There is no breeze in the depths behind his mountains, and sweat riddles his grulla coat. It lathers around his neck and between his legs as he pushes himself through the valleys below, his hooves pounding the soft ground below while his muscles ripple beneath his skin with exertion. One two three four, one two three four. The pounding of his legs is rhythmic and powerful, his breaths sharp and labored as he propels himself forward with determined purpose. It wouldn’t be long until he reached the base of the mountains where his trek would soon ascend upwards.

Despite it being early in the summer season the air is already humid and thick in the afternoons. Without the breeze of coast or the shade of forests behind him, the run along the stretch of flatlands is more tedious than usual. There is little shade in the meadows and the sun is free to beat down as hot as it pleases, leaving ones mercy with the clouds above. The heavens were not so kind today, but Meeseek’s dark eyes are determined and his pace only quickens the last few strides it takes to reach the base of the mountain range.

His pace slows here only because it must. The terrain upwards is not forgiving, but the shade of large boulders is a welcome relief on his dark pelt. Even the easiest path upwards is challenging and many a time had Meeseeks stumbled from crumbling, unstable ground.

He did not stumble now.

The large stallion had pushed himself, running his terrain and himself into the ground upon his arrival in an attempt to learn of both of their limits. So far, he had found little in way of a breaking point. This land was as harsh as it was giving. It had opened its secrets to him over a span of time, but his rocky fortress remained daunting and hazardous to those who did not walk the land and call it their home. Navigating the Ridge otherwise would be foolish unless they stuck close to the sands they washed up on.

Meeseeks would make certain of it.

His legs ached with satisfaction when he finally reached the top. The sea breeze was a welcome assault on his body and lungs as he eagerly sucked in the salty tasting air, sides heaving with labored breath. There was still a stretch of green grasses and rocks between him and the sands, the coast line close and yet far as he stood atop the mountain range, but Meeseeks did not need to be in the waters to reap the rewards of his climb.

He remained on the rocky hillside, reveling in the cool air and looking over his lands in silence.

For now... this was enough.