(read first Raven)

It felt like a second but she knew it had been hours. The sun was coming up from the horizon giving her tent a red hue. She opened her eyes and heard the sound of crunching leaves behind her.

Raven tensed and squinted her eyes to make it look like she was sleeping. Her cloth door was wiping in the wind, revealing a small little man standing outside watching her. He slowly crept inside and carefully, soundlessly picked up the gnome hat. Raven opened her eyes and leaped at the little gnome. She grabbed at him apace and seized his little leg that fit in her hand. The little man wiggled around furiously trying to pull himself away but couldn’t.

“Stop that’s mine,” she said to him.

“This is rightfully mine little girl,” the gnome retorted.

“Little girl? You’re the little one,” Raven said to him and pulled him from the exit. “You left that hat.”

“Let me down this instant,” he demanded. “Don’t you touch me, girl.”

“Give it back,” Raven requested. “I found it.”

“I bought it,” the gnome said. “Give it and…”

“And what? Give it back,” Raven yelled as she hung him upside down by his leg. “You’re a stupid little man.”

“I’m a gnome,” he said. “Now who’s stupid?”

“I knew that, what other creature wears red pointy caps?” She scoffed. “Give it back now.”

“Why do you want it? It’s mine,” the gnome questioned. “It’s mine.”

Raven took the gnome and raised him. She grabbed the cap from his grasp and tossed him like a stick across her tent. “Give it to me now,” the gnome leaped at her and climbed onto her shoulder. She hid it behind her back and twisted, sending the little gnome flying. “It’s not your right to do this, who do you think you are?”

“I’m the princess,” Raven declared.

“Of course you are, you’re all spoiled little brats,” he leaped at her and clung to her back. Raven shook herself and grabbed at him. Suddenly at unison they looked out the tent door, Demetria was crouched, gaping at them wide eyed. She stood up and screamed; running away.

“Look what you’ve done,” Raven said annoyed. “Get off me.”

“No!” The gnome yelled and dove onto her head. He grabbed at the hat as she flailed everywhere. “Give it to me.” Raven tossed the hat into the corner of the tent and pushed the gnome off her. He instantly ran towards the hat and snatched it. “Catch me now little girl.” Then he was gone with the blow of the wind like a flash.

Raven looked out of the tent as she watched a small shadow vanish into the woods. Demetria came running back out of breath.

“What happened?” She asked frightened.

“Calm down,” Raven said calmly. “Was only a small gnome.”

“Only? It was a gnome,” she said astonished. “None has seen them in years, they always run away.”

“Yeah, they do,” she laughed. “Breakfast?”

“I… don’t feel good,” Demetria said winded as she walked away. Raven smiled and laughed at her friend’s sudden panic as she walked away. She changed into a black dress and leather gloves. The days went by and until a whole moon past. Then a couple moons went by and a few more.

*

Raven sat on a stump in the woods, she watched the birds pass over the tips of the trees and the squirrels scurry up the branches and bough of the trees. The rustle of leaves and crack of wood surrounded her. She picked at the rotting stump with a stick and prodded the little ants; smooshing them with the end of the stick. A vast cloud of smoke slowly crept out from behind the trees. The sound of crackling wood and the smell of smoke engulfed her nose. Raven crawled back in fright and stared up into the smoke. Animals and birds dashed out from the cloud. The smoke stung her eyes, it felt like fire, and quickly flooded around her.

Raven stood and darted back towards camp. She stumbled through the woods blinded by the swiftly moving smoke. It chased her towards the dark red glow of the fire in the middle of camp.

“Fire,” she shouted. People began panicking. “Run. There’s a fire.” She ran off towards the others, she bolted past the crowds in search of her siblings. The camp turned into a maze. People ran everywhere to get away from the fire. The huge wall of smoke covered the camp and engulfed people. Dozens of animals, deer, squirrels, eagles flew past them and out of sight.

Raven hurtled over the fallen objects and collapsed tents.

“Leave your stuff, it’s not worth your life,” she shouted at her fellow clansmen.

Raven sped across camp and past the smoke wall. She spotted Cambria crouching next to a tree crying. Raven knelt down next to her and lifted her to her feet.

“Where’s our brother?” Raven asked.

“I saw him with father,” Cambria replied wiping the tears from her face.

Raven picked up Cambria and went tearing through the forest. The smoke chased after them. Cambria held onto Raven as she hastened away from the smoke wall.

This was dreaded for thousands of years and finally commenced. A forest fire in the Deep Forest would be lit for months or even years. The whole forest would be burnt down and the animals inhabiting the trees would burn. Many species extinct.

Raven heaved Cambria through the forest, she became like a boulder, an extra load she had to carry. Abruptly Raven stumbled over a couple roots and branches. Dropping Cambria and injuring her arm. A couple clansmen came up behind her who’d been following them and took Cambria and the other lifted her.

They were two men.

It felt like hours until they spotted a yellow glow of the desert in front of them. Sand was strewn across the forest floor and soon sand dunes replaced the trees of the forest. The man dropped Raven on top of the sand and sat down gasping. Raven tilted her head back towards her home. Flames rose above the tips of the highest branches, engulfing the brilliant trees and knocking them down. Her home was gone. Their home.

*

Raven dragged herself across the sand dunes. The sun beat down on them. It felt like fire was burning her skin and her feet stung with blisters. She lugged her leg in front of her, and then the other until she collapsed onto the sand. Her home was gone and her father and mother. She held onto the slight hope that many hadn’t died and her dumb brother had ran.

“I can’t,” she managed out. Her throat was dry and hot. They had no food or water. "Please."

One of the men picked her up and carried her on his shoulder. The sun beat down on her back and made her skin peel. Her lips were chapped and hands, feet, back and legs were blistering. Raven closed her eyes and felt hot tears run down her cheeks.

“There,” she heard one man say. “Over there.”

Raven lifted her head and turned with the last drop of energy she had. Silhouettes of camels and tents lined the horizon. The man carrying her picked up speed and jogged towards the shadows. “Come on.” The tents came closer and soon turned into colorful red and orange cloth.

The tents were waving in the heat, they became unclear and distant.

“No,” the man behind them yelled. “It’s not real, it’s a mirage.” He fell to his knees and dropped Raven; covering his face.

“Oh, gods… why? W-we’re going to die,” he cried.

“Look,” the other man came running up to them. “There’s someone out there. They’re really there. Get up now, come on.” The man picked up Raven and ran with all his strength. It was a little girl.

“Help us,” the man carrying her cried. “Please.”

The girl turned and ran. They followed her until she disappeared over a towering sand dune. The man carrying her trekked up the sand.

“Can you walk?” He asked Raven. She nodded and got to her feet. The sand was unstable and slid down the side. She continuously slid down a few feet after climbing up. Finally Raven reached the top where the sun hit them harder.

Raven squinted down. A large lake sat at the bottom of the dune surrounded by hundreds of tents along with a long plain of green grass leading up to a giant hardened clay platform. Which towered over the camp and providing shade. Beyond that were humongous sand dunes, hundreds of feet tall and long. Raven ran down the dune and slid towards the bottom. She crawled into the cool water and drank until her stomach was full.

“Princess,” one of the men said and swam out to her. “Come it might be dangerous.” Raven followed the man out and stood at the edge of the bank. A few rows of men with spears came walking over to them. They split apart revealing a tall, brawny man hidden in the back. He wore a brown robe with a giant gold necklace and dirty red harem pants.

“Kneel before the Crown of the Nahabid Desert,” the Crown demanded.

“We only bow to the true king, the King of the Forest,” the man next to her said stubbornly. His legs were wobbly like noodles. “Here is the Princesses of the Deep Forest.”

“Kneel or burn,” he warned in a low voice. “I advice you don’t want to die tonight. This night is a holy night, to the god of death… for we need a sacrifice.”

“I’d rather burn,” he spat a puddle of spit at the Crown's feet. The Crown turned to Raven and Cambria and the other man. Cambria and the man both knelt and tipped their heads to their feet. Raven looked back at them both and then bent the knee.

“You fool… well, I guess we have a sacrifice,” the Crown said in a low voice with a tint of delight. “Men, take this man to the pit. I’ll take care of the others.” The Crown flicked his fingers towards him and turned back to camp. A signal for them to follow.

“I thank you my lord,” the man said.

“Don’t thank me, thank your fellow friend… he paid your debt,” the Crown replied kindly. “Now I’ll be taking you to your tent. You’ll be joining us tonight… won’t you?”

The man nodded nervously.

“Good,” the Crown said pleased. “I guess you saw my daughter exploring the sand dunes.” The man nodded again. “She always loves to wander off. We don’t usually take guest like this but since it’s a special night we’re feeling extra…” The Crown paused to choose the right word. “Generous.” He swiftly turned to face them. “Did you know we have one of the strongest army in all the lands. No infantry can pass this desert, by the time they reach us they’re already half dead.” He held up his arms and laughed. “You’ll learn.”

The Crown led them to a small red and tan painted tent. “In you go,” he said pushing them in. Inside was a small table with a stack of sheets on it. “I hope to see you tonight.” He gestured to them smiling a menacing smile.

“I’m scared,” Cambria said. “Of that man.”

“It’ll be alright,” the man comforted her.

“Who are you? Raven questioned sternly. “Tell me, why did you save us?”

“I’m Kristoff and the one who is gone is Moses,” the man said. It was the first time Raven could observe his features. Kristoff had short brown hair and a short beard. His eyes were black and full of secrets. “I was out collecting sticks when I saw the flames.”

Raven nodded and sat down on the ground. She sighed and laid down.

“Well, we have to go see Moses die,” Cambria said casually. “Better rest up.”

“You’re a brave girl,” Kristoff said. “A poor girl of only seven?”

“I think,” Cambria replied. “I don’t really keep track anymore.” She sat down next to Raven.

“Our home is gone,” Raven muttered. “We’re strangers here.”

“Then we better prove ourselves as allies of the Crown or we may see the same fate as our friend,” Kristoff said.

“Your friend." Raven said.

“He did save you,” Kristoff argued. “He’s a boy of eighteen. He hoped of one day leaving the Deep Forest and traveling. What a creative boy.”

“How old are you?” Raven asked.

“How old are you?” Kristoff asked. “Then I’ll answer.”

“Twelve,” Raven answered.

“I’m about thirty,” Kristoff said and turned from them. He sat upon the table.

The sun was going down and the sky was turning blood red. A large tower of sticks holding a small circular platform stood on top where Moses had to stand. “Come,” Kristoff pulled the two girls to their feet. Raven stood and peeked her head out of the tent. Many people stood around the tower. A loud cry shook the silence. The cry of Moses as he was being dragged across the sand towards the tower by two tall men. They both held torches.

Raven, Cambria, and Kristoff crept silently towards the crowd. The Crown stood and approached them.

“I’m glad you’ve decided to join,” the Crown said happily. “Come sit with me.”

They followed him to the head of the crowd. A chair of stone sat in the front of the crowd. They sat next to his chair watching Moses being lifted onto the tower.

“Please no,” he cried.

“Don’t feel bad for him,” the Crown said. “He chose this ending.”

“Please, help me, don’t let them do this,” Moses yelled. “Kristoff please.”

Raven watched Kristoff. He was unmoved, expressionless and stern. He asked for this, Raven told herself. The two men mounted him on the top of the tower. The Crown stood.

“If you jump you will face an even more terrible fate,” the Crown commanded. Moses fell to his knees and covered his face crying. “Oil.” Two woman brought out a large jar of oil and poured it on the tower. “Spices.” Two other woman brought out jars of spices and flower. They threw spices across the tower and towards Moses.

Raven noticed Moses’s face was painted red and his clothing was torn into shreds. His limbs were painted with blue and orange. Raven stared at him as the Crown shouted a single word.

"Fire."

Raven watched as the man threw the torch into the tower. She watched it as it lit the tower up in slow motion. The tower lit in seconds and overwhelmed Moses. She gasped as his screams echoed through the desert. Cambria covered her ears and squeezed her eyes closed. Kristoff put his arm around her and hugged her. Raven stared as Moses’s body became limp and a pile of bones. Her words and feelings were clogged in her throat.

The Crown stood up and clapped. “Bow, your sins gone… another year alive, we praise you god of death, of life and everything holy. Bow for your sins are forgiven.” The Crown bowed on his knees and the hundreds of other followers imitated. Raven turned to Kristoff. He didn’t bow, only hugging Cambria. Raven took Cambria’s arm and held it. This is very messed up, she thought. Tis' is a full moon.

“It’ll be okay,” Raven whispered. “Tis' is alright.”

The sky became dark red; the whole camp was full of black, red silhouettes. Raven curled into a ball. The sound of chanting roared louder and louder like a lion.

They chanted one word. Death.