E’lo stepped out into the sand with his thoughts in disarray.

He walked down the line of mooctic. Ignoring the bustle around those used to carry bounty. Ignoring the hush of those used to carry knowledge. Ignoring the sounds from the one where the young scrambled to escape their caretakers. Ignoring the wearied hiss of those used to carry the great domes for Jeem. Ignoring the sounds from those carrying living quarters.

E’lo walked and made not one of his usual stops before he reached the front of the caravan. Here he walked until the hiss of the young mooctic that led the caravan was too loud. Young female mooctics made up the majority of their carriers. The lead mooctic was always the youngest and least valuable. This mooctic was for the seekers and scouts.

He walked forward until he felt the scales of the creature’s legs. He scratched them gently before reaching to the sides for the ladders.

“You will seek again then?” Hu’sal’s voice called out as E’lo entered the chamber.

E’lo hummed in acknowledgement. Hu’sal hummed back.

“I warned Se’fa. He would not listen.”

“Elder, I have need of supplies.” E‘lo started to detach tools from his sides and from under his layers. The half spool of string. The cracked and chipped knives. The near empty wound paste.

Hu’sal clicked and felt over the objects before turning to get replacements.

“Too ‘stubborn’ I told him. Too wild our lelahi. Clip its wings and its heat will fade.”

E’lo remained silent.

“Se’fa is stubborn too though.” Hu’sal set the last item down. Quick as a serpesa she snatched his hand as he reached for it. “But the lelahi’s heat will fade anyway. It will run out of treasures as its wings grow tired.”

Hu’sal turned his hand and placed the last item into it.

“You must remember that E’lo. Even a lelahi must land some day.”

E’lo let out a humming click as he attached the last item. He left the chamber and sealed it behind him. E’lo walked across the uneven back of the mooctic before sliding off and onto the ground.

E’lo modulated his breathing to match his steps as he walked away from all the noise.

Hours passed. Then days and his heart and mind quietened.

It was more than a week later than E’lo stopped. It was a new noise. Burst of light chirping. Ever so faint from the distance.

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E’lo had never heard the sound before but he knew of it. It was a sound made from pegs across 8 legs rubbing together. The sound was well known as it was feared. Uhinicust.

The creatures were legend. The young were told stories of them to teach them to be quiet and how to survive. Uhinicust. Devourers. Swarm. Pride, Folly and Ruin of their ancestors. Creatures that could eat anything and turn it into the tastiest of sustenance. Rubbish, dirt, stone, metal, flesh. Sand was the only trace left of their passage.

E’lo turned and began to walk. He increased his speed until he reached the highest pace he could maintain, his steps skimming across the sands. Towards his people.

E’lo walked. Sipped. Beathed. Syphoned. Walked.

12 hours into the first day he left even the barest murmur of the Uhinicust behind. There was hope. But the Uhinicust were also on a path that led to his caravan.

Hours passed. Then days but his heart and mind could not stop.

The first scout thought him a monster. E’lo’s roar when he detected them did not help. He sped past them with a warning to recall their fellows.

A day later he could hear the hiss of the mooctic.

Then he could feel the vibration of their feet.

E’lo jumped and caught onto the ladder between the creature’s steps. But his limbs were heavy and he could only hang there as he swayed. Arms wrapped around his and he was pulled up and into a chamber where he was laid on the ground.

“Seeker E’lo. What have you found?” Se’fa questioned.

“Uhinicust. A day or so behind.” E’lo croaked out. He had over strained his colony and had been without food for… E’lo did not know how long.

There was a sharp intake of breath around him.

“Impossible.” A voice called out.

A deep thrum E’lo knew well came from before him and his people quietened.

“You are certain, Seeker E’lo?”

“Sudden chirping that grew and grew until it drowned all else out.”

“Perhaps that is why the mooctic have been uneasy. The smell has carried.” Another voice called.

“Change direction. Kahema.” Se’fa ordered.

“We must-”

“NOW.” Se’fa roared.

E’lo listened to the footsteps retreating. Se’fa stepped up to him.

“E’lo you were right. Lelahi of our people, you have brought hope. Rest now.”

The muscles holding E’lo upright sagged and he slipped further on the ground. Something dug into his side and he shifted and reached a hand over to remove whatever blocked his sleep.

It was a vial.

E’lo slipped a hand into the folds of his layers and with a trembling arm brought the vial forward.

“Se’fa.” E’lo called his voice still a croak. “Se’fa!”

“What is it E’lo?” Se’fa asked as he stepped back towards him and kneeled by him.

“The oasis. The Julon.”

“Hope dries up. We cannot shoulder this burden.”

“A scout?” E’lo questioned.

There was a creak as Se’fa straightened up.

“They are gone, lelahi. None can endure the uhinicust.” Se’fa said before turning away. So were the laws of the sand sea.

E’lo gripped the vial and pulled the seal off. He reached up and untied the bottom of his face covering. The pain hit him instantly. This chamber was not safe and his face began to boil.

E’lo brought the vial to his lips and began to sip. Sweetness travelled into his tired worn body. So unlike the mineral loam he knew.

E’lo thought about spirals that never ended. About coarse stone under his hands. About the poor water perpetuation of the young. About the enthusiastic but imperfect music. About Puhua, Naauk and Foot in Mouth greeter.

E’lo fastened his face covering and stood on shaking limbs.

And so E’lo fled.