Looking up, he stood directly under a branch that held a massive nest of bundled brunches. From what he could tell by the stillness of it and the silence around him, it was empty.
"Better than nothing," he thought.
He took a few breaths in and out while looking at the giant tree trunk in front of his eyes, clenching and releasing his hands as he readied himself for the task.
If simply standing was a challenge, then climbing would be the ultimate trial.
Here goes, he thought.
Beginning his ascent, he latched onto the tan-brown hide of the tree, slowly dragging himself up its length as he winced through his clenched whites.
Just the weight of his garments and weapons were enough to feel like an anchor weighing him down as he climbed at a sloth's pace; digging into the bark with his fingernails, he slowly, but surely crawled upwards.
