Soon, the fish were ready. Juniper handed Gio the first skewer, garnished with fresh herbs, and watched anxiously as Gio took a bite. Gio chewed slowly, savoring, before giving a satisfied hum and a wide grin.
"Perfect," he said, not just simply but with genuine enjoyment. "Crispy skin, soft inside. You nailed it, Juni."
Juniper let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, then laughed at himself. "Good. …I guess it's not a fancy restaurant meal though. I keep thinking this is all a bit too simple for your birthday but… I felt that this was how you would want it to be."
Gio chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back comfortably on one hand, still holding the skewer in the other. "Simple? This is the best meal I could've asked for. Fresh fish, fresh air, good fire… and you. Can't beat that."
Juniper blinked, his ears twitching at the easy honesty in Gio's tone. He fiddled with his own skewer, muttering, "Really? You're not just saying that because you don't want me to feel bad?"
"Juniper," Gio said with a laugh, his voice warm and teasing, "when have I ever sugarcoated anything? If it was bad, I'd tell you. But this? This is my kind of perfect."
Juniper's cheeks flushed pink, and he ducked his head, hiding his smile behind a bite of fish. "You say things like that so easily… It's unfair."
"Unfair?" Gio grinned, leaning forward a little. "I'm just telling the truth. If that makes you blush, that's on you."
Juniper shot him a mock glare, but it melted quickly into a sheepish grin. The two of them slipped into a comfortable rhythm after that—eating, trading little jokes, and chatting about the trails they'd passed earlier. The fire crackled beside them, warm against the cool mountain air, while the stream burbled gently nearby.
When they'd finished their meal, Juniper leaned back on his hands, gazing at the horizon where the sun dipped low, streaking the sky with orange and rose. "It's beautiful here," he murmured.
"Yeah," Gio agreed easily, but his eyes lingered on Juniper instead of the view. "Really beautiful."
Juniper caught the look, his ears twitching in embarrassment. He cleared his throat quickly and sprang to his feet. "We should, uh… probably get the tent up before it gets dark. Can't have us fumbling around when the stars come out."
Gio chuckled under his breath as he pushed up to his feet, brushing ash from his hands. "Alright, boss. Let's get it done."
Together, they unrolled the tent and began setting it up. It was a small tent, with a double-layered fabric and a small lantern inside. They had already stashed their bags and supplies inside.
It was mid afternoon by the time they had everything ready. Juniper surveyed the tent with a satisfied nod. "Looks like we're good to go," he said.
Gio grinned. "And just in time. Want to go explore the area a little before the sun goes down?"
"Definitely!" Juniper answered. He grabbed his pack. "Let's see what's upstream. I think there's a waterfall or something that way."
They set off, following the river's gentle bend. The stream became narrower and faster, and the sound of rushing water filled the air. They came to a pool, and Juniper's eyes lit up.
"Look at this! We could swim here!"
"Or," Gio pointed out, "you could climb up and see where the water comes from."
He gestured to a steep ledge on the opposite side of the pool. Juniper eyed it "Alright. Lead the way."
Gio smiled, his bear ears perking up. He walked over to the base of the ledge, shifting into his beast form. His thick brown fur ruffled in the wind, and his powerful arms scooped Juniper up easily.
Juniper clung tightly to his fur, heart racing at the sudden, unexpected, yet very welcome contact. Gio carried him effortlessly across the river.
Juniper's eyes roamed over his bear form. Gio was bigger in this beastly form, his chest broad and muscular, his arms and shoulders lined with thick brown fur. Juniper could almost see the strength in his movements, his muscles rippling under the fur.
He tore his eyes away from Gio's form, realizing that he was standing inches away from the edge of the cliff. The river below rushed by in a blur of grey and white, the air smelled like earth and water.
"Alright, I'll put you down," Gio rumbled, setting Juniper down gently.
Juniper took a deep breath. "Thank you."
"Anytime," Gio said, a hint of amusement in his voice.