They were walking up a loose stone path, which, before them, bent left and upwards, to avoid an outcrop of rocks layered in moss. Ernst, a pace behind Maria, saw her walk down towards the rock face. She placed her palm against it, the stone cool and, without removing it, turned to smile.

“It feels almost wet, come feel”

 “We must be getting high, for rocks like these” He said, walking to her over the uneven grass and flaked stones.
Maria looked around. Across from the outcrop, the wind danced with long grass which climbed a range of smaller mountains into the distance before being obscured by a soft ridge close to them. Her hand left the rock, as she walked up the ridge. Ernst had his hand on the rock when she turned back towards him.

“I can see the forest, we are already so far away from it.” She turned back to the valley. “The lake as well, beyond that”    *** I can put choice specific stuff here ***

She stood for a while on the horizon, looking down, as Ernst felt the cool rock and touched the moss that clung to it. He absently ran his fingers across the rock, feeling it cool and uneven. The rock did feel damp to the touch.

“We should carry on, we still have a way to go” He said.

His hand caught, jerking his attention back to the rock.  A tight clump of moss fall in dust, bouncing against the rock, to the ground. He paused for a moment before looking back to the stone. He again ran his fingers over the spot from which the moss fell, course and sandy. He saw Maria still at the edge.

“Maria” He called to her, causing her to turn.

“Yes?” She replied.

“We should carry on”

“Aww” She sighed, putting on a sad face. “Ok, I guess the view will only get better” She smiled and turned back to the valley.