The desert was a land of extremes, where the blistering sun beat down relentlessly and rain was a rare phenomenon. However, there were seasons when the skies would darken, and the rain would pour down, bringing with it a meager few inches of water. But twelve years ago, a deluge of biblical proportions had struck the desert, shattering all records. The rain had lasted for days, causing widespread flooding that brought devastation rather than joy to the desert tribes.
This calamitous event was forever etched in the collective memory of the desert dwellers as the "Rain of Curse." The torrential downpour had been heavier than any other year, and its timing couldn't have been more ominous – it had come days after the brutal massacre of the Zahran tribe. The notorious Deserters' Bandits, a ruthless gang of marauders from the outskirts of the desert, had descended upon the unsuspecting tribe like a plague.
The bandits had left no stone unturned in their merciless rampage, robbing, killing, raping, and torching the town with an abandon that would be etched in the annals of history as one of the greatest invasions of all time. The death toll had been staggering, with thousands of souls lost in the carnage. Men had watched in horror as their families were slaughtered, women had seen their children being dragged away, and children had witnessed their parents being brutally murdered before their very eyes.
The bandits had shown no remorse, no regard for humanity, and no quarter had been given. The old, the young, and the infirm had all been cut down like animals, their lives extinguished without a second thought. The invasion had left deep scars, and those who had survived were forever changed. The few who had emerged from the ruins were left with nothing but the faintest glimmer of hope.
Zahran, once a thriving and peaceful oasis, was now a desolate and ghostly shadow of its former self. The survivors, mostly children, had been forced to flee their homeland in search of a new beginning. However, their ordeal was far from over. As they had hoped to find solace and welcoming arms in other tribes, they were instead met with hostility, cursed, and shunned.
Many of these children had been scattered among various tribes, but one twelve-year-old girl, Asa, stood out. She had lost everything and everyone she had ever loved. Asa had watched in horror as her mother was brutally murdered, her father had marched off to fight the bandits never to return, and her home had been reduced to ashes.
Days after entering the Rahali tribe with another child, Asa had been subjected to cruel treatment. They were denied food and shelter, forced to scrounge for scraps in the trash, and mocked by the Rahali children. The other girl who had accompanied Asa didn't survive for long, leaving Asa to face the harsh realities of her new life alone.
Asa's eyes would often well up with tears as she remembered the life she once knew. She would recall the warmth of her mother's smile, the strength of her father's arms, and the comfort of her home. But those memories were now nothing more than a distant dream, a fleeting glimpse of a life that had been brutally torn from her grasp.
The rain poured down in sheets, drumming against the parched earth. Children were warned not to play in the rain, but Asa had found a strange sense of solace in the downpour. She huddled beneath a broken, dilapidated dog cabin, the rain creating a symphony of sounds that masked her quiet sobs.
Asa felt more alone than ever, the rain seeming to echo her despair. She had lost her parents, her home, and now, not even a full day had passed since she had lost the one person who had given her the courage to live in this harsh environment. The cabin offered little protection from the elements, and Asa shivered with cold, her eyes heavy with sleep. The rain seeped into the cabin, soaking her to the bone, and Asa felt her eyelids drooping.
Just as she was about to succumb to sleep, the sound of laughter and footsteps echoed through the rain-soaked air. Asa's eyes snapped open, and she jerked upright, her heart racing. She quietly dragged herself to the entrance of the cabin and peeked outside. What she saw made her blood run cold.
The boys from the Rahali tribe were approaching the cabin, their faces twisted into cruel grins. Asa knew she had to act fast. She summoned what little strength she had and took off in a sprint, her legs pumping furiously as she tried to outrun her tormentors.
"There she is!" one of the boys shouted, their voices echoing through the rain.
"Hurry, catch her! She's running!" Another boy yelled, his voice dripping with malice.
"You little bitch, you better stop, or else you'll experience the worst!"
Asa didn't dare look back, fearing what she might see. She kept running, her feet pounding against the muddy earth. The rain made it harder to escape, but she refused to give up. Even when running was hard and slippery on the mud, Asa pushed herself to keep going.
The boys behind her were old enough to be her age, and Asa knew that at twelve, boys' strength increased exponentially compared to girls. She could hear their footsteps closing in, their heavy breathing getting louder. Asa's legs trembled with exhaustion, and just as she thought she couldn't run anymore, her feet flew out from under her. She slipped and fell on the mud, tasting the muddy water in her mouth.
Panic set in as Asa struggled to stand up, but she had used most of her strength. The boys reached her, smirking and snorting as they took deep breaths. Asa's eyes locked onto theirs, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the only sound the heavy rain pounding against the earth.
Asa lay there, shivering in fear, as she awaited her fate. The boys loomed over her, their faces twisted in cruel grins. "We've got you now, you cursed girl," one of them sneered, as the others snickered in agreement.
"She thought she could run away, but look at her now - fallen and helpless, just like she's supposed to be," another boy mocked, his voice dripping with contempt.
The boys continued to taunt her, their laughter and jeers echoing through the rain-soaked air.
Asa felt a wave of disgust wash over her. 'They have no shame,' she thought to herself, her eyes welling up with tears. She was tired, so tired, of being bullied and belittled. With a surge of determination, Asa closed her eyes, gathered her strength, and slowly sat up, despite the boys' continued mockery.
The boys' laughter and pointing only made Asa feel sicker. She was tired of being treated like a worthless animal, tired of being constantly bullied and harassed. As she looked up at the boys, something inside her snapped.
"It's enough!" she shouted, her voice ringing out through the rain.
The boys halted, taken aback by Asa's outburst. They stared at her, their faces a mixture of surprise and contempt. Asa took a deep breath, her voice shaking with emotion.
"Aren't you all tired of this? I'm tired of being bullied, tired of being treated like I'm less than human. I was once someone's child, just like you. I had parents, a home, friends... I'm no different from you. Why can't you just leave me alone?"
The boys exchanged uneasy glances, but one of them, a boy named Dougo, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with disgust. "The only way that's going to happen," he sneered, "is if you die. I promise, no one will bully you then." Asa felt a chill run down her spine as Dougo's words hung in the air.
Without warning, the boys closed in, their fists flying. Asa tried to defend herself, but she was no match for their brutality. She fell to the ground, the mud soaking through her clothes as the boys kicked and punched her. Asa lay there, helpless and broken, as the boys took out their frustrations on her.
Finally, they tired of their game, leaving Asa lying in the mud, unable to move. As she stared up at the sky, the rain pouring down on her like a blessing, Asa felt a sense of despair wash over her. She shed tears, feeling like a child again, vulnerable and helpless. The rain seemed to mingle with her tears, and for a moment, Asa felt like she was one with the universe.
Maybe, just maybe, her parents were watching over her, shedding tears for their lost child. The thought was almost too much to bear. Asa thought, her voice barely above a whisper, "Wouldn't it be better to just die here, like this? At least the earth would mourn me."
*
*
Bulsa rode in the carriage, her royal crest emblazoned on the side, as it made its way through the streets of the Rahali tribe. As a princess, she had her own set of responsibilities, and she took them seriously. When she had agreed to embark on a journey to visit the tribes of the desert affected by the heavy rain and provide support, she didn't let her youth hold her back. This was her duty as the future queen of the desert kingdom of Kharos.
So far, Bulsa had traveled to several other tribes, and she was halfway through her journey. She couldn't wait to see the excitement on her parents' faces when she returned home safe and sound. As the carriage moved, Bulsa opened the window to gaze out at the streets of Rahali. But before she could take in the sights, her nanny, Rayla, quickly closed the window.
"You'll catch a cold, the rain is heavy," Rayla admonished, her brow furrowed with concern. "I won't have you falling ill while traveling."
Bulsa rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You always have excuses, Rayla, but I'll take your advice." She beamed at Rayla, who smiled back, relieved.
Just then, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, and the sound of horses whinnying in distress filled the air. Rayla opened the door and leaned out to ask the driver, "What's going on?"
The driver's voice was laced with concern. "There's a body lying on the mud."
Rayla's expression turned stern. "Shouldn't you just ignore it and go around? We don't have time to waste."
But Bulsa didn't think that was the right thing to do. She felt a pang of compassion for the unknown person. Before Rayla could stop her, Bulsa jumped out of the carriage, ignoring her nanny's frantic calls. She splashed through the mud, her clothes getting soaked in the rain, as she made her way to where the body lay.
Rayla and the driver followed close behind, their faces etched with worry. When they reached the body, Bulsa gasped. "Oh my God, she's a girl, just like me. How could we just leave her here?"
The driver spoke up, his voice cautious. "We're not even sure if she's alive."
Bulsa's eyes flashed with determination. "Then let's check."
Rayla quickly moved to Bulsa's side and reached down to check the girl's pulse. After a moment, she looked up, her expression grim. "She's alive."
Bulsa's face lit up with hope. "We should save her."
Rayla nodded, and together, they carefully lifted the girl into the carriage, determined to get her the help she needed.