Phoenix Maplewood first star I see tonight

When no opposition was offered, Dusty thought nothing of poking his snipey nose into her fragrant pelage. The stains were an anomaly to him, and one that needed thorough investigation! But he was disappointed to find it was only berry juice, and not a natural marking or coloration.

And then it turned out the woman spoke the common tongue quite well, and Dusty was terribly flustered. He'd assumed that she wouldn't understand, but her command was such that he doubted this could be the case. His investigation turned at once into an apology, long legs jellifying and dropping him to the cold ground. He laid on his side, his withers leaned heavy into her forelegs and his neck extended so that he could attempt to slobber on her chin in contrite supplication.

The childish, boisterous display was one that had often convinced family members to be lenient with him, and he did not consider that a stranger might not find it quite as charming.

As quickly as it had begun, however, the excitement became too much for the youth, and he sprang up and performed a graceless pirouette before turning to smack the hardpacked earth with his paws.

"I'm blooming," he told her, and he seemed disinclined to make any further explanations. "Why're you all ruddy?" he wanted to know, belly-crawling back to her to try and poke at her paws. Did it taste as strong as it smelled?