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Road Runner tilted his head, blinking as he watched Wile E. huff and pant against the ground.
He looked like one of those dead rats he'd seen earlier in the road.
Road Runner didn't really like that.
Sure, he didn't exactly understand why his friend chased him so much. And with so much fervor at that.
But it was still their thing.
Wile E. chased after him.
Road Runner ran.
Something exploded.
They did it again.
And again and again.
Sometimes multiple times per day.
It was lots of fun.
Wile E. was always back up and kicking after less than a moment.
But right now...
Now he wasn't.
His ears were flat. His chest heaved. His eyes were half-lidded.
It was truly odd.
Road Runner tilted his head, confused.
Did he forget to eat again?
“Beep beep?”
Wile E. remained still.
Road Runner leaned toward the cave, eyes narrowed.
His wings started to curl up.
Food.
That was all he needed to get. If he did, the coyote would be fine, right?
Nodding to himself, Road Runner immediately zipped inside.
He ignored the many, many, many metal and wooden things Wile E. kept in there and rummaged through the food bin instead.
He was pretty much a pro at finding those by now.
The real question was, where did he keep those delicious seeds...?
The location changed far too many times for his liking—
Ah.
His eyes widened.
There they were.
His beak almost curled into a smile.
He clasped the sack of birdseed between his wings and hurried back.
Wile E. was still lying on the ground.
Still looking like a newborn chick.
Road Runner frowned.
Much too pale.
Much too moany.
He dropped the sack beside him.
Wile E.'s eyes opened.
Road Runner carefully loosened the string.
Then he picked up a few seeds and popped them into the coyote's mouth with his wings.
Wile E. froze.
His eyes widened.
Slowly, almost like it took more effort than usual, he raised one paw.
One of his signs popped up.
WHY.
Road Runner blinked, a little thrown.
“Beep beep?”
Shouldn't it be obvious?
Wile E. stared at him.
Then he flipped the sign around.
WHY HELP?
Road Runner considered the question.
His friend might have been hit harder than he thought.
Then Road Runner tilted his head.
He knew what to do.
He pointed at Wile E.
Then at the seeds.
Then back at Wile E.
It should be easier to understand, right?
Wile E. stared.
Road Runner picked up another seed.
Popped it into his mouth.
Then pointed at Wile E. expectantly.
C'mon, now.
The coyote's ears drooped.
For a moment, he simply stared at the bird.
Then his mouth opened.
Road Runner's eyes brightened.
He got it!
He finally got it!
Road Runner hurriedly placed another seed inside.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Wile E. swallowed.
His paw slowly lowered.
Road Runner smiled.
There.
Much better.
Now Wile E. wouldn't look like a stiff feather.
Happy with the development, he poured some seeds onto the ground for himself and began eating.
After all, running always made him hungry.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Beside him, Wile E. cautiously took another handful.
Road Runner glanced at him.
“Beep beep.”
Wile E. lifted another sign.
YOU'RE WEIRD.
Road Runner nodded.
He didn't know what that meant, but Wile E. was talking more easily.
So it was a win for him.
Hence why he immediately popped yet another seed into the coyote's mouth.
Wile E. didn't reject it.
Even if his nose was twitching.
The Road Runner supposed that meant they were even now.