Ruins

Pilgrimage of Bones

As Islana continues her trek with her new companion, the young girl delights herself in teaching the older woman a few secrets from her homeland. How to look for signs of water, where to look for animals that will lead her to plants that contain small herbs and edible berries, how to best adjust her robe and scarf to deal with the heat and the sun. How to pace oneself in such a strenuous voyage. How to ignore the sand that regardless of what you try and do will get literally everywhere.

Islana suspected that Madaya had learned these things from her father or mother and was quite enjoying her new role as the mentor, passing on her knowledge to her companion. Often though, without thinking she would reach out with her tiny hand to grasp at Islana's own, holding to it fiercely. Despite everything, she was still a child and was likely more exhausted than the huntress from being out here exposed to the elements, heading, gods knew where.

Later in the day, Islana noticed a few rocks protruding from the sand. Small and black she paid little head to it, until small changes came upon them. The ground grew harder, slowly at first, grit and red stones mixed with coarser patches of sand. Looking up, the sky seems like a impeccable contrast to the land underneath you, imperturbable and blue like the oceans.

The more they walked on the more the desert dunes gave way to stone and slab. More and more of the black stones jutted from the ground and Islana could tell now that they were likely ancient pillars or markers of some sort. The two came to the edge of a plateau with a sheer drop, looking down over the lip of a might gorge. Below Islana and Madaya could see strewed ruins of some kind. To their left a small narrow path on the cliff wall led down to the valley below.