A loose pebble, a tiny seemingly insignificant object, hopped down the rocky face of the mountain. More pebbles followed, gradually increasing in size, and rolled down the slope with a soft rattling sound like that of the poisonous snake.
The cause of the falling pebbles came from a shadow in the rocks. It seemed like an ordinary shadow, formed when rays of light could not touch the ground for obstructions. But something from within the shadow stirred and, like a beast awakening from its slumber, it yawned and stretched its limbs stiff from sleep.
The shadow turned around and took a tentative step forward out into the warm yellow light. A large sinewy body emerged, deep brownish-red skin covering its body. Its bulky limbs, thick with muscle, was furred with dark brown hair, and its head hair was mattered and its face unshaven. Its eyes, though shy, had the wild glint of a hunter in them. Its torso was covered in pelts, that from the great striped beast and the swift horned one. The pelts were sewn together by thin strips of tough leathery skin, from the evil creature, the snake, cursed to slither on its belly for life. It was a he, and the he-creature stepped out of the shadow and took in full view of his surroundings.
The rocky surface of the mountain sloped steeply down into a deep valley. In it was a clear glistening lake, its silvery surface undisturbed, and reflected every detail of the sky, blue as a kingfisher’s breast, with clouds of soft down. The ground curved skyward and seemed to pierce the sky with its mighty peaks. The valley looked as if the great beast of the sky had reached down and scooped up a pawful of earth.
A bird of prey soared overhead. It was unlike any other bird the he-creature had hunted. Those were small, broad-winged things that flapped frantically in flight. This bird’s wings were long and lean, and it effortlessly rode the wind. The small brown eyes followed the bird with curiosity like that of a child, with wonder of the feeling to soar in the air, to feel the wind stream past you.
The he-creature gazed into the sky until the bird of prey was way over the mountains in the horizon. A cool breeze blew past his face, with the fresh smell of melted snow. His unruly hair waved back in the breeze, and the he-creature turned his head in the direction the wind was blowing in. He looked up at the craggy slope and began climbing toward the peak.
He was obviously skilled at climbing, every step steady and sure. His body was really flexible like the snake which swam in water and was able to twist in the oddest of positions to get a footing. With an expert eye he would find a foot hold and would expertly step on rocks and his toes would curl and firmly grip onto the rock like a bird on a branch. He gradually ascended a steady climb, right hand left foot, left hand right foot, just like a cat scaling a tree.
The ground beneath the he-creature’s feet changed from a dark grey like that of the storm clouds to a pale grey of the clouds after the rain. The summit of the mountain was coming within reach. The he-creature swiftly reached the mountain top and he pulled himself over the top.
In front of him was a massive blanket of blue. A great beast in the blue stirred, and lifted the blue with it. Great foamy white paws would reach up and rake at the sky with a low rumbling sound, like a soft growl. It would tense up and roll in towards the land, then disappear in a cool spray of water with a soft splashing hiss once it hit the vertical rocky side of the mountain. It was a vast mysterious beauty, unlike anything the he-creature had ever seen.
