[gift] Desert Journey - Ch 1

In the Pangaea Desert, where the vast sands met the blue sky, stood the city of Rhiza. It was nearly the only oasis on the entire planet Capricorn-13, and its inhabitants were accustomed to hot days that sometimes reached unbearable temperatures. Rare flowers grew here among the cacti and palm trees, adding a bit of picturesqueness to this harsh place.

Raeve sat on a stone step, leaning against the wall of one of the houses. The sun was already beginning to set, and a warm, almost golden light permeated the air, creating a sense of mystery and peace. He took the red bandana off his head and tied it around his neck to better feel the wind coming in. His eyes stared off into the distance, to where the sands merged with the horizon.

Raeve was atypical of the Symprites, even for the inhabitants of Rhiza. His body was covered in short, stiff brown fur that protected him from the blazing sun, and his tail moved lightly behind him, cutting off the grains of sand that flew in the wind. On his head were two horns, bright red like his bandana. Only one leg was a prosthetic, made of sturdy wood. It was strong enough to withstand mechanical forces, allowing Raeve to move with the same sure maneuverability as his natural leg.

His inability to see the world did not prevent him from enjoying this moment. Raeve's hearing and sense of smell were so developed that he could easily pick up the sounds of distant footsteps, the smells of plants, or even changes in the air that heralded the approach of some phenomenon. In recent days his attention had been drawn to the smell of new water, a spring that was rumored to have been found somewhere on the outskirts of the city.

And so, when night had completely enveloped the sky, he stood up, swaying on his prosthesis, and moved towards one of the empty houses. There was a slight confidence in his step, albeit not without heaviness. He knew that today he would face not just a search for water, but a confrontation with those who had long ago prepared to send him into the empty wasteland.

As he walked past the sprawling cacti and flowering bushes, Raeve felt his attention drawn to every sound. First he noticed a creaking in the sand - someone was following him. Perhaps it was just the wind, but experience told him it wasn't. He pulled his cleaver from the sheath on his belt and took a few steps until he was in the shadow of one of the houses. At that moment, he heard a familiar voice.

- Are you here, Raeve? - whispered his old friend, Matthias, whom Raeve hadn't spoken to in months.

- Yes, here,- replied Raeve, without looking back.- Did you find it?

Mathias stepped closer, and now Raeve could smell him. It was the smell of long expended energy, of fatigue and desperate determination. Raeve realized that this day would bring nothing good, and that they were both facing a threat far greater than mere survival in the desert.

- Found it, but it's not that simple. A group of raiders have blocked the path to the water source. We can't get through.

Raeve smiled with the corner of his lips, there was something unsettling about it, but he knew there was a way out of any situation. Even if there was someone behind him who could deceive.

- Then let's go together, - he said, getting up and adjusting his prosthetic.