Suddenly my feet felt something different and I opened my eyes, surprised.
When did I close them?
The sand felt more compressed with each step. My feet were getting cooler… was it humid?
WATER?
The sudden joy overtook me, and I ran as quickly as I could across the wet sand. The crystalline water twinkled under the sun as if inviting me to dive in. I waded in the water, until it was deep enough to completely submerge myself in the small pool. I sighed in relief as I let myself float. The water swirled around my body like gentle caresses from a lover.
I could stay here forever.
The clear sky felt less intense, but it reminded me of the current situation. The water moved around as I spun myself back into a standing position. My hands formed a cup to hold the clear water and bring it to my parched lips. It felt sweet and cold as it travelled through my throat, and I drank what felt like gallons.
Finally okay.
The oasis was not as big as I had thought but anything would look small compared to the vast desert. What surprised me the most was that there were plenty of trees gathered at one side. The sand gave way to a tree, then another and suddenly it seemed to grow thick and tall like a forest.
That was strange, wasn’t it?
My memory still felt foggy and unclear, forcing myself to think just gave me hints of a headache. I remembered only my name:
Lys.
But why was I here? What had I been doing before wandering in the desert?
Without any other clues there was not much more I could do. I swam across the pond, towards the tree gathering.
I need to find a way OUT of here.
There was nothing around that I could use to collect the water from the oasis. I drank it without knowing whether it was potable or not. When you’re as dry as the sand you’re stepping on, bacteria and disease are little worries. Not being able to carry water bothered me, however the forest seemed dense enough that I probably wouldn’t have to worry about water… for now.
The splashing under my feet gave way to a faint splatter until it was gone. The sand was not as hot as before and was dappled with green weeds and grass. My white dress clung to me, still drenched from the pool. It was warm near the oasis, and it felt nice to have a bit of moisture around to cool my skin.
Why on earth would I have brought a white dress to a desert? Or to a forest, for that matter.
No answer came to my mind.
I felt the rough tree bark under my palm as I peered into the growth. The leaves were shuffling with a wind I couldn’t feel, and the trees felt somehow alive with chirping, flapping and the myriad of noises one would expect in a forest.
As I stepped into the dense foliage, darkness fell over me like a cloak and the wet dress grew cold and uncomfortable against my skin. Behind me the desert disappeared, only trees, vines, and bushes remained.
And deep, impenetrable darkness.
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