Stone Circle sticks

Silently Charles waited, looking at the ground while he saw his brother pounce the stick in his peripheral vision. He just took a few steps backwards, not looking to get mixed into this at all, when another arrived. Charles eyed her warily, for though he knew her and she hadn't been much of a threat up until now, growing up with his rowdy brothers and a mother who wasn't around enough to protect him from them he still felt his body stiffen. He glanced at Riley, expecting something to happen -- for him to attack her, perhaps, or to chomp on him to show how strong he was in front of her. Whatever the case, he knew this something would involve him in some way, expect some thing of him. And he was ready to oblige, though he hoped it would be the most former of his thoughts, selfishly: he just wanted it to be not him who got hurt.

Charles murmured an Oof under his breath as he got shoved. He glanced at Riley, hoping to figure out what his brother wanted, but didn't know for sure. Hesitantly, the coywolf lifted his large ears curiously towards her as he said, Hi. It took him another five seconds of blinking dumbly until he realised that she'd asked a question. Oh, we was just -- He glanced back at Riley, then at the stick, unsure what to say. -- Playing. With a stick. Seemed easiest to stick to whatever was closer to the truth of the matter than to make up some elaborate lie to hide his fear. His tail was still tucked between his hind legs, a silent reminder of the lingering fear, even though he felt a little easier in the presence of another. It took some of the heat off him.