Forbidden Mountain Part 5

"Father, I think the lad is awakening."

"Hello, young man. Are you lost?"

"Why, uh, no, I'm not lost. Who are you? Where do you come from? What are you doing with horses?"

"Please, one question at a time. We are travellers searching for a Healer, who is supposed to live beyond in the mountain. Have you ever heard of a special Healer in these parts?"

"No, I haven't heard of a Healer. And, I repeat, what are you doing with the endangered species? The horses do look well. You seem to have taken care of them, but you must take them back to the Scientific Institute at once. If someone finds you with a horse, you could be jailed."

"Whatever are you talking about young man? These horses belong to me. These are not an endangered species where we come from. There are thousands of horses, running free outside our encampment."

"What? Are you sure? I can't believe it. We haven't seen a horse, except at the Institute for years and years. I must tell mother about this. She'll be so pleased. Horses are her special project."

"Tell your mother? Where is she? Perhaps I could talk to her and find out if she knows of a Healer. Oh, please excuse me. I am DMan and this is my daughter, Arianna. And, you are?"

"I am Alxx. Son of Alia, Assembly Leader, and I wouldn't try to talk to her right now. I mean, I have to get back and explain why I am on the mountain, among other things."

To be continued.

Forbidden Mountain Part 4

"Father, father, come here."

"What is it Arianna? I barely got to the top of the hill, when you started calling me."

"Look over there, by that big tree. Isn't that a young man?"

"Why, so it is. It looks like he's sleeping. I wonder which village he is from. Perhaps he lives in the same village as the Healer we are looking for."

"Wait, father. Do you see his strange clothing? His vest looks like it is silver. I have never seen anything like it before, have you?"

"No, I haven't. I wonder how he came to be here - I don't see his horse anywhere, do you?"

"No, I don't see his horse either. I wonder if he walked here. If he did, then his village must be very close by. Let's awaken him and ask if he's heard of that Healer."

"Wait, Arianna. We must stay hidden for a time. This lad looks quite strange to me. His clothes are of a different material than ours. They look almost metallic. Look at his boots - they are like none I have ever seen. I don't think he's a threat to us, but you never know. We'll move the horses beyond that group of trees and then come back quietly and observe this young man."

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"What do you mean; Alxx has gone to Forbidden Mountain?"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I just blurted it out when you said you couldn't understand why my best friend wasn't here for my award presentation. I didn't mean to tell! I promised Alxx I could keep a secret, and now I know I can't."

"I know it hurts to tell me of his misadventure, but the Assembly has strictly banned going to Forbidden Mountain. As the leader of the Assembly, I will go to the mountain myself. I will take my Investigative Team and we'll try to retrace Alxx's steps. If you want to come with us, Mykk, meet me at my transporter in one hour."

To be continued.

Forbidden Mountain, Part Three

What happened so far? While Alxx is making his way up Forbidden Mountain, travellers from the other side of the mountain: DMan and his daughter, Arianna, are also trying to make their way up the mountain to find a healer for Arianna, who is suffering from an unknown illness..

"What is it, father? Why do we stop?"

"Stay quiet, little one. I'm just riding up to the top of that hill over there. I think this is the way to the next village, but I can't be sure, since I have never been there."

"Why can't the healers from our own village give me a potion, or something? Why do we have to travel so far away?"

"The healers have tried everything they know to help you feel better, Arianna. This is my last hope. There is a rumour of a healer with great powers on the other side of this mountain."

"I heard the Explorers talkijng when they returned to the village at nightfall. They said they saw bright lights below the mountain. They heard loud noises that they couldn't explain. They saw what looked like fire and objects that moved above the ground. They said it was a dangerous place and they thought it was unsafe to travel past our boundary."

"We have to go past the boundary, Arianna. That is the only way to reach the other side of this mountain. Please, don't worry. I won't go anywhere near the area where the Explorers saw the strange happenings."

So... now Alxx is headed up the mountain one way and DMan and Arianna are headed up the mountain another way - hmmm. Maybe they'll meet. What do you think?

To be continued.