The Mountain's Lullaby
"That's the mountain where fire goes to sleep", said one of the old locals, "Nobody goes there after sun down."
René listened with intent. He drove this far along the dusky road to reach the village, which lay at the foothills of the mountain. The waters from a nearby stream added a sparkling sound to the misty mountain air. He picked up his back-pack and walked into the small hut, his base, for the next few days.
Climbing the mountain during the day would not be a good idea. Days could get quite hot and the nights, chilly. So he decided to make use of the evening sun for his trek. He wanted to reach the top before sunset, hoping he would get a few good photographs before it became dark, when he would utlize the clear night sky to star gaze, and hopefully, take some more photographs! After all, his aim for this trip was to capture the unexplored.
The mountain, although having a wide extent, wasn't very high, René thought to himself, "I can climb up in an hour, spend some time at the top and return while it is still night. I can spend the rest of the night back in village."
Mana, the village elder, saw him packing his belongings for the trek in the afternoon and he told him, "It is too late to start climbing now. You cannot return before dusk, son."
René smiled, that is exactly what he wished for!
He filled his water bottle, picked his torch, checked his camera one last time before he headed out to the foot of the mountain. René stopped to click a few shots on the way. The hilly terrain added to the beauty of the region and its people. He reveled in the feeling of the misty mountain air filling his lungs, and soon he reached the spot from where would begin his journey uphill.
He dropped his bag, had a sip of water before he began climbing the mountain. It was getting cold and darkness was setting in, he hoped to reach the top while still making use of the daylight. He wore his jacket and started on his way. The upward track was full of moments which was a pleasure for René to capture in his camera. Little white mountain flowers, the blue bird flying to its nest, little rabbits rushing to their home, René enjoyed it all and he finally reached the mountain top.
He sat there, on a rock, mesmerised by the rays of the setting sun amidst the beautiful cirrus clouds. At that moment, he soaked himself in the feeling of being one with nature. He forgot about his camera. All he knew was that moment where he stood at the mountain top, looking at the vast expense of nature surrounding him and the fiery golden rays of the setting sun enveloping it all.
René lost the sense of time. A few last birds flew into their nests and darkness set in. He got up in a hurry to get back to the village, but his steps felt wobbly. Without giving it much thought, he walked ahead, but with every step his muscles fought back, until he could walk no further and dropped on the ground. He lay there, with eyes wide open, unable to move, watching himself get engulfed by the cold and dark. After what seemed like hours, René heard steady beats of a drum. He felt the earth around him vibrate. He could feel the blood flowing through his body which was, just moments earlier, freezing with the cold night wind. He saw yellow flames cutting through the darkness, while the drumming continued. René wanted to gasp and run, but he was quick to realise that he was still immobile. All he could do was lie down and watch what was in store for him. The yellow hue turned to orange. René was struggling to keep his eyes open. The warmth started to break him into sweat. The drumming continued, but it felt so distant now. René could not gaze any longer. Everything turned to a shade of red when he finally clsoed his eyes.
René woke up shivering, the early rays of the morning sun started to peep through the horizon. He sat up as if in a reflex. "I am able to move!", he thought to himself. He scuffled to look around him, but his surroundings had no remnants of what he experienced the previous night. All he could see was the serene nature busking in the glory of the rising sun, early morning birds chirping in their nests and tiny white flowers shining with little dew drops. He stood up, as if still in a dream.
"That's the mountain where fire goes to sleep", he remembered, "Nobody goes there after sun down."
René listened with intent. He drove this far along the dusky road to reach the village, which lay at the foothills of the mountain. The waters from a nearby stream added a sparkling sound to the misty mountain air. He picked up his back-pack and walked into the small hut, his base, for the next few days.
Climbing the mountain during the day would not be a good idea. Days could get quite hot and the nights, chilly. So he decided to make use of the evening sun for his trek. He wanted to reach the top before sunset, hoping he would get a few good photographs before it became dark, when he would utlize the clear night sky to star gaze, and hopefully, take some more photographs! After all, his aim for this trip was to capture the unexplored.
The mountain, although having a wide extent, wasn't very high, René thought to himself, "I can climb up in an hour, spend some time at the top and return while it is still night. I can spend the rest of the night back in village."
Mana, the village elder, saw him packing his belongings for the trek in the afternoon and he told him, "It is too late to start climbing now. You cannot return before dusk, son."
René smiled, that is exactly what he wished for!
He filled his water bottle, picked his torch, checked his camera one last time before he headed out to the foot of the mountain. René stopped to click a few shots on the way. The hilly terrain added to the beauty of the region and its people. He reveled in the feeling of the misty mountain air filling his lungs, and soon he reached the spot from where would begin his journey uphill.
He dropped his bag, had a sip of water before he began climbing the mountain. It was getting cold and darkness was setting in, he hoped to reach the top while still making use of the daylight. He wore his jacket and started on his way. The upward track was full of moments which was a pleasure for René to capture in his camera. Little white mountain flowers, the blue bird flying to its nest, little rabbits rushing to their home, René enjoyed it all and he finally reached the mountain top.
He sat there, on a rock, mesmerised by the rays of the setting sun amidst the beautiful cirrus clouds. At that moment, he soaked himself in the feeling of being one with nature. He forgot about his camera. All he knew was that moment where he stood at the mountain top, looking at the vast expense of nature surrounding him and the fiery golden rays of the setting sun enveloping it all.
René lost the sense of time. A few last birds flew into their nests and darkness set in. He got up in a hurry to get back to the village, but his steps felt wobbly. Without giving it much thought, he walked ahead, but with every step his muscles fought back, until he could walk no further and dropped on the ground. He lay there, with eyes wide open, unable to move, watching himself get engulfed by the cold and dark. After what seemed like hours, René heard steady beats of a drum. He felt the earth around him vibrate. He could feel the blood flowing through his body which was, just moments earlier, freezing with the cold night wind. He saw yellow flames cutting through the darkness, while the drumming continued. René wanted to gasp and run, but he was quick to realise that he was still immobile. All he could do was lie down and watch what was in store for him. The yellow hue turned to orange. René was struggling to keep his eyes open. The warmth started to break him into sweat. The drumming continued, but it felt so distant now. René could not gaze any longer. Everything turned to a shade of red when he finally clsoed his eyes.
René woke up shivering, the early rays of the morning sun started to peep through the horizon. He sat up as if in a reflex. "I am able to move!", he thought to himself. He scuffled to look around him, but his surroundings had no remnants of what he experienced the previous night. All he could see was the serene nature busking in the glory of the rising sun, early morning birds chirping in their nests and tiny white flowers shining with little dew drops. He stood up, as if still in a dream.
"That's the mountain where fire goes to sleep", he remembered, "Nobody goes there after sun down."
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