Bitterroot Valley shaken not stirred

He licked, and licked, and licked. He was consumed by this distraction, and did not notice the approach of a familiar face until she shouted at him, arriving at his side before he could shift to maintain a safety bubble. He flinched away from her nudge, scrambling to his paws and backing away several paces, hackles bristled from the startle.

Recognition had rose in the back of his skull immediately, but it took him a moment to realize who he was actually looking at. "You," he said, his fur smoothing but his wariness, and uncharacteristic coldness, was still evident on his face. He made no motion to greet her as he normally would have, standing back with an idly swishing tail. "I didn't think you were coming back."