Among the tired faces, a new one appeared. An elf. She was sitting a few steps away, turned slightly from the sun, with her eyes closed. There was dried blood on her side—probably from a whip. Her face was dirty, but her posture stayed proud and straight, like she wasn't tired at all.
Her chestnut hair was tied back, and on her shoulder was a tattoo—a geometric pattern that looked like a tribal symbol, with sharp lines twisted into a strange shape. Wildness and pride showed in every move she made. The other slaves kept their distance, as if they were scared of her. Even though she sat in the same place as the rest, it was clear she didn't belong in this desert world.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't stop looking at her. For a long time, he just watched her chest rise and fall as she breathed. The other slaves stared at the ground, tired and almost passed out. But she... it looked like she still had a reason to keep going.
And then their eyes met.
It was just a moment. There was no fear in her eyes. There was anger. And something else—rage, pride...Alex felt his throat tighten. Her look was strong and hard. She looked at him like she wanted to show she hadn't been broken, no matter what had happened.
A second later, she looked away and stared back at the desert like nothing had happened.
The day kept going. The sun sank lower, and the sky slowly turned from pale yellow to purple. Even a little shade gave some comfort. At the edge of the camp, old cloths were stretched out—worn, faded, and only partly protecting people from sand and wind.
Near them walked strange humped creatures—the same ones the guards had ridden earlier. They looked like huge lizards, but their bodies were big and heavy, like they were made for carrying weight over long distances. They had thick, scaly skin in brown and grey tones, wide shoulders, and short but strong legs with claws. Big, curved horns grew from their heads—larger than those of a rhino—and their tails looked strong enough to knock over a grown man.Their yellow eyes, with thin pupils, glowed slightly and watched every movement in the camp. They moved low to the ground, slowly and carefully, and made quiet growling noises, like nervous animals.
In the evening, they each got a bowl of food—a mash made of grains and something like dried meat. Alex ate slowly, trying not to think about the taste or where the food came from. It was disgusting, but filling.He kept watching her from the side. He was afraid to get closer. He felt the same distance the others did—something about her made people feel nervous, though they didn't know why.
One of the guards threw her bowl onto the sand with clear pleasure. The bowl hit the ground, spilling some of the food, and the guard gave a short laugh, still watching her closely.
Alex moved without thinking, like his body reacted faster than his mind. He stopped halfway. Something inside him shouted not to get involved. This wasn't his fight. Not now.
The elf didn't even look at the guard. Without saying anything, she reached for the bowl, picking up what she could from the sand. Her fingers moved calmly, without rush or emotion. Like it didn't matter.She started eating, sitting straight, just like before. She didn't look at anyone. Not at the guard. Not at Alex.
That night, Alex slept badly. He turned from side to side, sweat sticking to his forehead even though the air was cooler.He dreamed of a forest—thick, dark, and unfamiliar. He saw tall trees with branches so high they disappeared into the clouds.
He was searching for something—or maybe someone. He walked barefoot on wet ground, feeling cold mud under his feet. The air was full of moisture. Leaves covered the ground, and from every direction came the sound of dripping water.
Branches moved, even though there was no wind. They reached out to him, like they wanted to stop him or pull him in.He started running, not knowing where. For a moment, he felt free—the forest wasn't only dark anymore, it felt... alive. Like it was watching him. Like it was waiting.
And then it all stopped. Like something had snapped. Alex woke up suddenly, breathing hard and with his heart pounding.
The camp was quiet. Only the wind moved the cloth above him. Far away, one of the creatures guarding the camp growled.He looked up at the sky—black and full of stars, like it went on forever.