He was sure his sister must have noticed his lack of volume but there was nothing he could do to change it. It was who he was now and he didn't think he could talk even if he suddenly had the ability. His vocal chords were either shriveled up or non-existent but either way, he didn't even try to move his mouth except to eat, drink, or lick his dry lips for the most part. Oh, and bite. Yes, he did so love to bite. That was fun! He showed his emotions by a show of teeth or snapping. He learned how to warn from his parents but he rarely ever used it cause that took all the fun out of it. Besides, since Lixue was his constant companion, she had already gotten used to most of his body language that warned her of an incoming bite anyway. She was getting quicker at dancing out of the way and though it was frustrating, he was ever working on ways to take her by surprise or jump her. At least it gave him something to do.

But today the urge to go out of the den and explore was almost overpowering. Only the warnings from his parents kept him inside but the temptation was only growing, the longer he sat here and just listened to all that life outside the den had to offer. There were squirrels to chase and birds to taunt and so much to see! He wanted to whimper, to show his displeasure with this prison sentence, but it wouldn't do him any good anyway. He was so caught up in his misfortunes that he didn't hear his sister stalking behind him. Only when she leapt forward and pounced on top of him did he react, a silent yelp on his lips of surprise as something collided with his back end and sent him sprawling forward into the bushes. He rolled to a stop and lifted his dizzy head, blinking until he saw his triumphant sister. Only then did his tiny teeth bare and he stubbornly got to his paws. Snapping them toward her a few times, only then did he realize that he was no longer inside the den.

His eyes widened and he looked around, taking in all the new smells and sights and sounds. The world was so big out here! His tail started wagging but he never forgot about what his sister did. Instead of chasing her into the den and cornering her for some well deserved payback, he decided on something else instead. He stepped forward, raising his head in a daring way as his eyes cut to Lixue in challenge. His body language said "come and get me, if you dare," before he turned and tore off into the bushes, his tail wagging behind him in a teasing manner. He didn't want to go back in the den just yet, not now that he'd literally been pushed out of it. It seemed only judicial that she follow him out here and explore it all with him. He wanted to enjoy this moment and who better to do it with than his littermate and partner in crime?