When the twin moons glowed high above the sky—big and silver like they were almost close enough to touch—the desert turned pale and quiet. Their light washed over dunes and date palms, over the little pool at the oasis, over canvas tents that dotted the sand like sleepy beetles.
One by one, everyone slipped into their tents. Harris and Salud took guard near the bonfire, their shadows short and sturdy, weapons resting across their tiny shoulders like sleeping beasts.
Ren took a slow walk around the oasis first. He liked to look, to listen, to make sure there wasn't anything hiding in the dark that the others had missed. The place was peaceful—just trees and flowers, small sparkling insects, a few tiny beasts that darted under brushes, and weak desert monsters that stayed far from the firelight. Nothing worth a fight. Nothing worth losing time.
