Qeya River dva

already she felt the great desire to move beyond her losco position, even if she understood the need for it. her youth brought with it a burning ambition, though, as happened to every generation before her own. she was nothing special — not unless she did something with the feelings that coursed through her.

along the mistcliffs she climbed. uncertain how far she would ascend tonight, but feeling it would be important to go until she could no more. then she would sleep where her body gave out and climb back down after. it was a plan she felt would favor her desire to hone her physical strength.

it was not a plan favorable to socialization. she figured that those who she might get along with best, would be the ones who came to see her task.

Word spread of a newcomer- another potential guardian to add to the mix, and Ksura was quick to welcome the help. A childless adult would be an asset to the pack- hopefully an able hunter, and willing patroller with no children of their own to provide for, or watch out for. 

He found her trail leading up the incline- curious, he followed. Ksura was light on his feet- and the malinois in his heritage made him focused and driven. It surprised him that a newcomer might come to this area, one so physically demanding. He hadn’t toyed with it much, considering the fact that he’d had borders to mind and mouths to feed. It was nice to take a break, and do something for no real reason.

And so, he began to climb, ears pricked and eyes scanning. for any sign of the adventurous newcomer.

step, step, step.

up, up, up.

the cold winds ruffled glacial furs as she moved, ripples over her muscles beneath. the task was good for both mind and body. she felt handsome when putting on displays of strength. when she turned to angle her position differently, she spotted him.

did she flex for him from her spot some stones up above?

the position she had assumed in her halt was not dominant, but it was wide and open. a true come look kind of stance.

He watched her climb, wondering what her motivation might have been. He imagined perhaps that she sought to assess her new home from a higher altitude, or that maybe she was a thrill-seeker; he decided the latter a more suitable objective when he caught sight of the rugged mountaineer. He paused in his own ascent, one paw still raised, to give her a slight grin when she turned to glance in his direction.

He continued his climb, not necessarily familiar enough with the terrain to know the best approach, but skilled from years of living in the foothills, hunting bighorn sheep. 

He bobbed his head briefly as he approached, allowing his brush like tail to wave as he gazed back over his shoulder, down into the cold hollow that was their home. He looked back to her again for a moment before sending his gaze past her with a light tip of his chin, as if to say lead the way.

he let her lead! she moved like a thundering force and her steps were confident despite this all being new land. she cherished the climb, the cold winds that blew stronger up above as they reached new heights.

after a few steady minutes of movement her head turned. once more seeking his shape out to see if he continued to follow. did he have nearly as much enjoyment from this as she did?

her tail had become an excited banner behind her.

Ksura enjoyed a challenge, especially when he was not expected to lead. As a natural follower, he weaved his way up the mountainside following the same steps she had taken. Her stride was greater than his, but what he lacked in length he made up for in agility. His steps were light and bouncy; his claws gripped stone and toes spaced apart to help him manage on the scree. 

His companion stopped and Ksura halted abruptly, head tilted as if to ask why. He noted the swing of her tail, a mark of enjoyment- and chuffed, tapping his paws against cold, wet stone to encourage her to continue.

how high could they go?

she continued after his shared joy. she had wild fantasies of going all the way to the top of the mountains and glacier that bordered their home. her heart hammered in her chest with the extreme of this all.

the land would soon have its stones just from the ground, as if to begin the start of makeshift mountain trails. there was the thought of rushing ahead, of hiding from him. to turn their game of follow the leader into one of hunting.

without a warning, she picked up her pace, wondering if she could manage to hide herself behind a stone before he saw. she might be just as impressed if she couldn't!

Ksura had no fear of heights, and the thought that this could easily cost him his life had not occurred to him. It wasn’t likely who that made him so confident- but a senselessness that was programmed into him that made him reflect very little before making important decisions. He knew of consequences, of course- but he treated most consequences as propulsion for change. 

And so, he followed as if this was no less casual than a walk on flat ground in the woods. He adapted to his environment, though he panted now in the thinning, cool air. 

When she moved ahead, he adjusted his pace as well, keen to keep her in sight. Had she spotted food? A herd of sheep? The mere thought of making a kill (even at this altitude) spurred him on. He cast his gaze past her, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was that they might be chasing, oblivious to her plans.

he was strong! fast! she still wished to try to out smart him, even if brain was not her forte.

quickly she turned herself to the left and sought to wiggle her way between tall stones. she had not stopped to look over her shoulder, to see if he had just as quickly followed her trail or now cut one of his own.

she was hardly a silent hider, though. shoving herself against a stone with a gentle thud and heaving breaths that spoke of her hard work.

Heedless to the tumbling stones and pebbles that fell away beneath his scrambling feet, and the ruckus he caused, he pursued her, oblivious to the fact that if there was any prey within earshot, they would have given themselves away already. He dipped his head once to sniff about, figuring he could always pick up a bit of speed and bolt to catch up- but when he lifted his head, she'd disappeared out of sight. 

Shit.

Now he was going to look like a loser. He scrambled over a couple boulders, thinking he might be able to catch up if he took a slightly more difficult route, and be able to catch a glimpse of her from a higher altitude. Straddling a small crevasse, he looked uphill- only to catch no sign of her. 

He held his breath for a moment- and to his surprise, from below him, he heard breaths continue. 

He tilted his head to the side and looked down into the gap between his front feet, between the boulders he'd climbed, only to see her hiding in a small wedge. He moved slightly, so that his shadow could fall across her, and with a delighted grin, he barked down at her.

a shadow swallowed the light above her. had rain come so quickly from above? perhaps she had somehow wandered into the den of a beast —

her pulse quickened at a bark and she threw her head back to look straight up.

quick man! she barked back with a brilliant delight in her gaze and voice. you have won!

fade for something fresh soon? <3

sure! <3

He giggled merrily and stepped all four feet onto one stone before he bounded down, so he wouldn’t be hovering above her- with his underside on display. He licked his lips, still panting slightly, and shrugged off the victory as casually as he could. This time, He said. And as my victory prize, I’m gonna request that we head back downhill an’ get somethin’ to eat? Climbing always gives me a wicked appetite. 

He tilted his head to the side as an invitation, before he turned and began to trot down the slope. Also gonna call on you for a rematch; maybe next time it rains just to add a bit of a challenge.