Dedicated to my mom and NoctusFury brother who loves these beans more than me and helped with researching, as well as GerithorDunedain for holding such a fantastic contest! I'm excited to read the entries for this one. Thank you for letting me join! ^^

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 The full moon was stark white against the blue-black night, bleaching the sand, making the water sparkle and blanketing the palms and scraggly shrubs in a still, blue light. The Cloaked One stepped lightly on the sand, one hand holding an old lantern glowing dimly with a flameless white light. In the other hand a silver lead-rope. The grey dappled stallion stepped more deftly than his companion, his eyes on the water. The oppressive heat of the day was gone but that in no way made the cool water less desirable.

The duo reached the pool of water, and the silhouette slid the lead-rope off the stallion's neck as he eagerly dipped his head for a long drink, sending white ripples that disturbed the perfect reflection of the moon. A breeze, higher than could be felt, danced through the trees rattling the palm leaves. The hood that shielded the face looked around, holding the lantern out, it revealed nothing but sand as far as the light would reach. The Cloaked One looked up to the stars. The stars blinked down at the hooded stranger and the stranger blinked back.

The stallion lifted his grey muzzle and nudged his companion's shoulder. A delicate hand stroked his back as a low hum danced up and down octaves in a flute-like manner. The hum filled the space and the trees rustled as though playing a similar tune.

The Cloaked One left the stallion by the pool and padded to the cluster of palms, humming. Holding a rolled-up mat and lantern that forced the shadows back, the traveler observed the surroundings. The front and sides of the desert haven showcased the palms and prickly bushes, in the center featured the blue-green watering hole. Towards the back were broad-leafed bushes, thick and lush, with vine creepers hanging off low boughs, with small, purple flowers peeking out of green foliage.

The stallion trotted away from the pool and halted, ears pricked forward he sniffed the air and his tail flicked behind him. There was a loud rustling sound, like an animal in the underbrush. The humming, like the figure, stopped. The lantern was held out towards the bushes. Nothing. The palms blocked the light of the moon, so only the lantern illuminated the leaves, sparse grass, and fragrant night flowers.

The foliage waved and snapped as the Shadow broke through the blue-green fronds like a wounded boar. The Cloaked One took a step back, releasing hold of the rolled mat which dropped and sank into the sand. A free hand reached inside the cloak and held the hilt of the hidden blade. Ready.

The Shadow charged and as it did, the lantern became a blinding beacon that forced the something, or someone, to halt and hiss in pain. The Cloaked One dimmed the lantern's light gradually and the Shadow faded to a man shielding his eyes with one hand as a scabbard hung limply at his side. The stallion trotted forward, snorted at him, shook his mane and trotted back to his aquatic reflection, splashing it with his hooves.

"Who are you?" The man croaked, his voice sounded thick with drink or sleep?

"I am Tànë," a firm, feminine voice replied. She removed the hood, her dark hair falling across her shoulders. The lantern lit up the upper half of her face; light tan skin, and dark eyes.

The man tilted his head as though to look past the glare of the lantern, to see better. "Did my uncle send you?"

"I was sent by no one." She replied. "What is thy name?"

There was a long pause. "Bê-nam." He staggered forward slowly, not fom drink she realized but as someone who has been awoken from a deep sleep. He was dark-skinned with black hair and dark eyes. Why was he alone?

"I mean thee no harm." She spoke.

The man regarded her. "Who did you come with? Husband? Brother? Father?"

She paused. "Tōgor." She gestured towards the dappled stallion, who flicked his tail in acknowledgment.

The man looked at the horse as though it were a strange creature then back at her. "No, I mean human."

"Only Tōgor."

He blinked at her. "Well, that's foolish. A band of thieves could kidnap you and sell you to the highest bidder. Plus the horse would fetch a handsome price." Tōgor snorted and looked up at him. The man continued. "Haven't you heard about the beast that hunts in these parts?"

"I have not."

"I haven't seen fang or tail of him -- I can't believe I slept. I wonder if its passed through.  A night-stalking beast should be reason to camp here for the night. " He grumbled and looked around. As he pondered, a tall golden creature with a large hump stepped into view, undeterred by the lantern.

"Is that the beast?" She asked nodding to the creature behind him, unimpressed.

He looked over his shoulder, laughed, and shook his head. He replaced his scabbard into his sheath. "Tànë. That's an odd... but pretty name. Where are you from?"

She paused. "Across the white river, between the Two Giant Elms, under the Waterfall that doesn't spray."

"If you don't want to say, say so."

The golden beast walked up behind Bê-nam, at the new angle Tànë could see it wore a beautiful red and purple riding rug with a smooth saddle-looking seat. It sniffed at the man's hair before it started moving its lips and gathered his black hair into its mouth.

Tànë, bewildered by this creature, watched for Bê-nam to react before speaking up.

"Your animal is eating your hair."

Bê-nam looked over his shoulder. "Oh, stop it, Maldriv." He said, whapping the muzzle of the beast. Once the creature disengaged, Bê-nam returned to Tànë, "He eats anything and everything. Why are you here, again." 

Tànë gestured to the pool where her horse was splashing. "Tōgor was thirsty, we needed a rest from our travels. How long has thou been asleep?"

"Earlier this afternoon."

"Your body must be..." She paused to find the right word. "...thirsty."

"Mmmm. Your light is bright." He leaned forward examining the lantern over.

"As good lanterns are." Tànë agreed, she wasn't sure if he knew what it was.

"It looks old, what oil do you use?"

"Something from my homeland." She reached into her cloak and Bê-nam stepped back, hand on his hilt. Tànë pulled out a wineskin, holding it out to him. "Wine?" she offered.

"Oh," He blinked at the wineskin. "I prefer water." Bê-nam walked past her, over to the watering hole. He knelt, splashing his face repeatedly with water, rubbing his face, and then shaking his head causing droplets to fly.

She looked at Bê-nam and then at her horse who was rolling on his back between the sand and water. The water didn't look clear. She shrugged to herself, uncorked the wineskin and took a long drink, tilting her head back. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, "Grackinberry and Muana fruit. My grandfather's recipe." Deciding Bê-nam was no longer a threat, she placed the lantern on the ground, illuminating the desert floor, as she retrieved the mat she dropped earlier, still perfectly rolled.

"Does your Grandfather live here?" He asked filling several water skins.

"No."

"There's a storm coming, you need to take cover."

"I travel at night, and we have seen no storm on the rise."

He started to cork his water skins. "Maldriv," He called to the beast eating the prickly bushes, then turned to her, "It's dangerous to travel at night, especially alone," he said.

"What about thou? Is thou not alone?"

"That's different."

"How so?"

"I'm a man, a warrior, experienced with various weapons, fought in several battles, familiar with severe weather changes, and survival in difficult situations." He stood up and walked towards the golden beast that had not moved from his spot. "Camp here until the storm passes and then return to your people." He added over his shoulder.

Tànë's nose twitched. She picked up her lantern and walked to the back-end of the oasis, hidden away from the watering hole. She saw the flattened grass and leaves where she guessed Bê-nam had been sleeping, a satchel-looking bag lay tucked under a few fronds. She walked to the opposite side of the little clearing and unrolled her mat under the giant palms. Lowering herself onto the mat, she reached into her cloak and pulled out her satchel. The area was secluded, the giant-leafed plants and thick trunks of the trees obscured the view of the watering hole.
                                                                                       
                                                                                             ***

Bê-nam aligned his water skins onto the hide of his beast and took the reigns from one of the bags and tied them onto the Maldriv. There was a loud snort and he flinched as Tōgor splashed water in his direction and nickered, bobbing his head as if laughing. Bê-nam had expected the woman and her horse to wait by the back palms but he didn't see her anywhere. He remembered his satchel with a start, he grabbed the reigns and tramped back through where he had come and into the clearing.

Maldriv ambling behind him. Bê-nam glanced over to where Tane' was sitting.  She spoke in low tones  to her horse, he couldn't catch any words, if she was speaking words. Tane' looked up. she gave him a polite smile. He nodded in the direction of her horse. "Aren't you worried he'll run away?"

"Tōgor would never leave without telling me. Does thy beast do so?" She asked.

He looked to Maldriv then back to her. "No, this is a Divik-Camel. They're tame and trained."

"Divik-Camel?"

Bê-nam puffed his chest. "Yes, my uncle breeds them to make them bigger, with the ability to travel faster and over longer distances. They're more obedient and can carry more weight as well. War Camels." He flashed her a smile as he waved a hand over the saddlebags and water-skins the camel was carrying. Maldriv started nibbling at his sleeve, Bê-nam elbowed his nose.

"I see." Tànë looked back to her satchel and brought out her map. She pulled the black ribbon and unrolled it, laying it flat before her. After a pause, she spoke up. "Does thou know where we are?"

Bê-nam went to the fronds and grabbed his satchel, from it retrieving a folded paper. He walked towards her and sat himself down on her mat. She raised an eyebrow at him and scooted away. Tōgor walked up to the two, his hide glistening with water, and stood at Tànë's right side eyeing Bê-nam. Maldriv bellowed and marched into the underbrush.

Bê-nam studied the map. "This is more art than a tool."

Bê-nam pulled the map gently forward for better reading. The lantern-glow illuminated the painted mountains, forests, and desert of the map, large gold script named locations.

"It is both." She replied.

"You aren't depending on this in your travels are you?" He asked unfolding his paper; it was half the size of her own, with circles and lines throughout; in black, red, and yellow inks, tiny words and symbols scrawled everywhere.

"Yes," She smiled, looking down at her map.

"Where're the routes, distances, the cities, the new rivers...?"

Tànë looked down at her map, "I use the stars to navigate."

He looked up at her, amusement in his eyes. She lifted her chin and pointed to the constellation above them. "The Scorpion's Tail hence we're in the South Lands.

He nodded. "We are at the Scorpion's Tail."

She looked back at her map with a smile.

"This place hasn't been called the South Lands for a Millennia. The South Lands have been broken up to kingdoms, independent cities, and tribes. Many with their own rulers, languages, and cultures. Your map doesn't show any of these."

She shrugged a shoulder. "My navigation has no fault, thou admitted that."

"Your navigation doesn't but your map does." He paused. "Where are you traveling? Show me, using my map."

Bê-nam sat cross-legged and gestured to his map that he placed on top of hers. She whisked her map from under his and rolled it up. She gave side-ways glance. There were no sand dunes or trees, and there were little triangles that she guessed were supposed to be mountains. The names were unfamiliar and she didn't understand any of the symbols. There was a large, black snake in the far left corner of the map and number combinations lined on the right side along the length of the paper. She wasn't sure where she was on that map, much less where she wanted to go.

"Thou folds thine map; it has deep creases." She said.

He blinked, "Exactly, it doesn't take up half the satchel." he flicked his hand at her map.

"My leather is stronger than thy paper."

"Mine is bamboo meaning it's lighter than your very beautiful, very outdated, very heavy, leather map."

The sky blackened and a horde of clouds could be seen through the thick palm leaves. The thunder rumbled in a low bass that vibrated the ground.

"See, the storm's coming." Bê-nam scanned the skies.

Tànë adjusted the lantern's glow, took out her wineskin and took a long drink. The berry aroma met Bê-nam's nose, he leaned forward as Tōgor shook his mane at him.

"What kind of wine is it?" He asked

"Grakinberry and Muana fruit." She answered.

"Exotic." He licked his lips as she hummed in affirmation.

"May I?" He asked.

Without looking at him she corked the wineskin. "Thou prefers water." She flicked the ugly map closer to its owner. "Where are we on thy map."

"I'll show you if I can have a drink."

Tànë stared at him for a long moment, gazed at her horse, and held out the wineskine; as he was slow to take it she started drawing it back.

"Eh-hey," He said swiping it from her. He held it carefully, uncorked it and took a swig. He examined the gold inking of the wineskin and the metallic silver ink of two large trees with a waterfall behind it. "Is this your home?"

She was silent.

"This is a fine, celebratory wine. My compliments to your Grandfather."

She whisked the wineskin out of his hands and shoved his map at him once more. "Where are we?" She demanded.

He looked at his map and placed his fingertip on a black dot.

She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "Where is the oasis?"

"Here," He wiggled his finger a little, still pointing at the dot.

"That's a dot, where are the trees?"

"We don't paint our maps. It's practical."

She lifted her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Maps are supposed to show everything."

"The map does exactly that; it's just not all pretty like yours."

"Where's the nearest town?" She questioned.

"The closest town is over here," he put another finger next to a red square with some numbers beside it. "Half day's journey."

Tànë unrolled her map and looked between his finger placements in comparison to her map. The leaves beside her fluttered and bobbed in the wind. Sand rose and swirled where they sat and she laid the map down to dust the sand away.

The palm head started to tip and bob as the wind above them blew. The thunder rumbled deeply, somewhat muted by their nook in the oasis. She pointed. "Here then?" away from the beautifully illustrated oasis there was a house to symbolize a settlement with golden lettering.

He leaned over and shrugged. "Can't read it." He admitted, "But considering the layout, I'd say that's about right."

She caressed a tree on her map, smiling. "It is accurate."

"To a small extent."

"We will travel to the town."

"I wouldn't."

"Hm?"

"They're involved in a blood feud and you have trouble enough without walking into a battle." He looked up and touched her cloak and her gown that lay between them. She swatted his hand away. "High-quality fabrics, homemade wine, an old, outdated map, and a temperamental horse--"

"Tōgor."

"Tōgor," he corrected, "can be sold at a generous price. And you," He smiled mirthlessly. "If they didn't marry you to someone in the family they'd sell you."

"You buy and sell women?" She asked. There was a loud crack of lightning that caused both of them to jump and Tōgor to whinny.

"Mostly our women have dowries. You're either paid money or bestowed wealth upon marrying but some need to buy a wife. In some places, there aren't enough females old enough to marry. I have no need to buy a woman, my wife will make me a wealthy man." He laughed and slapped his knee, but quieted once he saw her expression. Tōgor tossed his mane. "Surely your women have dowries? It's a popular custom, even among kings and queens."

Tana leaned towards her horse and drew her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

"I assumed that's why you were alone. It's not uncommon to find maidens fleeing harsh or unwanted marriages."

A painful crack and boom of lightning flashed white light over them. The boom drew out into a bellowing roar that seemed to pierce through the oasis nook. Tànë and Bê-nam sat straight and surveyed the surroundings.

Tànë grabbed her lantern and turned the knob that squeaked. Perhaps sand got into it? She cast the light around, Tōgor snorting and looking around ears flicking. The foliage to the left, beside the stack of flat sandstone, showed flashes of gold and red through the green.  Maldriv ambled out, chewing a cactus.

Tànë sighed through her nose and placed her hand on Tōgor's leg, murmuring comforting words, Bê-nam relaxed with a breathless chuckle. "Maldriv stay here." He commanded. The camel snorted and made a loud grunting noise. There was a lull of quiet as the wind howled, clouds of sand were carried overhead.

"Is that why you left?" Tànë asked.

"How do you mean?"

"Escaping a harsh or unwanted marriage?"

In the dim light of the lantern, she could see his cheeks darken. "No, no I don't have a wife nor am I betrothed. Why," He smirked, "Are you interested?"

"Why are you alone on such a night." She asked.

"I'm not alone, you, your horse, and Maldriv are here. It's a celebration!" he laughed, gesturing to her wineskin.  Their eyes met. He looked at his hands.  "A misunderstanding angered several people." He said nonchalantly with a flourish of his hand. "I'm walking away until the dust settles."

"Cannot thy family aide thou?"

He hesitated. "My family is involved in the misunderstanding."

"Thy uncle?"

He hesitated. "My kin flows like a large river, going the direction we have gone for generations, but I want to take another route. So! I'm branching off."

"Where?" Tànë asked.

"Anywhere not in a war zone."

"Will there be trees?"

"Maybe."

"Forests?"

He thought for a moment. "Perhaps. Are you going somewhere with trees? If so, you'll be traveling a long while."

Tànë grew silent. "I haven't settled on where I'm going."

Lightening, like bones, flashed white through the black clouds and haze of sand. There was another painful crack and boom, louder than the last which had Tōgor pacing in response and Maldriv gave a warbled moan. The boom didn't go away at once but gradually lowered like a steady growl. The rain fell, drumming against the leaves. Tōgor reared and stomped the grass tossing his mane.

"Peace Tōgor." Tànë soothed. She stepped into the rain and patted his neck, the stallion snorted and shifted restlessly. The low growling still rumbled and seemed to swell as thunder into something vicious. Tànë started a little as she saw Bê-nam jump to his feet, mouth agape with horror. She followed his gaze and pressed herself against her steed.

Upon the sandstone at the bottom of the clearing, stood a huge, shaggy wolf, head low and red eyes glaring at them each in turn. Its fur was blacker than the sky, and distant lighting flashed defining its features in the most horrible way. It was like a boulder in and of itself, big enough to match Tōgor and Maldriv together.

Its eyes fell upon Tànë and the growling rumbled, rising and falling like words, words that only she could understand: Runes.

Maldriv was not to be outdone, he stepped up and gave his own bellowing roar baring his blunt teeth at the wolf, whose face twisted into a disgusted snarl. Bê-nam bolted and rammed himself into the camel to move it towards the exit of the clearing, snatching the camel whip from the side satchel. As he moved the camel around, the wolf followed, staying at the edge of the small clearing.

The Runes swirled around Tànë's head, her stomach tight and twisting. Tōgor snorted and placed himself in front of his girl, eyeing the wolf. Tànë returned to herself all at once and darted to the mat, snatching up the lantern. She ran back to Tōgor's side.

"Go help." She said to Tōgor who snorted and his tail flicked back and forth. "Now!" She said again and ran up behind the beast, waving the glowing lantern.

"I will send you to your master dog." She called over the rain and rolling thunder. The wolf's eyes flicked to her and ever so slowly his head followed. His lips were pulled up over blood-stained fangs into a terrible grin that seemed to go past his snout and into his cheeks in a human-like manner. Was it that, or the cold rain bleeding through her cloak that sent the chill down her spine?

Bê-nam pushed his bellowing camel towards the exit, casting a look back to Tànë as she faced the wolf. He held the whip tightly in one hand and his other itched to free his scabbard. He jumped as Tōgor stopped on the other side of Maldriv, vocalizing to the camel. The horse leaned forward and gently took the lead-rope in his blunt teeth, tugging firmly in the direction of the exit.

"A coward out of hiding...? Or a coward fleeing...?" The wolf growled lowly. "Thy kind could never decide."

Tànë swallowed hard as she stared down the beast. "A dog survives not without his master, thine is dust, and so shall thou be."

The wolf feigned a lunge, snapping his great jaws forcing her back. He made a chuckling sound, his massive body trapping her in against the trunk of a palm. She gripped the wet knob of the lantern but it would not turn. The wolf drew closer his breath like bitter sulfur. She grabbed the hilt of her sword and unsheathed it a flourish, the light of the lantern bouncing off of the detailed blade.

The wolf's taunting swirled around her and she blinked as rain fell into her eyes, her wet hilt made the sword shiver in her grasp. She blinked hard and lifted the arm with the lantern to her face to shield it from the rain.

"A weapon in the hands of a child..." A powerful swipe of It's paw and her sword flung in the distance; she could not see.

The chuckling spiked into a howling roar of pain and surprise. The shadowy fiend whirled around to where Bê-nam dragged his sword down across the wolf's hind leg, red-black blood gushed out from the wound. Jaws opened to show the empty void of the wolf's throat as he lunged at Bê-nam.

Bê-nam was swift with his free hand he thrust his whip into the open jaws and with a twist, he snapped his whip around its mouth making the wolf recoil with a furious, guttural, snarl. Bê-nam pulled his sword out of the tough hide, using his foot as leverage, but before he could land the finishing blow at the wolf's throat, or even make a move to get there, it's fangs closed around the whip and the wolf tossed his head, flinging the warrior back against a tree at the far end of the clearing. Bouncing off the tree and on onto the ground, the scabbard out of Bê-nam's reach.

Tànë looked through the broad leaves but couldn't find her sword, she looked up, wiping the rain away from her eyes in vain. The wolf, in a leap too large for the clearing, rammed his body into a palm tree, the trunk cracked and splintered, the palm fell into the underbrush and the wolf got up, blinking his eyes hard. She could see Bê-nam shifting as he used his one leg to push himself up, hand strained for the hilt of his sword, just out of reach. She opened the lantern door and snatched the crystal inside, picking up her skirt, Tànë ran towards Bê-nam.

The wolf shook his head, towering over and glaring down at the man through squinted eyes. It lunged down and as he did he felt a burning fire like none that had ever felt touched the soft flesh of his tongue. It inhaled sharply which pulled the fire down his throat. It gagged and coughed trying to work the fire out. But the heat continued to grow inside it's stomach.

Bê-nam grabbed his sword and got to his feet, Tànä at his side. With a battle cry, he ran to the wolf and shoved the curved blade up into it's throat twisting the sword.

Tànë looked away, eyes shut tight against the agonized warbling cry that broke into a gargle and a choke. There was a loud thump.

In the silence of the moment, Tànë opened her eyes and realized the rain had stopped, though the flashes of sheet lighting continued.

Her eyes found those of Bê-nam and she stepped carefully over to him, giving the fallen creature as wide a birth as possible and not looking at it. The lantern hung empty in her hand and the door creaked slightly as it opened and closed. She could hear Bê-nam panting and saw him adjust his clothes as though trying to wipe away the blood.

"Are you a... a witch? Medicine doctor? Spirit...warrior?" Bê-nam asked looking up at her.

"No."

"I saw you, you held fire in your hand."

She grew quiet and thought of what to say. "A crystal from my people, it holds fire within it but is not fire itself."

"You flung it into the mouth of the wolf." he said incredulously.

"To save thee." She replied, feeling accused.

"I know!" A little laugh and then stopped as he looked back to the wolf, tongue lolling, eyes rolled upward and a snarl of pain and hate etched into its face. The smell of rot came from it and Tànë knew the ancient spirit had passed on. She furrowed her brow as she saw Bê-nam kneel and dig his sword into the stomach of the wolf. She averted her gaze.

"Its flesh cannot be eaten," she warned, hearing disturbing sounds. "The skin and fur will rot quickly and cannot be sold. The oasis alone must bury it."

"I'm trying to get that rock, the fire rock, the lantern rock," Bê-nam grunted.

There was a whinny and snorting as Tōgor rushed up to Tànë's side, nostrils flared as he nuzzled her. "I'm alright, I'm alright." She massaged the top of his mane and down between his eyes. Maldriv groaned as he returned to the clearing, he went to the wolf's side and sauntered as though he had done the deed.

"Here,"said a husky voice from behind.

Tànë turned around and saw something like a flame in Bê-nam's outstretched hand. It was her crystal, but slimier. She stared at it, then looked back at Bê-nam.

"Thou did not have--"

"Oh sorry," He interrupted, wiping the gem on the cleanest part of his clothing he could find, and held it out to her again.

She smiled and took it with her fingertips. There was a small pause between them before Tànë spoke up with thanks, overlapping Bê-nam as he echoed her words. They paused again and Bê-nam chuckled.

"Thy leg is hurt." She acknowledged, seeing his weight resting on his left foot.

"Oh, it'll heal once I get... once I go..." He ran his hand through his hair in thought. "Where'd you say you were going?"

"Undecided."

He nodded slowly, his dark eyes looking about the clearing before resting on her. "Did you want to decide together?"

"Hmm?"

"We would've died had we faced that... wolf-fiend alone. It won't get easier the further we travel."

"Thou wish to become traveling companions." She said.

"I have a map. You have the stars."

"And a map."

"Don't forget the horse." He added.

A smile flickered across her features. "And thou has a war camel."

"And we all make a good team."

She paused. Her gaze looked between him, the camel, the small shelter where their maps sat, and finally the decaying shadow that no longer resembled a wolf. "What does thou have in mind...?" She asked.

He grinned. 

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Thank you for reading! <3

Word count: 4,600 words