Sun Mote Copse Bill Barilko disappeared that summer

UGH. I can't even. <3

It was really hard to hold a tough-guy composure when faced by an adorable little sprite calling him a "weelee ceetee." He was already painfully aware that he struggled with the more serious aspects of being a guardian- but he was surprised by how ineffective he was at keeping a straight face when being insulted by his younger sister. He wanted to capture this moment, to bottle it up and keep it forever as though to ward off the inevitable growing pains Alyx would face as she grew up. That way, if she ever fell into a moment of doubt, he could simply show her how she looked through his eyes- and that he might use the memory himself as a reminder of the little pockets of unexpected joy that life could bring. 

But...A princess? Now that caught him by surprise. At first, he wondered where she was getting this from. It couldn't be from their mother- who was very little like a princess, and more like the knight that Alyx was begging for. Perhaps the whole 'Princess' thing came from Phox...That seemed more likely. Most worrisome was the fact that she wanted to be saved by a big, brave guy. Oh no. This was trouble. Alyx was going to be big trouble as soon as she started attracting attention from boys her own age- and while there weren't presently any around, Bronco felt himself frown inwardly at the thought of his sweet little sister and her future string of boyfriends. This wouldn't do. No one would ever be good enough. 

But right now, he had to figure out how to be both a stinky coyote- and a hero. He did his best to try and imagine the situation, trying to use whatever imagination he had left from his own childhood to come up with a creative solution. So he imagined the two characters separately- and did his best to create a very visible difference between the two. 

-I'll save you, Princess Alyx!- He declared, straightening up and puffing out his chest. -Don't you dare touch her, you smelly beast!- He challenged, stepping between Alyx and- well, himself. Because a moment later, he hopped aside, sinking into a lowered pose with one eye squinted and his teeth bared in an ugly, toothy grin. As the coyote, he spoke in a sneering, weedy voice, dropping the use of ptero, which he figured was a language only befitting of a hero, not the villain. "I'll steal her if I want to! And take her back to my MUD-CASTLE! AAAAAA-HYAAA-HYAAA-HYAAA-HY**AAAA!" He did his best at imitating maniacal laughter, though it forced his voice to crack almost comedically. He cleared his throat- and hopped back to the hero's spot, where he paused only a moment to take in a breath of air before declaring -NEVER!-

-and commencing the battle, which began with him doing something of a dive-roll into the place where the evil coyote had once stood, and ended with him flailing around on the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust. He snapped at the air and lashed out with all four feet, and emitting a variety of high pitched squeals (the coyote) and a few good growls for good measure to represent the hero. It was quite a spectacle- though an onlooker with any medical knowledge, not knowing the context, might have been highly concerned for his health and well-being.

The entire scuffle ended abruptly, though, with a high-pitched shriek as Bronco caught his own tail in his jaws. He bared his teeth, squinting at the discomfort he felt from being twisted into such a position, but bravely managed a bold smile. -got 'im!-