M
U
R
T
A
G
H

When the idea had been brought up that Murtagh could accompany Ktulu on a patrol, he hadn’t left any room for his other mother to argue. He was simply far too excited and had made every promise he possibly could about how of course he wouldn’t run off and he definitely would stay within eyeshot of Ktulu, Kaj, or Eytan at all times.

Games were an exception, of course. They had to be!

The colt wasn’t really running off and it was the grizzly who had started it, anyway. Murtagh had just been minding his own business, preparing to ask Ktulu every single question he could ever think of because he had never been this far south before, when he had been tagged by a cold, damp nose. Such things could not go unchallenged.

All hope of grace was lost as the colt alternately chased and was chased by the small grizzly, bouts of laughter erupting every time there was a particularly loud crash or if one of them slipped on the forest floor.

But suddenly, it was his turn to chase and Eytan wasn’t there. A frown soured the colt’s face as he started to root around, sniffing here and there (he knew the grizzly’s scent well, it was everywhere in these bushes). He certainly wasn't capable of finding a trail but the action just seemed like something that a great tracker would do. Giving up, Murtagh leapt through the bushes with the intention of asking his Papa where the bear had got to when he skidded to a halt right in front of Ktulu. What a little bugger.

This called for a different plan. Straightening up, his small red-tipped horn held high, Murtagh stood in front of the pair in a way he hoped was casual. “Papa.” He said, seriously, adopting an exaggerated tone of what he considered to be his Papa’s ‘I’m being serious’ voice. It was the most adult tone he knew, perfect for the scene.“Have you seen Mama? We were playing but he gone…” Lavender eyes looked all around, studiously ignoring the blatant brown mass of fur beneath his parent’s legs. He was trying very hard not to pout, it was vital for the game that he be as grown-up and carefree as he could.“Best hider, that one.” He quietly confided in the mare before dropping his nose down to the ground and sniffing all about like a wolf might do when trying to find a deer.

He scurried off into the bushes, rooting around and gradually making his way so that he would come out of them behind Eytan, and maybe… just maybe… they had been fooled by his excellent acting skills and IF he was quiet enough he could sneak up behind and scare the silly bear…