Broken Boulder Boulder Huntin'

The boy was still, save the heaving of his chest, for several beats. After the shock wore off, though, he hopped to his feet easily, as if he hadn't just gotten done thinking he was going to drown in a shallow creek. He shook his coat out a few times, flinging water.
I'm fine! Ali insisted in Korei's direction, not quite looking at her. His pelt was spiky now, sticking in all directions; his tail, still sodden despite his efforts, was vaguely reminiscent of a rat tail. Shamed, cold, and a little irritable now, he went to retrieve his hare without another word to Korei. He'd deposit it in the growing cache and then go die of mortification, somewhere far from his girlfriend.