The Sunspire Heights, Round Two

She stared up at the mountain. She knew she didn't have to do it. The good news is she wasn't AS shaky as she was last time. She had the memories of the stranger who escorted her last time, and the sunflowers to help ground her if she ran into trouble. She knew it wouldn't hurt to ask for help too just in case. It was her second time out here after all, but it was such a pretty view, if only she could truly see it from the top without crumpling into a puddle of ink and cream.

With a sigh, she remembered where the stranger said he was from, a pack. Mereo. She frowned and supposed that she would call for him after all, hopefully he wouldn't be busy. You can't just drop your duties to escort a stranger up a mountain, can you? I mean in a way it'd be like a duty to help a stranger but that's kind of a lot, right? She sighed and lifted her nose to the wind. Right, just South. So theoretically he SHOULD hear her. With her nose to the sky she called out, " @Reyson of Mereo, Echo calls upon your aid once more."

Reyson had been restless as of late. Feeling adrift. Not realizing how much he had needed to be commanding, or fighting, not just existing. Sure he sparred and trained, but it was meaningless or so he felt lately. His thoughts would race to the young wolf on occasion the little stranger of cookies and cream that couldn't climb the mountain, but wanted too.

It was that thought in his minds eye that he decided to walk towards thr mountain. Only scaling it if he saw or heard the little shadow light femme.

Her call rang out and he followed it in an easy lope, until he caught sight of her. Then he stopped and gave her a half lift of lips.

Hello little stranger. You wish to conquer your mountain today?

She felt relief until her stomach did strange flip flops at the sight of him, he was nothing but muscle, his blue eyes seemed to bore into her. "Yes please, I don't want to have to look down the whole time. I- A nervous heat filled her. ""You helped me so much last time, I was hoping you'd give me more confidence this time so I'd stay standing at the very least." She shot him a shy glance before turning around to make her way towards the mountain. She made the first step, then the second. She found herself leading. Surprising surefooted. "I think today will be good."

There she was tiny, and innocent. Sweet. A part of him wished not to change her, to not allow her to force her demons. He didn't wish for her to have to go through that. To be fearful.

However, he knew too that it was unfair to not help her conquer. She deserved to be the best version oh herself. So with that thought he moved forward.

I'll do my best. But the confidence is inside you, you just need to find it.

He followed her jump, large paws tearing up the ground. Body angled to block her view of the down, while simultaneously being a body in case she slipped.

What is your 2nd favorite flower? Being that sunflower is your first

It felt nice to be conversing with someone. Echo's company generally consisted of herself and her own anxiety. Not to mention the man next to her was becoming a bit of a familiar stranger to her. "I have confidence it's just buried under a deep pit of self loathing and crippling anxiety." She winked at the man walking next to her. [i]Another flower, hm?[i] "Lavender, I'd have to say. You know, I don't too many more flowers." She laughed nervously as they drew to the top of the mountain. She kept her eyes open and forward.

She wanted to shift the attention off herself, so she asked of Reyson, "Do you climb regularly?"

Reyson was not a huge conversationalist, but he was learning here. The rules were not as rigid. His own role was not as important, so he had the time to just exist, to speak.

Reyson gave a soft chuckle at her wink and words. I knew a few that way. They became some of my best soldiers.

He thought of them then. Rook with his black hide, and bright blue eyes. He thought of Amity with her pale gold fur and brown eyes. Both had been shy, worried, nervous and by the end they had saved him once or twice and yet he couldn't save them in the end.

Reyson made a face. Lavender is too strong. Though it makes your pelt smell nice after a bath. And its smell is soothing when you cannot sleep.

Teyson smiled moving a bit closer to her. Yes often. It is one of my favorite past times. I like to challenge myself.

"I want to be better. I'm not saying I don't like myself. But fear is so crippling." Being stuck at home all the time had given her way too much time to think. She had been forming her list for awhile. "I think if I give up and don't try to be better I'll never really be happy." She frowned. She certainly wasn't happy at home. "Being out here, I've been learning a lot about myself. What I can do, what I can't or shouldn't do alone." She smiled vainly, looking up at her companion towering over her. She felt comfortable talking to him. " I hope it doesn't change me, but in a way I hope it does."

The young wolf didn't even realize she had reached the peak of the mountain until she was staring out at the vast expanse before them. Her breath hitched and her rump hit the ground with a thud. But she kept her eyes open and her head forward, trying to breath through the panic as her whole body began to shake.

Reyson listen calmly his tail swishing behind him. There's nothing wrong with wishing to be better. I strive to be better than i was the day before daily.

He smiled down at her, one lift of one side of his face. A notched ear swiveling to listen to her. Change is good.
"
Ryeson settled beside her. Large body gargantuan next to hers. But he held his seat his side there if she needed to lean against him. Do you know what i love best about mountains, besides the burn in your muscles letting you know you're alive.

He smiled down at her now full bodied, the sunrises and sunsets.

Her fear rose, the sight was becoming too much. She closed her eyes and leaned heavily against Reyson, taking comfort from him. His solid form much like solid ground, but she found his warmth more comforting."I saw much more than last time." She said through a shaky breath. " I win for today." Her voice shook as tears began to fall. She wasn't sure what it was that made them run in first place. She quickly leaned away from Reyson, wiping her eyes with her forelegs.

"Why am I even crying? She asked with an annoyed growl, keeping her eyes only on the ground. If she wasn't so shaky she'd be pacing with irritation. All she could do now is grumble through annoyed tears.

Reyson didn't move though he was surprised at how much she leaned on him not that he minded. He could've folded her under him as small as she was.

Yes you did his voice a deep rumble.

Because it's still scary and frustrating to you. But you did better today than the other day. You did it

He warred with himself for a moment then gently touched her head. And brushed. Feather light.

His presence and practiced breaths were starting to calm her as her words affirmed her struggles. It felt good to know all of this wasn't in vain. His gentle touch to her head had her eyes closing in a quiet, comfortable sigh. She was shocked out how much that gentle touch did to comfort her. She hadn't felt a gentle touch as that since she'd left home. And this wolf, despite having only met him twice, seemed to be fast coming her home away from home of sorts.

"Thank you." She smiled up at him. "That helped, a lot." Her face heated and she looked to the ground shyly. A new feeling in her stomach, not the same kind of throw up feeling she had been having. A different kind of tossing and turning of proportions, but in a more pleasant way. If throw up could be pleasant.

Reyson was fast going into territory he had promised himself he wouldn't. He had promised after he had lay Renaud to rest under his Ebonytree that he would not help another, that he would not protect anymore. That he would just do his duty and protect who his leaders told him too. And yet here he was, a deep sense of protective poise digging deep in his chest. For a little cookies and cream femme.

He dipped his muzzle, one side lifted up in a grin. You're welcome. He nodded his head. I'm glad. All to often we let fear ground us, and we forget we can use it and overcome it, but you are well on your way to doing so.

He looked her over with practiced eye, she didn't seem to be as shaky and she was able to move. Would they start down the mountain, or would she like to do something else?

He waited patiently, today was her choice of what to do.

Echo gazed wonderingly at the man beside her. Something told her now that it was more than just his gentlemanly duty that had led Reyson to help her that day. "I think I want to try to sit here with my eyes open for awhile, is that okay?" She would prove to her tiny little brain that being so far from the ground wasn't going to kill her one way or another.

Reyson met her gaze for a moment with his ice blue eyes a small smile on his maw. Reyson was a warrior, a guardian, and it was in his dna to protect, to guard. He just needed a reason to do so, and she was giving him one.

That is absolutely fine.

With gentle movements, he moved and stretched out his forelegs, eyes open to stare down over the mountain side. He was still there for her to lean on, just now it was slighly more comfortable, and if need be he could curl his legs around her torso and pull her back, but he didn't think he would need to do thusly.

She leaned on Reyson, not because she needed to, but because she enjoyed the connection. She was a physical being in that the physical connection was important to her, she'd missed it since she left home.

They rest in a truly beautiful place. Their green paradise it seemed. It's beauty marred only by the mountain's further up. There's still so much left to climb. She couldn't help noticing the treacherous reaches of the mountaintops above her. She knew she was no where near ready for those.

She saw there were ways to climb if she ever were adventurous enough. "Do you think I'll ever be strong enough to reach the real top?" She couldn't help but asking. She growled despite herself when she realized how weak her voice had become.

Reyson shifted so she was more comfortable and then shared the connection. Eyes on the horizon, head on his paws.

It was beautiful here. Though, unlike his companion Teyson couldn't wait to try up higher. He loved to challenge himself, always had. There wasn't much he was afraid of anymore. And he had long ago faced death and accepted it.

Reyson's ear twitched towards her and he then lefted his head to follow her line of sight. Yes. Someday. Look how far youve already come in just a few days time.

Reyson's patience was something that she was growing more and more thankful for. She knew it was probably boring sitting around waiting for her to take everything in like this, he didn't seem to mind though. She supposed he was probably right though. She was growing more and more confident with each day away from home. This had only been her second climb and she had nearly done it without a panic. A few more and maybe, just maybe.

"I think I'm ready to head down now, I'm leading this time though. She looked up at Reyson and shot him a wink. DON'T LOOK DOWN! Her mind immediately shouted to her. "It's time I get used to looking down." She stood standing tall and steady shaking her head slightly to clear away her thoughts, she didn't have to listen to them this time.

Patience, duty, commands had been drilled into Reyson until his mind was heavy and his heart sore. But he had continued in his life without complaints. He wasn't bored he enjoyed seeing knew things pushing boundaries.

He chuckled, Alright lead the way. I'm right here if you have need of me. He would follow this time and keep an eye on the white and black femme.

She set a steady pace. She wanted to do this right. She couldn't hurry it, that would spike up her anxiety again, not to mention probably make her trip over her own feet. The last thing she needed was to go tumbling down the mountain like some ridiculous buffoon. Her mind still tried to play tricks with her, but she was determined to keep her eyes open and peering around them.

Something about being above the world was starting to make her feel...powerful. Her tail raised in an uncertain wag as she spoke to Reyson. "I'm starting to understand why this has it's draws." A loose pebble caused her paw to slip. She stopped with a huff, regaining her footing easily, but startled nonetheless. She was more annoyed, honest. But her adrenaline spiked nonetheless. She growled, her frustration evident in her brown eyes, her hackles risen.

Large paws, silent, followed her tiny ones. He marveled at the size of the two. Though if he was honestly, she had a bigger soul than he. They made a good pace, not to fast, but not very slow. It fit just what her needs were. And he didn't push it.

It does, i personally love mountains. She moved and spoke, her voice growing with eagerness, but all too soon it peppered off as her foot hit a loose rock. Reyson moved forward a little more, and lay his muzzle gentle along her ruff, if she would allow. You're doing very well.

Echo accepted his touch and his praise. It calmed and anchored her. "Thank you, that was a truly rude pebble, honestly." She faked a scoff at the direction it had gone. Turning away from him, she was determined to finish their descent. It wasn't much further now, they were nearly halfway down at this point. She set her sights at the bottom of her path. Her body as tall as she could make it, she feigned as much confidence as she could muster, even attempting to raise her tail.

She trudged downwards, ignoring her obnoxious naysaying brain. She made sure to look. She knew it was important. She had to get used to it. She had to see where the danger lie. It was important to her survival. She needed to understand these things. Her body needed to be ready for the things too. As did her mind, especially her mind.

She was grateful to have reached the bottom with no further incident. She turned back to look up at her mountain. From down here it seemed rather silly. But to her it was all to real. Fear was a strange thing. She turned to her ever patient companion. "Thank you, again. I'll be back again in a week. Would you be willing to accompany me one more time?"

Her art is so beautiful Herectic did wonderfully.

Reyson was not one to give out touches willy nilly. But for her he felt that she needed them, it was what she needed to move on from her past and her fear. He was willing to be what she needed.

His mouth lifted up in amusement. So rude. He followed behind her, a small glimmer of appreciation and amusement shining his eyes at her gait and her puffed up appearance. She was adorable.

I will be here when you call. I promise. Anytime you call if i'm near i'll come. He didn't make some promises lightly.

I know! I love it so much! This will be the last for me. Thank you!

She wanted to thank him somehow, for constantly being there for her, she was feeling all kinds of confused.. it was mildly romantic. If she were into that sorta thing. Her cheeks heated. She had to jump but she felt the urge, so she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for being such a gentleman." She smiled at him, and with a confident tail wag she was running westward.

Thank you as well.

Reyson was surprised and shocked at her display of affection, though never the less pleased, but before he could think much of it she was gone, running away. He tilted his head and watched her for a time.

Then with confusing thoughts, and a small sense that he had somehow betrayed Renaud, but he didn't know how. He turned back towards the mountain.

He would climb it until his muscles burned, and his chest hurt, and he fell to the ground exhausted. To exhausted to do anything but sleep.