Thread: Daughter Of Dune (Ursus Peregrinus & darkangel76)

Hersilia closed her eyes for a moment after Marid mentioned the scent of mlange... of Spice. With sight no longer clouding things, she could let the distraction of her surroundings melt away and focus on the subtleties of the desert. She breathed in deeply through her nose, allowing the dry desert air to fill her nostrils and then her lungs. The air filled her body, permeating ever pore as she breathed in deeply and then... Her blue eyes snapped open and the tiniest of gasps passed over her lips. Yes, she could smell it. It was indeed faint, but it was there just as Marid had said it was. It was hardly a trick of the desert as the aroma swirled about the air surrounding her body. The Spice. Its scent was much stronger than Hersilia had expected. And as she'd heard the last of Marid's movements before his sounds were lost to her ears, she half expect to hear the mournful cry of Shai-Hulud as it made its way so elegantly through the sands like only it could. Such beauty was only seen in her dreams though as the storms of Arrakis tried its best to claim it, only for it to pass over the great beast leaving it unscathed in all its glorious splendor. A shiver ran along Hersilia's spine, snapping her out of her small reverie. She was being watched by strange eyes. Those blue-on-blue eyes by those that could somehow 'see' things others could not, eyes that were truly one with the desert. Sucking in a sharp breath, she narrowed her blue eyes and met the gaze of the little fox she'd seen earlier, the very one Marid had pointed out not long ago. He was watching. Perhaps waiting? She wondered just what it was he was seeking. As she looked into his eyes, she felt a strange pull. It was as if he were beckoning her to wait, to watch, to learn. Licking her lips, her mouth suddenly dry, she watched the tiny creature intensely, her temples pulsing as her gaze fixed upon him trying to anticipate his next move. He then dashed up the crest of a nearby sand dune, his steps so light that she felt a pang of envy course through her. She was in awe of how easily he traveled through the sands, was able to see through the darkness. Just then, Hersilia caught a glimpse of movement. It was subtle, barely noticeable to the trained eye. She knew the only reason she'd noticed was due to the intense and incessant training she'd received from Irulansomething her mother and father alike had wished for her. Remaining still, a picture of calm, she held her breath for but a moment, her eyes watching the fox bound forward toward the shadow only to catch a spider. The hunter had been successful, its prey its just rewardpatience and caution had truly served him well. Swallowing hard, she shifted her eyes to look directly into those of the fox. He stared back for several long moments causing her to shudder ever so slightly as his gaze almost seemed to look through her, past that of face and body and into the mind and soul. Thank you, Hersilia whispered, her words lost to the wind, audible only to the small animal who gave her a nod before disappearing just as quickly as he'd appeared. As soon as the fox had gone, Hersilia looked up toward the moons in the dark starlit sky. It was amazing at how many more stars one could see outside the shield wall of Arrakeen. Looking back down once again, Marid returned, his hand light as he touched her shoulder and gestured that they leave the area before the great sandworm made its presence known. I'm ready, Hersilia said quietly as she stood upright, her eyes turning to glance back to where the fox had disappeared. She wondered why he'd chosen to 'visit' or if it had merely been coincidence. Again, she breathed in deeply, that now familiar scent so heavy in the air. She would never forget it just as she would never forget the encounter she'd just had with the little fox. We have much ground to cover before sunrise. She then paused a moment, the cry of Shai-Hulud ringing in her ears as she recalled her dreams. And even less time before we are no longer alone. Hersilia glanced in another direction of the desert, her body trembling ever so slightly. She took a deep breath, the cinnamony scent of Spice lingering within her nostrils. Looking back at Marid, she adjusted her pack and gave him a warm smile, her expression eager as she readied herself to follow him, to do as he did.