Week 7: Teo & Leo- The Ambitious Three

Full Prompt: “The ambitious three” + 3 pages of mother-written notes + clay model examples + a full enacting of the story. …I didn't do all that much on this one!

Story:

THUD!!!

A searing ball of lava had landed mere inches from Lacuna’s foot. His eyes widened and his breath caught- he knew this was the end. There was no time to run- the explosion of the molten rock would catch him no matter how quick he moved. Death was imminent. BLAM! A great force slammed into Lacuna, knocking him off his feet. Somehow the end of life didn’t hurt as he thought it would.

“Are you okay?! Are you hit?!”

Lacuna’s whole body, fully tensed just moments ago, relaxed as the sound of a familiar and trusted voice filled his ears. His friend since childhood had found him. He had saved him.

“Void- you made it, you’re okay!” Lacuna cried. “What are you.. we wearing?…” he further inquired.

The two lay on the ground covered head to toe in what appeared to be a cape and hood woven of leaves and vines. However, these leaves had been strong enough to not only withstand the barrage of magma, but protect them both wholly. 

They stood and embraced. Lacuna noticed the lumps of rock were now cool as he picked one off the back of his friend, examining it quickly before he pocketed it.

“Yes, I’m alright. I managed to make my way through The Untangleable Forest. I… found… this along the way” Void answered of his shroud.

“How? How did you make it through? How did you find me?! If you hadn’t shown up right when you did, this maze of lava, it would have claimed me…” Lacuna questioned.

“That’s a story better told in the warm embrace of safety. Have you seen Interstice? I haven’t since we parted ways.” 

“No… no I haven’t… but the end of The Slide of Ice is said to put you much further up the mountain than we are.” 

“You’re right. Come, let us not waste anymore time. And let us also hope what is said, is true. Stay close- we’re not out of this molten labyrinth yet.” 

Bronagh Orpheus Blight’s thin lips stretched over his sharp teeth into a smile as he watched the two travelers from his perch. Positioned just below the peak of the mountain he had never been able to summit, he waited. Long ago he had staked himself in this ice cave, knowing full well fool-hearty, overzealous individuals would seek what was told to be at the top. In doing so they would cross his path. Those poor souls were his for the taking. His keen eyes had tracked the two since he first caught a whisper of a rustle from the direction of The Untangleable Forest. B.O.B.’s powers had diminished over the years as story of the mountain top treasure had turned to legend and legend to mere myth. But he was a careful and patient creature. He knew the purer, the more brave the soul- the more strength it would garner him. His eyes narrowed and his smile faded. It was just a matter of time.

Void and Lacuna, utterly exhausted from the climb, paused on sure ground to catch their breath. They now stood closer to the peak of the mountain than they had ever thought possible. They had navigated two of the most treacherous traps known to their kind. Their third compatriot, Interstice, had not been seen since their adventure began. Before Void made it through The Untangleable Forest, before Lacuna fearlessly faced The Lava Maze. They held out hope, but feared for their friend. As they paused, they looked up and the sheer splendor and awe at the peak revitalized their bodies. They silently agreed to continue. 

“Stop right there.” A voice slithered its way from the darkness of a cave nearby.

“Make yourself known!” yelled Lacuna.

“Oh I’m happy to be known, though you may not be happy to know me,” it replied. 

A creature emerged on four legs from the cave, tail twitching behind him. Not a man. Not an animal. It rose from all fours to walk upon two. The friends froze, unsure what it was. Unsure what was to happen next. They had never seen anything of his like. 

“What do you want?!” demanded Void

“Not much,” B.O.B. replied. “Just your souls.” As he dropped back to all fours and quickly circled the pair.

The nave reached for the handle of a weapon in his robes when a voice cried out from atop the cave opening: “NOT TODAY!” A hooded figure launched itself toward the strange being, tackling it to the ground.  They fiercely wrestled before the stranger was thrown through the air, landing heavily against a rock and knocking back his hood. 

Lacuna and Void exclaimed simultaneously: “Stice!” Their friend was alive. 

“I don’t know how I missed you,” sneered B.O.B. as he sprang toward Interstice and pinned his hand to a rock with a long blade. 

The young man let out a cry of agony as his friends rushed to his aid only to be kicked back and to the ground by a now laughing villain.

“Many have tried to summit this mountain and many have failed- even I failed! No one can make it to the top, but I am so very happy you all have tried- this is going to feel so good. I thank you for your offering, young friends.” B.O.B. cackled.

The wind knocked out of him, Lacuna pulled from his pocket the only weapon within reach, the cooled lava rock he had earlier plucked from the shroud. In a feeble attempt of self defense, he slung it at B.O.B. Upon impact with his shoulder, the once cool rock instantaneously returned to its molten state. The evil creature let out a scream sounding of a thousand bats. As this happened, Interstice reached his hand over and ripped the dagger out of the rock, releasing his hand. The pain subsided instantly and his hand began to feel very cold.

“You will PAY!,” screamed BOB. He flung himself at a now defenseless, and still gasping Lacuna. His flight was intercepted by the shroud of foliage Void had thrown to protect his friend. The shroud came to life, catching B.O.B. mid-air. Its vines coiled around his appendages, pinning him to the ground. His shoulder still deteriorating, he was wounded. He was bound. He was furious. 

“What is this?! I will get free… and when I do…” he threatened the three through gritted teeth.

“That’s enough.” Interstice calmly said as he raised his wounded hand toward BOB’s foul mouth. Small crystalline water molecules danced and darted from the knife wound in his palm and solidified over B.O.B.’s mouth, silencing him. 

The friends looked at each other, wounded, but no one fatally. 

“Stice, are you okay? It’s so good to see you, my friend.” Lacuna said.

“Funny, my hand doesn’t really hurt anymore, it just feels… cold,” he replied, rubbing his palm.

“Well we’ve come this far…” interjected Void. 

The friends nodded in agreement, seeing that no matter how B.O.B. struggled, he could not move. They made their way to the final climb; to the peak of God’s Mountain. 

“There’s nothing here…” Lacuna let out in dismay.

At the top of the mountain, Interstice kneeled to the ground in disbelief, his good hand covering his face. Void moved to comfort his friend and noticed something while placing a hand on his shoulder. 

“Lacuna, look where you’re standing,” he said.

“I’m standing on nothing- its flat ground!” he shot back.

“No. Really look- the pattern, the color…”

Lacuna cleared away some snow.

“It’s gem shaped- it's red!”

“And there’s a blue one!”

“And here’s a green one.”

The friends moved to stand each upon a different patterning of stone and as they did a column rose from the center of the triangular shape they had formed. It was 9 feet tall with words inscribed all around. 

“What does it say?!” 

Void moved to read the words aloud:

“To all who travel here: You have reached mountain top. You have scaled the great cliffs. You have navigated perilous maze and arduous battle. Through cunning of mind, strength of body, and persistence of heart. You are bruised. You are wounded. You are in need of rest. But your journey ends not here. Reward is found in the doing of deed. In the daring of great deed. Depart from this peak knowing your capability, your tenacity. Depart knowing that through trial, through wounds, through challenge we are changed. Know that none truly walk alone. Depart here having found your true colors.”

Speechless, the trio stood silent. The wind howled and the snow fell. The obelisk turned as it lowered from whence it came. It disappeared into the rocky earth leaving only a tiny seed. Transfixed by the seed, it grew before their very eyes- ten, fifteen, twenty feet tall. The tree sprouted leaves and all manner of fruit and food blossomed from its branches until ripeness and gravity gently pulled them to the ground. In dismay the trio came together, each gathering their favorite food that had fallen. They sat with their backs against the stump of the massive tree, feasting, laughing, and preparing themselves for what life and adventure awaited next.