Caution was the name of the game. Ade had it drilled into his head from an early age that rushing things was the easiest way for them to go wrong. From anchoring a tent against a sandstorm to navigating the Sands his life was filled with duties where messing up would get people killed. His tribe needed water, but they weren’t so desperate for it that he would blindly rush into this rare occurrence.
Taking a deep breath, Ade settled down into a crouch, and did his best to remember what he could of Oases. While odds were good that this was just a regular oasis, nothing more than a watering hole for the local animals, there was always a chance that it was something more. A regular oasis might have dangerous animals living there to contend with, but magic allowed for far more creative threats. Until Ade could get someone magically attuned to confirm otherwise, he would have to act as though this place was magical, and that every bit of that magic was focused on killing him.
His first concern was entry and exit. Getting trapped because he didn’t see the warning signs would be terrible. The fact that animals could come and go was good, but Ade’s first, second, and third plans were all focused on escape if things went wrong. From addictive smells to the idea that everything he saw in front of him was simply an illusion over a far more dangerous location, Ade did his best to temper his expectations with a healthy, excessive, dose of pessimism. The only reason a place like this wouldn’t be claimed is if it was new or if there was something wrong with it.
The animals present were a slight concern for Ade, but only due to their numbers. He didn't spot any large predators, and watering holes tended to be something of a neutral ground for animals. Water was a resource that even the most timid of prey animals would fight for. Combined with multiple predators more than willing to attack a distracted competitor and Ade was pretty confident in avoiding any confrontation. If pressed he had a sling and a knife, and enough skill with both to feel confident in keeping himself alive.
The water was the final threat that Ade was worried about. As pleasant as it looked, there were too many enchanted liquids and subtle poisons possible for him to be comfortable drinking any of it without it being thoroughly checked over by a healer. Taking out his travelling canteen, he drank it down slowly, careful not to spill any of it, before closing the now empty container. He’d fill it up from the pool and take it back with him to let someone smarter figure out if it was drinkable or not.
Satisfied he was prepared for any unexpected surprises or threats as he could be, Ade began to slowly descend down the sand dune towards the oasis. He felt a soft tingle pass over his skin as he stepped onto the fertile ground. As far as he was concerned, this was a genuine Oasis. He’d let the elders handle the consequences, although he had a sinking suspicion that this would confirm his status as the next in line as tribe Pathfinder. He perked up. Of course, it was possible that the tribe would settle down here if there weren’t any problems. Just because they were used to a nomadic lifestyle didn’t mean they were required to always do so, and an Oasis like this was enough of a treasure to convince most people.
As he’d hoped, the animals more or less ignored him. A few of the younger ones were curious about his presence and tried to approach, but were herded away by their mothers. Ade was the second largest being there after the camels, and his bipedal structure was unique. He didn’t try to do anything, but just kept walking slowly to the edge of the water.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
It was unnaturally clear, and Ade wanted to cup his hands and drink his fill, or even strip down and go splashing in. He resisted the urge, and instead lowered his canteen by its carrying strap, letting it slowly fill while avoiding contact with the water. Putting the cap on and tying it shut was the matter of seconds for his experienced hands and with his job done for the moment he reversed course and began to slowly leave. A few of the jackals perked up at that but turning around and walking backwards seemed to spook them enough to keep them from advancing on him. He kept eye contact until he felt the ground under him switch from hard soil to soft sand, at which point he turned to face forwards and began to travel.
While exploring Ade had kept himself in the shallow parts of the Shifting Sands. Without a specific destination in mind and without the metaphysical weight of a group to compensate for it had made sense to take the safer routes. Now Ade was interested in speed. As he walked forwards he began to listen to the sixth sense that told him which direction to travel. It wasn’t something he had a lot of practice with, but Ade did his best to act opposite to his intuition. Right now he wasn’t interested in finding a way out of the Sands, but a way deeper in. The wild grew stronger as Ade travelled forwards, stepping onto terrain that was more and more warped by the supernatural constant. Distance was always a hard thing to measure when there was no constant geography, but everyone agreed that the deeper you went, the faster a trip could be completed. You just had to be capable of handling the increased dangers present and have a navigator capable of bringing you out again.
Travelling by himself gave Ade confidence that he wouldn’t get trapped too deep, but he readily admitted that the increased dangers he could face were always a gamble. Travelling by himself meant he wasn’t as likely to attract a roaming monster, but it also meant his capability of fighting one was also diminished, and strange terrain like flowing rivers of sand or dust devils didn’t care about group sizes. Still, as long as he stayed aware of his surroundings, he should be able to turn back if he did spot trouble ahead. It would mean a longer trip overall, but Ade’s tribe wouldn’t die if he were delayed getting back. In the end, the chances of getting back quicker and giving his tribe as much time as possible to decide what to do with the Oasis was worth the potential delay.
His progress slowed as the terrain got steadily worse. Uneven rocks required careful footing, while sand dunes got larger and more unstable. Ade accidentally triggered a small wave of sand that tipped him over and he rode it down to the bottom, grateful that he hadn’t accidentally buried himself, and already wincing at the reaming Alba the seamstress was going to give him. He decided he’d gone deep enough and took a moment to center himself. Finding the way back home was easy, and Ade rapidly made his way up and out, like a tent caught by a storm. The close call with the sand avalanche kept him cautious and wary of dangers until he finally saw a caravan of camels as he crested the next dune.
It seemed the scouts caught sight of him as well, and by the time he rejoined the camp a welcoming party had been put together. Everyone relaxed a bit when they recognized him, and Ade raised a hand to forestall the customary greetings.
“Time is of the essence. I believe I have found an unclaimed Oasis, with plenty of water and animals.” He tossed his canteen to the healer who was listening in. “I took a sample for you to test, as I know when I have exceeded the limits of my skills or abilities.” There was a moment's pause that stretched out as everyone processed what he said, which quickly turned into excited pandemonium. Ade sighed. Just what he was afraid of.