A Mountain Test

 

            Chloe tripped over a rock and felt herself start to slide back down the path. With her heart in her throat, she grabbed wildly for anything that would anchor her before she fell off the side of the mountain.

            Pain shot up her hand as her fingers successfully grabbed an exposed tree root. Taking a minute to catch her breath, her whole body quivered with panic. Finally daring to open her eyes, she looked behind her.

            Letting out a huge sigh of relief, she saw that she had stopped at least ten feet away from the steep dropoff. Still trembling with fear, she slowly stood up and called out, “Jameson, where are you?”

            Not really expecting an answer, she was still disappointed when only the rustling leaves sounded around her. What was she doing here? Did she really expect her spirit guide to appear before she finished the test? Jameson told her that she had to conquer her fears without him so she could get accepted to the prestigious school of magic, Lionel Academy.

            There was no question that Chloe would be able to handle all the coursework, but each applicant had to prove their bravery without the help of their spirit guides. Closing her eyes, she saw herself receiving her entrance certificate. She was not going to let her fear of heights stop her from getting it.

            Taking one more look at the yawning chasm behind her, she steeled herself and started climbing once again. The way was steep, and she found herself almost on her hands and knees. She didn’t allow herself to think about how far she had come, or how long the drop would be if she fell off the cliff. She was going to show everyone that she wouldn’t let herself be afraid.

            Each step she moved closer to the top was a small victory. She had always been afraid of heights, and even climbing a ladder scared her. She felt her mind getting pulled back to the bone-crushing fall that could happen if she slipped and fell. She started singing “Life Is a Highway” at the top of her lungs to drown out the thoughts of death.

            Two hours later, she finally stepped onto the peak of the mountain where she immediately fell to her knees and struggled to catch her breath. When she could speak, she called out, “Jameson!”

            The sight of her familiar appearing next to her filled her with immense relief. Jameson spread his great wings and landed in front of her. She was excited to see him in his dragon form. “Congratulations, Chloe!” He allowed her to hug him before continuing, “You’ve proven that you can continue moving forward even in the face of fear and danger.” He pulled away and looked her right in the eye. “You deserve your spot at Lionel Academy.”

            Chloe beamed, feeling like she had conquered a mountain, which indeed, she had. The grin that spread across her face seemed to light up her whole body. “Thanks, Jameson. It must have been hard for you to just sit back and watch. But you would have rescued me if I fell, right?”

            Jameson nervously cleared his throat. “Well, are you ready to get off this mountain?”

            Trying not to think about what would have happened if she had fallen, Chloe answered, “Of course!” She reached out to grab Jameson’s wing, and with a loud crack, they were off the mountain and back on familiar ground. After taking several deep breaths, she said, “I’m okay if I never have to do that again.” She looked forward to learning more magic at school and hoped she wouldn’t be required to climb any more mountains.