AS AKSHARA WAS TRAVELING south, on the second day, a sandstorm hit. The wind made it hard enough to keep walking forward, and the wall of sand coming towards her made it impossible to see. She had to stop and cover her ears, because the sound threatened to drive her mad.
She tried to dig her feet into the sand and hold her ground, but it was no use. This was how she was going to die. Akshara fell backwards, and scrambled to her feet, only to fall over again. The contents of the basket she carried on her back were lost, taken by the wind or the sand. She let go of the now lightweight basket and closed her eyes.
Sandstorms on Aya could last an entire day, or even several. Many felt the storms meant the gods had become angry and were shaking up the desert in an attempt to start anew. When t
