The Otori Prophecy

L - Surviving the Mountain

I stepped, weary, my body threatening to give out. Another step. I could barely tell where we were anymore. We were surrounded by mountains and snow and ice. All the slate mountain sides were covered in ice, icicles hung from overhangs, threatening to destroy our narrow path. I could feel ice on my eyelashes, my hair frozen to the hood of my cloak.

Most of my clothes had become stiff, hardened by the cold. Many times I had wondered why my skin hadn't followed. Mathias and Ludens were in the same position as me, begging whatever deity was out there to be able to feel the warmth on our skin once more.

Had it been days? Weeks? Hours? I couldn't tell. The passing of time in the mountains felt different, unable to tell what day it was. I'm sure multiple had passed, the sky had become light and dark. None of us had spoken since the start of this hike, save for checking if we were alive, or warning of gaps in the path. The blizzard had cleared, leaving us with views of sheer faced mountains, stretching intimidatingly above us. One noise would bring about an avalanche that could bury us alive. Another few steps and I was crossing a bridge made of ice between two of the mountains. I was sick of seeing them. The same landscape, the same colours, the same frostbite inducing cold. I longed to see the blue of the sky and the green of meadows.

I found myself coming out of a stupor, suspended over a sheer drop by thick ice. Ludens must've made it across, Mathias following shortly after. I couldn't help but admire the deep blue of the ice I stood on, the way the clouds moved far below me. They were waiting for me, shivering on the opposite ledge. I think Mathias or Ludens must've called to me, their mouths moving but I couldn't hear it. I stared down at the clouds, the call of the void becoming tempting.

Another few steps and a sickening crack resounded through the valley of ice and stone, echoing through my ears. I was convinced that I could even feel the sound reverberate through me. I looked down at my foot, underneath it the crack had originated, webbing across the ice. Tentatively I took another step, another crack. I stilled, heart pounding, the survival fuelled fear sparking to life, sudden warmth flaring across my body. "Taika," Mathias called. His voice whipped around, carried by the wind, echoing. I looked up, arms flared to my sides to keep my balance.

"Can you lower yourself for me, I know, it's scary but it'll help," he said. I shook my head. He's crazy. It'll break and I'll fall. Fear had paralysed me as I stared over the edge of the bridge, the call of the void fading as the fear consumed me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to even out my breathing. It was already hard to breathe up here, my lungs struggling to draw air. "Taika, please, just focus on my voice," Mathias called again. His voice was louder, carrying an urgency.

I nodded, showing that I could hear him. My body didn't respond, frozen in my spot. "Taika, lower yourself," he ordered. A sob ripped through my chest as I did so, a popping came from the ice below my feet. Slowly I lowered myself into a crouch, the ice groaning at my shifting weight. "Good, just a bit lower," Mathias called, his voice encouraging. I moved to my knees.

"Can you lay down for me," Mathias coaxed. I shook my head, finding myself frozen in place again.

The cold ice bit into my palms, stinging my skin. What now? I could feel my own body tremoring like the earth. Each breath seemed to bring a new wave of fear, fretting that I would end up breaking the ice even further. "Okay, can you stay in that position then," Mathias' voice was soothing, "now start crawling."

I moved one knee forwards at a time, shuffling my way along the icy bridge. One wrong move and it could all collapse. A wind picked up, flaring out my cloak, brushing tiny bits of ice against my face, it felt like tiny knives slicing my skin. I had almost reached the ledge where Mathias was waiting, the sound of cracking becoming more pronounced, as another tremor ripped through the earth. "TAIKA RUN!"