The little snow leopard was still adapting to life among lions, having since forgotten was it was to be a snow leopard. Even her mother was little more than a vague memory, given more detail within dreams she could not remember within hours of waking from them. One thing that hadn't changed however was her deeply rooted instincts. She felt compelled by the snow and tall mountains throughout Amaryllis. Some part of her wished to climb them, to run along and down them without the innate fear it instilled in many other creatures.

Today she could be found at the base of this impressive skyward expanse of rock, preparing herself to climb to its summit. She would have a look around to make sure nobody would come along to scold her apparently dangerous desire. None seemed to be in the vicinity.

@Donati

If I smile and don't believe

Soon I know I'll wake from this dream

code by corvus

But there was indeed someone above @Tokyo, already having started the climb -- driven by his constant need for adventure and challenge. He need not even have a competitor to motivate him, Donati very much happy to set a goal for himself.

Today, he'd decided that he would ascend this rocky structure all the way to the peak. He was still very much working on making achievable goals (which weren't very fun to be honest).

It's as he takes pause that he notices the sound of another below, Donati peering over the ledge to find a rather strange creature below. She looked like a cat but she certainly wasn't a lion. Mischievously, the growing child pushes a pawful of snow over the ledge and straight on to the snow leopard cub below him.

The four-month-old had only just taken her first steps when a rain of powder fell all around her, including one small clump of snow hitting her forehead and washing her face in cold white. It had not hurt, but it would startle her and cause the girl to shake herself to rid the snow from her pelt.

Above she would be the culprit, a smallish lion climbing up the mountain ahead of her. His look back down at her made it all too obvious he was responsible. With a small huff, she would pursue him towards the far distant mountain summit. It might take a little time to catch up, but she was sure she could if she pushed her tiny legs hard enough.

Climbing for her was less actual climbing and more bounding from one rocky surface towards the next, powerful little hindquarters propelling her.

@Donati

If I smile and don't believe

Soon I know I'll wake from this dream

code by corvus

For a moment, the strange child below stares at him -- clearly unimpressed by his antics. In reply, Donati grins his big grin in her direction, very much pleased with his efforts. But his grin disappears when @Tokyo begins her ascent -- nimble and swift, her tail acting as rudder as she leaps from ledge to ledge.

At this rate, it wouldn't take her long to catch up. "Oh shit," he mumbles under his breath as the Miroslav child returns to the task at hand -- climbing and not letting the snow leopard cub catch up to him. But he is a large beast and being agile does not come naturally to him. It is a laborious process to climb and he can feel himself losing.

He had one more trick left up his sleeve -- play dirty. With every movement, Donny attempts to swipe more powdered snow from his ledge down onto his competitor.

The plum girl didn't know why she should pursue this cub up a mountain. Usually, she kept a safe distance from lion kind, always seeking their aid yet always just out of reach of a clawed paw or snapping jaws. Perhaps it was his wordless invitation to play, or that he was in a landscape she felt confident in. All these steep cliffs and narrow pathways offered her escape, and knowing she had that option should things go wrong, made her less wary.

As she chased after him, more snow would come flying her way. She would avoid it for the most part, but there would be a few instances where she got a face full of the frozen powder. She didn't mind, it harmlessly bounced off her dense coat, leaving only her little pink nose to suffer its chill.

She was closing the distance she was sure, eager to get right up behind @Donati and aim a playful nip toward his tail. This was the goal, though he wasn't making it very easy. If she did catch him, then what? She didn't know, she was just following her instincts, the boy to serve as a littermate in absence of her own. Tussling in the snow was something siblings did together, something she never got a chance to do with her own kin.

If I smile and don't believe

Soon I know I'll wake from this dream

code by corvus

As hard as he would try, Donati could not stop the snow leopard cub from catching up to him. The creature was simply built for this type of terrain. Try as he might, even going so far as to play dirty, @Tokyo had a clear advantage. He does not like losing, though in truth, not many really did enjoy losing. So when he feels her little teeth nibble at the end of his tail, Donny releases a huff, "Hey!" he protests as he spins about, pausing his climb for the time being.

They stand on a snowy platform, a sturdy outcrop that jutted out from the side of the mountains. "What even are you?" he queries, closing the gap between them and peering intrusively at the leopard. They were similar but not quite the same, leaving Donny to wonder if she was a mutated lion cub. He sniffs, wrinkling his nose as Tokyo's scent all but leaves him even more confused.

She was rather enjoying herself now, the gap between herself and the other cat had closed. He was much bigger than she had thought he was from a distance but still as close to her own size as she could hope to find in this strange place. It would be a brief joy, replaced soon after with anxiety as the creature spun around in protest, sounding mildly irritated.

She would withdraw a pace or two, wide amber eyes staring at him with a newfound wariness. Ears would perk as he asked what she was. This collection of questioning words had been directed at her once before, though she didn't fully grasp what they were supposed to mean. Had none ever seen.. whatever she was before?

She would not respond to the boy, only crouching there in the snow with her tail snug around her as @Donati sniffed at her. She could only think to imitate this action, wrinkling her own nose up at him. Perhaps he didn't want to play anymore and she should be on her way.

If I smile and don't believe

Soon I know I'll wake from this dream

code by corvus