The golden dunes shimmered under the piercing gaze of the twin suns, their rays casting a warm, eternal glow across the vast desert expanse. The air rippled with heat, the sand beneath alive with radiant warmth. Each grain sparkled like crushed crystal, fine and crisp underfoot. Yet, in the midst of this serene beauty, the silence shattered.
A blaring, grinding noise erupted across the dunes, slicing through the calm like a siren's wail. Sand kicked up in towering spirals, an eruption of dust and debris swirling into the air as a makeshift sled hurtled forward across the golden sea. It wasn't the wind, nor a natural tremor—it was something man-made. Or rather, Ryan-made.
"Hahaha!!" Ryan's laughter rang out wild and manic, wind whipping through his unkempt hair as he clung tightly to the sides of the sled.
The vehicle—a rough but clever contraption of scrap metal and salvaged tech—was being pulled with surprising speed by a group of muscular, insectoid creatures: the Drilvoks. Their sturdy, many-jointed legs churned with effort, dragging the sled across the shifting dunes. Elain, the AI drone in her compact travel form, sat quietly near the front, her sensors scanning their trajectory.
'Since the Oasis is behind the Elenatia, we've still got a long way to go before we reach it,' Ryan thought grimly, gripping the edge of the sled with one hand and shielding his eyes from the sun with the other. The desert stretched endlessly ahead—until finally, a sliver of green emerged on the horizon like a mirage.
"Nice! We're a straight shot to the Oasis now!" Ryan called out, his voice carrying on the wind.
But the desert had other plans.
Rumble… Rumble…
The ground began to tremble. Sand surged and shifted violently, cascading down invisible walls as something began to rise beneath the surface. The grains spilled away, revealing a hulking creature hidden beneath—the armored back of a Tendregulon burst into view, eyes gleaming with hostile light.
"Just in time," Ryan muttered, a bead of cold sweat trailing down his brow as he forced a crooked smile. 'Damn it. Even though it's the worst outcome, I figured something like this might happen…'
"Creak! Drilvoks tired," Elain chimed, her voice neutral but tinged with an alert tone.
"Shit," Ryan hissed, glancing back at the Drilvoks. Their pace had slowed, legs straining, breath huffing like small steam vents. Their energy was waning—just as the threat loomed larger.
Thinking quickly, Ryan reached beneath the sled's flooring and yanked out a bundled piece of cloth. At first glance, it appeared nothing more than tattered fabric. But as he stood and hurled it into the air, it unfurled mid-flight. The cloth caught the desert winds and expanded—revealing itself as a wide, durable sail lined with micro-hooks and smart fibers. It stretched out above the sled, catching the wind perfectly and adding propulsion.
With a growl, Ryan grabbed the rope that the Drilvoks had been pulling and joined the effort, muscles flexing, face turning red with strain. "C'mon, c'mon…!"
Then, to spur them further, he pointed behind them—at the Tendregulon charging in pursuit, sand exploding around its massive limbs.
The Drilvoks, catching sight of the creature, let out alarmed screeches and surged forward with renewed desperation.
But the desert wasn't finished.
One Tendregulon became two. Then four. Their armored backs rippled with jagged carapaces as they thundered behind the sled, clawed feet tearing through the dunes.
At the Oasis...
Far ahead, Elen had already arrived at the fringes of the Oasis. The landscape transformed dramatically from desert to a lush paradise—a ring of emerald foliage and crystalline pools nestled in the heart of the desert.
Perched atop a tree limb, Elen's body stood still, sensors rotating. Its mechanical eyes pulsed purple as it zoomed in on the chaos in the distance. Through the lens, Ryan's sled was visible, kicking up clouds of dust—behind it, five massive Tendregulons closed the gap.
Chip!
Elen creaked and tensed, preparing to launch. But just as it leapt forward, something tugged at its leg. Elen looked down—a vine, thick with thorns, had snared her ankle. Bramble. It twisted tighter, thorns digging in. Elen's blade-arm twitched, ready to slice it away—until the vine yanked her down, dragging her deeper into the undergrowth of the Oasis.
Back to Ryan...
"So close…" Ryan groaned, veins bulging as he pulled, his arms trembling with fatigue. His body was drenched in sweat, flushed red from the sun and exertion. But the finish line was within reach.
Then—something strange.
The Tendregulons… stopped.
From five, their number dwindled to three. Then two. Then none.
"Huh?" Ryan blinked, disoriented, watching as the monstrous predators veered off course, disappearing into the dunes.
The sled coasted forward unopposed. Before them stood the Oasis—now fully in view. Its splendor was even greater up close: cascading waterfalls, thick trees with leaves like polished jade, and an air filled with scents both sweet and earthy.
"Could the Tendregulons have retreated because of something stronger in this place?" Ryan muttered, stepping off the sled and catching his breath.
"Creak? Lifeforms detected. High biodiversity," Elain chirped, her sensors already mapping the surrounding life signatures.
"That means we have to be way more careful," Ryan said, glancing over his shoulder.
The Drilvoks, without hesitation, ran ahead, disappearing into the lush foliage.
"Hey! No 'thank you' or anything?" Ryan called after them, rolling his eyes.
Still, he smiled, taking a few cautious steps into the heart of the Oasis. The sand gave way to soft grass and damp earth.
And far above, nestled on a branch of a strange tree that stretched toward the sky like a clawed hand, a bird observed him. Its feathers shimmered with iridescent hues. It turned its head slowly to follow Ryan's movement. One of its eyes—large and glassy—reflected Ryan's image, and deep within that reflection… was a faint, eerie smile.