Jeneria: Defenders of Ausmik

CHAPTER THREE - THE BREYTA DESERT

The Natals were as meticulous as Alexander, stopping every so often to wipe away the prints they left in the dirt. They had taken an intermission to drink from a stream, but it was for no more than a few minutes.

During that time, Jesse had decided to take a quick swim in the stream; she said she felt dirty. Alexander warned her against it, but had to turn away once he found Jesse already naked and diving into the water. The Natals, however, laughed and pointed as she swam.

They also stopped when they spotted a wild elk. Jenn was relieved to have some time to rest as the Natals hunted the animal, but was disappointed when she found the elk already skinned and stored away only minutes later. They were saving it for the Breyta Desert where food would be scarce.

The sun had begun its descent when Jesse stopped to recover something from the ground; she approached Jenn and Alexander holding it in her hands.

"Hey," she said. "Have you ever played the booger game?"

She held out a bundle of dried pine needles.

"I don't think so," said Jenn.

Alexander glanced at the needles, then turned back to the road.

"What about you?" Jesse said.

"No," he said, without turning.

"It's real easy. You just pull these pine needles apart, and whomever has the booger wins. Who wants to play?"

Alexander said nothing, so Jenn volunteered. "I'll play."

"Yay!" Jesse offered a pine needle to Jenn. "So just take one of the needles and pull. If your needle has the booger thing, you win!"

Jenn took a needle between her two fingers and pulled, but found no booger on her end.

"I win," said Jesse, smiling. She tossed it to the ground and collected another, this time one with three needles.

"Here," she said, "now we can all play." She offered a needle to Alexander, "Here you go."

He glanced at her, then took the needle. Jenn took the other.

"Okay," said Jesse. "One—two—three—pull!"

Again, Jenn found her needle without a booger and Jesse with one.

"Your game is rigged," said Alexander, flicking away his needle.

"Whatever you say," said Jesse. "I'm just lucky is all."

"Well," said Alexander, "you'll be needing that luck once we get to the desert."

Up ahead, the scar-faced Natal stopped and turned to them all.

"Hotal!" he said. "Hotal!"

The entire tribe stopped. Jenn turned to her uncle, needing him to interpret.

"What's he saying?" she said.

"He says to stop," said Alexander.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Alexander marched through the tribe of Natals and towards the scar-faced leader.

"What is it?" said Alexander.

The Natal pressed his finger against his lips and pointed ahead. "Imperial soldiers. We must pass different way."

"How do you know?"

"Forest quiet—no animals—scared off by something."

Alexander sighed. "We don't have time for detours. If we come across Imperial soldiers, then we'll just have to force our way through them."
"No," said the Natal. "Blood will not be wasted—only if needed. We take different route."