“And your paws aren’t?”
Luna let out a little snarl.My paws are perfect for the sand. How dare you question that?
Luna trotted over to Sabriel, winding between her legs.
Casimir turned to Gisela. “Can you have Pascal scout outthe safest path while we rest?” She nodded. Seconds later, Gisela’s raven cawed and spread his wings, flying off into the horizon.
“I must admit, your dirty beasts are quite handy,” Jareth quipped, striding up to the group.
Aro lumbered by and nudged Jareth’s leg so hard, he fell back on the sand. The bear glanced at Jareth, growled, then joined Sabriel and Luna. Casimir looked at Aro and chuckled.
“What did he say?” Jareth grumbled, climbing to his feet and dusting off his navy tunic and brown pants.
The group had forgone their armor, knowing it would be too hot to wear it. It was likely useless anyway against the rumored monsters that lived here. Armor or not, they’d be killed if one got a hold of them.
Casimir smirked at his brother. “He said call him dirty one more time and see what he does.”
Jareth had the sense to look a bit frightened at the idea of Aro coming after him, but he laughed it off, trying to hide it.
A caw pierced the desert air as Pascal returned, landing on Gisela’s shoulder. Ava stood, finished making the portal for their soldiers and horses, while Gisela addressed the group, relaying the information Pascal gathered. “Let me see the map.” She held out her hand to Jareth.
Reluctantly, he pulled it from his pocket and handed it over. Gisela unfolded the parchment and pointed to the location they assumed was the cave. It hadn’t been explicitly marked, seemingly in some type of code Orion had created, but Jareth was almost positive that’s where it was.
“Pascal says if we go this way”—she ran her finger along the map from where they currently stood to their destination—“we will encounter too many dangers. He suggests going around this way.” She drew a separate path.
“Into the canyons?” Casimir asked.
“Yes,” Gisela said. “The desert is flat until we reach thosecanyons and then we must venture down and go through them. The open sands are much too dangerous.”
“Why are they too dangerous?” Ava asked.
The group was quiet, no one seeming to know the answer.
Imsel spoke, their voice foreboding, “Jarouki’i.”
Everyone’s heads whipped in their direction.
“What is this?” Maeryn asked.
Imsel’s brown eyes were full of fear as they continued, “The Jarouki’i rule the desert. They are the apex predators. Giant insects with hundreds of sharp legs and many pincers. They are nearly impossible to kill due to their armored bodies.”
“How do you know about these creatures?” Casimir asked.
“I read.”
“What do we do if we see one?” Raine asked.
“Run.”
“Perfect,” Ava muttered. “So, according to Pascal…if we go through the canyons, we’ll avoid these Jarouki’i?”
“I believe so. Pascal thinks this way would be safer, but there are no guarantees.”
“What else do you know of these creatures?” Casimir asked Imsel.
They shrugged. “Not much. But they are known to make traps in the softer sands. For their prey to fall through and be devoured below.”
The thought of falling through a trap of sand and being eaten by a giant insect that sounded like some type of mutant centipede, made Ava’s stomach churn. Surely, they’d be able to sense if the texture of the sand changed or if there was a trap ahead of them.
