Through the Sands pt. 1

The following days were a mix for Tarmen. He still hated this place and riding a camel was one of the most unpleasant experiences he could remember, but the beast had already carried them farther than he could have ever walked.
It also gave him the time to ponder on things.
Silina proved to be quite the handywoman despite her young age. The supplies she had taken showed a keen insight to her world, traveling light and having multiple uses for something. The tent she had made, for instance, soon became a cover on top of the camel, hung loose so that it didn’t tear in stronger winds, while also taking excess bits off to repair other torn cloth.
She also spaced out her food when they usually stopped near midday but, contrary to his own habits, she regularly drank water despite their limited supply.
Still unsure of his words, Tarmen resorted to physically pointing out this habit while they rested. Once she was able to understand what he wanted to know, she pointed to the sun with a look of what he thought was confusion and judgment and wiped off the slight sheen of sweat from her forehead before taking another drink.
He understood the meaning, but a part of him fought against it. Sure it’s always better to be hydrated, but it seemed a waste out here when you never knew where the water would be.
It wasn’t until the next day, when their water had run out that morning, that he felt rather stupid in not realizing the pattern of their journey and what should have been the obvious nature of her people.
The way she had been driving their camel, never having it simply walk for long, was in order to reach the next pocket of life in time. She had somehow memorized the way or at least knew the general direction of where the oasis were. He made a mental note to ask her how she knew where to go, though he assumed it was specific stars that guided her.