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"Woah... I thought it was just big because I was so small but... it's still a big place."
Durin stared with wide eyes as he laid eyes on the snowy landscape of Dragonspine. While he had been here a few times back when he was still "mini", it felt completely different looking at it in a human body.
Albedo had finally decided he was stable enough in his new body to finally go here with him. With the terrain, Albedo had just wanted to make sure that Durin would be able to navigate it properly and not trip over his feet. He wasn't allowed to fly everywhere anymore, after all.
"Big indeed. And also dangerous. The snow can easily confuse you." Albedo replied, "Watch your step. The path might not always be where you think it is. I know it well enough I could probably do it with my eyes closed, but you very much can't."
Durin nodded. "Okay. I'll be careful."
Albedo took the lead after that, guiding Durin into Dragonspine. Durin looked around, admiring the way the snow looked on everything. It was such a contrast to the rest of Mondstadt. It was amazing how different it was while not being that far at all from the town. He didn't know if he would ever get used to the sight.
Durin curiously bent down and poked a finger into the snow. He quickly pulled it out, shaking his hand to try and rid himself of the sensation.
"Cold." Durin shivered.
"Yes. It is quite cold here. And it won't get much warmer than what you feel now." Albedo responded.
"But the snow looks so soft. Like a pillow." Durin stood back up straight, moving to catch up to Albedo. "I wanted to dive in it sometimes when I was flying around but with how small I was I got scared I'd be buried in the snow if I tried.
"It is soft during fresh snowfall, but when it sits for a while, it gets a bit harder. Like what we're walking on now." Albedo nodded to the path.
"Oh. So when it settles in, it gets hard?"
"For a basic explanation, yes."
They continued walking, Albedo occasionally pointing out some things like landmarks Durin could use to find his way around. Durin listened closely, but his attention kept traveling elsewhere at every new sight. He couldn't help but want to see everything this place had to offer him.
"Woah... that's a big pile of snow." Durin stopped in his tracks as he spied the snow pile just off the path.
"Probably from the wind blowing it that way." Albedo said.
Without another word, Durin walked over and jumped into the pile. He let out a laugh as the snow was sent everywhere.
"Durin..." Albedo shook his head, though despite his attempt to look stern, a smile was forming on his face all the same.
"Snow is so fun! Especially now that this body can play in it better!" Durin said with glee, throwing snow into the air with his hands as he laid on his back in the flattened snow pile.
"Will you get out of that?" Albedo sighed. "You're going to get your clothes all wet."
"But I wanna play!" Durin protested. He sudden grinned and grabbed a handful of snow, throwing it in Albedo's direction.
Albedo was able to step back in time to dodge it. "You need to pack the snow into a ball if you want to do that more effectively."
"Huh? Like..." Durin sat up, grabbing snow with both hands and trying to crush it together.
"You need harder snow. That's too soft to stick." Albedo walked over. "Come on. Let's find better snow and I'll show you since you insist on playing around."
"Really?" Durin's eyes sparkled with joy as he quickly jumped to his feet. He shook his body, knocking off the snow from him to the best of his ability.
"Come on. Normally there's a place up ahead that's good for gathering snow like that." Albedo held out a hand.
Durin took his hand, practically vibrating with joy as they walked. It was only a bit away that Albedo stopped and bent down.
"Here. This snow should work better." Albedo grabbed some and made it into a ball. "Like this."
Durin's smile grew wider and he grabbed some snow and copied Albedo. He proudly held out his slightly mis-shaped ball to Albedo.
"I did it!"
"You did."
"So... what do you do with these?"
"You throw them at each other. It's a game called a snowball fight."
Durin's smile turned slightly mischievous as he back up. Albedo braced himself as Durin threw the snowball, hitting him in the chest. Albedo had a look that he definitely was regretting teaching Durin that.
"You throw one at me?" Durin tilted his head.
Albedo registered he had in fact also made a snowball and then tossed it at Durin, hitting him in a similar spot.
"Seems like a fun game." Durin said. "Can we play it seriously someday?"
"Sure." Albedo hesitantly agreed.
Durin bound back over to him. "So, anything else fun I can do in the snow?"
"There's plenty of things. Some people build things out of snow. You could make a snow angel."
"Snow angel?"
Albedo took a deep breath. "Let's find an open area."
They walked off the path into a flat spot. Albedo laid down on the snow and demonstrated how to make a snow angel.
"Like this. I don't exactly get why this is appealing, but lots of people seem to like doing it." Albedo said as he got back up and dusted the snow from his clothes.
"Ooh. Pretty." Durin said before plopping himself down nearby and copying Albedo.
"Glad you see the appeal."
Durin got back to his feet and admired his snow angel. He smiled at Albedo.
"Alright. Have you gotten this out of your system? Can we get back to business now?" Albedo asked.
"Oh... uh, yeah." Durin's smile turned into an awkward one.
He had gotten a little sidetracked. But the snow was just so fun to play with! Who could blame him?
"Come on then. We do have a bit of a hike still." Albedo offered a hand.
Durin took his hand and they got back on the path. They began to ascend the mountain with Albedo returning to pointing out landmarks and the likes.
Though, every now and again Durin would spot a snow pile and jump in it. Albedo gave up trying to redirect the behavior elsewhere and just resigned to lugging a hyper child slowly up the mountain with a million pit stops.