[treasure] Scouring the Shifting Dunes (Atlas | Volker)

Scouring the Shifting Dunes

FT: Atlas SYM-610 | Volker SYM-776

Word Count: 909

Atlas huffs out a large breath, it instantly drying up in the desert's sour heat. Lifting a clawed hand up, they place it on their forehead to shield their eyes from the relentless sun as they look out over the warming tan sand. It had been three days since they started this expedition into the dunes and each day has brought not one bit of treasure before them. Today is their last chance to find the rumored treasured burried out in this constantly shifting landscape. Atlas' snout crinkles is dissatisfaction, they had only paid the caravan for five days and it took one to even return to their natural biome.

Dropping their arm back to their side, Atlas slips down the dune they stood upon to begin searching. Pulling a hood up over their ears for protection from the sun, Atlas begins to excavate the area, their shovel easily plunging into the soft sand. 

It takes hours, breaks filtered in between to refresh and rehydrate, but they find it. Shovel clinks against well crafted stone causing Atlas to toss the metal tool to the side. The entrance of the ruins, finally found. The monochrome symprite grins in relief and begins to sweep the sand aside by hand, intent on preserving the history of the temple. Clearing the entrance reveals to Atlas that they need more time, it could take days to clear the temple, days to search it. 

Atlas steps back, glancing over the glyphs carved into the stone and nods. This is it, this is good. Wrangling up more shells from their pack, they set it down and rush back up the dune and toward the caravan to pay the driver and seek help, maybe more hands could get this done faster. 

"Hey," Atlas starts, breathless, "I found it." They stumble up to Karma, pressing the bag of shells into her hand. "I need more time and more hands." Glancing over to the other passengers in the caravan they pipe up, "Is anyone here willing to help me clear out this old temple hidden by the sands?" 

A green symprite, huddled in the back corner away from the others lifts his muzzle with a low grumble. Atlas briefly looks him over, noting his broken horn and goopy tail down mentally as prominent features, ones they could remember and recognize. Their face blindness making the maneuver instinct at this point. 

"I'll help." He states shortly, his voice rough from misuse in the dry air. 

"Alright, thank you." Atlas smiles nervously, backing up to let the other out. "I'm Atlas, by the way." 

"Volker." 

'Not much of a talker.' Atlas hums to themselves mentally before nodding. "A pleasure to meet you, Volker. The temple is just this way." They point in the direction they came, then turns to wave back at Karma while hoping she keeps her word and returns in a few days for the two. Smiling at Volker, they lead the way back down and through the dunes. "My pack and tools are at the site." Atlas quips to Volker, handing him a flask of water. "So don't worry, you don't have to do it by hand." They chuckle, "If that was a thought of yours." 

"It wasn't." Volker mutters, a slight crinkle to his nose, "I would hope you hadn't come out here ill prepared." 

"Fair, fair." Atlas slips down the last dune and prides over the uncovered entrance. They look back at Volker and grin, "Are you ready?" Without waiting for approval from the other, Atlas picks up a short shovel and begins pulling sand out of the sculpted doorway.

With the two of them, it takes three days total to clear out the temple to an acceptable level, the entryway being the worst of it. It takes two more to search and carefully store and preserve multiple old artifacts. 

"Whew!" Atlas wipes their brow before chugging some water from their flask. "I'm glad I stuck this one out. So many new artifacts for the museum." They gently nudge Volker's arm with their elbow, "You really saved my biote, you know? Helping me out like this." They grin at the other, before tapping the chest in front of them with a blue hoof. "Will that-'' They point at the other chest placed in front of Volker, "-pay for all of your help?"

Volker nods, a hint of a smile gracing his features. "I know I did." He crouches, sliding a hand over the chest, some sand falling to the ground. "It will be enough." Glancing over his shoulder he grumbles, "Next time you do this. Don't do it alone." He stands, shaking his head, "If you had died out here-"

"That's the most you've said this whole time, broody pants." Atlas grins, cutting Volker off. They place a hand to their chest and blink innocently, "Worried about little ol' me? I'm surprised."

"Perhaps I am."

The monochromatic symprite blinks in surprise at Volker's words. "Ah. Well.. I promise I'll have a team next time." Atlas rubs the back of their head sheepishly. "I didn't want to give up this opportunity but the others didn't want to face the heat, so I just went alone." Atlas chuckles, "I'm not usually so reckless."

Volker glances over at Atlas, "Good. We should get going, before the night's cold creeps in." With an agreeing nod, Atlas hikes their chest up onto their shoulder and the two set off for the waiting caravan.