crawl from the fire into the pan, what we don't need, hell will demand

no treebark or ground cover could relieve leif of the irritation that grieved him. no matter what surface he fretted his slough against, the prickling sensation crawling under his skin could not be appeased, and things were beginning to chafe.

looks of sorrow took on a life of their own upon his mien as the wolf peddled backwards, feeling his way about the tree's girth with unguided feet, gradually, slowly, propping his tailpiece up against the trunk by his hindlegs. his claws fumbled for purchase with the husk...

...and just when he was about to start grinding against it, quiet like a deermouse rummaging through its tunnels, the kettleblack she-wolf approached unnoticed and curled her lip, tittering at his wardrobe malfunction.

startled by the patronizing voice that cropped up from behind him, oddleif punted his right leg backwards against the bole and by mistake lodged it firmly in a cavity that some tree-dwelling critter had been (newly, as in, right at that moment) evicted from. a damper of gloom crept over his features.

scowling, leif whipped his head to cast starling a fierce look. like a doctor with a malpractice suit, he had no patience for this. "maybe you should keep your nose out of it." he quipped back, snapping his gaze to glare straight ahead again. he shifted on his forelegs, flexing his toes into soil underfoot and halfheartedly yanking the entrapped appendage, trusting she was bright enough to take a hint and leave him to his woes.