Heart beat out my chest.

She seemed proud of him; he had hoped she would be. Her pride meant so much to him that he couldn't help but swell even more with pride. If he got any more proud - say his father showed up and showed some ounce of pride himself - the boy might explode.

"Yuh!" he agreed, failing to recognize or admit to the factors that had brought the kill to his jaws so easily. "Git it, Cawhnie git it!" the boy replied, his tail beating a steady pace behind him.

He looked around, half-wishing his twin or sister were available to admire his kill too. "Whurrr erbuddy?"