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I rolled the rock to the side and crawled through the tunnel, stopping to listen and whisper all clear to Summer, before I exited out into the large chamber.
The monitors beeped, and I sensed the Universal Council’s anger, but I only grinned.
Summer soon joined me, and I waved to indicate I was going to explore the cave.
Turning to our right, I progressed along the outer wall, taking in the smooth, high cliff face, and the lack of exits. Was the set of ledge stairs and the hole in the desert floor our only way out? I hadn’t seen tracks of other creatures while we descended, although with the poor lighting and sand everywhere, it was hard to tell.
Summer kept pace with me, and the monitors hovered not far away. She’d put Tumbles down, and he rolled along the floor on his spiky fur.
We made a complete circle of the large cave, and I picked up a few rocks I found on the stone surface, giving one to Summer. She hefted it, and I could tell she felt stronger holding it. Having even a rock to defend yourself took this to a whole new level.
We continued walking, and eventually, we reached the entrance to Tumbles’s den.
Summer shrugged, no doubt sharing my thoughts. Whatever we’d heard the night before had left. And there was no way out of the large cave except the way we’d entered. We’d have to resume our trek across the desert floor.
We walked to the series of stone ledges and started climbing, and both of us were breathing hard by the time we reached the opening.
Tumbles had rolled along each ledge, and I’d noted they gradually inclined, allowing him to easily hop from the one he rested on to the one above.
I gestured to indicate I’d go outside first, then slowly poked my head through the opening. Spying nothing about, I crawled out and stood, peering around, my rock ready to hit whatever attacked.
Something had taken the scoopeen carcasses, but that was no surprise. Other predators or they ate each other.
“Clear,” I said softly, and Summer joined me on the surface, Tumbles rolled out behind her.
Before we could discuss in what direction we’d head, he’d started across the desert, continuing in the same direction he’d taken yesterday.
Summer lifted her brows. “Follow or . . .”
“He has helped us this far.”
“He doesn’t know we need to find water. Food would be nice too.” She rubbed her belly, frowning. “Though at this point, I’m not sure it matters. If we can find water, we can drink some before we make the rest disappear.”
“We’ll follow Tumbles, then.”
We started after him, and he moved along quickly, to the point that I broke into a slow jog. Summer soon tired, and her skin that had faded somewhat overnight started to pinken again. We had no mud to protect her, but perhaps this world wasn’t completely desert. I spied . . . I wasn’t sure what it could be, but Tumbles headed toward it.
We kept up for many ticks, the monitors floating beside us.
Even I started feeling the heat, and my muscles began to tire. It was difficult walking in sand that slipped whenever you stepped upon it. Half of our steps took us partway backward.
Cresting a small hill, I stopped and waited for Summer, who’d slowed and was a few steps behind.
She stopped with me and wiped the hair off her sweaty face. “Are you doing all right?”
It crushed me that she thought of me first. But then, I did the same. “I am all right. You?”
“Droopy. Hot. Sweaty. Stinky. And thirsty, but I imagine you feel the same.”
Tumbles yipped before I could speak, and we turned toward him. He’d rolled up the next taller hill and waited.
“We probably shouldn’t stop, though it feels good not to be moving,” she said. With a heavy sigh, she started down the slope, slipping and sliding to the bottom, then working her way slowly toward the top of the next.
I followed, worried we couldn’t keep going like this for much longer. To think I’d been concerned about spending the night below ground. The coolness of the cave would be welcome right now.
“Whoa,” Summer said from ahead of me. “Look at that!”
Tumbles yipped and started down the other side while I joined Summer.
Ahead of us, I spied a cluster of trees. No water—yet—but where there was vegetation, I suspected we’d find it.
