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The dessert sun shone down, as it always did, upon the mesas, making the plateaus practically glimmer in the early light.
It was another beautiful day in the desert. Another day without a cloud in the sky. The sun had risen not too long ago, the cool air from the previous night lingering.
And usually by this time, Wile E. Coyote was starting his day by drawing his newest plan on a fresh sheet of blueprint. Once he was done, he’d exit a cave with a pep in his step, ready to finally capture that elusive Road Runner.
But fate had other plans for him today.
No, today there were now new plans on a fresh sheet of blueprint. Wile. E did not step out of his cave enthusiastically. Instead, he was bedridden due to one of the worst headaches he’d had in a long while.
He was curled up in his little nest, paw covering his eyes to block out any sunlight. He’d learned the hard way that any light hitting at all right now made the throbbing behind his skull worse, as did movement of any kind.
He let out a small whine, in pain and frustrated as to why this was happening to him. He’d assumed one too many hits to the head, or maybe dehydration? He did live in the desert, after all.
He’d tried taking the Acme branded aspirin to kill the pain, but of course, his headache only became worse. Damn Acme products.
At this point, Wile E. wasn’t even upset that he wouldn’t catch the Road Runner today. All he cared about was for this stupid headache to finally be over with.
However, that didn’t sit well with a certain bird.
When their usual game of cat and mouse was abruptly interrupted, the Road Runner took notice. It was like clockwork- as soon as the sun came up, Wile E. was on the hunt and setting up his next trap, and the bird would evade it, as always.
But come sunup, there was no coyote. No chase, no failed plans, and not a single trap to be found. Wile E. hadn’t even shown up.
So what did Road Runner do?
He decided that he was going to take a detour off the road and instead to Wile’s den. Maybe then he’d find out why he hadn’t bothered to show up to their usual chase.
Still bedridden, said coyote shifted to a more comfortable position, trying his best to sleep off the headache. Maybe once he felt better he could get back to work.
He let out a sigh as a sudden warm gust of air flew into his cave, brushing against his fur. It felt nice, took his mind off the pain for just a moment. If it continued, maybe it would lull him to sleep and-
“Meep meep!”
Ah. That was where that sudden gust came from. Speedy legs and a blur of feathers. Now it explained everything.
Great. He was sure the bird was coming back to gloat.
He knew the Road Runner was here. He didn’t need to open his eyes to see, and quite frankly, really didn’t want to if he could help it. He knew he should acknowledge the bird in some fashion, but it really seemed like too much effort and energy that he didn’t have in the moment.
When Road Runner had zipped into the coyote’s den, he had expected to see anything but him still laying in bed. The bird couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed that Wile E. was trading a midday nap in favor of their usual chase. This never happened.
Despite that, Road Runner kept the usual cheery smile on his face, and raced around the coyote’s bed once, twice, attempting to get his attention with another loud “meep meep!”.
Still, no response from the desert dog. He didn’t even look up. Road Runner’s smile faltered slightly, frustrated and sad that he was being ignored.
LSure, it wasn’t the first time Wile had ignored him, but that didn’t make him feel any less betrayed.
Feeling desperate now, the bird gave a light, gentle peck to his head right between his eyes. Not trying to hurt him by any means, just wanting to annoy him or at the very least get him to open his eyes and acknowledge his presence.
And finally, he got a reaction, but not the kind he wanted. Wile E. just huffed out a growl, turning away from the bird. Rejection hit Road Runner like a slap in the face. He was absolutely not in the mood for a chase today, it seemed. And so, with a heavy heart, he decided that any other attempts to get the coyote to acknowledge him were useless.
Just as he was about to turn tail(feather) with a sad whine, slinking out of the cave sadly back into the mesas, he heard the woosh of a sign being raised behind him. He turned back to look at the coyote, who was weakly holding up a white wooden sign that read:
[NO CHASE TODAY.]
Road Runner tilted his head curiously, stopping in his tracks. He turned his body fully back towards Wile E. He watched the coyote, still confused, pursuing the words on the sign over and over as if they would give him an answer.
He slowly padded over to Wile E., feeling a little more reassured now that he hadn’t truly been ignored. Wile E. could tell the bird was still there, watching him intently.
He knew he wouldn’t leave. Not at least he told him. He pulled another sign out of his hammerspace.
[HEADACHE. BAD ONE.]
Ohh. Now that made sense. He knew Wile E. wouldn’t stop their chase for no reason. Road Runner blinked a few times, staring at the practically incapacitated coyote. He took a few steps further, now at the edge of Coyote’s bed.
Road Runner never enjoyed when Wile E. was in pain. Well, if it didn’t pertain to their usual chases when he was hurt due to his own contraptions. This was different. This was getting in the way of their usual routine.
The bird craned his neck down, chin hovering just above Wile E.’s forehead. He let out a single curious beep. The coyote once again lifted a sign.
[NOT IN THE MOOD TODAY.]
He flipped it once.
[GO AWAY.]
Despite his attempts, the bird did not budge. Wile E. sighed through his nose. Since he was down and out, he assumed that the bird was going to patronize and mock him for not being able to chase today.
After all, why wouldn’t he? It’d be revenge for all the attempts to attack the other. All he could do was sit there and take it, Wile supposed. Maybe eventually he’d tune it all out.
But the opposite was true. Instead, the coyote felt Road Runner lay his beak gently atop his head, soft feathers brushing against his cheek as he snuggled up next to him.
Wile E’s eyes shot open in surprise, instantly regretting the action as the light only made his migraine worse. He blinked, trying to adjust his vision, the blurry image of blue feathers curled up next to him growing clearer.
Was the bird… trying to make him feel better? Couldn’t be, this had to be some sick joke. Why would the creature he’d been attempting to catch and eat suddenly feel sympathy for him?
Despite the soft feeling of feathers and the smooth sensation of the beak against his pained head, Wile E. still wanted to push Road Runner away and tell him now was not the time. However, the feathered fellow lifted his head from the coyote’s just for a second, to plant a gentle lick across his head, sincere and sweet, no malice or mockery behind it.
The desert dog froze, blinking once, twice, his feverish face already growing hotter. What the hell was that?!
He was about to pull another sign out to ask that exact question, when Road Runner beat him to the punch, already holding up a sign of his own.
[TRUCE.]
It read, its words emphasized in bold letters. Road Runner then dropped the sign, another taking its place.
[YOU’RE UNWELL. NO NEED FOR A CHASE TODAY.]
Wile E. couldn’t believe what he was reading.
A truce? After decades upon decades of hostility, Road Runner wasn’t about to mock or belittle him for not being able to chase today. He was about to lie patiently and rest with him. To help him heal so they could get back to their usual routine.
Wile E. looked up at the Road Runner, who was smiling down at him. The bird chirped out a friendly “meep meep!” before once again resting his head atop the ill coyote’s.
The desert dog felt an odd, almost affectionate flutter in his chest, his tail giving a soft wag without his say so. He quickly placed a paw on it to stifle it.
Fine. But as soon as he was well again, the chase was on once more.
[JUST THIS ONCE.]
Wile E. finally resigned. And with that, he placed his hands on his paws, closing his eyes in an attempt to sleep once again. Road runner let out a satisfied purr, his tail feathers happily wagging once before his body stilled and his eyes closed along with the coyote’s.
Wile had never felt so cared for in his entire life. It felt odd, and yet… he didn’t hate it. It almost felt nice to be coddled until the migraine would finally subside a few hours from now.
Maybe this isn’t a terrible way to live, the coyote thought, as he finally drifted off into a comfortable sleep with a smile face, the sensation of soft feathers lulling him into a dreamless sleep.