His chest heaves and his legs burn, but never once does he slow down.

Semi-naked paws spread and clasp thr ground as he goes, leaving great furrows in his wake -- a blur of destruction and chaos, a perfect companion to the laughs heaving from his tired throat. They're just little huffs of breath, expended as an afterthought, with his face screwed up in complete concentration. He's almost there....

Just a little further...

There's a curve in the path ahead and he takes it wildly, paws scrambling to keep him on course. But what he expects to see beyond the bend does not greet him -- he assumed that the mountain leveled off here, but instead the path continues traitorously on. The wind knocked out of his sails, the wolf-prince skids to a stop -- face crumpling into childish disappointment, sharpened by anger.

It's the wrong choice to make. Now that he's stopped, he can feel just how tired his paws are and how badly his chest aches as lungs frantically try to refill. Scheiße! he grumbles aloud -- at first quiet, but then he repeats, shrill and almost a scream. It does nothing to make him less tired ( or bring the top of the mountain closer to him ), but it does feel good.

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It wasn't often that Giulia found herself out of the Mire, especially since she had been gone from home for so long. But today was different. She had been more confident lately in her own capabilities and so the curly-haired princess would move from familiarity to discover a new piece of terrain. The air up among the peaks was quite chilly, but thankfully her thicker fur provided a decent enough barrier that she wasn't necessarily cold. She was so used to observing and spying, taking in as much information as she could that she was actually thankful for the reprieve. As she continued to climb upward, she would eventually find a large enough boulder that would support her size comfortably. Climbing onto it she would slump down, stretching her legs out as the sun warmed her coat. There was a beautiful view from where she lay, and she was content to nap had it not been for a noise of exertion not too far to her left. Her gaze would swing, falling onto the stranger. He looked to be about the same age as herself but the language he spoke was foreign to her. For a moment she contemplated how she would proceed, eventually deciding to chuff lightly to him to in the very least let him know that he wasn't alone out here.

@Virgil

[beatnik exp]
+5 - Sunbathe or take a nap
+5 - Teach someone under 2 years how to unwind
+5 - Slack off or shirk one's responsibilities

ART BY YUMPY

Annoyance and frustration bubbles in his veins, a white-noise static that pulses just as hard, and hot, as his heart. For a brief moment, quick and fleeting, the boy is blinded by white-hot rage -- an explosion that boils over into nothingness. The shouting helps but he is still left empty-handed -- the only thing he has is his stubbornness. He'll keep going, he will, until his legs give out completely instead of just quivering. He will. it's just --

Well.

He's not alone.

Surprise colors his features as @Giulia's chuff rings out, startling him out from his spiraling. Quicksilver eyes go wide, wolfy muzzle twisting in her direction -- alighting on her, stretched out on the boulder. Which, like, okay. Uhh, he says, sheepish and eloquent both, ears twitching -- unable to decide if he should pitch them forward towards her or backwards in embarrassment. But Virgil has never been embarrassed before, and he certainly wasn't gonna start here and now. Er, hey! Hi! Yeah, that's better.

He takes a step forward, curious even if he struggles to make his voice sound normal through the way he tries to catch his breath. Suuuup. What's up? She looked awful comfy up there -- was there any chance she might've slept through his outburst? Probably not, but his cocksure grin certainly tries to make her forget what she might've seen.

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Uhh, Er, hey! Hi! Giulia might have caught him off guard, maybe even embarrassed him. It was hard to tell but either way she fixes a small smile towards him as she watches him take a step forward. She notices that he carries the scent of crisp winter air and mountain snow, making her wonder if he lived around these parts or was part of a certain mountain pride that wasn't quite fond of the Mire. All the more reason for her to hide her identity; most didn't even know she was related to her father anyways. Suuuup. What's up? He asks and she motions towards her platform - "Just resting. What about you? You enjoy running across mountains until your out of breath?" She muses, it looked awfully tiring from what she had seen anyways. "I prefer sunbathing personally.." She says nonchalantly with a tiny grin.


@Virgil

ART BY YUMPY

Rocking on his heels, he sways a little where he stands -- doing his absolute best to play it cool. To, you know, pretend like he's not wheezing like a smoker. It's certainly not the best first impression he could make, but it also wasn't the worst -- and that had to count for something, right? Fingers crossed. Fortunately, the girl does not mention it in a mean way. It's easy enough to laugh at her words and give a little roll of his shoulders, still trying to play it cool. Welllllll, I was trying to get to the top of the mountain without stopping. It was a perfectly good plan in his head, and if not for underestimating both his stamina and the distance he'd have to go, virgil just might've made it.

He's not usually this wheezy, promise!

He gives a little laugh -- a bark, grinning all the while. Oh yeah? He says, turning that grin on her, pointed and obvious. He'd be leering a little but his mutter had taught him some manners. Unfortunately for @Giulia, Morrigan hadn't done anything about his sense of humor. That must be why you're way more tan than I am! He quips, wiggling his eyebrows at her. Get it? Because his fur was white and hers was peach? He's a comedian, on god.

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Welllllll, I was trying to get to the top of the mountain without stopping. It was a valiant effort, but Giulia still couldn't help the smile that fought it's way forward. "Good attempt, I'll give it a.. hmmm... 6 out of 10. The execution could have been better." She muses, ears craned forward to listen. Strange how she seemed to be comfortable enough to converse with the stranger; perhaps it was because they were closer in age. Or maybe it was because she had witnessed his wheezing and it made him seem way more approachable. Oh yeah? That must be why you're way more tan than I am! Okay so maybe he was a little dorky but .. it was cute? Why did she actually think he was cute? She'd certainly never paid any attention to boys like this before and it's not like she could ask her feral sister Yrsa about what all of this meant. "Perhaps.. or maybe it's just because I know how to relax.. You should try it, I promise the top of the mountain isn't going anywhere. You haven't told me your name yet either.." She reminds him then, waiting expectantly with eyes glistening.

@Virgil

ART BY YUMPY

Her critique is Harsh, but fair. A laugh rumbles from him, more squeaky than the baritone it will eventually be, and the wolf-boy brightens with delight. I'll do better next time, I promise! He chirps, all but crossing his heart. A six outta ten wasn't bas for a first try; next time he'd do better, and the time after that? He'd be able to run both up and right back down in one go. Bet. Maybe @Giulia would be around for that run, too. His ears notch forward, wolfish grin fixed in place, but his joke doesn't quite land. She doesn't laugh and -- ouch.

Bullseye, right through his heart! That's show biz, though, and his smile doesn't falter for a single moment; instead, he leans forward a little where he stands as she rolls with it, playing right into the bit. And that's just as good, if not even better, than any giggle might've been. You say that now, he says, stretching out the vowel with a wiggle of his brows. But if I wake up tomorrow and the mountain top is gone --? He inhales a sharp noise; Oh, she'd be in big trouble! She'd get all of the blame, even if she was just one lone lioness. She'd asked him something, though -- not outright, but that was just fine; he's direct enough for the both of 'em. The name's virgil, by the way. Is there room up there for little ol' me? He'd bat his eyelashes if he had to, don't think he wouldn't.

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I'll do better next time, I promise! She grins at him, an easy-going genuine smile. He seemed so sweet and kind and as much dork as she was artist. Except no one ever really asked her about how she enjoyed making art in the earth, not even her family members were aware of that hidden talent she had. You say that now, But if I wake up tomorrow and the mountain top is gone --? He says and she bites back the giggle that threatens to burst out. "How on earth would you survive without it? All of that fur would be useless then!" This time she does giggle before quickly dropping her gaze, a bit embarrassed at herself for a few seconds. The name's virgil, by the way. Is there room up there for little ol' me? Virgil, it was a nice name, it suited him. "@Virgil, I like it. You can call me Giulia and I suppose there is plenty, but I wouldn't necessarily call you little, even from here I can tell you are going to tower over me." It wasn't a lie, he was quite possibly one of the tallest yearlings she'd ever seen, he put all of her brothers to shame. But Giulia would shift to her right with ease, patting the boulder with a petite paw as an open invitation for him to join her. "It's nice up here.. makes you feel on top of the world." Glancing outward towards the expanse of mountain scenery she would sigh softly, it almost felt like she and Virgil had been friends for ages and not just a few moments. "Perhaps after a nap you can show me the top of the mountain..?" A proposal, if he'd take it.

ART BY YUMPY

his threat ( which was totally serious, btw! ) only gets a half-stilted laugh — and that’s enough for him. he grins, toothy and bright, ears notching forward. i don’t think i would survive, he says, suddenly solemn and serious — it lasts for exactly three seconds before it shatters into something more typical, and goofy. just kidding. i’m, like, super strong. so don’t even sweat it, @Giulia.

fortunately his request is taken in stride — she sounds a little annoyed at the prospect of having to share with someone his size. it’s not his fault that she’s tiny, apparently. just like it’s not his fault that he’d inherited his unknown father’s gigantic frame. fortunately, giulia does not seem terribly deterred — which was good. she pats the stone at her next in clear invitation and he gives a little content mrr.

jumping up isn’t exactly graceful — grace has never been his strongest skill and his limbs still felt like jelly. he manages though, shooting her another toothy grin as he makes himself comfy — flopping down on his tummy at her side, stretching out his front paws alllll the way out. he wiggles his toes in delight once his checklist of getting comfy was complete, turning to face her.

only now does he realize just how close they were — he hadn’t quite realized that before her personal space was now his personal space. her eyes are, like, really green from this angle. huh. it takes him a moment to realize she’d spoken, and when he replies, his voice isn’t quite as loud. it’s still squeaky, though — there was no helping that. it feels like home up here, he says, thinking fondly of the summit his mutter rules. and it’s even better all the way at the top. an observation and promise both; what better way to shake off a nap than hiking?

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i don’t think i would survive, just kidding. i’m, like, super strong. He does a pretty good job of convincing her, for now. Giulia offers him an encouraging smile as he makes his way closer, eventually propelling himself upward to take his place on the boulder next to her. Sure he wasn't super graceful, but most men weren't anyways. Giulia certainly wouldn't poke fun at him for it. She had been the blunt of plenty of jokes from her siblings; it left her with a nasty feeling inside, one that she wouldn't assert onto others let alone a new friend in the form of @Virgil. He stretches out, flexing his toes and sighing and Giulia does the same, a content smile forming on her lips. The sun hits them both perfectly from their location and she cannot help the rumble of a purr that comes forth in her throat. it feels like home up here, and it’s even better all the way at the top. His comment had her curious, she had never actually seen the top of the mountain before. "I've never seen the top.. at least it gives me something to look forward to after this nap." She murmurs with a hum in her words before allowing her eyes to close, the sleepiness easily overpowering her with the warmth of Virgil's brawn next to her.

~ Sleepy nap time ~

She blinks a couple of times, and it takes her a few moments to realize where she is. She isn't home in her den; she isn't anywhere near the Mire. And the big mountain of fur next to her suggests that they had both managed to take a good long nap alongside each other. In fact, she had one of her front legs slung over him, pulling him in pretty close to her chest. That would explain just how warm she was, feeling his breath against her as his sides rose and fell rhythmically. "Virgil.. are you up?" She whispers, poking his side gently with her paw before slowly pulling herself away from him. She rises and stretches, a big yawn escaping her before she glances upward towards the top of the mountain. Thankfully it wasn't too late in the day, there was still plenty of time to climb. "I think you promised to guide me to the top?" She says, still asking in case he might just change his mind after their cat nap.

ART BY YUMPY