Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 120- Lucky

 "Alright, let's try to be swift in our descent," turning, I gaze down the steep decline into the lush and welcoming valley awaiting us as a portal in some mystical dream, one away from the dark storm upon us.

"Are we sliding down THAT?" of course, I forgot Hester has a fear of heights, how could I already have let such an important fact slip my mind?

"Yeah, but it'll be okay, me and Rin can help you out." I smile at her a bit and Rin takes her hand, it is quite an obstacle to keep a slight grin after this. Rin comforts Hester and supports her before we make our way down to the ledge of switchback below not too far.

Rin holds her left wrist and elbow and I firmly but gently hold her right wrist and elbow. We go at her pace, and I slip a finger onto her pulse in her wrist to make sure she is alright, it is arduous to seed such a care for her in my hard mind. The beat is high and quick, her nerves are distinct and her palms shine with sweat, suddenly I feel great empathy for her, having before been in such situations.

Steadily we go step by step over the slate. At first, it is painfully careful, testing the spot before trusting it, but by the time we have taken the five baby steps down to the ledge below, they have both gained more confidence and sureness. Truthfully, I believe it much easier and efficient to simply leap down or run in a sustained way, not having to put much weight in each step.

Again we travel and make it to the next shelf, and even I have begun to earn more firm of a grip how to do this better, and as we are working our way down to about the eighth landing, I realize I have forgotten the hanging storm wavering above in a high glory. The winds are callous and scraping, picking up by the bitter second, trees swing and sway below, leaves loudly clatter and birds cry in a panic warning.

Then I spot a drop hit a piece of slate next to me, a dark circle that could be the symbol of our 'impending doom' is how I put it in my head for a dramatic flare; making for better entertainment and a kind of satisfaction. Time is not wasted by the rain, it picks up and soon the drops patter down around and on us consistently, this is the moment we all know that the true darkness of this storm has befallen us after such a suspenseful wait. At least we are halfway into the 'dream' we have travelled for and can finally have all set eyes upon to admire.

It's as though a wall is hammering into us, or like the winds bear boulders to throw, the slate clatters noisily from the blinding gusts of winds and rain, some come tearing over at us. No longer is the tender green within sight in this horrid weather. We all crouch and begin to slide without hesitation from ledge to ledge down the steep slope, seeing as the danger these winds pose mixed with slate are more endangering than slipping down the decline.

Roaring hits my ears to deafen me immediately along with the slate 'chimes', grey is a veil, more like a thick wool blanket actually. Once more we can make out the pale green and it is our hope, just as white beads start cluttering the rock underfoot. It is not snow, but hail, which it seems does not melt and sizzle away unnaturally like the snow did, perhaps due to the current lack of sunlight?

If we don't get into the shelter of the forest soon, there will be some serious damages. The winds hit us from the North, the side I am directly on. I feel a few stinging wounds clearly unavoidable as we skitter further to the trees and at last collapse into a bush away from the cruel weather a bit, in need simply of a piece of rest and safety.

The other two are quite exhausted and weary when I peer over at them laying under the bushes next to me and stand up, picking up Hester and wearily dragging myself with her in my arms into the tall, stable trees, settling her on the tender mosses. I then retrieve Rin and lay her at Hester's side.

My feet are heavy and my eyelids wish only to stay closed with each and every blink, dreading to open and see the rolling clouds through the emerald leaves and needles or to hear anymore of the growling winds and the noisy slate skittering along currents of air or the hail smashing into the obsidian by gravities power. In an attempt to keep myself conscious, I haul my sorry ass over to be shocked that the hail is now as big as a baseball; certainly enough to knock anyone or thing out.

Genesis! Blood drains from my face and I grow so weak I can very hardly call her name and return to the other two. However, I grow extremely grateful of her forgiveness, considering I had forgotten her somehow when she leaps out and licks my face softly. And following her is none other than Phoenix and Aegis with the stretcher.

"That was easier than I expected," I mumble half to myself, relieved that it won't be something that will need to be addressed.

"It's rough out there, we were fearful you might have got caught in it, although it seems you were in the rain and beginning of the hail," Phoenix explains and sees my scrapes which I am too worn to even lift my head to see myself.

"Yeah a bit, the winds were brutal and the slate was blowing around," Aegis checks on the other two before crouching beside me. "How did you fare?" I ask curiously.

"It didn't take us long to arrive down in the valley, and from there we came in this general direction until Genesis found us and practically dragged us all the way over here." Phoenix chuckles.

"We were also worried you may have tried to wait out the storm in the tunnel you told me about, Phoenix explained how you ran into those Imzana before. Considering you fought and killed a giant scorpion in there, I am positive there would have been many Imzana in there waiting for easy prey trapped and cornered." Aegis elaborates and I feel lucky to have chosen right.