Phoenix Maplewood Necrodancer

A what? What am I?
Taikon was sure the swallow that followed was so loud that she would be able to hear it; his heartbeat was deafening in his ears. He searched for an answer, looking about him for anything that was not her. Uhh, he paused. She stood there, and despite her size it was him who appeared as demure and soft while she was hardened and fierce. His eyes found hers, and their amethyst core shocked him into utter submission. The wolf cleared his throat. His lizard brain had all of the words for her. Gorgeous, lovely, beautiful, delicious. He shook his head.
Small, he said finally, and frowned, dipping his head apologetically. Idiot! I mean, you're just smaller than... His knees were bent, as though to make himself smaller. Other people?
Taikon wasn't wrong, of course. He knew that she was indeed a coyote, but was unwilling to present this to her, embarrassed by his own behaviour. He, unlike many wolves, held nothing against coyotes. He licked his nose nervously, like a boy being thrown into a snake pit. Desperately, he tried to change the subject. You were picking berries? This was of course a yes or no question, but he meant to ask why she was covered in the juice.