＊ ｆｔ ／ ｍａｘ:
ever since max had made this town his home he had looked forward to the hike every year. he loved celebrating nature and the magical and whimsical aspect to the legend of the town made it all the more exciting. he eagerly had packed his camera and a picnic to share with griffin and others once they reached their final destination. walking through the forest, his eyes took in the massive and old trees who’s leaves were blocking the late day sun, the sounds of the animals calling to one another or moving through the brush was pulling max’s attention in a lot of directions, except the right one.
navigation hadn’t really been his strong suit to begin with. he had seen some wild honeysuckle growing from a bush and stopped a moment to inhale the sweet scent of the flower, they were in bloom and he could have stayed there all day sniffing them. how he was tempted to pick one but didn’t want to disturb the plant.
griffin’s voice brings him back to their reality and he nods firmly quickening his pace to sync up with his roommate, “sorry! its just i had to stop and smell the flowers they always seem to smell so much better out there,” he says with a grin, “hmm how much longer until we reach everyone else?” max asks oblivious to just how long it was taking them to arrive to their destination.
THEY EXISTED IN DIFFERENT WORLDS THAT had them stuck in their own minds from time to time. insisting that these two boys be navigating their own way up the hill was a task unlike all others, but griffin was determined to make his one night off worth it. it proved to be much more challenging than the bartender had first assumed, and whilst he was sure he could get them to the top eventually it didn’t hide the fact that he felt horribly lost in woods that were supposed to feel like home.
«well, in this tempo we’ll never get there,» griffin mocked though he meant none of it. max had become like a brother to him and seeing him happy was one of the most important things for griffin too. «it’s pretty far up,» he announced as he glanced at his phone and back to the other male. «i’m guessing at least half an hour ?»
max hitches his backpack strap up a bit higher on his shoulders glancing down at griffin’s phone screen at the compass that is displayed on the screen, “i didn’t know you knew how to read a compass?” when it came to nature between the two of them it had always been max who had been more inclined to being in the outdoors over his roommate, however griffin did have a tendency to surprise max in more than one way. especially when he offered to lead their hike uphill.
he put his faith in griffin because he knew that he would not lead them astray in their journey. max nudges griffin lightly in the side with his elbow. “well then slowpoke, if we wanna make it before dark we should pick up our pace, whats it they say? knees to chest? pump that iron, suck in that gut.” he says patting his stomach as he marches in place.
