The path would not be easy, and the terrain easily cut into their feet. It didn't help that, from time to time, some falling rocks from the shaking mountain would come crashing down their path. Thankfully they were able to evade them as they continued the long, arduous crawl up the base of the mountain.
As they moved on, the trees and forests grew thicker, and though Layana had played in these woods for most of her youth, in her current state of blindness, everything felt foreign. Like the strange rain she felt on her back. Rubbing her fingers together, she tried to figure out what it was. Then she realized...
It wasn't snow, but the mountain was raining ash.
This did not bode well. If the mountain was just rumbling, it was one thing...
but ash? It was a sure sign the thing was getting ready to blow.
"We need to hurry."
The wish bear's eyes lit up. "Yes, time is running short."
As if they needed the reminder! But as strange noise caught her attention, and as they began to make their way around the bend- even without being able to see it, she knew something terrible blocked their path-
for before them she could feel the heat and hear the gurgling rush of a lava stream. And it took out the bridge that was the easiest way up to the mountain's peak.