By K. M. Hasling
Katrina stood poised at the edge of the cave, her breath held behind clenched teeth. Her sword was raised as she waited for the sandworm to smell its prey.
Breathe in… Quietness burned in her ears.
Breathe out… Nothing stirred from the depths.
Katrina couldn’t move. Her eyes vibrated from staring into the blackness until she imagined the giant swirls of moving muscle. But the sandworm didn’t appear. She waited, steadfast, until her arms shook from the strenuous hold on the sword. Her bangs stuck to the sides of her face and made her forehead itch. She wished she wasn’t sweating so much, from the heat and the fear. She had been waiting for hours now, and her mind had circled from confident to afraid and back again.
Where was the sandworm?
The pig squealed behind her. It was bored, having finished the snacks and not been eaten by the sandworm yet. Live bait was impatient awaiting its death. And so was Katrina. Impatient, that is.
If a noise that loud wouldn’t coax the sandworm out of its cave, nothing would. She adjusted her grip on the hilt of her sword. The sweat from her palm escaped into the hot air. The desert was barren except for a few cacti and wind-beaten brushes. The little shade from the dune was gone hours ago as Katrina waited. If she didn’t find the sandworm before night, it would be too late. Her quest expired with the full moon. Tonight, was the full moon.
The Apothecary had demanded a particular ingredient: a sandworm tooth. A witch’s brew with its essence could heal torn muscles and bestow great strength. Exactly what a young new mercenary like Katrina needed. So far, her sad career was consumed with courier work, and fending off a bandit here and there went unnoticed. This quest was way out of her league, but she had to take chances… big chances. Sure, the potion would be nice, but really Katrina wanted the infamy that went with successfully completing one of the Apothecary’s dangerous requests.
So I can take more dangerous jobs like hunting a sandworm.
Katrina stared into the black abyss. Perfectly round, the tunnel had smooth sides from the horrible sandworm’s massive body snaking in and out. It was said it was as wide as three buildings, and each tooth was the size of a human hand.
I believe the stories, Katrina whimpered, marveling at the size of the cave. The smooth sides left no room for anything but the sandworm. If she went into the cave, she was going to get eaten or crushed.
But I need a tooth! Katrina bargained with fate. Katrina remembered the caution the Apothecary had given: Don’t go inside the cave if you expect to come out again. But Katrina didn’t have time to wait. She needed to complete this quest. Now.
The pig squealed again. It was baking hot in the desert sun. Katrina could almost smell the bacon. She attempted to lick her lips, but her tongue was thick and dry. More sand blew into her hair as the darkness of the cave beckoned her inside and out of the heat.
Katrina crept inside the cave.
She listened, sword pointed outward. The silence was impenetrable. No water dripped. No spiders skittered. No desert lightning bugs sparkled.
Katrina kicked a bone. It clattered and she gritted her teeth in dread. The sound resonated in the hollowness. She hoped it was a cow bone, but reckoned it was human.
Ghwaaaaaag!
The sandworm.
She was only steps from the entrance. Staring into the depths, she squinted, trying to see it coming. Darkness. Darkness. Darkness. But then…
The stench of rot rushed her. An open mouth of the sandworm breathed a wicked death of dried blood. The giant maw filled the entire tunnel. Katrina scrambled backward but didn’t turn her back. Gripping her sword as if it would be her final battle, she tried to focus on the wet slime coming closer. All I need is one tooth…
Then Katrina’s heart sank.
Oh no.
The rows and rows of legendary teeth. They were gone! All of them. All that remained were empty holes of stinking coffins where the teeth used to be. Nothing was left for Katrina or any other mercenary to claim.
Teeth or not, the sandworm’s open mouth reached to swallow her whole. Seething fury exploded from Katrina’s every pore as the gums pushed against her ankles and toppled her inside. As she was eaten by the sandworm, she let out a bloodcurdling war cry worthy of the gods. She thrust her sword up with all her might. The sword pierced through, and as Katrina plummeted down its throat, her sword cut. She braced her hand with her forearm as the sandworm swallowed again and again, but her sword carved an S-shaped path as she slid down its gut, splitting it in two.
What a mess! Katrina thought as she shook sandworm bile from her arms. She pushed aside the floppy yellow death and stood up from the sandworm corpse. Her boots squished with grime and her plastered hair dripped. What a mess! She cursed again, the realization of her failure sinking in. She didn’t have a sandworm tooth. She had just slayed a giant sandworm and yet she still couldn’t fulfill her quest! If I ever find out who took the last tooth, they are going to end up like this sandworm, she swore. And that Apothecary… Katrina kicked at the steaming flesh around her as she teetered towards the cave exit. She was going to say the Apothecary would get what was deserved too, but then she spied the sandworm’s face lying flat. Katrina wiped her face with her soggy sleeve and smirked. Unceremoniously, she sawed her sword into the eye sockets of the sandworm. I wonder what concoction these eyes will make instead.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The setting and mood were good, but what a great twist! That caught me off guard.
Thank you! I’m thrilled you were surprised.
Neat twist at the end! Great descriptions! I could almost smell the disgusting sandworm.
Thank you. It’s grossssssss. Lol
Well… maybe she’s discovered something new? 🤔 An ew way to discover it though. Lol
Hahaha. Stumbling upon genius in the grossest way possible. Yes indeed!
Very nice presentation of the pain of waiting.
Thanks Alex! I hope I you found the waiting suspenseful.
Excellent twist and description!