After a seemingly endless march, we came upon the edge of the great desert, and the sand went on as far as the eye could see. I looked at my companions, and I saw the weariness etched across their faces. For a moment, I faltered. The journey had been so perilious thus far, and I new the desert would be a great trial for us all. I imagined the disappointment if we were to go back empty-handed, and I could not bear to see the hope fade from my father's eyes. My jaw set with determination; I stepped onto the blazing particles that were the desert floor.

We traveled four days across that ocean of sand and battled through each sweltering wave of heat. My sister and I bore the arid landscape and unquenchable thirst in silence, but our mortal companions were becoming delirious by the sun's scorching rays. We were down to our last bladder of water, and I could smell death hovering ever closer to the man and the warrior woman. She was expendible but the man was not. The Oracle was certian he would be needed if we were to acquire the cure. I watched him closely as I prayed for his survival to any of the gods that would listen.

On the fifth day of our trek across the desert, I saw a strange dancing light on the horizon.