Kel was awake and ready to set off on her journey at dawn. Yuki, The Dragon, and the Emperor watched her go down the well worn path, which led away from the palace. It was a pleasant day, the sun was shinning and the birds singing. She followed the path through the Yaki Forest and stopped at a stream for the day.

After setting up her tent, taking care of the horses, and eating dinner, she walked over to the nearest tree - a large oak. She took a deep breath and grabbed the first branch, swinging up onto it like she would a horse. Keeping her eyes shut she reached toward the next branch. She stretched higher and higher until she was standing on her tiptoes. Unfortunately, this was not a good idea. Sakuyo decided to play one of her tricks. She reached up and pushed Kel off the branch. Kel fell to the ground with a thud.

"You're not helping Sakuyo," Kel scolded as the mare and Peachblossom laughed over this wonderful joke.

The horses' laughter gave her even more determination to climb the tree. So after picketing Sakuyo out of reach of the tree, she began her climb again. This time she kept her eyes opened and was able to reach the third branch before she looked down. She became frozen in place. After what seemed like hours, Peachbloosom was able to break free of his tether and raced over to the tree. He placed his hooves on the trunk and bit Kel on the shin.

"Oww!" she yelped, causing her to divert her attention from the ground several feet below her to the pain, which ran through her leg. Carefully she climbed down, feeling for the next branch instead of looking down.

"Thanks Peachblossom," she said giving him an apple.

Sakuyo promptly informed her mistress of this unfair treatment.

"All right, all right, you can have one."


The next morning Kel was able to make it to the fourth branch.

She wandered around the countryside, climbing a tree at least once a day. After about three weeks she found a canyon. Deciding she wanted to try to climb something new, she left the horses by a stream and started to scale the wall. Once she made it to the top she scanned the view around her. It was beautiful! She even dared a look down into the canyon. It still made her heart race and she started to breathe faster, but she no longer froze in place. After her quick glance down the canyon, she scrambled back down the wall. She still feared heights, but the fear was disappearing.