Ben peered out the rust bucket's windshield as the desert dunes whipped past. "Uh, Grandpa," he called over the roar of the engine, "pretty sure your GPS is glitching."
Max chuckled, easing the controls. "No, Ben—this isn't a misread. We're headed to see an old friend." He guided the vehicle down a sandy trail toward a cluster of sun-baked adobe buildings crowned with straw thatch. The engine's hum faded into the whisper of shifting sand.
Ben groaned. "Great—no cell service, just sand and—" He trailed off as the settlement came into full view. Each structure rose like a sculpted dune, windows inset with turquoise inlays and wooden doors carved with ancient symbols.
Gwen pressed her palm against the glass, eyes alight. "I'm impressed. They built all this out of earth and straw—almost like magic."
Fred cracked his knuckles, grinning. "I wonder if we get to spend the night in one of these. That would be an experience."
Max swung the rust bucket to a gentle stop beside a shaded courtyard. "My friend will meet us soon. He promised a special tour." He leapt down and waved them over. The sand sizzled underfoot as they disembarked.
Moments later, a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged from behind a woven wall. He offered a warm grin and extended a hand. "Call me Mr. Greene," he said, voice rich as warm tea. The kids returned his greeting with shy waves.
Ben leaned close to Gwen and Fred. "Think he's—Plumber rank?" he whispered.
Fred shrugged. "Wanna bet?"
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Why do you two always turn everything into a contest?"
Max clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Kids, come along. Let me introduce you properly."
Mr. Greene glanced at the tile-covered plaza, now bustling with tourists in straw hats. "Tourism keeps our community thriving," he explained, leading them past stalls of woven rugs and turquoise jewelry. "Every year, visitors come to experience our history."
They strolled through sunlit alleys lined with painted pottery and smoked meats hanging in kiosks. Up ahead, a raised ceremonial stage drew a small crowd. Colorful lanterns bobbed in the breeze, framing a circle of dancers.
Ben yawned. "I so want to turn into XLR8 and bolt for that arcade back at home."
Gwen nudged him. "Will you ever learn to appreciate culture?"
The first beats of a thumping drum echoed as a lone dancer stepped into the lantern glow. Headdress gleaming, feathers catching the light, a young girl launched into a Navajo ceremonial dance—feet stamping in complex rhythms, arms rising like wings. Her flowing shawl painted vivid arcs in the air.
Mr. Greene's chest swelled with pride. "That's my granddaughter, Kai." He beamed at Max. "Last time I saw her, she was barely walking. Now—look at her!"
Ben's eyes went wide. "Whoa…I've always wanted to see a dance like this."
Gwen studied the dancer in awe. "It's beautiful."
Fred leaned close to Ben. "I think your jaw broke on the first twirl."
Kai's dance drew to a gentle close, her final flourish melting into a slow bow. The crowd erupted in applause. Kai stepped down, flushed and glowing, weaving through the crowd to her grandfather.
Gwen wiped an errant tear. "Incredible."
Kai paused in front of them. "Thank you all for watching. I hope my dance brought you joy." Her voice was soft as desert rain.
Suddenly, a ripple of wind spiraled through the plaza. Gwen frowned. "That wasn't part of the ceremony, was it?"
The sky darkened in an instant. Crackling thunder echoed overhead, not white but purple lightning dancing between clouds. The ground at their feet trembled.
Fred pointed upward. "Did…did we just summon a storm?"
A jagged bolt of violet energy stabbed into the adobe street, fracturing the sun-baked clay with a shower of glowing debris. Tourist stalls toppled as dust roiled in a blinding wall.
"Flash flood!" Mr. Greene shouted, voice swallowed by the roar of surging water. A torrent gushed through the settlement, ripping wooden barriers as it surged.
Max seized Gwen's arm. "Inside—now!" He herded them toward the rust bucket's wide doors.
Ben flashed a confident grin. "I've got this!" He vaulted onto a low rooftop, looking for the river's source. Then he plunged feet-first into the rushing current. "Ripjaws, execute!" he cried, ready to morph.
But nothing happened. Water engulfed him, dragging him under.
Fred's eyes narrowed. He dove after Ben, rippling into Ripjaws—emerald skin and water-slick fins. He cut through the flood like a torpedo. Each stroke churned foam, waves slapping against crumbling walls. He caught sight of Ben flailing beneath an archway, grabbed him by the collar, and shot back to the surface, tossing him atop a sunken window sill.
Ben gasped and coughed up water. "Thanks, Ripjaws."
Fred morphed again into WaterHazard, tentacle-like water jets bursting from his palms. With twin streams of pressurized current, he blasted himself through the flood's heart to reach Kai—who struggled against the white churn toward a jagged stone wall.
He swept her up in a fluid lunge, water swirling like a vortex around them. With a deft hydro recoil, he rocketed them both away from the wall, crashing through a broken doorway into a sheltered shop. Water hazed around them like living glass.
Kai's eyes filled with fear—then relief. She sank against the counter. "Thank you…"
Fred's voice softened, fluid dripping from his form. "You're safe now." He offered a hand to help her up, then vanished in a glittering spray back toward the plaza to join Gwen, Ben, and Max.
---
Outside, the flood retreated as quickly as it had come, leaving cobblestones glistening and a stunned hush in its wake. Tourists and townspeople stumbled from doorways, hands pressed to dripping ears, faces pale with shock.
Mr. Greene rushed over, scooping Kai into a hug. "My brave girl—thank you."
Ben climbed down from the window sill, splashing through ankle-deep water. "Is everyone…okay?"
Gwen waded over, rain cooling her cheeks. "That storm came from nowhere. Must've been dark magic."
Max knelt in the water, checking a broken amulet lying in the street. "Agreed. But we'll restore this place."
WaterHazard reformed into Fred, shaking droplets from his sleeve. "Next time, maybe we should just stay home."
Ben splashed Gwen playfully. "Where's the fun in that?"
Mr. Greene's weathered face softened into a smile. "I owe you all my gratitude—and my granddaughter's life."
As the sky cleared to pale dawn, the friends gathered in the flood's aftermath—hearts pounding, spirits undaunted, ready for the next twist in their desert odyssey. The desert wind whispered promise: adventure never ends when you chase storms.
Also, if you enjoy my writing and want to support me, consider subscribing to my Patreon: [patreon.com/Writing_when_bored].