So here we are again. I'll just let you know that after this chapter things ill start to get even weirder than they already are. Enjoy.

Chapter 10

Kiara

A very short distance into the desert and I can feel a very strong wind on my fur. And soon, on the horizon, I spot something. As I look closer I see that it's... A sandstorm! It's advancing at us so fast that I just know we won't be able to outrun it. I turn to Sauti, not caring if she sees my tears, and shout:

"Sandstorm! Get down!"

She must have understood me because she instantly ducked down to the ground when I said that. Before I can take cover though the sandstorm hits us. I'm blinded by the swirling sand and I have no idea which direction to go in. I would call out to Sauti but that would be pointless. I can't even see her.

I hear her call out to me.

"Kiara!"

I can't find her. We can't stay out in this storm, it'll finish us off for good. I try and make my way over to where I think Sauti is. I've gone a few feet and I can't see or feel her. I carry on a few more feet, hoping that I'm going the right way. I hope to god that this storm will only be a short one.

I'm about to turn around and try the other way when my foot feels something different on the ground. It feels like a slope. Before I can stop I feel myself fall down. It must have been a buried cave. It hurts when I land on my back but it didn't damage me, meaning it mustn't have been a very deep cave. The sandstorm can't be felt on my fur down here. I open my eyes and I'm glad to be able to see again. But there's a problem. I'm down here, and Sauti is up there in the storm still. How will she ever find me? She can't hear me calling out and there's no way she'll be able to see me in all that sand being tossed around.

I cough and notice that the storm is subsiding, and moments later it's completely died down.

I look around and the cave walls are very sandy, just like the ground down here. My paws are buried under the sand where it's so thick beneath them. It feels weird, unlike dirt or grass sand isn't a solid material to stand on.

"Kiara!" I hear from out in the desert.

How close is Sauti I wonder? Close enough to spot me down here? I bloody hope she is. Though I know it's pointless, I call out anyway.

"Sauti! I'm down here!"

To my surprise, as if by magic, Sauti appears at the top of the hole I'm in.

"Kiara!" She calls down to me. "Nod if you're OK."

I nod and she sighs in relief. But there's still the matter of getting out to overcome. It's going to be tricky arranging any sort of plan but we'll have to manage.

"Can you see a way out down there? Or a way to another part of the cave at least?" Sauti asks.

I look around and there is a passage way leading away into an underground place. I nod to tell Sauti about it.

"Alright. I'll try and find another way down to you. Take a look down that passageway and see if it leads back to the surface."

I put my paw up in response, as a kind of wave, before heading off down the passageway in the hopes that it takes me back to the surface. Sauti goes off to find another way to get to me. Although I have a feeling she won't find one. I'll just have to hope that there's a way out from my end.

So the wind didn't turn out to be anything particularly important in the end, but now Kiara's stuck in a hole. Stay tuned for the next chapter in a couple of days.