Nocturne Summit None more black

She barely spent any time at the caldera before heading out again, hoping to scratch an irresistible itch in her paws that had nothing to do with pine needles. Beneath a cloudy sky, Wildfire loped northwest around Lake Rodney, passing near the outskirts of the thick brush of Bramblepoint. The young Outrider tightened her course again, sticking close to the shore of the northernmost stream emptying into the great lake. She walked against the current, of course, heading toward the towering mountains. When she reached the foot of the shortest one, she paused a moment, looked around and then began to climb.

By the time she reached one of the upper plateaus, she was breathing hard. Although the temperature wasn't bad, the air was thick, even at this altitude. Wildfire flopped onto her belly on the cool stone, then craned her her head and wriggled her nose as she studied her surroundings. This place was gloomy but in a cozy sort of way, the taller peaks casting pleasant shadows over everything. Once she caught her breath, she would have to get up again and have a good look around.