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"Shit"

Kale's hand slipped and he fell backwards away from the ice wall. His stomach lifted as the sensation of freefall set in. Kale scrabbled for something, anything, to grab, now beginning to panic as he continued on his unplanned decent. The ice raced by in front of him as he made one last desperate grab at the cliff face. His finger tips found a hold and they clamped down like a vice, the halting force nearly wrenching his arm out of its socket.

Gazing around, Kale spotted a likely looking ledge and swung onto it. He sat there, 700 ft. in the air, panting from his most recent near death experience. Why had he been so eager to face the ordeal? For the past two years hadn't he waited in anticipation for the names of those who the Council of Elders had deemed ready and then been disappointed when it wasn't him? He knew the reasons, and that, in the end, they were probably worth it. Now however, with every third step brining something new and life threatening, he began to doubt his ability to live up their expectations. As Kale slowly regained his composure to continue the assault on the ice wall, he thought about the recent events which had brought him to where he was.

***

Just like every spring, he had looked forward to the equinox and the Festival of the Phoenix Rising. Everyone who attended the gathering brought a tribute to the gods. Kale had worked long and hard at the forge on his gift to his patron Serenia, Goddess of winter and the stars. He hoped that she would look favorably on upon the delicate broach, made of fine silver in the likeness of a snow leopard, her natural form. It was set with countless diamonds and two star sapphires as its eyes.

Kale had placed it at her shrine, murmured a quick prayer and left to go find Taylor, a girl he had gone to school with and best friend of countless years. He found her leaving the temple of Theo, God of life and death. Considering her contrasting personality, Kale found it fitting that Theo would be her patron.

Taylor was slim and attractive. Kale was drawn to everything about her from her long, flowing, red hair to the confident bounce in her step. Despite her small build, she was very athletic and competitive, refusing to accept defeat in any competition. She also had one hell of a brain, though her endless curiosity tended to get her into trouble. She was just as likely to solve a complex math problem as to tell an inappropriate joke. Her greetings varied from an affectionate hug to a bruise raising punch on the arm. Today it was both.

"Ow!"

"Hay Kale."

She kissed him quickly on the cheek, making him blush a little, before rapping her arm through his and walking along, body pressed close to him. To the casual onlooker, this behavior may have indicated a relationship between the two, but Kale knew this was how she treated all of her few close friends. He considered himself lucky to be included in this small group ever since he had met her at age nine. At the time, he had just moved to Elysium to begin his formal schooling and apprenticeship and didn't know anyone in the town. Though, in recent years, Kale had developed romantic feelings towards Taylor, he had no clue how to interpret her sometimes flirtatious, sometimes aggressive attitude. For now, he settled on being he closest friend.

That was the other part that worried Kale about the night's ceremonies. He and Taylor had done everything together for the past ten years. Now they were two of only a few of their piers to remain human. What if one underwent the ordeal without the other? How would that affect their relationship?

***

Kale pulled himself over the top of the ice wall. He panted from the exertion but quickly stood up and prepared to move on. Now was not the time to quit moving. He gazed ahead at the expanse of snow spread out before him which soon became a dense forest of lodge pole pines. His eyes rose still further to the high peek of Serenia's Summit, a place where no one climbed to. The night sky was clear and stars shone brightly, reflecting of the snow and ice covering the distant mountain top. Somehow, Kale knew that was his destination. As he moved into the darkness of the trees, his thoughts returned once more to the day's events.

***

The day had moved on and anticipation grew as the torches to the sacred grounds were lit. Kale and Taylor walked down the long ramp which spiraled and switch backed around the massive plateau Elysium was built on. Kale watched the members of the throng and marveled at the diversity. There were Elders who strode solemnly, tails held high and arms folded, some engaged in quiet conversation with each other. There were new tribesmen who raced down the path, clawing pushing and tripping one another, fighting for who could get the best seats. He spotted members of his class who, like himself, had not undergone their ordeal and walked in silence with looks of nervousness and young children who trotted next to their parents in awe as they entered the sacred grounds for the first time. As Kale observed all this, a black hawk swooped down from above and landed between him and Taylor, nearly shoving him over the side of the path. Kale regained his composure and turned to see Sean Killin, a classmate of his who had been selected six months ago at the last equinox. He folded his wings, nearly knocking Kale over again. Sean acted as if he wasn't even there, infuriating Kale.

"Hey Taylor. How's it going?"

"Fine, Kale and I were just talking," she replied, her voice cold.

"Oh, Kale's here, I must have missed him. Hi Kale."

"Hi."

"That great, well, anyway, Taylor, you need to take the ordeal. I'm so lonely on the tribesman bench. I could use some company in the future." He rubbed close to Taylor.

"You know, I really can't decide which I'm looking forward to more, getting selected and then sitting next to you, or never getting selected at all."

"Well, I'll save you a spot."

"I'll be sure to leave it empty."

"Well, I got to go. Got to get a good seat. You know what it's like. Oh yeah, that's right, you don't."

Sean took off with a leap, this time knocking Kale on his back. Taylor stopped to help him up. Kale glared down to the base of the cliff where the black figure was landing, no doubt ready to terrorize others.

"I hate that ass hole."

"Don't worry about him Kale. He may have undergone the ordeal, but he is not favored by the gods."

They walked in silence until we reached the amphitheater which was the location of all public ceremonies. It was carved into the massive cliffs which surrounded Elysium, protecting it from all but the harshest weather. Kale stared at the great carved figures above the opening. There was one of each god. The three major deities stood in the middle. Eryn, the horse goddess of knowledge, Grantham, the eagle god of reason, and Theo, the wolf god of life and death. Above these was a phoenix, the earthly embodiment of all the gods, know to appear in times of greatest need. Then Kale passed the threshold and was instructed to stand in a wide ring around the sacred alter fire.

***

Kale shivered as he climbed higher and the trees thinned, allowing an icy blast of wind to penetrate through the woods. He wished he had that bright, warm fire now. Still he walked on, and still his objective seemed to get no closer. Another gust of wind shook the trees, knocking a huge pile of snow off their branches, and onto him. He spluttered, wiping snow from his face and trying to scrape it out of his coat. What was he doing out here? Obviously he wasn't fit for this. The Council of elders must have made a mistake. Even as he thought these negative thoughts, Kale continued to move forward, further on and further up.

***

Once the crowd had settled and the fire was burning high, the Shaman, a caribou, stepped forward and began the ceremonies. She spoke of the ordeal and the hardship those who undertook it would face, but also the great rewards of completing it. Kale barely listened, he had heard this speech countless times and now had it memorized. His only thought was to get the speech over so the selection for the ones who would be facing the ordeal.

Finally she finished speaking and stepped back into the shadows. A Coyote Sachem stepped forward, accompanied by a hooded and cloaked Keeper of Sacred Bundle who handed the Sachem a scroll. The latter began reading a series of names. Kale was called and he breathed a sigh of relief as Taylor was as well shortly after. They joined a short line of others. Eleven names had been called total. The amphitheatre fell silent, all eyes on those who were selected. Kale heard a sniffle of disappointment from the circle of hopefuls he had just left. When the silence was complete, the Sachem began to speak.

"You have been selected by the Gods to become the next members of our great clan. You will be sent into the wilderness to begin your ordeal of initiation and seek the strong medicine which will signal your successful completion. The trail will not be easy! Many obstacles lie on the road ahead! Keeper, prepare the candidates for their trials."

The shrouded figure stepped forward and drew a short staff from beneath his robes. He went to each of them in turn. Kale stared into the shadowed face when the Keeper stepped in front of him. All he could see were two amber eyes which peered at him, or through him, he wasn't sure. Then the staff was placed o his chest and Kale felt a jolt of energy. His vision blurred. By the time it had cleared, the Keeper was stepping back to the Sachem's side.

The Coyote gazed hard at them.

"You have been given your instructions. Now GO!"

With that word Kale took off at a full sprint back up to the plateau. His heart was racing and adrenaline pumped through his veins, driving him further and faster. Some inner drive directed where he should go.

***

Now here he was. He wondered how Taylor was doing, probably better than him, but soon he had to focus completely on the path ahead. He had begun to accent the massive peek, the final leg of his journey. Kale's whole body ached from the exertion and cold. He was now climbing through knee deep snow, only moving about a foot forward with every step. He bent his head against the cold and blowing snow, watching as his feed kept going forward. Left, right, left, right.

The cold increased as he continued to climb. It became increasingly difficult to move in his advanced hypothermic state, but Kale knew if he stopped, he would surly die. It wouldn't be the first time a candidate had died during their ordeal. It was actually somewhat common. He wouldn't be the next one though he told himself, willing his muscles to take just one more step.

His foot came down on ice and he slipped, tearing his face as he hit the hard surface. Kale was tempted to just stay there and let the snow cover him, but he knew his objective was close. He looked up for the first time in hours and saw the summit twenty feet ahead. He pulled himself back up, on sheer determination, having no energy left to expend, and began to climb once more. He slowly moved forward, judging each step, supporting himself with his hands as well, knowing that if he fell again, he would never rise under his own power. The ice and rock cut his palms, but he didn't feel the pain because his hands were now completely numb.

Kale pulled himself to summit and collapsed. The wind was so fierce that he couldn't even see one foot in front of him through the blowing snow. He lay, unmoving, gasping for air, vision beginning to narrow, when it happened. The blowing snow broke for a moment, and Kale could see what appeared to be a winter haven spread in the opposite valley. He only got a brief glimpse before the gap filled in. He had seen the vision for such a short period of time that he was never able to tell if it was real, or a hallucination from his exhausted state. This seemed more likely as the phantasm continued. Kale watched as a glowing snow leopard climbed slowly up the mountain side and joined him on the summit. It circled him once, gazing intently, as if judging him. Then it pounced. Kale was too tired to flinch. The creature contacted his chest, there was a flash of light, and he fell unconscious.