[Teddy is — they swear - trying to be a good friend and conversationalist on the hike up the mountain. Keeping pace and chatting with those they know, getting to know those they don’t, slowing down and offering water or help if someone needs it. And they are…at turns.

It’s just - look at this place!. They haven’t been in the mountains in what feels like forever, and the Nether both feels like coming home and like discovering a strange new land. Every so often they get a little distracted by some view and scamper just a little ahead like a mountain goat, then get ahold of themselves with apologies to the guides (who humor them with a smile and a nod, having long since either decided that they’re amusing or responsible for their own downfall, Teddy can’t tell which).

Still, she feels fucking shitty about it when she sees Eddie floundering as they get to the higher, steeper ridges. Teddy drops back a little, catching the guide’s eye. Eddie in her periphery, she ponders — hopefully not too ridiculously — the stubborn (and to be fair genuinely interesting) plant life up here close to the tree line.

Then he scrabbles up to her and wheezes a request (/demand). Good. Okay. Teddy turns and grabs Eddie’s wrist, reaches for his shoulder: half hauls, half encourages him up further onto the less steep part of the trail she’s on.]

Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t — Jesus, Eddie, stop and catch your breath.

[They sit, fumbling in the bag they brought for the sizable waterskin, and hand it to him.]

They’re not gonna leave anyone to get lost in the woods, if you can’t breathe slow the hell down.

[Teddy can hear herself doing the thing where she gets scold-y because she’s worried, and winces. She mumbles, flushing a little:]

Not that I’m, um. Modeling a nice easy pace, or anything.