No bench polishers here (informal pack meeting!)

Talon was lazily watching the sheep, looking for all the world like a blue-eyed, prick-eared version of a livestock guardian dog with his wide-eyed dog-like grin as he sunned himself there, when his uncle Tyrian called. He immediately leaped to his paws, his jaws shutting and his head and ears raised in a pose that might almost have been dignified until his lips parted once more in a foolish grin. Oh that was exciting!

With no further regard for the sheep he sprinted away with a spurt of leaves and dirt kicked up by his paws. Halfway there he spotted Torrent, Tyrian's sister, and went to sprint by her to beat her there, but his clumsy paws tripped him up and he slammed into her and bounced off the heavier female's shoulder. He, being much lighter built, went tumbling off with a startled yelp and a flailing of paws and tail as he rolled. It was ok though, because a friendly bush very kindly stopped the wild bouncing rolling. Too friendly a bush - when he tried to stand up he found that it had wrapped around him and trapped him on his back with all four paws in the air! He flailed and wriggled and grubbed along until he managed to scoot backwards far enough to free himself from the bush's grasping branches.

By that time, Torrent was well out of sight and he had no hopes of beating her there, but he sprinted off again anyway to get to the group and flop down panting and quite pleased with himself. His pale fur was rumbled and full of dirt and sticks and leaves, but really no one should be in the least bit surprised by the disreputable appearance.