Hideaway Strath Tell it on the mountain

He thought he was being sly, saying what he did and escaping before she could catch up, but he wasn't that fast and she wasn't that stupid; if anything, she knew the forest better than he did because her family had been in the area for such a long time. He gave her that much leeway (rather than facing the obvious conclusion that she was faster than him as well as younger). She followed after him for a few paces before her words caught in his ears, and he glimpsed at her without saying anything for a moment.

She was young and healthy, much like Merrit had been. Her body was quick, she seemed mentally sharp (at least verbally sharp), but would require some training before he was really satisfied with her — ah, and here he was contemplating her comment as if it were true. He hadn't noticed if she had been jesting or not, and quipped back at her, Depends, can you keep up?

Bat was fast, but Tulimaq knew his limits and he had no reason to hold back as he careened through the trees, picking up the pace and racing from shadow to shadow — testing her, more or less.