This post is in response to The inkwell summer writing contest which requires participants to make certain editing from the suggestions made in the week one draft.
Trapped
Arthur opened his eyes drowsily, his body covered with dust. Far from him, his horse was lying lifelessly. The dust storm must have hit it so hard, he thought. Just when he struggled to get on his feet he felt a sharp pain on his shin and saw bloodstain on his trousers. He shrieked as he strove to stand only to realize his ankle was broken.
Arthur was an Arabian trader, 6 ft tall, fair in complexion, and had long curly hair. He was traveling through the Sahara desert when he encountered a dust storm; all efforts to escape this disaster failed.
"The compass must have given me a wrong reading," he said, saddling the horse faster, but he was already in the middle of the desert. It was three days already, no trace of his bag lunch except his horse which had no sign of life lying on the other side of the desert.
He was all alone lying helplessly as he crawled on the sandy ground dragging his broken leg.
"I thirst," he mumbled, searching for an Oasis. His throat was dried; he battled soothing his throat to remain wet as his teeth rattled. The injury on his ankle was still bleeding, causing him more discomfort as he crawled on the hot sand. He tore a piece from the overcoat he wore and tied his ankle to prevent the blood from gushing. He crawled a little farther and couldn't move anymore. He lay hopelessly, praying a passerby will see him and render help to him. As he lay struggling for his last breath, he felt a soft breath on the back of his neck. Beside where he lay was an Oasis guarded by a creature. He turned to see a fantastic-looking creature with blue eyes, a pointed nose, and long fingers.
"Save me," Arthur cried. His hoarse voice could hardly be heard.
The creature said nothing as it stared persistently on the pendant Arthur was wearing.
"Save me please," Arthur repeated.
"I will if you give me this pendant or a tortoiseshell for a price," the creature demanded.
Arthur believed it was this pendant that always brought good luck to him as a trader, but he had no tortoiseshell to give in exchange, and giving out this pendant meant his business may not prosper.
" Make another wish. I will give you plenty of gold in exchange for your generosity," he pleaded.
" No, I don't need your money. Either this pendant or the shell," the creature insisted.
It's Wednesday, a busy day for traders. A trader may pass soon, he thought, but his breath was gradually going out from him. He may not survive that long. It was this pendant that will help him recover from this loss in a short time.
The creature started to walk away after Arthur's indecision for some time.
"Take," he stretched out the pendant to the creature."Help me now".
The creature looked at the pendant with admiration as it fondled it into a purse.
The creature released the water to flow to Arthur. Afterward he soothes his wound.
"Besides that tree is a horse. You can saddle it and ride it back home" the creature said. Arthur became troubled. It wasn't just a pendant that brought him luck, but his mum's gift to him before she died. He walked away, hoping someday he will get a tortoiseshell to come exchange for the pendant.