The road to the next shelter passed faster than they had expected. The path they followed led through rocky terrain, bordered on one side by rugged, jagged mountains and on the other by the vast dunes of the desert. Thanks to this natural cover, they were protected from the scorching sun, allowing them to make up several hours of travel.
Eventually, they reached the location marked on the map. But instead of the expected building or ruins, they found only emptiness. No sign of shelter, no walls, no traces of human presence. Had they misread the map? Or had the shelter been destroyed?
For two hours they wandered the area, searching every corner, until at last they stumbled upon a cave. Its entrance was well hidden, concealed from the main path by rocky outcrops, making it difficult to spot at first glance. Near the narrow opening were faded drawings and several mysterious runes—identical to the ones they had seen earlier on the boulders.
Alex examined them closely, furrowing his brow.
— There were five runes on the previous stones, and there are five here on the wall too... he murmured. Maybe the number of runes marks the boundaries of a protected area?
The patterns were simple—a few lines carved into the rock—but their repetition and placement might have some deeper meaning. With several hours left until dusk, Alex decided to study them more thoroughly.
Lyra walked past him with a sigh, muttering:
— I'm going to look for water.
Alex only grunted something unintelligible, too engrossed in the inscriptions to pay her much attention.
Her search for water, however, ended in disappointment. Around them grew only a few stunted bushes and dry, lifeless stalks sticking out of the sandy soil. Lyra gathered what she could, wandering a little longer through the area before returning to camp.
There were about two hours until dusk. She quickly stacked the dried branches and lit a small fire, careful not to attract unwanted attention. Then she reached into her backpack and pulled out the viper that had attacked Alex earlier. With a swift motion, she skinned it, cut it into pieces, skewered the meat, and began roasting it over the flames.
Meanwhile, Alex finished his examination and turned toward her. The air was filled with the wonderful smell of roasting meat, instantly reminding him how hungry he was. He looked at Lyra with a gleam in his eye, like a starving wolf spotting its prey.
The meat was delicious. Compared to the dry, bland provisions they had brought with them, the warm, juicy pieces of viper tasted almost like a delicacy. Lightly roasted over the fire, it released an aromatic scent that filled the entire cave, offering them a moment of peace after the hardships of the journey.
Lyra broke the silence first.
— Where I come from, the runes look very similar, but there are many more of them, she said, glancing at the cave walls. I never really thought about their meaning… until now. Maybe they make more sense than we realize.
Alex looked at her with interest but didn't respond right away. He finished the last bite of meat, then wiped his hands on the fabric of his pants.
When the meal was over, they stomped out the dying fire, making sure not to leave any traces behind. It was time to head deeper into the cave.
Inside was dim. The only source of light was the faint glow from the narrow entrance. The walls were dry and cracked, in places covered in a layer of dust and sand that had blown in over the years. The air was cooler than outside, giving them a brief reprieve from the desert's heat.
They laid out their modest supplies and began checking the state of their provisions.
— Not good, Lyra muttered, counting their remaining water. We've got food for three more days, but water… only enough for one.
Silence fell. Nothing could be heard but their breathing and the occasional rustle of sand falling somewhere deep in the cave.
— Tomorrow will be a challenge, she added after a moment, looking up at Alex. To reach the next shelter, we have to travel at least twice as far as we did today.
Alex sighed, leaning back against the cool wall. He knew Lyra was right. Without water, they'd have to move faster—but if they pushed too hard, exhaustion and dehydration could kill them before they arrived.
They had no choice.
They laid out their bedding—thin, slightly worn fabric that barely insulated them from the hard stone floor. It wasn't comfortable, but at least they could rest.
The night passed quickly, without any unpleasant surprises.
The only sounds they heard were the occasional rustle and distant, low growls echoing from outside. Whatever lurked in the desert hadn't found their hideout. Even the demons would have had trouble discovering this place.
As the first rays of sunlight slowly crept into the cave, Alex opened his eyes.