I nodded politely to Lilith, smiling at the kindness in her response. Despite losing her family, though they seemed hostile at best, she was willing to help me. It was nice to find someone who I could see eye-to-eye with. Granted, it was also nice to meet someone else who had horns for that matter.

The fire was slowly dwindling, so I had to put more lumber on it, but otherwise it was a quiet night. Overhead the stars were beginning to glow like diamond pinpricks across the pure violet streaked background through an assortment of wispy clouds painted an auburn hue. The sun was setting and the winds were shifting from dry heat to a bone chilling cold.

“We’re going to either need a bigger fire,” I said as I looked around at the small oasis and shadow laden sands beyond, “...or shelter of some sort. It doesn’t look like there is any real shelter here though, except for maybe a small rock out cove? What do you think?”