Mountain Play

Chade’s comments about him falling have Ricin giving his brother a once over before saying, “Well, just don’t fall and you’ll be good.” Then he is moving up to take lead and finding a goat path to take. While Chade is confident in his abilities to fight and hunt, his lighter brother has the utmost conviction in his body. He knows its limits and how to place his paws on small little juts of rock to help propel himself from one ledge to another. When he looks down from his perch, questioning Chade about wanting to inspect a cave and he watches as the darker boy looks to the cave opening. Ricin can almost see Ny’s train of thought as he inspects the rock wall, moving further along the path until finds a space he is move comfortable starting from. Then, the darker boy begins his ascent.

More than once Ry’s heart leaps up into his throat as Chade’s paws slip and skid, finding purchase but not as surely as Ricin’s had. Ruby gaze follows his brother’s path, silently analyzing each misplaced paw and uncertain leap thinking he might be able to teach Ny a thing or two about jumping. When Chade leaps to his ledge and his backend doesn’t quite make it, Ricin is there to clamp his mouth around his brother’s neck and help him gain traction to climb up. Ny jokes and Ry shakes his head as he takes a step back, quirking his eyebrows. Giving a small of laughter, he says, “Oh yeah. No problem at all. Let’s just take a moment before we move on. That cave isn’t going anywhere. As for the race down… we’ll see.” He doesn’t care if Chade tries to say he is fine; the lighter boy will not leave this ledge until he thinks Ny is ready.

While they wait, Ricin looks over the all the paths that lead to the entrance they seek. He picks out a path from himself (small, narrow goat path) and one for Chade (wider, longer ledges), which he points out when he deems his brother ready to continue. Pointing out the route he wants Ny to take, Ricin says, “See how those ledges are wider and have some room to take a running start? Follow this path up to the cave. You seem to do better if there is little more room to maneuver. Okay?” He looks to his brother, waiting to see if he has any questions. The comment isn’t meant as an insult, just an observation that Ry had made while he watched his brother tackle the path behind him. Once Ny accepts his path, Ricin dips his head and says, “Okay good. Now let me leave the ledge first. Once I am gone, you can go. Be safe Ny.”

Ruby eyes lock before Ricin turns toward the smaller goat path he will be taking. Muscles coil as he lowers his front half slightly, eyes locking onto the place he will land. Paws leave the safety of the shared ledge and the lighter boy nimbly crosses his more difficult path. He finds pawholds where others would only find air and he does it without the slightest bit of worry. With one final, mighty leap, Ricin lands in the cave opening and quickly turns to see where Ny is in his progress.


"Ricin Dauner"

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