Chapter 5

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~Spartan dersert land~

Kleio

Sweat rolled down my face and my fly away hairs were stuck to the side of my face. It was impossible to let down in the boiling heat of the sun and it added a heavy weight to my neck when it was tied up that made my head sag. I knew it was a few days ride to the dreaded thieving city but I had no idea it would be such a torturous walk. I had to stop before it got dark and find large rocks to spend my nights on, away from the creepy crawlies in the sand, the height of the rocks gave me protection from most but the jaggedness of them did nothing for my rest. The empty horizon rippled with heat and I staggered on my tired legs. My water was dangerously low so I was rationing it carefully. But by the looks of it, it wouldn't last another day. I was sure that I was still heading in the right direction. Or was I? I pulled the cork from the bag and took a careful sip but was met air, a single drip fell onto my tongue and my body begged for more. I stared at the empty bag in disbelief. How was it empty!? It had plenty! I turned the bag around frantically in my hands and paused when I noticed a small tear in the bottom. My mind growled in realisation that this small rip had been slowly sucking the life away from me, for Zeus knows how long. With a frustrated growl I threw the bag onto the floor and kicked it away from me. I stomped away leaving it and continued walking with fast strides until my anger wore out and the heat and exhaustion claimed me once again. I had to be sensible about this, I couldn't lose my head. The only way I would survive is if I managed to find a pool of water. Using my hand to shield my eyes against the sun I scanned the horizon for any signs of greens or life, a single speck mounded in the distance and I began towards it, praying to the gods that it wasn't more rocks and sand. Gods how I hated them.

Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours. That small mound had risen and was now dancing through the sky. My head throbbed and the world was tilted on an angle. Unable to keep my balance I fell to my knees and buried my fingers in the sand closing my eyes in release as my fingers dug deeper and deeper into the sand trying to find some cool. Suddenly my fingers turned cold and I wiggled them, relishing the feeling. Gasping I opened my eyes to see they were in a sudden pool of water, only big enough for my hands. I let out a laugh and scooped up the water throwing it in the air, letting it rain down on me, repeatedly thanking the gods in my head. The dark movement around me brought my attention to two ugly looking birds hopping closer to me; they circled around me with a beady eyed look that said I was their next meal.

"Go away!" I croaked with my throat feeling like sandpaper; clumsily I waved my arms attempting to scare them off. "This is my water!"

They squawked back and flapped their wings in response. Cupping more water I quickly brought it to my mouth to drink it before they did. The soft velvet feel of the water caressed my hands as I brought it to my lips taking a gulp. But my lips were still dry and chapped. My throat still burned. I peeked through heavy lashes expecting to see the luscious water in my hands but was met with the sight of bugs. Millions of long insects with thousands of legs that tickled my palms. Screaming I dropped them back onto the sand where my puddle of water had been and they disappeared as I frantically swatted them.

I put my hands on the side of my head. "This is not real" I told myself.

"Girl, the sun got you good, you're as crazy as Hades himself" A gruff voice said.

I looked up to find the owner of this voice and I was met with the soft eyes of a donkey. A donkey wearing a straw hat. And this donkey had spoken to me.

I let out a gasp before the world turned on its side and my head met sand before darkness consumed me.

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