Sands of Fate

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Morning broke slowly over the dunes, the storm having spent itself during the night. The camp was eerily quiet as the first rays of sunlight touched the sand, casting long, soft shadows over the tents. The air was still heavy with the tension of the night before, though the sky had cleared, leaving only the faint memory of the storm behind.

Solasra had barely slept. Her mind had been consumed by thoughts of the mysterious figure, and every gust of wind during the night had sent her heart racing. But now that the storm had passed, her resolve had only strengthened.

Jahan stirred beside her, groaning softly as he rubbed his eyes. "You look terrible," he muttered, his voice thick with sleep.

"Thanks," Solasra replied dryly, pulling her Sariin tighter around her shoulders. She had been awake for hours, waiting for the first hint of daylight. "I didn't sleep much."

"Obviously." Jahan stretched, wincing as his back cracked. "So, what's the plan? You're still planning on this wild goose chase?"

Solasra shot him a look. "It's not a wild goose chase, Jahan. We need to find out who that figure was and why they were watching us. It could be important."

Jahan sighed, sitting up and running a hand through his tangled hair. "You're as stubborn as ever."

"And you're as lazy as ever," Solasra shot back, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

Jahan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I'm not lazy. I'm just smart enough to avoid unnecessary risks."

Solasra ignored his teasing and stood, slipping quietly out of the tent and into the cool morning air. The camp was still quiet, with only a few of the early risers stirring near the fire. Her father was nowhere to be seen, likely off checking the perimeter of the camp after the storm.

She could hear Talia's soft snores coming from the tent behind her, the only one still untouched by the worry that gripped the camp. Solasra envied her little sister's innocence.

Jahan appeared beside her a moment later, pulling his own Sariin around his shoulders to ward off the morning chill. "So, what's the grand plan, then? We just head off into the desert and hope we find something?"

Solasra's eyes scanned the horizon, her sharp gaze following the trail of the dunes where she had seen the figure disappear the night before. "We start where I lost them. There should still be some tracks, even after the storm."

Jahan raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You think the sandstorm didn't wipe them away?"

Solasra's expression didn't waver. "We'll find something. The storm wasn't as bad as it could've been."

Jahan sighed again, clearly resigned to whatever plan his sister had in mind. "Fine. But if we get lost out there, I'm telling Father it was all your idea."

Solasra smirked. "Deal."