Sorry, kids. Uncle Red's gotta schmooze it up.
Sweet-smelling wildflowers lined the pathway, which had been trodden down naturally by local animals. Mice skittered away and into their holes to avoid becoming snacks for me and Orpheus. Wind whistled over the top of the slope, making the grass and weeds rustle. It was getting steeper. I glanced down and saw that the ground was a fair distance away.
"I'm guessing the surprise is waiting for me at the top of the mountain?" I asked.
"Could be. Why don't you hurry up and find out?"
I cackled. "Are you challenging me to a race? Because I’ll win that every time."
Orpheus swooped down so that he was eye-level with me. He had a smug look on his face. "You sure about that? I'm a pretty fast flyer."
"Not as fast as a fox determined to win," I countered.
I took off like a shot, speeding up the path. Gravel dust and dirt went flying as I dug my claws into the ground for traction. Wind streamed through my fur. There was no way Orpheus was gonna beat me.
Just in case, I looked for him. There wasn't a black bird in sight.
I figured he was playing tricks on me, but they weren't going to work. Ignoring him, I unleashed a burst of speed. My muscles were on fire as adrenaline coursed through me. It felt incredible to run in my fox form. When was the last time I’d done this?
A shadow flew overhead. I didn't need to check to see who it was. I was neck and neck with Orpheus, but I needed to take the lead.
The shadow suddenly disappeared. I risked a glance over my shoulder. Instead of following the path, Orpheus banked his wings with a loud cackle and flew directly up to the top of the mountain. Instead of being annoyed that he was technically cheating, I was proud of him for utilizing his skills cleverly. Hell, if I could fly, I would've done the same thing.
But just because I was on four feet didn't mean I had to follow the rules, either. I abandoned the path and leapt onto a weed-strewn ledge above a worn rock face.
Pebbles clattered below as I hauled myself upwards, clambering as fast as I could towards the peak. The footing here was more difficult, but it was faster than taking the well-trodden path. Orpheus wasn't too far ahead. The wind picked up the higher we ascended and he was battling against it now. Even though we were in the middle of a competitive race, I couldn't help but take a moment to admire him. He was beautiful in any form, but the way he soared on wings of darkness truly did make him look like an angel.
"Give up yet?” Orpheus called from the sky.
"You wish."
The steepness of the slope levelled out as we approached the peak. That was a boon for me, running on the ground, though it offered nothing to Orpheus, who was fighting against the wind instead of gravity. I shook out my pelt in triumph as I dashed over the final stretch. The edge of the mountain loomed ahead.
And then Orpheus dove.
In my peripheral vision, I saw him fold his wings into his body so that he was shaped like a black bullet. He rocketed down through the air, gaining speed, going faster and faster until I was afraid he would hit the ground. The image of him crashing into me flashed in my mind. I didn't want him to get hurt again.
I skidded to a halt below where his trajectory ended, ready to catch him if I needed to.
"Orpheus, slow down!" I shouted.
His wings flared. His momentum stopped instantly and he floated towards me with a grin.
"Did I worry you?"
I growled, my tail fluffing up with irritation. "A little."
He chuckled and pressed his beak into my cheek fur in a makeshift kiss. "Sorry, foxy. I was just showing off my moves to impress you."
I licked him in response and forced my fur to lay flat. "Next time, show off a little farther away from the ground."
“You got it."
He landed gracefully, then shifted. I did the same.
The view from the mountaintop took my breath away. The gorgeous lush grasses and trees of the wildlife reserve stood on full display, crisscrossed with streams and dotted with spots of colour where flowers bloomed. I'd never been so high up. Was this what the world looked like to Orpheus all the time?
"This is your view," I murmured.
