“Be free, little guy.”
He scurries away, and I’m left wishing I could follow him.
Great, now I’m jealous of a trash panda.
Caleb stomps over to me. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Tyler chimes in. “Wasting our time saving the very pests that eat our crops. It’s no surprise thatverminseem to stick together.”
Vermin? Now I know he did not just call me that.
“Excuse me? Just because you don’t see their worth doesn’t mean they are worthless. They’re important to someone. Like how I think you’re a waste of oxygen, but I’m sure your mommy loves you,” I retort.
At my comment, Tyler takes one step forward, and Caleb holds a hand out to stop him.
“Hey, easy there.”
“Since when does a rogue care about the loved ones of others?” Tyler shouts at me over Caleb’s shoulder.
Tyler is as arrogant as they come. He assumes he knows everything. Like the entire Bloodhound pack, he has a sheltered view of the world. They may have the means to survive, but thatis their privilege. Take away their prominent shelters, supportive friends and family and they’d struggle like everyone else.
His absence of struggle doesn’t mean I’m not thriving through mine. Our success is unfairly compared. Mineis my own, ashisis the work of many.
Tyler’s comment is just as common as his arrogance. It’s not like I haven’t heard it all before. Pack wolves think rogues are careless, selfish and destructive. We’re all wolves yet somehow, they still think they’re better than me.
I don’t justify his ignorance with a response. He’s wrong about me. They all are. Let him think what they want. They don’t deserve to know me.
My eyes return to where the raccoon vanished. From my pocket, I pull a handful of yesterday’s berries, then leave some and pop a couple into my mouth.
Stay safe, little guy.
I grin thinking of the metal I grazed with my fingertips when I stuck my hand in my pocket.
They forgot to search my clothes.
***
I seem to have a knack for annoying Caleb. So far, helping animals, humming tunes and not walking fast enough on our death march bother the crap out of him. I try to make myself small—not because I care about how he feels, but because I want to avoid conflict. They already want to kill me. I’ll settle for enslavement for now. At least until the moment strikes, and I can attack.
Lost in my thoughts, I lose my footing, tripping over my own two feet. Caleb catches me inches from the ground. He holds me there, and my breath hitches as his gaze lingers.
“Walk much?” he snarks.
“I’m sorry, I haven’t eaten much—”
I know exactly what he’s about to say.
He grinds his teeth together, clearly annoyed with me. “Did I not tell you to eat the pheasant?”
I couldn’t tell him that I couldn’t eat the pheasant because I’m a vegetarian. He wouldn’t care. If I told him, probably use that against me by only ever feeding me meat or worse,forcingme to.
I say nothing.
“Slow us down again, and I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you the rest of the way. Do I make myself clear?”
Reluctantly, I swallow my pride. “Loud and clear. Now are you going to let me up or are you going to keep looking into my eyes like a creep?”
Caleb’s lip twitches in a snarl. He yanks me upward.
