It's been three days and we haven't found any watering holes, or vegetation. Three days and nothing but desert has greeted us on our journey since we left my sister's kingdom. Everyone is exhausted, and we are running out of water. My sister has been complaining ever since we entered to the desert, and Jackson can't help but look at her with annoyance. Essana is scouting ahead while Akiva watches from above for attackers since we're in Orc country.
The Orcs aren't allies with anyone since my parents became rulers, and they have become warlords that attack anything other than themselves. I don't even think they act peacefully towards themselves, rumor has it that the Orcs torture their children so that they grow up to be fierce warriors to fill up their troops ranks for war. The Orcs plan is to take over the Nevernever so they can make it a communism instead of the republic that we have now, but of course this won't work for these lands. Fear and intimidation never works here because there is always one stubborn species that will stand up in rebellion to take over and make it a better place again. Thanks to the Dragons we have been keeping that order, but now that the Werewolves are paired with us no one can stand against the republic that has been around for centuries; except for the Orcs.
As a strange figure starts to appear at the horizon, Akiva and Essana come back to the main group to report what they see. "What is it ?" Akiva lands next to me, and Essana Turns back into her human form as she approaches. "It's seems to be an abandoned town, a ghost town if you will." Essana stands in front of the group and points in the distance. "There seems to be a dried up water hole three clicks from the town's center, maybe we can dig for some water that has built up under the sand over the years." Arya hears the news, and think it's a good time to celebrate. "Finally, something to drink. I wonder if this town has somewhere we can bathe ourselves." Jackson shakes his head, and huffs as usual in disappointment. "Didn't you hear them ? They said that the town has been abandoned for quite some time now, which means everything will be old and falling apart." Arya frowns at Jackson, and walks up to stand next to me. "Karou please tell me there is somewhere I can take at least a shower." I sigh, and look at her in disbelief. "What don't you get by abandoned Arya ? If this please is abandoned that means the only shower you'll getting is one with only dust and sand, no water. And if Essana is right, then the water we find will be used to drink with, not bathe with." Arya huffs in my face and starts walking towards the 'ghost town'. Akiva walks beside me as we all come closer to the this little town on the desert.
As we enter the town, Akiva gets nervous and stands closer beside me, and even Jackson tries to keep a close distance with Arya. Essana is bringing up the rear, keeping watch over the whole area. I start to smell something strange, and look around to try and find what it is. Soon, I get my answer, but one I didn't want to see. I hide my face from the piles of bodies scattered all over the cobblestones in Akiva's arm, and he holds me tighter protecting my eyes from this horrible sight. I hear Arya scream, and Jackson's feet hit the ground at an alarming rate. I know he's running to get to her, once the running stops, I hear Arya cry into something that's muffling her voice. Jackson must have pulled her face into his chest to free her eyes of the gruesome scene before all of us. Essana comes up behind Akiva, and directs us in a different direction, away from the bodies. Once Akiva lets me see my surroundings, Jackson and Arya come to join the group. Essana had taken us to the dried up watering hole, and we were far enough away that we couldn't smell or see the scene in the center of town.
"Who are they ? And who killed all those people ?" Arya asks as Jackson lets her sit down. "I don't know princess, but I'm sure it has something to do with those tracks leading north out of the town." Jackson says as he tries to comfort her. "Akiva, what species were these people ? Please tell me, I want to know." Akiva sighs, and hugs me tighter. "They were desert elves, and I'm pretty sure they didn't suffer."
