Phoenix Maplewood All you need is some self-control

AW!

All was peaceful in the early hours of the evening; the chirping birds (indicating the gradual arrival of spring as they grew in tenacity) had slowly vanished as the sun began to slip below the horizon. The sky was fair, and a few bright stars had already begun to settle among the dim blues and grays of the early evening light -- and from out of nowhere, a pile of dirt went flinging between a pair of leaning trees. They seemed to be rooted in place, but the boughs separated like a set of uneven chopsticks; and at their base was Tavi. Her body was covered in wet mud, dry soil, pine needles, and maple leaves. She was an absolute travesty. The white of her legs had been thoroughly browned, with streaks of gold and all manner of tangles to the fur of her extremities. But with a big bellowing sigh, she collapsed on to her belly -- face first in the dirt, mind you -- and gave a satisfied yawn in to the pit she had just excavated. Behind her, the girl's tail was lifted high and triumphant. She was quite the sight.