{"sf1_id":1488036,"sf2_id":"GnD6Rvje","title":"The Trial of the Mountain","author":"SymbolicSongbird","words":127,"posted_at":"2019-09-11T20:31:45.000Z","tags":["Fighting","Mountain","Nature","River","Stone","Trial","martial arts","valley"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1488036-the-trial-of-the-mountain","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/GnD6Rvje","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/c8/ed/c8edb234-997d-4c7f-8ba4-e000e9f58208","description":"A short piece about someone earning their right to be called a warrior.","content":"Between three foes he stands  \nAt the fifth hour of his trial.  \nHe is a mountain unmoved.  \nHis claws are broken jagged peaks,  \nKnuckles are bare stripped bloody plains,  \nFingers crack like falling shale.  \nKnees ache, footpads scraped raw on rough stone.  \nBlood flows as rivers from cuts like valleys;  \nThey tear through the forests of his fur.  \nHis head throbs from many blows,  \nPulsing, pounding thunder of northern storms.  \nFurther his opponents close,  \nThese meant to erode him:  \nThe scouring wind, smoothing the rock faces.  \nThe river swift, carving out the gorges.  \nTime, ever moving, erasing the hills.  \nHe turns to face each on the fifth hour,  \nTaking his stance, stilling his mind.  \nHe is the stone that builds the valley.  \nHe is a mountain unmoved.","series":{"name":"Poetry","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1409900-moon-glow-in-december.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1489878-robin-s-song.json"}}