Crimson Oasis

✧ i. ✧

The sun was slowly sinking behind the sand dunes, casting the world around it in an almost-ominous blood red sky. Pale clouds were scattered amongst the abyss, drifting slowly in the breeze, and almost seemed to be watching over the vast town below like some kind of hidden guardian, merging its soul with the clouds so that the thought of such a superior figure watching the residence would remain obscure.
Kari stood atop the ruins of a forgotten Saikra borough, gazing out into the horizon. She held her head forward at the obstacle course in front of her, little gusts of wind brushing her cheek gently and whipping through the few strands of black hair that sat over her headband.
One of her friends, Lako, jumped up and yelled from the other side of the building. "You can do it, Kari!" he called excitedly, waving his arms in an enthusiastic fashion whilst hopping. He's such a rabbit.
With an abrupt breath, Kari went down into a squat position, eyes locked on the monument ahead. She steadied her legs in preparation to run, and within a short countdown in her head, she took off.
I will make it. I will make it this time, I will make it, her mind repeated, over and over, as she approached the jump. As the neared the corner, she clenched her fists and sprang over the edge, gliding towards the rooftop. She would've sworn that she'd felt a strong, almost electric sensation pulsing through her muscles, but at the same time, it couldn't have been real.
After what felt like years of being in the air, Kari's trainers hit the other rooftop, sending a few small pieces of sandstone tumbling around them.
With a short skid, Kari stood up and whipped her head around to stare at the gap behind her. Confidence tickled her bloodstream. I finally made it.
She raised her chin to glance back at the other rooftop; her friends, especially Lako, were leaping in the air, cheering, congratulating her for finally making the jump, after a week or so of practice... and not making it. Proudly, she smiled back at them, nodding triumphantly.
Mika, Kari's closest friend of the group, leaped after her and stood next to her, patting her on the shoulder. "Excellent," she praised, smiling. "I'm glad to say you're getting better at parkour every day. Soon you'll be leaping distances twice the size of this, am I right?"
Kari gave a nervous little laugh and smiled back. "I mean, it'll take some time, but... yeah."
Mika took her hand off Kari's shoulder and backed away from the edge, standing by an old, dusty, ripped painting that hang solemnly from the decaying wall. "Step back; the others are gonna jump now," she warned.
With another proud glance at the gap, Kari darted to Mika's side and watched the rest of the group jump across.