Moonspear i can't remember when i felt so free

arcturus surveyed the optional routes for their descent solemnly. finally, it seemed he selected a route -- only to hear dragomir speak behind him.

arcturus had always wondered what had caused dragomir's limp; he had watched the boy grow from one-sided, scrawny whelp to strong, capable yearling. the length of progress dragomir had underwent was tremendous -- to the point that if arcturus ever described it to someone, they might think he was touched.

he wanted dragomir to feel at ease with this; he could tell the yearling felt ashamed by his blurting, but in arcturus' eyes he should feel anything but that. "that is nothing to be ashamed of. i do not think i would attempt it, either." he intoned softly, making sure he adjusted his pace to dragomir's comfort. while he had his own questions about the how, arcturus did not press; it was neither his place nor his business, and he would respect dragomir's preferences when it came to speaking about his burdensome past. "wolves were not made to live on mountains." arcturus commented dryly, picking his way very carefully down the slope. "we are plains-runners, valley dwellers. if we were meant to live in mountains, we'd be goats." he hoped his small joke would break the levity that he felt yoking their shoulders.