Parish and Mike continued walking in the scorching sun for God knows how long. At least parish could walk, Mike was slithering on the hot sand and only he could share the experience his belly was having right now.
"Where are we even going?" He asked halting in his tracks. Sweat was breaking profusely on his face, a big contrast to how Parish was coping. He in fact looked as energetic as he was when they began the journey. The Parish in front of Mike right now was a mystery he had not been able to unravel since they materialized in this desert.
"I need water Parish. We cannot continue like this or else…" Mike's skin now looked dry due to lack of water. Cracks had already started forming on his grey scales.
"Would you shut up and keep moving," Parish said. Mike's statement made him worried though. Unlike him, Mike was panting and gasping for air with every passing second. He was afraid he might pass out any moment from now. Damn it! Carrying a person was not a thing he liked, especially under these conditions. If not for Mike's slithering belly, they would have gone far. For once, he saw the importance of these legs.
"Just hold on a little longer Mike. We're gonna find some place with water." Parish said trying to enlighten a crestfallen Mike.
"I can't do this anymore,"Mike said before he slouched on the hot sand.
"Damn it!" Parish cursed as he turned around to help Mike up. This was what he had feared for the most. Mike was one heavy bundle to carry. But again, he was not able to shape shift anymore, heck although having a tremendous power now but what was it's use when he couldn't manifest it. He was a god. Carrying Mike should be a piece of cake to him, right? Why then was he even worrying in the first place?
He scooped a frail Mike like a piece of feather, and true to his thoughts, Mike was light, as if weightless. He placed the bundle on his shoulders and continued walking as if he was carrying nothing.
"How come you can carry me with so much ease? The last time we did this, you couldn't even lift me off the ground," Mike asked equally surprised by how strong Parish was now. There was this aura that emanated from Parish that would make someone feel like bowing down and worshipping him on the spot. Mike had felt it since the moment they materialized in this desert. If that was Parish's action as well, that he couldn't tell. But his gut feeling told him that Parish was the mastermind of all that. If not him, who else?
Not that he was doubting the gods or something. But never had he seen nor heard of anyone being rescued by a god, especially Azazel. Many had prayed to him to be rescued from their demise but it would always end in vain.
Parish smiled wryly reminiscing on those good memories when they were still young boys then. They had engaged in a competition of carrying one another around and since he was the weakest, he ended up unable to lift a damn heavy Mike who had been lifted effortlessly by Zed and some of the younger members of the clan.
"It's a long story Mike," Parish answered after a while of silence.
"I want to hear it Parish, all of it," Mike said adopting a curious tone.
"Not when you're weak. I need to find you water and food first," Parish said. Still, this was not the perfect time to tell Mike or anyone else about it. He had to know who to trust and with Mike being Zed's a partner, he had to act cautious. He knew Zed would go to as great lengths as to send Mike to spy on him, so he had to act cautious around him.
"But…."
"Hey! Look what we have here?" Mike tilted his head to the other direction and behold an oasis full of water was standing majestically in front of them. But they were not alone. A group of what looked like humans were standing at the far end of the oasis with several double humped camels parked by their side. They wore evil and ugly smirks on their faces as they looked at the approaching duo with little interest.
"They are humans?" Mike asked as they walked closer to the oasis. "They'll kill us Parish!"
"They are not humans Mike. They are a desert race that protects this oasis. If you check closely, you'll notice that they have pointy ears and fangs."
"How do you know all that information?" Mike asked looking at the 'humans'. And it was indeed true. They had pointy ears and a skin tone different from one of a human.
How did he know? Parish searched for the answer in his mind but he couldn't find it. He just knew they were a different race. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was a…god. He still couldn't believe it. It felt so funny yet frightening at the same time.
Parish placed Mike softly on the sand before he threw a furtive glance at the group. One of the men looked back at him creasing his brows when his gaze landed at Mike. He tapped his minions catching their attention.
"What's happening?" Mike asked when he noticed the look on Parish's face.
"They are looking at you," Parish answered simply. Mike shifted his gaze towards the group and the looks that met him made him swallow nervously.
"Why are they looking at me like that?" Mike asked referring to the crazed looks on the group's face.
"This is a desert Mike," Parish said as if Mike didn't know they were in a desert.
"And? What does that have to do with those looks?" Mike asked clearly irritated by how the guys were looking at him.
"You know that snakes reside in the desert, right? These guys eat scorpions and snakes Mike. You might have to become a dish in their plates today," Parish answered with a smirk but this did not sit well with Mike. Was that supposed to scare him?
"Now you should be scared," Parish said signalling Mike at the incoming group.