Kaelruk stretched one long leg out to the side while the other folded beneath him, easing into the motion until the muscles along his thigh and hip began to protest. He held the tension for a breath before shifting smoothly, rolling his weight onto the opposite leg and repeating the stretch with the same deliberate control. His warm‑up neared its end, and he could already feel the familiar readiness settling into his limbs.

He did not have much time before he was expected elsewhere. There was still enough time for one final run.

Rising to his feet, he bounced lightly on the balls of them, his posture loose and relaxed. With a single effortless spring he vaulted upward onto the broad branch overhead. It dipped beneath his weight, swayed, and then settled again. He stood upon it with the easy balance of someone who had lived his entire life in the canopy.

The challenge waiting for him sounded deceptively simple. He needed to cross the forest from one edge to the other without touching the ground. There was only one condition. He could use only one leg at a time. If he launched from the right, he had to land on the left. If he launched from the left, he had to land on the right. He was not permitted to alternate feet on the same branch, nor to steady himself with the other leg. His arms were to remain idle if he could manage it, and his tongue was to stay inside his mouth. Today belonged entirely to his legs.

Kaelruk’s golden eyes swept across the endless canopy. A slow grin spread across his broad mouth, revealing rows of tiny ivory teeth. He lifted one foot from the branch and allowed his body to compress, gathering strength.

In the next instant he released it.

The branch whipped downward beneath the force of his departure before springing back as he vanished into the trees. He struck one branch, then another, then three more in the span of a heartbeat. Each landing lasted only long enough for a single foot to kiss bark before he launched again, ricocheting through the canopy in a streak of mottled green. His arms remained loose at his sides despite every instinct urging him to catch himself. His tongue never flicked free. The challenge belonged to his legs alone.

The forest blurred around him. Branches flashed past. Leaves brushed his shoulders. The wind pressed against his skin as he moved faster and faster, each bound flowing seamlessly into the next. He felt the rhythm settle into him, a pulse of motion that carried him forward with exhilarating certainty.

The edge of the forest appeared ahead. Beyond the final branch lay a gentle grassy hill, sunlight spilling across it in warm sheets. His grin widened as he prepared for the last jump. He planted his foot, ready to launch.

The bark peeled away beneath his toes.

Rather than fight the slip, Kaelruk tucked instinctively into a tight ball. His shoulder clipped the final branch with a heavy thump before he tumbled free of the canopy. He rolled once, then twice, then three times across the grassy hillside before finally coming to rest flat on his back.

For a long moment he simply lay there, staring up through the swaying leaves overhead. Then he laughed. The sound rose deep from his chest, genuine and unrestrained, echoing back into the trees.

He sat up and rubbed absently at the shoulder that had struck the branch. His gaze drifted back toward the winding route he had carved through the canopy. He had come close. He did not have time for another attempt today. Next time, he would succeed. Once he could complete the run consistently, he would make the challenge harder.

With one final glance toward the forest, Kaelruk pushed himself to his feet and brushed the grass from his trousers. The meeting would not wait. Walking would get him there, but walking offered little challenge.

He bent his knees and sprang forward. The hillside vanished beneath him as he landed atop a weathered boulder, then launched again. Each effortless bound carried him across the landscape while the afternoon breeze washed over his bare green skin. A low, contented croak rumbled quietly in his throat.

He leapt over a fallen log, then a narrow stream, then onto the branch of a sturdy oak. He scarcely paused before springing onward once more. One final bound carried him to the crest of a low rise overlooking the estate.

He settled into a crouch atop a broad stone and let his gaze drift across the weathered walls, the dry moat, and the wooden bridge that spanned it. Though worn by time, the place still held a quiet dignity. His attention lingered on the carriage waiting outside the entrance. Someone had arrived before him. That was good. His journey ended there.

Dropping lightly from the stone, Kaelruk made the remainder of the approach on foot. Whatever challenge the journey had offered was behind him now. This was someone else’s home.

When he reached a respectful distance from those gathered, he lowered into a comfortable squat and pressed his index and middle fingers lightly against his throat. After a brief pause he rose again, letting his hand fall back to his side.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Kaelruk. Thank you for having me.”