Sanctuary by E. Edgar Price
*****
The rain wasn’t slackening. If anything, it was getting worse. Benji’s feet were chafing in his wet boots. He slid more than he climbed. He felt like he had barely gone a mile since his late lunch, but that was already over an hour ago. The lack of progress and his growing discomfort were discouraging.
The mountainside was steep, steeper than it looked from below. Benji spent valuable time trying to find safer routes up, but eventually he gave in. There just weren’t any safe means of climbing the mountain. After a few close calls of slipping on wet leaves and mud, he decided to continue forward before attempting to ascend again.
The map indicated Thana’s home was on a ledge cut into the mountain on the other side. Benji was hoping there would be a trial once he reached the far side. It wasn’t a very logical hope considering how inaccessible this place was to begin with, but it was better than nothing.
Trudging along in the depressing gloom was depleting Benji’s energy reserves. He wasn’t even positive he was still going in the right direction and the afternoon wasn’t conducive to positive thinking. Benji kept walking anyway. His aching legs sometimes shook with exertion, but he didn’t stop. The mountain wouldn’t be a great place to set up camp and he still felt he might reach Thana before nightfall.
Hearing a sudden sound, Benji jumped, startled, and lost his footing. He slid a few feet before regaining his balance and peered into the forest below. The noise was brief, but loud. As Benji stared, the leaves didn’t move except to bend with the rain. He waited. The last thing he needed right now was to be chased by some giant mole that spit acid or something.
Nothing happened. Benji relaxed and continued his trek. He didn’t hear the noise again. False alarm. He was weak with relief and became nearly elated when the slope leveled out ahead of him. It wasn’t a true trial, and still wasn’t particularly flat, but it was better than the angle he was hiking before. Benji hoped it was a good omen.