Overture Downs more than could be chewed

Oh. She hadn't expected that response.

There was a moment's hesitation during which an astute wolf might pick up on the fact she was lying, but Watcher was not the sort of wolf to think much about the perceptiveness of others. She had already written Swift off as an idiot, a wolf who would risk his hide and health for a trinket. More than all my toes combined, she told him. Some younger than yours.

Lucky for you I already ate, she finished, hoping that would suffice to tie a neat little bow on that lie. She lurched to her feet and made as though to leave him, but returned with a sizable stick held carefully in her jaws. It was more of a branch than a stick, but flimsy and thin on the distal. Watcher herself doubted whether it would be any use.

Grab, she instructed through a mouthful of wood, thrusting as much of the stick in Swift's direction as she could without throwing out her neck and shoulders.