Citizen 1159 Addair

The weather of Barkforte was ruthless when the young Affair snuck out from the safety of their family’s home, clutching a precious piece of paper that he had come across days ago near Hollowmere.

The Isles hid many secrets, many of them which his father, mother, and by the elders, even his own younger brother, would try to sway him away from, telling Addair that the broken bones and scars he could collect during his treasure hunt could cost more than whatever he finds. Alas, the young rexal had had enough. With his throat plates almost completely grown out, he was now at the very end of his teenage years, and with that came the need to prove his own independence. A treasure hunt was just that. If he could scale to the very top of the nearby cliffs to find whatever the map was pointing towards, he could bring it home and prove once and for all that he knows what he is doing, and he does not need the constant overwatch. 

Rain began to trickle from the sky, and small rumbles resonated above the rexal’s head as he strayed further away from home until it was nothing more than a peck of dust in the distance. The cold wind whispered coldness into his fur, and he could already feel his fingertips being consumed by tingling, making their way up slowly but surely up the knuckle. He regretted not bringing gloves with him, especially for the climb that was still ahead of him, but he passed the point of no return a long time ago. Would he walk back home, he knew that the moment he’d let himself in, he’d be questioned about his whereabouts, and his spirit would falter to get the treasure.

With a deep breath, he recollected himself, unscrolled the map, and took a long look at it. The paper was quite water damaged, and most of the ink had now spread around the material, making reading it almost more trouble than it’s worth. Still, eventually, Addair managed to make out its most important depictions. Repeating directions and instructions to himself like a mantra, he carefully rolled the map back and headed towards the nearby cliff that towered above everything else. That's where the treasure was buried, or so the map said.

He had two options. He could walk to the other side, ensuring a much more walkable but significantly longer ascent, or he could climb up to the top. It was no question that he would pick the second option. He looked down at his hands with a sigh, perhaps seeing them intact for the last time, for he knew that the cliff was sharper than any blade that a blacksmith could form, and that if he was to make any mistakes, they would be cut open to then feed the rocky beach below with his blood.

With one deep breath, he began his climb, and he quickly realized how much he had underestimated this task. The rocks were slippery, and trying to take hold of them required all of his muscles to tense to hold, push, and pull himself further up. He dared not look down as he advanced, but could hear the angry waves of the ocean roar beneath him, calling for his demise.

He groaned as his hands became more slippery thanks to the waves, but he could not let go-not at the height that he was at, unless he wanted his body to break like a neatly decorated plate knocked down by kids playing around the table. After a few close calls, however, he finally made it to the top, and he immediately lay down on the wet, coarse grass, his mouth open as he caught his breath and let his arms and legs shake after the climb. He made it. His body was certainly not thankful for this challenge, but his mind never felt freer. He did it. He climbed it without any help or mistakes.

After the ache in his limbs finally subsided, he pushed himself up with a groan and began to look around, trying to visualize the X marked on the map within his surroundings. Thanks to his eagle eyes, he spotted a bigger dirt mound that had just begun to grow grass patches on it, and he knew that he had found it.

He ran towards it with newfound vigor and began to dig with his bare hands, ignoring the returning pain as he shoveled dirt away until his hand hit something small, but hard. He quickly adjusted himself to dig around it, and his eyes widened as the item revealed itself to be a small chest, neatly locked with a padlock. He lifted it out of the soil with just as much joy as frustration as he observed the chest, its small hiding unexpected weight behind it.

“This will show them…” he murmured under his breath as he put it under his armpit and began to slowly walk home, wanting nothing more than to feel the warmth and comfort of his bed after proving himself.

Author: ForgottenCerberus