I did not know how long I have been here. The heat is enough to make my head spin, and there is no sign of life in any direction. I looked at the sky, then at the horizon, and finally down at the strange sand beneath my feet. It was sand, without a doubt, but unlike any I had ever seen. It had a reddish hue, not a vivid red, but a dusty, brownish crimson.
With no other option, I decided to walk straight ahead, hoping to find someone. Anyone.
Walking was not as easy as it seemed. I had to take long, deliberate strides to keep from tiring too quickly in the shifting ground. The need for water was already a sharp ache in my throat. There was not even a hint of a refreshing breeze, nor a single tree to offer protection from the infernal sun. I began to sweat profusely, so I removed my black shirt and fashioned it into a headband to protect my scalp from burning. Luckily, my hair was short, but it was a small comfort in a desperate situation.
The minutes of walking bled into hours, and I was close to total exhaustion. This place resembled the Sahara, yet everything felt larger, more vast and unforgiving. I stopped to look around, and to my immense relief, I spotted a small tent just a few miles ahead. The sight gave me a final burst of confidence, pushing me to make one last effort to reach it. I stumbled to the entrance and collapsed.
Leaving nothing but silence.
"..."
"(Unknown language)"
My senses slowly awakened from the depths of unconsciousness. Voices filtered in, but I couldn't understand a single word. What in the world are they saying? I kept my eyes shut, curiosity holding them closed, my ears alert to the foreign sounds.
"(Unknown language)"
"AAAAEHH!"
After what sounded like a sharp exclamation, I finally opened my eyes—just in time to see what looked like a tsunami rushing toward me. They had thrown a bucket of cold water in my face to wake me. I was soaked. Seconds after the impact, I sputtered into a coughing fit, gasping for air. It all seemed to happen in slow motion for me, but not for them.
"What was that for?!" I shouted, "I'm awake, I'm awake!" I was furious.
They looked at each other, confused by my outburst, but one of them quickly stepped forward and offered a soft cloth to dry my face. Now that I could see them clearly, I realized they were two astonishingly beautiful women, which took me completely by surprise. But their clothing… it was not from anywhere I knew. I began to wonder if I was in a hidden part of the African or Arabian deserts, but a sinking feeling told me that wasn't it. These clothes weren't from my world at all.
First, their hair was a vibrant green. Their skin was a light, earthy brown, and their eyes were a piercing red. Intricate marks, like tattoos but somehow more innate, adorned their arms and shoulders. It baffled me. And their language—what language was that?!
I looked around the tent. It was richly decorated with an abundance of carved wood, silver, and copper. Two triangular beds were piled high with colorful blankets, and more vibrant fabrics hung from the ceiling above. To my right, a stew simmered in a pot, filling the air with a savory scent that made my stomach clench with hunger.
There was no sign of my dog. The realization hit me like a physical blow.
Even worse, how could I possibly communicate with these two? I didn't understand a word they said.
"Should I try to draw for them?" I thought.