The crisp cold wind of a solitary being that stretched for miles into the sky brought about the change of a once beautiful scenery into a frozen tundra of hell. The illuminating flora that spoke of the off beaten path lay in the background of its majesty, bowing away from it, scared of it and what it could do them if it becomes angry. A cold and bitter sound would echo through their territory and they would wilt and die as they had lived, bowing.

-✵

It takes less than a fool's mind to realize when death is in your face. The slow echo of eternal slumber knocking on your brain is a scary sound indeed. As the mind cannot imagine death, for it is the opposite of what we are, we cannot know what it is like to die. A brush with the ethereal being is one that not many face in their lives, but those who touch it and caresse its cheeks like a lover would tell of the mad tales they had gone through to get there like an elusive creature that is far from sight yet close in mind, it haunts their every moment to the time their heads touch the pillow to the day they truly die.

The stories of monsters that lurk in the deep to ones that stay on the doorstep of the residents homes are ones that sends most into recoil on its claims. Believing in such notions makes one delusional, mad even, but maybe the monster with the palest of skins and the sharpest of teeth with smiles that look at their food like the biggest of presents on christmas morning aren't things you should be so quickly to refute as fake. We as humans, whether it be in daytime or darkness, are scared of such things to the very deepest of our marrows. It is a simple answer to such a reason honestly, it is because it represents what scares us the most about ourselves in a physical form that we hide from the world. It lurks like the ever looming scythe of the grim reaper, ready to cut us limb from limb.

One could tell the stories of adventures and fairy tales as if it's something that everyone should experience and that the beasts we hear of should rather be more scared of us than we of them. But we as humans fail to catch the true essence of beasts that live in our mind. No matter how intelligent we are or how ingenious our plans at winning can become we ultimately lose ourselves to the fear we so desperately try to shy away from. The discrepant smile of an almost featureless being as it laughs at the joke you show that is a fear filled mind while it wears the mask of a human is one that has never been seen before, for if it had been the smoldering eyes of it should burn you and turn you into one of their own.

"The monster in the humans mind is no more a monster than that which they fear, themselves"

"They are to caught up in their own delusion that, even if they did figure out the danger, they'd still walk in with their necks stretched for the executioner's axe."

-✵

The crunch of pebbles and small rocks were prominent with the cold wind that made it seem like a seasons change was in motion. A large creaking filled the background with noise as it slowly turned into a whisper. In a place with sparse trees and a darkness that veiled the surrounding area Mike looked at the mountain that held all of his recent aspirations slowly become the death trap that it truly was. He knew deep down that coming to this world didn't make him invincible, even if it felt like that sometimes. He'd gone through some pain and hardships but not anything that he should have if he was alone.

He thanked his lucky star everyday for getting Turul as a companion for he was the sole reason he was alive and well right now, without him Mike would probably be dying and alone as he slowly starved to death in a forest he'd hate more than find beautiful. He would have his final thought filled with hatred rather than wonder of the surrounding beauty.

Mike shook his head of those thoughts. The thing they would have to do know is to figure out how to actually climb the mountain now, after all they couldn't just let something so seemingly important get away from them. That wouldn't make Mike an explorer! Plus the fact that as long as he had Turul around most dangers could be thwarted pretty easily.

First thing on the agenda that Mike had to do was create a thick jacket, insulated pants, and boots for himself.

Pulling out all of these things with his power was the first time he had tried to create more than 3 things and have them all out at the same time.

Although it was a little nauseating, it wasn't to the point were Mike couldn't handle it.

Putting on the boots first, it became much more comfortable to walk around on the rocky ground.

All of the gear pulled out of Mike's mind were a light grey and focused more on their function rather than style so they were quite plain as compared to how well they worked. Putting on all of the gear over his tattered clothes, Mike felt only slightly warmer but they'd work better the more he got used to them. Along with his gear Mike pulled out the Broad Bear rug in order to use it as an extra layer.

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It would be okay to climb the mountain for a little ways, but they'd have to stop when Mike started to feel dizzy or when the oxygen got to thin for him. Other than those times they'd have to worry about it being too dark. Around the middle portion of the visible mountain was covered in a gray clout of snow and absolute darkness. If there are any dangerous areas or locations, Mike wouldn't be able to see it.

The boots Mike made for himself should slightly alleviate his snow climbing problems, if he made them right that is.

Looking over at Turul, Mike didn't know what to do. He would have a really hard time creating anything for Turul so he would have to go with only the feathers on his back to brush against the cold. However he should be fine. He was a Roc after all, they were made to be able to handle this small amount of cold and pressure.

Calming his breathing and beating heart down, Mike tore through cold wind in a heart with no small amount of worry for his safety. It was now or never. The many holes in his plan would have to wait for now. If he couldn't follow through with one of his ambitions and dreams now when would he ever be able to just because there was something blocking his way? Would he forever remain the man who just arrived, scared of his environment? Even if it was dangerous, so what? Life had alway been dangerous and if he couldn't get up and do something now when would he ever be able too. After all if he was going to accept his new life as an explorer he would do it right this time instead of being a half baked one.

✵

The crunching sound of walking was barely audible with the rapid and loud winds that brought along a flurry of snow and ice. In the dark expanse of steep snow a man slowly climbed forward on the verge of collapse. The only thing holding him up was a seemingly crude, but effective, walking stick and a 7 foot tall golden bird that allowed the man to clutch onto its back.

His face was smeared with areas of red and white as he looked quite exhausted. His breathing was long and drawn out with large plumes of cold air being caught and blowing away with the wind. Mike wasn't feeling too dizzy just yet and there was enough oxygen for him to keep going. The problem he had now was that he hadn't made any gloves so his hands were starting to feel the mountains winterous fury, losing his fingers would be his biggest problem if he couldn't find a way to solve it soon.

It was dark. It was that simple fact that caused Mike more pain on the climb than anything. It was so dark he couldn't see his own hand or body let alone Turul's. it's not like he could even look forward anyway, the wind and ice that pelted like large drops of deadly rain caused Mike to be unable to even pull his head up.

The altitude they were at was unknown, after all Mike couldn't make anything that could read that anyway, and it wasn't like he knew how to tell himself.

The climb was very painful. If that large Mantis Shrimp didn't stop before the death zone for humans this entire hike would be worthless. Well he knew he wouldn't be able to climb even half of that before dying due to not being used to the pressure and lack of oxygen.

As Mike pushed his boots deep into the snow the tempramental storm raged on around them bringing about a cold and grey darkness that surrounded the already little vision he had. His hands a harsh white as they gripped on Turul's back and the walking stick for dear life for he was scared of the consequences for his rash actions that repeated in a loop through his mind.

The wind flapped through his barely holding clothing and blanket as he had to keep himself from getting distracted. His mind filled with thoughts of food as it had been hours since they started their climb.

'Why am I doing this?' This solitary question rung in Mikes mind afterwards like a bell. He didn't know why he was doing this. Is this what he wanted? To be strung dead upon one of the sparse trees that held on just as badly as he did? He wanted a grand adventure, a story of amazing sights and sounds. Yet why was the world so cruel. Would he have to go through similar situation like this one again?

He pulled himself into this unthoughtful situation so he could blame no one, not even what brought him here.

He wanted to be an explorer ever since he saw that ever stretching road unfold before him with The Explorers Log. He thought it would be filled with glory. It was obvious there were going to be hard and harsh times yet this wasn't what he was expecting. It was cold and dark up here. He was the only solitary existence up here on a land filled with death. The only thing keeping him together was the unseen companion before him.

Mind numbing cold assaulted him. Was this what it meant to be an explorer? To go through this is nothing short of torture. Who would ever want to do this sort of craziness!?

The wind picked up harshly! It roared at him like a smiling demon! This mighty being wanted him off its land and dead. It screamed at him, thrashed him off with a mighty wave of its hands like the presence of god! It was angered because of his existence on its majestic body. A pile of filth that crawled on it like it was nothing! Nothing may touch it without suffering the consequences!

Being pulled downwards by the mighty winds, Mike let go of everything unknowingly. As Mike started his fall he looked into the sky. If he fell and gave up now he would die. Why did he ever come up here? He had been to rash. When was the end to this madness that was a climb? It had felt like days since he had started climbing. He was hungry. He was tired. He was despairing. He just wanted to go home and sleep. Why would becoming an explorer help him? For a second the grey cloud vanished. What held his vision was the vast expanse of stars of the most beautiful of skys. The trillions of stars shined into his mind like the eyes of a loved one.

Their beauty like the finest of sparkling diamonds that were held into the sky by strings. They brought light into the this dark world and guided all who walked through it. Their hands caressed the ground and brought with it hope. Their beauty eclipsed the darkness and despair of the humans melancholic heart. They had been one of his many guiders in this foreign land.

It felt slightly better to lie down under the vast expanse of the universe that held the diamonds like dew drops on the tips of its finger rather than the cold and merciless wind of a regret.