Girdliz

Glad you could join us for the next circular episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Randall returned to the rock chamber where he’d first met General Hai and agreed to free Duggla the Crone from King Arnie’s jail in Bog, so the General would give his son back. An old Stinger blocked the opening and snapped his pinchers at Randall. “Whatchoo want?” he grumped.

“I’m looking for General Hai,” Randall twittered from a distance.

The Stinger arched his tail. “That lot’s gone back to The Arids.”

So to the Arids Randall trekked.

Leaving his dappled green homeland, he crossed into the dusty sunshine’s unrelenting, barren brown burn. His head ached from the glare. Each step sizzled his tender soles. Only his resolve to save his son kept him moving.

As he passed a jagged boulder, it opened its eyes.

“Oh, my heart,” his gasp tickled the air, “you near scared me to death!”

A scaly golden face blinked its onyx eyes. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice was soft and fuzzy.

“It’s all right,” the frog jittered. The deep breaths he took to calm his pounding pulse only dried out his lungs. “My name’s Randall.”

“I’m Girdliz.” The creature stared at him. “You’re not from here, are you?”

“No. I’m not.” His voice cracked like dried mud. “But I need some help, if you’re able.”

“What do you need? Water? I can show you where to find water.”

“Thank you, you’re very kind. I would appreciate that, but first I need something else.”

“How can I help you?”

“I’m looking for the General.”

“Can’t help you!” Girdliz exclaimed just before he bit his own tail and rolled off the boulder. The ring he became hit the ground, bounced up a puff of dirt, snapped open, and scrambled across the desert, kicking up a trail of dust that settled slowly through the hovering dryness.

Heat rose in trembling waves to swallow the receding reptile. Randall stood, stupefied, his hope evaporating with his sweat.

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .