Username: TsunamiSpray
Parra's name: Dune
Parra's gender: Female
Story: The heat deprived parra rose above yet another sand dune, heat pounded her reddish hair that so elegantly fell into her eyes with every swaying step, Dune staggered and collapsed onto the burning sand.
Drink the water, the thoughts circled in her mind, "I can't, hhhhh." the parra let out a raspy breath.
Do it, or you'll die, Ren can go without water for a long time... she knew she had to drink water. Dune looked up at the camel towering over her, the camel so called "Ren" moved closer and a wave of relief fell over Dune as she rested in his shade. The sandy colored camel slumped down beside her. The parra flexed her wings, they still felt numb and she was too tired to fly, she reached up and unfastened the brown leather canteen - now lighter in color from the sun's rays - from the tan camel's back. Dune screwed off the cap that sealed the precious water and then poured the colorless liquid down her coarse throat. The parra gulped greedily until the last drop fell into her mouth. That was the last of her supply of her water.
"I can't believe we've gotten lost in this horrid wasteland, I've been following the route for years!" Dune scowled, then shook her head steadily "and now I'm talking to this dumb camel." Ren flicked his ear, appearently unaware of what she had said. Dune laid back and closed her eyes and fell into a sudden darkness.
Dune awoke slowly, unaware of what happened. There was a strange raging sound, and she felt a heavy weight on her chest, Dune squinted, there was something wrong. She opened her mouth to call for Ren but was shocked when sand flew into her gaping mouth. The oblivious parra spewed it out and opened her eyes, sand whipped in front of her, back and forth; with raging winds, swirling masses of sudden death. It was a sandstorm. Dune looked down to see she was covered in sand, she dug her way but felt sore and cold from the sand that worked its way around her body like someone took a giant sheet and sand paper and gave her a good rub with it. She searched the horizon for Ren, there! She spotted him, but something was off, Dune scuttled toward the shadow which started to move. Startled, Dune stepped backward to see the shape was changing, it became a more, human figure. It stepped forward, now she could see the elegant details of it's face.
The figure smiled at her and appeared to be licking its fingers, though it was unclear in the raging storm. "A fine fellow that dear camel was... a shame he went so soon." The smile spread across it's face, which became a menacing grin. "What have you done?" Dune pouted in rage, on the inside it sounded like a roar but it came out as a tiny squeal. Dune looked up with tears in her eyes and spotted a strange glinting scarf loosely draped around his shoulders. It was then she spotted the strange marking etched into his forehead that glowed with power.
A shapeshifter. She thought. "Ahh, well, times-a-ticking and, so will be yours." The stranger vanished with the sand, leaving behind the arcane scarf.
Dune stumbled toward they cloth and tied it around her face to yield from the racing sand. "Your smarter then I thought," the strange voice boomed around her "Let's see how smart you really are." Suddenly in front of her she saw Ren laying on the ground, he was dead, agony weld up inside her and her head started pounding. Next to him lay a single blade, though there were no cuts on Ren in sign that it was used. "Think fast!" The voice shredded her ears and the sand around her started pounding on her with a great amount of force and a sudden coldness fell upon the desert.
Quick! she thought,
Grab the knife fool! Dune reached for the silver blade as quickly as her weak arms let her against pounding sand. She sliced the glinting blade through the stomach of the camel, quickly pulling out all the organs. Strangely, there was no blood.
Dune crawled in, closing the rip she had made, she new the camels body would protect her and keep her warm. She unraveled the soft velvet scarf that was wrapped around her head. The exhausted parra folded the scarf like a pillow, and laid down to rest. Just before she closed her eyes she caught the glinting of her bracelet.
Oh how closely it resembles the scarf... she thought, the words swirling in her head, and then, dozed off.
. . .
Dune lifted her dear head as the sunlight peaked through the cut she had made just the night before, the storm seemed to be over. She crawled out from her shelter, removing the scarf from where it was and fastened it around her neck. The parra -now well rested- unfastened a travel pack from the camel's back along with her empty canteen. She peered into the distance to see as to where to head. "Is that a..." Dune stammered, "An oasis?" Dune spread her wings to get ready to fly and in two leaping bounds she flew into the air. Dune knew that in the presence of a shapeshifter major wounds would be healed, so her wing had healed and she was flying with her hearts content. Dune loved to fly, infact she did three barrel rolls to celebrate her good fortune. Dune didn't hesitate but she did bite her lip in hopes her eyes weren't playing tricks. But yes indeed, it was an oasis. The relieved parrapup dove into the water's cold welcoming arms. She drank as much water as she could and then filled up her canteen. Something was familiar though. She knew this place.
"This is part of the route! No wonder it's familiar!" exclaimed Dune, "I'll be back to the train station soon!" and like a rocket Dune shot out of the crystal water. Racing the wind and the desert heat. She was almost home, and she knew it.
Parra's song:Waiting for Love - Avicii
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