Kimahri takes his son to the top of Mt. Gagazet.

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italics = denotes thought or memory (for the most part)

Not Mine

Climb - 4 Days Until the Coronation

The mountain was cold. Snow packed under their feet turned to ice, hard and glassy. It was only thanks to their clawed feet that they did not slip around. It had been a little more than one full moon since the last snowfall. This was disappointing instead of good news. Fresh snow meant when days were warmer like cold summer there would be many plentiful pools of water to drink from, and to feed their underground crops. But this cold winter chill had been relatively dry. To combat this, mages from more temperate climates would be coming soon to cast magic upon the hills and force the snow to come. But all mages were on hand in New Zanarkand for the coronation and so the mountain would suffer in silence. Kimahri did not blame Yuna for the mages absence. Instead he cursed the mountain goddess. Would walk outside in the morning and roar into the sky, daring the snow to come. But snow rituals had proven no good and Ronso were growing restless, so mages it was.

Snow would come thick and in blankets then. And young Ronso would go outside and delight in the texture and feel of it on their skin. Roll around until they were covered in it, and their parents would scold them for tracking water and grime into their homes. Kelk had done this as a younger pup and Nuvy had sent him out of their cave to stand beside the door for an hour, not allowed to move. His friends had mocked the next great Ronso chiefling for being punished in such a way calling him things like "snow cub" and "wet one". This shame had been enough and now when he rolled around in the snow he would clean his fur to shining before coming back home. It had been good lesson Kimahri though. Effective. He had wanted to box son's ears in but Nuvy Ronso wife had said that would be too harsh and not teach him anything other than to box ones ears in. Ronso wife had been correct.

That was two years ago. Now his son, well into his eighth snow season was following him up the mountain to the high graveyard. Here those who had died to protect Yuna were laid to rest. Other Ronso heroes were also buried here. It was a place of great Ronso honor. One day Kimahri would be burned and his ash laid to rest in this place too. He eagerly looked forward to the day where he could stand among those greater than him.

It would be Kelk's first time to the grave site as he had been a few snow seasons too young until recently. The travel to the top of the mountain was known to be perilous and full of danger. While some parts of Spira had cleared and were mostly fiend free now, like the Calm Lands and the Thunder Plains - the Gagazet Mountain and mountain passes still teemed with fiends. Some came from deep mountain caves but most came from Zanarkand, which remained safely untouched. A place where fiend could run free unafraid of Spira and Ronson weapon, "There yet?" Kelk asked behind him.

"No." Kimahri grunted.

"Long and no fun." Kelk complained.

As he was still a young cub no matter what he tried to say, Kimahri was not surprised. Kimahri had first traveled up long mountain pass when he had been older than Kelk. After all - his Ronso father had not been Ronso leader. Instead his Ronso father had been normal Ronso with modest weapon shop. So it was not required that he pay respects. Still Ronso father had been very traditional so when Kimahri had been into his eleventh snow season his Ronso father had taken him up the steep mountain pass to pay respects to dead Ronso. Nuvy had wanted to wait until Kelk was the same age as Kimahri had been but Kimahri had wanted to take Kelk before Yuna's coronation, so Ronso son would know and understand what Ronso had died to protect. To instill that same same honor in his son, "Mountain is Ronso home. Mountian should be respected. Even long paths."

Kelk kicked a small pebble with his foot and grunted, "Why."

"Mountain is our home. Mountian can be harsh and unforgiving. Mountain is strongest of all. Respect Mountain. One stone can send it all crashing down."

"What one stone do?" Kelk said picking up another stone and throwing it into the distance.

Three was the sound of the stone hitting something and then a growl followed. In an instant Kelk went from casually walking forward to at alert, fur sticking up as his body tensed. A large roaring chuckle rose from Kimahri's belly and Kelk glared at his father, "Now you will get a taste of what one stone do. Fiends come! Ready yourself for combat young cub, learn how to take down those who are bigger than Ronso blood."

Drawing his lance he handed it to his son and Kelk lifted it hesitantly. His Ronso son had been training for combat since his fifth snow season as all young cubs did but this would be his first time in real combat. The practice staves that they used back in the Ronso city-cave were strong but Kimahri's lance was strongest and sturdiest of all. Stampeding sounds got closer and then a draconian and scaly Nidhogg could be seen barreling toward them. Kimahri stepped out of the way of its charge and Kelk yelped finding himself alone against the large fiend, "Father!" He exclaimed clearly afraid.

"Ronso son must learn to fight alone. Rite of passage."

Kelk gripped the staff of the lance tightly but his hands trembled. Under the weight of the large weapon his body tipped and then righted itself. He was afraid Kimahri knew, it was easy to read his eyes - but the fear would make him strong, bolster his nerves and spur him to action. It was true of all Ronso. Those with no fur who did not know the cold and bite of the mountain, those like Yuna or Rikku - they called the battle practices of Ronso barbaric. After all who sends young cubs into battle only after eight winters? But Ronso did not have the luxury of waiting until they were thirteen snow seasons or even ten. The mountain was unforgiving to untrained young who ventured off alone, or who got stuck in a snowstorm. Fiends were many here and so cubs had to learn young and to stand alone. That was the reality of Gagazet. There was extra pressure for Kelk too. Someday he would become great Ronso Chief like Kimahri was and he would have to be stronger and more resilient than any other Ronso in their tribe. If he was not claws and horns would wait in wings to replace him. For such a young Ronso it was a lot to shoulder. But shoulder he must.

A fireball spit from the Nidhogg's mouth and Kelk rolled out of the way - Ronso instinct kicking in. Snow clung to his fur covering him in a thin layer. He charged forward, tip of the lance aimed for the Nidhogg but his first charge was clumsy and the large horned lizard was able to knock him aside easily, sending Kelk sprawling. Ronso father desire almost drove Kimahri to plunge forward to protect Kelk but he was able to hold back. He was sure that his own Ronso father must have felt this protective urge too, but he pushed it to the very back of him. Ronso were not to be coddled, Kelk greatest of all. There was another reason of course for this test, but that was something that Kimahri would reveal to his son at the top of the mountain.

When Kelk stood up his back was straighter and prouder. He had found his honor, no Nidhogg dare push aside the son of a Ronso Chief. He would not go down like this. Kimahri noted that his hands held the lance staff with a more sturdy grip. This time when Kelk rushed forward the lance met its mark. The Nidhogg did not go down but it did grunt its displeasure. Its next attack was harsher and fiercer, headbutting into Kelk's now unguarded chest. Kelk too grunted but his stance did not waiver. Instead he withdrew the sharp end of the lance and stabbed it into the Nidhogg again. This time the Nidhogg collapsed in front of him, still alive - but barely, "Final stroke. Respect its fight, end life."

Kelk raised the staff above the fiend's neck and drove it down, decapitating the beast. The second he did so the Nidhogg exploded into pyreflies. Seeing his son slay his first creature Kimahri let out a loud and raucous roar that reverberated down the mountainside. As he roared Kelk joined him, their cries melding into one loud and terrifying sound. Any fiend that were to hear the sound would be scared off in an instant. In that moment the two mighty Ronso had nothing to fear, for no being was greater than them - no one could best them in strength and if they dared would be crushed under their righteous fists. As their screams faded and the echo died Kimahri looked down at his son pride in his eyes, "Ronso pup son do well. From this day on you are not a pup but Ronso youth."

Kelk let out a second holler and then begun dashing up the mountainside excitement in his stride, "Ronso youth! Ronso youth!" He roared again.

The rest of the trip up the long mountain pass was uneventful and Kimahri did his best to keep up with his son's spirit. It was a great honor to pass from pup to youth and none but a family member or the current Ronso Chief could bestow the honor. To have his Ronso father who was both do so for him could be nothing but a thing of pride. Someday Kimahri would be swallowed up by great mountain, pass from Chief to Elder and then to ash, and Kelk would take his place. Finally winded from the great exertion that it took to run up the path of the mountain, but happy with how their muscles ached father and son reached the peak.

In front of them the mountain view opened up, the ground under them plateauing for a bit before the slope of the peak dipped downward into a breathtaking view of the Calm Lands. Above them the sun shone brightly making the snow sparkle. Up here where Ronso rarely traveled the snow was untouched and Kimahri watched as his Ronso son took in the view. It was an impressive thing to behold and the last reason that the Ronso loved Gagazet. For he who stood on the top of the mountain understood that he was the Ronso who could conquer all. There was no greater throne to stand on, no greater place to spend your end days. Each Ronso Chief and Elder overlooking and protecting that which was their home, "Mountain is greatest of all. Ronso conquer mountain so Ronso also greatest of all." Kimahri finally said.

"So bright." Kelk said looking at the sun.

"Not always bright. Sometimes sun sets and mountain is set on fire. Then everything dark and dangerous." Kimahri told Kelk.

Kimahri walked over to one of the stone graves sunk into the snow, deeply rooted so that no snowstorm could take it away. A symbol was carved into its face and the inside of the groves painted yellow. Unlike some of the older stones this one looked as if it had been painted in the past ten years, paint worn down but not defeated by the wind. Kelk noticed that his father had moved and so traveled over to look at what had so caught his attention, "What is?" He asked.

"Ronso grave. Kelk Ronso grave. Namesake and great Ronso. Take pride in those who have come before. Wrong or right they our Elders. Listen to them speak."

As Kimahri said this the wind of the mountain caught the groves of the stone at just the right angle and a sharp whistling sound filled up the air around them, only to be swallowed by another gust of wind, "I hear them Ronso father." Kelk told Kimahri.

"Yes. What they say to you?"

"Great future we have." Kelk said all teeth, smiling.

"Ronso Elders are right." Kimahri told his son, "Soon Kelk Ronso will not be only Ronso child of mine."

Kelk looked at his father shocked, "Kelk will be -" He tried to find the right words but it was clear that his father had shocked him into silence.

"Ronso brother. To Ronso sister. Will Ronso son answer call?"

Thumping his chest with great might Kelk snarled a warrior's proud snarl, "With all Kelk might."

That had been the true reason for the training, their long journey to the top of Gagazet. To see if Kelk would be able to protect the sister he would soon have. Eventually when she was his age she would learn to defend herself, but until that day it was the job of Ronso Youth and Ronso brother to get her to that age. To teach her how to wield all the weapons afforded to her by Ronso blood, to instill in her the pride of blood, the honor of combat, and the strength of her Ronso people.

A/N: Building the history of the Ronso has been one of my favorite things about this fanfic, so little is known about them culturally in game and to explore that and build off it has been really rewarding as a writer.