Sun Mote Copse You've got a fast car

She felt the impact when Bronco sprawled nearby, a vibration which made her eyes widen even as she continued panting. Her eyes sought him again even as he declared, "Tada!" Meerkat didn't know what it meant but she couldn't resist the impulse to shout the two simple syllables: "TA! DA!" Despite her shortness of breath, it came out just as loud as anything else.

Her eyes slipped close then as the pup succumbed to her exhaustion. She didn't fall asleep, just rested as she caught her breath. When she reopened them a moment later, she saw her mother's face hovering. Meerkat pushed herself up onto an elbow, licking her foamy chops.

-"Thanks for tiring her out for me,"- Towhee quipped to Bronco right before she bent down and snatched Meerkat's scruff. The pup was nearly too large for this now, so the Regent waddled a little as she carried her over to the log and deposited her in a boneless heap inside.

Meerkat peered sleepily from her cozy spot in the makeshift den's mouth, giving her mother and Bronco a dopey smile. She then promptly curled into a ball, tucking her nose beneath her whip-like tail, sighing contentedly as her eyes drifted shut and stayed closed this time.