Top of the mountain

When we were done with tea, Mika held me close to keep me warm until I dozed off. Hours passed, and the wind was no longer as strong as before. Mika and Mr. Phenyo were gone, leaving me alone. I checked the time. "Eleven pm!" I said. I put on an extra jacket, then took a gun with me. Mr. Phenyo and Mika had left pieces of red fabric on small tree sticks in a perfect alignment so that I could find my way to them, and vice versa. As I climbed higher on the Hex River Mountain, I began to hear the sound of drums. The noise intensified as I climbed higher. There were chantings and ululating sounds. A few rocks fell to the bottom, so I stopped moving and stayed still for a few minutes. I felt tempted to look down but knew it was risky. I continued to climb, taking careful steps upward, hoping not to fall.