With the moon high in the sky, the temperature of the desert dropped. Mel shivered violently from her teeth to her feet. A now-empty water bag bumped against her thigh. She clenched her eyes shut as she crawled up another dune.
Now, she checked her compass habitually every time she climbed a new hill.
If I can just find the footprints from earlier, maybe I can find where they came from.
Mel's magic seemed to be draining quicker than before as the moon rose to the center of the sky. Her breath was raspy, and she felt her legs growing numb. She almost felt like she was gliding across the sand.
I wonder if I'm still alive.
Shining dots glittered across her vision and, before she realized it, everything faded to black.
Get up! You stupid girl, a female voice hollered.
Who?
Go north. Don't sleep there! a man's voice said.
"You shouldn't be sleeping there, Mel."
"Mommy! But I like it here." Mel rolled over in the trough as dried hay pricked her skin.
"That's no good. What if the cow gets hungry?"
Mel sat up in the trough and frantically tried to get down. "Mommy, help. The cow will eat me."
Mel stretched her hands up, and the mother held the girl over her oversized belly.
"Silly girl, cows don't eat humans."
"Phew! I was scared she might eat me since I was in her food."
Get up! a woman's voice yelled.
"What? Mommy?" Little Mel spun around in the darkness. Her mother was nowhere in sight.
Stupid girl, get out of the desert.
"What do you mean, Mom? We aren't in the desert." "Girl, wake up!"
"Yes, yes, wake up!" a gnarly voice called through the darkness. Little hands rocked Mel, and she opened her eyes. Two little green men with halos behind their heads looked down at her.