Suleimon circled the perimeter of the tent holding his wife, who was currently in the process of birthing several times. He was unaware of the blazing sun beating down onto him, as he had grown accustomed to it. After 26 years in the desert, he had to have grown accustomed to one of the desert's many allies, to one of the desert's deadly weapons, along with lack of water. He was worried. Suleimon just prayed that the deity his wife planned to name their child, if female also extended her arms and shielded his wife, and their child.
A loud, throaty scream caused him to panic even more. Suleimon was used to being in control. But this situation was one he could not. Then, a cry startled him. There was silence, and then it was joined by another. Suleimon's tense shoulders relaxed and he swept back into the tent, and gazed at his wife, and then looked to her breast, where she was feeding two lovely babies. His children. Their children. One of which, would be the heir. One of which, who was to be the future Med-jai chieftain. Suleimon smiled at his wife and leant over to his wife, and embraced her, and reached over to his children. He took them in his arms and smiled. This was it. He was complete.
- 18 years later
Ardeth awoke to the sound of horses riding into his village. He then immediately brushed off the sleepiness, and came out of the dreamy state his sleep had left him in when he heard screams. Screams belonging to women and children. He had little time to grab his scimitar when the tent surrounding him burst into flames. Seconds later, he was struggling to breathe. The smoke encapsulating him was choking him, forcing the oxygen out of his lungs and replacing it with the strong, acid gas. Ardeth squinted, the smoke burning his eyes, and panicked. He had nowhere to turn. He surrounded by a wall of flames, which were creeping closer by the second. It wouldn't be long before the fire consumed him. Ardeth tried to shout for help, but no sound came. Even if his vocal chords allowed sound to pass through them, it was unlikely for help to come. So Ardeth sat down, feeling tired, and weary, and allowed himself to fall into unconsciousness.
