As we crossed into Paesuna, the sand took over. Dunes began to form all around us. I looked around but really wasn’t sure where to go.
I looked at Briar and Castor; they shrugged.
“It’s been a lot of years since we came for you Ami,” Castor said
I sat on the ground, trying to find a way to get to Calin.
“Uh, Ami?” Sahora said behind me.
“She’s meditating.” Briar said softly.
I focused my mind on finding a path. What did I remember? Slowly, a song fell from my lips.
“When the way seems uncertain,
May the fires of Paesuna rage, for you.
May the sand form a glass path, for you.
May the fires of Paesuna light up the desert, for you.
For a way to your home,
A path that leads to the sands of Calin, home of Canthia,
A home for our ancestors to be.”
It was a simple nursery rhyme parents sang to their kids. It was supposed to represent when we found Paesuna and every clan changes whose sand it is. But as I opened my eyes and scanned the dunes in front of us, I found myself focusing on the south.
I nodded. I didn't know why, but I knew that was the way.
We began to walk south. Trekking through the sand was hard; I wrapped a shirt around my head, and the sun was blazing.
As we got closer to the dunes that lay to the south, the more I could see it.
The way the sun's light hit the dunes made them look like they were on fire.
I paused my footsteps. That song is supposed to be comforting. A myth in song form.
If this is truly coming true, what else could this lead to?
I shook my head. I didn’t care I needed to make it home to Calin.
We continued through the dunes that looked like fire.
We continued through a deep crevice in the sand. I started thinking about the song again.
May the sand form a glass path for you.
Well, a glass path hadn’t formed. Besides who wants to walk on glass?
As we made our way up a dune, Cyrus grabbed my hand to help me up we go to the top. The sand below us seemed to even out more.
We made our way down to the bottom of the dune, as we walked closer, as we did, the more even part of the sand was actually flat. It looked like a large pane of glass on top of sand.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
As I stepped forward, Cyrus grabbed my arm. “Whoa, quicksand can look like that!”
My heart thudded against my ribs as I met his light blue eyes and nodded.
“Alright, how are we going to test it?” I asked
Sahora walked forward, cracking her knuckles confidently. “I can handle this.” Stopping at the edge.
Oliver scrambled behind her. “Nobody said you had to! We could just throw a stick on it and see what happens.”
Sahora looked back at him and shook her head. “Nah, I am curious.”
Oliver looked like he was about to pop with stress.
Sahora stepped a single toe onto the flat of the sand.
I looked over at Oliver. He was pale as she stepped a full foot in.
“It’s glass!” Sahora yelled, and Oliver released a breath as he walked forward.
They stared at each other for a moment, clearly arguing.
I was too caught up in my thoughts to care. The song was coming true.
This pane of glass was a path home. I stepped onto the glass, my heart sinking slightly. But just as it did, Cyrus came up behind me and put his hand in mine, picking up my heart and putting it back where it belongs.
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