The House in the Crags (Sockathan)

One ~ The Peak of Swallow Hill

It was nearing nightfall when the land suddenly leveled, announcing to Jonathan that the precipice was close.

He knew he still had a fair bit of walking before he actually reached it, but that didn't stem his determination. He, as well as everyone who had trekked Swallow Hill, knew that there was no way to tell whether or not he was moving in the right direction until he arrived to his destination, and the fact that this particular trip had taken him longer than usual had Jonathan worried that he was walking in circles. That in itself was terrifying, as he could wander for days, even weeks, before realizing he was far off track, and even then he would be beyond help for he hadn't brought a cell, and the chances of stumbling into another hiker were the same as getting swept away by a blizzard in the desert.

Despite his face being wet with sweat from climbing onward in the heat of summer and being otherwise miserable and exhausted, he smiled. Not a complete grin, but rather a small, happy smile that barely lingered on his face for more than two seconds. Inside, however, he was bubbling - it was my first hike alone, and I was going to make it to the top, he thought to himself.

He found himself filled with relief when the thick vegetation began to thin, and the great sky started to poke its way through the canopy. A new energy filled Jonathan, and he hiked steadily despite his aching legs, hefted his heavy supply bag into a less droopy position on his shoulders, and leveled his eyes with the horizon rather than the ground beneath his feet.

~

An hour later, give or take, he arrived at his destination.

The trees were sparse and the grass was thick, and the entire scene was lit by moonlight that reflected off the dew caused by a drizzling rain. The moon itself was full and luminous, hanging in the sky and looking peacefully over the soggy Earth. Beyond it, stars blinked against the blackness of night.

His legs were wet and his shoes were soaked as he pressed onward toward the horizon. The grass licked at his ankles, irritating the boy to no end - but he delt with it, though he was far from used to it.

Jonathan paused a few feet from the ledge itself. He could see the lush valley just over the edge, separated from him by a thousand feet of menacing, sharp rock that jabbed outward from the side of the cliff. The green below glittered and sparkled with the light of a couple hundred fireflies as well as moonlit water.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sounds seep inside of him - the crickets, the locusts, and even a loud screech from an appropriately named screeching owl.

Then he slipped his bag off his shoulders and proceeded to set up his tent. He'd done it many times before, but seldom as sluggish as the action was then. He tiredly hammered the stakes into the earth, and did no more then toss his few blankets on the floor when it came to his bed.

When he was done, however, sleep came fast.

His head had barely hit the pillow before his weariness took over. And he slept deeply and peacefully, snoring lightly under the bright glare of the moon, which just about shone through the thin fabric of the teen's tent. His hair was askew, and he was tangled in the blankets after trying to toss them off in a fit of thrashing.

Yet despite how tired he was, Jonathan rose far before the sun did. He pushed himself up on his elbows and checked his wristwatch to see what hour it was. Even after glimpsing what an ungodly time it was, he decided that he simply could not go back to sleep - for something, something far away and unknown to him, was calling his spirit and drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

~

A/N :

So, here marks the beginning of another story, eh?

I had quite a bit of fun planning this fic, and I hope anyone who reads this enjoys it as much as I do writing it.

Anyway, I know we're one chapter in, but how do you like it so far? Any advice on things I could add, or take away?

Thank you if you've read this, and goodbye until the next chapter.

~💙

(P.S. - This was posted before, but I took it down on accident the same day, and I didn't want to seem rude by posting it again.)