is your mum scary?

Ken was so busy watching the girl at his side that when she declared the Ravine beautiful he blurted, "You're beautiful," as if it was some sort of playful dig. His ears flicked back and eyes widened when he realised what he had said. His face warmed under his fur and he turned his attention to the treehouses stretched out before them as if he hadn't just made a fool of himself. If he ignored it, maybe she would too.

He supposed the treehouses and walkways probably would be cool to anyone else. Trying to play it cool, he didn't turn his head when she looked at him and asked why treehouses. The cattle dogs charged past, giving him a shoulder charge as they made their way towards mums den, as if telling him to snap out of it. "Uh, I dunno honestly? Dread built one fer Deluge when we were living on th' islands an' I guess it's safer up there? Away from bears an' shit... Or maybe it's cos when mum met dad she fell out o' a tree an' landed on him." He shrugged, tipping his head towards the two-level tree house on the edge of the Ravine. "That's mum an' dads tree, lets go see if they're in."

"speech"