I'm finally here, standing beneath the Avarus Mountain. It was described to me as the final test to all mankind. Most don't come back, the ones that do retreat to the outskirts of my homeland and mutter only the words of rejection or failure. Other travellers speak of the greatest riches any eyes have seen but still believe that it is cursed. Something far greater than we can imagine controls the curse and uses it to keep any living story from finding its way out to the real world. But if I can prove to these people that the riches can be taken then I can become something more than a lonely traveller.

The mountaineer began his first steps up the gravel path beneath the mild sun and clear blue skies. Crows watched and vultures prayed as another soul began an unpredictable journey up the Avarus Mountain. The first cave was already in view and though it was the first of five leading to the mountain top our traveller would still keep his eyes ready for anything that was thrown his way. Holding his tiny sword and shield close to his chest he continued up the pathway with ease but something was resting on his skin, a presence, as if something was waiting, hoping for his demise. He turned to look but to him the presence wasn't there, just a small gang of birds sitting quietly. They certainly wouldn't miss his trip and were sure to be with him every step of the way.
As the cave grew closer the insides became visible. It wasn't until our traveller had reached the entrance that he had found the cave to slope down deep into the side of the mountain. The slope had been transformed into a hundred steps and the walls were covered with marking the likes he had never seen. But at the very bottom two flames flickered illuminating a large gold chest covered with twinkling gems. Without thinking he began his decent down the steps throwing down his sword and shield. When he reached the bottom and glided his hands over the golden box. Lifting the lid without any effort the mountaineer looked inside. It was filled with a tinted liquid that wavered with the slightest touch. This cannot be said the mountaineer no enemies, a stair way and chest which opens for any man. Taking a small step back our traveller began doubting what lay inside. To him it was unbelievable that the chance to live forever sat right in front of him. Thoughts and emotions began filling his head with one vision remaining. What else can I find in this mountain? He thought to himself. If this is what I find in the first cave imagine what can be further up, imagine if I collect them all!
Slowly closing the chest the mountaineer steeped back and turned to climb the steps back to the caves opening. Outside the sun beat down but clouds were beginning to form across the horizon. It was no surprise that the birds remained together; watching and even the odd squawk indicated that they knew what was in store.
The slope seemed steeper leading up towards the second entrance. The lonely mountaineer felt his legs working a little harder with the feeling of eyes across his body also increasing. Reaching the second cave didn't seem too tough but when looking down into the darkness it was obvious that it was going to be rough the further up he went. The pathway down was now just a gravel slope. Setting his feet into the stones he began his decent and apart from the odd slip it was no problem reaching the bottom. Another chest sat next to a single flickering flame. He opened the chest and looked inside.
A look of confusion spread across his face as a scroll sat alone inside the chest. Pulling away the string and opening up the crinkled paper our traveller began to read the scroll and in doing so his face changed from confusion to glee in a matter of seconds. On the scroll was a letter signed by the owners of the land confirming that who ever was to have this in their possession would now take control of every acre under the control of the king. But to our explorer everything seemed too easy. How had a man with no power managed to climb two easy paths and now have in his possession the royal scroll? Placing it inside his bag he turned and continued up and out of the cave. This is just the beginning he thought I can go all the way to the top and just imagine what I can find!

'And where do you think you're going'� said a voice on the path.
'Who said that'� said our traveller turning to try and find a figure.
'Knowing my name isn't the important part of my chore. That scroll you have.
You can walk no more'� And with this a small man slowly shuffled from behind a rock. He looked old and used a walking stick to help him shuffle.
'It's mine, you can't have it'�
'I don't want your scroll. I'm just here to warn you'�
'About what? Leave me alone'� The traveller continued up the next path trying to ignore the annoying little man.
'About your scroll. You can't take it any further. You're only allowed one item from the mountain and then you must return from where you came'�

'I'm doing no such thing. And who are you to stop me anyway. I could run
you through with no effort at all'�
'Then let this be a warning to you. I live in these parts and am only trying to
help. Farewell and good luck'�
He is only trying to steal what I have found. I'll show him. By the time I reach the top I'll have more riches than that little old man could even dream of.
The third cave was getting closer and with every step thoughts of what might be in the next golden chest filled the travellers mind. If it was this easy to get control of my home land then he was surely in for something special at the top. With his thoughts occupied the sun had been covered by grey clouds and small drops of rain were beginning fall from the sky. The slope was even steeper and the rocks beneath his feet were growing ever larger as he pressed on towards the third cave.
He had finally reached the third cave opening. With the heat and the rain now begging to take its toll the vultures began to talk among themselves with the largest spreading its wings and jumping from its perch. It caught the wind and began to glide further up the mountain side. The others sat waiting, watching as our explorer entered the third cave.
The entrance was filled with darkness until you looked deep into its insides. A circle of candles danced at the bottom. Without a hand rail he slid himself down the crumbling slope until he reached the bottom. With the scroll still peaking out his bag he stopped watching the remaining stones and pebbles stop surrounding his feet. Stepping closer to the chest he lifted its lid and saw what sat upon a velvet cushion. Inside was a dagger. On the handle was a skull and in an instant he knew what it was. Anything that came into contact with the sharpened blade would die. Even rock crumbled at the faintest touch. With this and the control of the land I can become ruler forever he thought. But it wasn't enough. All the power and greed was beginning to take over our explorer. He couldn't remember the beginning of his journey and now only remained on the mountain to seek what sat at the very top. He couldn't stop himself and now the mountain had taken control.
As he began his climb back to the caves entrance the dancing candles blew out leaving him to climb the remaining few metres in the pure darkness. Only the outside sunlight that was being killed by cloud was helping. Once reaching the top he rested beneath a ledge out of the rain and searched for his scroll. But to his amazement it had gone. 'That little thief has taken my scroll'� he said to himself under his breath. He turned, looking into the dark oblivion. He could see no movement but it was the only place he could be. With rain now beginning to trickle from above the traveller lost his footing with the first step down and slid only remaining to hold on by digging his sword deep into the dirt. Nothing was here, no sound, no movement, nothing. He had lost the scroll.
Now he was angry and even though he was told he could only have one gift from the mountain his loss was not going to waste. He would continue, knife in hand and ready for the little old man to take what was rightfully his. 'It isn't enough'� he muttered to himself 'I can get more; I can take away with me more than just this knife. Only two more caves and I'll have what I came for. All the riches of the land. I've had them once and I can get them again. No one is going to stop me.'�
As the fourth cave beckoned the rain began to plunge, large drops falling like apples from a tree. But still he continued. His legs beginning to weaken until he stopped within the caves entrance.

'This is our cave'� said a tiny voice 'you can't come in with that dagger'� 'uh uh'� said another voice'� 'she's right, we don't want that in here'�

But when the lonely explorer looked up all he saw were two cute bats hanging upside down and watching with large eyes.

'I would have thought you had been told already that only one item is to be taken from the caves. If you have come this far then your to drop that dagger'�

But he took no notice. Two tiny bats weren't going to stop someone who had this dagger. One swipe and they could both be dead. He continued, ignoring the advice and kept his mind on the prize.
Beginning the decent was harder yet again. Only one tiny light flickered at the bottom and the slope was flat and wet. Trying hard to keep his balance he pushed hard against the slope and searched for cracks but it was too smooth. Out the corner of his eyes the bats flew past and with that he lost his footing sending him sliding down to the bottom of the cave. His bag flew open and the dagger sprung from his grip landing away beneath the darkness of the cave. He lifted himself from the floor, brushed himself off and looked around for the dagger. But it had gone. All his possessions were vanishing into thin air and though he had heard stories of the mountain taking what it wanted he couldn't help but blame this on the interferences. The bats could be heard sniggering to themselves within the darkness. And once they knew he had lost the dagger they flew past his head and up towards the entrance and out into the brewing storm. But even this wouldn't stop our traveller. Time and time again he had been told what he couldn't do and again he ignored the help. Now he was left with nothing. But a chest lay in front of him. Pushing the lid open and looking inside he saw just a rope. It looked normal but he knew it was special. This rope could fall to any length and be thrown to any distance. It was special but it was not what he wanted.
Throwing the rope over his shoulder he managed with the last of his strength to carry himself to the caves entrance. As he sat looking out into the storm he began, once more, to think of the last cave. What did he have to lose? Everything else was gone.
The last slope was steep, muddy and took most of the final effort he had left. But the mountain had more to throw at him. It wasn't over yet. Out of the corner of his eye a shadow flickered past, and then another. Our mountaineer pulled his hands from the mud and sludge, pulled his sword from its hold and got ready for whatever the mountain could deliver. A wolf stepped from behind the rocks with its ally close behind. But they just stood, looking and not attacking. Turning, the voyager saw an open path and a chance to run but whatever lay behind these wolves must be special, it must be worth the fight.
With the rain now beating down harder than it had the, chance to flee had gone. It was fight or die. Stepping forward he waited for an attack. The first wolf leaped, growling as he flew and with a quick turn the sword was swung and the wolf had past slipping on the mud and dropping over the ledge to the floor below. No time to look he thought as he turned towards the last thing standing between him and the riches. They both stood eye to eye and remained fixed in position. The explorer knew he had one chance and knew he had to take it now. Raising his sword he began to run using energy he never knew he had. With a quick lunge the wolf dodged the first swipe and took a leap towards his legs. Blood mixed with mud and now even the vultures were in on the act. They stood watching the fight anxious to find out what would happen. The wolf now had command. It began to creep with its eyes on its own prize. A human lay in pain and only seconds away from becoming the first meal this wolf had had in months. But the vultures thought differently. The pack flew down knowing this was for the taking. Six vultures stood surrounding the wolf before one jumped attacking. The wolf could stand its ground but taking on six vultures maybe un-wise. It changed its mind but would take action before it ran. Quickly jumping at the leader it swung its claws scraping into the vultures face. A battle took place with the rain still pouring down and our traveller still laying in agony in the mud. Pulling himself up he knew that this was time to move and move he did.
He got inside the cave. There was no slope but this time a ledge with a chasm of darkness below. Fixing the rope to a hook he threw it and began sliding down.
He had made it. The floor felt so good on his feet and while he sat surrounded by flame torches he closed his eyes and began to breath. Here was the final prize, the riches he had come here to find. He grew excited and now only one thing was on his mind, even his surrounding were being ignored. Lifting the lid on the jewel encrusted chest he looked in and couldn't believe his eyes, inside lay four items, the dagger, the scroll and eternal life. Without thinking he quickly picked them up and pushed them inside his bag, laughing to himself as he did so. Quickly closing the chest tight he turned but something wasn't right. The rope had gone. There was no way to return to the top. Only now had he seen what littered the floor. Skeletons from past explorers with torn bags and open mouths lay spread in every corner. The cave began to spin, he couldn't control his thoughts, all hope had vanished and in an instant he knew how stupid he had become. Only now he was stuck. He looked back over the mountain and felt as though he was back to his normal self. No greed, no anger, no frustration, no excuses, it was his entire fault and if he had seen this before he would be safe.
As he stood panicking wondering how to return from this mess a clump of pebbles fell against his head. He looked up and he could only see darkness. At the top of the cave on the chasms edge sat the vultures. Waiting, knowing their prayers had been answered.

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