The kettle had long since cooled, but the warmth of the old man's words still lingered. They spoke for what felt like hours, not of war or kingdoms, but of lighter things. The taste of fruit in distant oases, the way sand could glow silver beneath the moon, the possibility of rain in a land that rarely saw it.
Nilo leaned forward, eager. "So where are you headed, old man? You don't look like someone who stays in one place for long."
The man smiled, stroking his beard. "Wherever the wind carries me. Some say I'm searching. Others say I'm running. The truth is…" He trailed off, looking to the horizon, "…perhaps I'm simply listening."
Kanan raised a brow. "Listening for what?"
"Echoes," the man said softly. "The world is full of them, if you quiet yourself enough. Old battles. Forgotten voices. Even your own heart, calling you toward places you do not yet know."
The girl listened silently, her expression distant.
It might have gone on like this, peaceful and meandering, had the ground not trembled. At first, it was faint, like a distant drum. Then came a rumble, and from beyond the dunes, a low, guttural cry split the air.
Nilo froze. "Uh… please tell me that's not what I think it is."
Sand erupted in the distance, cascading down a dune in waves as something clawed its way free. Then another. And another.
From the sand rose creatures that looked like half-wolf, half-scaled lizard, their bodies lean and gaunt, their eyes glowing with hunger. Their ribs showed beneath cracked hides, yet their teeth gleamed sharp as polished blades.
The old man sighed, standing slowly. "Desert maws. Starved by a long drought. They will not ask permission before feasting."
Kanan was already on his feet, fists clenched. "Then we don't give them the chance."
The beasts circled, snarling, sand spraying beneath their clawed feet. Nilo swallowed hard and glanced at the girl. She didn't flinch. Instead, she shifted her stance, her hand brushing the hidden blade at her side.
The old man reached for nothing more than his kettle, pouring the last of the tea into the sand. "Best finish this lesson quickly," he murmured. "For the desert has many more mouths than these."
The first beast lunged.
[To Be Continued...]