Step by step I trecked deeper and higher into the mountains. Reprieving myself from the human world and embracing the cold, windy and slate ridden world that is the mountains. They were my home long ago, I feel almost at ease with the freezing wind gusting against my back and through my short-spiked hair. I say almost because slipping and cracking my head like an egg is a very real possibility I’d like to avoid. The summit was still a ways off, but I enjoy the climbing aspect best anyway. Finding the correct hand and foot holds, the strain on my muscles hauling my whole weight and my view of looking over the ranges of valleys, mountains and the far off wooded foothills and of course the fjords. It was truly freeing in a way I couldn’t describe. I’d equate it to looking up and watching the entirety of the night sky. Not just looking at one facet but embracing all indiscriminately and seeing it all in conjunction. It makes you feel insignificant and tiny to nature’s machinations. Though that feeling doesn’t come close to reaching a peak. I was traveling through Jarlsburg, a Nordic province that was covered with ice, snow, and fjords. Herders and merchant men mostly occupied the area, farming was practically impossible with the constant cold fronts and not many cared for the job anyway. It was encroaching midday by the time I had nearly reached the summit, when an eagle the size of a leopard swooped at me. Its talons landed square in my back. I lost a foothold and slipped, though I recovered with the grace of a fat fingered invalid. I’m glad no one could see my near colossal fuck up. It circled around for a second attempt and missed me entirely, that’s when I realized it didn’t care for me at all. It was actually after a family of tiny mice hidden in a minute alcove, the entrance was hardly the size of my fist but would make a good foothold. The small rodents all had giant ears in comparison to the rest of their body and their fur seemed to be a yellow in colour. I decided to continue moving up so the eagle wouldn’t have a third attempt on my life. Once I got to a higher point I stole a moment or three to watch it soar. He was graceful, each flap of his wings pushed him further and further into his own realm of freedom. If I was stupid I’d think it a god of Asgard, descended to mingle with us mortals. He had bright brown feathers with black spots on his beak, it stuck out like a sore thumb with all of this snow. After a short time of climbing I finally reached the peak. I wasn’t quite up with the clouds but they were significantly closer to me now than 5 hours ago. It’s like I could almost touch them but my reach was bound to my conquered rock, preventing my falling demise. I could see so much of the surrounding area. There were so many branching rivers leading into giant fjords, the land itself was almost entirely white with ice and snow, this solidified my belief that farming was impossible. The terrain was hilly and mountainous, a field couldn’t possibly take shape under its current conditions. Despite that I could see the two villages; Jarlsburg itself and Nautic Row, Jarlsburg was a village of merchants, business and debauchery. It was regularly abuzz, almost everyday new ships came and went. Whereas Nautic Row was smaller and held firm in fishing, herding and raiding other nearby villages. Many of the people kept to themselves unless it was to trade or gather at a Thing. Both villages were littered with vagrants if you ask me. The trees looked tiny in comparison to the villages, like little toothpicks with white appendages jutting from the ground. I tried to take in the scenery all as one. Almost like it was breathing, you don’t just take in the parts of air you need. You take it all indiscriminately and let it occupy a space within you. I breathed in as much as I could of the summits thin, crisp air. I listened to reverberations of the wind off stone, and tasted the tiny specs of snowflakes that finally began to fall. The sun had prepared to enter early evening before I decided to make my descent. The reflection of light on the snow was blinding but it was very reminiscent of the ocean, the way the light bounced towards me also reminded me of lizards skin in glistening sunlight. An ear to ear grin had slowly crept its way onto my face as I realized the perfection of what I was witnessing. A memory that would stay with me forever, something only I alone could cherish wholeheartedly. In this time I had made it back to the family of big eared mice. The eagle had snatched a few of the babies but the two larger ones looked over and fiercely protected the remaining younglings. I can attest as they tried to nip my boot on my way down. I passed them by though I was somewhat saddened and sympathetic to their loss of family, it can be difficult. It was difficult losing my own but we work and push ourselves further than where we were yesterday. Loss is a frequency in most people’s lives and if you don’t learn to adapt with it, it can take you down a dark and depressing spirality of despair and emotion. Those willing to change and evolve their principles or values survive, but many cling to the past and wallow too much on what they had. Not what they have. Me, I am content as a traveler, experiencing the human condition and learning for myself about all walks of life. Having nothing to my name can be bothersome at times but with a few days work anywhere, I can scrape together some coin to continue pressing forward. Shepherding flocks to new grazes is a nice way of working as I can read while I watch over them. Wood carving is another small job I enjoy, you can make some handy things with a chunk of wood lying around. But whatever I don’t buy or trade, I hunt. It’ll take some time for me to return to Nautic Row. I’ll have to camp at the foot of the mountain to wait out the downpour of snow. I called back to a memory of a small cabin with smoke billowing out of its chimney. I’m sure the inhabitants will let me stay if I can hunt some food, hopefully an unfortunate rabbit will cross my path as I get lower down the mountain. Speaking of getting lower by this point I had reached the halfway point of the mountain and the sun was about to touch the horizon. I began my scout for game trails and tracks that lead into brush. Not having much luck I pressed forward, though I could still be too high. The cold was certainly starting to creep in now, snow began seeping into my boots and trousers. It could be a problem in a few hours but I think I’ll reach the base before then. After 2 hours of more or less skipping over rocks I had made my way to an inlet of trees where stone started to recede and squishy, muddy snow took its place. There was surely something still out and about looking for a morsel. The forest was thick with flora despite the time of year, the evergreen pine trees looked to be hundreds of feet tall. If I was gonna find a rabbit, here it would be. The looming canopy of leaves above made it all the more darker, hiding the moon’s light from me and every other creature within the thicket. After spotting a dead game trail, I decided to give up on my search for wildlife and make way for the cabin. It had become too cold and even looking was a hearty task I struggled with greatly. Perhaps I can rent out my services of work in exchange for a night under some shelter. Even a meal if I’m lucky. In the distance, between the trees of the Black Forest I spotted a light. It was that of a campfire, I almost threw my caution to the wind desperately wanting to feel unrestricted warmth. But my better judgment kicked me upside the head and I decided to be sure if they were friend or foe before approaching.
submitted by /u/TheWhiteRabbit__
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