Well, that ended terribly.

Copper coated the Bearclaw's tongue. Shit! They bit it. Snaking the tip of their tongue over a snubbed, smarting nose, dirt was added to the taste of self-inflicted defeat. Arlen slowly cracked open an eye, adjusting to the light that bloomed between the trees.

Before they could place their paws beneath themself, the traipse of little paws sounded over the forest floor. In the following seconds, those little paws found themselves placed on Arlen's back. A low groan rumbled in their throat as the joyous child danced across their shoulders and batted little, puppy paws at their sore face.

At least fur hid the physical bruising, and that the ego was only a concept. Although... The latter certainly felt bruised.

Finding their forepaws, Arlen shifted their weight to one of their hips. Their movements slow to grant the pup the chance to bail before he too had a little trip to the forest floor.

Ahhgh! Ya' got me, ya' got me... I'm it. Rolling their shoulders, Arlen gave the boy a nudge with the bridge of their muzzle. Your turn to run now. I can count before I chase if you'd like me to.