bit threatening?”

He did have a point. The path the 4 were walking was in a wooded area much like the ones the group traveled on everyday. There wasn’t anything around even scarier than Gehl. Some trees and other plants, and the occasional squirrel or rabbit that scurried by.

“ And you’re hungry too right?” Russe asked before giving Toboe long enough to answer the first question.

“Yeah,” Toboe grumbled as he glanced down at his nagging stomach.

“ So you’ll come!?!” Russe half cheered with a look of hope sparkling in his eyes.

“ I suppose ,” Toboe muttered a little uncertain fi the choice he just made had been right,” But wait! What about Gehl is he coming too? ?”

“ Gehl’s gone through a lot lately , “ Russe said glancing at the kid who held both the key to the future and the past, “and he’s not exactly the bravest and strongest wolf alive. I’m sure he’d feel Safer if he hung back with Karna. Well bring him back some of the food we find so he can work on gaining a few pounds. Those ribs of his are really starting to irk me.”

“ Alright, that sounds like a good choice, but how are we gonna sneak away from Kar-”

At this moment Karna’s sharp voice cut in causing the two little schemers to nearly jump out of their pelts.” Just what exactly are you too whispering about back there? I may be half human , but my hearing is still good enough to hear my naming being used in your conversation several times. Are you guys saying something rude about me behind my back? I prefer to take insults to the face if you don’t mind”

“Oh-no Uncle Karna,” Russe said in the convincing voice he had perfected over his yers,” you know we wouldn’t talk about anything bad……….We were actually just talking about how we both….umm you know………need to stop and take a bathroom break.”

“Oh! Why didn’t you guys just say so? Let’s go ahead and stop right now then. In truth I’ve kinda had to go for the past while. Meeting back up here in 5 minutes sound okay?”

“Yep!” said Russe with a wide wolf grin as he and Toboe ran off.

“ Don’t you need to go Gehl?” Karna asked in his parenting voice? “You know we won’t be making anymore stops for a while.”

“ I know. I just don’t have to go.” Gehl said in his typical sweet tone.

“ Well at least try,” Karna said shifting into his wolf form,” If you need me , I think I have spotted a nice spot over there by that oddly shaped tree.”

************
“Well, that was easier than I thought.” Toboe said with an expression of fear and excitement on his face

“Almost too easy. I mean who would’ve though he’d fall for the whole “Bathroom Break” bit. That’s the oldest trick in the book,” Russe laugh as  he and Toboe trotted further away from their promised meeting place.,” I guess the important thing though, is that we can finally get started looking for some food!”

“YEAH!” Toboe cheered , attempting what looked like a dance on his hind legs.

“What about Food?” came a quiet but familiar voice from behind the two.