Delirium - Fire & Ice Trilogy Skylar Book 1

Chapter 11 - The Mountain People

Once they were all back together they all followed Scott as he led them away from the buildings and down a muddy path. Annoyed by walking on mud again Farren continuously moaned about it but no one else seemed bothered so she shut up. They passed through a meadow where the grass grew as tall as they were; George tried to jump up high enough to see over the top but didn't quite manage it. A few flowers still peeked over the top despite the worsening cold, their petals slowly drooping away and there were many that were already just storks. Ahead were the beginnings of a mountain range, the largest in the whole state or so they claimed. With every step closer it seemed to get bigger and taller and steeper.

"Stick together it's easy to get lost in this" Scott warned as the path twisted through the high grass, they all bunched up till they could hold onto each other. The grass bent in the wind but Skylar barely felt it and for once she didn't feel cold.

They left the meadow and began to climb up the mountain side; the path appeared to zigzag up the side and was split into three parts which looked far easier than it was. The first part was fairly easy, just like a like a normal path but steeper and extremely muddy which George enjoyed making into odd shapes but no one else did to his disappointment. Then the path just got steeper and steeper till they hit the second part where they had to climb up slippery rocks each one seeming bigger than the last. A few were almost as big as George who struggled greatly with this part despite gaining help from everyone. These rocks weren't the forgiven type, if you fell onto them it would hurt very much and you probably wouldn't get back up but thankfully they made it up without any serious incidents. The third and final part was naturally the hardest; it consisted of a mixture of the previous parts and the recent weather had turned it into a nightmare of mud and ice. Scott and Farren managed it all with relative ease annoying the others who were all struggling though Skylar did notice the climbing was getting easier. Naturally Oliver was always there if any of them needed help especially George who was seriously struggling, being shorter and weaker than everyone else made climbing the steep rocks a major problem especially when they were as tall as him. Oliver gave his bags to Scott who almost dropped them, Skylar did the same with Farren who managed to hold them then the pair went back to help George. Between them they made impressive progress, moving fast and swift they reached back up with the others. Scott handed back Oliver's bags with a look of disbelief. Oliver made a quick quip about working out sending the pair into hysterics although it wasn't all that funny. However still a way back Annie was struggling on alone having refused any help, she wanted to prove she could do it on her own and that she didn't need anyone else. In the end though she had to admit defeat and ask for Skylar's help, she was rather adamant she didn't want anyone else. Together they made it up gaining a rhythm with each step and when they reached the others she beamed brightly, something Skylar thought she couldn't do. The last and final stretch was the hardest, the steepest, covered in mud and littered with rocks of varying sizes. Working together they persevered, pulling each other along the path and helping them climb every rock. It seemed to go on forever, step after step, rock after rock yet there was still more to come.

Finally and gratefully they reached the ridge, from here they could see for a very long way. Skylar noticed that the mountain ridge was similar to the buildings in that it was a semi-circle, she didn't know why but it made her smile. On all sides were very steep climbs as they had just experienced, far too steep for any ambling creature to attempt. The path led down into a sort of basin, a large flat area below the main ridge and much to their joy there was little mud and it had only small manageable rocks to contain with.

A little way down the path was a line of tents with many people milling about; they briefly looked up at the newcomers then went back to their business. Scott was already well on his way down so they followed him, each of them amazed at the extent of it all and how they got all the equipment there. Opposite the tents was a large circle of logs with a fire pit sat in the middle, a few people were already sorting one out despite the wind. A hunting party was just returning and it had obviously been successful as each man was carrying something though Skylar couldn't see what, they all seemed to be dressed like Scott but each had their own style. Reaching the bottom Scott finally told them about this place, a man approached but he was not concerned with the newcomers as he was concentrating on something behind them. Nonetheless Scott introduced him as he passed.