Emberwood [m] But if you get me out, you get a show

Retaliation was immediate — a whine grizzled out of open jaws that sought the offending muzzle. His bottlebrush tail whipped lazily through the dirt even after the clumsy, half-hearted strike. He might've gone on to start another fight if she had not reminded him of the serious topics they'd opened up.

"It sounds like we're well short of her," he replied, allowing himself to be settled once more. He kissed her cheek, just in case that was the wrong thing to say, and followed his lazy stream of consciousness to the next thought:

"How come she didn't want you to be a dancer?" he asked. He shifted, making more room for her to hide underneath him, if she wanted.