Journey Up Mount Helsberg (Closed)

[Equium]

Thin snow falls over Andholme Airport. Equium, a chirpy fox, walks outside to the car park, waiting for his rendez-vous. Equium was never an outgoing fox. He was always one to sit down and watch the world go by, not batting an eyelid to the major issues in life. As a result, his sense of adventure was one discarded as a kit, and he could only awe as others accomplished amazing physical exercises, and took to the stage of the world like a pig to mud.

So this was a bizarre situation he found himself in. Thick hiking boots, thick, woolly trousers, layers upon layers of jumpers, woolly hats, gloves... he looked a peculiar sight. And for what? For one week trekking up a mountain with a friend. He'd been roped into it; it was clear by the anxious look on his face he was not prepared for a such a step. The mountain was by no means the largest in the country but it was the most exhausting challenge Equium had ever faced. He was armed with nothing more than a rucksack of various tinned food to get him through, along with numerous bottles of water. He had a Swiss Army Knife to open the tins, but that was all. His friend, whom he was waiting for, was bringing a tent, rope, and another batch of food and water, along with mountain climbing equipment. Equium's friend had conquered a couple of peaks before, but was not an expert. They just knew what had to be knew. "Helsberg is always a challenge", Equium had been told. He waited at the car park for his friend to turn up and drive to the foot of the mountain.

((No grammar? Bad spelling? This is not for you, alas. Otherwise, PM me.))

[Idesin]

A beat up tan SAB pulled into the car park. A bundeld up fur opend the car, waving to the fox. "Just one second!" He called. Opening up the back seat of his car, he tuged at a large pack, pulling it out with a small 'thump'. Putting it on himself, he fasted the belts around himself, looking up, he shining green feline eyes shining out from his face despite the cold. "So glad you could make it man!" Nick called, waving with one paw. The calico cat walked over to him. "I hope you got all the suplies, tinder and flint, pans, all that ... Woulden't be fair to make me carry everything, would it?" He noogied Equium as he walked him towards a map. "Trail seemes pretty empty." He comented. Pointing to the bord, he began outlineing thier trip. "Allright ... so we should be able to make it to this clearing tonight ... after that, if we keep up with about 10 to 15 miles a day, we should be abe to make it to lean-to's both nights, and by the thrid we should be at this cabin ... we'll stay there for a day, enjoying the sights and stuff, before we start heading back down ... there are a few detors I'd like to take, rock walls, a nice pond, some senic views ... you know what to do if you loose me, right?" He smiled, chatting constanly to hide his nervousness of the most complicated accent he'd tried in a while. He wolden't admit it, but he was a little woried. But he had checked out the weather forcasts, he had called up friends to let them know to start searcing for him if he wasn't back in time. Everythign would be fine ... right?

"What you waiting for! Leeeeets goooo!" he said with a playfull cheer as he started up the trail.

[Equium]

"Don't worry, Nick, I've got faith in you."

Equium took off his rucksack and put it in the back of the Saab. He gazed again at the map that Nick had drawn up. The route looked simple enough... for the first few days.

"I got all the things you asked for, providing you've got all the food. I know it's mainly tinned stuff, but we can hardly expect a gourmet meal, can we?"

Nervously, Equium clambered into the passenger seat, sliding his tail upright behind his back. It was clear from that map that the two of them were not going to reach the peak of Mount Helsberg.

"We're stopping at this cabin are we?" enquired Equium.
"Yes," replied Nick, "the climb to the peak is nigh on impossible at this time of year."

As Nick drove to the mountain base, Equium pondered about what this journey would actually achieve... and after a brief bout of cold feet, he realised that this simply was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As Nick pulled into the parking area at the base of the mountain, Equium immediately got out the car and gazed upward. The peak was invisible, as was the cabin. It was a monster of a climb. Equium gazed at his rucksack and wondered how on earth he'd drag it up the moutain. Still, perciverence was the answer... and Nick was clearly quite eager to start proceedings.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled as they drove. It would be a nice hike. The montian was pretty easy, as long as they didn't loose the path, and the snow stayed away. He would tell Equium the Yettie stories on the ... second day. Too far to turn back, but the maximum amount of scar time. He was sooo glad he had brought his camera. Pulling himselfout, he starte walking up the mountian, takeing the mostly clear trail easily. Trail burners had been though, trampeling down the snow and makeing shure the tree marks were easily visable. So far the ground was pretty even ... maybee a ten degree incline? He enjoyed himself looking around the forest, checking out the birds with his binoculars, takeing pics of prints, and the like.

(hope this is wat you wanted!)

[Equium]

Equium followed Nick, about five paces behind. He had bought his camera, but for now, he wasn't going to use it. He was gazing around in awe at the majesty of the snowy trees and rocks. He wasn't going to need a camera to remember this. The marks in the snow of the group before them were clearly visible, and from what he saw, they hadn't come into any danger. "It's going to be fine," thought Equium. "Nick knows what he's doing." Nick of course, had seen all this before. He was no stranger to the world the moutains threw up. For Equium, this was an epic journey, and they had barely even set paw upon snow.

Equium continued to follow Nick into the forest. Occasionally, a branch would snap under the weight of the snow resting atop it. So alien were these surroundings, the slightest movement stirred Equium, and made him stop and make sure everything was okay. For the first time, Equium took out his camera and snapped a picture of the distance climbed so far. "Not far." he thought, but you can only take it one paw step at a time.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at his friend. They were takeing it at a nice liezerly walk. Even when the trail began to get steeper, it was an easy walk, no fast pace, they moved at the slower ones pace, wich was usual Equium. But he himself was no power walker. They exchangd a bit of chit chat, till nick put a paw up to his face, telling his friend to be quite. They had reached one of the first landmarks, about an hour and a half in. It wasa small pond, coverd in ice. As they watched, a moose ambled over the soft snow on top of the ice. "Magnificant" Nick mouthed.

[Equium]

Equium rubbed his paws together to try and generate a bit of heat, before taking out his camera and snapping the moose and the lake. Why, if there was a competition for best photo, this was the winner. The lake wasn't very big. Imagine not a puddle, nor Lake Thun, for you could see the other side from where they were standing. Equium looked back at the distance they'd walked so far. They'd been walking... an hour, or so? Equium had not even broken sweat, but given the climate, he pondered whether that was even possible.

Nick took a couple of snaps before moving on. By this point, the trail of the previous group had slid off down another path, so there wasn't really many markers to go on. But Equium was sure Nick knew what he was doing and where he was going. Someone so confident and experienced would not let him down. Though Equium couldn't help thinking that maybe they should have tackled one of the smaller mountains that lay to their east and west. Still, there was no going back. For now, he was enjoying the ramble.

[Idesin]

(Ack! of couse you had to take us off the beaten path! >.< Are you trying to get us lost? ... oh, right. :grin: )

Nick confidenly weant forward. The snow seemed to shush the landscape, makeing everyhing quite and mystical. Soon they came to thier first overlook. It was about three hours after the pond. They had taken some side stops, but this was the big one. This was a nice little natrual overlook of the suronding mountians and forest, with little rock seats worn in by everybody who had passed though. Takeing off his pack, he brushed off a section, and pulled his hood down a little as he angled it to keep the wind out of his face. "Protien break." he called. Pulling a packet of crackers and a tube of penut butter from the top of his sack, he setteld down for a little snack.

[Equium]

"Oh, thank goodness!" remarked Equium.

He sat upon a dry rock and took out a bottle of water. Taking a quick swig, he thought this would have iced over by now. It certainly seemed chilled enough to. Equium took out some thick biscuits that would operate as a quick snack, but before he broke into them, he gazed upon the look out. Under his breath, he whispered a profanity as the sight of snowy hills and glazed trees took his very breath away.

Equium munched on some biscuits and some nuts. He didn't like nuts, but keeping levels of health up was vital. Once again, he got his camera out and snapped the landscape. He flicked on the LCD screen and looked back at the photo.

"This photo does not do this landscape any justice whatsoever." he said quietly. "I hope we get to another lookout by the time dusk comes in." It almost felt like they hadn't hit an incline... Equium's mind had been captivated this entire journey.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. "We can go at whatever pace you want dude, it's just a matter of how much time we'll have to find the lean to if it gets dark." As they continued walking up the mountian, the incline got stedily steeper, but not by much. it was still much closer to a ramp than a ladder. The Forest was beauitufulas well. As they continued to climb the make up of the trees slowly began to change from bear dicidious trees to the evergreen coniferous. As the snow around them got deeper, Nick found it was harder to hike than he had been exspecting, but it still wasn't anything horendous.

[Equium]

Equium found the thicker snow harder to trek through. Sunset wasn't far off, and the incline was getting steeper. He paused and looked around. The forest looked wonderful, as ever, but he couldn't see through to the panorama that was the the horizon. Quickly swigging on a bottle of water, it was clear he was beginning to tire.

"Nick," he shouted, "What are we going to do tonight? Just put up the tents on some harder snow or find proper shelter?"

[Idesin]

"Nope, No tent, Lean too." He said. "Means we don't have to carry the extra weight of a tent." He pointed up ahead. "Speak of the devil ... I told you, if we timed it right." They came into a small clearing. There was one of the trails laid out lean-too's. The overhang was facing a large brace of evergreens, so for the most part the wind stayed out, as well as the snow. It was large enoug for them to pull thier gear in. "So ... lets see if we can get a fire going out front ... the overhang should trap the heat and pull it into the back, not a lot, but enough. You set up our sleeping bags and mats, and I'll find some more wood. See if you can find the nooodles. I shoujl have a lot of them." He laughed. Lightweight, and healthy!"

[Equium]

Equium contemplated leaving his tent here. Well, when he was packing it made sense to bring one! But Nick was right, it was weighty. And probably difficult to construct too. Equium pulled out his thin sleeping bag and a pillow roughly the size of a DVD case. "This isn't going to keep me warm at all!" he thought. But then again, luxury sleep was one of the many things he wasn't expecting on this trip.

He unhooked Nick's sleeping bag from his rucksack and rolled it out adjacent to his own. Somehow, Nick's looked more... cosy. Oh well, a couple of nights and it'd all be over. Equium couldn't remember the last time he was so physically drained... but he still had work to do. He rummaged through Nick's bag to try and get a couple of packets of noodles.

"What the hell is that?" he thought, as he came across an unusual object. He gasped. "It's a flare gun! Surely we won't be needing this... surely!" thought Equium, nervously. He glanced outside the lean-to, and there was no sign of Nick. How far did he need to go to find wood? Taking his opportunity, he nosily rummaged a bit further... noodles... noodles... pan... noodles... Nick was right, Noodles seemed to be the answer. Bandages... ok, makes a bit of sense... plasters, again, sensible... "Portable emergency telephone..? How much trouble does Nick think we were getting into?" pondered Equium. In the blinking of an eye, Equium's confidence in Nick slumped... did Nick really know what he was doing? Or was his supreme confidence just a front?

At the sound of pawsteps, Equium bundled Nick's things back into the bag except for two packets of noodles. Nick appeared at the front of the lean-to with a fair bit of wood which would keep a fire roaring for a couple. "How many packets of noodles, Nick? Is two enough?" asked Equium, nonchalantly.

[Idesin]

(Flare, emergency phone!? ... have you ever been hikeing? Things like that are for rescue parties, they weight a lot, and really arn't worth it.)

Setting the wood by the fire pit, Nick looked at Equiums sleeping bag and tisked. "Goodness, I guess not everybody was a boy scout as a cub." He sighted. "Tomrow morning, were going though your stuff. Whatever is too heavy or not needed were leaving here. And as far as your sleeping bag goes, your going to have to sleep with me in mine. No Equium, I'm not hitting on you, I keep telling you i'm not like that. But if my memory serves me, that sleeping bag is ratted to 30 degres, tops. Right now it's 20, and it's going to get worse as the night goes on. You sleep in that thing, and I'll be using it as a body bag to take you back down the mountian. Mine is rated for up to negitive 40 degres. You could be burried in this mummy and still be fine. So stop complaining. were sharing it, or your going to die from exposure. ... As for the noodle, two packages a piece, it's been a long day." He found some of the driest tinder, and formed it into a little tee-pee, using some leaves from under the lean-too to form some kindling. Lighting it up, he spent several miniuts tending it, before it started to catch. Piling the other logs agaisnt the other side to let them thaw out, he took out the gas-cooker. Setting it up, he lit it up. "You ready cheff? I'm leaving you in charge."

[Equium]

((Sorry.))

Equium got two more packets of noodles from Nick's bag. He got down to his knees and peered into the flames. "Leaving me in charge? Why? Where are you going?" asked Equium, as he started to open the noodles.

[Idesin]

Nick laughed. "Not that fire ... here." He showed his friend how to pump the gas to prime the stove, and how to light it, and set up the shield so no rough wind would blow it out. "now, get some snow, melt it down, and throw both packets into the pot." He chuckled. "And then we'll share it, both eating from it. And I gave it to you so you could feel like your doing someing. Arn't you enjoying yourself?"

[Equium]

"Oh, I'm enjoying myself..." mumbled Equium, "I'm just worried I'll screw something up."

Equium did as Nick said. Though it took several attempts to construct a wind-breaker that would stay upright without the support of a couple of paws. As the small pot bubbled, the wind dropped. "Don't rain, don't rain..." muttered Equium. The lean-to offered a small shelter, but Equium just wanted to avoid the bad weather. Nick came out with two plates and sat down next to Equium, as he started to spoon out the noodles.

As twilight arrived, the two of them ate their noodles, gazing over the landscape of snow-topped trees and an orange-to-purple cloudless sky. The wind was brisk once more, and the only thing keeping Equium remotely warm was the cooked noodles in his stomach. He slipped over another jacket to keep some warmth in.

"Should we be hitting the sleeping bag soon? I assume it'll be a loooong day tomorrow?" he asked.

[Idesin]

Nick gave a hearty laugh. "it's only long if you allow it to be. We shoud reach the next lean too with a lot more time to go tomrow. But yes ... and let me guess, you don't know how to sleep in a sleeping bag, yes? Well, let me show you, and then I'll put the fire out .... can't leave it going this close to the trees and the lean too. Now then ..." He got up and walked to the back of the wood structue. "your going to take off everything except your shirt basicaly. And do it right before you go in. Usualy in a Mummy bag there is enough padding in the back so you sleep face out, but since were goin to be sharing one, we'll be useing our extra cloths as pillows. Our combined body heat should be able to keep us warm even if the temp drops below negitive fourty" 'which I really hope it dosn't' he thought to himself. "Now ... you ready for bed? got everything laid out so that it won't be damp in the morning and we can just jump up and get started with breakfast?"

[Equium]

Equium gave Nick a wry smile.

"Don't be patronising Nick. I may be new to mountaineering but I have slept in a sleeping bag before. Just not with another person." He chuckled.

As night fell, Equium prepared his clothes and jackets for the next day in the lean-to. In what must have been the quickest time ever recorded, Equium stripped to his shirt and boxer shorts and leapt into the sleeping bag. He dragged his rucksack a little bit closer to him. As Nick did the same thing and squeezed into the sleeping bag next to him, Equium tried to forget about the cold. He draped his tail across his torso and managed to drift to sleep.

[Idesin]

Packing things loosely in the top of his pack, makeing shure that they were wraped inside a nice layer of plastic, Nick quickly dumped some snow on the fire, then shook it off, pushing everything under the lean-to so they would have it nice and dry in the morning. Squeesing in next to his fox friend he contorted himself around. this was going to be one strange night. Lieing back to back with him, he pulled a hat on and softly drifted off to sleep.

[Equium]

It was a rough nights sleep for Equium. He never slept well in sleeping bags, let alone when there was no room to toss and turn. But he was prepared to sacrifice that for the warmth from Nick's fur. Every time he woke he'd make sure Nick was still there, then reach out and make sure his rucksack was still there.

When he woke up for the fifth or sixth time, it was morning. Nick was stirring, but was not awake. Equium slipped out of bed and leapt into the clothes he had prepared the previous night. They were freezing, but he'd warm them up in no time. "I hope Nick doesn't get too cold without me in there." Equium thought. Equium draped Nick's jacket over the sleeping bag to try and keep him a little warm in Equium's absence.

Equium walked out the lean-to and looked around the panorama. This was a very different day to yesterday. There was a stiffer wind and a very thick cloud cover. There were no signs of the sun breaking through at all. He piled some wood at the front of the lean-to and attempted to get a fire started for whatever Nick wanted for breakfast. "More noodles, probably." thought Equium. "They seem to do the job on the energy side."

[Idesin]

Nick slept soundly though the night, one of the benifits of being compleatly exausted. Wakeing up he streached. Batting his eyes, he looked over. "hey, thanks for not wakeing me up." He was up out of the bag, and then dressed in only a miniut. Pulling on his boots, he went around the back of the lean-too, and wrote his name in the snow.

"Ah, nice to see you got the fire going. Allright, I'll set up the stove. Oatmeal for breakfast, with some brown sugar. the oats will be a good source of fiber, keeping us regular on the trip." he chuckled. He looked around. "Beautifull, isn't it? Woulden't it be awomse to do this for months at a time, liveing off the land?"

[Equium]

Equium pondered.

"Yeh, I guess it would." he replied. "Living without television... computers... and virtually no technology. I'd probably get used to it over time." His eyes darted around the landscape. The trees were snow tipped and covered in dew, and the other mountains could be seen brushing against the clouds. "And for that view - yeh, it'd all be worth it."

"What's the plan for today then? How far are we going to get? How steep will it get?"

[Idesin]

Nick stood up and streached. "Well, if memory serves me right, we should be goin about twenty miles today. There are lots of nice little places on the way, but were mostly going to be curving around the mountain. If we were trained ice clmbers, we could proberly make it to the peek in under a day, but as it is, we should proberbly take the long way. At lunch time we should be on the other side of the moutain, and by night tongiht we shoujld be about there." He pointed up the steep side of the mountian, to a little outcrop of trees. "But if were going to fast, just tell me ... and its going to get a bit steaper, moveing out of ramp to stairs teritory. But no ladders yet. Hows that breakfast comeing?"

[Equium]

"It's... uh... coming. That's about all I can say about it at the moment. Looks like it'll be done in a second."

Though it wasn't the most appetising breakfast Equium had ever seen, he gathered that it would have to do. If Nick was correct in aiming for twenty miles, Equium would need all the oatmeal and noodles he could get his paws onto. And this image of a twenty-mile staircase Nick had placed in his mind did not really give Equium any quick-bout enthusiasm to spring into action. Equium dipped a finger into the oatmeal for a quick taste-test. If Nick was a bit cold this thing would certainly heat him up. Equium went back into the lean-to, grabbed some bowls from Nick's bag, and started to serve up the oatmeal. Despite the breakfast not being very appealing to him, Equium soon cleared his bowl.

[Idesin]

Nick finished licking his bowl clean. "mmmn, taste delicius with that brown suggar, dosn't it?" He smiled, folding his origomie plate back down, rubbing off the rest of the food with snow. 'Whipping' it clean of everything, he put it back in his pack. "You ready to go?" He asked, wrapping his scarr fround his face, as they walked out of the protetive blind of the trees into the slightly stronger winds of the decidious part of the moutina, which should transform to coniferous as they got higher.

[Equium]

Alas, the landscape was not as majestic as the day before. The overcast clouds did not exactly light the sky and there was a chilling wind. Partly because of the weather, partly because of the pair's ever-increasing height. It wasn't long before Equium's stomach growled at him... the energy the Oatmeal had brought upon him had clearly started to wear off and the snow laying upon the ground was deeper than it was yesterday. Equium looked up... the peak of the mountain was still not visible... and for the first time he questioned whether he had the strength to reach their target.

[Idesin]

Nick whistled s they walked. Every so often, he would slow down, tracking out the triail of someanimal or another in the snow. He would get a look of wonderment on his face as he followed thier trails, almost seeing them walk though. And at other times, he would stop, and make several short, harsh 'shusshing' sonds, and all the birds in the area would pop thier head up, and look to see what the danger was. He would rattel off thier names. "Pigion, white breasted nuthatch, house sparrow, thrush, cardinal." he turnd around. "Isn't it a beautifull day?" not even the overcast skys could dim his optimism. He heard a faint grumble behind him. "Has it been that long already? Snack break!" He chuckled, pulling out his crackes and penut butter. "Don't try to look to strong. if your tired, or hungery, just tell me, and we can stop friend. I don't want you burning out and regreting this trip."

[Equium]

"I didn't want to stop your flow." said Equium.

Equium was a little embarrassed his grumbling stomach had been overheard. Nonetheless, he munched on some peanut butter. He wasn't a fan of the stuff, but some water would wash it down nicely. He thanked Nick for the rest stop, and regained his thoughts and energy. Equium pulled out his camera and took a few more shots, for future proof he'd conquered at least a little of Helsberg.

Soon enough they were on their way. Equium thought back to when he was in the airport. How excited he was to be climbing a mountain; so bubbly inside and looking forward to everything. Nick, meanwhile, continued listing every bird he saw. Some of them flew so fast Equium barely managed to see it, let alone identify it. Now, there was something in Equium's mind telling him it was become labouring. He silently hoped this meandering thought didn't completely consume him, otherwise he would not enjoy this.

Nick was finding the walk exhilerating... Equium - exhausting. The voice in his head telling him it was a pointless journey was getting irritatingly louder. He needed to find some sort of remedy to shun it. And that he did. In the corner of his eye, between trees, he spotted a small lookout point, which Nick had breezed by, in his own little world. Equium looked at Nick, about ten paces ahead.

"What harm can there be in just going to take a peek at the lookout?" thought Equium. "I'll be only be a second. It'll probably be nothing." He ran over to a very small, wooden balcony, hidden by trees, big enough for one. As he got closer, he realised it actually turned ninety degrees to the left, almost around a corner. He set paw upon the balcony and looked to the right. Clouds and snow. He'd seen it. He turned the small corner, gazed left, and let out a loud gasp.

The sun was starting to peek through the low clouds, creating a rippling effect across the whole left side of the sky. The other side was almost like mist - blocked out by thick, low clouds. It was like gazing into a frozen valley... miles below, a small stream wriggled and weaved it's way around snowy rocks... there wasn't a green leaf in sight... it had been snowed and iced in. This amazing panorama had been hidden behind Mount Helsberg. Equium stared at the sight, silent and motionless. He eventually took out his camera and shot his favourite picture yet. That negative voice in his head had been silenced once and for all.

He almost didn't want to leave, but turned his back and exited the balcony. He turned his camera off, and put it back in his bag. He took a swig of water and replaced the bottle. But as he walked back into the trees... he stopped in his tracks. Nick was nowhere in sight. Surely... he hadn't forgotten about Equium? Surely he'd noticed Equium run to the balcony? So desperate was Equium not to interrupt Nick's happy mood, he'd neglected to tell Nick he was taking a minute off... Equium wasn't at the lookout for that long, surely?

[Idesin]

Nick had contiued on, used to the silent fur behind him and not noticing his eixit, wich spoke folumes about how much of the woods he was actualy paying attenion too. He had gone on for another hour before stoping for lunch. Turning around, he asked the empty space behind him what he thought about this spot for lunch. Then he realised what he was talking to, and he started to panic. But before he could get too far, he grabed ahold of himself, both literaly and figurativly.

"Get ahold of yourself man, this is not the time to panic ... if you don't get your shit together and find him, he may die out there ... your the one who brought him on this crazy trip, your not goin to let him get lost." So saying, despite the protest of his stomach and his legs, he turned around and started walking back down the path, tracing his own prints, looking for any sign at all for where his friend could of gone, fearing the worse, like bldoy snow or a missing block of snow off the side of a cliff.

[Equium]

Equium very slowly padded up the path he and Nick were taking last. There were so many sets of prints, any one of them could be Nick's! What was he going to do? Nick had the food, and more importantly - the knowledge!

Equium could feel his heart racing, and sweat beads started appearing on his forehead. "OK, let's not panic about this..." thought Equium. "He can't have gone far, right? If I haven't found him by dusk I could... walk back to the lean-to? Oh my God, that's so far away. I can only hope I find some form of shelter..." Nick had told him to leave his weighty tent in the lean-to... oh, how Equium might regret that decision.

A single tear fell from Equium's eye. He shook his head, gritted his teeth, and very slowly continued up the path he'd chosen. And hoped to God it led somewhere.

[Idesin]

Nick was glad, for the first time, that there hadden't been anybody up the trail that day. There wa only his set of trails to follow back ... we'll, his were the only tracks that were wearing boots. "God damn, I have all the stuff ... Grrr, I should have kept a better eye on him. I'm such a fucking idiot!" He came around a bend where the trees wer mostly gone. Seeing some sort of bright collar at the bottom of the hill his eyes lit up. "HEY! Equium! Is that you! Oh god, please let it be you!"

[Equium]

A voice echoed from up ahead. Equium jolted his head in the direction of the shout! It was Nick! Was it? Or was it just wishful thinking?

Burning some new-found energy, Equium speed-walked through the snow to the figure in the distance. What if it wasn't Nick? Equium would be way off course! Equium could see the other character running down the hill towards him. He had a big rucksack on and a thick coat. "Doesn't narrow it down much," thought Equium, "plenty of people dressed like that on a mountain." The figure was getting closer and Equium's heart kept racing as he walked ever nearer. The rucksack looked ever more familiar, the coat even more so! Equium was almost certain it was Nick, and as the two got closer still, Equium saw it was indeed a visibly worried Nick scampering towards him.

Equium let out a loud sigh of relief and started to laugh - so happy was he! He put his head in his paws and wiped away a couple of tears... his little independant sight-seeing may have cost them a couple of hours, but at least it didn't cost either of them more than that.

[Idesin]

Nick healed his friend in his arms, hugging him so tight it was only all the padding that kept him from breaking any bones on the little lost lamb. "Don't you ever do that to me again! You scared the shit out of me man!" He huged him. "Oh thank god, I'm so glad your here, I could just kiss you! I thought I had killed you!" He began to laugh/cry. "Come on ... we've got a ways to go ... were going to have to walk while snacking now, if we want to make the lean too before dark ... or we could just make it in the dark, and do all our stuff in the dark."

[Equium]

Equium was sticking as close to Nick as possible from now on. He could see that he'd caused Nick a fair bit of distress and felt a tad guilty. Hopefully he could make it up to him later on somehow. They were treading faster than before, mainly because neither of them fancied walking about in the dark.

As the hours ticked by, they got slower as energy drained and the path got slightly steeper. They had been eating some peanuts as they continued to walk to try and save time, but it was getting noticably colder. The tracks left by people before were thinning out and once again Equium began to struggle. No sign of the lean-to yet though. He wasn't about to let Nick down again, but he was very tired.

"How much longer to the lean-to, Nick? Will we get there before dark?" Equium asked, in a hopeless tone.

[Idesin]

Nick turned around and threw an arm around his friend. "Don't talk that way. This is suposed to be fun, an adventure. Do you think that Lewis and Clark never got off scedual? that Marco Polo might have lost the silk road from time to time?" he smiled, patting him on the head. "only about an hour more. I think we'll make in time to throw up a nice fire, and have a big, hearty meal." He decided he DEFITNLY wasn't going to tell his friend about sasquatch tonight, that would wreck him.

[Equium]

Dusk fell over the two of them, and as daylight was about to fade completely, the next lean-to came into sight. Thank goodness Nick was following the track intricately. As they approached, the whole day passed through Equium's mind... specifically that moment in time where he convinced himself he'd not see Nick again. He wondered if he could put it down to inexperience, or just plain stupidity.

They entered the lean-to. This one didn't seem as well furbished as the previous one. Probably because less people would use it. There were more spider webs and gaps in the wall. Equium pondered whether the lean-to was leaning a little too much, but this was no time for geometry.

Nick and Equium once again went over their ritual of melting snow and boiling it, and were once again treated to the delight of packets of noodles. Equium was visibly more tired than Nick, and as the noodles boiled, Equium almost nodded off on the edge of the lean-to.

[Idesin]

As his friend began to nod off, Nick helped him into the sleeping bag. Tendig the fire, he went though Equis equipmet, putting asside the redundant or useless. They would grab it on the way back. Gathering more wood, he kept the fire buring for a while, letitng his friend sleep. Getting everyting ready for the morning, he pat his friends head, then climbed in after him.

[Equium]

Equium had another restless night. Every time he woke up he was certain somebody was there with him. Apart from Nick, of course. The night was as bitter as the last one, with Nick's sleeping body doing a terrific job of providing heat.

As morning came around, once again Equium was up before Nick, so he speedily set up a fire and started to boil some snow. Once Equium had got some energy, he would be up for today. Although it was still piercingly cold, the sky was clear, and the trees glistened with dew, shining above the snowy ground. Nick began to stir.

[Idesin]

Nick looked out of the sleeping bag. Turning it around he scooted to the edge of the lean too. "Burrrr, looks cold out there. Thanks for getting breakfast ready. Hey, do you have any idea where my cloths are? I think I left them ... nevermind, there they are." Pulling himself and the cloths into the corner he quickly changed into them. "You keep cooking, I'll pack the bags, sound like a plan?"

[Equium]

"Go for it, buddy." said Equium.

Equium peered with a distinct lack of intrigue at the boiling noodles. More noodles. He watched Nick get changed before realising he really shouldn't be looking. "What brought that on?", Equium muttered. He chuckled softly to himself, surprised that he'd ended up talking to himself. Equium was a little dreary after the day he'd had yesterday. He glanced up ahead... and it looked like it would get a bit steeper today.

[Idesin]

Idesin chuckled. "Don't tell me your getting sick of noodels aready ... allright then, you can pick out the flavor packet. we got vegitable, oriental, chicken, beef, shrimp, italian, even autum harvest. ... hey, something wrong, you look like you just rember you left your lights on at home. Whats up?"

[Equium]

"Ooh, a world of choices." remarked Equium. "I've already picked, there's Italian noodles boiling." He turned back to Nick. "I'll be fine. I'm just not a morning fox. Wouldn't surprise me if I'd left my lights on though."

As the pair of them ate their breakfast noodles, a black cloud began to peek into view. Equium let out a concerned sigh, as he cleared his plate.

[Idesin]

"Ooof. That dosn't look too good. Well, the good news is that we've only got about half a days ... perhaps four sixths of a days walk up to the top, and then we should be at the cabin. You'll like the cabin. They maintain it year round, and it can get nice and warm." Finishing his noodles, he slung his pack on. "Allright, put that fire out,. cover it up, and lets go!"

[Equium]

Equium piled snow onto the fire until it is completely extinguished. Leaving the burnt wood buried, he went back into the lean-to and picked up his rucksack. The thought of the warm log cabin was most enjoyable, but the dark matter coming in from the west and the steepening ascent made this the trickiest trek of his life.

As Nick and Equium hiked further up the hill, there was no sign of the dark clouds making way. The snow on the ground was deep, but not particularly soft either. Every now and again, Nick and Equium would sink a couple of inches. Unsurprisingly, the cabin was still not in view. Equium tried to focus on something else other than the clouds, but from where they were, the view of the panorama was misty and poor, and certainly not worth a photograph.

[Idesin]

Nick just kept plugging forward. The best thing to do now was just to get to the cabin and relax. But it would be a boring walk if they were both quite. "Hey, Equium, what do you say we make some noise at least to past the time. How are you enjoying your first major accent?"

[Equium]

"If it's a sing-song you're after, you're out of luck." said Equium. "But the hike has been amazing. I can't thank you enough. Have you got another one planned?"

[Idesin]

"Nah, I meant like talking." Nick Chuckled. "Well, since I seem to have you all to myself ..." He pulled himself up a four-foot wall. Turning aorund he laid on his belly, offering a paw to his friend. "Are you still a vergin?"

[Equium]

"Dare I ask where this is going?" chuckled Equium. "I'm still a virgin, yea. I'm not interested in the whole thing, is why. Now get off your damn stomach, you must be freezing, and you're certainly getting no close TLC from me!"

[Idesin]

Nick laughed. "I was just helping you up. Don't want it next time then?" Comeing to another steep wall, Nick began to climb up. nothing dangerous, only six feet at the top, but it was still a climb with the snow. "Not intersted in it, eh? Then what was all that staring at me changing this morning, eh?" He laughed, letting Equine know he was jokeing.

[Equium]

((Equine?? :lol:))

"Ah, I'm sorry, Nick. I was just distracted." blushed Equium, sheepishly. "Don't tease me like that."

Equium let out a smile as the two of them walked and talked. "I'd definately do this again though. It's been bizarre, but awe-inspiring." As the two of them kept going up the incline, Equium felt a spot of rain on his forehead. He peered up, and saw the clouds looming.

[Idesin]

Nick looked around. "Strange, rain at this elevation and temperture." Shrugging, he contiued to walk. "I think it's about time for a lunch stop, what do you say? ... I think that cave up there is the halfway mark for us."

[Equium]

"It's only light rain, thanks to these high clouds." said Equium. "It'll probably be hail down on ground level." The cabin was still not in sight, but Equium and Nick rested on some snowy rocks to have a quick lunch.

"More noodles, Nick? Or shall we just crack open some nuts?"

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. "Good call. we really don't want to get wet. Good thing it's starting to lighten up a bit." Takeing a pawfull of nuts, he squirted some water into his mouth. "how are you holding up?" he asked as he swallowed. "I piced an 'easy' mountian. You know, one that dosn't require repelling or any of that stuff. but its still a challenge."

[Equium]

"This is an easy mountain?" exclaimed Equium, taken aback. "Goodness me, I don't think I'd be able to get half way up a difficult one."

He gazed around at the now-overcast sky. Hardly surprising, as they were amongst the low clouds. Equium thought back over the last few days... the amazing views and the true experience, coupled with the sleepless nights and that one frightful hour he thought he would have to return solo. Equium too leant over and grabbed a handful of nuts from Nick. Equium didn't like nuts, but heavens, anything would do if it would give him some energy to get to this cabin he longed for. He could see this mountain was chicken feed for Nick. He'd battled far greater challenges... but Equium was forever grateful he'd given up his time to help Equium share a memorable few days. There was going down to worry about yet.

[Idesin]

Nick looked over at his friend. He tired to hold his straight face. Tried ... and failed. HE burst out lauging. "Oh god, i'm sorry, but you should have seen your face!" He enarly doubled over laughing, falling over against the side of a tree, barely able to keep himself up. "Hee,hee,hee. Sorry." He tried to straighten himself out. "Sorry, sorry. Your fur just went blanch white. I mean, it looked like you had seen a ghost." He shook his head. "Sorry, sorry. Trust me, I mean, this is like a level three out of ten. Turst me, this is fine. Your doing fine. A lot finer than you think your doing. So ... now we get to the hard part. The part that makes it a level three." He fished around for some chalk as they walked. "now, if your not up to this ..." they came to a shere rock wall. It was twenty feet, straight up. "We can go around, but this will subtract about three hours from our trip. I'll go fhirst, and secure a rope for you so that you don't have to worry about falling ... unless you can't handel it. But I have I hve the confidcne that you can."

[Equium]

Equium gazed up at the vertical climb. Nick placed a rope around Equium, which he said was secure. Equium had to take his word for it. At least twenty feet wasn't too much. It'd hurt to fall, but it was never going to be fatal. Nick wouldn't take Equium on a potentially fatal journey.

Equium placed his paws on the cold rocky surface. This was going to be tough. Equium felt Nick was almost scoffing at Equium's nervousness at climbing a mere twenty feet, but this was all new to him.

"Go on Nick, show me how it's done."

[Idesin]

Nick nodded at him. "Oh ... one last thing ... If I start to fall, move out of the way. Your not going to coushin my fall much, and we don't need two people with broken limbs." He smiled at him. Rubbing his gloved paws together to get some warmpth, he placed one on the rock, and began lifting himself up. Thankfully the rock was fairly rocky, with lots of paces for paw and foot holds, but not so much that he would have to hold his body out. Pulling himself up inch by inch, he began to climb up, andin no time was five feet up. "Watch what i'm doing ... I mayneed you to help me spot some holds when I get up farther."

[Equium]

Tentatively, Equium placed his right paw and footpaw onto the wall. He certainly wasn't going to bother with the three hour walk when this obstacle could be conquered. He could see Nick taking it slowly, taking his time, measuring every step. And he was the experienced one. Gingerly, Equium, not of peak physical strength, shifted his wright to his right paw and brought his left paws up and across onto something stable.

At this point Equium was roughly nine inches off the ground, but this fall would be as bad as any in his find. Not a great fan of general danger, Equium. He continued, finding enough space to put his paws into a gap that would hold him up. He watched Nick closely to see what he should be looking out for.

[Idesin]

Nick hears something behind him. "Equium, are you climbing? Please, drop back donw. If I fall, I don't want to hit you. Please, ... stay there, I don't want to have to worry about you. When I get up top, I'll set up a belaying rope, as I said before, so that you don't have to worry about falling. Trust me, it's much better that way." Not waiting for a response, he scrambled up a few more inches, paushing, looked, and then pulled himself up again.

[Equium]

"Sorry", Equium mumbled. He jumped onto the ground, no more than 2 feet below him. Nick slowly made his way up the face, inspecting every rock and every dent to get a good foothold. As Equium playfully kicked the snow around him, Nick got closer and closer to the top.

[Idesin]

Nick had gotten higher and higher. He was glad he had decided to leave his pack down on the ground below, because this was getting a LOT more teriffying than he rembered. Howver, the climb was relitivly easy, he was finding enough hand and foot holds. He was actualy almost suprised as he reached the top, so focused was he on the wall. Pulling hhimself over, he laid there panting for a little bit.

Takeing the rope off his back, used the proper clamps to belay it around a tree, and then threw one end over. "Hey, tie one of our packs on, I'll bring it up, then the other, then I'll belay you."

[Equium]

Equium nodded and proceeded to tie the backpacks around the rope. He was never very good at knots, so he simply tied the rope around the straps at the back and did a simple shoelace tie.

He watched the backpacks go up the wall one at a time like some peculiar vertical conveyer belt. When the rope came down for the third time, he tied it around his waist and once again placed his right paws on the wall and started to find a grip. He could feel Nick pulling on the rope making sure Equium wasn't going downwards at speed any time soon. Before he knew it, he was half way up, and getting more and more nervous.

[Idesin]

Nick looked over the side. "Don't stop now! Your doing beautifull!"

(don't really knw what else to say >.<)

[Equium]

((Sorry, my bad.))

Step by step, Equium climbed. He was repeatedly going over the phrase of "twenty feet", reminding himself that it wasn't that much of a fall. He started to slow as he got to a smoother area, and the pawholds were getting further and further apart. Equium was looking around constantly, and feeling the pressure, and he sure as hell wasn't going to look down any time soon.

Nick was shouting down the rock, pointing out pawholds for Equium. And when one of the pawholds under his left foot started to crumble, Equium panic-strickenly lunged towards another one, finding himself out of position.

Following encouraging words from Nick, Equium steadied himself and continued to climb. This was taking longer than he had hoped, but the top was close! The view was gorgeous, but for the first time, Equium simply didn't care. He made his way to another hold, and thrust out a paw to Nick.

"You need to climb up one more hold, Equi!" hollered Nick. "I can't... quite... reach you." Nick was doing everything he could to help out Equium but Equium couldn't see another hold. His heart was beating so fast it was almost a buzz, and then while looking for another hold, he looked down. And as he did, his grip on his holds tightened, and he froze. The phrase "Twenty feet" circulating around his head had been erased, replaced with the more ominous "I'm out of my depth". Nick shouted something, but Equium had zoned out. Suddenly, he realised if he fell, he'd be a case for Mountain Rescue. Nick shouted something else. Equium looked down again, uncontrollably, and tightened his grip.

"EQUIUM!" bellowed Nick, in an attempt to gain his friend's attention. "THERE!"

Nick pointed frantically at a small indent. Big enough to put pressure on, but not big enough to grip. Equium paused, before taking a deep inhalation and, putting all of his pressure onto his right footpaw, went for the hold. Hurriedly, he put his paw on the hold and in the same motion, thrust his left paw upwards towards Nick. Nick gratefully recieved Equium's paw, and gripped it strongly, and immediately pulled him up.

Equium lay belly-up in the snow, gazing up at the sky. "I did it." he whispered to himself, following it up with a series of sighs and heavy breaths. He stood up and peered over the edge of the wall. Smiling to himself, he turned his tail, got his rucksack, and he and Nick set off once more.

[Idesin]

Nick had began to worry about his friend, that he would frese. He had gone the wrong way towards the beggening, going to a portion of the rock wall that was much smoother than what he had gone up. He shook his head, he would have to show him where he wen't wrong on the way back down.

Grabbing his paw, he pulled his friend up. Pulling with almost superhuman strenght, he made shrue that he was up there, and that he wasn't goin to fall.

Standing back up, he really had to fight down the impulse to pertend to push him towrds the cliff edge again. He figured he would be so skitish that he might actualy fall over.

"Allright ... You did a real good job, much better than I would have if I hadden't been pratticig for seval months. You did good. Now, we've only got a few more hours ... and two more cliffs, if the map is right ... You want to stop for lunch soon?

[Equium]

"You could offer me a toasted caterpillar and I'd eat it." replied Equium. "I am starving."

The two of them sat down on some cold rocks and set up the food equipment, probably for the last time before reaching their goal. Equium looked back over the last few days... that wall... losing Nick in the forest... cold, sleepless nights. He wondered what was keeping him going. Was it ambition? Did he need to prove himself to anyone? No - he was just enjoying it. He was enjoying spending days with his good friend Nick, and exploring new realms and weird new surroundings. And he would bet all his money that Nick, despite being a dab hand at this, was it enjoying it too.

Equium dropped the noodles into the boiling pot. He was almost sick of the sight of noodles, but they kept him warm and kept them going.

[Idesin]

Nick heard hat sigh. Inwardly he smiled. Boy, would he be suprised for what he had saved up for the trip back down. He licked his lips for what he had savedfor desert on the last nigt, a no-bake chese cake ... He jut knew his frieds eyes were going to pop out of his head when he saw that.

"Why don't you try a differnt flavor with the noodle. Say, Chicken?"

(lets have a little discusson before we carry on, eh?"

[Equium]

Equium turned his head to Nick. "They all taste the same to me now. It won't matter. It'll do though." Equium fetched out the slightly dirty plates from the bag and dished out the noodles onto the china.

Equium sat on the rocks again and handed the food to Nick. "So, how have you found this, Nick?" he asked. "You keep saying this an "easy" climb... but boy, I'm not sure. I mean the snow is deep, the climb is steep, y'know, it's been tricky. Well, for me anyway. I need to ask - what is it that keeps you going when you get midway up a climb and are freezing and alone?"

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. Holding his camping folding plate between his legs he thought for a second. "Well, first, I NEVER do something like this alone ... that would really suck. First, theres nobody to help out if I fall and hurt myself, and secondly theres nobody to talk to." He laughed. "A hike is the beast way o force social interaction between people. It's a great way to talk and learn about each other. And while it's not the easiest climb i've ever done, the easy part comes from the fact that there is a nice clear trail, a genrealy gentlie slope, and the fact that there are good places to camp out." He slurped up more of his noodel. "I also like being forced to be otuside like this ... It's better than a week of sitting on the computere, eating three huge meals, and it's defintly a lot more enjoyable, and a lot more natural work out than going to the gym. What about you? why did you dedied that ou wanted to come with me this time?"

[Equium]

"Because it was new." said Equium. "New, and peculiar. Physically, it hasn't been a barrel of laughs... in fact, it's been pretty trecherous. I just wanted to prove to myself I could do something like this, and prove that I could enjoy something like it too. All I can say is, I hope you've actually enjoyed it - and you're not just saying that."

[Idesin]

Nick laughed. Leaning over he grabed his friend around his neckandgave him a quick noogie. "of couse i'm haveing fun you booger!" he laughted heartily. "And you've defitnly proven yourself, I've never seen somebody do so well on thier first run! I think your actualy a lot more prpare than you think you are."

[Equium]

"How bad is the trek back down?" enquired Equium. "Generally speaking, is it quicker, is it easier? No... damn walls?" Equium chuckled. "Oh - and if you are going to use the word 'abseil' in your answer then I think I might just stop up here. The view, after all, is... well, it's something quite special."

[Idesin]

(what word?)

Nick smiled at him. "Nah, it's fine. You'll have to rappel down the walls, but it should be relitivly easier. Pluse, with all this snow, I think we can lay out slidea little, should be fun!"

[Equium]

("abseil")

"We're going to slide down the mountain?" Equium's eyes lit up with a sense of child-like excitement. "That sounds amazingly dangerous.", he said, with a broad smile across his face.

"Is the danger an element as to why you keep doing this?" enquired Equium, as he rubbed snow onto his empty plate. "Fear of death, fear of injury... is it something that motivates you, knowing that you've done them all so far without seriously hurting yourself?"

[Idesin]

"No, only a fool would do something like this to defy death." He looked around. "I like the feeling of bieng ... of being sucsessfull, of seeing that I've made it to the top, that i've compleated something. To do it becasue it's dangerous is ... thats just supid."

[Equium]

Equium nodded. "Yes, I can see why you feel so successful. I can't wait to get to that cabin and look out across everything we've just accomplished." He paused in thought. "It will be something special."

Equium emptied the pot of water back onto the waiting snow and began to pack up. The next couple of hours would be it. No stopping, no waiting. The final incline would be the final climb to where he and Nick wanted to get to. And from where he was standing... it looked like the hardest climb of them all. An Equium from last week would have turned away at this point and gone. But not now. There was no going back - and he was determined as ever.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. "Rember, two more walls, and a lot more steep climbing. It's goin to be great! just think of that bgreat big cabin up there!" He said, getting up, hitching up his ppack, and getting ready to go forward, up the mountian.

[Equium]

"Two more walls? Oh man..." Equium thought. Yet, he kept smiling and he kept perky. A reluctant Equium could prove fatal if these walls were going to get climbed. Equium hoped that the two of them had already cleared the harder ones. Equium squeezed his plate into his backpack and hopped after Nick. He didn't need to walk up this bit to know it was getting steeper, and he would certainly find this bit harder. But he took with him Nick's words, "Just think of the cabin... just think of the cabin... the feeling of being successful"...

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at his friend. "Come now .. lets talk, it will make the time pass easier ... and it will let me know if your gettig too tired. So then ... you have yoru eyes on any girls yet?"

[Equium]

Equium kicked some snow as he walked. "Pah. I don't have any luck with the vixens. And I sure don't think I'll find any up here." he chuckled. "I'm too shy. I've seen too many of my friends make total fools of themselves trying to get lucky. As it stands, I'm waiting for somebody to find me rather than the other way around."

[Idesin]

Nick chuckled. "Well ... why don't we ask some along next time we go climbing?" He grabbed a rock to help pull himself up the incline. "You need to take some sort of iniative. Why not ask them to hang out like this first? Let all sorts of awquward tension build up, and see if it can go anywhere?" He looked back, offering his paw if his friend needed help.

[Equium]

"'Optimistic' is the word that springs to mind." laughed Equium. "If you want to climb another mountain some day, and you want more people along, you've got my phone number. Just let me know. I'll be round."

Equium grabbed his friend's paw as the incline steepened suddenly. After negotiating a tricky incline, Equium managed to slip over on one of the flattest bits of ground they'd encountered so far, forcing Nick into howls of laughter. Equium stood back up, struggling to hold in his own laughter.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. "Well, thank god for that! I had begun to worry that you'd been pray to body snatchers, what with all this optimism about climbing!" He smiled at him. Coming around a bend of evergreen trees, they came to another wall, this one slightly higher. "So ... feel comfortable, or should I climb this one first again?"

[Equium]

Equium looked up at the wall. It looked like the last wall. He knew what to do, but still was not confident enough to tackle it first.

"Go on, Nick. You tame it for me and I'll just follow your path." chucked Equium, placing his rucksack on the floor.

[Idesin]

Nick nodded. "Sure thing." Dropping his pack to the ground he looked up at the stone. It was cold to the touch, like last time, but he had a nice set of climbing gloves, so he wasn't worried. The rocks were a little less obvious here, but there did seem to be a path that was a bit more obvious. Taking a hand hold, he began to work his way up.

[Equium]

Equium watched his friend calmly climb the rocky face. There wasn't a bead of sweat falling off his feline friend... this wasn't even a challenge. Equium watched where Nick was going and tried to memorise the route for when it was his turn. He kicked some snow and watched as his friend made it about three quarters of the way up without any problems.

[Idesin]

Well, Equium was wrong about one thing. Despite the cold, Nick was sweating, quite a bit. But he was able to make it over the rock wall. Throwing himself over the side he found a nice sturdy place to clip in his caribeener and threw down his rope.

[Equium]

To Equium, it looked like another worry-free climb for Nick. He does this all the time, Equium expected him to get over these in his sleep.

Equium grabbed hold of the rope and tied it around himself. He tentatively put his footpaws on the base of the wall. He put his paws on a small hole further up and slipped off the wall. Dropping back onto the snow a full six inches below he just breathed out and gathered his thoughts. Basically - don't be so complacent. He moved slightly to his right and began the climb again.

By the half way point he was starting to struggle. Those noodles hadn't given him the energy he needed and he was starting to find difficulty in pulling himself up.

[Idesin]

"Come on there buddy, whats holding you up? Can't face the prospects of noodles again for dinner?" He let out a laugh. "Come on, you know what to do now. If your finding it hard at all, thats because of your own self doubt. Let go of those feelings, let the mountain flow with you. It's not a thing to be concored, but a partner to work with. It's climbing you as much as your climbing it."

[Equium]

Equium raised an eyebrow. "In the grand scheme of things, the mountain isn't climbing me at all." he thought. "Still, he knows what to do."

Equium stopped worrying about his sweat and his weaknesses and continued to strain his arms, pulling himself upwards. Nick told him to "feel the mountain". Boy, he was certainly doing that. And then some. There were more paw holds on this wall, but the prospect of noodles was hardly an initiative.

Equium took his time, and reached the top of the wall in almost twice the time it took Nick, but Nick was helping all the way, pointing and telling Equium where the best route was. Equium rolled onto the ground an lay on his back again, breathing heavily.

"And there's one more of these to go?" gasped Equium.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled down at his friend. "Dear dear ... you have to view the mountain as a friend to be played with, not an adversary to concer." He offered him a paw, then drew something out. "Something tells me you might like this." With a smile he offered him a heresy's bar. "for making it this far."

[Equium]

"A Hershey's!" Equium squealed with delight. Oh, he did like his chocolate. This would provide him with some short-burst energy, certainly. Equium took the bar out of Nick's paw, looked at him, and smiled. "Thanks, buddy." he said, getting to his feet.

Equium gazed around as he stood. He literally could see for miles. Everywhere was coated with snow, and it looked absolutely beautiful. Like a fantasy. Like some sort of stereotypical "ice level" in a game. Except he was seeing it for himself. He smiled to himself, unwrapped the chocolate bar, and he and Nick set on their way once more.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at him. He knew the chocolate would have the desired effect. Together, they kept on walking, helping each other up over small ledgers and rough inclines.

(you want to be the one to mark out the next wall?)

[Equium]

The trail was noticibly steeper, although the snow was thinner, so easier to walk through. Nick and Equium followed a path around a corner, when they were presented with two choices. A nice stroll around one side of the mountain, or that third and final wall.

Equium still wasn't confident enough to go up first, so he beckoned Nick ahead of him. This wall was the tallest of the lot, but would probably save them a couple of hours of hiking. It was practically vertical, and had a bit of snow in some of the pawholds.

"Do we want to do it?" asked Equium "Or is it better to take the long walk?"

[Idesin]

Nick looked up at it, and whistled. Looking up at the wall, he smiled. "What do you say friend. Can you do it? I think you can, but it's all your choice. IF you haven't developed the self confidence that will allow you to climb this, to do so with my help, then you aren't ready for it." He smiled, hoping that he had hit the nail on the head for him.

[Equium]

((Jesus, I actually forgot about this! Sorry Idesin!))

Equium looked at the wall. He turned his back to it, and then turned round again, on an enthusiasm and emotional high. He then twisted his neck round to Nick, and uttered: "I'm going for it."

Nick wasn't expecting this, and it took him by surprise. He wanted to try and guarantee the safety of his friend but Equium was struck with tunnel-vision and he was certain he could do this. He was suddenly glowing with confidence, after the last two successful conquers. This wall looked identical to the last one, if a little taller. He took in his paw a small ice pick, kicked the snow off his spiked boots and set about finding the best path upwards.

"Nick, if you see somewhere I should go, shout up and let me know!"

[Idesin]

Nick Smiled. This had worked even better than he could have imagined! He was going to tackle it by himself! He smiled up at him. "Sure, of course. Just take your time. You really can't get too hurt from a fall on this one, it's got a nice spiky slope to slow your fall. Go on friend, I have confidence in you."

[Equium]

Blinded by raw determination, Equium attacked the wall. He was alert, and was using what he had learned from the last two walls, and from watching Nick, to get a good grip in every possible hold. He wasn't being silly, of course. He wasn't jumping like a gecko from one hold to another. He was managing his time and making sure each hold was secure.

After several minutes, Equium had worked himself halfway up the wall. He was sweating and starting to ache, but he was climbing past that. He carried on, until he came to a very obvious fork in his path. He couldn't carry straight on, he had to go left or right. He called back down, "Nick, which way should I go?"

As he called, he looked back at Nick... and his heart froze. He had underestimated just how far up he was. What the hell was he doing? Half way up a cliff side with no safety gear? With no experience? His eyes widened and his ears perked up. Good God, what if he fell now? Equium heard Nick shout to him.

[Idesin]

"Take the left path! And when you reach the top I have something for you." He had seen his friend freeze up. "Just five more feet to go, and when you get to the top I have peperoni and monteray jack cheese! Oh, and some special cookies I've been saving for you!" He really hoped that his friend could push past this. He was so close, really almost 3/4ths of the way up, it would be worse for him to go back down now.

[Equium]

Equium let out a short, sharp breath, which would have been a chuckle under normal situations. As if Nick had hidden cookies from him.

"Damn it. Nick has had these cookies all along. But he was saving them for when we got to the goal? God dammit, he must have believed I could do this!" Equium made his way to his left, the ice crunching under his paws. "Well I'm not doing this for the cookies. I'm doing it for Nick!"

Equium strained and stretched to every hold he could get his paws into. He bit his lip as he pulled himself up further than he had done before. Nick shouted something, but Equium couldn't hear... his eyes were on that ledge at the top - almost within touching distance!

He thrust out a paw and grabbed onto the top of the wall. Digging his claws into the ground and scraping them against the frozen floor, he hauled himself slowly onto the top, and for the third successive time, he fell forward and rolled onto his back. Looking up at the sky, he smiled. He was exhausted, but it just wouldn't have been a thrill if he wasn't. He went to take his rope off his waist, and it finally sank in that he'd done it solo. He laughed and shed a single tear, before punching the air - a beaming grin on his muzzle.

"Do you want me to throw down the rope?" he called down, but Nick was already on the wall.

[Idesin]

Nick looked up. "sorry, thought you were in trouble." He laughed. "Yeah, toss it down, pull up the two packs first. Damn man, you really earned those cookies, and more!" He smiled up at him. "Hold on, let me take a photo!"

Taking the camera out he snapped some celebratory photos of his friend at the top. "way to go man! Alright, start hauling up the packs. Only a mile and a half from the top of this cliff to the cabin!" He smiled up at him.

(quick question: would it be bad if an ... acident, were to happen to Nick? say, a fall from ten feet up that strains an ankle?)

[Equium]

(Sure, go for it, you're as much a part of this as I am! :-P :lol:)

It was the home stretch, Equium could feel it. The warm cabin was in touching distance, and with the final wall conquered, he was smiling broadly. He pulled on the ropes and pulled the cases up until they were resting at his feet.

[Idesin]

"Alright, up I come, send down the line"

Nick tied the rope around himself. It had been a while since he did it without a climbing harness, but it should be fine, right? Starting his climb up he realized that it was even harder than he thought. but it should be no problem for him, right? Shrugging it off he began to climb, knowing that the rope would catch him if he fell. Thinking about what to do once he was in the cabin, he misplaced a paw. With a gasp he fell, and then he continued to fall. It took him a moment to realize that the rope was hanging there above his face. He must have not tied it properly! With a sickening crunch he hit the ground. Instinctily grabbing his ankle he let out a gasp.

"OWWWW! Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! NO! Don't come down, I'll be alright... F-FUCK! OW!" He twisted over. Part of his mind realized that there was no blood no the snow, so he couldn't be that hurt.

[Equium]

Equium had seen the rope go slack and had peered over the edge. He didn't see the fall, he just saw Nick rolling, squirming, wriggling on the floor. Equium's jaw dropped, and he recoiled in horror.

"Nick, God no!" he called. "Are you alright?" He couldn't hear him properly. Did Nick say "Come down" or "Don't come down"?

Equium suddenly sat on a rock and put his head into his paws, and, in his mind, went through what happened. A rope like that wouldn't snap, Nick must have not tied it properly. Yet, Nick was the one who showed Equium how to do it at the foot of the first wall! What if this had happened to him?

Nick was still on the floor and moving less. Equium's heart was beating at a million beats a minute, almost buzzing like a cell phone in there. Once again, he called down to try and get a response from his potentially injured friend.

[Idesin]

"I'm alright, I'm alright" He sucked the air in though his teeth. "I just got careless. Done this so many times I figured i could do it in my sleep." He let out a grin chuckle. "Don't worry, I made sure you were tied in good because I was worried about you." He tried standing up and fell back down. "I think I strained my left ankle. It wasn't that much of a fall. Toss the rope back down, and I'll start up again ... but your going to have to pull alot harder. I won't be able to use my right leg." He stood up gingerly, putting all his weight on his left leg.

[Equium]

Equium took one end of the rope and looped it around a rock, making a U shape. Wrapping the end around his right wrist, he rubbed his paws together and got a grip on the rope.

"Ready when you are!", he called down the wall. "I'll get you up!"

[Idesin]

Nick began climbing again ,but he had to really concentrate to make it up without using his right leg. Equium's help was very much appreciated. Without it he never could have gotten up more than a few inches. "Keep pulling friend ... I'm getting up there."

It took him a little longer, but he eventually made it up to the top, flopping over onto the side. "Thanks friend, your a life saver ... your going to have to help me the rest of the way too."

[Equium]

Equium tied up the ropes and put them back in the bags. He was delighted Nick had made it to the top, but was exhausted from pulling him up. Nevertheless, it was worth it all to get him sitting atop this wall. And Equium would gladly be an extra leg for Nick for the remaining couple of hours.

"Hmm... a sprained ankle won't go away in a couple of hours." said Equium. "Want me to put some snow on it to try and numb the pain?"

[Idesin]

"No, I just need to get it bandaged up and try not to move it. If I take it out of my boot it will be too swollen to put it back in to continue. We just got a mile and a half to the cabin, shouldn't be so bad, right?" He smiled up at him, trying to hide the pain. "here, give me my pack. I'll just put my arm over your back, and you do the same. walk on my right side and we'll get there eventually. hehe, worse comes to worse we'll use the sleeping bag as a sled, right?"

[Equium]

"Nick, if you're in pain, let's stop. Let's rest. You don't have to put on a brave face to try and impress me. Let me know if you need a break."

Equium put his arm around Nick's shoulder and Nick did the same back. Equium slowly walked on, with Nick limping heavily alongside.

[Idesin]

"Stop here, on the face of the mountain? I don't think so. we need to get into the trees,and that cabin." he grinned up at him. "Besides, don't you want your cookies?" Laughing, he continued half hopping, half liming along. "Think of this. If I had come up here alone, and didn't slip until that last wall, i'd really be shit out of luck, wouldn't I? Besides, this gives me a way to show you some hiking first aid." Chucking he pointed ahead. "See that smoke way down there? Thats where were going."

[Equium]

Equium smiled. He could see the end! He could see the goal! He could almost smell those cookies. Were he on his own, he'd have sped up to get to the target, but he had to help his injured friend through the deep snow. As they continued to walk, the cabin came into view - at long last.

[Idesin]

The cabin was a little one roomed wood log thing. It did have some advance instiation, which was good, and those who used it were expected to restock the wood supplies, and try to leave a smoker on to help lost hikers find their way there. The outside was moslty coverd with snow, but they could see the windows, which were dark.

"You know how to start a fire friend? wanna learn?" He sadi witha grin as they got closer.

(Feel free to describe the interior. It's stocked every so often by helicopter parties)

[Equium]

They approached the cabin, with grins on their faces. Nick ushered Equium to open the door and go inside. Equium did so, and gazed around at everything he had worked so hard for.

It wasn't Buckingham Palace, but it was a million times better than those infernal lean-tos they had been in. It was actually quite lush on the inside. It had been well built and was very sturdy. It was a completely wooden frame from top to bottom except on the left hand side was the chimney, made of very old bricks. There was wood in the fireplace and a small basket of reserve wood to push on top if the wood in the fireplace got weak. Next to the fire place were a couple of big welcoming armchairs. Straight ahead of them was a table with a small radio on, and a small painting hanging from the wall. Against the wall were a couple of cabinets. There was also a bookshelf, with a large collection of books, some of which looked like they'd been brought here by climbers and left for others. Against the right hand wall, were a couple of double beds, lying end-to-end. As they entered, they noticed a door on their immediate left. This led them into a rudimentary kitchen, which had a big sink, a very old cooker and grill and some plates and cutlery, again, left behind by previous climbers. On the right hand side, just at the end of the beds, was another door, which led to the bathroom. A toilet, a weak-looking shower (but any shower would do) and a small sink.

Nick closed the door behind him as Equium slumped into one of the armchairs, happy and content that he had done what he had set out to do - something he considered impossible.

[Idesin]

Nick smiled at his friend. "Worth the climb?" With a chuckle he went over to the fireplace. Taking some of the kindling and a large log he set up a lean-to style fire starter. By laying medium to small sized sticks against the main log and filling the area between them with the kindling, he was soon able to get a small blaze going. "now we just have to watch it and feed it larger sticks. That log will provide a nice bed of coals ... now, I owe you some chocolate, don't I?" He smiled. "Check the kitchen, see if they have any other supplies, I'm going to throw my stuff out on one of the bunks."

[Equium]

Equium glanced around the cabinets.

"Some kind soul has left tins of soup!" he called back into the room. "I'm sure they'll come in handy!" He opened more cabinets. Nothing spectacular, though. Pots, pans, a couple of towels and what looked like the most lethal cheese grater in all the world. In the final draw he checked, some matches! Another useful item for his imaginary inventory he had drawn up in his mind.

[Idesin]

Nick was going between tending the fire and arranging his stuff on one of the bottom bunks. "Cool, just remember to water it down if it's condensed. had a bad experience with that once ... tomato soup has never been the same since." He chucked. Just see if the cabin is still tight ... Oh, and turn on the radio when you get the chance." He fed the fire a few more sticks. "when do you want your chocolate?"

[Equium]

"As soon as possible!" called Equium, slamming some cabinets shut.

He wondered back into the living room and examined the radio. It was battery powered. Did he have batteries? He'd better go and re-scale the cupboards later on. He flicked the radio one and frantically searched around for a channel, before finding the local district station and some very cool jazz coming out of the speakers. He leapt onto his bed and put his paws behind his head, sighing with content.

[Idesin]

"Hold on, we should probably check the weather channel" Moving over, he scanned over the stations.

"Repeat: A winter storm warning is in effect for the whole area. An unexpected cold front has moved into the valley, pushing one of the largest winter storms towards the mountain then it has seen in a long while. The storm is expected to last for a week or more, and the begennings of the storm has already hit the bottom of the mountian, all travel up it has been suspended."

Nick slowly turned around, giving Equium a look that clearly said 'oh shit!'.

[Equium]

Equium said nothing, turned around and sat on his bed. He put his paws on his chin and looked out of the window. Yes, it was snowing a tad, but no more than they had encountered in their crawl upwards. He looked at Nick.

"I'm sure this cabin has withstood worse storms. They're built quite rigidly, I'm sure... what's our food supply like?"

[Idesin]

"Um ... we have enough for our hike back down ... perhaps two, three days worth. Pluse the emergency supplies up here, another two or three days ... If we ration it, I think we should be able to last the week, but then we'd also have to make it back down the mountain, unless they send help up. But this is going to be bad ... if we really want to sit this out, we have to start getting as much wood as we can right now, as well as insulating the cabin ... or we can try to make it down the mountian as quickly as posible. What do you think?"

[Equium]

"You're the experienced one, here, Nick." Equium remarked, with a slight hint of panic. "Whichever you think is safer. This place looks safer than those lean-to things we'll get stuck in... but if you think we'll run out of food... had we better not go back down?"

"There goes the relaxing success feeling."

[Idesin]

Nick chuckled. "Honestly ... if the storm is only going to be as long as they say it's going to be, we should be fine up here ... though I'm really going to hate the panic this is going to put my parents into. I told them I'd call them as soon as I get back, and if they think i'm up here ... Nah, we should be fine. If we ration, and get enough firewood. So, see if there are any ax's or bow-saws in the spare room. Were going to need a lot to last us a whole week. I'm going out right now to grab as much downed stuff as I can before the storm hits.

[Equium]

"As much as I want that chocolate you've saved for me, we'd better keep it to one side! And don't forget those tins of soup that have been left in the cabinet!"

Nick left the hut and walked around the trees outside. It was hard to imagine a massive storm was approaching because the snow was falling softly and there were no chaotic scenes. Maybe Equium was misjudging the storm, the radio did hype it up a bit, after all. Equium rummaged through the spare room, but there was certainly no axe, alas. There was a rather blunt wood saw, which would be the best bet. He brought it back into the living room and set about putting up the duo's food into the cabinets in the kitchen.

[Idesin]

Nick came back with an arm-load of kindling. "Equium! We can do that latter. There are no bo-saws at all? ... we need to get as much burnable stuff in here as possible. The storm will probably on us in about" He tilted his head "Four hours. By that time, we will have to have gathered enough wood to keep us warm and not freasing for a week. So are you going to give me a paw or not?"

[Equium]

"Sorry." mumbled Equium, as he jumped off the worktop. He joined his friend in the snow outside and started picking up twigs, sticks, branches, any bits of tree just lying about. Equium wasn't too sure just how safe the large evergreen trees hanging over the hut were, but they've stood up this long - he thought this storm wouldn't be too bad.

[Idesin]

"Over here! We've got a downed Elm." He motioned Equim over. "Break off as many branches as you can. This thing died sometime during the fall ... should be nice and dry on the inside. I'll start cutting off the bigger chunks." Working at the top, where it was thinner, only about a foot across, he began to saw at the tree, watching the sky.

[Equium]

Equium and Nick calmly broke apart the fallen tree and bit by bit, carried the wood and bark into their hut and stacked it all up next to the fireplace. The falling snow was actually starting to ease, and Equium had that lingering thought that said "Maybe we're over-reacting." Nevertheless, Nick had done a fine job cutting up the tree with the saw, and they had plenty of stock to keep them warm.

By now it was dusk, and the pair were growing hungry, but it was of vital importance that they made the food they had last the week. Equium stacked the last of the wood next to the fireplace.

[Idesin]

"Now you can start takeing an inventory of the food ... devide it up into thrity roughly equll portions, will you? We need it to last as long as we can ... I'm going to try to get some more wood." Opening up the door into the dark, Nick walked out with his light on, the snow just starting to pick up, faling in big, fat flakes.

[Equium]

"Thirty portions?" thought Equium, as Nick walked out of the door. "One portion each, fifteen portions per person, two meals a day... this'll last a week if we can pull it off." muttered Equium as he did the maths.

He took out all the food he had in his bag and rummaged through the food in Nick's bag. He collected all the food in the cabinets. It was almost like a game show. He assembled everything on the floor in front of the fireplace to add up and work it out.

Within time, Equium had got all the food ready. He and Nick had twelve packets of noodles between them. There were four large cans of soup, one can would serve two people. Add these to the two individual cans Equium had bought, that added up to twenty portions. Nick had bought some chocolate they could make last, and also had some thin cookies, peanuts and energy bars. Equium had also got some snacky fruit and nut packets, but nothing substantial. There seemed enough... if they were careful.

[Idesin]

While Equium had been counting the food, Nick had been back and forth from the cabin, dumping armloads of firewood next to the door. He was dragging back whole sections of trunk, not bothering to cut them up, for time really was of the essence. He had gotten a good amount, and the snow was really coming down now ... the wind wasn't whipping, but the snow was definitely there. He came to his last dead tree. Cutting at the bottom of it, he tried pushing it away. But suddnely a rotten part near the bottom gave way, and the tree ended up falling the other way. Nick wasn't fast enough. The trunk of the tre came crashing down, and if he haddent thrown up his arms, might have crushed his chest. As it was, he was trapped under it now, pressed down by the weight.

"Equim!!!! HELP!!!"

[Equium]

Equium heard a yelp and shouts from outside. Hurriedly, he leapt to his feet, knocking over the stack of noodles with his tail as he turned.

He clambered across the firewood Nick had brought in and peered into the hazy snow. He could see trees and a fallen stump but not a lot else. Visability had deteriorated in the last few hours. "NICK?" He yelled into the frozen arena.

He once again heard a cry from his friend and he began to run over to the fallen stump, where it sounded like the cries were coming from. He stumbled over snow-covered stumps as he arrived at the stump, to stop dead in his tracks, seeing his friend stuck underneath, visibly struggling and trying to lift the stump off himself.

"Don't panic, Nick!" shouted Equium, unnecessarily loud. Equium put his paws around the stump but it was too large to grip properly. He sunk his claws into each side but didn't have the strength to lift it off his crushed friend. He removed his paws and placed them both on one side, in an attempt to roll the stump off. He pressed into the stump, but his hind paws were slipping in the snow. His boots were not gripping! Remembering what he'd learned about grip climbing the wall, he turned to the other side of the log, where he was able to push the stump with the wind, rather than against it. He kicked some snow and rested his boots on some buried wood and pushed with all his might. He could feel it moving slightly. "Push, Nick! Push upwards with everything you've got!" Nick put all the energy he had got left into it, but he was near exhausted from all the chopping he'd done. Suddenly, when it looked hopeless, the stump gave way, and Equium fell forwards, rolling the log to safety, and falling on top of Nick in the process.

Equium soon got up and lent a paw to his injured friend. Out of breath, and visibly shaken, Nick gripped Equium's paw and helped himself up.

[Idesin]

Nick was breathing quite roughly, and coughing every once in a while. It was a testimant to how much he hatted sitting the cold that he actually had to think twice about leaving the large trunk behind. But he did. Putting his arm around Equium, he hobbled his way back towards the cabin.

"Dude ... thanks for saving my life." Was all he could say as the wind picked up. He wasn't sure what was injured, he just knew he really wanted to lie down on something soft without anything on his chest.

[Equium]

Equium didn't say anything. Had he really just saved a life? For the first time ever? Or would Nick have found a way out of it if he was on his own? If he had just saved a life... good lord... what a moment.

Equium helped Nick back into the cabin and helped him onto his bed, removing the backpacks. He went over to the fire, put some wood on and lit it, to try and keep his friend warm.

[Idesin]

The fire was going good. The cabin was mostly secure, so it kept a good amount of heat in. Nick laid down, feeling himself. "ooooh, ... I .. I can feel everything, that's good ... but mostly I feel how much it hurts." He reached down, and pulled the sleeping bag up over himself. "Now, Equium ... the biggest danger now that were sure we have food and heat is not to get cabin fever ... please make sure that radio has a good power source, and ... well, I hope you brought cards or something." He laughed, which quickly turned into a cough. "Sorry about stranding you up here friend ... I knew the weather was looking a little iffy ... I should have waited till I was sure we'd be O.K."

[Equium]

"It's not your fault. Is cabin fever that thing where isolated people go mad?" Equium stoked the fire.

"I don't have my cards with me... but! I did see some in one of those drawers in the kitchen!" Equium darted into the kitchen and into the first draw, where sure enough, lay a very used pack of cards. Good. So he wasn't having mirages yet.

Equium counted the cards in front of the fire, with his tail wrapped around his torso. "There's no five of clubs. But we can do without. We'll make our own damned five of clubs!"

[Idesin]

Nick laugh/coughed, sitting up. "You know, with you around I don't think I'm going to have to worry about being board." He smiled. "So ... I suggest we try doing something that will pass the next week ... you have any ideas?"


(hehe ... this could easily turn into an RP within an RP >.< they start telling each other stories *laughs* that, or if you want, we can do what they do in books and movies sometimes, and just cut to the end of the week ...)

[Idesin]

Le bump?

[Equium]

(Eep! Sorry! Um... I vote for the "skip the week" because otherwise we'll wonder off-story. Thoughts?)

[Idesin]

(Allright ... just one question. One thing I was going to have was that somebody who was a few hours behind us coming up the mountain radios in for help, and we, or rather, you, the uninjured one, has to go out to help. what do you think?)

[Equium]

(Go for it. ^_^)

[Idesin]

About an hour latter, as the sky was fully dark, the snow falling fast, there came a buzz over the radio. "Hello ... please come in. I am stuck below the second rock wall up onto the mountain. Repeat, I am trapped. Please, If anybody can receive my signal, my batteries are about to ..."

Nick looked up at Equium. "That ... thats not good ... I hadden't though that anybody would continue up ... that was an three hours away before, but now ... Equim ... I hate to put you in this position, but ... do you ... do ou think you could be able to go help her?"

[Equium]

"But the second wall?" gasped Equium. "That's over an hour away!"

Equium looked out the window. The snow was finely falling, but was being blown in every direction by strong, icy winds. He looked back at his injured friend and sighed. He wasn't going to deny that he was reluctant to go back out there. Especially as he had no experience of climbing down the walls, or walking solo, without getting lost as he had done a few days ago.

But soon it would be dark. And that fellow climber would freeze to death overnight without question. Equium got back into his big boots, put on his coat again, and prepared for a lonely walk back to the second wall.

"Are you going to be okay?" asked Equium.

[Idesin]

Nick nodded. "Yeah ... Hold on, I think I saw something." Pulling himself up, he winced as he hobbled over to a small desk. Opening it, he smiled. He pulled out a pair of walkie-talkies and tossed one to his friend. "I think there was also some bright orange nylon rope around ... it would be smart to cut some off and tie it to a tree every ten feet, so you don't get lost in this white out." He hobbled back to the bed. "You should be fine ... we shoulde't get hit with the worst of it for a few hours ... Your going to be somebodies angle friend."

[Equium]

Equium wrapped himself up as tightly as he could, took the walkie talkie and clipped it to his trousers. He took the rope and set off.

The snow had been falling, so the tracks he and Nick had left were covered up. He had to try and memorise the path, but the snow was falling so heavily, visibility was very poor. Equium took Nick's advice, and every couple of minutes, he tied the orange rope round the tree. "Rope" was a bit generous, it merely thick string. But it stood out enough for Equium to lay out a path back to the hut.

As he walked, and got colder, he started to contemplate heading back. If this other climber was trapped under snow, they may well have died by now! And what if Equium falls upon the same fate? No, if he thought like that, he wouldn't have gotten to the cabin in the first place.

After time, the frozen fox reached the wall they had scaled last. Equium radioed back to the cabin, hoping the frequency stretched far enough. "Nick, I'm at the third wall. Uh... what do I do?"

[Idesin]

The radio beeped. "Check your pack KSSHSHSHS have some rope for KSHSHSKS something strong so you can KSKSHSHSK when you get back with KSHSKK I repeat, you should KSSHSKSS pack, I should have KSSSKCKS you to use. Tie it off to someKSSKSSKCKS can climb back up it when KSKKSKSS other hiker."

The wind was blowing fiercely. With the snow, there was no way that he was going to get a good grip on the wall, but if the strong nylon rope that had been packed held tight, and if he as able to make some knots in it to help, it would be possible to climb back up.