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Aspax, Basin: Desolate Ash, Time: 2:30 PM
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They made their way out of the cavern and prepared for their wine-hunting adventure, Cauli couldn't help but ask, "So, where exactly are we going to find this wine?" He was eager to get this task over with.
Layla was a bit more experienced with the situation, and responded confidently, "Well if we want to find wine without making it ourselves, there's only one way. We need to venture into their territory and 'borrow' it." Her plan wasn't the safest, but it seemed like the only option.
Just as they were about to set out on their mission, they heard a distinct engine noise approaching.
Layla's expression fell as she muttered in disbelief, "Oh my god, they're still here?" A cloud of smoke heralded the arrival of two individuals on a strange vehicle – a floating motorcycle, to be precise.
These newcomers were decked out in unusual goggles, leather jackets, and matching mohawk haircuts, which piqued the curiosity of both Don and Cauli. It seemed like their adventure was about to get a lot more interesting.
The two oddly dressed individuals circled Don, Cauli, and Layla, their loud "Yo! Yo! Yo!" catching the attention of everyone present.
They came to a halt in front of the trio, their faces displaying a mischievous grin as they claimed, "Look what we have here! A newcomer and the dwarf herself! We're here to collect the riches you've got for the honor of The Purified!"
Don and Cauli exchanged incredulous looks, clearly taken aback by the bizarre attire of the newcomers.
Don couldn't help but inquire, "Please tell me they don't dress like that on purpose?" He looked at Layla, who responded with a resigned shake of her head and confirmed that, indeed, they dressed like that intentionally.
Don couldn't help but come up with a mischievous plan as he looked at the eccentric duo in their strange attire. "I think I've got an idea," he whispered to Cauli and Layla. "Let's see if we can have some fun with these guys."
Cauli and Layla were curious, albeit a bit skeptical, but they were willing to hear Don's plan. "Alright, what's your idea?" Cauli asked.
Don quickly explained his plan in hushed tones. "I'm going to play along with their little game, offer them some 'riches,' and then lead them into a trap. With any luck, we can take them out without much trouble."
Layla raised an eyebrow but decided to trust Don's judgment, while Cauli was both excited and nervous about the idea. "Alright, let's give it a shot," Layla agreed.
Don turned back to the oddly-dressed pair and put on his best smug smile. "Oh, you guys want riches, huh? Well, we've got plenty of treasures, but I can't just give them away for free. You'll have to prove you're worthy!"
The two Purified members looked at each other, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "Prove ourselves, huh? We're up for the challenge! What do we have to do?"
Don chuckled. "Follow me, and I'll take you to where the riches are hidden. Just keep up!"
With that, Don led the two excited Purified members further into the desolate land, deeper into the terrain. As they followed him eagerly, he led them into a carefully prepared trap.
Suddenly, he spun around, and with a swift, well-aimed blow, he knocked both of them out, one after the other.
Cauli and Layla looked at Don in amazement. "Nice work, steel face," Layla said with a grin.
Don shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all in a day's work for me, shortstack." With the would-be treasure hunters out cold, the three of them realized that the steampunk motorcycle could be used for traveling.
"I never get to use one of these before!" Layla was excited now as she hopped on the newly acquired motorcycle. "Whatcha waiting for? Hop on!" Layla was grinning as Don and Cauli looked at each other before shrugging and hopping on the back.
Layla started the engine and revved up the speed as they drove off into the barren wasteland.
They continued their journey on the stolen steampunk motorcycle, and the landscape around them grew increasingly desolate.
The wind picked up, and a light sandstorm began to blow, sending grains of sand and dust flying through the air. Cauli was caught off guard as the sand kept blowing into his eyes.
"Argh, this sandstorm is getting into my eyes!" Cauli complained, trying to shield his face from the blowing dust.
Layla, on the other hand, was well-prepared. She pulled out a pair of goggles from her bag and quickly put them on to protect her eyes.
"You should've brought some goggles with you, Short stack," she teased as she continued driving confidently despite the sandstorm.
Don, who was sitting between Cauli and Layla, felt the sand whipping against his metallic mask but was otherwise unaffected. He decided to offer a solution to Cauli. "Cauli, hang onto me and keep your face down. It'll help shield your eyes from the sand."
Cauli followed Don's advice, gripping Don and keeping his head down to minimize the impact of the sandstorm. With their makeshift strategy in place, they pressed on. However...
They soon encountered an obstacle in their path: a large cliff that blocked their way. Layla looked ahead and assessed the situation. She had a plan to overcome this obstacle.
"Hold on tight, everyone!" Layla called out to Don and Cauli. She revved up the motorcycle to the maximum speed, building up momentum as they approached the cliff. With a burst of speed, she aimed for a nearby rock slide that led upward.
Time seemed to slow down as the motorcycle raced up the rocky incline, defying gravity for a moment. Don, Cauli, and Layla all held their breath as they soared through the air, the motorcycle's wheels leaving the rocky surface.
Then, with a powerful jolt, they successfully landed on the other side of the cliff, safe and sound. Layla's expert handling of the motorcycle allowed them to overcome the obstacle with ease.
Cauli was relieved as he finally had a chance to clear the dust from his eyes. "That was amazing," he said, looking at Layla with a mix of awe and gratitude.
Layla grinned as she continued to drive through the wasteland. "Just another day in the life of the dwarf and her new adventurous companions. Onward to The Purified Headquarters!"
Layla, Cauli, and Don continued traversing the desert on their stolen motorcycle. The sand was smooth but could get everywhere. "Woo wee! This is the best!" Layla exclaimed, deftly dodging cacti as she controlled the vehicle.
"I wanna try it," Cauli whined, pouting when Don chuckled "I don't think you even know how to drive one, Cauli."
Suddenly, in the distance, a giant sandworm emerged, mimicking the up and down movements of our heroes' motorcycle. "Wow, what is that?" Cauli asked, pointing with fascination.
"That's a Juvenile Sand Worm. They tend to be more friendly than the adults," Layla explained, surprising both Don and Cauli.
"Anyway, we should be arriving at their headquarters soon," Layla added, cranking up the speed as the odd trio raced towards their destination through the desert.
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