Silvertip Mountain worn pathways

She giggled to see him standing there, the astounded look upon his face was— well, adorable. It was like the first time he had made her laugh, a bright memory in a dark time. She had kept the pine cone he had given her then, and it still lay in one of the many treasure caches she had hidden during her childhood spent here in the Wilds. He hadn't known, then, that Magpie loved to collect small trophies— but that was the way with Summer. He seemed to understand her without a need for her to explain a thing.

After a moment, he seemed to shake himself out of it, laughing in turn— as he called after her, Magpie slowed her gait until he was able to catch up. And then they were running, side-by-side. She panted happily, looking at him again, drawing closer to him as they moved to brush her shoulder against his. They were growing closer to the mountainside, but part of Magpie never wanted this to end.