Shria let out a soft, almost tired sigh. "Right." She stated as she stopped in her tracks. "Normally, there would be an oasis around here. But as far as I'm seeing. There is no oasis." She glanced.over her shoulder at her sister. "You see an oasis?" She inquired with a soft sigh. "And don't you dare say it's after the next dune," she added, kicking some sand to add strength to her argument.
Night would fall soon, it was already high noon. And they had to get to an oasis to set up camp. Water reserves were running short. And food, well. Three guesses what was for dinner. Sandworm. Delicious, stale sandworm.
Zahra- who had been opening her mouth to attempt to reassure her sister that the oasis was just over the next dune- snapped her mouth shut.
She shrugged and sighed. "Do you think we went too far west?" she murmured, shielding her eyes so she could look up and attempt to judge their position by the setting sun.
Shria glanced up to the sun aswell, letting out an annoyed sigh. "I don't know. How can we tell when there's nothing but goddamn sand," she glanced back at Zahra, "want to retrace steps?"
She let out a heavy sigh and rubbed at her temples. "I don't see that we have many other options," she muttered after a moment, glancing over her shoulder at their footprints in the sand.
"Do we have the time?" Shria inquired. "It's getting late. We might have to dig in."
Zahra shrugged. "Your call, little sister," she murmured, trying to judge the distance of the sun from the horizon.
"'Little'," Shria murmured as she pulled the cloth infront of her mouth a tad higher, before shaking her head. "It'd be too dangerous to go back, dear sister," the last said with feigned kindness in her voice.
Zahra crinkled her nose at the other woman and stuck her tongue out rather childishly. "Like I said, your call," she said with a shrug, then glanced around with a sigh. "If we get on the east side of that dune it'll at least block us from the sunrise a bit."
Shria nodded. "Alright," she stated as she nodded in the direction, walking over. "Guess we're sleeping in the sand again, huh."
She nodded, brow furrowed. "Yeah, looks like," Zahra mumbled. She rubbed the back of her neck and winced. "Gods, I'm sick of the desert," she muttered.
"Rather here than Essryn," Shria replied as she slumped down in the sand, covering her own legs. "Besides, you get to cuddle up for warmth with your facourite sister." She said with a soft smirk.
Zahra crinkled her nose at her again. "I don't have many options there- you're my only sister," she pointed out, flopping down beside Shria and curling up onto her side.
"And that attitude is why you never meet any cute boys," she teased. "If there were any in this desert," was what she finally concluded. As the amount of attractive people she had met in this desert were as much as her sister had met. Zero.
She let out a soft sigh and pulled Zahra closer. "Let's try to get some sleep," she murmured with a soft huff.
She scoffed at her twin and flicked one of her ears. "Oh yes, it's my attitude that's the problem," she muttered.
She allowed Shria to pull her closer and curled up. "Night, sis."
"Night," Shria murmured in response, her eyes sliding shut.
Though naturally a restless sleeper, long practice helped Zahra to keep herself still in the chill desert nice, only moving to occasionally press closer to her sister in a quest for warmth.
Shria obviously was the one who slept the easiest of the two. Snoring ever so slightly, stirring occasionally as she felt Zahra move, insincitvly pulling her closer. She subconciously knew her twin was looking for warmth. And she was, besides her head, almost buried to preserve her own warmth.
As the sun rose, Shria opened her eyes silently, before letting out a loud groan. She was incredibly sore.
It was the groan that woke her, and even before her eyes were open Zahra mumbled, "Shria? You okay?"
"Sore," another grunt. "Sand... Everywhere," she bit out as she said up, sand rushing down from her as she stretched painfully.
The elf twisted and shook her head, spitting out the sand her sister rained down on her. "Blech. Alright, we need to find an oasis," she muttered.
"Yep. Our water supply is running low," she hummed in agreement as she got to her feet again. "Seeing figures in the distance. Dots on the horizon. "Look Zahra. A caravan," she murmured.
Zahra scrambled to her feet, peering in the direction Shria was looking. "Should we risk it?" she asked, looking to her sister. "They may have supplies to trade."
"Or they might want to capture us and sell us as slaves," Shria answered with a shrug. "Can go either way."
"How many?" Zahra asked, squinting at the caravan. "If we're not too badly out numbered, we could fight our way out if things go sour."
"Ten. Give or take." Shria smirked. "You can handle two of them, sis. I'll take the rest if need be," she let out a soft snort. "Either way. We need supplies. And if we go up and ask them, we might lose an element of surprise."
She sighed. "Must we always resort to violence?" Arching an eyebrow, she suggested, "What if I hang back with a couple arrows nocked and you just ask if they wanna trade? If something goes wrong, I can take a couple out before they even know what's happening, but if something goes right, then we haven't attacked innocent traders."
A soft huff came from Shria. "That actually would make their hostility more likely," she offered, glancing at Zahra. "Imagine, a lonely woman in the desert comes asking for a trade. There is no one around and you passed on the last whore in Essryn because she most likely had a disease. And there's ten of you." She arched an eyebrow.
"Then again. Straight out attacking them also garantuees hostilities."
Zahra folded her arms. "My point." She shrugged. "Aright, it's your call." She had always beeon the one to follow, going along with her sister's plans, even when they were children.
Shria smirked. "Come on, sis," she glanced over her shoulder. "Your call. You know you're the smartest here."
She bit her lip to hide a bit of a smile. "Together," she decided after a moment, bumping her sister's shoulder. "I'll just hang back a bit, you know... Just in case."
"Alright," she said as she raised her hands to rest in her neck. "I'll do the talking," she urged, strutting forward rather obviously. Trying to look as insuspicious as she could so she wouldn't be attacked on sight.
"No problem," Zahra murmured as she followed, keeping herself sort of tucked behind her twin as they made their way across the sand.
She raised her hand in hail as the two approached the caravan, or, what seemed to be a caravan. Shria cast a meaningful look over her shoulder at Zahra as she noticed any kind of pack horse or similair was missing. She glanced back at the men, they were wearing maces and hammers. Weaponry more likely to knock a target out than kill them.
Bad news.
"Top of the mornin'," she started, biting her lip underneath the cloth. This was really bad news.
Oh dear.
Zahra slowed her pace as they came closer to the caravan, noticing the same things her sister had. her fingers twitched toward her bow, but she offered a small smile and a polite nod.
Maybe these people were just overly cautious...
"And top o' tha mornin' to you," one of the men replied as he glanced down at the twins, reigning the horse to walk over to them. "What're two women doin' all alone here in the desert?" Several of his colleagues chuckled and laughed.
"Travelling," Shria deadpanned. "And in a need of water."
Zahra nodded an cautiously moved up beside Shria. "We can trade for it," she added quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on the sand.
"Aye, we can trade fer it indeed," the man beamed. "So, err.. Which one of you two are we trading?" He glanced at his men with a shit eating grin on his face. "I mean, the one hidin' 'er face could possibly be-Hrrk." The man slumped forward as a chained knife stuck from his chest, Shria's arm raised, the chain wrapped around it.
"Slavers, why is it always slavers," she murmured as she gripped the chain and pulled the man from his horse. The others starting to shout in anger and approaching them.
Zahra sighed and took a few steps back. "Ah, fuck," she muttered, slinging her bow from her back and nocking an arrow.
She shot one of the slavers between the eyes, but her second arrow went a little wide, burying itself in his shoulder. Non fatal. Damnit.
Shria wrenched the kunai from the slaver's chest, turning around and flinging a second blade at another slaver, wrenching it into his gut before immediatly pulling it back. "Zahra, run," she called out.
She didn't need to be told twice. Not bothering to retrieve her hours, Zahra spun on her heel and took off into the desert.
She paused at the top of a dune and turned back. "Shria!" she called to her sister, an edge of panic starting to creep into her voice. Come on, come on, we have to get out of here.
As Zahra ran for it, a soft sigh of relief left Shria. She had always felt in charge of her twin. She was the bawn of the two and always took it on to protect her.
Even when they were children.
She fought fiercely, at least dropping another four slavers before she recieved a winding blow to the chest. Followed by a final slamon the back of her head, knocking her out cold.
And soon, she was completely tied up and forced on the back of one of the horses, unconcious, blood trickling in the cloth that hid her face.
Zahra's eyes widened. No. There was no way. Shria didn't lose in a fight. It just didn't happen.
"Shria..." She took a hesitant step forward, then froze. Oh gods, what was she supposed to do? "Shria!"
No no no no no. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't let this happen. But- but she wasn't strong enough to take on those slavers, she had no illusions about that.
She'd have to follow them, try to free her sister under cover of night. She just hoped she'd be in time.
The slavers however, did find the oasis the two sisters were desperate in finding.
Several tents were set, while Shria was tied up to a tree nearby. The slavers gathered around the campfire, away from her position.
Luckily the oasis offered more places to hide than the open desert.
Zahra crept forward, keeping to the shadows. She settled herself behind a scrubby bush to wait for the slavers to fall asleep.
The slavers were quite cheerful, despite losing seven men of their group. Sitting by the fire, laughing and drinking.
After a short while, one stood up and stretched his back. "I think I'm going to appreciate this blonde bitch we caught this morning," he stated.
"You know that'll lower her worth?" Another inquired.
The first one shrugged. "She took out six of us. She got it coming to her," he answered. But soon, another stood up, giving him a lecherous grin. "I'll accompany you. See how this bitch can handle two of us!" He called out, met with laughter.
The pair turned around and walked towards Shria, who was stirring to concioussness with a disgusting headache.
Well fuck.
Zahra couldn't wait. Quickly as she could, she darted forward and started working at Shria's bonds, trying to keep herself tucked into the shadows as much as possible.
A soft groan came from Shria as she felt the tugging at her restraint. "Wha-" she murmured weakly.
"Shh," Zahra hissed, working loose the first few knots. "We have to get you out of here. Keep quiet, and hurry."
Shriz tugged her restraints and let out a soft grunt of pain. "I don't think.. I can walk, sis.." she murmured weakly.
The two men were on approach and closing in. Rather graphic banter accompanied them.
Zahra swallowed thickly. "Then- then I'll carry you," she muttered as she fumbled the last of the knots loose. "We just have to move."
Shria took a deel breath. "Alright sis," she murmured weakly.
"Come on, quick." Zahra slipped Shria's arm around her shoulder and stood. She turned and started to run, not bothering to look over her shoulder and check on the slavers. They needed to get out of here.
Shria let out a faint groan as she was pulled up, stumbling on Eahra's support as she was practically dragged along.
Fear gave her more strength than she usually had and Zahra paused for a moment to scoop Shria up into her arms, holding her like a child.
She took off into the sand. She didn't need to outrun them long, just long enough.
Loud shouts were heard from the camp several seconds later. Yet the slavers were smart enough to know that they didn't need to chase someone in the middle of the night in a desert.
Shria let out a faint grunt. "We still.. Don't have water, sis.."
"We can...worry about that later," Zahra panted. "We don't have a lot of options here, Shria."
"Leave me," Shria blurted out, "I'll only slow you down.." she murmured weakly. "You gotta live, sis.."
"No."
Zahra had to stop, dropping to her knees and cradling her sister against her chest. "Not leaving you, Shria," she panted. "You can't make me."
Shria smirked sadly, blood causing the blonde hairs to cling together with thick, crimson crusts. "It's like mom and dad would want, huh.. They never really liked me anyways.. Always liked you more.."
"I don't care!"
She sniffled, burying her face in Shria's bloodied hair. "I don't care, I can't- I can't do this without you, sis. You gotta keep trying, don't give up. Please..."
"Just run.. Survive.. The desert moves in mysterious ways," she smiled faintly. "I'll watch over you.."
"No." Zahra shook her head determinedly. "Whatever we do, we do together. It's always been that way."
She forced herself to her feet again, one of Shria's arms around her shoulders. "Come on. Lean on me, we can do this."
"Sorry sis.. But you're gonna have to.. Drag me out of this one," at that, she slumped forward as she lost conciousness again. Too weak to even remain concious.
Zahra huffed out a sharp breath as she just barely managed to catch her sister. She looked around desperately. She had no idea where they were.
But the oasis was still fairly close. The only source of water and it was infested with slavers.
She didn't know what else to do. As quickly as possible, she dug a hole into the side of a sand dune and pulled Shria into it with her, waiting out the night.
Shria remained still for the remainder of the night. Not even waking at sunrise.
As the sand began to heat up around them, Zahra pushed herself up and shook Shria's shoulder lightly. "Sis? Can you hear me?"
A hitched breath left Shria, but she didn't wake up.
Zahra bit her lip. "C'mon, sis, don't do this to me," she muttered, cradling Shria's head in her lap so she could see her wound.
Thick, crusted and bad. Those were the words to describe the wound on the back of her head.
"She's in a bad condition, eh?" A voice came from above her. A shadow loomed down. The shadow of one of the slavers. "Come with us and we'll take care of her. And of you." He said with a dangerous glint. "We won't harm you."
Zahra cried out and shrank back from the sudden presence, clutching Shria protectively to her chest. "G-go away!" she shouted, voice shaking. "Just leave us alone!"
"Sure, I don't care either way. Whether she lives or dies." The man shrugged. "But you know she's going to die."
Zahra looked down at her sister, unconscious and bleeding. "You- you can heal her?" she whispered, hating herself for even considering it.
"If you two come along quietly, yes," he answered with a snort. "I'd rather have that bitch die right here and now since she took down some of our friends. But you're both worth some money. So if we patch her up, you'd fetch a proper price," he hummed softly. "Take it or leave it."
It was the worst choice she'd ever had to make.
"Alright," Zahra said after a moment, closing her eyes. "Deal."
Gods, Shria was going to kill her.
"Fine," he answered, extending a hand. "Put her on and get on," he looked over to the desert, spotting several of his fellow slavers.
"No." Zahra clutched her sister tighter as she stood. "I-I'll carry her."
"I wasn't asking," he replied with a bitter hiss.
Zahra glared. Her whole body was shaking in fear, but she stood her ground. "No," she repeated. "We'll go with you, but I won't let go of my sister."
The man put his hand on the hilt of his mace. "I'd hate to have you ending up like her," he said with a threatening tone to his voice.
She was positively trembling now, but she held firm. "Slaves will sell more if they're healthy," she whispered, clutching Shria a little tighter. "Y-you don't want to hurt me- or her, anymore."
He raised his hand to slap the back of it acrss her face. "Put her on the horse. Now."
Zahra cried out and staggered under the blow, but didn't let Shria go. Without a word, she got her feet back under her and heaved her sister up onto the horse, mounting quickly behind her and wrapping her arms around her waist, turning her face into her hair.
"We're gonna be alright," she murmured, almost too quiet to hear. "I'm gonna protect you, sis. Promise."
"Good," the man snarled as the horse turned and returned back to the oasis.
In their camp, they were met by whistles and cheers. The man behind the two sister grinning softly. It seemed like their number had increased.
Zahra shivered and clung to Shria as they entered the slavers' camp. "You- you said you'd help her," she said softly, twisting to look at the man behind them.
"I will," he replied as he looked down at Zahra. "We can't have a slave dying on us." The horse came to a halt somewhere on the outskirts.
"Get off." He commanded.
She slipped easily to the sand, stumbling slightly as she did her best to cradle Shria against her chest.
"C'mon, sis," she whispered. "Please wake up..."
The man got off of his horse aswell. Put her against the tree. Then sit next to her and hold still," he barked.
Zahra did as he said with a quiet whimper, wrapping herself as much around Shria's body as she could protectively.
The man grabbed Shria's arms and bound them around the tree, before tying her legs together. He proceeded to tie Zahra's legs to Shria's. Let left her hands free. "I will send someone." He said as he grabbed the reigns and walked off.
Zahra was limp as a doll, eyes dull and listless. She leaned against Shria when the man moved away, hiding her face against her sister's neck.
After several hours, a rather chubby looking slaver kneeled down infront of the pair, grabbing Shria's head and tilting it forward to examine the wound caused by the mace. He nodded softly and stood up again, noting that she'd need stitches, before walking away again.
Zahra didn't know what to do. She squeaked quietly when the slaver approached and tried to wrap herself more protectively around her sister.
"W-wait!" She stared after him. "He- he promised you would help her..."
The slaver glanced over his shoulder momentarily, before proceeding his walk away again.
After roughly an hour, he returned with a needle, a flask and some thread, kneeling down again and heading to disinfect the wound on the back of Shria's head, before taking a swig from the flask himself. After that, he threaded the needle and cut off some of Shria's hair, before starting to sew the wound shut.
Zahra only let herself sit back enough to give the man room to work, keeping a careful eye out to make sure that he didn't try anything funny.
After a short while, he seemed to be done and stood up, grabbing the flask and downing whatever that was left and discarding the sack. "Now, who of you two is goin' to compensate my wasted time?" He asked as he fumbled around in his trousers with one hand. "You're going to pay for yer sister or do I have to use 'er?" He inquired bluntly, looking rather drunk.
((Just send a pm if you want to have this fade to black))
[Will do]
She felt her stomach drop. Gods, she knew she should have expected this, but...
"M-me." Zahra swallowed and closed her eyes, shifting herself protectively in front of her sister. "Just- don't hurt her, please..."
"Alright, then open that mouth, precious," he gave a disgusting smirk as he pulled his pants and undergarments down slightly, "and look me in the eyes."
Tears gathering in her eyes, Zahra slowly did as he said. Her hands clenched into fists and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Please don't wake up, Shria, she prayed silently. Please, please, please...
Shria didn't seem to make the slightest indication towards waking up.
"Atta girl,"the man said as a calloused hand grabbed Zahra's chin. "Goes without sayin' that ya''ll regret bitin' down." He pulled her closer and forced himself inside her mouth, letting out an exhilirated sigh.
Gagging, Zahra whimpered quietly but held herself as still as possible. She desperately tried to pretend this wasn't happening, that she was somewhere else, anywhere else. The tears that had gathered in her eyes started to stream down her face.
The slaver grunted softly as he grabbed Zahra's head with both hands, starting to force her all the way down. "What a.. Shitty sister you have," he said between pants. "Lettin' you take responsibility for her.. Like that.."
Zahra spluttered and gagged, struggling against him, but he was too strong for her. However, when his grip loosened slightly she jerked back and glared at him.
"I love my sister," she said quietly, trying to lean away from him. "I'd do anything for her."
He immediatly grabbed her hair as she pulled back, forcing her down again. "Shut up 'n suck," he grunted.
After a short while, he took in a sharp breath and pushed Zahra back, turning slightly to finish on Shria's face instead, letting out an exhilirated breath. "That's what I think.. About that bitch.." He mumured as he stepped back, fiddling with his trousers.
She didn't say anything, putting her back to him as she leaned forward to wipe at her sister's face. Her eyes were still watery, but she didn't want to let him see her cry anymore than she already had.
The man stuffed his member back in his pants and turned around, leaving just like that.
Roughly half an hour later, with a soft groan and a pained cough, Shria weakly opened her eyes.
"Shria!" Zahra lunged forward and wrapped her arms around her sister's shoulders, holding her up. "A-are you alright?" Okay, stupid question. "How do you feel?"
A pained whimper came from Shria. "Like shit,"she murmured as she pressed her head up agaknst Zahra's chin as she closed her eyes again. "You cried," she murmured. "Who made you cry?"
Zahra was crying again- with relief this time- and she tilted her head to kiss the top of Shria's head. "It doesn't matter," she sniffed, tightening her arms around her. "As long as you're okay."
Shrua let out a weak hum in response. "Tell me, Zahra.. They'll suffer for every tear.." She murmured weakly. Yet it was a promise she made.
But this Shria. And she had portrayed before that people who made sister dear cry suffered a lot.
"Shh." She stroked Shria's arm and rocked her gently. "It's okay. We just- we just have to focus on getting through this, alright?"
"Who.. Zahra?" She asked, growing a tad more insistent as she rested against her sister. Accepting her sushing nonetheless.
"It's just...this." Zahra closed her eyes, hoping her sister would accept that. "Being here, like this. The slavers. That's all it is." She sniffled. "I'm so sorry, Shria, I didn't know what else to do. I thought you were g-going to-" Her voice cut off and she turned her face into her sister's shoulder.
Shria's tone softened as she pressed a weak kiss against her sister's head. "We'll get out of here," she murmured softly.
Zahra nodded, still crying quietly. "We should get some rest," she sniffles eventually. "While we have the chance."
Shria nodded faintly. "Sleep sister," she sushed soflty. "We'll make them pay once we can.."
Zahra didn't argue, but she just wanted to survive this. She leaned against her sister and closed her eyes with a sigh.
As she was sure Zahra drifted off, Shria closed her eyes aswell. "Nobody is allowed to hurt you," she murmured softly.
Half asleep, Zahra gave a quiet murmur and snuggled a little closer to her, unconsciously seeking comfort.
Shria rubbed her cheek against Zahra's and slowly fell asleep.
Agra was thoroughly exhausted, physically and emotionally. She seemed almost comatose as she slumped against her sister, only rarely shifting or whimpering in her sleep.
Shria opened her eyes to squinches at the influx of light. Morning. She let out a soft snort as she noticed a blanket was draped across them.
Zahra was still dead asleep. Her little shifts and whimperings had become more frequent though, and she suddenly clutched at Shria was a small, muffled cry in her sleep.
Well, there wasn't much she could do here. Her hands and legs were still bound, she took a deep breath and pressed closer against Zahra with her head.
She jerked awake, eyes wide and frightened. "Sh-Shria?" She twisted around and relaxed slightly when she saw her sister.
"It's alright," she sushed, closing her eyes with a soft hum again. "It's dawn."
"Oh." Zahra sighed and cuddled against her. "What are we gonna do, sis?" she murmured, biting her lip.
"We watch, stick through and wait for them to make mistakes." She answered with a soft sigh.
She nodded and slowly tried to sit up. A yawn overcame her and she winced- her jaw was sore.
"What if they don't make a mistake?" she asked quietly, shivering.
"Sister dear, everyone makes mistakes," she answered with belated grunt of pain.
Zahra winced. "I'm so sorry, Shria," she murmured, tears starting to gather in her eyes again. "This is all my f-fault." She bit her lip and dropped her head.
"Don't cry," she murmured, "I hate to see you cry."
"I'm sorry." Zahra tried to hide her face in her hands. "I'm s-so sorry, I c-can't help it..." She sniffled and sort of curled in on herself.
Shria shook her head softly. "It's alright, sis."
Still crying, Zahra took advantage of her unbound hands to wrap Shria up in a hug and buried her face against her collar. "It's not alright," she mumbled. "Oh gods, we have to get away from them..."
"And we will," Shria murmured weakly. "We will, sis."
She nodded slowly, swiping at her eyes. "You need to heal first," she murmured.
"That was the plan," Shria replied with a soft murmur.
"Okay." Zahra nodded and slowly leaned away from her, eyes flicking over to the slavers warily.
Shria closed her eyes again. "So, I'm going to get some sleep," she murmured softly as she closed her eyes again.
"Alright. I'll keep watch," Zahra replied softly, attempting to draw her knees up to her chest as much as she could.
With a soft yawn, Shria nodded faintly against her sister, before drifting off again.
Bound as she was, there really wasn't much Zahra could do besides watch and wait as her sister drifted off.
After several minutes, a slaver stood infront of them and threw a small, leather sack towards them. "Do your best not to die of dehyrdation," he said, before turning around again. "Food might be on the way."
Zahra pounced on the water, guzzling a few gulps before turning to Shria and trying to coax some water passed her sister's lips.
With a soft snort and gasp, Shria opened her eyes and tried to sit up.
"Oh, sorry." She helped Shrua sit up and held the water skin to her lips.
Shria gave Zahra a confused look, before closing her eyes and resting back, drining the water with greedy gulps.
"Any better?" Zahra asked quietly as she helped her sister drink.
Shria pulled back with a soft gasp, nodding softly. "T-thanks.."
"Of course." Zahra nodded and took another small sip herself, trying to conserve the water.
"What time is it?" Shira inquired with a soft murmur.
"Still early," she replied, "not long after dawn."
She nodded slowly and closed her eyes again. "Wake me when someone's here.."
"I will." Zahra stoked her hair and kissed her forward, starting to him a quiet, soothing melody.
Shria rested her head against Zahra's shoulder.
With nothing else she could really do, Zahra continued to sing softly to her sister, holding her close and stroking her hair almost absently.
After several hours, against midday, Shria woke with a soft yawn, blinking slightly.
It was too damn hot.
"Hey." Zahra tried to give her sister a small smile. "How you feeling?"
"Still shit," Shria answered with a murmur. "They didn't search for weapons when I was out, huh?"
She shook her head. "We're lucky there, but I had to leave my bow behind. I don't have anything."
Shira smirked faintly. "You know me, got knives for days," she chuckled softly.
Zahra actually cracked a smile. "Well, there's one blessing at least."
"We just gotta wait untill dusk," Shria murmured, "I think we can make our escape."
Zahra nodded, eyeing the slavers. "Alright. I'll follow your lead, sis."
"Just keep a low profile," she murmured, "as far as they're concerned. We're weak and clueless."
She bit down on commenting that, at least for herself, she was weak and useless. "We should figure out a way to try to get some water before we make a run for it," she murmured.
Shria huffed softly. "We're not running. We're escaping. Then I'll kill every one of them."
"Shria." Zahra gave her a worried look. "I know you want revenge, but it's more important we get out of this alive."
"And we will, sister," she replied with a soft hum. "Each night just one kill. Completely random."
She closed her eyes but didn't argue. She would be there to protect her sister if something went wrong.
Of course, that's what she'd told herself before, and look how that turned out...
"So now we just wait," she murmured with a soft hum.
"I suppose we do." Zahra let herself thump back against the tree with a sigh, eyes wary.
"We could do with some food, though." Shria murmured.
She shrugged, glaring at the slavers. "Tell them that. I'm pretty sure they're only going to keep us fed enough so we don't starve to death and no more."
"Well," she let out a soft snort, "I'm not starving.. But food would be good."
Zahra grumbled an agreement. "Yes. But..." She swallowed and admitted quietly, "I don't want to risk asking. What if they get angry?"
"Or we get food," she replied with a soft smile. "And if they get angry, so be it."
"Shria..." She bit her lip. "You're barely well enough to walk, should we really risk it?"
"I have to take care of my dear sister, don't I?" She answered with a soft smirk.
Zahra sighed. "Fine. I've got your back. Even if you are being stupid."
"You're hungry. So am I," she answered with a soft sigh. "Besides, we'll have to be at full strength.. More or less," she said with a soft whince.
"I'm not arguing," she murmured. "I just think we should be careful."
Shria pouted lightly. "But you called me stupid.."
For a moment their dire situation faded in her mind and Zahra crinkled her nose at her. "No, I said you were actung stupid. There's a difference."
"Not even trying to deny it or apologising," she murmured as she prodded her head against Zahra's shoulder. "That's cold."
Zahra Actuslly laughed, and damn it felt good. The sound was high and clear in the still desert air.
"Gods, don't say "cold"," she begged with a chuckle. "I'm not sure I even remember what that word means out here in all this sand."
A soft smile formed on Shria's lips. She was glad she managed to make her sister laugh in these circumstances. She closed her eyes briefly m.
After a short while, the same slaver that stitched up Shria's scalp stood before them. Throwing down a platter with food scraps. "Would be a waste of effort if you died of hunger out here."
Zahra pounced on the food as though afraid he would change his mind and take it away. She pulled the scraps closer and started dividing up the food between herself and her sister.
The man glanced at Shria for a brief momznt, before smirking. "So you're awake, sweet'eart. I'll be payin' ya a visit tonight." Shria gazed up at him with a gaze that would even freeze the sands they were currently surrounded with. The man only let out a laugh and waddled away.
"So. First target," Shria murmured with a smirk underneath the bandages.
Zahra flinched back from the man at that, the reminder bringing tears to her eyes. She bit her lip, unwilling to risk responding to Shria just yet.
And not much slipped past Shria. "He hurt you?" She inquired with a soft murmur.
"No." Zahra shook her head quickly, silently cursing how well her sister could read her. "No, he didn't...not exactly..."
"Not exactly?" Shria inquired with a soft arch of her eyebrows.
"He didn't...hurt me," Zahra murmured. That wasn't a lie. Technically, she was in much better shape physically than her sister.
"Then what did he dow?" Shria inquired with a soft sigh. "You can tell me anything, sis." But she had a pretty good idea what had happened.
She squeezed her eyes shut in an effort to hold back tears. "It doesn't matter, Shria," she murmured, "I don't wanna talk about it."
"Sis," she murmured softly, bumping her forehead against Zahra's. "I'm sorry.."
Zahra shook her head, nudging back against Shria affectionately. "It's okay," she murmured. "It could have been so much worse. I'm alright."
Shria nodded softly. "I'm glad.." She answered with a sad smile.
She smiled at her, hoping to hide any of the fear or sadness in her eyes. "Don't worry about me, sis. Everything's okay."
"I promise we'll get out," she murmured with a soft sigh.
Zahra just nodded, trying to draw her knees up against her chest but rather hindered by the way she was bound.
"You'll see," she murmured with a soft snort.
She smiled at her. "I believe you, sis," she murmured. "Really. I know we'll get out of this."
"Good," she murmured, "as long as you know."
"Of course I do." Zahra ruffled her hair affectionately. "I've never seen you fail at something you put your mind to."
Shria let out a soft grunt as her hair was ruffled. "Be careful," she hissed. "Also you know I hate that.."
"Oh, whoops." Zahra snatched her hand back and winced guiltily. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
"Only a little," Shria answered with a faint chuckle. "Most of it are my feelings, though.."
She huffed and gave her sister a playful glare. "Don't scare me like that, head wounds are serious," she grumbled.
"Think about that before you decide to ruffle my hair again," Shria countered with a playful smirk.
Zahra pouted. "I am sorry," she murmured, sort of nuzzling against her sister's shoulder. "You sure you aren't hurt?"
"I repeat, my feelings," Shria murmured with a soft chuckle.
"Hmph." She leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes. "Are these idiots ever going to move us, you think?" she murmured. If they were planning on selling them, they had to be heading for Essyrn at some point, right?
"Probably tomorrow," Shria replied. "They are recharging here."
"Right." She sighed again and closed her eyes. "Gods, I am too damn hot."
Shria nodded slowly. "To be expected of a desert, but a pain in the ass," she shifted slightly.
Zahra's eyes flicked over toward the slavers. "You'd think they'd try to keep us better hydrated," she muttered, frowning.
Shira snorted. "We're just an extra," she replied. "If we die, they won't really lose money."
"Yes, but they do lose some profit," Zahra mumbled. Her throat was uncomfortably dry, lips cracked
"True," Shria murmured. "Didn't you keep some of the water?"
Zahra passed the now mostly empty flask over. "Here. I though maybe we should save it, but you need to keep hydrated as much as you can."
Shira shook her head, "drink sister," she said with a soft nudge of her head again Zahra's shoulder. "I'll steal some water after I'm free.."
"I've had some," Zahra protested, shaking her head. "You're hurt worse, you take it. I can wait another day or so."
"Fine," Shria huffed softly. "But you're gonna need to help me drink," she added with a soft sigh.
Zahra smiled reassuringly and slipped her arm behind her sister's shoulders to help her sit up and lifted the water skin to her lips.
Several gulps later, the last of their water was gone. Shria sat back and let out a soft sigh. "If no one's looking, knife at my butt, underneath the cloth.." She whispered, the sun slowly setting. "Cut the rope when no one's looking.."
Zahra nodded and slid her hand down to grasp the hilt of the blade. Subtly as she could, she shifted to better support Shria, using the motion to hide how she was carefully sawing away at her bonds.
After a short while, the rope snapped. Yet Shria caught it and held it tight, as if she was still bound. "Good.. Now hide it underneath my armpit, hilt outwards," she whispered softly.
Zahra did as she said, slipping not the knife back into its original place as she did.
Shria pressed her arm down against the knife. "Good,".she gave Zahra a faint smile. "Now we just wait.."
She nodded, leaning back and trying to school her features into an expressionless mask.
After sundown, when the slavers had their meal, the man who had stitched Shria's head approached with a plate. "Eat up," he said as he threw the scraps down, along with a small waterskin, folding his arms. Shria looked at Zahra. "Mind giving me a hand, sis?" She asked.
Zahra nodded, keeping her eyes downcast, and divided the food between them, lifting the water skin to her sister's lips first.
Shria pressed her shoulder against Zahra's, indicating she had enough water for now.
Wheb the waterskin was lifted, she pressed her head against Zahra's. "You eat and drink first.."
Zahra frowned at her a bit, but knew better than to really argue the point, feeding herself before she moved on to her sister.
As soon as Shria was done eating, the man stepped forward and grabbed her head.
She gave a glance at Zahra, before pulling away, grabbing the knife she had hidden in her armpit with her teeth.
In a flash, the knife was planted in the man's chest and Shria was behind him, a heavy metal chain around his throat.
She pulled him down, neck over her shoulder, snapping it just like that, before turning around to free Zahra.
Zahra flinched at the sound of breaking bones, then hurried to help Shria free her legs. "Can you run?" she asked in a rushed whisper. "We- we could try to steal a horse..." It would make things easier, did they dare risk it?
Shria rolled her shoulders, looking around. She grabbed his hand and pinned it to the tree with a knife. "We don't need to run," Shria answered as she pulled up a waterskin from the man's belt. "We stick around the camp. Steal their supplies and make a kill once a night."
Zahra shivered. "Why can't we just leave?" She'd known her sisters plan, but now that freedom was so close she just wanted to leave this place behind.
"A lot of reasons," Shria replied. "But I can't explain here, we have to move."
She nodded slowly. "Lead the way, Shria."
Shria fished around underneath her robes, pulling out two small, hardened chutes. "Hold on to this for dear life," she murmured, before turning around and sprinting into the desert, glancing over her shoulder to know whether Zahra was following.
She nodded, clenching er fist around the object, then took off across the sand after her sister, doing her best to keep up.
After roughly ten minutes, Shria stopped, leaning forward as she took several deep breaths. "Dig in," she said as she regained her breath slightly.
Panting, Zahra dropped to her knees and started to dig into the sand, scooping out large mounds with cupped hands.
Shria did the same, before settling in, putting the chute in her mouth and burying herself completely.
Zahra wrapped her arms around her sister and cuddled as close as she could, seeking comfort even as she started to drift.
She scooped a large amount over her head when she knew for sure Zahra had followed he example with the small straw, hugging her closely. Both of them were completely submerged.
Despite the wariness coursing through her and the discomfort of the situation, Zahra's exhaustion one out and it didn't take her long to fall asleep.
Shria kept Zahra close, yet she kept awake, carefuly lidtening for any noises that would indicate the slavrers chasing them down.
She would make her move in two hours.
Zahra gravitated toward her sister in her sleep, as much as she could in their current positions. She was too exhausted to even dream.
After what Shria had believed to be two hours, she softly roused Zahra, before rising from the sand again, immediatly checking her surroundings.
No one.
She came awake with a start and accidentally swallowed a bit of sand, trying to smother her coughing into her hand as she climbed out of their little burrow.
"What now?"
"One kill," Shria said, "an exemple." She got to her feet and brushed some of the sand off. "I'll bring food and water. Keep my straw and stay awake so I can find you." She held out the small chute to Zahra.
"Wait." Zahra scrambled to her feet. "Shouldn't I go with you?"
Shria nodded slowly. "You can, but what about your bow? It was taken, wasn't it?"
She sighed and nodded. "Yes." She'd have to replace that at some point. "I could make a sling or something though." It wasn't her preferred weapon, but she was fairly proficient.
"I guess we can steal it back," Shria replied with a soft shrug. "Though, I don't like the thought of you following me in there unarmed. So a sling would suffice for now."
Zahra nodded quickly. She'd feel more comfortable with her bow back, but a sling would do for now. She fell into step beside her sister, tearing at the hem of her light tunic to get strips of fabric.
"Good," Shria nodded with a soft hum.
After a short while, they reached the same oasis again, it wasn't too difficult to find it, since their campfires were igniting the night sky with a soft orange glow. Shria settled down on a small dune. "Got a plan, sis?"
Zahra arched an eyebrow at her. "I was sort of hoping you did. This is your idea."
"I do, don't worry," Shria replied with a faint smirk, "but your ideas are mostly better than mine."
Zahra shook her head. "I think this whole thing is mad. I don't know what to do."
"So you suggest going into the desert and dying of thirst?" Shria inquired as she shook her head. "Or starve, perhaps?" She snorted, standing up and sliding down the dune.
She rolled her eyes and followed her sister. "I said no such thing. I just think this is reckless."
"Naturally," Shria replied, "but so was the decision to live in the desert." She glanced up at Zahra. "We have to do this, sis. Do or die, remember?"
She set her jaw. "I said I'd follow you, sis. I meant it."
"I know," Shria replied. "No more words. Stick close now," Shria said as they approached the edge of the oasis.
Zahra nodded, silent as a wind over the sand as she followed her, her makeshift sling held ready in one hand.
Several small needles glinted between Shria's fingers. They reached the edge, behind a small tent. Shria held up and glanced over at Zahra, pulling a knife from her belt, pressing it against the fabric and nodding at Zahra.
Zahra nodded in turn, scooping a few stones up to use as projectiles and taking up a guard stance beside the tent.
Shria sliced the tent open, pushing it aside to lean forward. One muffled grunt later, she sat back, dragging the corpse out of his tent. A needle sticking from his throat. Right in the artery.
Zahra resisted the effort to dance in place as she moved back to give Shria room. "Hurry," she murmured, barely more than a breath.
She pulled the needle back and leaned forward, padding him down, pulling a waterskin and tossing it over to Zahra.
She caught the waterskin absently, eyes still flickering around, just waiting for someone to catch them. "Hurry, Shria" she murmured again.
Shria crawled forward into the tent, looking around for some kind of food. "Not here," she murmured as she sat back.
"Then let's get out of here, before we get caught," Zahra urged, practically vibrating with nervous energy.
Shria nodded, pushing herself up. "Let's go," she said, starting to jog off into the desert again.
Zahra took off after her sister, heart racing at what they'd just done.
After.a short while, Shria came to a halt,.glancing back at the camp with soft panting. "That's the second. Roughly twenty more to go."
"Twenty." Zahra sighed and dropped to sit on the sand. "If I had my bow, we could do this all in one night," she griped.
Shria shook her head softly. "They would swarm us," she replied with a soft sigh.
"Not if we took them out from a distance," Zahra muttered. She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I don't have my bow anyway."
"Fair enough," Shria answered. "Either way, they'll never hurt anyone again. I'll make sure of that."
"I know." Zahra reached up to touch her sister's arm lightly. "It'll be alright. We'll get this over with, and everything will be fine."
"Like always, sis," she smiled softly as she wrapped an arm around Zahra's shoulder. "Like always."
She leaned into her, closing her eyes with a soft huff. "I'm so tired, Shria," she murmured. "I'm just so tired of this. Always moving, never safe."
"Half Essryn wants us dead," Shria replied with a soft murmur. "We can't go back."
"We wouldn't have to go back. We could leave the Moraki, go north."
"We have money on our heads," she replied with a soft murmur. "We'll have to go very far.."
Zahra sighed again. "I know. But...it would be better than this, wouldn't it?"
"We'll need supplies," Shria answered with a soft sigh.
She arched an eyebrow. "The slavers? Once they're all dead, I doubt they'll be needing their supplies."
"So that brings us back to this," Shria smile softly as she pulled the bandage infront of her mouth down. "Twenty to go."
"We need to rest. And eat," Zahra pointed out mildly.
"We only have water," Shria replied with a soft sigh.
"We could hunt," Zahra murmured, not sounding entirely convinced of the idea herself. "I mean...lizards aren't exactly appetizing, bu they're better than nothing, right?"
"How many lizards we'll find, y'reckon?" Shria asked with a soft chuckle. "We steal these slaver's supplies. Bit by bit. Then we'll see."
"Yes, m'am." She gave her a mock salute, then huffed out a breath. "I just want my bow back," she added in a mutter, a little petulant.
"We'll get it back," Shria assured. "But, now we need to catch some sleep."
"I know." She flipped onto her back with a huff. "C'mere, let's dig in."
Shria nodded slowly, turning on her knees as she started to dig a hole, before submerging herself completely in the sand.
"Scooch," Zahra murmured, digging in next to her sister and curling up.
"Oi," her sister whispered with a silent chuckle, scooting over slightly in the sand.
Zahra smiled and snuggled into her back. "C'mon. We used to cuddle when we were kids," she whined.
"Fine," Shria answered, putting the straw in her mouth. "Just make sure you can breathe," she murmured as she pulled Zahra closer.
She hummed a quiet affirmative and adjusted her position to breathe better, curling in against her sister as she drifted off.
Shria wrapped her arms around Zahra's middle, also closing her eyes.
Sleeping in sand was never comfortable, but Zahra was so exhausted that she was out for hours, seemingly oblivious to the outside world.
Shria also slept quite soundly. That was untill her ears perked at the sound of hooves, she softly put a hand over Zahra's mouth and held completely still. Even holding in her breath.
Zahra's eyes snapped open at the touch, but she was used to such situations enough that she didn't struggle against her sister, just held perfectly still, waiting.
The sound of hooves dissappeared again, a soft breath left Shria. "Good morning," she whispered softly.
Zahra tapped her sister's shoulder gently. "Morning."
"Oh," Shria let out a soft chuckle as she raised her hand. "Sorry," she murmured, before sitting up.
Zahra sat up, shaking off sand and gasping a quiet breath. "Thanks," she chuckled wryly. "Breathing is nice."
Shria smirked at Zahra, "I imagine."
Smirking softly, Zahra glanced around. "what do you think? Safe to move?"
"I think so," Shria said as she got to her feet. "We need to post up somewhere else, wait till nightfall."
She nodded. "I'm following your lead, sis."
"Always so compliant," Shria teased as she clicked her tongue, starting to walk in a given direction.
Zahra gave her a tight smile, eyes suddenly darkening. "Yeah. Compliant, that's me," she murmured, trailing after her sister.
Shria only smirked whioe she walked. Proceeding without a word.
"I miss home," she blurted out suddenly.
Zahra blinked and looked at her, a little startled. "I do too," she said after a moment. "Are you- sure we can't go back?"
She shook her head. "Mom and dad wouldn't let us in. We'd endanger them needlessly aswell."
She sighed, glancing away. "Just wish there was something we could do..."
"We can't, Zahra," Shria snorted softly, before sighing. "I want to be able to get back. But we just can't."
"Alright." She raised her hands in surrender. "I'll drop it. But you're the one who brought it up.
"I know," Shria answered with a soft sigh.
Zahra walked closer and bumped her shoulder lightly. "Hey." She offered a small smile. "Love ya. Things will be okay."
Shria smiled softly and playfully punched Zahra?s shoulder. "I know, sis. I know."
She smiled, crinkling her nose for the playful punch, and let her head drop onto Shria's shoulder for a moment as they walked in a comforting sort of gesture.
"Come," Shria smirked. "We got slavers to hunt down.."
Zahra sighed and straightened her shoulders. "Right behind ya."
After walking roughly half an hour, Shria stopped in her tracks and looked around, sitting down. "Here we wait."
"Yes, ma'am." She gave her sister a mock salute and plopped onto the sand beside her.
"Hey, if this is over," she smirked softly. "You can apply for the army. Got the salute and everything."
"Oh, shut up," Zahra laughed, shoving her shoulder playfully. "You know I wouldn't last two seconds as a soldier."
"But you'd be hired," Shria replied with a soft giggle. "I would be in jail because I tried to overthrow the officer in command.l
"I could get you out," Zahra replied with playful confidence.
"I know," Shria giggled softly.
"Damn straight." She sighed and leaned back on her hands, squinting against the light reflected off the sand.
Shria hugged her knees and bumped her shoulder against Zahra's. "Still got some water?"
"A little." She fumbles with the water skin, then handed it over. "A few mouthfuls."
"I only need one," she murmured with a soft smile, swigging a small gulp of the water, swishing it around her mouth before swallowing, hnding the waterskin back. "Thanks."
Zahra nodded and took a small sip herself, then flipped back onto the sand and closed her eyes with a huff.
"Take a nap, I'll keep guard," Shria said. "And I'll make sure you don't get sunburned."
She smiled at her sister and nodded, eyes closed, and reached out to touch her arm lightly. "Don't go too long, wake me when you get tired."
"Will do," Shria replied with a soft nod, squeezing Zahra's hand in return.
It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. She was exhausted, and the heat certainly wasn't helping. She was out in moments.
Shria drew her knees up and hugged them, closing her eyes briefly, ears twitching slightly to catch even the faintest hint of trouble.
Zahra shifted and muttered in her sleep, plagued by half dreams and nightmares. She frowned, curling onto her side and instinctively seeking her sister's presence.
Shria opened her eyes and scooted closer to Zahra,crossing her own legs and softly pulling her sister's head on her lap.
Zahra settled some, twisting around and wrapping her arms around Shria's waist in her sleep.
"You're always so clingy," Shria muttered with a hushed chuckle, idly running her fingers through Zahra's hair as she closed her eyes again. Not even the slightest of sounds would go unnoticed.
Zahra's restlessness eased and she mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, cuddling closer.
Shria let out a soft breath, but let Zahra be for the time being. After several hours, with nothing happening, Shria opened her eyes and softly nudged Zahra.
She woke easily enough, sitting up with a yawn. "My watch, then?"
Shria nodded. "Yeah," she answered with a soft smile.
Zahra smiled and stroked her sister's hair. "Go on, get some rest," she murmured, leaning in to kiss her forehead lightly.
Shria smirked softly and leaned down, resting her head on Zahra's lap, yawning softly.
With a small smile, Zahra began combing her fingers through her sister's hair and humming softly, a lullaby they'd heard as girls.
Shria closed her eyes and hummed softly, falling asleep slowly.
Zahra seemed lucky- there really wasn't much to watch for, and she cradled her sister gently in her lap, singing softly under her breath.
And Shria stayed asleep, up untill Zahra would wake her.
She let her sister sleep until the sun started to set, then shook her gently awake. "Sundown," she murmured. "We should be moving, yes?"
Shria blinked softly, sitting up. "A-alright," she murmured.
"Here." Zahra passed over the last of the water. "Drink up. We'll need to resupply."
Shria nodded and took the waterskin, chugging the remainder of the water down, before getting to her feet.
Zahra climbed to her feet as well, stretching her back and cracking her neck. "Once again, I follow you, sister," she said with a small smile.
"Always so formal, sis," Shria smirked, gazing to the sun to orientate, before nodding, spinning on her heals and starting to walk.
She shrugged, chuckling. "Hey, it may come in handy one day," she murmured as she followed her.
"I'd eat my boots the day it does," Shria answered with a soft chuckle.
"I'll hold you to that," Zahra joked, elbowing her playfully.
"I don't even wear boots," Shria answered, stopping and holding up her foot, revealing what was basically a piece of leather underneath her soul. And a lot of bandages. "So joke's on you."
"I believe it's an expression, Sis," Zahra laughed. "And I'd bee just as happy to make you eat those." She gestured to her sparse footwear.
"Shit," Shria answered with a soft grin, before proceeding down the dunes of sand again.
Zahra chuckled and trailed along behind her, mindful of her footing on the shifting sands.
And as night fell, the orange glow of campfires were visible in the distance.
Shria prowled along, to a distance of thirty meters from the edges of the camp, waiting.
As always, Zahra was a few steps behind her sister, keeping as silent as she could.
Shria raised her handd, before pointing a guard that was station at the outskirts. She leaned back to whisper; "think you can take care of him?"
She nodded, raising her makeshift sling. "Just say when, sis."
Shria tutted her lips, examining her nails and breathing on them in a rather dismissive and careless gesture. "Now." She suddenly snapped, grinning softly.
Rolling her eyes at her sister's antics, Zahra whirled the sling above her head a few times, then let fly. The small, sharp stone she'd used as ammunition struck the guard at the base of his skull, and he crumpled without a sound.
She gave her sister a smirk and a quirked eyebrow.
"Good shot," Shria complimented, before sliding down the hill, immediatly prowling over the guard to slith his throat, making sure he'd never wake up, then starting to search his corpse.
"Thanks." Zahra followed, keeping watch while her sister's attention was elsewhere.
"Jewelry," Shria murmured. "Ain't stealing if they're dead," she added with a murmur. "But no water. Nor food."
Zahra sighed. "Damn. Are we gonna have to dig?" she muttered exasperatedly.
"We loot untill we find supplies," Shria answered. "Follow me," she whispered, before starting to sneak her way into the camp.
She nodded, keeping silent, and trailed after her.
Shria ducked behind a palm tree, glaring at several soldiers sitting around the campfire. "How do we bait them away from eachother?" Shria whispered.
Zahra swallowed, then offered nervously, "I- I could do it. I'm no use without my bow, least I could do is act as bait..."
Shria shook her head. "Out of the question," she whispered.
She planted her fists on her hips. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Anything but that," Shria answered.
Zahra frowned at her. "This is ridiculous. You know as well as I do it's our best shot. I'm fast, sis, I can outrun them long enough for you to take them down."
"They got horses, Zahra," she flailed her arms. "Horses. You can't outrun horses."
"I can long enough for you to take out two or three of them," she shot back. "We don't need to take them all at once, just a few, you said it yourself."
She flailed her arms even more. "Horses." She hissed. "I don't wanna endager my dear sister."
Zahra huffed. "We're already in danger. What difference does this make?" she whisper-shouted in response.
Shria sighed softly. "Fine. But just because I can say "told you so"," Shria replied with a soft murmur.
Zahra smiled and reached out to squeeze her wrist gently. "I'll be fine," she murmured, leaning in to kiss her sister's cheek. "We just have to work fast, yeah?"
"Yeah," Shria answered. "Well, I do." She glanced at Zahra, unsheating several knives from various sheaths.
She nodded and squeezed her sister's hand again, then let go. "I'll sneak around to the front," she murmured. "Make some noise to get their attention, then just start running."
"Alright," Shria answered. "Dig in if you need to," she whispered.
"Good luck, sis."
"You too." Another kiss to the cheek, then she slipped away, moving around to the front of the slavers.
She took a sharp breath, then gave a high, piercing cry, almost more like a bird of prey than a girl.
Once again, Shria was amazed at how high her sister managed to force her voice.
But, no time to be awe-struck. After the slavers recovered from the initial shock, several qtood up and trailed off towards Zahra.
Five where left, Shria nodded to herself as she darted forward.
And within a matter of seconds, the remaining slavers around the campfire were dead.
Zahra barely waited for the slavers to start moving before she was running. She kept a steady pace at first, until they went for their horses.
Then she was off like a shot, zigzagging through the sand and starting to hope that Shria had managed her end of things.
Shria hummed as she went through the pockets of her kills, the same lullaby Zahra had sung for her earlier. "Good one," she murmured as she sat up, holding several waterskins, shoveling some of the food they were preparing on the campfire in her mouth. But she wouldn't help Zahra with that, she needed to find the supplies.
So Shria snuck abbout camp, trying to find the tent where they stored their food, chewing silently on the mouthful.
Once she's got some distance, Zahra took her sister's advice and dug into the side of a sand dune, huddling in and hoping the slavers would just run past.
Shria found her way into the tent, ripping it open and smirking. She couldn't help but let out a soft giggle, whispering "lucky" to herself.
She gathered wht she could, and made her way out of the camp.
Zahra heard hoofbeata above her and kept as still as possible, waiting for the danger to pass.
Shria followed the sound of horses, they knew which direction her sister went. Yet, after a short while, they started to circle around to return to camp. And the desert elf immediatly started digging herself in aswell.
Zahra waited until the sound of hoofbeats faded, then slowly crawled her way back out of the sand. Head and shoulders free, she looked around, then cupped her hands around her mouth and gave a soft call, the sound a hunting Kadir made, in an attempt to signal her sister.
The horses also passed her relativly quick and she immediatly dug up, ears twitching at the sound.
She took a deep breath and imitated the sound twice for Zahra.
With a breath of relief, she scrambled the rest of the way out of the sand and started in the direction of the noise. "Shria?"
Her ear twitched again as she heard her name coming from somwhere.
She cupped her hands around her mouth again, making the sound once, hoping Zahra would respond, that way, she could find her direction.
Zahra paused, then gave a low answering call and sat down. If they were both moving around, they would miss each other in the dark.
Shria's ears twitched. Got it.
She turned to the right direction and ducked down, starting to sprint in a low pose, before halting and calling out again.
She could make out her moving shadow now and got to her feet, calling softly, "Here."
Shria turned to the voice. "Zahra," she whispered, before pouncing on her sister and holding her close. "I was worried sick," she said, hugging Zahra into her chest. "Are you alright?"
Zahra slumped against her with a sigh of relief, hugging her back just as tightly. "I'm fine, I'm fine," she assured her quickly. "What happened on your end?"
"You hungry, sis?" She asked with a soft huff. "I got food," she hugged Zahra tighter. "I got food.."
She could have cried with relief. "Oh gods bless you, Shria Hiekka," she laughed.
"And if you wanna wash it down, since I bet it tastes like ass," Shria pulled up a full waterskin. "Three of these."
Zahra laughed and cupped her sister's cheeks, kissing her forehead before grabbing a waterskin and downing a few swallows. She forced herself to keep a pace though, not wanting to waste it.
Shria smirked softly. "You're.pretty good bait, sis," she teased.
She chuckled and winked at her sister. "Well, I was bound to be useful eventually, right?"
"Your words," Shria grinned. "Not mine."
Zahra stuck her tongue out at her. "Come on, let's keep moving, while it's still dark out."
Shria nodded softly, trailing behind her sister.
Glancing to the sky to get her bearings, Zahra asked, "Which direction should we be heading?"
"Doesn't matter. Just far enough, knowing the camp is at our backs right now." Shria answered, having a keen sense of direction of living in the desert for so long.
Zahra nodded and kept walking. "I'll need to find a new bow somewhere," she murmured.
"Sorry sis, couldn't find it," Shria replied at the murlur, before stopping at the top of a dune. "Here's far enough," she said.
"I'm not blaming you," Zahra said quickly as she stopped beside her. "Just...feel weird without it is all."
"I know," Shria replied. "I just don't know where it would be."
She waved her hand. "Don't worry about it. There has to be somewhere I can get another."
"Probably," Shria murmured. "I'll keep an eye out, just in case."
Zahra nodded and fell quiet, walking beside her sister over the darkened sands.
"Come on," Shria murmured, "let's get some shut eye."
She nodded again and gestured to the side of a dune. "That'll do, yes?"
"You better make sure that dune's extra soft," Shria answered with a soft chuckle, beforewalking over akd starting to shovel the sand away with her hands.
Zahra rolled her eyes and knelt to help the process along.
"Alright, you first," Shria glanced over at Zahra.
With a quiet grumble, she clambered into the makeshift burrow and tried to curl herself as small as possible to leave room for her sister.
Shria snorted softly, following Zahra into the burrow. "Tigjt fit," she murmured as she hugged Zahra close.
"Inst it always?" Zahra replied wryly.
"Today seems tighter," Shria murmured. "Did you gain some weight, or did I?" She asked with a soft chuckle.
She laughed. "Seeing with how little we've been eating that'd be hard."
"True," Shria murmured as she wiggled around to bury themselves properly. "Sleep tight," she whispered with a soft grin.
"You too." With an exhausted yawn, she dropped quickly off to sleep.
Shria closed her eyes aswell, hugging Zahra closely before drifting off to sleep.
Zahra cuddled against her sister during the night, nudging her head up under Shria's chin.
Shria's ears twitched occasionally, even when sleeping, she was completely on guard.
Sleep was fitful, but at least she had the chance to rest. Zahra was- sadly- growing used tot he sensation of sleeping with sand everywhere.
And Shria was used to the possibility of waking up with a blade at her throat. Even if she was lucky enough not to be killed right away.
She pulled Zahra closer subconciously, letting out a soft, yet distressed, murmur.
Still half asleep, Zahra stirred slightly and patted at her sister's shoulder. "Shria? You okay?"
The touches caused the soft murluring to turn into a soft whining, hugging Zahra closer protectivly.
"Sis." She shook her shoulder. "Wake up."
Shria murmured softly, before opening her eyes, widening slightly as she looked around, distressed, before relaxing slowly.
"Bad dream?" Zahra asked through a yawn, sitting up and stretching.
Shria let out a soft sigh, nodding slowly. "Yeah," she murmured. "Just a bad dream."
She patted her sister's head soothingly. "Don't worry, everything's okay now."
Shria sighed softly. "I know, sis." She tilted her head to press a soft kiss on the hand. "I know."
Zahra smiled at her and stroked her hair again, then stood, shaking off sand. "C'mon, we should get moving."
Shria followed her exzmple, nodding softly. "We should."
She stretched her back, arms reaching over her head. "Which way then?"
"Anywhere," Shria answered, starting to wander off. "I think they're starting to realize they're beinh targeted now."
"Well, that should make things easier," Zahra muttered sarcastically.
"They're also five people down," Shria added with a soft smile.
"And how many left?" Zahra replied, already calculating in her head.
"I think eleven," Shria replied with a soft snort.
"Wonderful," she sighed, running her hands distractedly through her hair.
"They're panicked sis," she answered with a soft chuckle. "Now they're gonna start making mistakes."
"As you say." Zahra shrugged. "I'm just here to make sure you don't get yourself killed, sister."
"And you're doing a great job," Shria retorted with a soft smirk.
Zahra just grinned and leaned into give her sister a peck on the cheek, a little smug.
Shria smirked softly. "To what did I deserve that?"
She shrugged, still grinning. "I dunno."
"You're weird sometimes, sis," Shria teased with a grin.
"You love me," Zahra retorted, bumping her shoulder lightly.
"Ofcourse I do, doesn't make you any less weird, though." Shria retorted, putting an arm around her sister's shoulders. "Hm?"
Zahra just stuck her tongue out at her, feeling much better about their prospects all of the sudden. Shria just seemed to make everything seem easier.
"Oi. You'll never get a boyfriend when ya go 'round sticking out your tongue," Shria said with a teasing smirk.
"Because that's so high on my list of priorities," Zahra snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Don't be like that," Shria smirked. "I remember that one boy.. What was his name again?"
Yet another eye roll. "Habek? He was just a friend."
"No, he wasn't. You totally were into that Habek person," Shria teased with a soft smirk. "I ain't blind, sis."
Zahra glowered and looked away. "I thought he was cute- doesn't mean he was particularly special, plenty of boys are cute."
"Totally does," Shria teased. "Then again, I'm also cute, aren't I, sis?"
"Course you are." She bumped her shoulder and crinkled her nose.
Shria smirked. "Yay!" She beamed as she practically pounced Zahra, ontop of a dune of all places.
"Ach!" Zahra collapsed to her knees, throwing an elbow back into Shria's stomach instinctively. "What the hell?!" she laughed.
Shria let out her breath and tensed her abdomen when the elbow collided with it, minimising pain and damage. She grinned and aimed to pin Eahra down against the sands
Shria had always been the stronger of the two of them, but Zahra fought back more for the form of the thing than anything else, complaining, "You're getting sand everywhere!"
"Ofcourse it is!" Shira beamed. "We're in the desert, sis!"
"Oh get off you great lump," Zahra laughed, shoving at her sister.
"What's the magic word?" Shria inquired with a low chuckle.
"Fine." She glowered. "Please?"
"Because you asked so nicely," Shria teased as she pushed herself away from Zahra.
"You're awfully cheerfully all of the sudden," Zahra grumbled, pushing herself up.
"Can't I be, then?" Shria inquired with a soft smirk.
"Sure." She shrugged. "Just don't tackle me while you're at it."
"Oh, come on," Shria replied with a soft smile. "Y'know I get all frisky when I feel cheerful."
"Yeah, yeah." She waved at her flippantly. "C'mon, don't we have a job to do?"
"Ofcourse," she replied with a soft chuckle, sliding down the dune.
Zahra followed, rolling her eyes and grumbling to herself.
Soon, night fell once more, the fires of the camp visible in the distance. "You'd think they'd learn, huh?" Shria asked her counterpart without turning around.
"Or maybe they're just arrogant," Zahra said with a shrug.
"Perhaps. But see where that got 'em," Shria replied with a soft snort.
"I'm not arguing." She shrugged again. "So what now?"
"We carry out the plan as usual," Shra answered with a soft shrug. "Come," she beckoned at Zahra, before proceeding to make her way to the encampment.
Zahra followed after her easily, quietly, as she always did.
And soon, they reached the camp. Shria ducked down on a dune, overseeing the camp. The chatter of each evening prior seemed to have died down. She smirked softly. "They're scared."
"Can you blame them?" Zahra gave her a dry look. "You're after they're asses."
Shria arched her eyebrow and glanced at Zahra with a soft grin. "Not sure whether that's a compliment or an insult."
"Can't be both?" She smirked.
"I'll take it as a compliment," Shria snorted in response, standing up and sliding down the sand dune, jogging towards the camp.
Chuckling quietly, Zahra followed after her sister.
"Two days," Shria promised. "Two days and this is over." She glanced over her shoulder at Zahra, before stopping at a tree, leaning against the stem, peering into the camp.
Zahra nodded, sobering, and came up to hide herself behind the trunk of the tree. "What's the plan this time?"
"I'm thinking," Shria answered. "They're bound to put out guards even stricter now. We have to wait untill later," she murmured. "They might be too sharp and tense right now."
She nodded again. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Okay..." She looked to Shria. "You're not going to like this, but I think I have an idea."
"Oh, dear. Alright. Enlighten me," Shria said as she slid down next to the tree trunk, still watching the camp.
"Remember that story about the Lady in White? That sand spirit who would lure travelers away in the night like a siren?" She gestured to her loose white clothes. "Well...I'd be willing to bet they've heard the story too. Even the best fighters make mistakes if they're scared..."
A soft shiver went down her spine. "We shouldn't mess with that too much, sis."
"What?" She gave her a dry look. "You don't think she's real, do you?"
"Yeah I do," Shria answered in response. "A lot of shit happens that we can't explain."
"Fine." She raised her hands in surrender. "What do you suggest?"
"I didn't shut the idea down," Shria replied. "I just think we shouldn't mess with it too much."
"If she was real, I'm sure she wouldn't mind us taking advantage to get rid of these bastards," Zahra pointed out with a head tilt.
"Alright," she smiled faintly. "Continue explaining?"
"Well." She shrugged. "I could sing. Dash in and out of the firelight. Just...be creepy. Spook them. Maybe try to lead one or two away from their camp."
"Sounds like a plan," Shria snorted. "Just don't get caught, y'know."
"I'll be fine." She leaned in to kiss her sister's cheek, then moved off into the dark.
"Ofcourse you are going to be," she smirked softly. "I'm watching your back."
Zahra waited until she was mostly hidden in shadow, then she started to sing, soft and haunting, hoping to draw the slavers' attention.
The encampment seemed to react to her. Several voices rose, most of them asking what the hell was going on, and soon, she drew a majority of curious slavers to her.
Shria couldn't help but wait and listen, letting out a soft breath. "Damn, she's good," was what she whispered under her breath.
Still singing softly, Zahra suddenly dashed forward to the edge of the firelight, then away into the dark again, coaxing, beckoning.
Most of the slavers didn't know what the hell was happening. Some nervously whispered the only way they could declare this phenomenon. The lady in white.
Some of them stood up, jaws dropped. The legends were true.
Sensing she was nearing success, Zahra sang just a bit louder, dancing in and out of the edges of the firelight tauntingly.
Some of the slavers stood up, swords drawn, not sure if their eyes were playing tricks on them. Roughly five went to chase after her.
Her bait working, Zahra took off. They hadn't brought horses, so she should be able to outrun them for a while.
Shria saw how Zahra ran off, some slavers trailing behind her. The ones remaining obviously shaken. And she expected six of them. If she did this right, she could end it this very night.
Shria prowled forward, lacing between the trees and tents, knife drawn. Sneaking right up to the fire of the remaining slavers. Shouts and cries sounded over the desert dunes, causing the slavers to halt their pursuit and turn right back to sprint back to the camp.
Zahra moved far, pulls out her makeshift sling and sending two slavers to the ground with well placed shots as they moved back toward their camp.
And Shria gave a warm welcome to the remaining three, cutting them all down with a soft huff, before standing up straight with a soft grin. "I guess that's all of 'em.." She murmured to herself.
Zahra crept cautiously forward. "Well." She looked to her sister. "Job done?"
Twirling a kunai around her finger, Shria nodded. "I'm pretty sure, yeah."
"So." She folded her arms. "What now?"
"We start looting to our heart's content," Shria replied, grabbing the knife in her hand and throwing it at the nearest tree. With a loud smack, the hilt shivered from the blow. "I sure hope these guys had booze with 'em."
"Oh gods." Zahra rolled her eyes and chuckled. "The last thing you need is alcohol, sis."
"After all this? I deserved a drink," Shria snorted softly. "So do you. Playing bait not once, but twice."
She shrugged. "I don't mind. And you know what drinking does to me," she laughed.
"Oh, I know what it does to you," Shria answered with a snicker. "And don't'cha think we deserve it?"
"Fine, fine." Zahra waved a hand at her. "Look all you want."
"You too, sis. Look for food- Ah. Generally anything we can use," Shria answered.
"Yeah, yeah, got it." She crept into the camp and started searching, eyes flicking over the supplies and slavers' bodies.
"Tell me of you got something good," Shria called, instead of going through the camp, she started to search the bodies of the slavers to find anything of value. If they wanted to build a new life somewhere else, they would need money.
"Food," Zahra replied. "And what looks like some stolen goods- oh, my bow!"
Smiling, she bent to pick the weapon up and stroked the wood fondly.
Shria arched an eyebrow, then snickered. "That thing survives everything, doesn't it?" She inquired with a soft smirk.
"Yep." She swung the weapon over her shoulder and beamed. "Just like us."
"'Course we do, else we couldn't say that we did,' Shria answered with a chuckle, pulling a body on his back and starting to go through his pockets.
"What about you? Find anything good?" Zahra asked, coming up behind her.
"Money and jewelry, sis," she answered. "We can start a new life with these."
She leaned over her shoulder and her eyes widened with a low whistle. "Gods and demons," she muttered, looking at Shria wonderingly.
"I dread to think what happened to the previous owners," she closed her eyes with a soft sigh. "These bastards had it coming to them," she said, but the people who owned this money and jewelry before them. Poor sods. Bless them. In a way, their misfortune was a saving grace for the two sisters.
Zahra sat on the sand beside her. "Should we pray?" she offered hesitantly. She'd always been a little more devout than her sister, and it seemed right to her.
"Yeah," Shria murmured. She disliked praying, she didn't really believe in any god and was far from devout. she did it more to respect a religion and make her sister more comfortable. But in this case, she didn't mind praying. Even if it was just to respect the people who weren't lucky as them with these slavers.
Zahra nodded and bowed her head, hands clasped on her lap.
Shria followed her exemple, closing her eyes and bowing her head.
Her lips moved in silent prayer, and after a few moments Zahra lifted her head and got to her feet. "Alright. Can we find somewhere else to camp? Or at least move the bodies?"
"We can move the bodies," Shria replied. "It'll attract predators and vultures. We don't want neither closeby."
Zahra nodded and bent to do just that, crinkling her nose.
Shira pulled up a corpse on her shoulders. "Let's go," she murmured to her sister.
Dragging one of the body's under its arms, Zahra nodded and followed.
Shria led the way, passing several dunes before she dumped her body. "These assholes don't deserve a burial," she snorted.
"Let the desert have them," Zahra agreed, grunting as she kicked her own body away.
"Well, that's the first of.. Five I think?" Shria muttered, kicking some sand over the bodies.
Zahra groaned dramatically. "Great."
"We got to work for our keep, sis," Shria answered with a bitter chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah." Zahra rolled her eyes and started trudging back to the camp.
"I don't like dragging corpses around either," the desert elf retorted at her sister, snorting softly.
"I never said you did." She shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'll stop bitching about it." She stuck out her tongue.
Shria sighed softly. "Yeah, yeah," she murmured with a faint grin.
Her lightheartedness didn't last long, rather dampened by their gruesome task.
They reached the camp however, and Shria picked up another corpse. "They're heavy," she puffed, before going back into the dunes.
And repeating this untill the camp was cleared out.
Shria sat down by the embers of the fire that had since their second trip burned out, letting out a soft breath. "That's all of 'em," she murmured.
Zahra flopped onto her back in the sand. "Gods, I need a nap..."
"Take one," Shria answered, hugging her knees. "You deserved it."
She covered a yawn and mumbled, "Wake me if we have to kill anyone else."
"Will do," Shria answered with a soft smile.
Zahra dropped quickly off to sleep, well and truly exhausted.
Shria rested her chin on her knees, closing her eyes aswell, ears perking up at the slightest movement.
As drained as she was, Zahra was out cold- her "nap" seemed to have turned into semi-hibernation.
Shria couldn't help but, smirk, before sitting up and picking Zahra up, looking for the nearest ristine tent, placing her sown in a bedroll.
Zahra murmured and curled up into the bedroll in her sleep, frowning when the warmth of another body retreated and reaching after it.
She glanced down at Zahra as she heard the rustling of her sister reaching out for warmth. "That's why I say you need to get a boyfriend, stupid," she murmured. "I can't always keep you warm at night." Yet a yawn took her by surprise and Shria only now realised how tired she was.
With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and lied down next to Zahra, hugging her closely as she immediatly drifted off, fully trusting her excellent hearing.
Zahra settled quickly, sleeping much more peacefully with another body next to hers.
Shria huffed softly, before fully falling asleep now.
She stirred in the morning, with a soft groan, before sitting up with a yawn.
Zahra was awake, though only a few minutes before her sister. She smiled and murmured a soft, "Morning."
Her eyes widened all of a sudden. "Shit," she murmured, before getting to her feet and darting out, looking around the camp, before a breath of relief escaped her.
She jerked upright, scrambling to her feet. "What's wrong?"
"I fell asleep," Shria said, still glancing around the camp, wary.
Zahra relaxed slightly. "It's fine. We would have heard something if there was trouble."
"Yeah," she sighed slowly. "I guess so," she seemed to calm down slightly.
Zahra smiled and tousled ger hair affectionately.
Shria hummed softly, sitting down again. "Have you seen their horses around somewhere?"
She shook her head. "I think they ran off last night. They'll come back though, they now there's water here."
"Then we can use those to travel," Shria answered with a soft snort, sitting down again.
"Well, we have to wait for them to find their way back," Zahra said with a chuckle.
Shria nodded. "Let's take another look around," she snorted softly, rising to her feet.
"After you." Zahra got up and stretched before trailin behind her sister.
"Keep an eye out for water and food, valuables. Y'know. The usual," Shra muttered as she crawled into a random tent.
"Yeah, got it." Zahra started picking her way around the camp, eyes searching.
After a good half hour had passed, Shria sat down by the remnants of the fire again, hugging her own knees.
Zahra joined her sister after a moment. "Nothing, huh?"
"Nothin' good," Shria murmured, seeming wholly uncomfortable. "You wondered why we were their only slaves, sis?" She inqiired, voice shaking lightly.
She looked at her worriedly. "What? What did you find?"
"Because these guys," the hug on her knees tightened. "These guys ain't no slavers."
Zahra wrapped an arm around her and hugged lightly. "It's okay," she murmured, "you don't have to tell me about it. We can just go."
A tear rolled down her cheek, shivering to the touch. "What would've happened-" Shria murmured, obviously shocked. "If they got you.. Got me.. Long enough."
"We never have to find out." Zahra hugged her a little tighter and kissed her temple.
Shria shook her head. "I want out of here, Zahra," she murmured.
"Then let's go." She scanned the sand. "Hoof prints lead in that direction. If we go that way we'll probably run into the horses."
Shria nodded shakily, getting to her feet. "Lead the way," she murmured.
Zahra kept quiet, lacing her fingers through her sister's as she led her off into the sands.
Whatever Shira had seen, it scared her to no end, she was visibly shaking, staring at the ground as she was led by her sister.
Zahra kept quiet, letting her sister come to terms and speak in her own time.
She didn't even dare to glance back at the camp. After a short while of walking, Shria spoke up. "Did you.. Bring the supplies?" She asked with small voice.
"I grabbed what I could." She gave her sister a worried look. "You already put some in your pack, remember?"
"Ah.. Alright." She murmured softly, casting wary glances left and right.
"Shria." Zahra butted her head against hers lightly. "Maybe we should stop and rest?"
She qhook her head swiftly. "No.. No.. We have to get as far as possible."
"Alright." She went quiet as they walked.
Shria would just trudge on, even as the sun was setting.
"Hey." Zahra touched Shria's shoulder lightly. "We should stop once the moon's up. It'll be too dark to see anyway."
"No, no.. We just have to keep moving," Shria murmured softly, still walkingbon. Completely ignoring her sister's touch.
"We will. Until moonrise. then we rest," Zahra repeated firmly.
Shria didn't answer, she merely walked forward, not even sure which direction they were going.
As the moon started to rise Zahra stopped and gripped her sister's wrist lightly. "Come on. Let's rest a bit."
Shria glared at the grip on her wrist and pulled back, before giving Zahra a bewildered look, shocked by the sudden touch.
"Rest," Zahra repeated. "You need rest."
Shria glanced at Zahra, then at the direction they came from, the camp was not even visible anymore. She nodded softly. "Ah- Alright."
"Sit." Zahra dug through her pack, muttering, "I'll get a fire going and we can eat something."
Shria nodded slowly, sitting down and drawing her knees up to her chest, casting wary glances around her, ears constantly twitching at the slightest sound.
"You should try to get some sleep," Zahra murmured. "I'll wake you when there's something to eat."
Shria murmured her affirmation and nodded weakly, laying down in the sand and closing her eyes, shivering slightly and ears constantly twitching.
Zahra let her sister sleep as long as she could, curling unconsciously toward the small fire.
It disn't take longer than twi hours before Shria started to softly murmur and whince in her sleep, before shooting up straight with a horrified scream, breaking into tears.
"Hey, hey." She was immediately there, wrapping her arms around Shria and murmuring soothingly, patting her head. "You're okay."
Shria looked up at Zahra, confused and startled, before hugging closer to her sister's chest, silently whimpering.
"It's okay," Zahra repeated. "It was just a dream, it's okay."
Shria shivered in her sister's arms. "It was so real, Zahra," she glanced around. "Oh, gods above.."
Not knowing what else to do, she just continued to hold her and murmur, "It's okay, it's okay..."
Shria closed her eyes again, pressing closer to her sister with another soft whimper.
Still petting her hair, Zahra murmured, "Go back to sleep, try to get some more rest."
"Don't leave me," Shria murmured between soft sobs.
"Of course not. Get some sleep, you're exhausted," she murmured, hugging her sister.
Shria nodded faintly, closing her eyes again with a faint whimper, fully resting against Zahra now.
Zahra hummed softly, rocking Shria gently as she felt herself slipping closer to sleep.
Shria drifted off aswell, desperatly hugging closer against her sister.
She was deeply asleep in a matter of moments, simply too exhausted to keep her eyes open.
And Shria hugged her closely as she slept aswell, softly stirring against Zahra. As soon as the sun rose, Shria opened her eyes, sitting up slightly. With a twitch of her ears, she looked around, still sleepy.
"Mmn." Zahra rolled over in her sleep and curled up a little tighter.
Shria leaned down to pull Zahra closer, hugging her sister against her chest, still looking around warily. Images from the tent flashing through her mind.
Another few grumbles and Zahra blinked her eyes open with a yawn. "Shria? What time is it? Should we move?" She tried to push herself up sleepily.
Shria heard a loud roar piercing the sky. While it was fire away, both knew exactly what this was. A sand demon.
Shria glanced at her sister. "Yes," she murmured. "We should definitely move."
She was fully awake in an instant, springing to her feet and grabbing for her pack and bow. "Damn I wish we could fly," she muttered, wincing with every too-hard step onto the sand.
"We wouldn't be here in the first place if we could," Shria answered as she kept glancing back at the camp they left in the distance. "It's over there," she murmured, her hand shaking lightly. "In that camp."
"Good. Hopefully it will feed on the bodies instead of us," Zahra muttered. "Come on, let's move."
Shria swallowed slowly, nodding shakily before trailing behind Zahra.
"If we keep moving after the tracks we may run into the horses," Zahra murmured.
Shria nodded slowly. "Lead the way."
She snorted and mumbled, "Let's hope I can."
"Shouldn't be too difficult," she teased softly, urging her sister forward. "I'll keep anbeyebon those.. Things."
"I know." Zahra held a finger to her lips for quiet as she padded lightly over the sand.
Shria nodded at the silen gesture, keeping silent and following Zahra, trusting her ears to warn her.
She continued their trek over the sand as quietly as she could, constantly alert.
"Any signs.of those horses?" Shria murmured silently, glancing at Zahra, before back to their surroundings.
"I'm following the tracks best I can. They've probably tried to find somewhere to hide from the sun."
"That means we know where they are," Shria answered. "Look for any kind of.. y'know. Things that stick out."
Zahra gave her a dry look. "It's the desert. Nothing sticks out-"
With a cry her feet suddenly went out from underneath her and she disappeared beneath the sand, falling into a hole that had been hidden behind the bulk of a dune.
[Indiana jones temple incoming? :P]
"Shit!" Shria stepped back as she glanced around, before leaning over the edge. "Zahra? Zahra?!" Her voice hitched slightly in panick, ears flicking for any sounds or an answer to her calls.
And she came across as desperate.
[looooool]
"I'm- I'm okay!"
Completely blind down here in the dark, but surprisingly unhurt. It actually wasn't that far of a fall.
She heard shifting, then her eyes began to adjust and she smiled. "Found the horses!"
"Alright!" She called, ears twitching at a similair sound that almost always spelled impending doom. The sand worms were done with the camp.
"I'm coming down! Those things ain't happy!" She called to her sister, before jumping down the same hole.
Zahra skittered out of the way, now just barely able to see by the light filtering down through the hole.
"It's stone down here, they won't be able to burrow in. We can wait them out," she murmured.
More shifting, and the nervous huff, then nicker of one of the horses, pressed back against the opposite wall of the small cave.
Shria landed with a soft thud and an 'oompf', before setting herself up and glancing around. "Stone? You mean ruins?" She inquired, glancing around, eyes not yet having adjusted.
"Maybe." She moved toward the horses, clucking her tongue encouragingly. "Can't imagine what else it'd be."
"I don't really care," Shria answered. "It got us safe, so it's alright in my eyes."
One of the horses overcame her wariness and picked her way toward the two sisters. "Good girl," Zahra murmured, blowing into her nose to say hello.
"That one's hurt," she noted, pointing to one of the animals that seemed to be favoring a hind leg.
"It'll die here," Shria answered. "Starve to death," she sighed softly. "Want me to end it now?"
"No!" Zahra gaped at her. "We don't know how bad he's hurt yet, maybe we can get him out of here."
"And then what? Get chomped on by sand demons?" Shria answered with a soft snort. "I don't like it either, but we gotta get out of here. You and I both know how stubborn those things are."
"Just- wait," she pleaded. The horses- there were three of them, she could see now- shifted nervously. "Let's just wait until the sand demons pass, then decide what to do, please."
Shria nodded, smiling sadly. "Ofcourse, sis," she sighed. "Sorry, I was kinda riled up." She rubbed her shoulder as her eyes also adjusted to the dark.
She walked over to the nearest wall and pressed her hands against it, following to see whether there were other entrances, or exits.
Zahra nodded, moving to the horses to see if she could determine how badly injured the gelding was. "Find anything?"
"Not right away," Shria answered as she proceeded to feel down the wall, before stopping and frowning. "Sis, come over here?" She asked, still looking at the wall she had her hands pressed against.
Giving the mare who'd come to inspect her curiously a pat on the neck, she slipped to her sister's side. "What is it?"
"Runes," she answered. "Carved into the stone," she stepped back. "You're the expert, huh?"
Well, she certainly had paid more attention to these sorts of things than her sister during their lessons as children.
"Maybe." She squinted at the wall, running her hands over the marks. "It...I think it's a...prophecy? No, more like a warning..."
"A warning for?" Her sister inquired, arching an eyebrow.
Zahra shook her head with a frown. "I- I'm not sure. Nighttime? Something about darkness, I can't really make it out..."
"Darkness?" Shria frowned. "Well shit, we're in the dark right now," she answered with a soft snort, holding her weaponry ready.
Zahra shook her head. "But this wouldn't have been dark when these runes were carved. I think that hole in the ceiling was meant to let in sunlight. Which means..."
She knelt. "There might be something on the floor, to keep track of time or something..."
Shria nodded as she stepped back, leaning against the wall to fold her arms. "Alright," she answered, frowning softly. But regardless, she'd let her sister do her investigation.
But Zahra just sighed and sat back with a shrug. "There's something, but it's almost completely eroded away. I can't make it out."
"Let's just wait, then," Shria answered as she sat down against the wall, sighing softly. "Though, good job with the runes, sis."
She huffed. "Could've been better."
"Well, you've easily surpassed me," Shria answered with a soft, chuckling snort.
"That's cause you never paid attention when we were kids," Zahra replied as she moved toward the horses again. The animals seemed to have accepted the girls' presence and seemed much calmer.
"Blegh," Zahra spat. "I got you, don't I?" She added with a soft smirk. "Besides, it was boring and you know it."
"Well, it's useful now," she laughed. She moved toward the injured horse and ran her hands gently over his back leg, feeling for cuts or breaks.
"Fair enough," Shria answered. "But then again, you always were the brains here," she smirked softly.
She chuckled softly and shook her head.
"Hey, sis? Can you come here and hold his head? There's something lodged in his leg, I have to pull it out, but I think he may freak out a bit."
Shria arched an eyebrow. "Alright," she murmured as she pushed herself up, walking towards the horse and putting her hands on the creature's head, peering him in the eyes and sushing him softly.
The gelding was nervous, but not terrified. He snorted at Shria and bobbed his head slightly, but allowed her to hold him.
"Okay." Zahra eyed what must have been a broken chip of rock and breathed, "One, two, three."
She yanked the thing out as quick as she could and the animal screamed in pain, kicking his good leg out and whipping his head up, panting desperately.
Shria held her hands on the creature's head, pulling him down gently and resting her cheek on his snout. "Ssh, it's alright," she murmured softly. "It's alright.."
The horse calmed gradually and Zahra stood, tossing the fragment of rock away. "Try to keep him calm, I need to bandage him," she murmured.
Shria didn't answer her sister, yet she kept focussed on the horse, making soft sushes and croons towards the creature to calm it down. Whispering soft and kind words.
She had to use strips of fabric from her skirt to bandage the horse, but the work went quickly.
"There," she said, standing. "I'll have to check it every once in a while, but I think he'll be alright."
Shria padded the side of the horse's neck, nodding softly. "Good boy," she murmured, before glancing at Zahra and grinning. "Good girl," she added.
Zahra stuck her tongue out and made an obscene gesture in her sister's direction.
"How rude," Shria retorted with a soft chuckle.
"Oh shut up," she laughed, rolling her eyes.
Shria chuckled softly. "Oh, sis. You know you love hearing me talk."
She rolled her eyes and say back against a wall with a soft huff.
"How much longer we gotta sit here, y'reckon?" She inquired with a soft hum, before sighing.
"Your ears are better than mine. How far are the sand beasts?"
Shria let out a soft snort and turned around, ear flicking and actually raising so she could press it against the wall, before whincing and pulling back. "Passing around us right now," she whispered.
Zahra's eyes widened and she put a hand over her mouth, nodding.
Shria slowly pressed her ear against the wall again, dead silent. Waiting and listening.
She could do little more than wait, shushing the horses when they shifted or shivered nervously.
After roughly thirty minutes of the eardeafening silence, the tense atmosphere and the sheer dread, Shria pushed herself from the wall. "I think they're far enough now," Shria whispered.
Zahra let out a soft breath. "Well. Now we just have to figure out how to get out of here."
Shria nodded in agreement. "Any ideas, sis?" She asked as she got to her feeth.
She shrugged. "We can't get the horses out the way they came in."
"I realised that much," Shria answered with a soft nod. "There as to be a way."
"We could look further in. See if there's another way out."
"You got a torch somwhere?" Shria asked. "I ain't planning on exploring without a source of light."
She sighed and shook her head. "Let's look around I guess."
Shria nodded slowly and once again, started to glide her fingers along the wall, in hope of finding something
Zahra wasn't faring much better, searching the back corner of the chamber where the horses had gathered.
Shria frowned slowly. "Nothing," she stated with a frown.
"Same here." She bit her lip, frowning.
"Fuck," Shria answered as she sighed softly.
Zahra shook her head. "I don't know what to do."
"Me neither," Shria cussed as she kicked against the wall. "Fuck!" She cussed, before hissing in pain at her hurt toe.
Yet a soft, stone-like rumbling was heard.
And a stone slab slowly slid upwards, revealing a set of stairs.
Zahra yelped and jumped, whirling around. "What did you do?!"
"Hurt my-" she gritted her teeth. "-my fucking foot," she replied, before turning around to the gaping hole that was now before them. "I.. Kicked the wall?"
She arched an eyebrow as she crept closer. "Kicked it...down?"
"Nah," Shria answered as she rubbed her sore foot. "Kicked the wall. Then it opened."
"Like...a secret passage?" Her head tilted to the side.
"Seems like it," Shria replied as she put some weight on her foot again.
Zahra bit her lip. "Can you hear anything? Wind maybe?" It could be a way out.
Shria leaned down infront of the gap. The stairs obviously led downwards.
"I hear.. Water." She answered with a soft frown.
"Well, water is good." She peered over her shoulder. "That might even be able to fit the horses..."
"So we're going down?" Shria asked with a soft frown.
Zahra glanced back at the hole above them. "Well...we can't exactly go up, can we?"
"So. This is our only option?" Shria sighed softly. "Well. All or nothing."
Zahra swung her bow into her hands and plucked the string nervously. "After you?"
Shria snorted. "Like old times," she answered with a grin, before descending the stairs.
"I've got your back."
"I know you do," Shria answered as she creeped down the stairs.
Zahra followed her in silence, bow at the ready and an arrow nocked to the string.
Shria descended the stairs slowly. "It's.. Too dark," she murmured over her shoulder.
She shook her head. "I can't see any better than you."
"We should get ba-Whoa shit!" She called out as she suddenly slipped, tumbling down the stairs.
"Shria!" She resisted the urge to dart forward- it wouldn't do them any good if they both fell. "Are you alright?"
As Shria fell, it felt like the stairs went forever. Granted, the flight of stairs was very long.
At the bottom, Shria crashed down in what felt like more, smooth stone. Laying on the floor lifelessly, not even moving. Nor answering Zahra.
The bottom was ill light by what seemed magical flames off in the distance.
The place they entered was large.
Well fuck.
Zahra didn't seem to have much choice, so she hurried down the stairs. "Shria? Come on, answer me..."
As Zahra reached her, Shria would groan and try to sit up, before letting out a soft cry. "My-shoulder.. Fuck!" Tears burned in her eyes as she sat up.
"Okay. Okay, hold still." She prodded her shoulder gently. "Think it's dislocated?"
She hissed in pain, gritting her teeth. "I'm sure it is.."
"Okay. Just...breathe, and hold still. I'll try to pop it back in."
"A-Are you insane?!" Shria called back. "It's too.. Dark here," she grunted in pain. "You'll pop it the wrong way if you can't see anything."
"Shria." She gave her a dry look. "I've relocated your shoulder a dozen times. I could do it blindfolded. And we can't just leave it like this."
"Let's just," Shria muttered. "Find some.. Agh.. Light first, alright?" Shria asked, making a notion with her head towards the faint orange glow.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Lead on."
Shria got to her feet again with a weak whimper, limping slightly. Everything hurt, her left leg even more than her dislocated shoulder. Yet she grit her teeth and kept limping towards the assumed source of light.
"Would you slow down?" She ducked under her arm. "Here, lean on me."
Shria nodded slowly, wrapping her good arm around Zahra's shoulder, supporting on her with a soft whince.
She kept them moving, slowly, casting concerned glances at her sister.
The orange glow became brighter and brighter as they walked. Along with the notion of how enormous this place actually was.
After a short while, they finally managed to reach a torch and Shria grunted softly. "Here," she murmured.
"Alright, sit down." Zahra bit her lip. "Will you let me fix your shoulder now?"
Shria sat down with a soft grunt, tilting her neck and hand away from her dislocated shoulder. "Y'know the drill," she said as she grit her teeth. "Get it over with."
Without warning, she popped the shoulder back into place. It was usually better to catch the patient off guard, so they wouldn't have time to psych themselves out.
Shria cried out in agony as Zahra popped her shoulder in place again, after a short while, the cry turned to slow and pained sobs, tears gathering in her eyes and teeth grit. But Zahra managed to push it back in again.
She patted her sister's back, wincing guiltily even as she murmured reassuring nonsense.
The sobs slowly calmed down and were reduced to soft and deep breaths, her eyes closing. "I'm fine," she whinced in pain again. "I'm fine."
"Don't move. Just take a minute and breathe, alright?"
Shria nodded and took several deep breaths, nodding slowly. "Fuck," she whispered softly.
Zahra continued rubbing her back with a concerned frown on her face.
Shria took another deep breath. "Let's go, sis," she murmured after a short while. "We should go on."
"Just take it easy." She looked around. "Where the hell are we anyhow?"
"No idea," Shria answered with a soft sigh. "Some kinda ruins, I guess."
"Well, let's just hope there's a way out."
"We can always head back, sis," Shria answered with a soft huff, before slowly getting back to her feet, whincing in pain.
"Hey, it's your call. I'm just here to make sure you don't kill yourself," she muttered.
"I'm hurt," Shria answered. "And you know pe better than I know me," she grudgingly admitted. "So it's your call."
She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure what else we can do. I don't know how we could get out the way we came in."
Shria nodded. "Then we try 'n get the horses down here and move," she offered with a soft frown.
"Alright." It really did seem like the only option. "Come on, I'm not leaving you down here by yourself."
Shria nodded. "Let's go," she murmured with a soft grunt of pain, closing her eyes briefly.
"Are you sure?" She offered her shoulder for her sister to lean on.
"I am," she answered easily, though she did also accept the gesutre, leaning on Zahra's shoulder. "Perhaps pick up the torch?"
"Got it." She bent to grab it and started hobbling them back up the stairs.
Shria nodded and hissed in pain, following Zahra, not like she had a choice. Her sister was a living and breathing crutch.
The horses seemed to have become curious about the noises coming up the stairs, moving forward to greet the girls as the emerged.
Shria raised her hand to weakly pat the snout of one. "Hey there," she murmured softly.
"Alright. We have to figure out how to coax them down the stairs," Zahra muttered, patting one of the horses' necks as she came to observe her curiously.
Shria looked to Zahra, nodding slowly. "In one piece," she added with a grimace on her face, before casting a glance at the massive flight of stairs behind them.
"Alright." She sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck. "We'll need to take them one at a time, so we'll both take one, then I'll come up for the last one."
Shria nodded. "Sounds good," she patted the flanks of the mare idly, before taking her leashes. "Ready?" She asked, to start descending the stairs carefully after her sister's confirmation.
"Alright, easy, easy, good girl." It took a great deal of coaxing, but the horses followed them down the stairs carefully. At the bottom, she handed her mare's lead rope to Shria and said, "I'll be right back with the gelding."
As they reached the bottom, Shria padded the neck of the mare she escorted down the stairs, whispering to it. "I'm gonna call you Jumala, alright?" She inquired with a soft smile, before pulling herself up and accepting the reigns from her sister. "Be careful," she called after Zahra, legitimate concern in her voice.
"I'll be fine." She waved her off with a smile.
Getting the gelding down the stairs took longer- he was more skittish than the other two, not to mention still limping a bit on his hind leg- but eventually she reappeared at the bottom of the steps.
Shria let put a soft breath of relief as she saw her sister reappearing with the gelding, glad to see her walking down the stairs, rather than tumbling, like Shria did.
"Alright." Zahra looked around. "So...what now?"
"We move on," Shria answered with a whince of pain, her foot still hurt a lot. But now she was on a horse, she could relief some of the pain. She nodded towards the massive underground expanse. "Let's go," she said, before clicking her tongue and using her feet to get Jumala walking again.
Zahra mounted the other mare, keeping a loose grip on the gelding's lead rope as she followed Shria.
"I'm not sure what these ruins are," Shria started, snorting slowly. "But they are massive. Like an underground city."
"Well, then there has to be more than one way out," she pointed out hopefully.
Shria nodded. "There has to be another way out," she agreed. "And we'll find it."
Zahra nodded, falling quiet as her eyes searched the dark of the ruins.
The ruins seemed to just expand more and more as they roamed further. It was as if they were being watched. Occasionally, there was a claw on stone, or a skittering or scurrying. Then silence, long enough for one to think it was imagination. And then it repeated itself.
And the deeper the pair ventured into the room, the more their horses became agitated.
"Shria." Zahra was on edge, trying to control the two horses. "I'm...not so sure about this."
Shria let out a nervous breath. "It feels bad, sis," she answered, brining her horse to a stop. "It reeks of death and magic."
"What do we do?" Going back was a dead end.
Shria grimaced. "What can we do?" She retorted, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
Zahra huffed exasperatedly. "I don't know, Shri."
The desert elf shook her head slowly. "I don't know either. I know we're headed to what's most likely impending doom," she took a deep sigh. "Though I imagine this bein' less painful than starvation," she tried to joke, but then again, dark humour was the was the worst to light any kind of mood.
Zahra frowned at her. "Great. That's encouraging."
"You know me," Shria answered. "But I have no idea what to do," Shria added. "Let's find somewhere.. Less threatening.. And take a moment to think."
The horses were obviously skittish and Zahra had to pull the gelding closer to soothe him before she answered, "The base of the stairs? I don't know where else to go."
Shria nodded, making her mare turn ninety degrees, before egging her on to walk, whincing at the sharp pain in her knee still.
Yet, the horses became more nervous. And it didn't matter how far they backtracked. They never reached the stairs.
"Ok. This is fucked up." Zahra was shaking slightly as she looked around.
"It..It can't be," Shria answered when they were walking for too long. It just didn't make sense. They took no turn, they only went straight ahead. "Sis.. Remember," she glanced at Zahra, swallowing slowly. "Remember the legend of the black garden?"
Her eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me. That- that's supposed to just be a story!"
"It is," Shria swallowed softly, shaking her head. "But don't you tell me this ain't the place they'd describe in it."
"So what the hell are we supposed to do?"
"I got no idea," Shria answered, audibly shivering. "It's just a tale to keep kids from wandering too far off.. It's just supposed to be a goddamn tale," she started, before murmuring a defeated. "The bllack garden has no exit. Only an entrance."
"You don't think-" Zahra cleared her throat and swallowed nervously. "You don't think...I pissed off the White Woman and she...put us here?"
But- it was just a story! Right?
Shria shook her head. "I don't know, sis," she answered with a soft shiver to her voice. "Let's just.. Follow the horses' instinct?"
Zahra nodded, going quiet again.
It seemed like the horses were growing more and more restless underneath their riders. And suddenly, a bright white lit up.
And a female figure, clad in a white, silk dress approached the two slowly.
Shria's eyes went wide in panick and she tried to usher her horse to turn around and run away, but she found herself paralysed, trembling in fear as sweat slowly trickled down her forehead.
Zahra couldn't even gasp, her breath catching in her throat as she shrank back from the light, her horses spooking and jerking their heads in shock.
"I am.. Desdemona," a soft, compelling yet hissing whisper sounded in their head as the woman approached the two. "The white lady. You heathens have defiled my garden.."
Zahra's horse skittered backward, the gelding she was leading clashing into her side as the animals began to panic in earnest.
"Mere children," Desdemona sighed as she approached. The closer she got, the more apparent it was she was undead, the right side of her face was slowly rotting away, revealing the teeth behind the rotten skin of her cheek among other things. And the white lady seemed to take exception to Zahra's horses and just like that, both the horses were completely paralysed.
"You have entered my domain. This means your souls are now mine." Shria swallowed thickly and managed to pull a knife out with shivering hand. "You wont.. Get mine if I die now.. I promise you my soul.. If you let me and my sister live.. And let us leave.. This place."
"No!" Zahra finally managed to find her voice. "No, please- it was an accident, we got lost!"
Desdemona watched Shria with due interest. This mortal was gambling her own afterlife for the sake of another. Intruiging.
Desdemona glanced at Zahra again. "You are still defiling my gardens. Be it lost or not. Your accomplice drives a good bargain. Your lives in against her afterlife." A soft chuckle emenated from the ghastly creature.
"No," Zahra repeated, voice very small.
"Do you have a better bargain then?" Desdemona inquired with a soft chuckle.
Shria glanced at Zahra. "It's for the best, sis.. Survive at any cost, right?"
"N-no! Wait, please..." She cast around desperately for something, anything. "What if- what if we could give you o-other souls?"
Desdemona let out a soft, haunting laughter. "And you carry those around with you here?" She asked with the same gentle, yet threatening voice.
"No...but- we could bring them to you."
Desdemona let out a loud, bellowing and oh so menacing laughter. "Do you think I would fall for such a cheap trick? Leave and never return again? You mortals are full of lies and deceit, for something as pitiful as your own lives."
Shria glanced at Zahra, before back at the white lady. "The offer is still her soul, I have not heard any better offers," Desdemona concluded as she gestured at Shria, who looked very pale and kept very silent.
"No!" Zahra spoke without thinking. "Keep- keep my soul as collateral. You can do that, right? To make sure we come back with more."
Shria looked at Zahra. "You want to involve innocent people, sis?" She asked, frowning, her voice still trembling. She was prepared to sacrifice her afterlife if it meant the safety of her sister here and now.
"They...wouldn't have to be innocent."
Shria shook her head. "We can't just go hunt and track down bandits, sis."
"Why not?" She frowned. "There are souls that deserve to be here, not us."
"No one deserves this, sis," Shria answered, shaking her head. She glanced back at Desdemona.
"It seems you two cannot come to an agreement," the ghost added, chuckling softly at their disagreement.
"There are people who deserve it more than you!" Zahra shouted back.
Shria frowned. "I've killed my fair share of people.. Innocent people. Just for us to have food," she answered, before lettingbout a soft sigh. "Take my soul as a tribute. We shall return with more souls in return for mine."
The bemused smirk Desdemona had slowly dissappeard. "So be it," she answered. The ground trembled underneath the two, black, spectral vines with thorns shot up and ripped though Shria's body, pulling out her soul. Ofcourse, the desert elf cried out in pain, tumbling from her horse and landing on her back, panting heavily.
And the gist of Shria's soul, a whispy clone of herself was visible, held and strangled by the thorned vines. "Begone!" Desdemona called, waving her hand.
And suddenly, they were at the staircase again, as if they never moved from their location.
"Shria!" Zahra hardly noticed anything else as she threw herself off her horse to her sister's side.
Shria gave her sister a bewildered look, still panting heavily, having gone through tremendous amounts of pain in such a short time, she was confused, shaken and just completely exhausted. "Just.. Need a breather, sis.."
Not knowing what else to do, Zahra just held her.
When Shria recuperated, which was after a short while, she nodded. "Let's get out of here," she murmured. "As soln as possible.. Get those souls and get this over with.."
Zahra nodded, silent, and slipped her arm around her to help her stand.
"Shit," Shria murmured. "Ankle.. But that's the least," she added, before giving a lopsided smirk to her sister. "Get me back on the horse," she murmured.
Again she nodded, managing to hobble over with her sister to the spooked animals and attempt to calm them down.
Shria was extremely weak and felt even worse, yet she still managed to walk and pill herself on her horse after it was calmed. It felt.. Odd aswell, while the pain was excruciating, it felt like she was missing a limb."Let's go," she murmured weakly.
Zahra didn't know what to say. She just mounted her own horse, keeping a careful eye on her sister.
Shria motioned her horse to move up the stairs.
After a solid ten minutes of walking, faint rays of sunlight became visible, only to grow in intensity.
The light would grow brighter and brighter, until the bright light was all they could see.
Then it faded again. And the two sisters were back in the desert, the dunes reaching as far as the eye could see, the sun up high in the sky and beating down with scorching heat.
Zahra sighed in relief as they were finally back out in the real world.
"Come on, let's find shelter first," Shria said, nodding to her sister and rearing the horse to walk forward. Yet her pose slumped after several meters, before she completely stumbled off, laying completely still in the sand.
Well fuck.
Not knowing what else to do, Zahra leaped off to kneel beside her sister.
Shria seemed to be unconcious, shivering violently and breathing shallowly. She was also icecold to the touch and very pale, the veins on her head visibly throbbing as they got a darker pigment.
"Shria? Hey, wake up!" Panicked, Zahra didn't know what else she could do as she held her.
She breathed shallowly, eyes slowly sliding open. But they felt so heavy, she just wanted to sleep. "Get.. The souls.. Sis," she murmured weakly. "Not sure.. How long.. I can.. Without mine."
"No no no, you have to come with me!"
Shria grunted spftly as she assumed fetal position, sweat trickling down her forehead. "And.. Do what? Be killed? Worse.. Have you killed?"
"What am I supposed to do? I'm not leaving you here!"
"I.. Dunno, sis," she croaked, shivering, eyes growing more pale. "I.. I can't.. Who.. Who am I?"
"Shria!" Zahra tried to lift her sister, struggling with the effort. "C'mon, you gotta focus!"
Shria groaned softly. "Damnit sis.. Five more minutes," she murmured, trying to shrug Zahra off again.
"No." Zahra ducked under her arm. "Lean on me, we'll get you up on the horse behind me and all you have to do is hold on, okay?"
Her tanned, brown skin had slowly grew a ghastly grey, her eyes faint and lifeless. "Where.. Are we?" She inquired with faint murmur.
"We're still in the desert." Zahra moved to balance her, trying to give her a leg up onto the horse.
"Why.. Are we in the desert?" Shria asked, blinking slowly. "Mom's sick.. We need to get to her.."
Her heart lurched as she hoisted her into the saddle and mounted up behind her. "Um...okay. We'll do that, but you just have to hang in there with me, okay?"
Shria nodded. "We need to get this medicine back to her-" her faint eyes widened momentarily. "Sis.. Do you have it?" She murmured in utter confusion.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do." She wrapped her arms around her sister to take the reins, spurring the horse forward.
"Good," she breathed softly, leaning against Zahra now, eyes sliding closed. "I'm.. I'm gonna take a nap now," she said with a faint yawn.
"Okay. But you have to wake up soon, alright?"
"Yeah," she murmured softly. "I.. Just need to rest my eyes for some minutes," she answered with a tired sigh, leaning against Shria, slowly drifting off.
"That's okay." As long as she could feel her breathing, it was okay.
A soft hum came from Zahra in response, resting closer against her sister. Her breathing was shallow and uneven. Yet it was still present, albeit very weakly.
She didn't know what else to do, just steered her horse toward civilization and kept riding.
Shria, fully leaning against Zahra, weakly shook with each shock of the horse. After half an hour, she slowly woke and glanced up at Zahra. "Where are we headed?" She inquired softly, sitting up slightly.
"Essyrn," she replied quickly, relief that she was conscious coloring her voice.
"Oh," Shria nodded slowly, snuggling back against Zahra. "Why are we going there, sis?"
"We have to...find some things..."
"What things?" Shria murmured softly, the eyes that had gotten a black shade in the white sclera tiredly sliding closed again. Her skin grew more pale and her veins became visibly black.
"Just- some stuff we need. It's gonna make you better."
"Oh," Shria went silent for several moments, before she had a clear moment, her eyes having some sense in themthe again. "Those souls?" She asked with a soft frown.
"Yes." Zahra sighed. "The souls."
"I feel," she sighed softly, swallowing rather heavily. "Not too good," Shria admitted with a faint smirk. "It.. Feels so odd.. And foul..."
"I know. But you just gotta hang on, alright?"
"I'm trying," she croaked her reply. "But it's hard."
"Shh, shh, I know. Just hang onto me, alright?" Zahra urged their horse faster, feeling the animal pant beneath her.
"Ofcourse, sis," Shria murmured weakly, her eyes sliding closed again. "If I.. If I lose-" she didn't get any further in completing her sentence, drifting off.
Wherever they were, Essryn or any other settlement was nowhere to be seen on the horizon.
With no other discernible option, Zahra kept on their current course.
Slowly, the sun started to set, not a settlement nor an oasis in sight.
Yet, a trail of dust and kicked up sand was visible, slowly dying down. Whoever was causing it decided to settle down and camp.
Zahra had never been one to take risks, but she couldn't see that she really had another option. She turned their horses toward the camp.
After a short while, the sisters managed to reach the camp. And they were met with a desert wanderer, raising his hand. "Hail," he stated as he approached Zahra's horse. "What brings you here, travelers?"
"My sister is sick." She dismounted and quickly reached for Shria, trying to help her down.
Shria slumped down into Zahra's arm, having lost consciousness once again.
The man seemed nice enough, and as Shria slumped down, his eyes widened. "Take her to the fire, we don't have any medicine, nor do we have a doctor. But at least she won't freeze," he answered, turning around and gesturing for Zahra, headed towards the fire.