Yet another day was beginning, with the sun rising over the hills and mountains, and the first light of a new day. For Cayde, being so high up on the mountain, the sun rose a bit earlier for him since he could see over some smaller mountains and watch the sun rise at an earlier time. For a moment, he wondered what it would be like to watch the sunrise from a place like a beach, but that was a far different climate, and one he most likely wouldn't ever end up in.

Cayde got up and stretched out for a moment before glancing around. It was yet another clear day, luckily, so he didn't need to worry about any storms for the time being. But, that didn't mean that the day wouldn't be windy at all.

With the few trees that had grown at such a height, there was much less in the way of protection from the heavy winds that often barraged the higher point of the mountain. However, this would not stop Cayde from progressing further along the Trial. He was confident. He felt like he could do this, he could make it to the top. Not only did he do this for himself and the pack, but also in the name of his father. He wanted to do what he could not.

Cayde was off to an early start this time, knowing that the final few thousand feet were going to be very difficult and he needed to be much more focused and careful. While he did start earlier than usual, he would probably only make it up a thousand feet today, if he was fast, but also cautious as well.

He made his way along the path again. Luckily for now, the trail was stable and he didn't need to climb up any huge rocks or super steep terrain. From the four-thousand foot mark to the five-thousand foot mark, it would be quite difficult, but from the five-thousand foot mark to the end, it would be a challenge like no other. That was where no trees were growing, as it was too high and the conditions were too harsh for trees to grow. From there onward, he would face the most difficult challenges, the most dangerous climbs, and the fiercest conditions. He pondered on this as he continued his trek.

As the day continued onward, Cayde climbed higher and higher up the mountain. He faced multiple obstacles, but each one he was able to overcome with careful coordination and planning. From rocks and boulders to hop over and onto, to steeper slopes and loose ground. He had fallen a few times, but each time he got right back up and continued. Luckily he hadn't been injured badly, and hadn't even drawn blood at all. That could always change, but he was glad to still be unharmed.

By evening, he was close to the five-thousand foot mark. He only needed to go another hundred feet up or so, but there was one final obstacle in his way before he could make it there. A large gap on the path. Luckily, he didn't need to simply jump over it... it was far too big of a gap anyway. However, there was a way to cross the gap. A faster and shorter way over the gap, but far more dangerous since the "bridge" was a very thin slab of rock that could tip over the edge with the slightest wrong movement, and the way down was quite far.

The other option was a longer, but wider way around the gap. It was a bridge, a nature-made bridge, with a long slab of boulder crossing the gap at the widest portion of the gap. Not wanting to take any chances or risks, and not wanting to find another way to go around the gap, as it was getting quite late, Cayde took the longer route, but as soon as he took the first step, the boulder shifted a little, clearly it wasn't very well held up by anything else. Noticing this, Cayde took very small, slow, and careful steps forward, trying not to put too much weight down with each step. It was like walking on ice... except if he broke through the "ice" he would fall down a drop that went down at least a few hundred feet. In short, if the boulder fell, it would be his certain doom.

But his careful footsteps paid off, and both him and the boulder had not fallen. With the final obstacle completed, he went up another hundred feet to reach the five-thousand foot mark. By now it was almost completely dark, but regardless, Cayde easily found a small rock and placed it on the pile of rocks that symbolized the milestone. There were noticeably less rocks on the pile, and Cayde could only imagine how many rocks were at the six-thousand foot mark...

But regardless, he had made it up another thousand feet today. He was exhausted, and relieved to be able to find shelter quickly even in the dark. A few minutes later, he was fast asleep.

He had come quite far already.

But from here on out was where the true challenge would come.

Conditions would be much more harsh, climbs would be even more dangerous, and now, all he could rely on was himself, with no trees to effectively shield him from the elements, and nothing else to truly protect him.

This final segment was where the most wolves had perished.

This would be Cayde's greatest challenge.

And he intended to make it.