Chapter 6: The Firefly Oasis
774 Words
Zeryl continued for many more days until he reach the bottom of the mountain range. He had traveled thirty miles on foot. He was about five miles out, when he started seeing something very strange. It seemed to be an oasis or spring of some sort. The size of the oasis was enormous but yet still completely visible to the eye. It was three miles in length and seven miles wide. Despite seeing this Zeryl, believing this to be no more than an allusion ran to confirm it. It was already nightfall and Zeryl knew he must set up camp soon.
When he reached the oasis, he could smell the fresh water and the fruit in the trees as it was a sweet and wondrous aroma. The smell was so strong and sweet that you could taste it in the air as you breathe; the scent was enough to make your mouth water. Thirsty from his trek down the mountainside Zeryl ran to the lake to drink from its crystal springs. The trip down the mountain was about ten days as the altitude was well over fifty thousand feet.
As Zeryl cupped his hands to drink from the spring, he stopped remembering his grandparents warning about mountain base springs. “These springs be for soaking but not to drink. For they are heated from the magma below and contain many foreign bacteria that must not ever be ingested; consumption without caution or proper preparation is to spell one own demise”
Remembering this Zeryl backed away from the water and, instead, reached for some fruit from the many trees that shade this very oasis. It was then that he recognized the fruit from some of the trees. Pone-Pome Fruit is said to have restoration abilities and can last in elevated temperature environments. As Zeryl rested eating the fruit and soaking his feet in the spring; he notices on one of the trees there were numbers carved into them and an arrow pointing in what looked to be the direction of the volcanic lands. Zeryl getting up follows the arrows until he found a skeleton with a book in his hand next to a pyro-camel tied to one of the trees along with other supplies.
Finding this a bit curious, he picks up the journal carefully and begins to read it. As he read, the book told of the many expeditions of the man who now lays lifeless on the ground and how he had done well for himself. The man’s name was Kamala Qerel. He was an expeditionary adventurer; the kind of person that looked for secrets and mysteries that has yet to be solved. He journeyed into the dark depths of Muraith Serriff Abyss. He was searching for allusive area that would allow one to enter the realm of black. As Zeryl reads the journal reaching the last entry, he realizes he must leave the oasis immediately. The name of the oasis is “The Firefly Oasis” named for the fireflies at night that guide lost travelers too its warm springs.
Then Qerel goes on to say that the oasis is nothing more than a mere trap. The trap created by the acid worms in the area. Those that drink the water die from the acid in it; or if they did not die from drinking the water, they would die at the peak of sunrise or sunset by the worms themselves. For the oasis in itself is a worm. Zeryl alarmed by what he had just read unties the camel; packs some fruit and supplies left over by Qerel as he realizes it is almost dusk. He rode on the camel as fast as it could go until the oasis was a good distance from him. As he made his escape Zeryl then turns around and looks back at the oasis not a good couples minutes passes when the sunrises.
Razor sharp teeth, two stories in height, immediately surround the oasis. Then as if a toilet backed up, the oasis became enveloped by acid filling to the tops of the teeth and pouring out through the spaces. After a few minutes, the worm finished digesting its meal, the acid rescinded, and the teeth disappeared below the surface. Zeryl relieved not to be dead and happy he had found mount to ride the rest of the way; set out back on his journey towards the volcanic province. Zeryl realizing that his trip now will only take three more days to reach his destination, not knowing that he would end up having to face an even greater danger than simple acid.
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