Silvertip Mountain Ventura Highway

Oh, shitballs.
A prank that would have been met with a playful shout from her twin or a rascally growl from her parents or a quiet meep from her brother—that thought made pain lance through her suddenly—had an entirely different effect on this stranger. She recognized the fur raising along the back of his neck even before he whirled, so by the time Njord turned to face her with his teeth bared, Alyx was already shrinking away from him.
Sorrysorrysorry! she blubbered as she stumbled back onto her rump. Now that he asked, she had no explanation. It was something she would do at home without a second thought, but she wasn't at home, now, was she? Dumb dumbass! If Fennec was present, she'd probably laugh out loud at the spectacle without even being able to see it. The sounds and the panic in Alyx's voice were telltale enough.
Sorry! she squeaked once more, pressing herself meekly backward and down with ears and tail both tucked. She shared a short conversation with Njord, but ultimately she was too ashamed to be very good company and she quickly found an excuse to move on.