Across the Desert

Chapter 3 :The Harsh Desert

The Alvarez family woke up in the wee hours first; the cold prick of a still biting desert were not itchy. A vigilant coyote, who was always at the ready, gave them the cue to go and quickly prepare for the move. The night was sleepless with the cold of the desert entering their bones, yet they should still move. Whatever seconds are left, they need to amplify their wcarsnkljoosh or whatever it is they are into. Restless was the night with the desert's chill reaching their bones, but they had to move on. Lack of time was a serene reminder that their race through the threats of the burning desert was right next to them, together with a solid ground of border patrols most of the time.

Once the first glimmers of dawn broke through the sky the band began their journey once more; the sun, which had hardly risen, cast long shadows on the sand dunes. The agile coyote urged them towards the mountain range in the distance that was their guide of some form of sheltering from the elements that lay ahead.

This desert land seemed broad and far as far as one could see, it was a whole territory of sand and rock. There was an increase in temperature as soon as the sun had risen higher the heat was really too much. Along with the sun, the temp also went sky-high instantly. Her sight was filled with her children dragging their small feet in the sand. Her backpacks became heavier every moment and their water was also being used on the run.

On the other hand, the coyote, in his unstopping movement, had every move of his surely and reliably calculated. He roved the land constantly, with his eyes scanning for any sign of danger, be that a wild creature or the feared border police. The first place he led them to was an area of big rocks that offered some shelter from the scorching heat.

"Relax here," he directed, indicating the rocks. "We need to be careful and save our energy. We have not yet reached the most difficult part of our adventure."

Juan and Maria guided their children to the shade. Their faces were indistinct as they sweated in the heat. The water had run low. The ones they had left were barely enough to relieve their thirst. Maria handled the distasteful task of measuring out each sip, making sure to follow her plan as closely as she could.

The coyote brought out a map and spread it on the ground. He looked at me."We are here," the map showed a spot, "This is the other side we should head for. It is a hard road, but the sky hides it, it is the safest way of not being seen " he added, pointing at the map.

Juan and Maria took the map between their hands and read it in silence. They glanced their eyes here and there in search of relief, but all they beheld was a tough and mountainous area. It was eminently rough and with sharp rocks and boulders, in contrast with the plain desert they had walked thus far. The idea of walking through such a threatening landscape was quite alarming but neither did they have time nor any opportunity. They were not aiming at border control either.

“Will we make it?” Maria asked, her voice full of fear.

He looked at her briefly, his eyes betraying nothing. “We will make it only if we don't become the easy prey for someone. The desert is very hostile, though, and we are fighting under the mountain. We just need to finish it. ”

With a committed nod, Juan assisted Maria in assembling their things. The group of them resumed walking, the light was now reflecting on them. As the mountains gleamed gold before them, trekking paths grew more difficult. The stones were rough and jagged, and the climb was steep. The track was hardly recognizable, and the heat made every step as if it were so difficult.

“Quickly,” he said, his voice urgent. “We need to move before they come back. We’re not out of danger yet.”

They instantly got to their feet, pumping even more adrenaline as they carried on with the climb. It was a challenging journey because the rocky terrain provided almost every step a challenge. Nevertheless, they continued, filled with the hope of reaching the other side, where they would be safe.

When they were closing in on the top of the pass, the landscape began to transform once again. The formations of rock were replaced by a plain, and the sight of the desert that was below them was frightening and magnificent simultaneously. The desert around them was the vast stretch of sand which was impossible to be covered with the naked eye. It was the path they were on and a reminder of time they had to spend.

The fox was the one who led the way finally finding a small cave in one of the rocks where the wind was not so strong and they could also rest. They got inside and sat down, their bodies paining from the climb. The cave had an air of coolness and darkness culture that was cool with the sun way down below.

He pulled out a small bag of supplies and distributed them to the group. He gave food and water to Juan and Maria, and Clara although they were all thankful for the nutrition it was barely enough to suffice. They chewed as fast as they could, wanting to make up for lost energy.

While they were relaxing, the coyote saw an opportunity to inform them more about their trail. “We will take several small trails through the mountains,” he said. “The trails are not as conspicuous as the main trails, and they also have more shelter. Still, we have to be careful. In these mountains, there are wild animals, and we must only take measures that would not disturb them.”

Juan and Maria nodded, their minds already racing with the challenges ahead. The coyote's warnings about wild animals were a hit and run. The desert had been harsh, but the mountains presented a new set of dangers.

Later, the coyote took them out of the cave and back onto the trail. Thickly the sun was setting, just as if it was giving off warmth to the mountain. The temperature was down, and the far-off concerns of the desert's cold were replacing them.

The group trailed the coyote up and down through the mountains. The paths were narrow and curved, while the ground was rugged. They had to climb over rocks and find the way through narrow passages, and they were slowed, but they managed to gain smooth progress.

When darkness was around them, the temperature dropped significantly. The sharp chill was very annoying, and they had difficulty keeping warm. The coyote took them to another small clearing where they could stay the night. They held each other and felt their breaths in the cold air.

The children were very tired, their small bodies shaking with the cold. Maria wrapped them in all the blankets they had, trying to give them as much warmth as possible. Juan and Maria took turns to look out, their eyes rushed through the darkness to catch any sudden movements.

With the passage of each minute, the silence of the mountains was shattered by a distant coyote's howl. The sound creeped them out, reminding them of the wild animals that roamed those terrains. The coyote's warning was like a broken record that only a close vigil could help them not to miss.

The night felt exceedingly long and the group could not find peace as the cold sank into their bones. Despite that, as the sun was coming up the first light of the day broke from the mountains, thus bringing hope. He pushed everyone to get up, saying it out loud in support of the pack-up and go.

“We are nearly done bearing the brunt of it,” the man said with his voice reflecting confidence. “We are almost there. It will be easier to travel to the final round if we can succeed by a minor margin.”

The members of the pack collected their luggage, and although they were all out of strength to give, they had made up their minds. The trek through the mountains was exhausting, but they had the aspiration of a brighter day ahead. They admired the sunrise from the top of the hills and this provided them with energy to pursue the day with a smile.

The way they had to go through was still hard, but safety and the probability of reaching the planned place kept them going without any hesitation. The Alvarez family, each time, grappled with the adversity that they encountered, and thus they felt buoyant about the possibility of a new start.

With steep hills right behind them, the activists had to look at their situation over the shoulder and then decided to go further. Moreover, the way ahead was treacherous. The wilderness lay ahead, stretching out as far as the eye could see, and the journey wasn’t over then.

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