hmm...it's kind of dusty here. and hard. El's not sure she likes it. already she can feel the pads of her little puppy feet toughening up, and over time who knows how blistered and calloused they'll get! it's not exactly something she's looking forward to. approaching a rock column, El stretches her neck as far as possible to stare up at their looming shapes, squinting against the harsh glare of the sun. it's so tall! will i ever be that tall? she wonders, head tilting this way and that to see it from different angles. is Daddy as tall as these rocks? she doesn't think so. and she doesn't think she wants to be, either. how will people admire her when they can't even see her properly? her nose wrinkles at the very thought. no thank you. "Speech"

Hydrae's little snout juts out from a space in the column. Up behind it, the column is smooth enough to climb if you're careful, and Hydrae has realized this.

She peers down at her sister.

"What's you wrinkin' at?" She beams, clacks her shark teeth. "Come up, Sis'Lara! It's neat up here." The pup let her tail wag as she gazed down at her sister, eyes bright and twinkling. This, she was sure, would be great. All Elara had to do was walk around behind the column and work up inside of it, as Hydrae had. And Hydrae was sure that if she could do it, so could bold Elara.

El squeaks in surprise as her sister’s face appears from the rock column, eyes growing impossibly wide. “what are you doing up there?” she complains. “it’s dangerous!” but in all honesty, she’s just bitter that Hydrae beat her to it. her own sibling upstaging her like this! it’s simply unacceptable. “well,” El grumbles, “you’ll need someone skilled to keep you safe, i suppose.” following Hydrae’s path, she hops up the column and settles beside them, jutting their chin up in an attempt to excuse authority. this, of course, I’d belied by a childish competitive streak, which is revealed when she declares, “race you to the top!” and begins climbing at a brisk pace, not even allowing Hydrae a moment to prepare themselves. "Speech"

Elara looks at her with surprise, and Hydrae tilts her head in turn, slowly smiling in the sort of way that flashes those gnarly teeth. She wags her little tail, because this, you see, is a fun game, the sort of game that gives her a rare advantage: get one over on Elara.

"Then get up here!" Hydrae calls down, immediately ignoring her sister's attempt at authority; why should they care? Elara's just one of the pups, after all. They're all siblings, and Elara's posturing is just that. Posturing. When Elara declares a race, however, Hydrae snickers, whistles through her teeth, and carries up right after Elara, just as briskly. "Good day f'a walkie!" And Hydrae grins. Playful, in her strange-humored way. "Don't fall, Sis'a!" And with that, Hydrae gives a little hop, leaning into the incline, little puppy paws working quick to carry them on forward.

This is fun, and Phobia isn't even here to ruin it by trying to be the leader. Why do so many of their siblings care about that? Don't they understand what they're missing out on while they're busy squabbling for power?

Hydrae snorts a little at the thought, not quite able to comprehend it all the way through.

El gives a little squeal as Hydrae follows her up, glancing periodically over her shoulder to make sure she isn’t being overtaken. as elegant and mature as El likes to appear, sometimes she’s overcome with childish excitement and can’t help but partake in the very games she’d otherwise sneer at. this is one such moment. El giggles breathlessly as she climbs, mind cleared of all thoughts but beating her sister. “nuh uh, i’m not gonna fall! you’re gonna fall!” she turns to stick out her tongue at Hydrae - and that, ironically, is what causes her to slip. a startled shriek is pulled from her throat as El slides down the column, undoing all the hard-fought progress she’s made. if Hydrae is close enough, there’s a chance she might get swept up in El’s descent. "Speech"