Golden brown eyes, gifted with vision perfect for low light, sift through the dark, and just as she wonders how long she's been walking, there comes to be a strange creature walking upright beside her. Whoa, check him out! She barely has a chance to as he speaks, his voice cutting the silence around her and echoing off the cave walls. Ah, so he is the one behind the magic that brought her here. She listens intently to him, catches the faint touch of concern in his tones when he says "Save her" and disappears. There is someone who desperately needs help, but this creature-man couldn't save her himself. Somehow, though, he believes she can. A wave of determination fills her and she nods, narrowing her eyes and moving forward. "I will do this." So many unanswered questions, but there was only her now, and this light at the end of the tunnel. With a deep breath and another tug at her heartstrings for her twin, Briske steps out into the sand.
At first, she must clench her eyes shut at the blinding light of the sun, and she snorts at the sudden wave of heat that slaps her in the face. Immensely different from the icy cold from before she'd entered the cave. Slowly, she blinks them open and scans the desert before her. Sand, endless and golden, reflects the rays from above and adds to the heat. Taking a few steps, she gets a feel for the give under her footing. Once confident, she picks up her pace into a high-stepping trot for easier motion. And at least, with a slightly quicker pace, the heat doesn't seem to press down on her so much. She lifts her tail in her excitement, as there always is for the young-hearted at the start of a journey. She doesn't know what to expect of this adventure, but she is eager. Soon, she comes to the fork- subtle, but there. One way is a mostly flat and rocky path. The other is a mix of highs and lows, the sandy dunes going on as far as she can see. It doesn't take her long before deciding to take to the dunes to the east. If she was gonna go on a long trip, at least this way seems more exciting.
Ah, sweet girl, if you only knew.
Some time later, Briske had come to slow her pace a bit, saving bursts of speed and momentum for when she must climb the highest hills. Dang, but the sand is tricky, and there were times she lost her footing and fell, only to push back up and continue on. This was becoming harder than she'd thought, and it crosses her mind that maybe she should've gone the other way. "Go back.." There is a voice in her head, sounds like hers, so she doesn't question it. She walks and walks, wondering if time still stands still. It's like she has traveled so far, and yet feels like she's gone nowhere, with nothing but sand ahead. Okay, and the occasional rock, crispy dry twig bushes (that tasted awful), and these weird prickly things. She grunts as she shoves herself on, a thick sheen of sweat coating her, attracting the sand and dust so that it sticks to her skin. Itchy. Her head starts to feel fuzzy and her feet are getting heavier. So thirsty. "You don't belong here. Go back." She shakes her head, trying to clear her mind of the discouraging thoughts. Her voice, but not hers, all at once. Briske doesn't give up; won't. She was needed. She would save Her. Whoever "her" was. "You're too young for this. You can't do it. Go back."
NO! "Stop it! I won't go back! I can do this! And I will!" She shouts into the air, angrily. She almost doesn't recognize her voice, crackling in the dryness of her throat. Briske licks her lips and spits as she tastes the salty grains on her tongue. Yuck! But it felt good to feel a little saliva working in her mouth and coating her grayish lips. Suddenly there is a low laugh behind her. Startled, the girl freezes in her steps, gaze jumping to the source. A vulture, from the looks. Staring down at her from a perch on a cactus tree with eyes so hungry and piercing. Bri pins her ears, and the she-bird laughs again, deep and condescending. "A tasty snack you'll be. It's coming. Better run." The vulture takes off, swooping sloppily high into the sky and Briske glares up after her. The hell was she talking about? What's coming? She flips her tail, rolling her eyes and goes to move off. And yet, something catches her attention somewhere off to her rear right. If not for her keen sight, she may have missed it. Just a subtle shifting in the sand. Small, and yet the carrion bird's words ring in her ears and she gets a sinking feeling in her gut. It takes her a heartbeat or two longer to realize that was no small movement at all. Something is under the sand, and it's huge. It hits her like a bolt of lightning, sending every nerve ending alive with fright.
Just as she turns to scramble between two dunes, the thing bursts from its cover behind her, letting out a feral screech. She panics, forgets all thoughts of tired and thirsty; ignores the ache in muscles growing worn from the unaccustomed usage. She runs, not bothering to look at the thing. But it's big, it's loud, and it sounds hungry! No! It won't be tasting filly today! Not if she can help it. "Go away!" She throws over her shoulder and catches a glimpse of huge pinchers and sooo many legs. Oh crap. She pants as she runs, leaping up the sides of the sand mounds and sliding down the descents. Anything to gain ground. She dares a look behind her and regrets it immediately as she sees the giant beast crashing through the dunes. Like they're nothing! Its six red eyes all focus on her, pinchers reaching, six clawed legs piercing the sand. Its tail curls up over its back, so menacing with the way it ends in a point at the tip. Not good, definitely not good. The thing screeches again and she whimpers at the burn in her muscles. She tries to stick to the lower parts of the sand, darting between the mounds instead of trying to climb them. Her mind races as she tries to think of a way, her heart thumping in her ears. Surely, her legs would give out on her if she continues like this for much longer. Already, she feels herself losing speed. No! She cries, tears burning her eyes and the creature roars, lowering a pincher to slam to her left, barely missing her. With a yelp, she jumps to her right, spinning to face the beast.
Running wasn't going to save her. She would have to fight. With pinned ears, she glares her fury at the monster and screams at him with all her might. But its unfazed, raising that nasty tail and preparing to strike. She waits. And when it comes, she darts below him, aiming a buck at one of its legs. It connects and she feels a crack, satisfied when the thing shrieks. She darts out behind it as it leans to that side, favoring that leg. It spins on her and, enraged, strikes again, this time coming far too close to her. She feints, but it moves and one of its claws scrapes her side. She cries out at the pain, but it is only a minor wound, and more would come if she doesn't move! She rushes under the beast again, throwing her weight into a forehand kick to another leg on the same side, spins and kicks out with her hinds to kick the same spot as she goes to run out behind it again. This time, she knows she will have slowed it down, and takes her chances bolting away again. Muscles be damned, she was getting through this! The creature bellows behind her and she laughs, gaining distance. She looks behind her to see it shrinking away and- It was leaving!
Full of adrenaline and triumph, she ran until she knew she was well enough away that the creature wouldn't change its mind. Though before long, fatigue returned and she slows, throat parched. A nice pool of water sounded truly wonderful to her about now, and as she walks, she starts to believe she sees just that. A pool surrounded by green and trees, with the sun beginning to finally sink. At first she thinks it might be a product of her wishes combined with this dreadful heat. However, the closer Bri gets, the larger the scene became, beckoning her. And she gladly obliged.
Briske encountered dehydration, fatigue, and a hallucinated conversation with a vulture filling her with doubt, and then she was attacked by a giant scorpion monster. Word count: 1495 (GAH, that limit was sooo hard)
PS: If this sucks, I'm sorry. Finished writing at 4:38 in the morning x_x