Morituro

Naturally

"This is too far!" Whines Dimitri as we hike up the mountain. I look back at him , his brown skin glistening with sweat.

"Don't be such a baby. You gym all the time." Julian rolls his eyes. He's in front of us all. He's either really fit or insanely determined.

"Jewels, shouldn't you be taking it easy ? You know."Asks Val her voice laced with concern. He looks back at her, his expression blank, and walks even faster up the mountain.

Nearing our destination the sound of faint swooshing could be heard over the loud and slightly obnoxious voices of Dimitri and Lucca. When we eventually reach our destination the view is enchanting. The sound of falling water is overpowering and not a voice could be heard. Not that anyone would even dare to speak since each mind and pair of eyes is solely focused on the waterfall. Drinking it all in as if it will all simply disappear if one eye is diverted or one syllable is spoken. As childish as it may seem I pinch the soft skin of the upper part of my hand. I flinch. It's reality. It's my reality.

"Magnifico!" Shouts Juliano at the top of his lungs. His rich voice spreads across the landscape adding to the beauty rather than disturbing it.

"So are we jumping in or what?" Lucca questions. His eyes sparkle with wonder as he points towards the plunge pool down below created by the powerful force of the waterfall. I'm not going to lie it's pretty daunting. You never know what lies beneath the rushing waters.

Just before I can think anything more I see a determined Juliano dive bravely into the water. The water swirls around him as he is encased in it.

When he resurfaces he looks up at us expectantly, waiting for us to all dive in. So I do. I'm not sure what has come over me but, without thinking I just do it. I'm actually an adventurous person but it felt as if my body did it on its own without a direction from my brain.

Exhilaration and adrenaline courses through my veins. The cold water hit me full force like jumping off a high rise building meeting the hard city streets below.

A little less painful though.

After rubbing water out of my eyes. I look at Juliano as he stares at me intently.

"Bellissimo." He breathes, his voice sends shivers down my spine. He sees my reaction and a small smile appears on his face. His dark locks are wet and water beads trickle down his face. Just as he reaches his hand out towards my face I quickly turn away just as gigantic splash happens before me. I cough because of all the water I inhale.

"It's s-so c-cold!" Lucca shouts at the top of his lungs shivering dramatically.

I feel like shoving his head under the water and holding him there for doing that. But I won't, maybe.

His voice is similar to Juliano's , more youthful though, although Lucca is only two years younger than his brother.

His voice reminds me of a small child that craves attention.Like he's always in second place and this is the only way he'll get recognition- by being an obnoxious little twerp.

Once everyone had dived in we swim towards the land. My legs and arms aching from all the strenuous activity but the ice cold water prevents me from over heating.

Atlast we reach sweet, sweet land I throw myself on the floor. Panting like a dog and unable to move as my limbs are numb.

Which could be due to three things. The first being the obvious physical activity that my weak muscles are definitely not used to.

The second is the the freezing water- I just hope I don't get hypothermia. I will verbally destroy someone.

The final thing is not actually a thing but rather a person who is looking quite ravishing at the moment. I think of his name rolling off my tongue. I think of it since I don't think saying it out loud will make me look very sane.