Aresenn squinted into the blinding heat of the afternoon, his orange eyes narrowing to slits against the glare reflecting off Waterfall Peak's barren slate cliffs. The cicada song drilled into his skull, a relentless dirge amid the otherwise oppressive silence. The dry grass crackled under their feet, each step producing a small puff of dust that quickly dissipated in the stagnant air. But of course, as the terrain began its steep ascent towards the mountains, the grass gave way to sharp rocks and loose gravel. "“Watch your step,” He murmured to his daughter as he led the way, carefully picking his way over the ever-changing landscape.

The path became narrow and tricky, but Aresenn moved with a precision born of years of practice, his large frame surprisingly agile against the rugged terrain. His eyes were constantly scanning, anticipating the challenges that lay ahead. With a swift movement, he leaped over a jagged boulder, landing solidly on the sun-baked ground below. He looked back to make sure Araxina was following. She was smaller but just as nimble. She could do it- he had faith in her.

"Aresenn Praetor"

The heat seeped into her firey pelt, making her pant and sweat as she walked with her father. She had asked what the strange sound all around them was and he called them cicadas! They were annoying. She didn't like the incessant stupid sound. Thankfully their screaming at the sun faded as they traveled higher toward the peak. Xina licked her lips as she looked down from their path and saw the cool water collected below the great waterfall. This was thirsty work climbing after her father. She looked at him as he murmured to watch her step and for once she didn't scowl or snap at him, she looked down and found the gravel and stones loose and treacherous. She tested her next step over the slate and gravel, he had been right to warn her. She nodded to him. She was learning, not everything needed to be barreled over and bullied through.

She paused and watched him pick his way over the narrow path, his paws surefooted and practiced. She aimed to copy his every move but she was still two steps for his every one. So she leaned into the cliffside as she worked her way across.

Her ears swiveled as she flung her gaze back up to where her father had leaped from. Determination in her gaze as she saw the chance to prove herself.

She gathered her muscles and leaped over the boulder! One paw caught a jagged protrusion and unbalanced her as she said over it! Tumbling forward she tucked her chin in and set about rolling into a landing on the other side!

She hit the ground on her shoulder but she had tucked and scrambled into the dirt with a triumphant smile.

"Hah!" She exclaimed as she flung her body out to catch herself upright. "I did it!" She was triumphant! She loved these treks with her father, they were always challenging! She would never admit it though.

Aresenn watched as Araxina took the leap, his heart pounding in his chest. His muscles were tense, ready to react if she misjudged her landing. His eyes narrowed as she stumbled, a growl catching in his throat. But of course, she didn’t disappoint- recovering with an agility that echoed his own, rolling and springing back onto her feet with a triumphant snort.

His stern face relaxed into a smirk as he nodded at her. "Good," he praised, his chest swelling slightly at the sight of his daughter's prowess. A half-sided smirk crossed his features before he composed himself once more. He turned and continued on, his gait steady despite the uneven terrain. "But don't let overconfidence be your downfall," he called over his shoulder. "This path is not forgiving."

As they wound their way further up the peak, their path became narrower and more treacherous. The landscape was a churn of grays and blues. With the sun glaring down on them, the stone beneath their paws turned hot, yet the air around them was crisp and thin. Aresenn's ears flicked back and forth, attentive to every sound - the rustle of a displaced pebble, the far-off squawk of a bird of prey, the constant rumbling of the waterfall that gave the peak its name. Despite its beauty, there was a constant undercurrent of danger lurking in the landscape around them.

Above them, the sun was relentless, its rays bouncing off the slate-gray cliffs. The roar of the waterfall was distant, a constant reminder of their ultimate goal: the unattainable peak. Aresenn squinted against the glare, his gaze attentive to any alterations in the landscape around them. The scent of the surrounding foliage filled his nostrils, heavy with a musk that spoke of a long, sweltering summer's day. The Waterfall Peak loomed menacingly ahead, its towering cliffs washed out in the bright sunlight. Aresenn took a moment to point it out to Xina, "See," he said, his voice low as he gestured towards the peak with his muzzle. "That’s where we're headed.”

"Aresenn Praetor"

She practically glowed under his praise, her chest swelled greatly in pride for herself and with love from her father. She picked up her pace to dog his heels against the terrain but just as he mentioned not to let herself get cocky she slipped on a plate of slate and slammed her chin into the earth. Can't have everything, she guessed with a huff, picking herself up. No one to blame but herself for that one. She rubbed her chin after that reminder to watch her step.

"Right."

The terrain was full of many lessons this day, and her paws had started to hurt. The dry air held a bitter bite against her summer skin, but the ground was rough and sun-baked.
The dry trees down below looked brittle enough to snap if the wind dared blow through them hard enough, perhaps a spark of flame would engulf the valleys below.

She glanced at her father every time he paused and swiveled his ears. She would try and do the same, silently naming the noises each time she caught it. A stranger hawk calling out to her father's companion. The bleat of mountain goat off behind a hill somewhere... It was much easier to hear these noises outside of the screaming cicadas. She looked up as her father's hawk called overhead. They had left her mother's ravens behind. She had felt a little exposed away from her mother's ravens at first, but she liked her father's hawk.

She carefully sidled alongside him, curious as to what he was looking at. Her eyes scanned the terrain below them, full of sharp angles and dusty corners. He spoke and she lifted her gaze up at him and then followed his line of sight. She could barely see the slate peak with its falling cascade of water. The roar was more subtle at this distance than the smaller falls of the Polar Sound at home. But at this distance, it meant it was huge!

"Woaah." She was awed. Could they really make it all the way there? She made to quickly jump and race her father there but after two quick steps her shoulder met the ground and she slid extremely close to the edge. Her breath caught in her throat as she froze and carefully scrambled back to safety, letting him help if he did. Perhaps the only one of the family she allowed to help her.

"Okay, THAT was close." She curled her lip like she was angry, but again, the only one to blame was her own self, and that pissed her off more.

Aresenn noted his daughter's slip on the treacherous terrain, a small huff escaping him - more out of concern than annoyance. He watched as she dusted herself off, her fiery pelt standing out against the stark cliffs. A wry smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Always keep your eyes on the path, not just your destination," he advised in his gruff tone, though there was a trace of warmth beneath the stern words. The scorching sun overhead caused their russet coats to gleam as if set aflame, its heat seeping through to his muscular core. He stole a glance at the valleys below, the brittle trees seeming almost ghostly under the oppressive summer sun. The threat of a stray spark igniting a fiery inferno was never far from his thoughts, but it was measured against the draw of journey's end - the imposing peak with its tumbling cascade.

As they pushed forward, Aresenn's nose twitched, catching the faint scent of mountain goats in the vicinity. His eyes darted around, scanning for the location of the creatures. This was a good sign; there would be water nearby. And following the faint trails of the goats would lead them both to fresh grazing and away from any local predators on the prowl. He signaled Araxina with a flick of his tail, a silent command to follow him.

"Watch your step," he grumbled as they navigated through a narrow path litter with jagged rocks and precarious drops. His deep voice echoed across the silent expanse, mingling with the far-off sound of crashing water. "Keep low and even." But of course, he could give her all the instructions in the world … but little good it would do if she did not internalize them.

Aresenn's heart stuttered as Araxina skidded towards the edge of the cliff. His muscles coiled, ready to pounce and halt her dangerous slide. He released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding when she finally came to a stop, just shy of the precipice. His eyes were smoldering. In his life, he had faced down countless trials and threats, but watching his daughter toe the line between the reckless abandon of youth and the bitter sting of reality was the most terrifying ordeal of them all.

He offered a paw to help her regain her footing but he remained silent for a few moments, fur bristling in irritation. “Yes it was.” He finally replied, his voice strained with suppressed worry. "You must learn control, Araxina," he stated, sternly. “You have so much natural talent- talent I wish I had when I was your age. But it’s only a matter of time before it lands you in real danger, if you’re not careful.” His eyes pierced hers, his warning evident. His words might have been sharp. But behind his fiery gaze and the growl in his voice, there was a deep well of concern, fear even. He hoped she saw it and understood its depth. This wasn't about dominance or obedience, it was about survival.

"Aresenn Praetor"

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.

Aresenn watched Araxina with a mix of pride and trepidation as she began to navigate the path with newfound care, her steps measured and cautious. Her words, spoken with uncharacteristic solemnity, echoed in his mind. Yes, Daddy. Was that the first time she didn’t fight him on something? Perhaps, just perhaps, some of his lessons were finally sinking in.

As they followed the narrow goat trails, the terrain began to shift subtly. Tufts of hardy grass and tenacious shrubs sprouted from the cracks in the stone, their roots clinging to the thin soil. The air grew cooler as they approached the waterfall, its mist carrying on the breeze and dampening their fur. Aresenn paused, lifting his muzzle to scent the air. The briny tang of the distant ocean mingled with the fresh, earthy smell of the waterfall's spray.

"We're getting close," Aresenn murmured, his voice almost lost in the growing roar of the falls. The sound was deafening now, the cascading water churning up a fine mist that coated their fur and made the rocky path slick and treacherous. He glanced back at Araxina, ensuring she was still following closely. As they rounded a bend, the full majesty of the waterfall came into view. It was a behemoth, easily a hundred meters tall, the water plummeting from the cliff face in a thunderous torrent. The spray rose in great billowing clouds, creating an ever-shifting rainbow in the afternoon light. Aresenn paused, his orange eyes wide as he took in the sight. Despite the countless times he had made this journey, the raw power of the falls never failed to steal his breath away.

He glanced back at Araxina, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched for her reaction. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured, his deep voice barely audible over the roar of the falls.

"Aresenn Praetor"