Sophie bounced on her heels at the base of the mountain, practically vibrating with energy.
"Come on, come on! We're burning daylight!"
Aegis adjusted the pack on her shoulders, grinning. "We have literally all day."
"Yeah, but the view is best in the morning!"
Lune walked up behind them, her own smaller pack slung over one shoulder. She looked at the mountain path—steep, rocky, winding up through trees—and her expression didn't change, but Aegis caught the slight hesitation.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Aegis offered.
"I want to," Lune said immediately.
Sophie grabbed both their hands.
"Great! Let's go!"
She dragged them toward the trail.
Aegis let herself be pulled along, her heart already racing with anticipation.
[Hiking. Actual hiking. I wanted to do this so badly back when I was stuck in that hospital bed.]
The memory threatened to dampen her mood, but she shoved it aside.
