*Another sunny morning.* Andor yawned as he rubbed his eyes. Cautiously he rolled over and peeked at Aurora. *She’s still sleeping but I gotta pee and coffee would be so good right now.* He stared at the ceiling, willing his bladder to hold. After a miserable five minutes he heard Lilli rustle. He rolled over to face her. “I need to pee,” he mouthed silently. They had spent most of the night and the previous six weeks trying to get Aurora to sleep. Lilli rolled her eyes, in exasperation, and stared at the ceiling accepting her fate. Andor sat up and took a few short breaths. *She’s still asleep…* When he went to put his feet on the floor the bed let out a loud groan. Aurora let out a pitiful peal and Andor’s shoulders slumped.  “You woke her up,” Lilli snipped as she stroked baby Aurora’s wispy lock of hair and plucked her out of the bassinet.   With the need for silence gone Andor stood, shuffled over to the fireplace, stretching and yawning loudly. “Well, you might as well make coffee.” Lilli chided as she coddled Aurora. “Yeah, okay – sounds good,” Andor yawned and opened the coffee tin. “We’re out of coffee?” Again his shoulders sagged. *Why did I put the empty coffee tin back on the shelf? I got better sleep in combat, that’s why. I feel like a zombie…* “I’ll go see if we have another tin in the tree stash. Do you need anything?” Lilli, who had been gazing into Aurora’s eyes as she nursed, glanced up. “Maybe something for breakfast? I don’t think we replenished the cupboard the other day, because of the storm.” Andor walked to the door donning his jacket. Even though it was mid-May, the mornings were still chilly. The door opened with a crack as the frost-covered hinges gave way. *I’ll never get tired of this view.* Andor thought to himself as he walked down the path, towards their tree stash. The snow capped mountains framed against a robin's egg blue sky, with a few stray puffy white clouds, were spectacular. Ijape sprang from the woods, her tail wagging. If wolves could smile she certainly was. Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth and her eyes sparkled with contagious joy. “Good morning girl,” Andor scratched her behind the ears. Ijape yelped then spun about before plunging into the forest to chase the bushy tailed squirrel which loved to taunt her. Andor picked up the ladder and leaned it against the tree stash and climbed up. “Alright, breakfast and coffee.” he said aloud as he carefully rummaged around inside. For a few moments his heart froze. *Are we out of coffee? God that would be terrible.* Then he let out a long sigh of relief as he spotted a tin in the back.  “This is it for the coffee,” Andor announced as he walked back into the cave. Lilli, who was changing Aurora’s diaper, looked up as he walked in. “We’re going to need to find more food somewhere.” “How much longer can we make it?” she sighed.  Andor popped the lid off the coffee tin. “We have enough coffee to last two weeks. Maybe. Same for the food.” “We both knew we couldn’t stay here indefinitely; eventually we were going to have to find food.” Lilli gingerly placed Aurora—who, thankfully, didn’t fuss—back into her cradle.  “True…” Andor took a deep sniff of the coffee grounds and let out a long sigh. “We worked hard to build a life here,” Lilli walked over and wrapped her arms around Andor. “Let’s make the most of the time we have remaining. Then we’ll head back to ‘civilization’ for a supply run.”  “I’m anxious to find out what happened while we’ve been away,” Andor poured the kettle of boiling water over the grounds in the paper filter. “Maybe we’ll finally be able to get in touch with our families and let them know we’re alright.” “Wouldn’t it be great to tell our parents that they’re grandparents?” Lilli’s face beamed at the thought. “There’s been too much death and destruction. I’d love to give them some good news.” ‘They probably think we’re dead,” Andor said as he handed Lilli a steaming cup of coffee. “Maybe the satellites will be back up and we’ll be able to call them.” “Oooh, and we can get some more oat milk too.” Lilli took a sip of coffee as she closed her eyes and tried to recall the taste of oat milk. Their supply had run out months ago. Since then they had drunk their coffee black. “How long do you think we’d have to be away for?” “Probably not that long, with Baba Ghanoush we could bring enough food back to get us through the fall,” Andor stared at the coffee, wishing it would drip faster. “You know it’s been a long time since I climbed my mountain.” Andor swallowed a bite of granola whincing internally at the awkward change in subject.  Lilli rolled her eyes. Hardly a week went by in which Andor didn’t regale her with tales of how he had first climbed the mountain, above their lakeside home, when he was eleven. “The last time you climbed it was before you left for OCS, right?” Lilli asked, although she already knew the answer. “Yup. Three years ago this summer.” Andor took his first sip of coffee. “So, you want to climb it again? With only one good arm - are you sure it’s safe?” Lilli asked, trying not to say no even though she wanted to. “Well we’ve done just fine up here with my one good arm. Plus there’s an easier way up the far side.”  Lilli could tell he was doing his best to sell her on the idea but she wasn’t buying it. “I don’t know, babe, the last thing we need is you getting hurt,” Lilli set her coffee down on the table. “You’re a dad now.” “I’ve climbed the mountain several times. This route is a walk in the park. Plus from the top, you can see a town where we could resupply. It’d be a good idea to make sure it’s still there before we make the multi-day trek to get there.” Andor said as he plucked the binoculars off their hook on the wall and peered through them out the window. “So, it would be a recon mission then?” Lilli sighed. She knew she wasn’t going to convince him not to go. “Please be careful.” “Of course,” Andor smiled then hugged Lilli. “I promise I’ll be safe. I’ll leave first light tomorrow and be back in time for dinner. It’s a short climb.” --- “This food is amazing!” Branwen said between forkfuls. “My hat’s off to your chef.” “She started this morning,” Vishnayam smiled as he took another hearty swig of the cool brown elixir. “In anticipation of your arrival.” “You knew we were coming?” Edmond said inquisitively. “How could you know?” “At one time I was like you, learning to accept my place in the flow. The cycles – the comings and goings.” Vishnayam dipped his fingers into a bowl of warm water and wiped them dry with a soft cloth hanging off the edge of the dish. Then he rubbed his belly and scooted his chair back slightly before continuing. “The realm from which you came  —  their history is made up of stories of their consistent failures in trying to control the flow of life. When you let go of the need for control, when you no longer strive to bend the flow to your will, the monotony, frustrations, and failures – they all cease. It is then that you discover there are no surprises. You are always ready, never surprised.”  “So, you can predict the future then?” Edmond stared at his plate, a befuddled look spreading across his face. “No, not really. It’s more like the future becomes irrelevant. Things happen. Things come and things go. Think of it like this - you’re a boulder in a stream watching as each moment flows past you. You live each moment then let it go. When you’re not focused on the past, nor the future — this is truly living life.” “So, you mentioned our next mission was going to be the hardest?” Branwen changed the subject. He knew the mental reframing his lover was going through quite well. He had experienced it himself some time ago. Most organic sentient beings from their realm didn’t grasp this subtle shift in perception as they were too focused on power, wealth, and satiating their cravings. He had arrived here with even less understanding than Edmond. Their former realm was a difficult place to achieve enlightenment. Most came here with the understanding of a small child. Edmonds would get there eventually, but in the meantime he was eager to find out what their new mission was – and to get some alone time with Edmonds before they had to leave.  “Just as the season was shifting my operatives were able to infiltrate a baseline organic being behind enemy lines,” Vishnayam chuckled as Branwen’s desires became clear to him. “They dealt the enemy a devastating blow. However, it set in motion a chain of events which led to a cataclysmic enemy weapon finding its way to your realm.” Vishnayam finished off the elixir in his chalice. “Because of this your realm has been ransacked and both of your iterations were compelled to end. Along with millions more…” his voice trailed off.  “I see…” Edmond squirmed in his seat. *I wish I could remember what happened to us there. Maybe Branwen will tell me?* “So what is our mission then?” “Your mission will be to advise on the destruction of the enemy's weapon system before it obliterates the entire realm,” Vishnayam took a moment to let the task sink in before continuing. “It has been quite some time since our kind has interacted with that realm. Your brother Aiōn was the last envoy I sent there. You will liaison with a baseline organic being there who has been carefully chosen to destroy the enemy weapon.” “When do we start?” Branwen could feel the jolt of courage coursing through his veins. “You’ll be transported to the Earth realm at the conclusion of  this meal.” Vishnayam said with a smile. Branwen groaned. He had been looking forward to showing Edmond the palace grounds… and their bedroom.  “Don’t worry,” Vishnayam gave Branwen a nod and a slight smile. “I will send you back during their winter season —  so, you’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted.”  --- Andor’s eyes opened. *It’s still dark outside.* He glanced at his watch. 0430. *Sunrise is half-an-hour away.* He could hear Aurora and Lilli peacefully breathing.  *Time to climb my mountain!*  "Alright, now to get out of bed without making a sound like I rehearsed last night." he whispered as he sat up. *Scoot up till my head touches the headboard. Then swing my legs over the side one at a time.* He stood without a sound.*It worked!*  The night before he had lubricated the door hinges with bear fat, so they wouldn’t squeak when he opened them. As he padded quietly towards the door a mouse scampered away. *It must have been licking the hinges.*  With hardly a sound, he picked up his pack and slipped on his boots. Ijape looked up at him and cocked her head to the side as if questioning his mental surety at departing into the cold at such an hour. Andor smiled at her and she lay her head back on her paws but continued to watch with curiosity as he slipped through the door quickly, so as not to let in too much cold air.  The night air was bracing and Andor pulled his jacket tight around his neck to seal out the cold air. The scramble up the scree field from the shore of the lake was invigorating, and despite the cold mountain air, he quickly warmed up. He pushed higher, perspiration dotting his forehead while his breath hung like a cloud in the frigid morning air.  As he gained altitude he caught sight of the ancient gnarled pine tree, which marked the location of the cave where he had spent the night conversing with two strangers while the aurora borealis blazed in the night sky. There was no aurora tonight, just the one sleeping next to his wife by the lake. Suddenly a strong urge to go back home and climb into bed next to them welled up inside of him. He turned and looked down at the lake. He could see the moonlight twinkling on the surface of the lake as the wind stirred it gently. A puff of wind sent chills down his back as the sweat evaporated and cooled his body.  ![[moonlightAndorMountainTwo.jpg]] "In the desert I pushed the homesickness away. I can do it here too." Then he tightened his pack straps, turned, and kept climbing. *They said they would help me defeat the monster. How is it even possible if fighter jets and attack helicopters can’t do it?* Andor took a deep breath, the smell of dry granite filling his lungs. “I’ve been given difficult missions before but it’s different now that I’m a dad.” A trickle of sweat dripped off his nose. *They said the monster was pregnant. They said if we don’t act soon she would give birth and life on our planet would be destroyed.*  Lost in thought he crested the ridgeline as the sun peaked over the horizon. The warmth on his face stung as his cheeks and nose began to thaw. Below him stretched a delicious looking snowfield.  *It’s a sheet of ice now, but after I summit and get back it’ll be impeccable soft spring snow.* Andor took the skis off his pack and stashed them next to a tall boulder. “No sense in carrying you to the summit and back.” he said to his skis. Then he took out his water bottle and downed half the contents in one long swig. With his thirst satiated he shouldered his pack and kept climbing.  *Edmond and Branwen. Why do those names sound so familiar? They said it was good to see me. They said it had been too long. Did I meet them at the Infantry Officer Course? I don’t think so…* As he climbed higher the sun began to warm the alpine cirque and he peeled off his jacket and stuffed it into his pack. To his left he could see the lake. Lilli and Aurora were down at the beach. He waved but there was no way they could see him. He was up too high. To his right, the snow field fell away hundreds of feet.  There was something about this unnamed peak that held a certain charm for him. He had climbed many other more striking and famous mountains before, but this one was still his favorite.  “Why is it my favorite?” Andor starred at the summit. He was nearly there. *They wouldn’t tell me how I was supposed to destroy it. No instructions. Just some cryptic advice about navigating life without a map. What the hell does that mean?* Then it hit him – like a jolt of electricity.  “That’s why I love this mountain.” he blurted out as he ran his hands down a lichen covered boulder and smiled.   *I climbed it without a map or a guidebook. I followed my imagination to the summit. I did it on my own, without the help of anyone. I discovered it. I left my mark where few have gone before!* With a grunt, Andor pulled himself onto the summit. It was just big enough for him to sit on. All around him, the mountain dropped away precipitously. “This is what it must feel like to fly—to be a bird,” Andor said with a chuckle as a particularly strong gust of wind tugged at him, trying to push him into the void. “I’m an eagle in its nest.” Gingerly, he removed his pack and set it in his lap and pulled his lunch out. “I followed my imagination up this mountain the first time. I’ll do the same when the time comes for me to confront the monster.“ Andor whispered into the wind as he took a bite of his lunch and gazed over the mountain range pockmarked with craggy peaks, deep blue lakes, and emerald green forests. ### Next Chapter: [Stay Tuned](https://www.substack.mountaintopcoding.dev/) ### Previous Chapter: [[16 - Birth 🐣]]