Chapter 8

The next time Leo woke, the rocking had returned, gentle and comforting. It was almost enough to put him back to sleep again. His surroundings were dark, making him wonder where he was. Pushing his eyes open, he blinked to clear them. It was dark, but he was still outside. He could see the multitude of stars just above him in all their shining glory. It was a more beautiful sight than what he could see in the city. Shifting his gaze, he looked for the source of the rocking, fearing he was being carried by whoever was standing over him when he had first passed out.

Below him was a black horse, walking gently through the desert. It had a flowing black mane and a light shine to its thin fur.

Fearing that he had been captured again, he carefully looked around for the owner of the horse, trying not to draw attention to himself. Seeing no one, he raised an eyeridge in confusion. What was going on? Where was the person who had stood over him? Where was this horse talking him?

Before he could think on this anymore, he felt unconsciousness swallow him once more.

The next time he woke, there was no movement that he could feel. Opening his eyes, he found himself lying in the sand. A few large rocks stood around him, a pool of water in front of him. He stared at it, wondering if it was just another mirage. His stomach rumbled once more making him realize just how hungry and thirsty he was. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.

Cautiously, he reached out to poke a finger into the water. He tilted his head as he felt it. It was cool and smooth. Nothing like a mirage…

He scooped up some of the water and drank greedily until he had his fill, grateful that it was real water. Sitting up, he looked around for the horse that had carried him, but saw nothing but darkness and sand. It was cooler now that it was night and would make for easy travel. However, he still had a food problem. There was nothing to eat out here. He would have to find his way to wherever the ship had docked and hopefully find something for food there. But that raised another question. Which way was the dock?

He stood and looked back at the water, cursing himself for not having something to carry water in. He should have checked the men who had attacked him for a canteen or something. Anything would've been better than nothing. But he couldn't stay here forever either. With a sigh, he began walking, heading east by what he could tell from the stars. He climbed a hill of sand and spotted a black stallion below. He looked down on it, deciding that this had to be the one that had carried him when he collapsed. It didn't seem to have an owner just as he had thought before.

Climbing down the hill of sand, he drew closer to it. It looked up at him, watching him with a steady gaze. He took a few more steps towards it, stopping as the horse skittered away a few feet, watching him once more as it stood alert.

Leo stood still, watching the horse with curiosity. He didn't quite want to just leave yet as he was grateful to it for bringing him to some water, but there was also no one else out here. He didn't know which way to go and had no way to contact anyone. He could be lost out here for days. Even if he had just someone, even a horse, to talk to or to help him get through the desert at a faster pace, he might spend less time out here. He would get back to his family sooner.

With that in mind, he took another step closer to the horse as to which the horse took another step back. This went on for the next three steps that Leo took. Not getting anywhere at the moment, Leo just stood there watching the horse. It eventually started digging its nose into the sand, finding something edible beneath.

Curious, Leo bent down and began digging at the sand. Just a little underneath, he found bits of wild grass. He smiled wryly and plucked what little grass he found. Standing, he held it out the horse. "You still hungry?" he asked of it.

The horse seemed to tilt his head and took a step forward before stepping back again.

"It's alright. You can trust me," Leo spoke encouragingly.

The horse took a step forward and stopped, watching him closely.

Leo waited patiently, keeping the horse's attention, encouraging with his words. After a few tries, the horse took a few more steps, slowly closing the distance to soon snatch the grass from his hand. He reached up and gently stroked the horse's snout and then its neck. "That a boy," he murmured. "You're pretty strong aren't you?"

The horse neighed and seemed to nod.

He chuckled, stroking the horse's neck again. "And have a lot of spirit too."

The horse nudged him in the shoulder and nipped at his bandana tails.

"Hey stop that," Leo teased the horse. He patted the horse once more. "What do you say? Want to help me find my way out of here?"

The horse let out a neigh and nudged him again. This time almost knocking Leo over and neighing again.

"I'll take that as a yes?" Leo laughed as it started prancing around him. "Bit of a show off to huh?"

He stared at the horse, deciding that if it was to travel with him, he wanted to name it. He thought quietly, watching it prance about. "Kachiuma," he said suddenly. "Because you have a lot of spirit."

The horse neighed, standing by his side again as if to agree.

"Well then, let's see if we can get me home then." Leo reached upward to climb up to ride Kachiuma, but the horse skittered away.

"So I can't ride you huh?"

The horse snorted.

"Oh I see. It's going to be like that, is it?" Leo laughed at the horse and began watching, noting that it did indeed follow him. "At least I have a friend. You wouldn't happen to know the direction to the docks would you?"

Kachiuma snorted.

"I thought not."

The two of them started walking, Leo wishing for food himself. The only thing he saw was sand and a few cacti. Not really edible for him. And even grass was scarce when he had looked to gain some trust in the horse. He would have to keep an eye out for something he could eat. He felt weak from lack of food, but at least he had had some water. One problem was better than two. Perhaps there was some sort of desert fruit nearby. Anything he could he eat would help if he could find it.

He walked on with a sigh, the cloak fluttering about him in the cool night breeze. It was going to be a long walk…

Basir glared out in the darkness. He and a few of the hired men had woken up after the raider attack. The turtle creature was gone. Omar was dead. He couldn't lose his prize and had raced into the desert to find it, threatening the lives of the men if they didn't follow him. That was hours ago. There was no trace of the creature anywhere. The wind had blown away any sort of tracks the creature might have made.

He let loose a primal scream of frustration. All that work and his prize was gone! He scowled and turned back. They would make for home and then perhaps he would send his more trusted men to search for the creature. He would not lose it so easily.