meant for our eyes to see

Oxide had been coming down the mountain when his deep ruby gaze caught sight of the menacing storm clouds. The boy had been forced to halt, forced to watch as they gathered like a tower. Black as ink the clouds seemed to build on top of one another, creating a massive column that stretched impossible fathoms into the sky. Ox stood still as the lightning filled mass crept over the eastern lands, noting that they had yet to lose the water that gathered within. His silver tail twitched nervously behind him as he watched silently, reminded of a time not so long ago.

He recalled briefly living or travelling through a large desert when he was younger. Deimos might not have been the kindest, but he could track and navigate better than anyone that had ever followed them. Ox picked up and learned a lot from the man, despite how difficult the task had been. He banished the memories but not before he saw the dried up river. The rains came very briefly, and not while they had been there, but Deimos had expertly pointed out the paths the flash rivers took. Oxide had been enthralled, and searched for one he might identify to his uncle. Once he had, Deimos had been visibly unimpressed and barely noted it as they continued on their way.

The dryness of the east reminded him of that time in the desert, and as he looked down from on high he could almost make out signs from previous floods. They were harder to see here, from so far away, also it was so heavily vegetated. He could see quite plainly though, that the pitfalls were an obvious low spot. Likely the water would pool right there. As he thought it, the raid from the towering thunderhead let loose. It was close enough now that Oxide could feel the moisture in the air increase. The wind picked up and Oxide was forced closer to the ground beneath his feet. He squinted his eyes and pulled his extremities in tight.

Thankfully the onslaught was over as the wind shifted and he was again unaffected. Oxide picked himself up and shook heavily, even so far away his fur had gained moisture. As he blinked open his garnet eyes he would again take in the scenery before him. There was indeed flash flooding, and most of the paths he thought the water would take, had. This was no devastating flood though, and except for a couple new streams only the banks of already present bodies flooded. It was interesting how much soil the water could take with it, before the storm had let loose the water had been clear and sparkling. Now all of it was brown or murky. He thanked his lucky stars that he had been so high up when it all happened though.

The boy continued down the mountain, his silvery paws navigating the treacherous heights rather well. He avoided the graveled sections, and did his best to keep to the solid slabs of stone. The going began to get easier as he finally made it into the treeline. However, as he neared the foothills he was caught in a valley. An unexpected river had appeared, and the rusted boy had no way to safely cross. He’d have to return up the mountain. Feeling frustrated the boy turned to climb the way he had just descended.

He only planned to make it high enough that he might be able to see a path that wouldn’t take him through an impromptu river. The climb was much worse than coming down and he had to fight for every foot of height he gained. By the time he reached high enough he was out of breath and panting. Tired garnet eyes looked out once more, but the light was already fading. He sighed heavily, knowing that he would likely have to try and make it through the maw. Ox hadn’t intended to spend so much time above the pitfall.

Reluctant to take the alternate route Oxide scanned his gaze once more, now that he was up here he suspected he should have just followed the river down until he could find a place to cross. He hoped the moon would be full enough to navigate the mountain tonight. He did feel a bit nervous about being here after dark. The flash flood had really thrown a stone in his path. Annoyed, the boy picked up his pace, paws aching at this point from having to go up and down unnecessarily.

Instead of continuing on through the night he decided to take shelter in a shallow cave, nothing had lived here in a long time. He was also up high enough that the flooding wouldn’t be able to effect him. He sighed heavily as he let his body lower to the floor, eager for the night of rest. Maybe by morning the water would be gone and he wouldn’t have to brave the maw.