Selena screamed as she jumped up. Her breath was irregular. What a dreadful nightmare that had been. She rubbed the sweat off her forehead and sat up straight. It was only when she wanted to get out of bed to get a glass of water that she noticed to all her amazement that she was no longer in bed. She felt sand between her toes. Soft and cold. It was dark and there was no light but that of the moon and her stars. I am outside. she realised. How did I get outside? I don't sleepwalk. I never did either. Selena looked around, searching, not knowing for what. The environment looked strange to her, not at all familiar. She couldn't still be on the castle grounds. She would have recognized where she was by now if that had been the case. I must still be sleeping. she thought. Though the air felt so hot on her skin it nearly felt real. Could it be that she was awake then? Was this real? This strange place with no sound to be heard but her slow breath and the fast and upset rhythm of her heart. It can't be. It truly can't be. Then how did I get here? She thought hard. Nothing. She couldn't remember anything. You must be asleep. There's no other explanation for it. This is just some silly dream...

Her eyes were closed. The sun burnt on her body, while a hot and dry breeze stroke her skin. Even the coolest breeze was too much.
Her feet were bare and sore because of the hot sand. She felt the sweat on her forehead as she slowly opened her eyes.
I'm walking... I'm still walking... I-... I stopped. Where am I?
She looked around. Everywhere around her were dunes of yellow sand. The sky was dark blue and the air rippled because of the heat.
I see.. a cactus? And a... fata morgana... Hm.. Strange dream...
She sat down again and closed her eyes. All she needed to do was fall asleep again. She frowned her forehead in deep concentration.
Well, where was I? I was walking... No, my horse was walking... I was on its back.. Jeez, this heat makes it nearly impossible to think straight... Oh, right. I was on my way to Cascadia. And then... I must have fallen asleep. But there's no desert near Cascadia...
She became more confused with the second. 'Ah, well, back to sleep, silly.'
She focused on Cascadia and sunk back into her thoughts again.

Selena heard voiced, dark voiced fill the air. But then, suddenly, out of the shadows, she heard one other. One other voice. A pure one. A familiar one.
'Kari..,' Selena said, her strength leaving her and falling down again. I must get up again. she thought. At all costs. I can't stay here. I have to escape. I have to find Kari. I have to escape... I have to..get up..Just walk. Walk on... Walk... I have to... She landed on her face and then rolled down the sandy dunes, too powerless to do anything. She stared with open eyes into the ink coloured night sky. Then even her eye lids felt heavy. Oh, so heavy. 'Walk...,' Selena spoke in pure despair. 'Have to...have to walk...' Then her eyes closed and again she found herself unconscious.

Verling had been walking in the desert for days now. He wanted someone to walk with someone to talk to. Suddenly he heard someone falling he rushed over but it was to late the person who had fallen was already unconscious. He ran over, it was a women he recognzed her from somewhere but was to ht to remember. He picked her up and after carying her to a nearby cactus he poured some water on her face.

Selena suddenly awake by a cold, splashing sensation on her face. 'Hmmmm...,' she mumbled, confused. Her body felt very warm and the sand felt like a field of hot, glowing coals, even in the dark moon lit night. Carefully she sat up straight, nearly falling back down again. There is someone with me. But who? I hope he or she knows where we find ourselves...

Verling seeing her awakening asked "How are you doing? You passed out in the middle of the dessert. Maybe you should bring more water next time. Hear take some of mine.

Selena blinked a few times. 'But...this...this... I don't even know how I got here. I was still wondering whether or not this was a dream and I was still asleep.' She studied his face. 'But with you here...and...and I think I heard Kari too. This can't be a dream. It's too real.' She sighed. 'Like this cursed weather. There's no way I could ever dream this dryness and fiery sand. Even my imagination isn't that colourful.'

In reply verling said "who know's maby this is a dream and I'm just a figment of your imagination? Or not. If you think you can stand we can try and find some shelter.

'Yes,' Selena softly replied, licking her dry lips. Amazing how thirsty you can be after you've just drunk a whole bottle of water. Or is it just this place? 'Yes, that would be nice. If there is anything like a normal city nearby... Let's hope so. Otherwise maybe we can find a nomad camp. I've heard they are often very kind to strangers in the desert.'

"Pick your nomads wisely, for while some are kind, others are evil." Zorgn was lying atop a sand dune, resting from a long treck. "The desert plays tricks on the mind, I have often had memorys forgotton come back. Memorys leaving, now that is a strange thing. I advise you not to go south, the tribe there is most unkind."

Verling seeing the man atop the sand dune said "You say the south is dangerous? I't couldn't be that bad. I've heard few people return becouse the nomad's there are so kind. Are you sure?"

Zorgn had heard the evils of the southern tribes. The eastern tribes were by far the kindest of the lot. Zorgn himself had been saved by that bunch. "East with the sun you should go."

'I suggest we move fast,' she said to Verling. 'If we stay here too long this whole desert will look the same, no matter how much we hasten our pace. With this heat and all... It's impossible to think straight.' She licked her lips and unbuttoned a few of the silver buttons on her blouse.
'First I'd very much like to find my friend though. I think I heard her scream or something. And trust me, I'd recognise her voices from out of a mass of thousands.'
She looked at Verling, hoping he would agree to her wish.

Zorgn got up from lying on the sand dune. He unfolded his wings and and admired them for a moment before flaping them and shooting away from the ground. Circling above for a minute, he turned east and sped off toward where he knew the desert tribes would be. He'd land for a bit, and the head towards Kellen.

Verling watched as Zorgn flew away and then turned to Salena and replied "Yes I agree. We should try and find this friend of yours first, but it must be quickly."

Selena gave him a firm nod. 'Yes, you are right. We have to find a cooler place and some shelter to spend the night and food, some food above all, otherwise we won't last much longer.' She started walking again, the sand burning underneath her soar, bare feet. 'I think I heard her call out from this direction,' she informed him, hoping that he would quickly follow her.

Verling stood up and followed quitely. looked all around for Salena's friend while following but saw no signs. After a few hour's Verling said to Salena "If we don't find shelter soon we shall die, and if that happens we will not be able to help your friend. We should find shelter and food and continue our search in the morning.

((it is Selena, not Salena! Please, spell it like that?))

Selena didn't want to admit he was right, but she had to. They really would die if they kept wandering around aimlessly through this fiery desert. 'You have a good point there,' She replied. 'We haven't heard one peep from Kari, nor have we seen her. And we've been strolling these lands for hours and hours now.' She sighed deep. 'So...I suggest we start moving then. Come on, let's find the nomad's camp.' She turned around and walked to the east.

Verling did not reply back he simply continued following. A few hours after they began walking he heard something in the distance. He halted Selena and told her to wait there. He went over a sand dune and saw a Nomad pointing an arrow directly at him. When the nomad fired he tried to block it with his shieldbut was to slow. The nomad hit him in his right shoulder, now his sword arm was useless. He tried to run back but found the arrow had been poisened so he could now barely walk.

Somehow he made it back to the dune he left Selena behind and when he got to the top he was so tired he tumbled down.

Selena yelled out of shock. 'Oh, no! What has happened to you! I knew, I just knew I shouldn't have let you go and investigate all by yourself! I am so sorry. Heaven, are you okay?' Selena bend over and sat next to him on the ground. She recognised a poisoned arrow when she saw one and knew it was the best if she would pull it out with one fast tug. Quickly she grabbed it and took a look at it.
'A golden arrow? What? Are nomads rich now?' Or was he hired? Hired by a king or something? Someone with a lot of money to pay random others to do his dirty work for him. She could think of no one. Blathern had been dead for far to many years now. It couldn't be him. Not possibly!
She suddenly turned to Verling again. 'Oh, sorry for keeping you waiting,' she excused herself, while quickly taking the red, ruby stone from her necklace. She put it on top of the wound and acted like nothing was the matter.
'Oh, don't worry,' she said. 'It's just poison. Nothing my magickal ruby cannot deal with...'
A ray of bright, orange and pink light appeared from out of the centre of the stone and seemed to flow into the fresh and still bleeding wound. Within seconds the wounds had healed and the poison had been removed. No all there could be seen from the nomad attack was a little lump of skin that, in time, also would be healed completely.
'Okay... That's that then...,' Selena spoke, smiling at Verling. 'There's nothing you can't do with a phoenix ruby, you know?'

Verling was caoght by surprise when Selena used her pheonix ruby. Amazed at it's power he asked "were did you get that that was amazing. No time for that we need to hide he is probably still behind me. And who now's if we follow him back to camp we may find your friend there." He got up and scanned the area with his eyes and saw a small hole in the groun were they could hide from view and still watch the strange nomad.

Selena agreed with Verling. 'Yes, you are completely right. That nomad is foul. Heaven knows, he might attack you again. And me too.' She tried to find out what he was looking at and stared in the same direction. Immediately she knew what he meant. While she snuck over to the hole she went on. 'I do hope you are right on that follow-nomad-to-camp-thing too, you know? If Kari really is there we could come and get her. Of course I do hope she won't be a victim of some strange and rare nomad tribe.' She glanced around, trying to spot to nomad. But he was gone from sight it seemed. 'Those guys are just insane... Shooting innocent passers-by with poisonous arrows. They must really have a problem with positive PR and tourists...'

Verling looked back before following then ducked hurryed over. "If Kari is there then we will have to help her. He should have come by now, something is wrong. He must have turned back, if your up to it we could try and follow his tracks. But there is also the chance he might be hiding behind a dune." Verling took a quick glance around before hiding in the hole.

Selena, who had dealt with many different type of enemies, shook her head. 'No, no, no. He wouldn't be hiding around trying to attack us by himself. Look at the facts. He sneaks up on you, then shoots you and with a poisonous arrow too, that will make sure you will be paralysed and die a slow death, unable to defend. Then when I help you he flees and is nowhere to be seen. I think we can safely say that he ran back to his little camp to tell on us with his friends... That's a coward for you...'

"Ya I guess your right. But we have to decide now whether we are going to follow them or there tracks, becouse if we follow them it may take longer, and the longer we wait the more danger your friend is in."

Danger... Danger is a word well known to me... Though I will always prefer it concerning me rather than one of my friends. 'We will have to move fast. I don't want to risk anything. Let's just see were our little friend is taking us. I bet he's on his way to the camp right now...' Selena looked at Verling, still thinking. 'Of course he has got a head start now. We will have to find his tracks in oder to follow him... Or we could...' Selena just had a marvelous idea. 'I could also...' She didn't finish her sentence. Instead she sat down on her knees and put her head onto the ground, like she was trying to listen to the sand. Selena only imagined how foolish it must look for Verling. But then again, echolocation was a rare talent among mages and warlocks. Not even all elves know how to use their senses that well. Selena did. Her mother had taught her a long, long time ago. Before it all had become so complicated. When life still was simple. Selena cleared her mind. She opened herself for any possible voices or images Mother Nature would allow her to experience. 'Concentrate. Just concentrate.' It had been a long time since she had performed echolocation. She only hoped she hadn't lost her touch.

Verling was surprised to see her using the echolocation skill. He had seen a friend of his do it once before, but he was an elf and although he had been tought how he could only hear things nearby, he did not have the skill to listen to thing's far away. He stood there in silence watching and waiting for what she would say.

Selena heard many, many sounds. Sounds that all had their own imprint. Their own noise. No matter how far or nearby they were, she heard them all. Very clearly. The wind whispering, leaves falling, beetles whirring and eagles flying. Then she heard footsteps too. An image started growing clearer and clearer in her mind's eye. A man. A nomad. Running. Very fast. Like he was fleeing or like he was in a hurry. Sweat dripped down his tanned face. In front of his a large statue was placed. Not just a normal statue, no. It was a statue of a Goddess. The Goddess of the sun. The man walked towards it and kneeled before it. Why is he doing that? Selena thought, confused. She shook her head. Just concentrate. There the nomad was again. Though, no he was standing again. He put his hand on that of the statue and opened his mouth to speak.
'Karaelegh Marnalouce...,'
A flash appeared, bright and yellow. It even hurt Selena's eyes though she wasn't really there at all. She blinked a few times and took a deep breath.
'The man travelled west,' Selena told Verling, imagining he could feel a bit anxious right now. 'He just put his hand on a statue. The statue of the Sun Goddess. A bright flash appeared.' Suddenly Selena gasped. She shook her had, amazed. 'Oh, no! How did he...how did he... He...' She couldn't speak for a moment. She was stunned. And I thought nomads were normal gypsy people... She swallowed, then turned to Verling. She gave him a nervous smile. 'Our little friend...,' she started. '...he...' She chuckled, still feeling a bit strange. 'He...kind of...disappeared...into thin air...' she then finally managed to say. 'One minute he was there, the next he was simply gone... Like...like...magick...'

"Gone huh well it looks like following him is now out of the question but his tracks are still fresh. Come I will lead the way, we may find some answers to this riddle at the statue." With that he steped out of there hiding place.

Selena was still in awe. 'But...' She frowned. 'He...he...that nomad...he didn't just disappear...' She got up from the ground. 'He performed some kind of magickal ritual and spoke a spell, some ancient Elven dialect, and walked through a wall of...of...light. That is..that is what he did.' She threw her hands into the air. 'He went through a portal! A nomad! A nomad performed magick and went through a magickal portal! Where on earth did he even learn how to do magick?' She shook her head. 'Now, these guys could be very dangerous. They aren't some regular desert inhabitants who hunt for their food. No, they are warlocks! Warlocks in nomad robes, yes, but warlocks none the less... Only I don't know if it is still the same thing they are hunting...' She gasped. 'Heaven, we have to get there fast! Who knows what they will do to Kari? They could be performing some strange, wicked sacrifice ritual right now!'

Verling was already over the sand dune looking at the tracks when Selena came out. When she had cought up to him he had a distressed look on his face.

Selena saw something was wrong. 'What? What is it?' she asked, her voice slightly shaking.

Verling replied in a qiute voice saying "These tracks look like they are at least three hours old but weve been here for only 1 hour. Its as hive time itself was against us. We must hurry to that statue at this rate the tracks will be gone in less than thirty minutes." With that he dashed of following the tracks not looking behind to see if Selena was following.

Selena hurried down the dunes with Verling, running as fast as she possibly could. Finally they arrived at the statue. Selena swallowed. 'I saw the nomad put his hand on that of the Sund Goddess. After that he said something. Some kind of spell.'

((I will post again later. I've got to go now.))

"I see if you can remember what it was we will need to try it before things get any worse. Quickly you must think hard."

((See ya))

((I am back... *dramatich music plays* lol))


The tension was killing Selena and her concentration was faint. A thing that actually was quite strange, considering Selena had a great memory and nearly never, ever forgot things. It must be the circumstances. Of course the fact that the nomad had spoken an ancient Elven language did not make it any easier on her part. She thought hard. 'Ehm... Okay... It was a dialect. An Elven dialect. I could understand what he was saying a bit, though I could also be wrong...Here goes nothing...' Selena stood right on front of the statue now. Exactly where the nomad had been standing some time ago before he had suddenly disappeared. Selena took a deep breath then placed her hand upon that of the Sun Goddess statue. The stone felt strangely cold and smooth. The look on it's face made her a bit nervous. She looked over her shoulder towards Verling one last time. Come on, don't mess it up. You can do this. Just remember. Think. Speak! Just speak! Slowly Selena opened her mouth.
'Karaeleigh Manalock...,' she spoke. Nothing happened. No problem. It's fine. I didn't expect to get it right the first time anyway.
''Karmaeleste Marnaslouce...,' she tried again, but with no more success than the previous time. This was beginning to get frustrating.
'Karaelogh Marnalou...,' No difference. Selena stamped her feet on the ground. 'OH!' She sighed. 'Okay, don't be such a baby. Just...relax...,' she spoke serenely.
'Karsaelegh Marnalouce...,' Silence. Nothing. No difference. What is going on? Why won't it work? I am trying the Northlanton dialect now, why then won't it work? It is the eleven tongue used throughout all of the kingdoms. You would have to live in a desert to not be able to speak it! Suddenly Selena had a revelation. 'Oh!' she yelled on the top of her voice. 'Oh! Now I know! Now I know!' She cleared her throat then readied herself to speak. ''Karaelegh Marnalouce...' Waiting, she held her breath. Would this be the right incantation?
For a few seconds it silent. Then...a soft creaking was heard. The earth seemed to shift and voiced began to sing. Like angels voices.
'I know what this is!' Selena yelled to Verling. 'The nomads must have claimed the Land of Last Hope! Just listen! The angels! They protect the weary travellers that loose their way!'
While Selena informed her companion of that, the statue moved out of place and slid to the right, strangely enough not making a sound. A bright, yellow light appeared behind it, blinding all who looked into it for a few seconds. When the light grew weaker what was left in the place where first the statue had stood, was a grey, brick stairs. Long and high. The end could not be seen. It seemed to reach all the way to the clouds. Selena screamed out of happiness and carefully took a step onto the stairs. 'Verling, come on! I think we have just found the portal!'

Verling remained silent he walked up the stairs following behind Selena. He was thinking of the nomad and how it knew the elven language. He thought to himself "This is impossible Last time I was here they could bareley speak there own language. Now they speak Elven and have a stair way to heaven. Something is wrong." He continued up the stairs in silence. As they got higher and higher the air continued to get thinner. He wondered when it would end. He stopped and looking at Selena he said "If we get up there we may not come back, but I entend to continue. You must make a choice now. Will you continue in the hopes that your friend is up here and alive or will you leave. I can rescue her alone. If you do not wish to come you can go and I will make sure your friend is safe."

Selena thought it was very nice of Verling to make such an offer. After all besides from the fact that she had this strange and mysterious feeling that she knew him very well, she did not know anything about him. 'No, thank you,' she told him. 'It is very, very kind of you to make such an offer. And just like that too. But I couldn't take it. Not ever.' Her smile faded. 'If Kari is in there she could get hurt. Quite badly. I couldn't stay here. I couldn't go back. Even if that would mean I'd risk my own well-being. I have to be there too. To save her. I'd be a bad person and worthless friend if I wouldn't. Nor would I have peace of mind. But...' She looked him in the eyes. 'Thanks for the offer...'

Verling just stared for a moment and then said "Ok then its settled. Lets keep moving." As they neared the top. He began to feel as though all of his problems where no longer there, that he had no worry's left. The higher he went the stronger the feeling became. As they neared the end he noticed a stange light in the distance.

A feeling of coolness and happiness started to fill Selena's mind. She smiled childishly, glaring at her surroundings. Though she felt the best she had ever done in her entire life, she should have felt scared. If not that at least suspicious. But no. She just kept on smiling and hopping along the stairs until she reached the top. When she finally had come to the very end of the staircase she just stood still for a minute. Then she turned to Verling. I wonder if he wants to play with me. We could play hide in seek in the clouds... Just when she wanted to ask him that her heart jumped up in protest. Something told her, in the dark shadows of her mind, that she had a more urgent mission that had brought her here and that she had no time for silly games like that. Still all she could do was smile. Vaguely. 'Verling...,' she started slowly. 'Do you still...do you still remember what we came here for?'