𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝖡𝗈𝗒𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗌𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗐𝗈𝗈𝖽𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗒 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝖾𝖿𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗆. 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆'𝗌 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗉𝗉𝗒 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌,𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝗆𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝗇.

"𝖸𝖾𝗌! 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍! 𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾." 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽

"𝖣𝗈𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝗌𝗈 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋." 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗋𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝗎𝖽,𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝖿𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗎𝗉 𝗋𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝖽𝗎𝗆𝗆𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗅𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗈𝖽𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍

𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖦𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗀𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝖿𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗋,𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌.

"𝖭𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋! 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖾." 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽
𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆

"𝖳𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌𝗇𝗍 𝖺 𝗀𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋."𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗈𝖿𝖿𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝖲𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆 𝗎𝗉, 𝖦𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 "𝖦𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖩𝗈𝖻 𝖻𝗈𝗒𝗌, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗍

"𝖸𝖾𝗌 𝖨 𝖺𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗅𝗒." 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗀𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗆 𝖻𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽

"𝖭𝗈 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝖼𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗒, 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽." 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗌𝗆𝗂𝗅𝖾

𝖦𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 "𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖨 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖬𝗒 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀."

"𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗏𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗈 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝖩𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌, 𝖨 𝗌𝖺𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖦𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌𝗈𝗇𝗌' 𝖽𝗂𝗌𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝖺𝗆 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾𝖽.

𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗍 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒." 𝖨𝗍 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝗅𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗂𝖼𝖾, 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗋

"𝖨'𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝖺𝗃𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗒."

𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖢𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗇 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖺 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗁 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗎𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗎𝗇𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅. 𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗐𝗈𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗉𝖺 𝗀𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽

The air here is crisp, and full of ‘what if’s’ I’m so close to the top Of this mountainous cliff

A rock shift A slight rift

A finger slip And a confidence dip

I can’t hold on I feel all wrong

All of a sudden my body is aching Hands are cramping, and muscles are breaking These are the last few breaths I’ll be taking This lifetime

I am going to fall All the way down From the highest ledge of all I slowly glance around

Nothing but rock above of me Nothing but sea below No way to survive that I see No where to hide, no where to go

No.

I open my eyes, and stare down at my gear This is where I belong, I feel safe here I gaze above at this thing I will climb And I know I am ready and now is the time

I take a breath and then two more No longer fearful, I leap from the earth’s floor

Happily rising up in the sky I feel like a bird, ready to fly

Cutting through clouds like a smooth, sharp knife
I am finally climbing this thing they call life

Jackie began to climb, giving it her all. So far, everything had been going fine. She took care of herself and knew what to do. She couldn’t believe it. Jackie was nearing the top, when, all of a sudden, she began to look down. Fear took over her. She knew the short distance left to the top would determine if she will finally make it. Jackie began to question her abilities. “Can I really do this?” She wondered. She thought about all the things that could happen to her, and began to tremble. Jackie knew she wanted help, but couldn’t find help. She was on her own, and felt hopeless. She thought about what could happen if she didn’t make it. Jackie could imagine other people wondering why she couldn’t make it to the top. She was shaking, and even feeling already a bit embarrassed. Jackie was starting to feel like she couldn’t do it, and that she couldn’t reach the top. She wanted to give up.

The snow blew in their faces with a large force. Ashina and her wolves pushed on through it.

"How much farther?" A wolf shouted above the loud howling wind.

"Just a little more!" Ashina called back.

Then, the snow stopped and the wolves walked the rest of the way out of the trees. The plains before looked much more peaceful than the forest they had walked through.

Ashina found a huge rock and ran to get up on it. "Wolves! We've traveled far. And I have a feeling we're going to find our new home soon."

Suddenly, Seiko stepped forward. "We can't just go based on what you're 'feeling', Ashina. We need to be told what's going to happen for sure."

Ashina took a deep breath. "I know, but there's not a truth we can live off of right now."

"There is." Seiko sneered. "The truth we can live on is that Ashina is weak, and we need a true leader. Me."

Bliez leaped at Seiko furiously. They rolled over until Seiko ended up on top but with a scratch over one eye.

Bliez growled up at him. "You're pathetic." He spat.

Seiko made a fake hurt face, then raised his head to all the wolves. "Who's with me?"

Instantly, about seven wolves out of ten stepped to Seiko's side. Bliez scrambled away to the outskirts.

The only wolves left were the Healing Wolf, Terra, Bliez, and a wolf pup. The pup's mother and father tried to call her over to them, but she turned her head away.

"I don't want to. Ashina is so much nicer than Uncle Seiko." The pup sniffed.

Ashina sighed. "You better go with your parents, pup. You need them more than you think."

But instead, the pup ran to the spot under her legs. Ashina widened her eyes but wasn't surprised. Every wolf who followed Seiko was cruel. The pup's parents glowered at Ashina.

"If the pup wants to stay with me, she stays with me," Ashina growled. "And no wolf can tell me otherwise."

The parents growled. Seiko sneered. "Whatever you say."

Ashina blocked the pup from his gaze. Bliez and Terra walked over and stood on either side of Ashina.

Seiko narrowed his eyes and led his new pack away. Ashina lowered her head when they disappeared.

"What am I going to do?" She whimpered.

Bliez carefully moved the pup out from under her. "The first thing you can do is not lose hope this far in."

"I agree with Bliez." Terra walked in front of Ashina and lifted her head. "And Seiko is a fool. His pack doesn't have me."

Ashina sighed. "I guess you're right."

"Are we sleeping here tonight?" Bliez asked from his spot close by with the pup tucked into the curve of his stomach.

Ashina turned to him and saw the pup. Then she looked up towards the sky. "If the pup is already sleeping, we should wait to move on. Terra, you can stay here to watch over Bliez and the pup. I'm going to try to get us some fresh rabbit."

Before either of them could protest, Ashina rushed away into the forest. Right away, she caught the smell of rabbit. She followed the smell and found a rabbit's den close to camp. Ashina rushed into it and leaped on a huge rabbit. She bit down and let the fresh blood sit on her tongue. Then she picked it up and trotted outside.

"Hey! That's our rabbit hole!" Something ran into her hard.

She skidded in the snow and hit a pile of it. Then she staggered to her feet. "What was that for?" Ashina growled at the four wolves in front of her. One female, one male, and two pups.

The male put down the rabbit he had taken. "You took our rabbit." He growled.

Ashina rolled her eyes. "Your rabbit? This forest belongs to no one."

The male lunged at her.

"Boris! Stop! She's probably just hungry!" The female shouted.

Boris stopped and skidded right in front of Ashina. "You're lucky."

Ashina sniffed.

Boris walked back to his family.

The she-wolf took cautious steps toward Ashina. She sniffed all the way.

"You aren't from here, are you?" She asked.

Ashina shook her head. "No. My camp was covered in an avalanche. My pack and I are traveling to find a new home. But, most of them just left under a stronger wolf's leadership. Now I'm left with my mate, my Healing Wolf, Terra, and a pup who left her parents to stay with me."

The she-wolf looked startled. She went back to Boris and started whispering to him. Eventually, she came back to Ashina.

"We would like to join your pack. Our pups have it hard. Boris and I agreed that joining a pack is the best option a while ago. Then we found you."

𝖲𝖾𝖻𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗄𝗒𝖾

"𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝖽𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗐."

𝖲𝗄𝗒𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗎𝗇𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 " 𝖸𝖾𝗌, 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗌𝗍. 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝖽𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗆𝖾."

"𝗐𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗇." 𝖲𝗄𝗒𝖾 𝖺𝖽𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄

𝖲𝖾𝖻𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖺𝗒 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇𝖺 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗎𝗍

"𝖹𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖩𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌 𝖱𝖺𝖽𝖼𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖿𝖾! 𝖦𝖨𝖵𝖤 𝖬𝖤 𝖡𝖠𝖢𝖪 𝖬𝖸 𝖯𝖧𝖮𝖭𝖤!!" 𝖠𝗇𝗇𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗋𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖹𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗋𝖺𝗇 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗇

"𝖮𝗈𝗁! 𝖠𝗇𝗇𝖺 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗀𝗂𝗋𝗅𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽." 𝖹𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗉𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗒 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾

𝖲𝖾𝖻𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗄𝗒 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 "𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗎𝗉" 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝖲𝗄𝗒𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗇

“Okay who wants to explain what’s going on first?” Skye said then crossed his arms

“Anna is in love with Ve-.”

“Don’t you dare! She’s just a friend.” Annabel said while trying to grab her phone,while Zephyr was younger then her he grow up taller than Anna

“Zephyr, please give Anna back her phone.”

Zephyr reluctantly handed Anna her phone back

“Now get ready you don’t want to be late for school.”

“Yes dad.” They both said then ran to their rooms to pack their bags Skye went back into the living room

“Teenagers right?” Sebastian said while eating a bagel

“Don’t get too comfortable Love, your picking them up after school.” Skye responded

“You all right man? Hank asked. “You good?”

“I’m good. Nothing can ruin my shine. Some people need to walk on bare earth to be grounded but I need sheer rock to get lifted, bruh. You know what I mean?” Alan said.

Serene blue crags sheltered by bare maples, Birdsboro Quarry was Alan’s second home. He met Molly here. That thought left Alan exposed. A hollowness seeped into Alan as he reached on his next hold.

“You don’t have to tell me. I know exactly what you’re saying. Just the other night my girl was bringing me down and I had to shut that down quick,” Hank said. “Stay lifted.”

Knowing his clueless client Hank would natter on aimlessly for fifteen minutes gave Alan some much needed breathing room. Alan was far from good. He willed his hands to not shake. Free climbing was his dream, a challenge both mentally and physically. But for the first time he wanted to hide from the boulders.

Alan’s fingers found purchase and he clung tight to this small victory. It would’ve be a perfect day for climbing if somebody hadn’t snitched to Molly. Her anger was in his brain blazing down his nerves. Eleven years and two kids, how could she turn on him over a bit of fun that didn’t mean anything. Molly was his rock. A tumble of loose gritstone startled Alan back to the present.

“I told Jill her online meddlings were—ouch my head!”

“Sure. Now Hank I can feel you getting anxious. Tighten your core and control your breathe. I got you, man. You’re tethered to me for safety. You can do this.”

Alan gave Hank his most reassuring smile. Hank was just god awful. Alan would rather climb with a Steinway strapped to his back than deal with this knob end. With years of experience and training, Alan knew he didn’t just teach climbing. He taught confidence. Today Alan would give confidence he didn’t have to a well-paying moron. After a few deep breaths, his client mirrored his own position.

“See I told you bro. You got this. Always bring your troubles to the mountains. Draw on our lessons from the hangboard, dude,” Alan said.

Alan could tell Hank was eating up this positivity crap up. Hank started blathering on again about his annoying wife again. If Molly would just answer the damn phone Alan knew he could convince her to see sense. They could get a sitter and climb together. Alan knew he could convince her to see they were stronger together, mountain strong. Throwing away their whole life over a few random hookups was just wrong. Willing the world to stop spinning, Alan shut his eyes and listened to his own erratic heart.

“Warning wives about cheaters just feeds into her insecurities. Things weren’t always good between us. She finally agreed to work on us. We are going to start climbing together, Alan,” Hank said. “Isn’t that amazing? You sure you’re okay.”

“Never better. We’re going to have to cut this lesson a little short. I got a family thing,” Alan said,

I used to think it was nothing to Scale a cliff And jump

Propelled upward by curiosity and enthusiasm A desire for adventure And to show off for the sun

I loved it It was fun so Up and off the cliff I would run But one day growing up All the sudden I was done

The wind felt heavier The ledge felt sharper The eyes felt judgier My body jiggled my Confidence away Handholds crumbling Maybe it’s something I ate today I’ll go home but Don’t worry I’ll be fine You all should stay

Away Trust me it’s better This way To this day There’s nothing that keeps me inside Like a sunny day

And though today I would still say My favorite thing to do Is jumping off a ledge Into the lake

I don’t do it Because it’s not as refreshing If all I can think about Is the size of the splash In my wake

As Alex hung precariously from the sheer rock face, his fingers gripping the cold, unforgiving edges of the granite, doubt crept into his mind. It was an emotion he rarely entertained, especially in a place where confidence was as essential as oxygen.

The wind whistled through the narrow crevices, carrying the distant sound of birds and the muted rush of a waterfall somewhere below. The sun cast long shadows on the craggy surface, emphasizing the dizzying height that separated him from solid ground.

Alex was renowned for his rock-climbing prowess. He had conquered some of the most challenging peaks, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible. The adrenaline, the thrill of the ascent, the feeling of mastery – these were the elements that fueled his passion. Yet, in the midst of this daring climb, doubt wrapped its tendrils around his thoughts.

His heart raced, not from the physical exertion but from an unexpected internal struggle. Gripped by uncertainty, he questioned the very foundation of his confidence. What if the rock he clung to was more treacherous than it seemed? What if gravity suddenly betrayed him, and the laws of nature proved harsher than his skills?

The sheer absurdity of these thoughts clashed with the rational, analytical mind that had guided him through countless climbs. Sweat mingled with the chalk on his hands, making them slippery. His breath quickened as he wrestled with the unsettling feeling that the mountain, once a trusted ally, had become an unpredictable adversary.

He couldn't afford to be paralyzed by doubt; not here, not now. But the questions persisted, echoing in his mind like a haunting refrain. The exposure, the vulnerability of hanging on the side of a cliff, amplified the doubt, turning it into a formidable opponent.

Summoning every ounce of mental fortitude, Alex tried to focus on the familiar rhythm of his breathing, the steady beat of his heart. He sought refuge in the muscle memory that had guided him through countless climbs before. Each handhold, each foothold, was a testament to his skill, a reassuring anchor against the tide of uncertainty.

With deliberate determination, he forced himself to ignore the nagging doubts and concentrate on the climb. The rock felt solid beneath his fingertips, the rhythm of the ascent gradually drowning out the disquiet in his mind. As he reached the summit, he paused to catch his breath, the doubt now a distant memory, replaced by the triumph of overcoming an unexpected challenge – not just in the rock, but within himself.

The only way to do that would have been for a few days before I would have a full recovery but then it was just too late for that and! The end!

Jack was rappelling along a red cliff, zig-zagging with the wind that whistled just to tell him he was looking pretty. He laughed to himself.

“What’s funny?” Dylan shouted the question. When Jack got a good look at his face, he knew something was wrong.

“Jack, I’m sorry.” Dylan’s mouth pinched down like he was going to cry, while his eyes shifted in fear. “I didn’t know I’d be so stupid as to be afraid of going to Hell, but…”

“Dylan, calm down,” Jack interrupted, confident Dylan was having some kind of nervous attack that he could handle. After all, it was in all their best interest to calmly proceed down the mountain.

“I’m afraid to die,” Dylan confessed.

“Now?” Jack asked incredulously. It was a beautiful day, and the way down was obvious.

“I did something to the knots!” Dylan cried. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how it would feel.”

Jack felt adrenaline surge through his system. He couldn’t make sense of Dylan’s words, as the confession was too shocking. Dylan’s body language was so sickeningly shot with fear and loathing, that the words “I’m sorry” settled in his system like rat poison.

“I’m sorry,” he cried again. “I know the rope won’t hold.” He hadn’t known his paranoia would torment him too much keep his secret.

Jack stared, frozen, at the cliff wall. It was a straight vertical slab for as far down as he could see. No natural anchors. He’d have to drill and hope the rope held until he was done.

He ignored Dylan as he reached back for his drill. To his surprise, he got sewing-machine legs. A couple deep breaths steadied them, but he had to consciously force himself not to shake. It was like springing a leak in a boat. Too much fear could sink him. It didn’t help that he’d picked up a strong instinct that he was going to die, that nothing would stop it, like there were black bird messengers in the peripheral of his vision saying “he killed you.”

Damn, it was like some dread countdown had started. He was shot through with anxiety. There was nothing he could accept about Dylan’s act of malice, and his body was holding onto negative energy he couldn’t act upon.

He was not one to suffer the acid pains of outrageous doubt for long. He loved adrenaline rushes and little notices that he could shortly be dealing with the unknown that was the afterlife—to which he said, “not now,” and felt all the better for being strong enough to accomplish his will. He just didn’t worry about it. Everyone died eventually, and eventually had never been on his schedule.

Today was different. Dylan had tipped the scales and put death on his calendar. That sounded like an invitation death wouldn’t refuse.

A tumult of wind whisked him into the side of the mountain, and he thought that damning black bird pronouncement, “never more, never again, now is your time to die.” The rope suddenly fell away from the anchor. If he could cry it would have been in telling the marvelous rock goodbye. He never imagined anything more beautiful than a mountain in the sun, or more fulfilling than climbing it.

There’s misery worse than pain, and Jack didn’t know it for long, just like he didn’t know doubt or fear for long.

Dylan screamed. He was just beginning his journey of misery.