Swiftcurrent Creek Down the rabbit hole

The strange beast answered, "Roo," which was close but not the same thing as "boo boo." Relonikiv licked his lips, pondering this difference. Language was such a funny, fascinating thing to him at this stage in his life. He became lost in thought for a few seconds, then blinked and smiled slightly less uncertainly at his new acquaintance.

"Me Re-ki," he introduced himself. His full name was brutally difficult to pronounce, so this very abbreviated version was all he could do for now. "Who youth?" He kept smiling and wagging his tail, making it painfully clear that he was the friendly sort.