If I ever get out of here

[Farein 0]

Re days of sand, sand and more sand. Sand in her shoes, sand in her pack, even sand all over her tasteless, hard-as-rock rations. Dharvanek figured there was na much to see in the desert except the occasional shadow of some local critter, so she kept on walking... and walking... and walking... She had na idea how long it has been since she was dropped in this wasteland. She was sure the boredom was killing a fair amount of brain cells. So everything was tuned out as she proceeded to remember the few interesting things that happened so far.

 

-------------- Daydream starting here -----------

 

.... What time is it? Where am I? Suddenly memories of the previous days flooded back as they always did in the early mornings when everything seemed incomprehensible. Images flashes through her mind, the jump, the parachute na opening, hours of time (na to mention brain-cell) killing.....

 

When Dharvanek opened her eyes, the sun was well up into the sky. She could practically taste the dry, humid air on her tongue. Then, the pangs of hunger. Must get up... and get to food.... What’s this? I’m... buried in sand?!! She scrambled up to her feet, spitting out sand and frantically brushing it off her uniform. Note to Self: find some other place to camp out next time....

 

Only io corner of her pack was sticking out from the sand, otherwise she may have never found it. The inside was filled to the brim with more of that cursed sand, she had to turn it upside down and flail it around until all the sand came out.

 

What hardtack she had was so dry, she thought it would crumble into dust if she actually touched it. Miraculously, the hardtack held together. It was sandy though, Dharvanek tried to brush off as much as she could, but it never came off completely. But She was na the kind of rihan to be choosy, any food was good food. She took a bite thinking it would grind up her teeth, strangely, it had a hint of sweetness to it.

 

Then she glimpsed a flash of color near where her pack used to be. She scooped up some sand and uncovered some type of plant... dripping some... powder or something. On closer inspection it resembled tiny sugar crystals, was this what she had been eating? Uh-oh. I hope its na poisonous... She extended a finger and brushed off some of the substance. Taking a taste, she thought: huh, I did na yy’a. So she shook the spiny-leafed plant until all the “sugar” fell into her ration container. If the hardtack insisted on tasting of dirt, at least they’ll be sugar flavored dirt.

 

--------End Daydream---------

 

She climbed up a sand dune, struggling to na slip back down. When she got to the top, she saw... trees? In the desert? Yet, there they were, right in front of her eyes. Where there is plant life, there is water. Heh, I am na so incompetent after all. To see far, au must be high. I am good!

 

She grinned as she made her way up the closest tree. With some effort, Dharvanek pulled herself onto a branch, her legs dangling off the sides. She had to squint and shield her eyes from the bright sun. She saw something in the distance. What was that? Dharvanek could make out the faint outline of a person, who was.... getting shorter by the minute....

 

And then... she knew. It was Arrain R’Tor from Engineering, the same io in the REF bay. Dharvanek took a sharp intake of breath, the Arrain was sinking in something.... should I leave her there? Dharvanek did na want to confront any of...those people. But alas... she released her breath, maybe she will na recognize me, I will pray to the Elements on the way there. Just to make sure. She slid down the trunk of the tree and hurried in that direction. But na too hurried of course.

Edited July 27, 2004 by Farein