Sarek made up time quickly using the more dangerous of the ways. His body ached from various cuts he had received in his climb up the jagged cliffs. The combination of friction and having to stop his fall a few times had rubbed burns into his hand, making them raw and painful.

By the time he had reached the top, his make shift helmet was broken and gone. The ledge he had seen was now beneath him and he was on a trail along the rim of the mountain range. This was a trail that either the foolish or very daring ventured.

The crest was .782 kilometers above the surface of the forge. This wasn't even the highest spot of the range. It peaked at 1.974 kilometers.

Sarek's heart pounded and he struggled to regulate his breathing. He sat for a moment surveying the landscape. From here he could make out his cohorts they looked as dots on the horizon.

Most of them had taken the easy path, going around the mountains. Surprisingly, the only other person to take his path was a girl. T'Rea had joined him on the more dangerous route.

Sarek had been brought up in a house hold where the male set the laws. His mother took care of his father's every need. This was in addition to her work at the hospital. They maintained two separate sleeping chambers.

In his circles this was not uncommon though, Soval's parents lived in different parts of the city, and lead their own lives. Soval had spent the first three years, in the care of his mother. Upon his third birthday he was moved with his father. This knowledge made him glad his parents at least shared a common dwelling.

He looked over to T'Rea and her progress, wondering if her body was a beaten as his. She was just ahead of him but when she noticed him, she broke into a run. Sarek wanted to call out to have her stop, but talking and aid was forbidden.

It was when the unthinkable happened and she ran into a den of a Seleth that Sarek reacted.

He watched as her mouth opened to scream, but nothing came out. Terror had stolen her voice, which was a good thing. Seleth's were known to be territorial and highly protective of their young.

Sarek could see the adult Seleth lapping up water that remained from a rare storm a few days back. He made his way into the wind flow. Hoping his scent would draw the beast towards him. //T'Rea, stay there, till I say move.//

Her eyes bore into his, he could feel her fear. //Sarek, no!//

He kept his actions up, watching her with his peripheral vision, he moved dangerously close to the Seleth. It caught his scent on the air and darted his head looking at Sarek. Sarek kept his eyes focused on it. Slowly, he drew out the blade he had found. //T'Rea leave here slowly.//

Reluctantly, she did as he said and moved away from the sleeping cub. //Sarek you are foolish.//

//That might be, but you will not die this way, not today.// Sarek meant no harm to the mother or her cub, but T'Rea's life and now his was at stake.

The adult Seleth stood on its back legs and let out a loud growl, causing some rocks to loosen in the mountainside. Sarek looked at the long fangs. One of the six inch fangs had broken off about half way up. He had to react quickly, and with little time to think when the front paws came back onto the ground and charged him. When it leapt towards him, he ducked and rolled under it, causing the animal to make a ear piercing scream as it flew off the side of the cliff. Sarek stood up and closed his eyes. He had caused the death of another being, one with a cub that couldn't make it on its own. He moved to the tiny cub, which was now looking at him. He took off his pants, leaving only his undergarment on the lower part of his body. With his blade, he cut the pants to make a sling of sorts. When he was done, he put the tiny cub in it, and threw it over his right shoulder.

//You can't keep it Sarek, it's a wild Seleth.// T'Rea moved towards him.

//We cannot allow him to die, because our taking this path caused his mother's death.// Sarek looked ahead in the direction of the finish line. They had passed the most dangerous of it. He would not give up, nor would he leave the cub behind. Life was to be preserved at all cost.

He once again began his walk, despite the fact he had forfeited it by lending aid to T'Rea. As he made his way with the cub it sniffed him. "I have no food for you." It let out a cry that sounded like, 'eyechee'. Thus Sarek named the Seleth, "I'Chi".