Silverlight Terrace osmosis

Mzururaji was a good girl.

Honest, she was! Any doubt of it that was hurled her way would be met with a puckered lip and laundry list of justification. All of which would start with “well, my mommy says…”

Ah yes, mommy’s girl through and through. Mzuruaji, Minnow’s darling daughter, dutiful sister of the litter, Morningside’s little homebody.

But all baby birds must take their first flight, yes? Surely mother would understand when she returned from this journey?

Ha! Journey. In the eyes of the young pup yes this had been quite the trek! But in reality it was only a small ways away from the border. Even still she walked along the hills buzzing with a nervous excitement for such a foreign activity.

Treepie raced down the mountainside as gracefully as a mountain goat, at least at first. Their nose suddenly itched and they sneezed explosively, which caused them to stumble and trip over their own over-sized paws. Their chin hit the dirt as their forward momentum carried them further down the slope.

They scrabbled to get a foothold or, at the very least, slow their roll. Pie slid to a stop near an overhang, a shower of loose scree raining down around them. The youngster let out a breath, then climbed to their feet and shook out their pelt. Gently, they touched a paw to the scrape on their chin.

After ascertaining the wound, they took their bearings. They were near the foot of Moonspear now. Pie padded to the edge of the scarp, which overlooked the neighboring terrace. The views were spectacular in and of themselves, though the pup quickly noticed another wolf below.

Hey! they shouted, raising a forepaw in an enthusiastic wave.

Her ears twitched at the distant sound of something debris tumbling down the mountainside. Their eventual landing was what ultimately drew the girl's eye from her straightforward path.

Ah, a new face! Bright eyes could not hide her mounting elation, though a newfound warmth tickled her cheeks at the sight of the stranger. Unfamiliar as that feeling was, her excitement would not keep her from engaging with them/

Hi! she called back, her smile growing wider. Whatcha doin' up there?

I live up here! they declared with a giggle before voicing the inevitable, What are you doing down there? But before the other pup could reply, they tacked on, Hang on!

Carefully now, Treepie picked their way down the rocky slope toward the terrace. As soon as their paws hit even ground, they galloped toward the other youngster with a beaming smile and waving tail. They were about the same size, which probably meant they were close in age.

But Tiuttuk couldn’t help the first thing that sprang to mind once they were up close, exclaiming, Aya, you’re so cute!