The Elder's Path Read Online Free PDF Page A

world isn’t the same. But that doesn’t make the Path any less important, right?” Alir let loose a small squawk in response. “Yes, perhaps now it is more important than ever, to remind the world and provide balance. Though, conflicted as I am, I do not know what balance I can possibly provide.”
    She sat quietly for a few moments, deep in thought. “I think that is the biggest challenge I have faced; the idea that I am supposed to be some sort of important figur e, and I feel so…immature and young and not ready. I can’t imagine people seeking me for guidance on anything.” Looking to her companion, she saw that the bird was giving her a cool look. Lyn sighed, and resigned herself to her thoughts.
    The following day found Lyn in low spirits, making her way sluggishly towards the foot of the mountains and dreading every second. The mountains, which had seemed so exciting before, were now a very constant reminder of her lack of preparation and familiarity. She trudged along, generally dragging her feet and prolonging her trip. While the gravity of her responsibility was not lost on her, Lyn was still young and allowed herself occasions of such petulance.  She scuffed the ground with her feet and idled about, unwilling to face the next leg of her journey. She could sense Alir’s frustration, and this alone kept her moving more or less forward.
    In many ways Alir provided her with karmic justice, not the least of which being his insatiable drive to explore and adventure. Hi s impatience for action ground on her in her state of uncertainty, and in no small part she now sympathized with how the people of her village must have felt around her as she grew up with a similar mentality.
    But she also understood his need, and was tha nkful for his influence that kept her focused on the fact that, pressure aside, she wanted this. Lyn steadied herself with a deep breath and looked at the sun, which was becoming ever more difficult to see clearly through the heavy clouds that seemed to perpetually surround the mountain. In fact, the closer she came to the foot of the giant stone spires, the harder it became to see the hills behind her as well. She felt encompassed by the huge presence of the mountains, and the closing of the fog behind her made her feel forced forward to climb the looming rocks.
    She was not long for this train of thought, however, for as she stood quietly contemplating her journey she began to hear muffled noises off somewhere ahead. The fog was not so thick as to inhibit her vision generally, yet she did not see any motion among the hills. Lyn was loathe to jump directly into another encounter with people; her two experiences outside the forest so far had been a group of bandits, and a city full of people who had ignored her at best. She did not know what kind of folk she’d run in to next, and she thought it best to proceed with caution. As she watched Alir circle above, she wished fervently that she could see through his eyes and survey their surroundings.
    Then the though t sunk in. Hadn’t she done something similar the first time they’d come out of the forest? She had never experienced something that way before, the sensation of actually flying, and it had been such a strange experience and had ended such in her detriment that she had not really addressed it again. But she had, in a mediocre sort of way, expanded into the hawk’s perception just for a moment. Since then, their bond had deepened greatly; perhaps now she could reach out and try to share that perception again. She sat and straightened her back in a meditative pose, took a long look at her companion before closing her eyes, and tried to reach out with her mind. She had never attempted something of this nature before and came to no avail now, despite her intentions. Lyn’s brow furrowed and she concentrated harder, trying to visualize her friend and become part of his flight. She imagined what the world looked like from his vantage,