Miracle of the Sand (1 other)

OoC: I'm using Maria and Sophia, link in sig.

BiC: It was a legend that the town believed in. It was a phenomenon that the scientists couldn’t explain. It was named-

“The Miracle of the Sand,” an old man said, “That’s what we call it.”

This old man had a circle of little children sitting, surrounding him, listening to him.

“You see, little ones. The desert here is brutal. It refuses to grow anything for us. It kills the plants we place and drinks the water we bring. However, there is a forest that grows everything we need. It’s a long walk full of danger, but it’s worth it. That forest is one that shouldn’t exist, but it does. That’s the Miracle of the Sand.”

“Can you tell us more?” a little girl piped up.

“Of course,” he responded with a smile, “The sand over there grows everything we need. We can plant seeds there and after a few months, the plants are as tall as the trees and bear fruits. Vegetables grow around every tree. Carrots just multiply if you plant for one. These scientists want to know why that sand can grow so well while this sand-”

He bent down and grabbed a handful of hot sand.

“-can grow nothing. However, we have our own belief. You see, we think it began a long time ago at that spot. There were a group of travelers who had lost their way. One of the travelers was injured and all of them were starving and dying of thirst. The cattle they brought with them had been taken by the desert. At that place, they found a large hole and that was where they decided to camp. That night, the group was deciding what they were going to do about food. An argument was brewing and someone was going to die. Suddenly, a great light shone on them and a man came to them.

“‘I’ve got food for you, but one of you must go,’ he declared.

“The injured one raised his hand and volunteered himself. The others tried to get him to change his mind, but it was too late. The man waved his hand and the desert swallowed the injured one whole. The leveled up to meet the rest of the desert and instantly, trees grew, bearing fruits and their lost cattle.

“‘Well here you go. You can plant seeds here and the kindness of your friend will help them grow high and mighty. Make sure to thank him.

“And that’s the Miracle of the Sand.”

Sophia got up from the ground and went off to see her sister, who was next to the bike.

“What do you want to do today sis?” Maria asked, stretching.

“I wanna see the forest in the desert!” she shouted, smiling.

“Alright then, but we have to be back by nightfall so we can plan where we go tomorrow. Okay?”

The little girl smiled at her sister as she hopped onto the bike and the two drove off to the forest in the desert.

OoC: I'll be using Demyx... apparently the link to that page in my sig doesn't work but I'll get on it soon!

BiC: Demyx had heard the old man's story, and his mind had filled with wonder, which, for him, was a very uncommon thing. Somehow he knew that the answers he sought lay somewhere within this 'Miracle of the Sand'. He also knew that the two girls he was now following to the site were connected to it in some way. Perhaps they could be of use to him.

After about fifteen minutes of following the girls, they began to get slightly suspicious of him, and their eyes would constantly dart backwards in his direction. To his displeasure, he would have to quickly hide in the limited shadows in order to escape their vision. He decided that he would have to confront them directly. He jumped onto a rooftop nearby and ran deftly until he could no longer see their bike behind him. He jumped down and hid in the shadows, waiting until he could hear the bike getting closer. He sheathed his blade, walked out of the shadows and faced them, trying his hardest to look kind and innocent.

As the girls saw him, the bike skidded to a halt and the girls were sent flying, sliding along the ground. Demyx ran towards them.

"My goodness!" He gasped, helping them to their feet, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, we're okay" One of the girls, Maria, replied, a slight distrust in her voice, "Thankyou."

"You were following us." The other, Sophia, said. It was not a question.

Demyx did his best to put on a sad, sincere frown.

"Forgive me," He replied, "But I had no other choice. You see, I wanted to see the fabled 'Miracle of the Sands', but I had no idea how to get there! I had planned on asking the two of you for help, but you were too fast for me and I didn't want to yell. I'm sorry if I frightened you."

Demyx watched as, at the mention of the Miracle, the girls gained interest.

"We were just heading there ourselves!" Maria replied.

Demyx tried to look agahst, "Truly? You were going to head out into the desert on your own?"

He put on a concerned frown.

"But my dears!" He urged, trying to sound worried, "The deserts are far too dangerous for the two of you on your own! Please, allow me to escort you! What do you say?"

Sophia looked apprehensive, but in the end replied, "Okay, then, mister. We could use some help if the deserts are truly as dangerous as you say."

And so it was done. Demyx did his best to stifle the laughter which bubbled at his lips. These two girls were going to lead him straight to the answers he sought so greatly!

Thank the Gods for the gift of innocence! He thought, shaking his head slightly. Or, for that of idiocy. Whichever it turns out to be.

"Excuse us a moment," Maria told the olive skinned man, pulling her sister off to the side.

"What's wrong?" Sophia whispered.

"You just invited a total stranger to come ride on a bike with us!" Maria softly shouted.

"He doesn't seem that bad."

Maria remembered the long scar he had on his face. It was something to note indeed. She held her right arm, remembering all of the scars on it from her life. It was indeed something to remember. The two turned back around and faced the man.

"I don't know if we can actually take you," Maria explained, "My sister is always over-generous. This bike is for two people maximum and I can't leave my sister her alone. Besides, we can fend for ourselves. How do you think we got here?"

The man seemed to hold a look of shock from hearing this and then replied, "I'm sure you can, but it's always safer to have another."

Maria sighed, knowing she couldn't shake this weirdo, and said, "You can come if you can get a side car for this bike in the next few minutes. One for yourself, mind you. If the side car breaks off, then you seem to be able to fend for yourself while we get help. That sound good?"

It wasn't long until he returned with a wooden cart with two wheels. Maria was shocked. She hadn't expected him to find anything that would work for a side car. Nonetheless, she attached it to her bike and they drove off into the desert.

"Are you sure you'll be okay in that?" Sophia asked, "I can ride in it if you w-"

"No Sophia!" she shouted, "You're staying on the bike! If that breaks down, I don't want to risk you getting hurt from the crash or any dangers here."

It didn't take long for them to reach the forest and things got harder for her to maneuver around since she had an extra passenger. Every time she stopped, she glared at the man who made the trip more difficult, and found a different way around her obstacles. Then came the large clearing. Nothing was growing there. It was like a patch of sand in the middle of a green carpet. Unnatural was the only word to describe it.

"Any ideas?" Maria asked as Sophia jumped down and went into the sunlight.

Sophia was looking in wonder, picking up sand and letting it run through her fingers.

OoC: Hope that's okay.

OoC: Gee... sorry I haven't posted sooner - I've been very busy!!

BiC: Demyx looked around. There was nothing but sand all around. He wondered, slightly annoyed, if the old man's tale had indeed been untrue.

"Any ideas?" The girl called Maria asked.

"None." Demyx replied, sharply.

"We should split up and search the desert!" Maria suggested.

"No!" Demyx exclaimed in reply. If they found the Miracle before him... he shook his head. He would not allow that to happen. He recomposed himself.

"I'm sorry." He said, trying his best to sound sincere, "It's just that, well, I've never been to this place before and I don't want to get lost!"

"We're sorry, mister." Sophia apologized, "We'll accompany you."

"Sophia!" Maria hissed, rather angrily. She faced Demyx with a smile, as if she didn't think he had seen the action.

"May I please speak to my sister alone for a moment?" She asked, although she had already begun dragging her away.

"Of course, my dear!" Demyx chuckled, genuinly amused. The girl was smart, but she had no idea how to conceal her emotions. The other one was far too kind, and this often clouded her judgement. The two were almost like yin and yang.

After a few minutes, the girls returned, Sophia sporting a nubmer of angry-looking sores and wearing a pained, sad, although not exactly upset look on her face. She obviously knew that her sister meant well.

"We will accompany you..." Maria began, "If you can beat us in a fight!"

Demyx had to refrain from laughing out aloud.

A fight? He thought, almost piteous of her ignorance. What fools! Do they really think they can defeat me? Ha! I'll teach them a lesson they won't soon forget! It will be a difficult thing for me to do, but I will ensure that I hold back. I don't want them dying before I have a chance to use them! There will be plenty of time for that later!

"What do you say?" Maria asked, folding her arms.

"Very well." Demyx replied, a wide sneer growing on his face, "I will fight you."

A sneer of confidence? Maria surely wasn't expecting that. She sighed and waved her hand at Sophia. The little one pushed the cart that their passenger used in front of a tree and hid behind the tree. It was a small and probably worthless defense, but she knew her sister wouldn't hurt her and this man would avoid hurting her if he wanted to stick with them. She opted not to look at this battle. She had a feeling everything would get out of hand quickly.

Maria looked at the man. He had a broadsword and shield at his disposal. She reached over to the bike and grabbed Escuela, pulling the strap over her shoulder. This battle's going to be easy, she thought, The weapons he has restrict him to fighting close range, so all I have to do is keep my distance and he'll eventually fall. Maria looked at the man in front of her. It was obvious to her from the continuous "need" he keeps expressing that he wants something from them. What he needed was unknown to her, but she wasn't going to give it up until she knew.

"I have two questions for you," Maria announced.

He nodded in response.

"What's your name and what is it you really want?"

The man raised an eyebrow.

"You seriously expect me to believe that you need us to see the Miracle of the Sands? From the gear you have, I figured you were a traveler, which means that traveling through this desert would be nothing for you."

She pulled out her handguns and aimed them at this man.

"You'd better not hold back or else you'll end up dead. Now, name and motive please."

She awaited the answers. Hopefully he would heed her warning.