Reens and the Naga (WIP Story)
It was an arid, sweaty party that made its way through the desert on this day. Reens, her grandfather Anthony "Tony" Thorpe, and his archeological party were trekking across the desert sands for a new place that Tony had mentioned to Reens in passing. It was an oasis in the desert; a place where he and his crew could dig for new treasures and gain impressive riches from their exploits. Of course, Tony didn't care all that much about the riches and glory. Being older made him wise to his true desires, and one of them was to spend more quality time with his youngest (and, by definition, only) granddaughter by taking her with him on his worldly travels.
Reens, on the other hand, didn't care much for the treasure and riches either, though for a different reasoning than her grandfather's. She was tired, thirsty, and sweating profusely, even though her limited clothing gave her some relief from overheating. She shook her canteen warily, hearing a faint trickle of water inside. She loved her grandfather dearly, as much as any sensible grandchild could, but being taken to the middle of a nameless desert in pursuit of a treasure that was merely a mention, perhaps even a figment of the imagination, was a bit much in her opinion, to say the least. She opened the canteen and tried to drink, but the water was lukewarm, and didn't taste very refreshing at all. She looked down at her grandfather from the camel she was riding on and quickly slid down off of its hump, making it huff in the process.
"Grandpa, I really don't mean to complain, but can't we just take a break for a little bit? I really need a break, and I'm sure you could use one too," Reens groaned, wiping her forehead and brushing a few loose strands of her dark blue hair away from her face. "And maybe find an oasis as well? My canteen's out of water."
Tony shrugged, setting down his pack. "I have some extra bottled water in here, hon. You can fill your canteen with it," he replied, tossing a bottle to Reens.
The rest of the members of his excavation party groaned, whether in protest at the sudden stop or relief from lowering their heavy equipment Reens didn't know. Reens unscrewed the cap from the bottle and her canteen, filling it. Tony then set up camp, and the group sat around in a circle and shared a meal together. Reens, tired after such a long trek, set her pack down on the ground behind her and leaned against the truck Tony's archeological colleague had driven. She soon drifted off into a light sleep, her chest rising and falling slowly and deeply.
It would be a few hours later when she would wake, dazed, slightly confused… and utterly alone.