The way up is arduous. The path is steep, forcing me to scramble over jagged rocks and traverse sheer drops clinging by fingernails. But more—entering forbidden space, the realm of the gods, is terrifying.
Looking down, I glimse hunters raying out across the plain, and then only the circle of the village. Finally, everything to do with people is erased, leaving only the great curve of mother river and the land stepping away to forest.
The air is thin at the summit, and I gasp. There are no gods here. They were easier to see from far below.
.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
When the illusion is cleared by experience only the truth remains.
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Facts are everything that exists. Truth is, perhaps, the connection between them
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Dear Neil,
How disappointing to climb all that way and not find what he was looking for. Nicely written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Well, I suppose that from below, you’re surrounded by like-minded individuals. Their reality tends to become yours… until it doesn’t.
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Some things are more easily seen from afar
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But you had to climb and find out. Up to your usual standard!
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Thanks so much, Liz
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An eye opening discovery. Will those below believe him when he returns to tell them?
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It may unwise of him to mention it. And he may see more clearly when he’s further away
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Ooh, your story is the flip side of mine – perhaps the gods were in the climb and not sitting around at the summit. Very vivid reading, thank you.
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Yes, our stories do bookend each other. Thanks so much
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Lack of oxygen has dispelled him. I enjoyed your story, especially that last line.
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It was all about the last line. Thanks so much
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You’re very welcome.
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Many’s the day when I climbed the hills of the Rossendale valley, I could see little due to all the smoke. As for shirt collars and suspenders the less said the better🙂
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Thanks, Michael
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Some of us already knew that.
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Thanks, Danny
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Now I’m wondering what if anything believers will find if they make it to heaven!
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Wings, harps, heavenly choirs
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Gods are always easier to see from a distance.
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That’a what he discovered
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I suspect he’s somewhat disappointed.
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I think he’s desperately hoping he’ll still be able to see the gods when he goes back down again
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I was thinking this too. 🙂
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Love the last line 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Oh for shame!
After all that effort.
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Did he gain or did he lose from the effort, I wonder
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I liked “the land stepping away to the forest.” Great imagery here.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Perhaps the exhaustion rocked his (already rocky) belief…
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Could be. Or perhaps the gods were hiding
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Wonderful imagery, “Hunters raying out across the plain”. A glimpse into a epic adventure.
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Thanks so much
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Oh I love the moment of realisation. Though it seems a little sad to lose that which drove him forward. Then again, perhaps it is a rebirth. Nicely done.
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Thanks so much Laurie. He may see mor clearly when he’s back at ground level
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Well done, Neil. A thought provoking story. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Bill
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