climbing that mountain [m]

[Kaeor]

"Shit!" My voice was louder than ever as I barely managed to grab Rin's arm. If it wasn't for the sound of the mountain's face crumbling and the very stone that she was using giving way right in front of his eyes she would have possibly been as good as gone. While holding onto her arm he managed just to realize how high they were. He couldn't even really take a clear glimpse of any specks along the ground. It was undeniable, we were in the clouds. I feared what would happen if I let go of Rin's arm and she had to take a nasty spill. Luckily I wouldn't let that happen with her under my guard.

My eyes caught the glimpse of a ledge nearby, the only spot where it seemed that I could place her safely. "Get ready Rin. I'm going to swing you to that ledge over there." I awaited for her to understand before beginning the countdown, my power fully invested in her. "1... 2.... 3!" I grunted throwing her at the precise moment where her body would be going in that direction. I had no doubt she would grab it, but even then if she managed to miss I would still be able to rescue her.

Hopefully!

SPOILER: Click to show

name; climbing mountain gekitsuu
rank; c
description; A while ago during Kumogakure birthing stages a man once made a bet with a Jounin. The man bet the Jounin that the shinobi’s current students couldn’t climb Mountain Gekitsuu. Mountain Gekitsuu is the highest mountain within’ Kumogakure no Sato and is rumored to be the started point for the famous Kumogakure no Sato village. Anyway, the Jounin accepted the mans bet because the shinobi had insurmountable faith in his Genin. Long story short the Genin climbed the mountain and returned. The Jounin won the bet and all was well. Now it’s your turn to climb Mountain Gekitsuu, and prove to Kumogakure that you aren’t just some shinobi. You’re a Kumogakure no Sato shinobi.
reward; 50 experience, 1,000 ryo
minimum shinobi; one
mission status; interminable

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[Rin]

The hard stone; the blue skies above, and the white clouds below us--and all around us--they were amazing. This wasn't something I was comfortable with people knowing: how I admired nature in its magnificent and mysterious architecture. It's workings and systems, its beauty. So, inwardly, I had to admit I was a bit excited for this mission. To climb the highest mountain in Kaminari no Kuni seemed like quite the challenge, and the sights along the way were more than inviting. Kaeor wouldn't know how I felt about the situation, however, it did seem that it was affecting me even if I didn't want to admit it.

So distracted was I by the thick fog around us that was the clouds themselves, the blue sky above them, and the sun blazing within it, that I hadn't noticed the rock I'd made to grab was loose. Cursing under my breath as I fell, I prepared to rescue myself; I coated my feet in chakra, and prepared to use a technique that few knew. It would allow me to jump off of the air itself, and in doing so, I would save myself with little effort; however, a hand wrapped around my wrist firmly, and I stopped mid-air.

"You idiot! What if you fell catching me?" I asked, looking up at him firmly. Still, since he'd gone so far, I just nodded and swung over to the ledge Kaeor had in mind. When he released me, I flipped once before pushing my legs against the air. The chakra coating the soles of my feet allowed me to jump in mid-air, rocketing even higher than Kaeor would have anticipated and grabbing firmly onto a ledge up above. With just one hand, I gracefully pulled myself up into a handstand and looked down at Kaeor upside-down.

"Be careful!" I said, as if I hadn't been the one to fall. Still, I meant what I said--if he were to grab me, and get pulled down by my weight, we'd both be nothing more than a mess at the bottom of the cliff. Then, with a smug grin, I flipped off of my hand and onto my feet before investigating the area around me, deciding how to proceed.

[Kaeor]

"Then how about you stop day dreaming and focus on getting to the peak." I retorted back bitterly. It was easy to see that she had easily upset me with almost dying, or at least that's what I thought was most likely to happen. She was way too laid back about these things and would never understand my worry. The only thing I could do was to push what had happened aside and hope that she wouldn't allow something like this to happen once more. I even shook my head as she told me to be careful, slowly making my way towards the ledge. For some reason, at this height I wasn't even close to afraid. I felt almost as if it were my "element". Or whatever that artsy type of shit meant.

My location would now be the ledge, the disdain and bitterness slowly removing from my face. "I think we should take a break." I said exactly to her. It was more so to give her time to take in the sights she wanted rather than actual rest. I wouldn't allow her to continue if she was going to remain unfocused.

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[Rin]

Was that a bit of irritation I'd heard in his voice? He was really worried, I thought, looking down at him before he finally made his way up to me. Despite the fall I'd nearly had, I was far from worried. Perhaps it was silly, or perhaps I was brave--either way, I could move confidently along in this mission. Although, I couldn't help but wonder: just how was this mission supposed to benefit the village? Sure, it was a matter of pride, but it didn't seem to be worth the payment. With a shrug, I supposed I wasn't complaining.

At Kaeor's suggestion, I stared blankly at him and blinked profusely.

"Eh? Break? Well, if you want to, sure," I said, turning away from him to stare out off of the ledge. If we were resting, then I'd have more time to take in all my surroundings! Although the pale fog that surrounded us meant I couldn't see everything as well as I could, I couldn't help but think it was amazing, too. There were still a few clouds above us, and one moved to overtake the sun's blazing glory just as I'd turned. A shadow fell over us in that moment, as the sun's rays would be unable to reach us through the cloud. So I turned my attention to the mountain itself--since we were so high up, it was beginning to get cold. Here and there, light flurries of pure, white snow scattered through the air. Almost instinctively, I lifted my hand to catch the small flurries just as the sun's pale yellow rays burst out from behind a cloud. It gave the snow a sort of melancholy glow, for the shortest of moments, and I couldn't help but grin. The smile wouldn't last very long, though, before I wiped it off of my face.

Yeah, a break was a good idea.

[Kaeor]

It was completely easy for me to see now. It was unreal, almost as if my friend possessed some sort of love and satisfied curiosity with this world around her. Which she very well did from where I was standing. Every little thing no matter how big or small to her completely mattered. It was soothing to her much like how her tebori felt on my own skin. I was surprised to find that this atmosphere was her weak spot for art and also stimulated her body and mind. I saw Rin as someone who would've liked something a bit more "land" based, to be clear. But either way this was fine, I just hoped she wouldn't lose attention again. For this "obstacle" we were venturing across provided me with absolutely no challenge whatsoever. In fact I could have been done with this mission a while ago if it wasn't for Rin needing company.

"Do you finally have your head out of the clouds so we can go?" I said, the bit somewhat literal if a cloud managed to drift her way. I stood against the rocky surface and looked up to find another nook within it. Calmly I dug my hand into that opening and prepared myself to go whenever Rin spoke.

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[Rin]

I hadn't realized I'd even spent time at all looking around myself. It had happened instinctively, and I was brought back to reality by Kaeor's words. A bit embarrassed and definitely unwilling to admit I'd held us up, I refused to even respond, but couldn't help the surprised look on my face. It only lasted a moment, though, before it was replaced with an irritated one.

"Tch." Kaeor's comment irked me just a bit, so I first leaped up--over Keaor--then again leaped, jumping upon the air itself, and landing against the mountain side above Kaeor. How long had I been distracted? I was irritated I'd let myself do so, and began to quickly scale the mountainside, leaving Kaeor behind. After all, I knew, if I were to try, I could move faster than Kaeor. That is, unless he could manage to fly using those crows of his. Either way, I'd be making swift time until I managed to find a new ledge far above us, where I'd wait for Kaeor.

Although most normal people would have to find a place to rest, and take many days to scale a mountain this large (even weeks), we were able to do it rather quickly. It would be, in the end, straining, but I knew that only meant it'd make me stronger. So, with a new determination, I was ready to climb.

[Kaeor]

Without thinking, she began to scale the mountain once more. I merely watched as I felt a bit too uninspired to follow right after her. So from the pits of my stomach, I'd expel a deep breathe, a bit tired but at the same time ready to continue. The thought of my crows entered my head, making me curious to how they all felt when they were in the sky. I decided that this was certainly a time when I should try to test my flying abilities. It would be best if I got used to it now.

"I'll catch up." I patiently shouted and slowly rose to my feet. I would slowly begin to do handseals and could feel my back beginning to arc as I did so. Oh mama say it ain't so~

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[Rin]

"You'll catch up? Well, alright," I said, shrugging and turning to face the mountain, and failing to notice the hand seals he began to perform. With the thoughts of the area around me out of my mind, I leaped forward and latched onto the mountain. The climb was almost completely vertical, and my hands were already cut up from climbing the hard rocks. Perhaps I should have worn gloves--but, then again, there was nothing like bruised and cut up hands to me. It always screamed a job well-done, at least, when it came to fighting. This was both different and the same.

Soon, the air became cold enough for me to regret my choice of red short-shorts accompanied only by a white undershirt and red jacket. Snow began to pile up noticeably on the steep slopes, instead of melting as they touched the rocks. The ledge I was about to climb up on was one such platform, covered in a pure white, and I brushed it off before flipping up gracefully onto it.

"Where's Kaeor?" I thought aloud, turning around and gazing down into the misty white haze. Even down below was covered in a white fog, so I couldn't see very far down. Though the flurries of snow were light and peaceful, the cold and high altitude made for a new set of challenges I hadn't faced. In a way, I wanted to come back up here to train. It would be more of a challenge, that way!

[Kaeor]

So just like that wings began to form on the outstretched back of Kaeor. They were marvelous and gigantic on his back, human crow wings to be exact. He had rarely performed this jutsu, but even so he still was an expert at it. He preferred to use it in the night when there wasn't anyone that could impede his progress or notice him flying through the sky. But even now he rode the wind with his powerful wings and looked back towards the mountain. Rin had managed to scale the walls of the mountain at her usual quick pace so she had to be somewhere further ahead.

A bright idea came to his mind as his wings beat against the atmosphere around him. He quickly shot upwards only to see the figure of Rin. In a sweeping motion he would grab her waist and pull her from the mountain unexpectedly. So if it worked as planned he would totally have surprised her and have her wrapped in his arms flying through the sky with her.

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[Rin]

For a while I'd wait, a quick respite from the rigorous climbing I'd been doing. How was Kaeor going to catch up? I knew I'd be able to scale the mountain faster, if it was left up only to physical ability. So why had he said he'd catch up? Did he expect for me to wait on him? There was no way to know for sure--but I trusted his word, and so I figured he'd find a way. Perhaps he knew something he wasn't telling me.

Then I noticed a shadow pass by below. It was quick--fleeting--and suddenly appeared before me again. In that instant, I felt myself ripped from my position upon the ledge with surprising force and speed, and instantly my reaction was to resist. If I fell, I'd be able to stop any chance of injury with Hien--but, soon enough, I noticed what had happened. The familiar clothes, familiar smell--a familiar presence. I looked up to actually take in whatever had swooped me up, and realized it was, indeed, Kaeor. With a surprised, wide-eyed expression, I swung my head this way and that, quite confused and amazed at the same time.

"What the--how did you?" Then, it was obvious. The powerful flapping of wings was a telltale sign, and the strong, obsidian wings sprouting from Kaeor's back explained it all. On the surface, I wanted to be angry. I wanted to show Kaeor that I didn't like being taken up against my will, and that something like this was just annoying.

But, more of me wanted to simply fly.

[Kaeor]

So Rin was now a captive in his arms as he continued to soar through the sky with her beneath him. His mind jumped back to the vivid memories of Rin staring at awe at the rocks and the layout of the mountain and almost falling. By no way did he want her to fall and injure herself, if not die, but he felt a bit bad that she saw the very world before her eyes and couldn't embrace it. Few shared the gift that he had from birth. To fly in the sky was the ultimate gift and though held sacred, he didn't find any fault in letting Rin enjoy the ability.

"It's amazing up here isn't it?" he asked with the woman beneath him. For minutes he circles the mountain and dodged the clouds before beginning a heavy ascension upwards, rapidly overtaking the mountain and soon near the pinnacle.

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[Rin]

For quite a while--longer than I'd preferred--I was captivated by the experience. The wind through my hair, soaring through the clouds and the feeling of flying. With enough willpower, I was able to stop myself from smiling like an idiot, but couldn't quite cover up the look of awe strewn across my normally hard features. Still, my body was tense--I was uncomfortable being carried as I was, whether it was Kaeor or not. Unfortunately, Kaeor knew me too well not to understand how I felt about the situation--which, in truth, was mostly complete joy and awe. The other part, minuscule in comparison but still very there, was irritated that I was being held like some damsel in distress. When Kaeor voiced exaclty what I'd been thinking, I looked up at him in surprise.

"I-I . . . o-of course not, idiot," I said, pursing my lips, closing my eyes, and stubbornly turning away from him with a "Hmph." Still, I couldn't quite keep my eyes closed or put forth much energy into ignoring Kaeor's gaze, as the prospect of being able to see everything around me more was far too promising. So, I peeked out hesitantly, much like a child, before I finally let go and simply took it all in. In that moment, it didn't really matter anymore, and the tenseness in my body all fled. I sunk down lazily, though completely subconsciously and unintentionally, and simply watched as we flew.

[Kaeor]

It totally wasn't long before we reached the apex of the mountain and I slowly began to lower. My wings continued to beat making the air visible around us as it continued to get pushed away. I would finally release Rin from my grips and allow her to land on the earth. With a gentle smile I would take a look at everything around us. We had done it. We had been apart of the select few genin that managed to scale the mountain. It wasn't anything amazing to Kaeor but he did allow Rin a few moments to take everything in. The sky was his home and there was no where else he'd rather be when it cooperated with his flying.

Throwing out a arm he would await Rin to tell him when she was ready to get back down to the land below. Once she came and answered to his call then he would grab her and be off to level zero below.

[exit w/ rin on her post]

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[Rin]

There was something reassuring about my feet touching the earth. At the same time, there was something extremely disappointing about it--and I felt myself more inclined toward the latter. With a sigh, I crossed my arms and looked about, up and down, everywhere--we'd made it to the top. This was it, our mission, complete. Apparently this had been quite a feat, although I was sure Kaeor's little detour had probably lessened the trials that it offered us. Still, it was amazing to be up so high--above the clouds, even.

But I knew our time was ephemeral, and the sooner we returned, the better. So, with one last, longing glance around, I reluctantly took Kaeor's hand to descend.

[ e x i t ]

[DAVID BOWE]

+48 -- Kae
+59 -- Rin