Had Davey managed to get a little lost this time? Shut up. Shut up. Maybe. Shut up. Wake had wandered away from him, and surely it had to be the older boy's fault. Davey would spin the story that way, after all. The deadbeat hadn't been paying enough attention to him, and allowed him to slip away. That's absolutely the story he's sticking with.

Gazing at the tall ledges and strange sides of the volcano, Davey starts climbing. Hopping from one rock to the next, just like he did in the ravine. The steps here are a little easier to see, barren, outlined against the still-reddish sky. Stark and interesting, he's having a great time.

"Davey"

Listening to her mother is not on Magdalene's agenda. She yearns to be loved, to be cared for, but she simply doesn't see it from that woman. There is clear displeasure in those eyes. Not love. Mags can't explain it. For as much as she wants love, she refuses to grovel. No, she'll sneer instead. Slipping off in the early morning, before everyone else awakens.

South of the border. Red sky filling her vision. A looming volcano in the distance. Intrigue fills her gaze. What was it? She needed to know.

Her paws pick up the pace until they cross over sharp volcanic rock. A sharp yelp looses into the air as she high steps over the next few. What the fuck? Oh, yeah, that's a new word she's learned from her lovely friend Da-

"Davey!" Mags ears shoot up as she spies the collie not far off. "What're you doin' here?" She calls loudly, uncaring of their environment. Don't mind that they're on a sleeping volcano. There's creatures here that linger in the caves. Her eyes spy something from her peripheral as she rockets toward the smaller boy. Was it a cougar? Couldn't be.

"Let's explore," she practically yips as she barrels into his shoulder, checking him roughly with a laugh before skittering away. Brimming with a wide smile, she turns and begins sniffing at the rocks and hard, rough surface of the volcano. "Why's it so ugly here?" Mags definitely doesn't have a filter.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

He scrambles, nails raking against the pitted ground. Scuffles about atop it, trying to drag his ass further up the side. Gritting his teeth as he feels one of his paw pads tear and split, but he doesn't care. Davey is exploring, and he's having a great fucking time. Even if he's lost. Even if his feet hurt. If he lied to himself enough, then it had to be true, right?

Ah shit he doesn't have to lie for long. "Mags!" He wouldn't admit that she was probably his favorite exploring buddy, not out loud. But she's way more fucking fun than Tide, or Wake, or anyone else. "I was already exploring, I gave my brother the slip a little bit ago. Come on!" Grinning, tail wagging loosely at his haunches. Though he stumbles as she checks into his shoulder, Davey would take it in stride.

Bouncing from ledge to ledge on the rocky surface, it's an unspoken dare to follow. "It's ugly and kinda stinky, but the view will probably get better if we get up higher," turning to look out over the foothills, curious. It smelled... sorta yucky. Like eggs left too long in the duck coop, hidden away in the summer heat. "Think it has something to do with the glowy bit at the top?" Davey throws his nose toward the peak of the mountain, eyebrows wiggling.

"Davey"

Mags laughs heartily as he admits he ditched his brother. Good! Siblings weren't nearly as fun as exploring buddies! Secretly, she liked exploring with Davey. He was fun and dangerous! And he didn't care to talk about the hard stuff. They could just go on fun explorations and not have a care in the world! Like right now. Here at the moment, she loves it. Even if it is stinky.

Scrambling after him up toward the top of the volcano, she wrinkles her nose as the stink gets worse. "Oh, it'll definitely be better at the top!" She squeals as her paw steps on a rather sharp stone. Dang, those hurt! Recovering from the ouch as she continues to follow after Davey, only slipping a few more times, she easily catches up to him with her longer legs. "Only one way to find out!" Mags speaks with an exuberance that can only be matched by her friend as they race up the mountainside.

"Magdalene"

Slipping and stumbling, though Davey casts a glance over his shoulder as Mags lets go a yelp of sorts. "You good?" Concern flickering over his face, a little bit of genuine worry. For someone who's usually a haughty jackass, it surprised even Davey. Still, it doesn't last for long. "Keep up, slowpoke." Slipping back to an easy grin as they make their way up the slope.

Nearing the top, Davey could admit that he was getting a little dizzy. Looking out over the expanse of land to the north east, taking it all in. The volcanic rock solid beneath his feet, he traces it out in all directions. "Shit, we can even see the river from here." A little bit of awe coloring his words, eyes going wide. It's quite the vantage point, after all.

"Davey"

Magdalene was so fucking relieved when they reached the top. Winded and achy paws tremble beneath her as she comes to stand behind Davey. Her grievances would soon be forgotten as her own awe widened her features. The land spreading out from the volcano was magnificent. Lower down on the slope, all she had seen was black volcanic rock that hurt to walk on and nothing else. No plants, save for a few scraggly stumps. No animals, save for a few snakes and mice. Hell, there was nothing cool here.

But at the top? This place was awesome! Looking at the surrounding lands of Boreas made her never want to go home. There was so much to see and explore! And all they had to do was go! Letting out a gasp, she nods in agreement toward Davey. "The river and the forests and even the swamp!" Mags exclaims, her tail swishing excitedly behind her. "Think we could live up here forever so we never gotta look away?" She questions, a smile growing on her lips.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma