A young man lay sprawled out across a rock, soaking in the last rays of the setting sun. He smiled as he glanced over at the sheep and goats playfully butting heads and running around like mad.
Suddenly, a deafening crack resonated across the mountain as a loose boulder tumbled down the rocky cliff. The boy started, jumping off his ledge and dashing towards the goats and sheep, which had frozen up. The rock crashed into the small valley in which the livestock had been grazing, and shards flew everywhere. As debris flew the boy took cover, falling to the ground and covering his head. The animals that had been frozen moments before now panicked and took off running, spurred on by the chunks of rock bouncing off their sides.
As quickly as it started, it ended. The young man picked himself up and started the tedious task of calming the livestock down. He made his way through the chunks of rock and checked each animal for injury. As he rounded the main rock he heard a faint “baa.” Lying half covered by the boulder was his favorite ewe, blood trickling from her smashed legs. He stood staring, unable to believe the sight before his eyes.
“Ryle!” The boy started and turned towards the voice. A young woman was standing at the top of the cliff.
“Ana!” Ryle called. “Don’t come down here! I’m afraid it’s not a pleasant sight.”
She obviously wasn’t listening. She made her way swiftly down the cliff and ran to Ryle’s side, huffing from the exertion. Her eyes widened momentarily as she saw the damage the sheep had taken, but it was so quick it may not have happened. Her face set with determination, Ana removed a thin, wooden box from the folds of her skirt. “Ryle, help me get her out from under the rock.”
The two started digging frantically; ignoring the sheep’s pathetic baas until they could safely drag her out. Ana wiped her hands on her skirt and pulled several vials and instruments from the wooden box. “Count the sheep, Ryle. You’re of no use to me at the moment.”
Ryle obliged and trotted off to round up the rest of the animals. Forty three sheep, counting the injured ewe, twelve lambs, eighteen goats…Where’s the other goat?
He ran along the fence, checking for any holes or openings. He found a place where a piece of the rock had smashed the fence down, but beyond that the cliff dropped off again, making it nearly impossible to travel along. Ryle edged his way to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Numerous crags and rocks jutted precariously out of the cliff, and he could see a goat near the bottom leaping nimbly from rock to rock.
Inhaling deeply, Ryle tentatively began his descent.
The cliff was steep, but there were plenty of jutting rocks to grab onto, so Ryle slowly but surely made his way down. His muscles were sore and aching by the time he reached the bottom, and he collapsed against the side of the cliff, breathing heavily. His mouth was parched from the exertion.
Finally standing up, he checked the ground and found goat prints leading along a small path. Ryle started jogging along the path and rounded a sharp turn around the Cliffside. He stopped, surprised to see how drastically the scenery had changed. What had been rock and scraggly weeds was lush grass surrounding a beautiful lake. He had never seen it before, as the side of the cliff that faced the view was nearly all cliffs and impossible to travel along.
Ryle was snapped out of his trance by a soft bleating. Near the edge of the water was the goat, panting heavily. He ran over to it, checking her for injuries. She nuzzled him eagerly, looking for treats. Ryle laughed and scratched her neck, satisfied that she was perfectly healthy. He glanced at the water. It will be a long journey back up the cliff, he thought as he ventured towards the heavenly-looking water.
Just as he was about to dip his hands into the water, a sudden force knocked him to his side. The goat had just butted him! Ryle laughed it off and tried again to reach the lake. Once again, he was butted away. This continued for some time before Ryle ended up lying on his back, sore, bruised, and extremely thirsty. The goat was calmly checking him for treats when a sparrow swooped down from the skies and landed in the water, cheerily bathing itself. It took a mouthful of water and choked it down. Instantly the bird started gagging and trying to cough up the poison in its body. It let out a terrible noise, then died.
Ryle stared in horror, realizing what had happened. He removed a chunk of bread from his pocket and broke it up for the goat, telling her what a good girl she was for saving him from the lake of poison. He slipped a rope around her neck and started leading the goat around the cliff.
“Thank you, oh wise cat!! I am forever in your debt!"
Ryle froze as the voice reached his ears. He turned around, dropping the rope, and saw a girl with short hair cupping the water in her hands.
“NOOO!”
Ryle ran across the field and tackled her, knocking the water from her hands.
“What are you-!?” she sputtered as Ryle picked himself up off of her and smiled warily.
The girl flushed dangerously. “Do you think this is funny?!” She demanded, just as a terrible, rasping screech filled the air.
"Uh! What-?! It's dying!!" the girl panicked, her anger forgotten. As the animal twitched and died, she faced Ryle, realization written all over her face.
Ryle shrugged awkwardly and laughed. “Anyone would…”
“Uh-Thanks.” She replied, staring at the body lying just feet away from her.
Ryle extended his arm and said warmly, “My name is Ryle.”
“Caelia," she said, smiling back as she shook his hand.
