league of the Asbronian dragons- on hold

4. discovery- part 2

Aden ran his hand along the jagged surface of the Krypton Mountains as he walked. It felt like cool marble bumping under his fingers like when you run your hand along a metal fence only not as consistent, it felt like eternal, unyielding power. It felt indestructible, unyielding and immortal!

Maybe it was wrong to think so boldly of a mountain but it has hidden secrets for thousands of years and that is power!

But power is an empty force that surrounds you, few people are happy with power alone and if they are shallow, they search for more until it destroys them.

With great power comes great responsibility so they say.

But that's just with the power that comes from others; the power inside you is another thing entirely.

He came across a spot that looked good for climbing, there was a nice wedge in the mountains with plenty of grip; taking a few steps back Aden measured the contraction and sturdiness. It looked fairly stable, it was a difficult climb for about 30m and then it seemed to follow along the mountain at a steady assent before disappearing over a ridge. He felt like a challenge and this seemed a good place to start!

Dumping his bag on the ground and sliding his back down the rock into a sitting position; he pulled out my oil clothed package and unpacked the contents; two apples, a chunk of bread, some honey and a slice of fruit cake; Aunt Bertha's specialty in Aden's opinion but all of her cooking is good!

Starting with an apple he pulled out his knife and cut slices off, one at a time and ate them.

It was hard for him to keep my euphoria down but Aden needed to eat. He pulled out the bread and honey and tore the bread into bite sized pieces, lathering each one with honey before wrapping the bread around a piece of apple and popping it in my mouth. He continued in this manner until each piece was all gone. To finish it off Aden ate the fruit cake greedily but decided to eat the second apple on the walk home. You know how exertion can be, fine one moment, starving the next, better safe than sorry!

Standing up, I pulled my backpack on after removing my gloves and tying the rope to the back of my belt where it wouldn't get in the way while I was climbing but where I could still reach it easily if I needed to. I had the basic things any hiker/explorer would have on their belt, rope, a grappling hook, a knife, a water bottle and a torch even though I didn't think I would need the torch; still, just in case.

I approached the base of the mountain and reached upwards for a handhold, I found a foothold to the left and a handhold right above me. I proceeded to pull myself up the crude, angular surface eagerly.

It felt good to do a hardcore physical challenge for fun, handhold after foothold, foothold after handhold. I was covered in sweat and only a few metres under the wedge which continued along the precipice. Two choices presented themselves to me, I could go to the side and climb around and over or I could choose the path where I would be half upside down and on an angle before I have to pull myself over the bulge. I want the challenge but I'm not stupid. I grabbed the rope and grappling hook and proceeded to swing it out and up to get a hold.

Once, twice, three, got a hold!

I pulled on the rope to make sure I had a good grip. I grabbed a handhold and a foothold and tried to use the rope to the best of my advantage to manoeuvre myself upwards. Something grated and I slipped slightly, I looked upwards; this cant be good!

The whole rope came loose and the hook fell against the rock I had just climbed up, the rope went with it and so did I!

I tried to grope for a hold before I could fall too far, everything seemed to slow down. The skin on my hands came off every time I tried to catch a hold and it left some nasty grazes. Abruptly the rope pulled up and I was suspended in the air swaying wildly, disorientated and breathing heavily.