He had known the other pups were not far behind him, the females that also hung out with his dad. He wasn't quite sure how it all fit together but wasn't that concerned at this point anyway. He was too distracted by the stick in his mouth. That is, until another male puppy suddenly charged toward him and started dancing around, as if trying to mimic him. Eztli stopped his chewing to stare at the boy for a minute, confused, his brows furrowed. Finally he decided he liked the dancing motion of the other pup so he dropped his stick but never let his eyes off of it for long even as he jumped up and started dancing with the other boy. His mouth parted in silent laughter, his eyes dancing with happiness to have other puppies around his own age.

One of the girls that had come with him suddenly jumped into the fray and he lifted his lip in her direction, not quite trusting her exuberant nature since usually Lixue was only that excited when she was about to pounce on him or something. But the girl grabbed a pelt instead and started dancing around with it as if challenging the boy to grab the other end. Eztli licked his lips, eying the pelt with a look of fascination and challenge but another pup beat him to it before he could pounce. He was thrown off by her wild colors, stumbling back as he simply stared for a moment. Why was she so many colors? It was new and different and he couldn't stop staring. He was so distracted that he never saw yet another boy running at him until it was too late. The other pup collided into him and Eztli let out a silent grunt as they both went rolling in the dirt. He had heard the battle cry but hadn't taken in that it was meant for him.

The moment he saw his challenger though, he went into attack mode, just as when he was playing with Lixue. His teeth bared and he started snapping at whatever he could reach on the other boy, his eyes alight with a new fire of battle. When Eztli saw the boy going after "his" stick, he grew even more ferocious in his attacks, lunging and trying to bite the boy's legs and neck, anything to keep him away from what was obviously claimed as his own. That was about when Lixue decided to join in the fun. He had all but given up on his sister, figuring she would stay between Dexter's legs all night. But there she was in a pinch, grabbing for the boy's scruff and helping him take on his challenger. He felt a wave of pride roll over him to know she had a fighting spirit after all. He felt responsible in a way. Eztli grinned, hearing Lixue challenge the boy and he nodded in agreement even as he tried to pull on the boy's tail.

Of course that was short lived when he saw not only was Lixue not helping him but she was trying to get to his stick as well! The deceit! He felt the roots of betrayal in his heart even as he snapped at Lixue too, now, trying to drive both her and the boy away from his stick. He pounced on top of it and stood over it protectively, growling silently and snapping at any who dared to get close.