Episode Ten - To The Oasis (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion "Darkness by Eqwillus"

*note : all dialogues like so {example} are spoken from the predator's perspective

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THE PAST | Eira

"Wake up!"

Her eyes shot open. Lars's agitated face hovered over hers.

"What's wrong, Lars?" she whispered, all traces of sleep forgotten at the sound of his trepidation.

He held a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet and listen. A rumbling growl penetrated their paper-thin tent. She bit back a gasp, hands covering her mouth to hold in the fear. A predator had entered the camp. The fine hairs on her arms stood up. Without a weapon, they couldn't protect themselves and blood would be shed. The other children huddled in a far corner, praying for their lives.

Golden eyes met hers when the sounds of endless gunfire broke out, followed by a chorus of horrendous screams — from both men and monster. At one point, blood splattered upon their tent, startling everyone. Eira lunged into Lars's arms, burying her face into his chest. The only predator she had ever killed was a small ratillo. Whatever was hunting them beyond this tent was huge, and dangerous. They wouldn't stand a chance.

She felt Lars's fingers digging into her arms. "It'll be over soon." His conveyed strength and warmth kept her together. Be brave! she told herself. She was a Qeathan, not a coward. Right now, she had no choice but to pray for the soldiers' victory.

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PRESENT DAY

Arriving at Ataxia II, Eira was amazed by its grandiose domed ceiling with a star-shaped glass panel in the centre. The platform bustled with military personnel starting their day, some from divisions she had never seen before. The military only had three divisions — research and development, fundamental provisions and lastly, military defense which consist of the kill hunter units. Ataxia II was a domain of its own, specializing in administrative and covert affairs.

A lanky man greeted them at the platform, his coat decorated with a three-star insignia. He extended a gloved hand and a warm smile. "Welcome to Ataxia II, unit six. Captain Verhelst, it's good to see you again." A trace of Skocian accent lingered on his tongue.

Lars shook his hand. "Likewise, Lieutenant Posse."

"The humpbacks you requested are at your disposal, Captain. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

Eira stepped forward. "Permission to speak, Captain?"

Lars was surprised she was even asking. "Permission granted."

"Czaoza. Greetings, Lieutenant Posse. I'd like to request some additional supplies on behalf of my unit. Humpbacks alone won't cut it in the desert. I'm sure you are already aware of this."

The Lieutenant scanned her, noting her accent and colouring. "You're Skocian." He sounded a little unsure, his gaze lingering on her pink hair.

"Kraz. Yes," she replied with a smile, not faulting the Lieutenant for his bewilderment. Skocians were one of the most practical people on Earth — boring and unadventurous. They preferred to wear camouflages and blend into the natural scene than to stand out with pink hair. "I'm a Qeathan native."

"A Skocian who is unlike the norm?" He directed a grin at Lars. "You sure do have a unique variety of members, Captain. But I believe you are all in safe hands. No one knows the outerlands better than a tribe native." To Eira, he said. "Please, tell me what you require."

Half an hour later, everyone was equipped with a ratillo leather bag filled with water, food, medical supplies, a blanket, emergency lights and extra clothes.

"Why the hell do we need clothes?" Koga pulled out a linen shirt.

"You'll never know when you are going to get drenched by a flood or hit by a sandstorm," Eira remarked, having changed into a flowy cotton shirt and pants. For once, she was decently covered, complete with a yellow head scarf. "I learnt it the hard way when I first started my outing mission years ago."

A chorus of nonsensical grunts joined the conversation. Looking up from where he was tying his laces, Florian fell backwards in a hurry to escape the ugly looking beast that appeared in his face. "What the hell—"

Eira chuckled, rubbing the humpback's furred neck. "You'll hurt her feelings, Florian. It seems your charm doesn't extend to the animal variety."

{That feels nice.}

"How do you know it's a female?" Florian adopted a wry glance, covering up his embarrassment.

"Passenger humpbacks are all females. They are generally larger than the males."

Anaelle approached a black humpback. "What an interesting species. It looks like a hybrid of an old era camel and an alpaca, although much bigger." She patted its stumpy fur and was startled when it began dancing back and forth.

"It likes you." The undeniable surprise in Eira's voice had Koga hunching over with laughter.

"It figures that the one living thing that likes you is a furry female," he chortled, wiping the tears from his eyes. Anaelle threw him a icy glare that could freeze up the desert. He immediately shut up.

A shadow loomed over Eira, and she tilted her head back to see Lars with an outstretched hand. He had chosen a speckled humpback. "Come, you'll ride with me. You'll lead the way to the Oasis."

She had avoided him the entire morning, feeling vulnerable after last night, almost betraying her innermost fears. Yet Lars's unwavering trust in her abilities, warmed her heart. Smiling, she didn't hesitate to mount up and hug the hump in front of her. It was as soft and sturdy as she remembered.

"How on earth do we get on this thing?" Koga struggled to climb the humpback he was sharing with Florian. "It's taller than I am." Though, at six foot one, he was the shortest male in the unit.

"Too bad your height doesn't compensate for your brains." Anaelle took a dig at him.

He swirled around furiously. "What did you say!"

"That's enough." Florian shut them up, mimicking the hand command he had seen Lars perform on his speckled humpback. Immediately, the humpback bent at the knees and lowered itself to the ground. Hoisting himself into a seated position, Florian glanced dubiously at Koga. "Well, what are you waiting for? We don't have all day. Get on."

Koga gulped, unwilling to admit his fear of heights. Swallowing his pride, he awkwardly hugged the humpback in a death grip. Oh God, he was going to be sick. His face twisted for a different reason when he caught Anaelle smirking at him. There went his manly pride, out the proverbial window.

Once everyone was saddled in, Eira instructed their humpbacks to head for the Oasis. Travelling miles beneath the scorching heat, Lars soon signalled for them to stopover and rehydrate.

"I can't imagine how you survived this every day, Eira," Florian panted from the heatwave, taking a swig of water. "You're barely breaking a sweat."

"I was born on a day like this." She hopped on top of a rock to scout the horizon. "This is considered good hunting weather. There are days much hotter than this and naturally, the desert is a harsh environment to live in. When I was with the patrol hunting unit, we were attacked at least twice a day."

Everyone gawked in her direction.

"What?" Eira demanded, nonplussed.

Koga mopped his sweat. "I apologize for ever doubting your abilities."

"Don't worry about it," she assured him, surveying the sky, and noticing the absence of clouds and small critters. Even the wind was stagnant. How weird.

Lars was attuned to Eira's brewing unease. "What's wrong? You've been anxious ever since we stopped."

"It's a hunch but something doesn't feel right." Her eyes roamed the barren expense. "There's no wind and we haven't seen a living creature for miles. Rule number one – the Skocian desert is never dormant."

Suddenly, the humpbacks began shuffling skittishly, their heads thrashing in disorientation. Rule number two – always trust an animal's instinct.

"Everyone, mount up!" Eira roared, pulling Lars towards their humpback.

The ground rumbled and quaked, a shrill roar renting the air. Eira recognised that sound. "It's a sand driller! We need to get out of here now!" Quickly, she urged the humpback into a full gallop.

"What's a sand driller?" Anaelle shouted at the top of her lungs.

"A class three or four threat, depending on its size! They are active hunters and the outerlands are crawling with them. Sand drillers are notorious for hunting unsuspecting victims." Eira twisted around to catch a sand dune collapsing as the predator closed in from underground. "Lars, we need to divert its attention. We're all in danger if stay together."

She was right. "Everyone, split up!" Lars barked, activating his reaper. "Provide backup for anyone it targets."

The three humpbacks deviated paths and the conspicuous bump tailing them conveniently disappeared.

"Do not stop! Just keep moving!" Eira cried when Anaelle started slowing down.

Without warning, the space before Eira and Lars exploded with a towering torso of a roaring sand driller, its impressive height blocking out the sun. Reacting swiftly, Eira swerved the humpback to a sharp left when the predator landed on a brutal slam. That could have been them, flattened beneath its monstrous weight. Unused to this nerve-wrecking situation, their humpback faltered on knobbly knees, throwing Eira and Lars off its back.