Sands of Fate

| 9 |

They moved quickly, making sure to grab their water skins and a few provisions before slipping out of the camp unnoticed. The morning sun was still low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over the dunes. The wind had died down, leaving the air calm and cool, but Solasra could feel the heat beginning to build. It wouldn't be long before the desert would be scorching again.

They retraced their steps from the night before, Solasra leading the way as they headed toward the ridge where she had last seen the figure disappear. The dunes were smooth now, the wind having swept away most of the tracks, but Solasra's eyes were sharp, and she scanned the ground with purpose.

"Are you really expecting to find something?" Jahan asked after a while, his voice cutting through the silence. "I mean, this storm would've wiped out any trace of them by now."

Solasra didn't answer immediately. Her gaze was locked on a patch of sand near the base of the ridge. Something had caught her eye—a slight indentation in the sand, almost invisible to the untrained eye.

"There," she said, pointing to the spot. "Look."

Jahan frowned, stepping closer to inspect the area she had indicated. "It's just a bit of uneven sand," he said, shrugging.

"No," Solasra insisted, kneeling down and brushing the sand lightly with her fingers. "It's a footprint. And it's fresh."

Jahan blinked, clearly surprised. "How can you tell?"

Solasra glanced up at him, her expression serious. "The storm didn't touch this area. The ridge shielded it from the wind."

Jahan crouched beside her, his skepticism fading as he studied the faint mark in the sand. "So, what do we do now?"

"We follow it," Solasra replied, standing and scanning the surrounding dunes for more signs of movement. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. They were close—closer than she had expected.

They moved carefully, Solasra leading the way as they followed the faint trail of footprints winding through the dunes. Every now and then, the trail would disappear, wiped away by the storm, but Solasra's sharp eyes always found it again, leading them further into the desert.

The further they went, the more Solasra's unease grew. The footprints were heading away from the oasis—away from any source of water or shelter. Whoever this person was, they were moving with purpose, leading them deeper into the dunes.

Jahan finally broke the silence. "How far are we going to follow them?"

Solasra didn't answer immediately, her eyes fixed on the trail ahead. "Until we find them."

Jahan muttered something under his breath but didn't argue. He knew better than to try and dissuade her when she was this focused.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small, rocky outcrop nestled between two towering dunes. The footprints led directly toward it, disappearing behind the rocks. Solasra's heart pounded in her chest as she crouched low, motioning for Jahan to do the same.

"Stay low," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We don't know who's behind those rocks."

Jahan gave her a wary glance but followed her lead. Together, they crept toward the outcrop, moving as silently as the wind. The sand muffled their footsteps, and the towering dunes provided enough cover to keep them hidden.

Solasra's pulse quickened as they neared the rocks. She could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of what—or who—they might find just beyond the ridge.

As they rounded the corner, her breath caught in her throat.

A small, makeshift camp lay hidden behind the outcrop. It was little more than a fire pit and a few scattered belongings—a bedroll, a canteen, and a crude shelter made from canvas and sticks. But it was clear that someone had been here recently.

Jahan exhaled sharply beside her. "Well, that's... not what I expected."

Solasra's eyes scanned the area, her mind racing. "They've been here recently. Whoever it was, they didn't get far."

Jahan frowned, glancing around the empty camp. "So, where are they now?"

Solasra didn't answer. She was already moving forward, her eyes fixed on the fire pit. The embers were still warm, a faint wisp of smoke rising into the air.

"They're close," she whispered, her voice tight with anticipation. "Very close."

Suddenly, a shadow moved at the edge of her vision, and before she could react, a figure stepped out from behind the rocks, their face hidden beneath a dark hood.