I Will Not Quit

The treacherous terrain was unforgiving and uncaring. Only the tone in her father's voice told her exactly how close she had danced with death today. He offered a paw and she took it. Their matching white washed toes clasping together. Survival. she echoed in her mind. Her golden eyes glanced up at his as he finally spoke, tipped with concern and irritation. Her ears perked at his praise between his cautions. She had natural talent? Really?

It was sobering for her father to tell her about control on the face of the mountain, moments after brushing whiskers with death from falling. Her gaze scanned the ground and clung to the edge where she had nearly slipped over. A new determination filtered into her mind that hadn't been there before today. Control, caution... She could do those!

"Yes, Daddy." She said, her voice serious for once. She glanced back at him before setting her eyes again on their destination then began picking her way over the precarious ground once more. Practicing temperance, caution... control.

Finally, the ground became easier to pick through with a few winding goat trails. Alpine grass and shrubs appeared in the cracks and held the slopes to the soil tenderly. The air began to cool as they approached closer to the waterfall.