This is home now. What is other desolation to others is my heart song. Here is where I am meant to be, I feel sure of it. The golden granules of sand have accepted me as their own, swirling delicately around my legs at all times, caressing my dark flesh with the patience of a lover. They trail behind me always, waiting for my command. I have come to think of them as millions upon millions of tiny, loyal friends. But like me, my friends are not to be underestimated. Size is never a true guarantee of power, and I personify that. When I am calm, the sands around me remain so as well. But when there is vengeance in my heart, then they respond ten fold. They can rise from the ground in an instant, a swirling hot mass of flying sand, enough to pierce the skin and blind the eyes. Thankfully, my heart remains pure. Here I’ve no reason for anger, not when everyone around me as been so kind to an orphan. Here I feel accepted and wanted, a part of something much bigger than myself. I feel needed.
I make my way slowly across the desert, water droplets clinging to my black muzzle from a recent visit to the oasis. Whether it is by Cam’s magic or naturally so, it seems the water here is colder than any other I’ve ever drank. Maybe it just tastes that way because it is so arid here. As always the sand follows behind, drawn to me like a magnet to steel. I don’t mind, and flick my tail lazily in their general direction. I have grown since my arrival, now a 3 year old. I am a bright coppery red, with a tangled silver mane and tail. The black of my legs goes barely above my ankles, and one could even miss it if they weren’t looking closely. Despite the lack of vegetation here, I am sleek and shiny with good health. Clearly it doesn’t take long to adapt to a place, if said place is where your heart truly lies. I am convinced my heart truly belongs here. Whether it was by chance or intuition that my mother left me here I do not know, but I suppose I must be thankful either way. For now I am wanted and accepted, and possibly even useful under the right circumstances. I am no longer a lead weight that had to be dragged around. My feet carry me even as my mind wanders in a different direction, and soon I find myself under the leafy boughs of a palm. I lean against it and scratch a particularly itchy spot on my withers, content with the world for the moment. As I doze, the sands go still around my feet, content as well.
sawflesh
this heavy crown