The Julon did not scatter or stop their festivities. The Gitt’an’ei would not arrive for hours yet.

From his seat on the platform E’lo watched as the news spread amongst the people. The few still eating set their meals aside as they turned their attention back to E’lo and the murmuring grew. If any hadn’t known the trial was already complete they knew now.

E’lo welcomed the new energy from the crowd. Loud though it was, it was a positive sign for his people. The music started again. Faster this time with more of a beat. A caravan was coming after all.

E’lo waited with Tauw at the top of the oasis’s spire. Based on the signal the Julon had received the Gitt’an’ei were around an hour and a half away. A scout should arrive soon.

This far from the centre of the oasis E’lo’s hearing wasn’t smothered. He was the first to notice the arrival outside.

E’lo let out a thrum to let Tauw know of the movement. He stepped forward and shut out the warbling as he tried to determine if it was friend or foe. If it was a creature he would need to clear the way for his people.

The steps were light but many a creature knew to tread lightly on the sands. The sound of a limb brushing against the exterior of the spire was telling but not enough. The steady rhythm of feet on the ground outside even as the source of the sound grew still was though.

E’lo let out a hum as he recognised the technique. It was his after all.

Creatures reacted to change in this world. With a slow pace and steady enough beat one could fade into the background and walk past anything - bufonoran, serpesa, even the uhinicust.

There was a wiggling click as the scout found the switch and moved it into place. The entrance opened with a click and E’lo stepped back as the scout entered.

The scout pressed the interior switch and the door rumbled closed.

E’lo reached up and removed his face covering as the scout did the same.

“Seeker E’lo.” The scout acknowledged. “Have you found direction?”

E’lo did not recognise the woman but there were more scouts than seekers.

“Hope springs eternal.” E’lo responded and placed both hands on his head. If he had touched his hands anywhere else the scout would have fled. If he touched his heart they would have continued to the beacon and entered the wrong code, forever warning caravans away from this oasis.

E’lo had never needed to use the other signals but the stories of their use kept them fresh in his mind. Monsters dwelled in all places.

The scout hummed and stepped up to greet Tauw who ran through the customary procedure.

Tauw led the way through the narrow and twisted passages. While E’lo had been to the beacon before he had not been capable of learning the route at the time.

Tauw stopped at a door which was seamlessly moulded to the walls around it and knocked in a definite pattern. The door opened and two Julon gestured them inside. Tauw led and the scout followed. The guard held up a hand to block E’lo as he went through.

“One only.”

The scout and E’lo exchanged glances and E’lo hummed for her to go ahead.

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He watched from the doorway, from behind one of the guards as the scout approached the beacon shadowed by the second. She began to unwrap the layers around her left leg and retrieved the only chip tied there.

E’lo clicked his tongue. The location to store your chips was personal but he believed in keeping them all in one spot. It reduced the number of locations you needed to protect in a fight.

The scout placed the chip in the beacon and stepped back. The warbling stuttered and settled into a new rhythm. The scout retrieved their chip and walked back to E’lo.

It wouldn’t be long now.

They returned to the spire room to wait but it was not long before E’lo could hear the rasping hiss of the mooctic. The caravan had arrived. His people were here.

The elders arrived without much fanfare. After exchanging a short greeting with Tauw they were all led to the cavernous room where the hopai had been held earlier.

A longer greeting was carried out as the elders of the caravan met the elders of the oasis. E’lo wandered away from the meeting and over to the platform he had sat on earlier.

E’lo examined the carvings on the wall. He would be leaving soon and he wanted to commit them to memory. His time in the oasis was over. His purpose complete. All he was waiting for was a direction.

E’lo did not have to wait long. He was summoned as the elders separated.

“Elder Se’fa.” E’lo greeted the man who commanded the caravan’s scouts and seekers.

“Brother E’lo.” Se’fa intoned and spread his arms wide to welcome E’lo.

E’lo questioned the greeting with a pop of his tongue. He was no elder.

Se’fa let his arms fall and shook his head at E’lo.

“Brother you have walked long. Seeked for longer than either of us can remember. In doing so we your people have prospered.” Se’fa began and punctuated it with a hum. ”Thanks to your teaching fewer seekers and scouts are lost. Your paths have lead us away from danger and to nourishment.”

“It is what I was chosen for.” E’lo replied, eager to receive a direction and leave. This was not like his usual conversations with Se’fa and he was uneasy.

Se’fa hummed but continued.

“Maybe so but now I ask you. Do you wish for rest? You have earned a place amongst our elders, teachers and guides. Return to the caravan and seek through the next generation. Scout ahead but return to the caravan for rest.”

The very concept was anathema to E’lo. Leave the search behind? Pass on his colony and duty? Abandon hope?

“The last of your generation has passed E’lo. Ra’lo fell to a serpesa four days ago while scouting. The remaining Ti became scouts two oases ago.” Se’fa stepped forward and laid his hands on E’lo shoulders. Pointedly on the areas where the weight of his colony lay. “It is time my brother. Come back to your people.”

E’lo stepped back and away, thoughts racing.

“I seek direction, elder.”

Se’fa let out a low whistling exhale from his nose.

“The Julon speak of an oasis to akau. Seek this direction to bring hope to our people.”

“Hope spreads.” E’lo replied and backed away from the elder.

“Wait, E’lo!” E’lo turned at Tauw’s voice to see the man running through the passage after him. It was an ungainly sprint with lots of wobbling.

“Tauw.” E’lo dipped down in the Julon’s greeting.

“I’m glad I caught you.” Tauw was panting with his mouth open as he reached E’lo. Perhaps those young did not have such bad water perpetuation form after all.

“Peace Tauw. You have shared my burdens.”

“My pleasure.” Tauw said between pants. “You made my week and it’s always good to get a caravan.”

E’lo hummed and waited for the man to catch his breath.

“Here.” Tauw straightened as much as he could in the small passage and passed E’lo a small vial. “It’s some syrup. I saw you enjoyed it the most.”

E’lo let out a thrill of surprise.

“I have no bounty. My people’s elders will handle the passage of knowledge and prosperity.”

Tauw waved his hands at E’lo.

“It is a gift. Free of any burdens.”

“I will treasure it.” E’lo tucked the vial within the folds of his layers. “And spread word of the foot mouth greeter of the Julon.”

Tauw made a choked sound before beginning to expel air from his nose.

“You’re a tricky one E’lo. Hope springs eternal.” Tauw said after he recovered. He accompanied E’lo to the top of the spire and opened the entrance for him.

And so E’lo left.