One

Chapter One

A month before the incident

"EEEEK! Emmmaaaa!", a girl screeched as the other dumped a pail of water over her head. Her black curls were dripping with the murky brown liquid. The girl lifted her chin up and tried to look down at her sister from her squatting position, one hand saving her from her rickety position. It didn't have much of an effect on Emma though, who plowed back up the sandy hill for fresh water, her feet spraying sand into the air.

Emma's eyes were the same color as desert sand, golden brown and blazing when she was angry. Like her sister, she was overly proud but wary so carefree, playful moments were as rare as rain in the Saharan desert. Behind her, she heard her sister trying to catch up, but every time she stomped high enough, the weight of her heavy gowns sent her flailing back. Emma grinned wolfishly, they made a bet earlier on who can reach the oasis over the dunes first, and it seemed that she was winning the race. Hitching her skirts up to her knees she continued to scale the last dune that separated her from the oasis. It was still early morning, but if she didn't return soon, the clan would move on without her to avoid travelling through the searing midday hours.

About half an hour later, the girls had made it to the top of the sand dune and the sun had begun to peek out of the horizon, setting the desert alight with bright orange colors and flaming red edges. Emma took in a deep breath, and noticed the cool air was about to fade away again, rendering their thick shawls and gowns useless. Her sister wasn't as observant, this was one of the first times she'd been allowed to walk outside of the clan, and the first time she saw a sunrise as stunning as this one. The fiery golden dunes had brought her in a childlike trance from which she was rudely awakened when Emma took her hand and dragged her down the sandy slopes. They squealed and tumbled towards the oasis, a tiny spot of greenery in the golden landscape. At the foot of the dune, Emma quickly scrambled up and bounded to a tiny pool of salty water bubbling from a weak geyser. She touched the luke-warm water, announcing her victory wide and loud to her sister.
"Ah! It wasn't fair!" the younger girl snorted, desperately trying to cuff the dust from her dress.
"I won! I won! Aiii! I won!" laughed Emma.
Her younger sibling sniffed, pushing past Emma to have a drink of water, or perhaps to wash herself, but Emma wouldn't let her. 
"Emmaaaa..." the girl moaned.
Emma mocked, "Sandrahaaa!" and splashed into the small heated pool with slippers and all.
"Baba will kill you," Sandra warned, she pointed to her own dress, "and me!"
Her gown was torn beyond repair, the edges fluttering and swishing in the desert breeze.
Emma ignored her, and filled her pail to the notch with fresh water. She untied the small leather flask from her belt and refilled that too. Her sister noticed and starting muttering while replenishing her own water supply. Then she froze...

Two magnificent desert stallions were standing between the dried shrubs and acacia trees. The animals were carrying light saddles and bundles on their backs, yet they still moved with a certain grace. To any passerby they could've been the steeds of a lone traveler, if it wasn't for the swords and armor pinned to the animal's backs. A symbol of a wolf, twisted in a circle with it's jaws wide open adorned the saddle flaps.
"Soldiers" Sandra hissed to Emma, her voice shaking.
Emma looked up and immediately shook her head, "Nope."
She replied it with ease, but even Sandra noticed how her muscles had tensed. Where were the riders? She knew they had to leave. Now. But Emma placed her feet firmly into the sand, her back erect like that of a meerkat.
"Sandra!" she whispered hoarsely, "Sandra, look!"
Sandra followed the direction her sister pointed at, and was about to scream in horror when her sister slapped a hand over her mouth and threw her to the ground. The girls back hit the sand without a sound, the look in Emma's eyes stopped Sandra from squirming. 
"Down!" she muttered under her breath, and Sandra pushed her face into the dust.
Emma slowly lifter her body from her sister and crawled on her belly like a lion stalking it's prey, ready to defend her sister. A few yards ahead of her, she saw the silhouette of a tall man with broad shoulders. He was wearing a cape, just past his knees and was engaged in an intense conversation with someone else. Whoever they were, they thought they were alone.
Emma sighed in relief, they could leave and they'd never know  about them. Soundlessly, she slithered away from the indistinguishable mutters.
"Sandra" she whispered to her sister, who looked dead, lying motionless with her face planted into the ground.
Emma prodded her sister, "Sandra!"
After a few fearful, straggling seconds, the other a girl lifted her head in response. She looked up at Emma with big eyes. Emma sighed in relief, then  pointed towards the dunes they had tumbled down seconds before they saw the men.
"When you reach the other side, you run. I'm right behind you." she murmured to her sister. 
"'Kay!"
Emma tensed and sent her a warning look then shoved her away. Sandra wriggled away while she watched the strange visitors. Their argument was becoming more and more heated. The visible man raised his hands in frustration. He turned his head... Emma sucked in a breath, suppressing the urge to shout at her sister. The mans eyes swept over the dying shrubbery, unseeing. Until Sandra moved again. Emma clasped a hand in front of her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Her heart was beating in her throat. She sent a short prayer to the skies above. It was no use. Behind her, she could almost hear the wheels turning in the visitor's head. She heard a few dull thuds as the man placed one armored foot infront of the other. Emma realized that if she didn't create a distraction soon, her sister would be caught. Another step...
"Alright! Alright, you got me!" Emma shouted as she scrambled to her feet and raised her hands in surrender. She heard the clumsy crawling of her sister stop. Idiot, she thought.
Who's the one behind you.
Emma stiffened, goosebumps raised on her back. I'll help you. Tell me. The man's dark eyes stared straight through her.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Behind her she heard someone chuckle, she spun around only to see no one there. Sandra was still lying motionless on the ground. His eyes burned through her back.
"Well..." She mumbled, "I better be... eh..."
The figure took a step to her, making a human barricade. Emma decided to shout the last part:
"GETTING OUT OF HERE!"
She ran for it to spur her sister on. Sandra stumbled up and away, her little feet pushing up clouds of sand behind her. Run! Emma was about to follow when someone grabbed her collar and yanked her down. Flat on her back, gasping for air. The pommel of a sword hit her in the side of the head and her eyes rolled up, a voice screaching in her head.

Sandra didn't look back, hitching up her skirts and clambering up the dunes. She hoped they didn't leave any trails behind. Ducking low for arrows, Sandra clumsied her way up, and slid down the other side. She didn't trip or fall once.  After passing two more sandy hills, she found her first point of recognition. An older, dried out oasis. The palm trees leaned against one another, bent and twisted, their leaves rustling like dying whispers. She turned East, praying that the Gods were with her and continued running. Not a glance was thrown back to see if Emma was following. She probably was.

The sun was starting to rise, and with it, the desert was starting to shimmer with heat. The heavy gown she wore was torn and knackered, clinging onto her back with sweat. She finally started to stumble and trip, the adrenaline in her veins was drained out. Other emotions started to get to her. Panic and fatigue kept her heart beating. She started to hiccup and cry. What happened? What had just happened?