diamonds come rolling out

Barracuda huffed a laugh under his breath when the burn of her bite sunk into his shoulder. Well, he’d pay for it tomorrow, and should have known better, but it was worth it to feel her adjust her grip and shove back against him. He offered little resistance, hoping her grip on the side of his neck and the willing way he folded against the ground would be enough to bring her with him. A paw lifted to throw across her back and bring her to the ground with him. A distant hissing and the sharp pain of teeth in his rear leg only bought his laughter into the open, hoping at least vaguely that in his fall he might take the damn possum out with him. "Now, now princess," he teased, knowing once he spoke the ruse would be up, but also how much she hated the pet name, "I came all this way an’ yer try ter take me out? Not very hospitable of yer. What would yer mother say?" He knew very well what her mother would say, but he wanted to get his digs in while he could.

"speech".