Picnyx

Rhapsody sighed as he gazed out the window at the town square. Mudbrick buildings with colorful awnings lined the streets. Cacti and succulents in large planters adorned the entrances of restaurants and shops. From his perch in the loft apartment, he could just make out the towering dunes that surrounded the city. The red, black, and gold kittom had been ecstatic when he finally returned home, but the excitement quickly wore off. His father, Azarah, and his father’s partner, Amaryllis, had set off for Strynhalde before Rhapsody arrived, leaving instructions for the kittom to hold down the fort in Termina. They were due back last week, but they must have been delayed. To top it off, after traveling much of Eyre, the desert seemed much less interesting than it had when he was younger. The oppressive heat kept him indoors much of the day, and while his lodgings were lavishly furnished, there wasn’t much there to keep him busy. After deliberation, Rhapsody decided to venture out and find

Just a little further… Rhapsody strained against the angry winds. He could barely see a meter in front of him. The kittom had wrapped his cloak tightly around his mouth and nose to keep the dust out, yet he still felt the grit of sand against his teeth. The haboob had blown in from out of nowhere. He and his companions had no choice but to continue. If his trusty compass was leading him in the right direction, they should arrive at the shelter any minute now. The kittom paused briefly to make sure his companions were still following close behind him. They had tied ropes around their waists to make sure they didn’t get separated, but who knew how well the knots would hold up in the raging gale? He could just make out a white cloak behind him. As Stellalea approached, he spotted a second bundle of white bunkered down on her back against her leather satchel. Good… Luma was prone to wander, and she could easily get swallowed up in the rapidly shifting sands. Well, given the severity of

Rhapsody plodded out of the white canvas tent, followed with a stretch and a yawn. The early morning sun cast a warm glow to the east, bathing the camp with warmth. Tall, skinny trees cast long shadows across the landscape. It felt so luxurious to spend a night curled up on soft cushions again. The oasis roughly marked the halfway point between Devara and Termina. There was technically a shorter pathway between the two cities, but it was nearly impossible for a solo kittom to make that trek due to the limited number of supplies that they could carry. Speaking of supplies, it was time for Rhapsody to stock up for the second leg of his journey. The kittom gathered up the belongings from his rented lodgings and set off toward the orderly rows of vendor tents near the water’s edge. Nins lined up on the shores of the clear blue lake, filling large gourds and clay jars with water to cart out to the more remote settlements to the north and west. It didn’t rain much here in the desert, and

Rhapsody lifted his right paw above his eyes and squinted out at the wide-open landscape. Sand, sand, and more sand. Sand as far as the eye could see. A dusty haze hovered over the horizon. There wasn’t much out here to speak of. Just the occasional cactus or handful of bones sticking out of the shifting sands. If he was charting the right course, he was under a day’s walk from his first stop. It was mid-afternoon, so he likely would be sleeping under the stars tonight. Rhapsody reached for the small brass compass, secured by a rugged chain around his neck. He flipped open the cover and waited for the needle to settle. He was still heading northwest. He looked back down the dune behind him, checking that his boot prints were in a straight line. Good. The heat hadn’t gotten the better of him yet. Travelers often got lost in this part of the desert, as the high temperatures eventually drove them to stumble and chart weaving paths across the landscape. This was his first time traveling

“How did you do it!?” the burgundy and gold kittom slammed her paw onto the table, cheeks puffed up. Rhapsody stared back at her in confusion. “How did you know that the storm was coming?” “Wha…what?” Rhapsody stammered. This wasn’t at all what he expected. “You predicted that the faire would be showered with surprises this year, and then this crazy light started falling from the sky.” Oh, Rhapsody glanced down at his crystal ball, then back up at the kittom across the table. He had expected unruly customers who challenged his readings, especially those concerning luck at carnival games, but that particular fortune had seemed so innocuous a few days prior. A small crowd was gathering, drawn in by the commotion. “Say something, darn it! If you knew that the storms were coming, why didn’t you warn everyone!?” Rhapsody cleared his throat and pulled himself into character. “Alas, I am merely the messenger. It is not my place to interpret messages from the great beyond, just to relay

Rhapsody sighed as he once again walked along the wooden docks, dodging nins as they rushed past him with excitement. The streets of Port Pthalo were bustling with nins working together to hang lanterns, streamers and other brightly colored decorations from the branches above the city. The kittom had dreamed about this year’s Starfall Faire, but this wasn’t at all how he wanted to spend it. Even the sweet and savory smells wafting from the local eateries couldn’t shake Rhapsody from his gloom. His father told him stories about the fabulous festivals in his home city of Termina in Ahza, where nins would dress in brightly colored cloaks, play lively music, dance together in interlocking circles and tell spooky stories while watching fireworks light up the dunes. He had spent last year’s festival in chilly Strynhalde and had hoped that he’d be home in time this year. Alas, his ship back home was delayed due to supply shortages following the storms this past spring. At least that was the

One step in front of the other… Rhapsody carefully navigated the narrow tree branch. He wasn’t necessarily afraid of heights, but a fall from this altitude would mean disaster. The little black, red and gold kittom paused for a moment to look down. Yggdrasil towered above the teal blue ocean, its massive roots anchored deeply into the ocean floor. In the distance he could just make out the capital city of Nalnalo, its docks and wooden buildings nestled against the great tree’s roots. The surf was dotted with boats of various sizes, some bearing fishernin and others filled with travelers and merchants. He was far too high up to hear the waves, but the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves was magical. This was his first time visiting Ealei’s elder tree, and it was certainly a sight to behold. The branch widened the closer he got to the massive tree’s trunk. A rope bridge connected this branch to the next several hundred yards ahead. He had heard that there was a network of bridges