Kidd Dustie's Arc

Chapter 5 of 7

Kidd's buggy climbed a steep dune as the morning sun warmed his back. At the top, he spotted something that made him grin—a cluster of green plants dotting the sand ahead. He drove closer and stopped. Real grass grew here, not dried husks but living blades that bent in the breeze. He knelt and touched the cool stems. Water had to be close for grass to survive in this heat. His ancestor's scrolls had described green patches near the oasis, places where the sacred water fed the ground below. Kidd stood and scanned the area. A low building sat beyond the grass, its walls painted with bright murals of desert flowers and cacti. He walked toward it and pushed open the door. Inside, the walls showed a painted oasis surrounded by more cacti and blooming plants. Shelves held old books and papers, records of travelers who had come before. Kidd pulled down a thick journal and flipped through the pages. Entry after entry told of people who found healing waters in the desert. One page showed a sketch of the oasis with notes about restored vision. Another described the exact plants that grew near the sacred pool. His claws traced the words as he read. These weren't just stories—they were proof. His ancestor had been one of many who found the healing waters. Kidd set the journal down and looked at the mural again. The painted oasis matched the descriptions perfectly. He was closer than ever, maybe just one more day of travel. He walked outside and climbed into his buggy, his heart beating faster with certainty. The buggy rolled forward through the grass until Kidd spotted a rock basin ahead. He stopped and climbed out. Clear water filled the natural bowl, surrounded by vibrant cacti and desert flowers. Sand dusted the edges where other travelers had knelt to drink. This wasn't the legendary oasis, but it was a sign that water existed here in places his ancestor had marked. Kidd walked around the basin and read a small plaque fixed to one of the rocks. It listed names of desert travelers who had found water when others thought the land was empty. His ancestor's name was there, carved in stone among the others. Kidd pressed his claw against the letters and felt the grooves. Every marker, every record, every sign pointed the same direction. The oasis was real, and he was following the right path. He filled his canteens from the basin and drove on, knowing tomorrow would bring him to the place where his ancestor's vision had been restored. The ground sloped downward as Kidd drove further northeast. Large rock formations rose on both sides, creating a narrow passage. He slowed the buggy and noticed something strange ahead—colors dancing across the stone walls. He stopped and climbed out. Waves of light shimmered against the rocks, moving like water. The colors shifted from green to purple to blue, reflecting off something he couldn't yet see. Kidd walked between the formations and found the source. A pool of water sat at the base of the rocks, catching the sun and throwing light in all directions. The dancing patterns covered the entrance to another tomb carved into the stone. This had to be another marker, another sign his ancestor had left. Kidd approached the tomb entrance and saw fresh footprints in the sand—his own, leading him forward. He had traveled far enough that the desert itself was showing him the way. The oasis was close now, maybe just beyond these rocks. He turned back to his buggy, ready to finish what his ancestor had started.