just keep digging

Artisan was lost in his digging when the other arrived, his paws not leaving the snow covered dirt until a heavy force bowled him straight over and away from his hole. Artisan rolled, snow and dirt and mud coating his colorful pelt. "What the fuck is your problem, buddy?" He managed to make his way back on four paws, looking suspiciously at the other leaky man who'd hit him.

"Oh shit you're infected." The words tumbled out before he could stop them, and he maneuvered back to the wall quickly to sit his ass squarely in his half-dug hole for protection. The paranoia was growing - this stranger was rabid, he was going to kill him, eat him, maybe worse. With his back paws Artisan continued to scratch feebly at the dirt hole in which he sat, praying it would open up and envelop him in safety. "Look buddy you can just stay over there, and I'll stay over here, and everyone's happy, okay?"

"Speech"