This is my entry for the Desert skin contest.








Ammon: an Egyptian name meaning hidden or concealed




Story:


Once upon a time, there was a vast, harsh desert. In the middle of this inhospitable wasteland was an oasis. Water gurgling up from some vast underwater river, allowed trees and a variety of other plants to grow and thrive. Eventually, a group of nomads came across this miraculous place and started a settlement. With plenty of water and food to sustain them, they were able to live there in peace.



This would not last long. One day, a mysterious figure appeared out of the desert. He was wrapped in a dirty, white cloak and his left hand was black and withered looking. The strangest aspect of this stranger, however, was the golden mask he wore that completely covered his face. Calling himself Ammon, he ranted to the villagers that this was his oasis and, if they didn’t leave, he would be forced to bring the power of the desert upon them. Naturally, they didn’t believe him. “Who does this Ammon think he is, some sort of magician?”



Ammon disappeared and, for a time, everything was calm. But then a steady breeze came about. Slowly, it turned into a ferocious wind. The villagers were forced to barricade their shelters and shut themselves inside. Unfortunately, this would be their final mistake. The oasis was swallowed up by a massive sandstorm. It, along with all the villagers, were buried deep beneath the sand, never to be seen again.

The End