Valkyrie sat beneath a large gnarled tree. Her tail lashed at the ground and her gaze remained fixed on a branch no matter what sounds were made around her. High up the in branches, chattering unhappily at her, sat Inga. The baby macaque had somehow managed to tree herself. She clung to a skinny little branch that swayed on the breeze and refused to move no matter what Valkyrie said.

"Just climb down the same way you climbed up." A whimper was the only response she got. Inga's little fists remained balled around the branch. Valkyrie hissed in exasperation and Inga hid her face. "Barn I'm not mad at you. I just don't know how to help you."

Valkyrie's gaze dropped to the trunk of the tree. Perhaps there was a way she could help. She backed up several steps and then took a running leap at it. Her claws weren't suitable for holding her weight, but they provided enough grip to let her climb to the lowest branch without too much difficulty. From there she picked her way higher and higher but quickly ran out of branches sturdy enough to hold her weight. Once she could go no higher she looked up at Inga. Several feet still separated the two, but perhaps seeing her master climb would embolden her. "Come on, little one. You can make it this far."

Finally little Inga found the courage to shimmy down the branch she was on. She climbed down slowly, occasionally squeaking in alarm as thin branches bent or broke, but at last she was within reach. Unable to contain herself, the little macaque flung herself onto Valkyrie's back and clung on as if her life depended on it. "See! What did I tell you?"

Now it was her turn to climb down. Valkyrie eyed the ground and then, knowing little Inga was paying attention, swallowed her nerves and began to make her way down.

The last thing he expected to see, was a stinky giant in a tree. They where learning, evolving maybe they weren’t quite so barbaric as he had first thought. Oh, who was he kidding, of course they where. They were just a little more amusing too. He moved across to the branch closest to their tree, sliding across it until it bent a little beneath his weight. From this vantage point he could see the red giant finish her climb, and the little monkey that hopped onto her fur. Ahh, so that must be how she was learning, she was copying her monkey friend.

As she began the descent, he winced as he watched her took the more precarious way down, if she had gone left and under that brunch - - but no, she was heading towards a thinner batch, and he winced again as he considered them taking her monsterous weight.

He hadn’t intended on saying anything, he was going to stay still and quiet until the stinky giant was gone, but it was just too painful to watch. He slid a little further along his branch, until he himself was in a precarious position. “Back up and take the lower branch on your left” he advised her, if she was going to climb a tree, couldn’t she at least do it right?

Valkyrie had just settled one of her forepaws on a branch when a voice caused her to recoil sharply. Her head snapped up and she shot a sharp look in the direction of the speaker as she tried to pinpoint his location. Though her gaze might have been pointed, the root cause of it wasn't anger at the advice. Rather, Valkyrie simply hated being startled.

Were it not for his yellow eyes Valkyrie might have missed the mottled tree homunculus, but there he was in all his miniature glory, watching her from another tree. "Easier said than done," she commented as she glanced back at the branch she needed to reach before she could climb onto the branch he suggested. After a beat - Inga, whose little fists Valkyrie could feel in her scruff, was still watching - Valkyrie hauled herself backwards and up onto the branch behind her. She then tentatively reached out and felt the branch the elf had pointed out. It felt sturdy.

Valkyrie leaned slowly on her planted forepaw. She held just enough of her weight back so that she could save herself should the branch in question prove unsafe. After a beat when the branch didn't so much as bend, Valkyrie placed her other forepaw on it. Okay, not bad. The little tyke knew what he was talking about. She glanced up at him, her one paw hovering over another lower branch, then asked, "This one?"

Oops He thought, when the surprise of his voice caused the wolf to recoil. It was lucky she didn’t lose her balance, he knew how clumsy giants could be. He also knew that the larger a creature, the heavier they fell. If she was to fall from the tree, well, he couldn’t imagine it going well. She was huge.

His tail gave a light, encouraging wag behind him as she spoke, though he didn’t immediately reply. Instead, the Songa watched from his perch, careful of his own precarious hold there as he leaned forward as far as he dared.

She was able to pull herself backwards, and move onto his suggested branch, this time she turned to him for advice before moving, and he gave a pleased little hum. Perhaps giants weren’t quite as foolish as he had first thought. “Yes! But don’t go for the obvious one after that, it’s a little more awkward but go for the one to its right. The obvious one I mentioned has a crack near the base, it’ll probably break” - if a giant’s weight landed on it - he thought to himself.

He was invested in her success now, and he hugged his branch a little tighter, watching in anticipation . “Then you’ve got a clear shot down that side your heading towards has some sturdier branches” he explained.

The little wolf seemed rather pleased with her progress. Valkyrie wasn't sure what to make of his willingness to help. If she were in his place she would be expecting something out of the encounter. Charity was a thing reserved for those back home. Her family, her band, her people in the true north. It wasn't for strangers. She couldn't imagine it being any other way for anyone else.

Nevertheless she did as instructed. It was plausible that he would try to sabotage her descent, but what would he have to gain from that? From this height it was unlikely real harm would come to her and even if she were stunned by the fall, what could he do to her even if she were in a weakened state? Perhaps she was underestimating him, but the odds of her being right seemed better than those against.

Step by step she picked her way down the tree. At last she was close enough to jump so after a word to Inga to hold on, Valkyrie leapt to the ground. It felt good to have solid ground underfoot. Though her paws may have been feline her heart was not. Valkyrie liked being on the ground.

She turned to gaze up at him and offered a polite dip of her head in thanks. ”Might I know the name of the tree-climber who helped me so that I may thank him properly?”
”Talk”

He followed her progress with eager eyes, tail swishing behind him as he considered the giant. At least this wasn’t proof that they where taking to the trees, she was clearly terrible at climbing.

“I’m Ramesh!” he said brightly, the young idiot popped upwards on his branch, forgetting how far out he had crawled on it, and how bendy it had been. His sudden movement caused it to bounce, and with a ‘crack!’ the branch split and broke from the tree, taking the small wolf with it.

He landed hard on the ground, stunned by the drop and the sudden change in environment. He hadn’t dont something so stupid in a long while, like at least a whole week. Worse, Val wasn’t here to catch him for once. Thats okay, the giant he had helped from the tree could return the favour and give him a hand, right? He winced as he shook his head, wondering if he had a concussion. He moved his paw, and yelped win surprise! What! He had sprained it. Worst. Luck. ever.

Ramesh, eh? An unusual name. There wasn't any time to dwell on it, however, as the little beast suddenly came crashing to the ground. For a very brief moment Valkyrie was stunned by this turn of events, but then she decided it was a sign. Clearly Ramesh was an adept climber so why now did he fall? It was like he had been served up to her on a platter.

She rushed to his side, her face etched with concern. "Are you okay? That sounded terrible!” Valkyrie reached out like she wanted to comfort him but didn't know how. Even Inga, who was a bit young to be a good actress, seemed concerned. Whether or not her concern was genuine was debatable; she'd spent a great deal of time with Valkyrie.

”Come, the healer at my camp should look at you! Can you walk? I can carry you...” She didn't give him the chance to say no and instead moved to help him up. Valkyrie would give him the option of walking or of being carried, but he was most definitely coming with her.

”Talk”