He smiled brightly, tail curling up and waving some. He said something, and the words weren't understandable but the gratitude on his face made it perfectly clear: Thank you!

Turning tail, he dashed off across the parking lot, to where a small woodsy area lined the edge. He dove forward into a shadowy spot between two trees- had that mound with a hole always been there? -and disappeared from sight, poofball tail and all.