#caleanastertail

The heat was far past the point of being uncomfortable. His mouth felt bone dry, and his body had given up sweating a long time ago. Everything would be better, so much better, if he could just find some way to escape the sunlight for a moment. There was nothing but barren, cracked earth though, for miles around. He only continued to walk.

For what reason, he wasn’t sure. His village was long behind him, and he had no idea if there was anything ahead but more sand wastes. He didn’t have the goal in mind to find something or someone, just to walk away. His tail dragged behind him listlessly, his dull yellow eyes staring forward at the flat horizon ahead of him. 

Akuze figured it would come to an end at some point. His steps were getting slower and slower. Exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration were all looming threats at this point. What a pathetic way to die; groveling in the dust until the slow end finally took him. Of course, he had another option. 

He stopped walking, his body swaying awkwardly as the rythmn he’d kept up for so long halted. Another faint wind puffed against his skin, sending more dust to collect around his scales. He lifted his right hand to stare at the bent, chipped dagger he held. The dark metal only faintly glinted in the sunlight.

It would speed things up, certainly. It was also assured to him it was the last thing he could do to preserve some semblance of honor. It’s what his Clanlord would want. It’s what his family would want. It’s what the gods would want. 

He didn’t do anything aside from stare at the blade absently. For how long, it wasn’t clear. Not even the slightest wind passed to snap him out of the trance, and his breath slowed to near silence. Finally a single thought came to mind; this dagger was heavy. He didn’t want to carry it anymore.