Mountain Play

Chade felt Ry’s mouth on his scruff, his back legs kicking to grab purchase in the rock and help himself up along with Ry’s assistance.  Chade quirked a brow at Ry, and almost opens his mouth to remind Ry how often he plays on the mountain then decided not to.  No need to worry Ry about how Chade enjoyed taking the risks.  Every risk he took and succeeded in made him stronger and any fall that didn’t kill him would teach a valuable lesson and make him stronger.  Sure, he’d fallen here and there, and ended up with some bruises that were never spotted under the fur.

They had a pack now to return to and be safe should he ever need to rest.  Chade was a better hunter and some bruises weren’t enough to make him fail an average hunt.  So, there was no harm in a few risks being made.  However, it was only natural Ry would worry about him. Shaking out his coat, loosening up those muscles he assured Ricin, “Oh, I’m good to continue.”

Chade watched Ry take the path that was hardly more than dent’s in the rock.  Chade doubted he’d easily make it up the way Ry did as much as he wanted to try it.  He could try it until he made it but later.  No need to scare Ry and if it took a few days to work at it there was no reason to have Ry watching until he could do it.  Still, a part of him didn’t like Ry getting up there sooner.  Both a competitive part of him and the concern for Ry getting up there first only to find something dangerous waiting for him.  Polar bears did exist up here after all.

“Suuuure Ry, ya know you could take the wider path with me.” The words were a gentle tease, not really feeling a need for him to do so.  Take his time though?  Once Ry started up Chade ran straight to the path chosen for him.  Chade leaped from one spot and loped up another, skipping over a jutting of rock, and running hard up the steeper slope on it.  Sure, he might need the wider path but he had chased prey across these rocks and had perfectly good balance if there was purchase for his feet.  

Chade didn’t take all that much longer to catch up to his brother, grinning at him.  “Hey, I chase those goats about these paths, I’m all right, really.”  His gaze looked from Ricin to the cave, “well, after you master explorer.” Sure, Chade wanted to do anything Ry could do but he knew there were areas Ry was better at and it was natural.  He was really proud of his brother, he’d come so far.  Once, Chade had been the only one to have faith in him, and now it had been proven true.  Now everyone knew.

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