Submission (#7755) Approved

The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink as Yoru and Shiro began their journey back to Devara, their paws sinking into the cooling sand. If they squinted their eyes, they could see the giant eldertree of Ahza up north, barely peeking up behind the vast mountain ridge.

The desert stretched before them, golden dunes rolling like ocean waves, the sand shimmering in the setting sun.

Shiro walked with a bounce in his step, still buzzing with excitement from their discoveries. "Do you think the Glissel will miss us?" he asked, glancing back at the oasis, now a shimmering mirage in the distance.

Yoru nodded his head slightly, thinking about it. "Maybe. But they’ll still be there when we visit again."

The wind was cooler now, brushing gently through their fur. The desert air, once scorching, had turned crisp and refreshing. Small desert plants dotted the landscape; tough little bushes with spiky leaves, clusters of pale flowers that only opened at dusk, and towering cacti standing against the darkening sky. Some bore round, plump fruits, their surfaces covered in fine spines.

Shiro was instantly interested in those. "Think they are tasty?" He ran up to a cactus, circling it and trying to figure out how to get the fruits.

Yoru smirked. "Only if you like getting a mouthful of needles."

Shiro backed away, grinning. “It’s just extra spice!”

As they moved on, the ground shifted beneath them, revealing something pale jutting from the sand. Yoru slowed, his sharp eyes catching the curve of a fossilized ribcage, half-buried and smoothed by time. The brittle bones were massive, their surfaces worn like polished stone.

Shiro stopped in his tracks and gasped. "Whoa! What do you think it was?"

"Something big," Yoru murmured, tracing a paw along one of the ribs. His mind filled with images of creatures long gone - towering beasts with thick hides and heavy footsteps, roaming Ahza before the dunes swallowed their world.

Shiro grinned. "Maybe it was a giant, fluffy kittom from ancient times!" He reared up on his hind legs, swishing his tail dramatically. "The Great Desert Pouncer!"

Yoru chuckled, shaking his head. "More like something that would have eaten kittoms for a snack."

Shiro dropped back down with a shiver. "No thanks, I’m too young to be eaten."

The desert changed as twilight crept in. Shadows stretched long across the dunes and the first stars started to appear in the vast sky, one by one.

"We should see Devara soon," Yoru said, his gaze fixed ahead.

Shiros nose twitched. "I can already smell the waterfalls!" 

And he was right - soon, the air carried the faintest scent of warm water and more - spices and  lantern smoke. The night market was starting and the silhouette of Devara rose in the distance. Even from here, the faint hum of voices and music carried on the breeze, welcoming them home.

Yoru grinned, picking up his pace.

"Race you to the gates?"