They descended the dimly lit staircase, with Grizk guiding them along a concealed route away from the engineers, guards, and family members. Stealthily, they made their way to his beloved dune buggy, known as the Red Zipper. The vehicle boasted a sleek black body adorned with bold cherry-red stripes that resembled a tiger's markings along the roll bars and hood. Even the tire rims were vividly cherry red. Grizk hopped inside and urged them to join him quickly. He then opened the glove compartment and took out his red goggles to match.
"I refer to this buggy as the red zipper, and you'll soon understand why. The best part about this ride is how incredibly quiet it is compared to the ones you saw on the first day, which belong to my brother. This beauty is all mine. I've modified the engine to ensure it's silent, along with the door hinges. We ride in style and stealth." Grizk smiled.
With a simple press of a button, the vehicle sprang to life. The only sign that it was operational was the jolt of vibrations beneath them. Beaming with excitement and readjusting his goggles, Grizk maneuvered past the bustling lizards and surged through the expansive metal doors.
The sun blazed overhead, its brightness almost overwhelming. The heat enveloped them like the blast from an opened oven. Oridian quickly recalled the reason for their prolonged stay indoors. Luckily, the day was relatively mild compared to the sweltering temperatures they had experienced. A refreshing breeze made the journey along the sandy dunes more tolerable.
"I'm going to drive us to the stone overpasses of Blaze Rock Valley. That way, if we choose to step outside, we'll be on rock instead of sand. Plus, the temperatures tend to be cooler in that area."
Grizk navigated the worn-out trails for what felt like half an hour. The sand dunes had slowly transformed into hardened boulders, and the sandy terrain gave way to a cracked, arid surface. Old tire tracks were etched into the ground, suggesting that many had traveled this route before. As they continued their journey, they encountered a few unusual vehicles. One was an oddly shaped jeep truck, featuring a rounded dome cabin atop the truck bed. Perched on top was a small metal seat, equipped with a large turret attached to it.
Oridian recognized the second vehicle as a stylish metal sports bike. It boasted a bulletproof glass windshield and bold exhaust pipes jutting out from its sides. The tires were robust and built for rough terrain. The rider wore a bright, translucent neon green helmet, and his leather jacket was covered in an array of patches. He sped by so swiftly that she couldn't make out the specifics. The thunderous sound of the bike combined with the truck's powerful engine reverberated through the stone tunnels.
"Where's our first stop?" Oridian asked, her curiosity piqued.
Grizk knew precisely where he wanted them to head first, as long as no trouble was lurking nearby. He described the nearby town of Belmora, which translated to "The Forgotten Sands," as their initial destination. While he had other incredible oases in mind, the first stop would be Belmora, where they could visit Bolder Stine Brewery to see his favorite bartender, Rusty the Camel.
Even Oridian could enjoy a refreshing mead to sip on. She felt confident about tackling the first task ahead of them. It was delightful to discover new nearby locations.
Before long, the traveling trail became crowded with an array of vehicles and animals navigating through the bustling market areas. Colorful banners, mandalas, and paper mache lanterns adorned the cavernous walls, transforming the drab sandy rocks into a vibrant sight that delighted the eye.
Grizk Slowed his speed and eased into an open parking spot. The vibrations stopped indicating he turned off the engine. He quickly exited the vehicle with the other four behind him. He waved thrm to follow him towards a noisy bar cut in the rock crevasse itself. He disappeared into a dark doorway that led him into a large bar room. Tables filled with runken desert hybrids sat loudly yapping, yrlling and cursing to one another. A cute, desert fennec fox waitress zoomed by with a tray full of fresh frothy mead in hand. Dane took a long hard look as he watched her fluffy beige tail dissappear to a butling table full of horny drunk Arabian wolves.
'Huh, my kind of people'-said Dane to himself. The young fox turned back to face him staring in her direction. Her beautiful long eyelashes batted as she timidly looked away. Her first impression of Dane was delightful. She had never seen a wolf hybrid of his kind before, nor would she forget.
"Isn't she just the cutest? Her name is Macey, the fennec fox. She's been part of Rusty's quirky little family ever since she was old enough to carry a heavy tray. Rusty, who isn't married and doesn't have any kids, found her abandoned on the streets and decided to adopt her as his own. Macey grew up learning how to hustle the bar business beautifully, and now it's just her, Rusty, Butter the sandcat, and Rizzo the caracal." Explained Grizk.
Dane was intrigued the most and curious to get to know Macey further. As the small group traveled deeper into the bar the more chatoic it became. Glass was being thrown across the pathway from one drunken angry sand viper to the next. Exotic bird dancers were swaying to the methodical beats inside metal cages for entertainment. The aromatic smell of bad B.O mixed with spilt mead was filling their nostrils. As the music played, colorful lights matched the beats. The only things lit up inside was the bar, the strobing lights and a few high customers. Behind the bar, Rusty towered over his station, skillfully crafting custom brews for eager clients, several of whom requested unique exotic herbs to enhance their fruity cocktails.
Pipsie started to cough uncontrollably from the smoke surrounding them, making Vulpix worry that the brewery wasn't suitable for Pipsie and himself. He leaned towards Oridian to inform her that they would wait outside until Dane and she were finished their drinks.
"No worries, my friend. Just one drink and we'll be out of here in no time. Stay nearby in case any trouble comes your way," Oridian replied as she handed him a laser gun she had taken from a drunken customer.
Vulpix's eyes widened in surprise. Without saying a word, he silently questioned his friend about how she managed to obtain such an item.
"Don't concern yourself with how I acquired it; just use it if necessary and keep it hidden until then," Oridian said.
Vulpix took hold of the gun and tucked it securely into his belt strap. Pipsie sat on the hard ground with her back against the solid wall, watching the exchange between them from her low vantage point. Her gaze wandered to the lively streets bustling with animated creatures. Having spent her life behind bars and surrounded by the familiar faces of her home in Montana, she found the exotic animals of the desert intriguing. She noticed the diversity in their appearances; some had knobby knees, while others sported soft shades of beige, brown, and cream. In the end, she recognized that these desert creatures were far smaller hybrids than those she was used to.
Oridian stepped back inside and wove her way through the busy crowd until she found her friend and tour guide. Grizk was happily conversing with Rusty at the bar.
"Hey there, buddy! Where have you been, you slippery little creature?" Rusty teased.
"Oh, you know, just trying to get by. Rez has really been tough on me lately. But enough about my dull life. How's business going?" Grizk asked.
Rusty remained motionless, gazing out at his venue. He gestured with his hand, encouraging them to take a look around in response to his question.
"Isn't it obvious? It's thriving very well, as you can see," replied Rusty.
Grizk chuckled softly as he turned back to his friend, feeling pleased to witness all his success.
"Ever since the raiders from President Saurkear's faction invaded Jindan, the city of mirages, I've seen a significant increase in sales and customers," Rusty remarked.
Grizk turned to his friend, puzzled. "What do you mean they invaded Jindan? That place is so off the radar—nothing ever happens there to warrant concern. It's always been a calm city, never causing any trouble," he said in response.
"Well, I suppose that's not the case anymore," Oridian interjected, taking a hearty gulp of chilled, frothy mead. She wiped the extra off with the sleeve of her arm.
Rusty let out a chuckle and smiled at the thirsty feline.
"Now she's hilarious; I really like her. Who are you?" Rusty asked.
Grizk hadn't noticed that she had returned. Feeling somewhat embarrassed by his oversight, he promptly introduced his longtime friend to both Oridian and Dane.
Oridian examined the camel's physique intently, as she wasn't accustomed to his species. Rusty had an exceptionally elongated face, with dreadlocks flowing down his shoulders. As she gazed at his face, she observed that his black eyes were striking in the dim light, yet they held a gentle kindness. His hybrid frame was lean, partially concealed by a white v-neck shirt and a black apron. He was quite tall as well, boasting a height that was at least a few inches greater than Zarda's.
"Friends of Grizk, you are always welcome as my friends here at Bolder Stine Brewery. Unfortunately, our local friends in Jindan have fallen victim to the Ghayfas raiders. It's a real shame. Rumor has it that President Saurkear has been orchestrating these attacks to gain control. He's searching for the portals," Rusty replied.
Oridian took a deep swallow of her brew before directing a piercing gaze at the camel. "What portals?" she asked.
Rusty scanned the surroundings to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Leaning closer, he whispered, "The portal keys of this world have always been thought of as ancient legends, but recently, some assert they are genuine. Little is known about them, but if President Saurkear manages to obtain them, it could spell danger for this world. Let's hope that's not the case. In the meantime, allow me to fill up your cup, my friend."
Ordian expressed her gratitude and savored another mug of cold mead. Meanwhile, Dane had lost interest in both the drink and the conversation, his gaze fixated on Macey. In contrast, Grizk was beginning to feel a growing sense of panic within.
"Surely this is a huge mistake. The president of Ghaythfa has no authority to encroach on Birbiblos's territory. He's violating his treaty with President Abaji, and he needs to be aware of this," Grizk replied.
Rusty polished a glass mug with a white towel and set it neatly alongside the other clean glasses. "How do you know he isn't already aware of this invasion? By the way, has your brother been conducting extra border checks recently?" Rusty inquired.
"Yes, actually... Oh, now it all makes sense. That means father knows as well," he replied.
Grizk glanced fearfully at Oridian. After downing the last drop from his mug, he placed a gold coin on the bar counter for his friend.
"Thank you once more, my friend, for your delightful company and delicious mead. Ordian, Dane, we must hurry. We need to move swiftly," he said anxiously.
The company hurried to the front door, stepping out into the bright sunshine that momentarily blinded them. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the light again. Fortunately, Vulpix and Pipsie had been relaxing on a stone bench, savoring treats they had picked up in the marketplace: a delicious pound cake, some red grapes, and a jug of sweet local cactus juice.
Just as they finished their last bite, their friends rushed over, worry clearly written on their faces. Noticing the concern, Vulpix lifted Pipsie into his arms and hurried after his friends as they raced down the path, determined to find the Red Zipper. As they sped away, Oridian started to understand the significance of the name. The vehicle shot from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye. Speeding down the road, they quickly vanished from sight, while Grizke pushed his buggy to its limits.
Determination gleamed in his eyes as he set his sights on Jindan. All the locals could see fading into the distance was a cloud of dust as they drove away.