Rabbit Hole to Altima Island Part 2

Rabbit Hole to Altima Island Part 2
Sam's Flashback

A low rumble in the distance. Not thunder, but the grinding gears of a Syndicate patrol. My ears pricked. I dropped low, pressing myself against the sun-baked rock, my breathing shallow. These weren’t the old Syndicate, the ones my parents had fought. This was a new breed, ruthless and efficient, armed with technology that could track and neutralize magic. They were the reason so few dragons remained. The patrol passed, a flash of chrome and dark metal against the desolate landscape. I waited until their sound faded to a faint whine before rising, my muscles protesting. 

I needed water. My canteen was almost empty, and the sun was merciless. I walked for hours, the dust coating my boots, the silence broken only by the crunch of my footsteps and the constant whoosh of the wind. My stomach growled, a hollow echo in the emptiness. Just as despair began to creep in, a flicker of movement caught my eye. 

A small figure, huddled beside a gnarled, skeletal tree. My hand went to my dagger. The Outlands were dangerous. But something about the figure… it was too small to be a threat. Too still. I approached cautiously, using my magic to disguise myself as Samantha, my senses on high alert. A young woman. Her clothes were patched and worn, her face streaked with dirt, but her eyes, when she finally looked up, were a startling, vibrant green. Fear, but also a spark of defiant fire. “Hey,” she said, her voice surprisingly strong, though a little hoarse. “Don’t come any closer. I’ve got… I’ve got a knife.” She held up a small, rusty blade, its point dull. 

I lowered my hand from my dagger, offering a small, tired smile. “I’m not looking for trouble. Just water. And maybe a bit of shade.” 

She studied me, her gaze piercing. “You’re… different. Not Syndicate. Not a bandit.” 

“No,” I confirmed. “Just… Samantha.” 

“Susie,” she replied, her guard still up, but a fraction less rigid. “There’s a small oasis, about half a day’s walk from here. If you’re willing to share.” 

I nodded. “Lead the way.” We walked in silence for a while, the sun beginning its slow descent, painting the sky in fiery oranges and bruised purples. Susie, despite her small stature, moved with a surprising resilience. She seemed to know these lands, her eyes constantly scanning, her ears picking up sounds I missed. As we neared the oasis, a faint shimmer of magic, like heat haze, rose from the ground. My dragon senses, long dulled by the Outlands, stirred. This was no ordinary water source. 

“It’s protected,” Susie said, noticing my reaction. “Old magic. Keeps the water pure, keeps most people away.” We reached a small depression in the earth, where a pool of crystal-clear water shimmered, surrounded by a cluster of vibrant, healthy desert flora. A shock of green in a world of brown. I knelt, cupped my hands, and drank deeply. The water was cool, sweet, and infused with a subtle energy that made my tired muscles hum. 

“This is… powerful,” I murmured, my gaze sweeping the small oasis. 

Susie nodded, settling herself against a rock. “My father found it. He said it was blessed by the old gods. Said it reminded him of the stories of Talos and of a new beginning awaiting us on Altima Island. I just know that to get there, I must find my mate. Given who I am, that will be difficult.”

“Are you hiding a secret, too?” I asked.

“Of course. Let’s get the hell out of here and into the human world, and I will tell you everything, Sam,” Susie said with a playful wink.

“Then let’s go. I will help you find your mate, and perhaps you can help me remember who I really am,” I reply.

End Flashback

Susie and I finally got a lead on her mate. I wonder how far down the rabbit hole we will fall?