The Search for Life

Chapter 1

Leota's heels dug into the burning sand that fled from beneath her with every step. She labored up the dune and reached the top to overlook the veritable blank space that she alone occupied. The wind rustled her short, chopped hair and shifted the landscape all around her. Taking out a canvas canteen, she tipped it bottoms up and licked the very last drops from it. Thankfully, the sun had begun to set, and the heat faded with the light.

As Leota slipped the empty water container back into her shoulder bag, she noticed a sparkle in the distance. Her amber eyes caught rays of the sun and focused in on a point before the horizon. She narrowed her eyes in skepticism. It looked like water, but she knew better than to get her hopes up: mirages were a far too common occurrence in the Desert Kingdom.

Leota walked for miles. Her thighs ached and her stomach rumbled but her destination was clear. As she approached the sparkling dot, it grew in size until she could make out a small town around the oasis, with little lanterns and homes illuminated against the encroaching darkness. Her heart leapt for joy and with a renewed fervor, she willed herself forward. And just as the sun dipped below the dunes that surrounded her, and as the first cool breeze of night swept the sand beneath her, she planted her foot on the solid ground of a stone pathway.

Leota faced a body of water barely larger than the koi pond on her manor grounds. Forty or so homes and shops lined the shores and tall masts of ancient ships protruded from the sand to mark the cardinal directions. The entire town was encircled by a waist-high sandstone wall and an arch of the same material guarded the entrance. Across the arch was a single word: "Salvation." Leota hesitated for a moment before flipping her hood up and walking as inconspicuously as she could to the water. She tried to fill her canteen without appearing as desperate as she was, but this was difficult. Her throat was parched from the dry conditions of the desert landscape, so she devoured the cool liquid with a shameful ferocity. When she had downed as much as she was capable, she splashed the water all over her dusted face and took in breath, thankful to whatever cosmic force had led her there.

As she capped her canteen, Leota glanced around for a tavern. She watched a few kids filling water canteens of their own and the odd adult shot her a wary glance, but she paid them no mind. She figured in a town as small as this one, they were probably just watching her because they were used to odd visitors. At least she hoped that was why there were watching. She had washed the blood from her, hadn't she?

Spotting a small establishment called the "Thirsty Man," the young woman headed off down the stony path. She was so grateful to find herself on solid ground after drowning in sand for nearly a day and a half. And, considering she had clearly not packed enough provisions, she was grateful to find not only solid ground and water, but also a chance at food that wasn't heavily dried and salted.

Leota pushed aside the heavy metal door and entered the rickety shack. The inside was significantly more lively than the outside let on, and people of all ages and kingdoms enjoyed food and drink. Most customers appeared to be from the People Kingdom that Leota originated from, though Fire Kingdom and Glass Kingdom representatives were also present. Leota checked for any Dark Kingdom visitors, but there were none that she could spot. She crossed the concrete floor and took a seat at the bar. Signaling to the barkeep, she asked quietly for beer and meat plate. Both were provided, and she ate her meal in relative quiet.

But around her, people talked.

"Did you hear that the Guardian quit? She up and left her post," a woman said.

"Yeah, she quit yesterday, didn't she?" A man responded.

Leota clenched her jaw. Maybe they were talking about local politics. There were lots of Guardians in Cradle and considering the diversity of the place, perhaps they weren't even talking about a People Guardian. She cautioned a glance at the couple speaking. Both were unfortunately human.