Chapter 4 - Chapter 4- The Black Mountain

As Helios began to ascend the mountain under the cover of night, regret sank in like a stone in his chest. He wasn't ready, not even close. All he had were torn, blood-stained clothes barely clinging to his thin frame and his father's sword strapped to his waist. The blade felt more like a burden than a weapon. The higher he climbed, the harder it became to breathe. The thin, icy air stung his lungs, and the snow beneath his bare feet felt like acid, biting and cruel. His skin turned a patchwork of red, purple, and blue, each step worse than the last. "I'm such an idiot," he muttered. "I should've asked about this place... should've waited." But something deeper than reason pushed him forward. The image of himself standing tall, strong, unshackled, burned in his mind. That vision, no matter how distant, kept his legs moving. "Push, push, push, Helios," he whispered to himself, teeth chattering. "You must become more... for your people... for the forgotten." The wind screamed between the trees, dragging ice across his face like claws. The snow whispered beneath his feet, too soft to carry sound, but then, he heard something else. Something heavier. He wasn't alone. Low growls echoed in the distance. His heart dropped. Panic clawed its way up his throat. He was too weak, he knew it. His body was frail, half-starved. Even lifting his father's sword felt like lifting a stone slab. He couldn't fight, not like this. Eyes glinted in the dark. Dozens of them. Wolves. He froze. A shape lunged at him from the left, fangs bared. Instinct saved him, barely. He threw himself to the side, falling hard into the snow. Another wolf charged. Its claws raked across his cheek, tearing skin and flesh. Blood splattered onto the snow, painting it in streaks of red. He ran. Pain vanished, replaced by sheer terror. He bolted down the mountainside, gasping, stumbling. A third wolf leapt from a ledge above and crashed into him, sending him tumbling. His body slammed into the snow, rolling, bouncing, hitting rocks and branches. Dazed and breathless, Helios tried to stand, but another wolf pinned him down. Its breath was hot on his face, teeth inches from his throat. He screamed and flailed, arms swinging wildly. His fingers closed around a jagged stick in the snow. Without thinking, he rammed it into the creature's eye. The beast shrieked and fell back. Helios didn't hesitate. He clawed his way out and sprinted, stumbling blindly down the slope. He glanced back, and in that instant, slammed full speed into a spruce tree. A sickening crack echoed. His nose shattered. Blood burst from his face as he collapsed again, rolling further down the hill like a ragdoll. More growls. More eyes. The one-eyed wolf led the pack, foam dripping from its jaw. Helios got to his feet, barely. A wolf clamped down on his arm. He screamed, muscles tearing. Another sank its teeth into his thigh. He could feel flesh rip. Blood poured freely. "AGHHHH!!" Helios roared, summoning everything he had in one final push. He broke free, barely, and limped forward, only to realize there was no more ground beneath his feet. He had reached the cliff's edge. Momentum carried him over. He fell. The world vanished in an instant, just cold wind, open air, and the stars above. For a moment, there was silence. Then, impact. His legs took the brunt of the fall and were shattered. His body was flung forward, crashing chest-first into a jagged stone buried in the snow. The pain was beyond pain. His bones cracked. His vision spun. He lay still. The snow beneath him soaked up his blood, turning crimson. He could taste the metallic tang of iron at the back of his throat. His arm was twisted, broken. His legs were ruined. Flesh was missing from his side. He could no longer tell where the cold ended and the pain began. His eyes fluttered. The snow fell harder now, biting at him like tiny knives. His heart slowed. Thump… Thump… Thump… Then darkness.