Blacktail Deer Plateau Rock n' roll

No worries, I saw your revision and edited accordingly. :)

"I'm fine," he told her, then laughed dryly at his own statement. "Okay, I'm not exactly fine, I guess, but I'll live. Promise." He cracked open one eye and winked at her, then let his head loll back on the ground as he took it easy.

Eyes still shut, body still at rest, he murmured, "I know you can take care of yourself, otherwise you wouldn't have been my Beta and now my fellow Alpha. Still, I want to know if she gives you any shit." He left it at that, drew in a deep breath and lay still for a few more moments.

"Okay," he said at length, both eyes opening now. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I guess we'll have to swing around and walk up the main slope," he observed. The thought made his skin pale under its heavy black coat. "The sooner we start, the sooner I'll be home. Did you say puppy seeds, by the way? I'm a huge fan of the idea of puppy therapy..." he quipped.