Farid couldn't sleep. He stared at the blanket of stars, stretched above him. He sighed and turned on his side. He heard the ghosts whispers in the clearing. There was no point telling Dustfinger he couldn't sleep. He would probably just mumble "There aren't any ghosts in this world" and fall asleep and forget about it in the morning. Farid wrapped his blankets around him more tightly,shivering. His lack of sleep didn't help as it was November.
He wasn't used to it being so cold here. There were only two seasons were he came from:The rain and dry season. This world was so different. Farid looked enviously at rising and falling heap that was Dustfinger. How could he always sleep so peacefully as soon as his head touched the ground!? It never seemed fair to Farid that he would usually get to sleep at the crack of dawn.
There was some rustling from the bush. He sat up and stared at it. After a few minutes, nothing happened. He sighed, and lied down on the grass again. Sudenly a hand out of no were, covered his mouth. Farid let out a muffled, panicked scream, trying to pull the hand off his mouth.
"If you don't pipe down soon, I'll redecorate your face with my knife"A smooth, mocking voice whispered.
It was too dark to see his face, but Basta's terrible, minty breath was unforgettable.
"Basta!"He said, in a muffled voice.
Grinning an evil grin, he drew out a long silver knife.
"Long time, no see my little Arab. Missed me?"
Farid shook his head violently.
Laughing quietly, he forced Farid on to his feet. He took his chance, and bit Bastas hand. "Dustfinger! Wake up! It's Basta, he's -"
But the man had covered his mouth again, and quickly drew him into the shadows of the trees.
"You'll pay for that little trick, my Arab"He said, in a soft, deadly voice.
Basta pulled of bandanna and forced the bandanna into his mouth and tied it around his head.
"Maybe that'll shut you up"
Farid tried to untie it, but he grabbed his wrists. He tried to push Farid forward, but he struggled against the tall man;fighting desperately to get back to Dustfinger.Basta merely picked him up, and slung him over his shoulder, as if he were a mere sack.Farid screamed through his bandanna, though it quiet and muffled, and couldn't reach Dustfinger. He fought as fiercely as he could ,though in vain, as his last hope of escaping was getting further and further away.
OoOoOoOoOoOooOoOoO
Dustfinger woke up with a jolt, sweating. He could have sworn he had heard Farid's voice. He got up quietly, and walked towards were he usualy slept.
He wasn't there.
Dustfingers eyes widened. "Farid?"He yelled. "Farid!? Were are you?" But of course, there was no reply.