1. “Dirk the Protector” Vocabulary

2. Cohort
A companion or associate

3. Conventional
Usual; traditional

4. Decoy
a person or thing used to distract others or lead them in a different direction

5. Forerunner
Person or thing that came before

6. Hustle
To gain by energetic effort

7. Impasse
a situation in which no progress can be made; a deadlock

8. Predatory
given to stealing from or hurting others for one’s own gain

9. Puny
weak and small

10. Brindled
light brownish yellow or grayish with streaks or spots of a darker color

11. Claim
a statement saying that something happened a certain way or will happen a certain way : a statement saying that something is true when some people may say it is not true

12. Relevant
relating to a subject in an appropriate way

13. Sufficient
having or providing as much as is needed

14. Significant
large enough to be noticed or have an effect; very important; having a special or hidden meaning