The minute Momma had told them they were taking a trip to see their cousins and uncle Rurik had practically screamed. The very idea was just SO. EXCITING. that he simply couldn't keep it inside. He had run out of the den and in a bunch of circles until he had collapsed and fallen on his face, afterwards making sure that every member of his family knew how excited he was, even Pas... er, Possum? He wasn't sure. Thinking about it, his brooding brother didn't spend much time with them at all, and he hadn't even wanted to come today. It was pretty sad. But he was only sad for a moment because OH GOD, they were on their way now, and he was SO. EXCITED. So excited, in fact, that he ran circles around his parents and his siblings, seemingly possessing endless energy. But Poppa had told him to stop because it was making him dizzy. So he did but in his head he was still running circles because WOW, was this EXCITING!

Rurik let out a sharp bark as they stopped, darting forward until the stern words from his mother held him back. He craned his neck backwards, looking at her with his beautifully colorful eyes- she ALWAYS wanted to ruin the fun. He wanted to explore! This place was brand freaking new! He used the puppy eyes on his father when he affirmed what Celeste had said. They didn't seem to work, this time, but maybe he should try again with the puppy eyes in a little bit. Because they usually worked.

"Shadow!! Let's race!!" He barked at his smaller, darker-pelted brother, his tail waving wildly behind him. "Oh man, how cool is this. The grass is so tall. It smells so weird. Who do you think is going to show up? Are you excited? I'm really excited. You wanna race now? I-" Rurik's endless barrage of words was interrupted by the arrival of an unfamilar face. He looked way old and not fun, sort of like Andriel. He looked very serious. Andriel was also very serious usually but could also be very immature, and bratty. And so Rurik was really just immediately critical of this man who had arrived, but apparently he was one of their cousins because he called his parents Aunt and Uncle.

He placed himself firmly in front of Nord and stared up at the stranger. "I AM YOUR COUSIN." He announced loudly, puffing out his chest slightly. "I CHALLENGE YOU... TO A RACE. But only if I get a head start. Because you're old, and big, and that wouldn't be fair. Momma taught me about fairness and so I'm, like, an expert on being fair. Okay?" This was perfect. He could definitely beat this man. He was old and probably really slow. Being fair, that meant you always won, didn't it?