Say Walah

11: Desert Run

As the night wore on, Mairo and Rimi huddled in the crevice, straining their ears for any sign of the bandits. The desert air grew cold, and they pressed close together for warmth, their breaths coming in quiet, measured puffs.

"We can't stay here forever," Mairo whispered, her voice barely audible above the whisper of wind through the ravine.

Rimi nodded, her eyes wide in the darkness. "But if we leave, they might catch us."

Mairo considered their options. The crevice seemed to extend deeper into the rock face, but venturing further without light or knowledge of where it led was risky. On the other hand, emerging into the open desert left them exposed.

Finally, she made a decision. "We'll wait until just before dawn. The bandits will be tired from searching all night. That's when we'll make our move."

The hours crept by slowly. Every sound – a pebble skittering down the ravine wall, the cry of a distant night bird – set their hearts racing. But eventually, the sky began to lighten, the stars fading as the first hints of dawn approached.

"Now," Mairo breathed, easing herself out of the crevice.

They climbed carefully out of the ravine, muscles stiff from the long night. The desert stretched before them, the sand taking on a pale, ghostly quality in the pre-dawn light.

Suddenly, Rimi grabbed Mairo's arm. "Look!" she hissed, pointing to the east.

A line of dark shapes was moving across the horizon – a caravan.

"It's risky," Mairo murmured, "but it might be our only chance. If we can catch up to them, we might find safety in numbers."

They set off at a brisk pace, keeping low to the ground and using what little cover the desert provided. The sun climbed higher, its heat already beginning to beat down on them as they hurried towards the distant caravan.

They were so focused on their goal that they almost missed the sound of hoofbeats approaching from behind. Mairo turned, her heart sinking as she saw a cloud of dust rising in the distance.

"The bandits," she gasped. "They've found us."

Rimi's face paled, but her voice was steady. "We're closer to the caravan. If we run, we might make it."

With a nod, Mairo grabbed Rimi's hand, and they broke into a sprint. The sand shifted treacherously under their feet, every step a battle against the terrain. Behind them, the sound of pursuit grew louder.

"Help!" Mairo shouted as they neared the caravan, her voice hoarse from thirst and fear. "Please, help us!"

The caravan began to slow, curious faces turning to look at the two young women racing towards them. Mairo could see confusion and concern on their faces, which quickly turned to alarm as they spotted the bandits in pursuit.

As Mairo and Rimi reached the first camels of the caravan, a tall man with a weathered face and kind eyes stepped forward. "Quickly," he said, helping them up onto a camel. "You'll be safe here."

The bandits pulled up short, clearly reluctant to take on an entire caravan for just two captives. The scarred leader glared at Mairo and Rimi, his eyes promising that this wasn't over.

"This isn't the last you'll see of us," he snarled before wheeling his horse around and galloping away with his men.

As the dust settled, Mairo and Rimi found themselves the center of attention among the caravan members. The man who had helped them – who introduced himself as Sani, the caravan leader – looked at them with a mix of curiosity and concern.