Sky's journey for the Lily

"Up up up… watch your step or you may sleep"

Sky stops in place, stunned that they mixed up words. Was it the air? Stress? Lack of sleep as they were preparing since last week for this?

"Step… watch your step or you may slip. Tumbling down tumbling down like the spider down a water spout."

Sky continued upwards, the trail wasn't too bad… until stepping on mud, slipping and sliding back to the base. They stayed on their side for a second, trying to understand what just happened.

"I just slid 9… 10 feet? How? I… the mud must have had a dry layer I broke through? Well I need to get back up and start climbing again… or I won't ever get the flower!"

They get up, picking up their bag, and stare up Saber Mountain, determined to get the rare Lily. Once passed the mud, Sky starts to break into a bouncy trot. The sun glared into their eyes, for some reason, this caused Sky to break into a run.

After a little run, dozens of sharp claw-like objects grab at their sides. Sky gasps with sudden pain but keeps going, stopping would make the pain worse. If felt like hours before the claws let go of their sides. Their green eyes open as they look back; about a mile of thorns… looking along their blue coat, they see red stains in it.

Sky looks up what they are named after, it's cloudy, and looks like it may rain. If it does rain, there will be more slippery areas… but it could clean their wounds. If it doesn't rain, no slippery areas but their wounds don't get cleaned… there's no true win.

Sky, despite pain from the last obstacle, they checked their bag before deciding to keep going. This mountain is supposed to challenge those who want to be parents, Sky wasn't going to give up. The next thing was a… river... They look closer into the water, nothing looks off? 

Stepping in, they realize it's really cold - colder than Sky usually dealt with - yet they keep going. They feel their muscles locking up slightly, the river is large, and the water is high from the snow fully melting away. Sky hops fully into the water, and didn't take into account how deep it could be. Their head goes under for a moment, but manages to get it back up over the water, they slowly kick through the water as the current pulls them towards the bottom of the mountain. They slip on a rock and struggle to get a new standing, their vision dims as they get colder by the minute.

Their joints feel like dying gears, and they have no idea if they are on rocks or dirt. Tears formed in their eyes, was this it? Was the river going to be what takes them? Their vision went black as they reached the ¾ point of the river.

It was night now when they were shocked to have awakened on the opposite side of the river then where they started, did a final rush of adrenaline kick in? They start to run while trying to get up, finding it ineffective, they stop… then gets up. Sky looks around and thinks they have to consider what for the next obstacle… mud, then thorns, then a large river…. They can't think of a connection. Sky looks up ahead and starts trotting, Thankfully the nap gave them time to warm up and have the pain subside.

They paused after a little bit, letting themself enjoy the sky, the moon, and the stars. The stars twinkled like opals; dancing on obsidian, the moon reminded them of a cloudy quartz. Sky smiles and continues, filled with a new energy and determination to get to the top. They may be behind schedule, but who cares, they were having fun despite the pain and near death experience.

This adventure has made them grow, and this is what Sky truly thought the challenge was for. You can not get through if you're not willing to grow, and be open minded. Sky continues to trot up the mountain, not seeming to find any other obstacles… were the challenges only there until the determination and growth was proven? Sky found it puzzling, if their parents told them the horrible journey the two had… was it because they wouldn't grow?

Sky shakes the stories away, it's not helpful now. Trotting up, they find more stories, more worries, more questions, more anxiety clouding their mind… What else was because their parents weren't willing to accept and change? Was anything a lie? What if Sky doesn't become a good parent? What if their love does not accept their proposal? What would happen then?

Then it hit them… they had physical challenges, this is a mental challenge! If the pain to their body cant stop them, what about the pain to their mind? Well, Sky isn't gonna let that happen! They break into another run again, keeping themself focused on the flower.

When they got up to the top of the mountain, it was hard to see even with the moonlight. Sky suddenly felt drained, and they lay down before closing their eyes again. They slept peacefully, at least that's what it looked like on the outside, they are still trying to fight the anxiety. The thoughts of their love rejecting them, it wouldn't let go.

Dawn breaks as Sky wakes up, there was dew on their coat. The air was fresh, they breathed it in then sigh, they may never get past the challenge of anxiety… but hey… this journey has definitely made it just a bit easier. Sky looked around for a bloomed flower, and tried to pick the oldest one there. Placing the flower into their bag, and started to head down.

On their way down they began to notice easier ways through each obstacle, thankfully Sky could take those to not damage the flower.

"Tip tap tip tap on the morning dew, the adventure is only half way through. Now it's time to tip tap the way home…"

They softly sing to themself, it keeps them awake, and helps them notice small things as they go. Going over a bridge that crosses the river, they noticed small fish swimming around, but couldn't tell what kind they were. When crossing through a trimmed path of the thorny vines; they realized that they were blackberries waking up from the winter, and buds were starting to grow. The muddy patch had dried, and the marks of them falling down and going back up looked like birds hovering over a sleeping tree.

"The challenges, they wake up to allow the challenger to grow. To have the open mind and determination to be a parent."

Now they are just mumbling to themselves, thinking if the challenges might change depending on the challenger? That would make sense why some had a really hard time getting up. Sky started to wonder, if their challenges were too easy? They seemed to have made it through ok, maybe they didn't need much to grow?

The anxiety came back, about the proposal… if anyone was injured while they were gone…. If they are missing anything. Sky breaks into a run, they need to get home. Even if there's nothing wrong, it's still good to know.