Time rewound to the small cave.
Rain stood still, clutching the pine branch with trembling hands. His entire body pressed tightly against the cliffside, twisted in a posture that felt awkward, almost like the character for "fire."
The wind howled, strong and unforgiving, whipping his hair and tugging at his clothes as if trying to drag him down. His legs shook, threatening to give way, barely able to support his weight after the grueling climb.
The rocks beneath his feet were loose, shifting with each small movement he made. One wrong step and it would all be over.
His heart pounded loudly in his chest, but he forced himself to look up. Just a little more. A small ledge sat a mere half a foot above him, a space that could provide the relief he so desperately needed.
Excitement swelled inside him, momentarily pushing aside the fatigue that had nearly consumed him.
