The sand beat against his eyes, pushing against as he walked the desert dunes, crossing an expanse wider than the eye could see. Bringing his glasses down, he secured coverings above and below, blocking sand from reaching his face.
Next to him walked a small mammal, fit with four stout legs, a built body, and multicolored neutral fur all over, on top of which was a covering similar to the man's, befit with its own pair of glasses. The mammal barked out, alerting the man to potential danger ahead. The man took out a scope, fitted with a magnification lens, allowing him to see much farther, even with the current conditions.
Far ahead lay a figure dressed in black, in stark contrast against the sandy dunes, carrying a blade in his right hand, approaching steadily towards the two.
"I think they want us, huh, Deno?" The man said as he faced his companion. Deno looked up, barking out again, this time in anticipation, one the man had heard many times before. He wasn't unfamiliar with this type of situation, and he didn't believe they would come to an end anytime soon.
The pair started walking, crossing the rolling dunes, making their way towards the figure in black, making their way to a more strategic higher ground. The man reached into his pack, grabbing the sheath of a small blade, reaching a length of only 7 inches, the hilt curved into a crescent shape, the blade following suit in the other direction, forming an s shape.
The blade had a turquoise glean, made of urshuk metal, cast by the forges of Drothar, neighbor of Plohara to the north. It cast light in all directions, fragmenting off the sand in the storm. It brought attention from all around, in particular, the figure ahead.
They stopped, eyeing the blade. They knew where it came from, what history it had.
"Wederan, that blade, it has to be Wederan," The figure in black yelled out, above the storm, "How have you come across it?"
The man raised the blade, the area between the two filling with green light, "Wederan, I haven't heard that name in a long time. This blade has been mine for as long as it has lived."
"There is no possibility of that, it has been seen all over the nine kingdoms, wielded by a different person each time.," The figure screamed out, "I am Lupin, son of Lupar, seeker of swords, and I have fought with these others wielding this blade. How would you have been able to carry it this whole time?"
The man kept walking towards Lupin, his coverings shifting color, from a sandy yellow to black, mirroring the figure ahead. His height increased, matching the figure, and he started running.
"Son of Ponar, what are you?" The figure ahead yelled, terrified at what he saw, turning to run.
"I am Delos, Fara, Uler, Barlo, and many others, but my real name is Velos. My blade has never left my hand, and because you are after me, you will perish."
Velos kept running, shortening the gap between the two, sand scratching his glasses. Lupin could not keep his pace, the dune ahead causing great fatigue. Velos came down upon him, yelling out as he swung his blade.
Lupin tripped, the blade slipping over his back, cutting through cloth. He gasped as he felt the blade meet skin, blood spurting out, coating the turquoise blade a dark crimson.
Veldos felt his right leg lock around Lupins, causing him to fall down as well, his back meeting the exposed one of Lupin, blood running into his clothing.
As they both hit the dune, they felt the world shake. In the distance, a roar came out, shaking the world once more. Both men looked towards the noise, disregarding each other, but Lupin let out a pained groan.
Through the sandstorm, a large figure could be seen, only the outline visible at this distance. Velos brought Wederan towards Lupin, placing the bottom of the hilt against his body, a pulse of energy passing into him. Lupin felt a warmth enter his body, his back relieved of pain and discomfort.
Lupin looked up at Velos, looking at a copy of himself. He spoke out, "What did you do, my back feels as if nothing has cut into it?"
Velos replied, "I can't say, what I use is earned, not given, and I don't see it in you. I took the pain away from you, directing a healing current to your back, but that is the least of our worries. That creature over there is what we need to focus on."
"What do you mean you don't see it in me, and how would we even escape a being such as that?"
"It takes one chosen and with enough talent to ever birth a power such as mine, and I can see you have not been chosen. Anyone with my power would see it," Velos yelled back, "It knows that we are here, it can smell a days travel away."
Over in the distance, the creature started moving, each step shook the sand, the dunes shifting each time. As it moved closer, they got a clearer view.
It stood on four legs, fur covering each one. Its feet were lined with sharp claws, reaching into the sand, propelling it forward.
On its back were two wings, feathers wider than a carriage sprouting from its back, making up each one. The feathers interlocked with one another, spreading out over the beast's back. With each step, it glided a small bit to speed up, though with the current sandstorm, it didn't fare well.
Its body bulged with muscle, the fur not being able to hide it. The fur was of a brown color, caked with sand and blood. Its mouth was full of sharp teeth, it bared them as it ran towards the two.
Velos motioned back, yelling to Lupin, "Get back! This is what the Drothans call the sulo, the great one. I have never seen one alive, but I have heard many stories, each one ending horribly. You need to run and try to hide from it!"
"I can't leave you here! You saved me, even when I tried to take your life, I have to repay you!" Lupin yelled over the winds, "Taking fight alongside you will be an honor!"
"You don't understand! The sulo needs to be fought alone, I need to best it in combat, then it will acknowledge me as an equal, you would never be able to stand against it!"
"I would be able to if you were with me, Wederan is said to have powers, granting the holder strength and agility, greater than any man should have. Together, we will best it."
"If it sees you here, it will kill you, run!" Velos grabbed the cloth on his back, pulling it back and outwards. Instantly, he floated up off of the sand, gaining height rapidly. In the next second, he glided forward, towards the sulo, Wederan at the ready.
Below, Lupin watched as Velos glided towards the sulo, taking the time to back up and start running, tripping over himself as he rushed up to crest the dune. As he reached the top, he turned back, lightning flashing through the sand lighting up a sight that terrified him: Velos diving at the sulo, its mouth agape, many sharp teeth reaching out, a roar piercing the wind, making its way back to Lupin.
He dove over the dune, sliding down, sand rubbing into his back, cutting his skin. This dune was the tallest around, so he slid down into a deep valley. At the bottom, he stopped, rolling over a few times, losing his sword in the process.
On this side of the dune, the wind was not present, Lupin pulling off his goggles, his eyes adjusting to the little wind and sand left. He reached over, picking up his sword, turning to look up the dune, when he heard a noise, clear as day: a single drop falling, hitting a pool of water, echoing around him around the desert.
Lupin had no idea what caused it, looking around till he felt the sand shaking, his hand sinking down into the sand. He tried to grab anything he could, but it was no use, as he continued to slip down farther until his head dropped below ground level. The surface went silent, Lupin falling down, his breath fading away, his consciousness falling into a deep abyss.