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Andarien just stared up the stairs. He couldn't even see the top ... it looked as though the stairs went right up into the clouds!

He gulped nervously. "Um .. Ada ... that's ... a long way up ..."

Earendil put one hand on Andarien's shoulder. "Let Miyuki go first," he told him, "and then you go, and I'll be right behind you. If you need to use your hands to help you climb, go ahead ... and if you get too tired, or anything happens, I'll be right behind you to catch you. All right?"

Andarien looked at his father, then at the stairs, then back at his father, and nodded. He turned back to the stairs and looked up again. He took a deep breath. He would do his best.

Eon rubbed his head against Andarien's ankle and looked up at him through his enormous black eyes. He squeaked quietly at his master and friend, giving him encouragement.

Andarien smiled weakly and knelt down to pet Eon on the head. "Thanks, Eon," he murmured. "And if you get tired you tell me, and you can rest in your Pokeball, like the Ponyta, okay?"

Eon yipped his agreement and bounded forward to start up the stairs. He stopped just in front of the first step, crouched down like a cat waiting to pouch, wiggled his butt, and the sprang up and forward onto the first step. He turned and looked at the others proudly, then squeaked for them all to follow him.

It was slow going, and as it turned out, Eon lasted longer than Andarien. After the first fifty steps, Andarien had slowed almost to a crawl, and by seventy steps, Earendil was carrying him piggy-back. Eon was going slower by now, but seemed determined to make it up the steps on his own.

Earendil had already been up the mountain that morning, but he felt as refreshed as if they were just starting out. This was old hat to him by now, and no trouble to him at all.

"How are you holding up, Miyuki?" he asked her as they kept going.

Once Andarien had rested a bit, he asked to try walking again, and Earendil let him. He lasted about another thirty steps before he asked to be carried once more, and again Earendil complied.

At long last, they reached the top of the steps. Earendil put Andarien on the ground again.

"Water there," he pointed at the spring that fed the entire city. "Take a drink."

He looked up at the sky. The clouds were thick now, and the sky was dark, and the wind was blowing much more strongly now. They would have to hurry to their uncle's place if they wanted to beat the rain. Still, the children needed a drink first, as did their pets.

Andarien headed straight for the water, followed by Eon, who had been completely tuckered out by the long climb. He was still walking on his own, but he was very slow now, and his ears and tails were drooping with exhaustion.

Andarien was only slightly better off than Miyuki, and only because he'd been carried for most of the way up the stairs. He sat down next to the spring. Cupping his hands to carry the water to his mouth, he drank deeply.

Eon knelt next to him and drank as well.

Earendil took Miyuki's hand and helped her to her feet. "Why don't you sit on the bench here until your brother is ready too?" he suggested, nodding at the stone bench just beside the spring.

He glanced at Lin to see how she had handled the climb. It had been a while since she had been up here, he was certain ... but as an angel, she would be able to handle the thin air better now, too.

Andarien didn't need much water for himself, but Eon kept on drinking, pausing to catch his breath every few seconds. Andarien's eyes filled with pity, and he stroked Eon gently.

"Poor Eon," he murmured. "You wanted to do it all by yourself ... such a strong little Eevee!"

Eon looked up at Andarien and, tired though he was, his chest puffed out just the slightest little bit with pride that his master was so pleased with him. But as quickly as he had puffed his chest out, he collapsed onto the ground and closed his eyes, now completely exhausted.

Andarien picked up the Eevee and held him in his arms, stroking him gently. He would carry Eon the rest of the way, he decided.

"Did you used to come up here, Nana?" he asked, turning to Lin.

Earendil chuckled softly. "And I've been coming up here every morning since I was a child," he grinned. "With the exception, of course, of when I wasn't here."

Andarien stared at his father, eyes wide. "You come here every day?" he asked, surprised. "When?"

"Long before you're ever out of bed," Earendil winked. "But come along, we should really get going, or else we're going to get wet. Ready?"

Andarien nodded, holding Eon close. "As long as there's no more steps, I'm ready," he affirmed.

"Good." Earendil turned back to Miyuki. "Ready, Miyuki?"

Though Miyuki said she was ready, Earendil could see that the strain of the steps was still having quite the effect on her. Her movements were slow and stiff. But he wouldn't make a big deal out of it, not when she was making it so clear that she wasn't going to complain about it.

"Let's go," he murmured, leading the way.

They passed through the tall rock walls and followed the path to the training area. Usually a busy and noisy area, the arena was void of anyone at all. Earendil had a feeling that his uncle had sent them back to the barracks to ride out the weather that they were expecting. That was fine with him - it meant that they wouldn't be taking Eldrin away from his work while they visited with him.

"This way," he urged his family as the wind picked up yet again, pointing to the stone house that sat alone behind the training arena. "Quickly now."

The last thing they needed was someone being blown off the top of the mountain, a very definite possibility.

Before they even arrived at the house, the door opened, and Eldrin himself stood there, beckoning them to enter. "Hurry," he urged them.