Sun Mote Copse “A hug is always the right size.” —Winnie the Pooh

He cast a quick glance to Towhee, to see if he was watching while Meerkat approached him, obviously curious about the long feather he held gently in his mouth. He smiled, lips pulling back to reveal even more of the red and black striped feather when Meerkat also turned her head to look back at her mother, and at that moment, he seized his chance. With a movement deft but gentle, he nestled the quill end of the feather into the soft, beige fur at the top of Meerkat's head, and then smoothed the fur down with a lick. He pulled back, admiring his work, and grinned. 

"Awwwww!" He squealed, his voice cracking slightly as he forced it into an uncomfortable falsetto. He'd thought she might look funny- but he was surprised by how utterly adorable she looked with the long feather sticking out of her head fur, arcing back over her ticked shoulders. "You look like a quail!" He said, chuffed with the results of his hair styling.