บท 4: The View on top of the Mountain & the Ambush
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Gresvin did not wander and left the city directly after the meeting. He had made it past the city and slowly trudged through the mountain passes, winding up and down the slopes of the Howling Peaks.
Storms and weather were one reason for its infamous prestige. It was an absolute nightmare to cross. Gresvin found it very difficult to tread forward. Luckily, he did not have to take care of anything else except for the horse and his safety.
He could tread the path more quickly, but that also raised a significant concern. If he were injured, continuing would be difficult.
The path back to Hammebutd was even more treacherous than the path ahead towards the Endless Plains. He had overcome the worst part in a few days, taking his time and carefully moving along the path.
It took him almost as long to cross the mountains as it did to reach Hammerfold; he had spent almost 2 weeks traversing the treacherous landscape. Gresvin refrained from riding his horse as it would be too much of a burden for it, so instead, he carefully led the horse by its reins.
The terrain was not suitable for the horse to move with someone mounted on it. Thus, he walked for 2 weeks straight, and after all the hardship he endured, he finally reached the highest point of the mountains leading down into the valley below.
The vantage point was beautiful, and the sprawling green hills and open fields could be seen down below past the valley.
Gresvin had only to walk the last few hundred meters down the mountain and through the small forest where the valley met the plains. He stood on the last cliff, only a few hundred meters from the forest at the foot of the mountain, but he did not rush down.
Over the last month, he had spent some time enjoying the cool and refreshing breeze in his hair, the warmth of the sun against his face, and watching the breathtaking green hills sprawled out before him.
"The Endless Plains!" he sighed in relief. This was to be his home, or at least that was what Gresvin hoped it to be.
He stood on the cliff and watched the sunrise, the sun's yellow lights shedding light on the dark land to reveal the vast green beauty.
He took a few minutes to enjoy the peaceful quiet. With a deep breath, he resolved himself and started making his way down the slope. The terrain was much more feasible than the first region, but he still could not mount his horse.
Only when he arrived at the small forest did he mount it and start trotting away. Gresvin kept his guard up as he rode. The forest could be dangerous, and he did not know what could appear from its depths. His hand stuck close to the hilt of his sword, ready to unsheathe it at a moment's notice.
The sounds of rustling leaves and creaking branches echoed in the background, and melodies from the birds rang from time to time.
Gresvin found it calming. The forest was so peaceful and, in most ways, tranquil. The sounds were soothing, and Gresvin relaxed slightly because of them.
He listened to the birds' song and the musical chorus of small animals. The slow rustling sounds of the branches and leaves joined the melody to make a beautiful harmony.
He sat on his horse, listening to the forest sounds when a soft yet unrelenting sound of water echoed in his ears. Gresvin's face lit up in joy. He did not care to listen to the forest sounds any longer and rushed off towards the sound of the water.
From the journey through the mountain until now, he tried to use as little water as possible. But his water reserve had all been dried up. He and his horse would need a freshwater source if they had hoped to advance further.
He followed the sound of the water, and soon, a spectacular piece of nature came into view: a small stream flowing down from the mountain. The stream was exposed to the sun, and the water glittered like diamonds; its radiance was dazzling. The stream was surrounded by forest trees, but still, the radiant colors of the sun seeped through the canopy and landed on the crystal blue water.
Seeing the source, Gresvin quickly dismounted and brought his horse to drink. He, too, got his flask and filled it to the brim. He even took a few scoops of water with his hands to drink.
The water was sorely needed. It was cold and fresh. Gresvin had taken a few handfuls of water when he noticed his horse getting uneasy. The horse warily gazed across the stream towards a dense bush area.
Gresvin slowly stood up, took the reins, and tried to calm the horse down as he reached for his sword. Horses were known to be more sensitive to their surroundings, and the rustling coming from the bushes spooked his horse completely.
He slowly backed off; his sword was already unsheathed. He was waiting for the beast to appear.
The rustle of the leaves started to get more and more frantic. Gresvin gripped his sword tight, took a battle stance, and was ready to strike.
A few drops of sweat moved down the side of his cheek. The appearance of an unknown enemy was quite troublesome and frightening.
Finally, the beast appeared, and Gresvin was about to attack when he saw what appeared. A relatively small rabbit-looking creature, an animal who posed no threat to him or his horse.
Gresvin was surprised by the tiny creature's appearance and lowered his weapon. 'What a small thing you are,' he mumbled and crouched to look at the animal. The animal's dark blue eyes gazed at Gresvin without a hint of fear or uneasiness.
Gresvin smiled, 'It can't be he was frightened by you now, was he?' he laughed silently and glanced at his horse standing a distance away. The notion that a horse was frightened by a rabbit creature amused Gresvin. He had never seen such a display and found it amusing, to say the least.
He stood up and turned towards his horse, "It's just a small bunny. It can't harm…"
Roar!!
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