Rurik watched his cousin as he chewed up the mushroom, staring back at him with a grin. Oh, they were going to have a grand old time. The boy figured he might as well share in Ophi's experience fully. He, too, nosed a mushroom away from the pile and ate it, grimacing slightly at the strange texture and taste. It wasn't too much different than the bitter herbs one might use for pain or for other healing purposes, though they did have a strange scent unlike any other herb used for healing. He was excited to show Ophi this new world that he'd discovered-- it was too special to be kept all to himself, after all. It could mean something different to many different wolves, each with their own experience. It was wholly beautiful.

He backed out of the den, looking at his cousin with a daring grin. "C'mon, 'cuz. Let's go!" Rurik turned away, with one glance over his shoulder to make sure that Ophi was following. He was quiet for a few moments, letting the initial nausea from the mushroom pass. It was a strange sort of feeling, like a rolling in his stomach, but it wasn't from eating old food or a strange plant. It was a nervous, excited sort of feeling, like his guts were anticipating the experience too. He could only hope that Ophi had a somewhat strong stomach, or it might turn out to be a little much for him.

As he wandered up familiar trails towards the high plateaus, the colors began to blend together, becoming bright and warm and swirly. Rurik turned back to his cousin with a wide grin, his bright eyes full of awe. "It just makes you love the world, man. Are you feeling anything yet?" His words came out in a sort of excited jumble, full of wonder for the world around them. They hadn't even reached the plateaus yet, but already he was beginning to see the beauty in everything. Every rock, every plant, every little insect, they all had a story to tell. Everything was a part of the whole. His grin grew wider, still-- any wider and it threatened to crack his face right in two-- as he glanced around at their surroundings. "Damn." He murmured, the world seeming to spiral together with every step that he took.