The Long Tale No. 31 - Earthen Steps

The golem plodded, painfully, towards the hillside, each of its steps a shock to its strained system. The ground reverberated with each footfall, sending up clouds of dust that encircled the great creature. Stones rumbled down the cliff face and angry critters scurried away from the seismic waves. The golem was damaged, its body cracked and its scroll burnt. But towards the hillside it carried on. Towards the earthen bed where it would lie and become mountain once more. On and on. Through pain and suffering. Towards sweet ending... The man watched it come, steadily, towards him and he smiled.