《A SCATTERING OF BLEMISHES》


 KAHLAN CLIMBS THE MOUNTAIN

    The child was exhausted. She had been walking for a long time. Her body was telling her to give up, but a niggling feeling in the back of her head warned her that if she did, she would forever regret it. It was getting colder and the sweater she was wearing could not provide enough warmth. She rubbed her gloved hands together and blew into it. Consoling herself with this, she kept on walking.


    When her father had informed her that he was making a trip to the Caucasus mountain range she urged him to take her along. It was very unlike her.


    Kahlan had always stayed out of her father''s business. At age twelve, she was a very sensible girl and knew her father wouldn''t always have time for her. He had a business conglomerate to run.


    It was in the middle of the school year and she had no business going along with him. He had told her that the researchers he had sent there had made a fascinating discovery and he wanted to see it firsthand. He would not have time for her.


    But Kahlan was good at talking and she talked her way into the private jet that took them there. She also talked her way into getting the supplies that she carried in her knapsack on her back. Then she sneaked off into the mountains.


    Since she turned 12, three months ago. She was obsessed with this particular mountain. It happened all of a sudden as if some divinity put it there in her head that she needed to get there. But whenever she thought of how impossible it would be, she would always get depressed. So when this opportunity opened up, she was so not going to just let it pass her by.


    And now, she had spent 3 hours stuck on this mountain. The wind was blowing frantically so she knew that a blizzard was coming.


    She wondered if she was going to survive it. If she would ever get to her destination. Wherever that was.


    She had done her homework though. At this time of year, this place wasn''t supposed to be covered in snow. Still, she had researched how to recognize dangers on a snowed-out mountain. Although she knew it wasn''t likely to snow here, she still researched... just in case.


    Suddenly, she heard the sound of cracks. Like whips slashing. Her research came in handy as she realized that there was going to be a snow slide.


    She picked up the pace and catching sight of some rocks nearby, rushed over there. And in the nick of time really, a pile of snow came down over where she had just left.


    On reaching the rocks, she sat down and took off her knapsack. The hot water bottle she had carried was now stone cold. Almost completely frozen over. Frustrated, she chucked it back into her knapsack. Reaching again into the bag, she felt a packet of beef jerky. Opening it up, she rested against the snow beside the rock. As she was about to take a bite, she heard cracking sounds.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.Before she could react, the ice she was sitting on had broken and she fell into it.


    It was a long slide down. After a while, the ice turned into rocks that broke her descent.


    Grabbing onto a rock, she supported her weight, using the rock to drag herself into a stable position. When she looked up, it was a long way and it would take a lot to climb back. Down however seemed warm and cozy. So she let go of the ledge and let herself fall.


    Once she landed, she blacked out from the sheer force of the fall.


    When she came to, she felt around her head and found a bump. Pressing on it, she hoped to not have a concussion.


    She thought of her father. Would he miss her? He always seemed so aloof but she forced herself into believing he cared about her. What with all the little things he let her get away with. She wondered if he was worried. Would he send a search party after her?


    Kahlan knew how grounded she was going to get if she got back.


    ''When she got back.'' She corrected her thoughts. "Because I am going to get back. As soon as I am done with this." She muttered.


    As her senses came back to her, she looked around the cave noticing its features. It was so warm compared to the cold outside.


    It looked like an ordinary cave but she could feel distinctly like she wasn''t on the mountain anymore. It didn''t make any sense to her.


    It rather gave her that Alice in wonderland-like feel.


    But rather than chasing a rabbit, she was chasing a feeling in her gut that told her what to do. It was very strange whenever she thought of it.


    ''There shouldn''t be a volcano on this mountain.'' She murmured to herself. ''But why was it so warm?'' Brushing away this thought, she got up and picked the articles that fell along with her. The beef jerky was now covered in dust. She didn''t want to eat it anymore so she just kicked it to the side and decided to move on. But after taking a few steps, she ran back to pick it up and stuff it in the pocket of her bag. ''It''s not good to litter'', she murmured to herself again and began walking. After a while, she got to an intersection.


    Choosing the path that seemed to generate more heat, she kept on walking in the direction of the heat source.


    It was getting hotter and hotter as she walked. But Kahlan was determined. She had endured the blistering cold so she would go through this as well. She knew that if she kept on walking, she would get to it.


    Soon her sweat began to pool and drip. She took off the layers of clothes she had worn for the cold. Leaving herself in a tank top and shorts. She chucked those items into her knapsack. Remembering her water, she picked it out and drank a measured quantity. She didn''t want to run out of water before she got to it.

 Kahlan meets Prometheus

    The caverned pathway began to open wider and wider until it opened into an even wider cavern the size of a stadium.


    Kahlan walked into the cavern. Her mouth was agape and her eyes wide as she looked around.


    It was simply magnificent. The cavern was huge. Icicle-like protrusions jutted all over the wall seeming like spears hanging sideways. If one looked at it from afar, it seemed like a mural.


    The steps around the cavern were tricky. They formed a sort of ledge against the wall. Leaving a gaping hole all around between the center of the cavern and the edge. There was a sort of island in the middle of the cavern. On it lay a Giant stretched out with his hands and legs tied down with chains.


    The island he lay on opened up to the sky to reveal the sun shining and blue skies. It was a strange sight considering that there was snow outside in the direction she came from.


    But that was not the most bothersome to Kahlan. What really pissed her off was that in distance between her end and the island, there was hot magma.


    Granted, it was a steep drop to where the magma was, but the giant was bleeding. And with every drop of blood that fell into that pit of boiling magma, a geyser of hot fire would rise out.


    The giant turned as he realized that there was somebody there.


    The shock was vivid on his face. He had never expected that the human would come.


    But as his eyes met hers, he wished with all the fiber of himself that she wasn''t here.


    He had put her in danger because of his selfishness.


    When he had first experienced the bond, it was like a song, a melody sweet to his ears.


    He hummed it in his head, aloud when he was alone. But at some point, the song began to get stronger. He couldn''t get it out of his head.


    He had tried to push it away. But it didn''t work. The song was too intoxicating.


    As the song grew stronger, he started experiencing feelings that were not his own.


    Fear, sadness, joy, excitement. The whole roller-coaster. But as he was stuck in this cavern, he knew they weren''t his emotions.


    He had tried connecting with it though, the emotions. But somehow, he managed to contact the human that felt all this. He had sent his own feelings of frustration to that human. And somehow, the human was right here. She had come to him.


    He wished he had ignored it. Truly. The child was little. So fair and fragile. He disdained putting her in danger. But as their eyes met, he could feel his heart stir and begin to beat.


    The Giant was in a really bad condition. His innards had been ripped open by claws. His intestines were all over the place. And his liver was torn as if shredded.


    Not a pretty first impression.


    Kahlan could not un?see this. It was a really gory sight.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.The giant''s breathing was labored, and he seemed to be in so much pain.


    Kahlan felt that pain as if it were her own and it was gut-wrenching! Debilitating!


    Soon a huge pair of eyes met Kahlan''s. She saw warmth and care in those eyes that she had never seen in her father''s eyes. Startled, she stumbled and sat on her butt.


    "Are you alright?" The giant asked her. His voice boomed in the cavern


    "I should be asking you that. You''re hurt" Kahlan replied. "How are you still alive?"


    "It is not of consequence. It will heal in a while. How did you get here? You shouldn''t be here" he asked.


    "I came by myself. I thought you wanted me to." She replied. A bit saddened by the thought that the giant did not want her here. After all she had done to get here. She was sure though, that whatever had called her here wanted her to save the giant.


    "You should go. It''s not safe." He said urgently.


    "NO!!" she yelled back fiercely. "You''re hurt, and I''m scared whoever did this to you will come back. I''m not leaving unless you come with me."


    "What do you care? Go away human. Your kind cannot survive what is coming." He urged.


    "I SAID I''M NOT LEAVING!!" she yelled even more fiercely. She felt really anxious for him. Seeing him in danger like this, she was really worried. She knew little first aid, but couldn''t think of a way to treat the huge injuries on the giant.


    The sound of wings began fluttering like bats in a swarm. The sky above cast a shadow of 5 creatures. They were the size of humans, but nothing about them seemed humane. They had hair long and silky like a woman''s, but their faces were grotesque with evil. Their claws were sharp and bloodied. And their beak held entrails of flesh. They seemed bereft of all skin. Streamlined muscled monsters, they were. They muttered and cackled with glee over who gets to rip which organ of the giant.


    Kahlan looked up and sighted these monsters.


    "You" she growled in anger. "you did this to him"


    "Don''t" the giant groaned. "you''ll only get yourself killed! Foolish human child. Why would you risk yourself for a stranger?"


    "You''re not a stranger to me." Kahlan replied "I came all across the world to find you and I''m not about to let these monsters hurt you again"


    This set the giant thinking. He had all but given up on humankind. He did so much for them, but none of their heroes had ever set thought on freeing him or repaying his kindness. The gods were fickle-minded and selfish but that was not news to him. He knew all and held no hope for the world. His foresight was his ruin. He had given up on everything.


    Just¡­ this human child.


    She sparked a fire in his long since dead heart.


    He started to hope.


    He was not going to let this child get hurt.


    He was done giving up on himself and the rest of the world.