Dan stopped grooming himself and looks at the door.
Why shouldn't I open it? I like when mom holds me and cuddles my fur. The way she strokes my tail has made me happy since I was a cub.
"Wait," Dan screamed. What was he saying? It was so hard for him to think straight. His mind was filling with images of his life as a lion-boy.
He had opened the lock on the door and backed into a squatting position, ready to pounce, before he had a clear thought again.
As his mom opened the door, he bounded into her arms, wrapping his arms, legs, and tail around her.
As Dan tucked his head comfortably into his mom's shoulder, she spoke.