A Narrow Path Above The Clouds
A bare hand gripped the pale limestone wall as gravel shifted beneath climbing boots.
High along an Alpine ridge, a thick blanket of white fog stretched across the valley floor thousands of feet below.
Ahead on the footpath, barely two feet wide, a young chamois lay curled tightly against the cold stone face.
The animal rested directly on the narrow terrace, its hindquarters wedged near the sheer drop.
Its ears twitched back and forth as the hiker closed the remaining distance one careful stride at a time.
There was no room to bypass the creature without stepping out into empty air.
Reaching Out Across The Void
The climber lowered his center of gravity, crouching low against the rough wall.
Loose pebbles rolled off the ledge, falling silently toward the white sea of cloud below.
He extended an open right hand, moving his fingers at a slow, deliberate pace.
The chamois lifted its dark head and pinned its gaze on the approaching palm.
Its flanks expanded and contracted rapidly against the gravel path.
The climber leaned farther forward, pressing his chest close to his knees to keep balance on the rock.
He brought his fingertips to rest lightly between the animal’s slender ears.
His fingers stroked the coarse brown fur along the crown of its skull.
The young creature tucked its chin closer to its chest under the gentle touch.
Finding Footing On The Ridge
The man applied a light, steady nudge against the back of its neck.
With a quick scramble of clattering hooves, the animal sprang upright onto all four legs.
Its hooves skidded slightly on the loose grit before catching solid purchase on the ledge.
It spun its body forward, pointing its snout away from the climber toward the open route.
It trotted along the gravel shelf, navigating the exposed rim without slipping.
Reaching a rocky outcropping, the animal leaped upward, finding micro-ledges in the vertical wall with effortless precision.
It bounded up the green tufts of mountain grass hugging the sheer rock face and vanished around the peak.
The hiker stood tall on the empty trail, let out an audible breath, and turned his camera toward the sunlit peaks rising above the sea of clouds.
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