The Oasis ~ by SaralynArati

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"I would rather go under my own power, I think... but the oasis is beautiful. Would you like to see it?" Ifrit compromises. Accordingly, it is done, and happily the desert woman has a quelling effect on the five criminals. Summer Wind, as a thank you gift, sketches Ifrit looking up at Ji on the stair above her, at the ancient temple. After that, they go their own ways. "So," Kanu says as they recross the desert, "where to now?" "I believe," his wife replies, "this time I will dance on it."

10 years ago

SaralynArati

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Ifrit looks at Ji. "The length of our visit here in the plains was never specified, but it has been a long while, staying with first one and then another. Perhaps it is time that, as good guests, we should leave," says Ji, the perfect host. "In that case, I will be able to guide you myself if you are willing to wait for my arrival a few days," the blue woman volunteers. "I could take you faster, if you would like," Ji offers. Ifrit is obviously torn between independence and companionship.

10 years ago

SaralynArati

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"You do have a point," concedes Ifrit. "Well, if it is an inaccessible oasis that you are seeking for these people, I know of one that will support a few dozen, but that can't be reached without camels bearing water skins. There is even a building there, for once a religious group tried to establish a monastery on that site, long ago. It is probably mainly in ruins by now, but some of it may still stand." "That sounds perfect!" says Summer Wind. "Thank you! Can you draw us a map to it?"

10 years ago

SaralynArati

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When the young couple contact Ifrit, she is with Ji, as usual. Ironically, Kanu can see Ji's purple eyes and hair plainly, since his disguise is selective, and he doesn't bother hiding his true form with people who know he is fey anyway. The djinn bounty hunter is somewhat surprised that the humans of Bowing Tree would go to so much trouble to relocate criminals who wanted to kill them. "Several of your kind wanted to hide the wand someplace inaccessible and forget it," replies Summer Wind.

10 years ago

SaralynArati

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Kanu has never seen Ifrit as a blue woman with red eyes and pointed ears. To him, she has always appeared to be a desert nomad, although extraordinarily tall for one of the women of that ethnicity. None of the men of the family, in fact, have ever perceived anything other than the djinn female's customary disguise, and must ask their wives for a description. It is simple for Ifrit to maintain this appearance as it has a basis in truth: she is from the desert, and she is a wanderer by nature.

10 years ago