“Thank you,” I whisper, stalking into the hall.
I don’t know why I’m rushing, nor what I’m expecting, but the sinking urge to visit the Great Oak is making me take the walk at a near run.
What am I looking for?
What do I even hope to achieve?
Golem follows behind as I rush into a staircase.
I’m looking for beauty.
Not the calming beauty that I found outside, but the type of beauty that only comes from accepting a challenge.
I’m looking for something daunting and grandeur, a way to reclaim all of the events of late.
I’m looking forlife.
I’m looking for fire.
No more peace and calm.
My heart beats in anticipation when we leave the staircase and walk onto the ground floor.
You’re not going to find it, Alexis. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for here.
I walk with haste and push the feeling away, catching Golem’s look of concern from my side. The massive oak comes into view before I have the chance to console him, the lanterns of bottled moonslight catching my attention in soft greeting. I look around and see no one in the large room with us, just me, Golem, Storm and the massive oak that’s standing tall in welcome.
Toowelcoming.
Take it,my mind demands as I look over the hundreds of brown branches that encompass the full of the ceiling. The mass of limbs no longer look intimidating to me, just inviting.
Claim it.
Make it daring.
I weave through the roots without hesitation, stopping only when Golem wraps a hand around my arm from behind. His eyes dart over my face in almost near fascination, but once again he just nods in understanding before turning back around. His gaze keeps watch for any incomers as I lean down to my boots and pull out both daggers.
I’m going to climb to the top.
I strain my neck and look up the massive trunk. The thickest branches protrude from the middle, so I’ll need to use my blades to climb until I can lean on them for leverage. Stormfall grips my shoulder in comfort just as I swing the larger blade over my head and pierce the bark, both of his talons holding on tight as I jump and do the same even higher with the other.
Fuck, this requires a lot of upper body strength. My arms scream in protest as I hoist myself up, my leg lifting to the larger dagger as I rest my boot firmly on top of it. I look down at the position I’m in and groan at whatI have to do next, knowing that once I pull the blade out from under my boot I’ll lose my standing leverage.
Without thinking too long on it I swiftly reach down. I pull out the larger dagger with the intention of swinging it back over my head, but my attempt isn’t fast enough and I fall to the hard floor below me with a painful thud.
I stand up with a groan and rub my aching back, feeling Stormfall push off from my shoulder before he glides to one of the lower branches so that he can wait me out. The Bird of Ash caws in encouragement as I swing my arm up to begin again. I sink the large blade deep into the oak and repeat the movement with the smaller, then hoist myself up until I’m standing.
Swift, Alexis. Swift and fluid.
I lean down once more, prepared for my weight this time, and pull the dagger out from under my boot. My grip on both blades keeps me tethered to the oak as I round the dagger over my head and pierce the trunk even higher, my body groaning in even more protest as I pull myself upwards.
Six.
Six more of those same movements before I even get close to the first branch. I wipe away the sweat on my brow and repeat the process, arm reaching below me before swinging back up to pull me forward. It takes a while, but I eventually greet a preening Storm on that first limb.
I wrap my stomach over the branch in complete and utter exhaustion, though Stormfall’s caw to my right urges me onwards, the Bird of Ash once again gliding to somewhere higher in the oak as I groan in response. I glance up in determination and take in the many branches above, somehow finding my balance on the branch as I store away my blades on trembling legs.
I take a deep breath and use the limbs for footing, climbing the rest of the way up the Great Oak. Eventually I find a sturdy limb that is thicker than a horse and wrap my legs around it, my shoulders falling to the trunk at my back as I plant myself firmly against it.
