Traen stared out over the vast rolling dunes, only sand as far as the eye could see, the heat and sunlight was enough to give any man a headache but Traen barely noticed, he was used to much worse, the only thing that could be a danger was the lack of water. But what he had with hims was enough, Dala, his trusted camel, had drank her share before they left for Cer'ardur, she wouldn't need water for several weeks and used to living in the desert as she was Traen was certain Dala could find food. Driving Dala into a walk once more Traen scanned to empty desert, he saw no traces of the so called monster, people was so supersticious around here, a few people vanishes, probaby from the heat or exhaustion, and they scream monster. It was ridiculous.
But then again their supersticion was what would earn him great money, his biggest payday ever, a client wanted goods escorted quick and the fastest way was through Cer'ardur, a three month journey cut down to two weeks. Chuckling to himself he stroke back dark strands that stuck out from the cloth wrapped around his head, just as his head was wrapped to protect from the sun so was he, clad in the normal beduin clothes that almost hid his light skin, proof he was not from the desert people.
The slow rocking back and forth from Dala's gait was calming and he soon feel into an almost meditative state, a hand on her reins and the other rested against the saddle, the desert was empty, void of either animal or monster. Of course, just as he knew it would be, the people of the desert needed to stop their childish imaginations, but on the other hand as long as no one dared cross the desert he would continue to draw in big money.
For hours Dala carried him across the sand with nothing more interesting than a few clouds passing over them happening, until Traen noticed heavy, dark clouds gathering at the horizon, the air changed like before a thunder storm. Frowning he examined the sky, since when did thunder and rain cross over a desert, clear blue eyes darkened in concern, normal or not perhaps it would be best to make camp, for his own sake and Dala's.
Before making his decision wind picked up, but this was no normal sand storm, looking around through slitted eyes Traen could see that only thea are around him and Dala was affected by the strong winds. Heart beating harder by the minute, throat dry Traen loked in fear and wonder at the sand just ahead, Dala bleated in alarm, stomping with her feet.
The wind pushed in circles whipping the sand along, round and round it went and as Traen stared the ground began to sank, deeper and deeper until he could not see the bottom. If he had ever been a sailor he may have recognized the shape as similar to a whirlpool, but who would make that connection in a desert anyway.
A roar shook the very ground, spreading tremors and chilling the man to his bones, Dala started to panic ready to bolt if not for his hands on her reins, her instincts yelled louder than Traen's own. Then he saw why, the whirling sand pit grew in size, slowly coming closer, frozen in place Traen could not speak nor urge Dala to move, a growl rumbled up through the sand and with horror he could see something down there. Rows upon rows of teeth and tentacls that started to rise, snaking their way closer to him.
Finally he snapped out of his trance like state, pulling on Dala's reins and urging her to gallop, normally Dala never went faster than a slwo trot but not she bolted of so Traen almost fell off. But even her broad, flat feet had trouble with the loosening sand, Traen swore aloud and urged her on more, promising to never ridicule legends and local supersticion again if he left with his life.
Finally Dala seemed to run with more ease, they must have reached the limit of that damned creature, Traen sighed with relief and stroke Dala's neck as his pulse slowed down, already plotting how to get back on course.Behind him the wind died down but the whirling sand continued and with surprising speed a long tentacle shot up from the depths and towards Traen.
