Close Call

The wind howled fiercely at the heights, carrying the distant echo of the untamed wilderness. From his position, Fenix observed the immense mountain rising before them, dark and majestic, as if it had been carved from the very night. Unlike the Beast Forest, which radiated a latent danger in every shadow, the mountain imposed a different kind of fear: the abyss, the immensity of nature challenging anyone who dared to scale its slopes.

The group began their ascent shortly after dawn. The sunlight tinged the rocks in golden and orange hues, but that did nothing to warm the atmosphere. The air was dense and cold, each gust carrying the feeling that the entire world could crumble in a single breath.

Ron led the way, his steps firm and confident, as if he had traversed this kind of terrain hundreds of times before. Vanya followed closely behind, moving with an almost feline grace, her boots barely leaving marks on the rocky ground. Fenix took the third position, staying alert but struggling to keep up with them. Finally, Rhen brought up the rear, his relaxed posture contrasting with the sharp gaze he used to scan the surroundings.

The initial path didn't pose too many difficulties. They had found a narrow but relatively stable trail winding through the rocks. It seemed like an ancient route once used by merchants or travelers who, at some point in the past, had crossed the mountain this way.

The ground was made of black stone and loose rock fragments, forcing them to be careful with each step. The cracks in the path were deep—some opened like hungry mouths between the stones—and more than once, Fenix felt the unsettling sensation that the terrain could give way at any moment.

Even so, the first few meters were simple compared to what lay ahead.

As they advanced, the landscape began to change. The forest they had left behind now seemed distant, reduced to a green sea stretching to the horizon. Vegetation on the mountain was scarce, limited to a few dry bushes and moss clinging to the cracks in the rock.

Every now and then, large birds soared above them, tracing circles in the sky before vanishing among the cliffs. Their cries echoed between the rocky walls, like warnings of what awaited further up.

Further ahead, Ron stopped for a moment and pointed at some marks on the rock.

"Monsters" he muttered.

Fenix observed the deep grooves carved into the stone. They looked like claw marks, but they were too large to belong to any ordinary creature.

"What kind of monsters?" he asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Ron shrugged.

"They could be rock lizards… or maybe something worse. They don't usually come down this far, but if they've been here… it means we're not too far from their territory."

"Great" Fenix muttered to himself.

Vanya, who had been scanning the area, didn't seem concerned.

"If we move fast, we won't have to deal with them."

Fenix wanted to believe her words, but he knew luck was rarely on his side.

After a couple of hours of trekking, the path began to change. What had once been a relatively stable trail grew steeper and more fragmented.

The rocks were looser, the ground trembled beneath their feet with every step. The mountain walls seemed to close in on them, with massive rock formations blocking parts of the sky and casting long shadows over their path.

The wind also grew stronger.

At first, it had been a constant breeze, but now, each gust struck with the sharp intensity of a frozen blade. Fenix had to adjust his stance to avoid losing balance when a sudden current tried to push him backward.

"The wind here isn't normal" Vanya commented softly, her tone more serious than usual.

Ron grunted in response.

"I noticed. And we haven't even reached the hard part yet."

About halfway through the climb, the group decided to stop at a more stable area to eat and recover their strength. They had found a small natural platform, a space wide enough to sit without risk of slipping.

Silence dominated the first few minutes as each of them pulled out their rations.

Fenix felt the burning strain in his legs and arms, a reminder that he wasn't used to this kind of physical effort. His companions, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.

Ron took a sip of water before speaking.

"From here on, the path gets tricky. There are two possible routes."

He pulled out a small, crumpled piece of paper and traced two lines, creating an improvised map.

"The first path is safer. It's not as steep, but it'll take us several more hours than we originally planned."

"And the other?" Rhen asked, though he already guessed the answer.

Ron grinned.

"It's nearly vertical. A direct climb, but dangerous. If we slip, this adventure is over for us."

Fenix felt a shiver run down his spine.

The choice was clear: risk a difficult climb or lose time on a longer but safer route.

Rhen turned to the others.

"Do we vote?"

Fenix didn't hesitate to vote for the safer path. He didn't have the strength the others did, and a vertical climb wasn't in his favor.

However, when the votes were counted, his heart sank.

Three to one.

Ron, Rhen, and Vanya had chosen the difficult route.

Fenix sighed and looked at the rock wall that now awaited them.

'Great… just what I needed.'

The wind whistled between the rocks, making the air feel even colder. In front of them stood the rock wall, a nearly vertical climb with only a few cracks and ledges serving as handholds. There was no clear path, only a treacherous ascent where a single mistake could cost them their lives.

Fenix swallowed hard. 'Damn it…' He knew this wouldn't be easy, but seeing the mountain up close made it even more terrifying.

Ron and Rhen adjusted their backpacks and moved first. As experienced warriors, they climbed with confidence, carefully selecting secure footholds as they ascended. Vanya, with her agility, moved effortlessly, climbing with precise and light movements.

Fenix stared at the rock before him, feeling his heartbeat quicken.

"If you stay there thinking too much, it'll only get worse," Vanya remarked from above without even looking at him.

Fenix scoffed. 'Easy to say when you have strength and balance.'

He exhaled sharply, took a deep breath, and started moving. Every movement had to be calculated. He found a stable enough crack to place his foot and pushed himself up, searching for a firm handhold.

It wasn't a fast climb. His muscles, unused to this kind of strain, protested with each movement. He felt like his arms could give out at any moment, that the weight of his own body would betray him.

'This is exhausting…'

The ascent continued smoothly for the first few meters. The wind, though bothersome, wasn't a major obstacle. But as they climbed higher, the air grew thinner, and the strain on his muscles increased. Each grip required more effort, each slip demanded a quick recovery.

The others moved without apparent difficulty. Ron and Rhen, with their natural strength, climbed solidly, while Vanya hardly seemed affected by the incline.

But Fenix… Fenix was truly struggling.

A few meters higher, Fenix reached for a crack in the rock, but his foot slipped.

The void opened beneath him.

For an instant, his body lost balance. The weight of his backpack pulled him backward, and his hands barely managed to grasp onto a jagged edge.

The sudden jolt sent pain shooting through his arms. He was left hanging, his feet desperately searching for something to hold onto.

'No... I can't fall now.'

Above him, Rhen heard the sound of loose rocks and quickly turned around.

"Fenix!"

Fenix's heart pounded in his chest. He knew that if he let go, the fall would be fatal.

He tried to lift himself, but his muscles refused to cooperate. His strength simply wasn't enough to pull himself back up.

"Hold on!" Ron shouted, moving toward him.

Before he could react, a rope suddenly fell from above, brushing against his arm.

"Use it" Vanya said in her usual tone, though there was a slight urgency in her voice.

Fenix didn't hesitate. With one final effort, he grabbed the rope and used it to stabilize himself, allowing Vanya to help him climb just enough to find a new foothold.

When he finally regained balance, his breath was ragged, his heart hammering against his chest.

"Are you okay?" Rhen asked, a mix of concern and relief on his face.

Fenix slowly nodded, though his arms were trembling from the effort.

Vanya watched him for a moment before saying coolly:

"If you fall again, I won't be close enough to catch you."

Fenix glanced at her sideways. It wasn't a reprimand; it was a fact.

'Damn it… I need to do something. If I keep this up, I won't make it much farther.'

After the incident, the group resumed their climb, this time with a little more caution.

Fenix changed his approach. Instead of trying to match the others in raw strength, he began searching for more efficient routes.

'I'm not the strongest… but I can find the best way.'

He examined the rock wall more carefully, looking for footholds that would allow him to conserve energy. Instead of blindly following the others, he found smaller cracks where he could brace himself without exerting too much force.

His ascent became slower, but also more secure.

Vanya, noticing this, gave a slight nod but said nothing.

Finally, after a long and exhausting climb, they reached a more stable area: a natural platform wide enough for all of them to rest.

Ron dropped down with a sigh of relief.

"Well, that was fun."

"If by fun, you mean exhausting, then yeah," Rhen muttered, rubbing his arms.

Fenix collapsed onto the rock, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every muscle of his body. He couldn't remember ever feeling this drained before.

Vanya, however, remained standing, gazing at the sky.

"We should rest here before continuing. The worst part hasn't even begun."

Fenix took a deep breath and looked up.

There was still a long way to the summit.

But for the first time since this climb had started, he didn't feel completely hopeless.

He had found his own way forward.

And, for now, that was enough.