Cricket Creek Bog fragile stuff, all show

Ridgeback reassured him, which made him feel a little bit less of a pampered pet, knowing that he was at least living life the way a wolf was generally built to- but it also made him slightly sad to hear those words coming from a wolf who then went on to imply that his own experience with others and with packs had not been a positive one. Bronco wondered if Ridgeback had chosen a life on his own to avoid being hurt again. He seemed to regret his experiences enough to have shied away from the idea of fitting into a pack again. 

"That...I'm sorry," He said. "That's not how it's supposed to be. An' I think...Whoever you were with, that they failed you." He said. Parents weren't supposed to neglect their children. Packmates weren't supposed to be left feeling like an outsider. He didn't seem to want to be pitied, though, and Bronco doubted even more that he wanted pity from a stranger. "S'their loss, anyway," He said, simply, hoping to validate Ridgeback's self confidence. He tilted his nose in a respectful gesture to Ridgeback. "I mean, doesn't seem like you turned out that bad," He said with a wry smile.