There are ways to tell the future. A dream is a window to the future. A future witch could come to pass. It’s best to take them with a grain of salt. If you have the dream over and over again. Then your past might be trying to tell you something. I wish I could say more to my friends but only the horseshoes of Mimic can tell you.

A preacher from the order of Mimic.

I stood above the mountain which houses the exile home. I stare below seeing the judges as well as the Storm King. Behind them is Wheel Tread telling them to kill every single creature in this land. He looks up at me and smiles. I walk down a path heading back down. I stare at all the bodies and the bodies of my dragon wife and children that we adopted.

I stare down at the bodies feeling nothing like I brought Wheel Tread and the others here. I stand right in front of Wheel Tread kneeling to him.

“I did as you said, master. Now all the water of this land belongs to you.”

Wheel Tread smiles

“Rise Dunewalker and accept your reward for a job well done.”

I stood up and turned as the Storm King stood right above me. I know what he is about to do. The biggest thing in my family’s life is to remove the curse of the Dunewalker. The only way to do so is to kill every family member or lover that could bring another into the world. The Storm King holds a knife in his hand stabbing me right into my heart.

“The curse of the Dunewalker is now removed. Goodbye creature that could have stopped all this. If only you refused to listen to the great Wheel Tread.”

He leans in to whisper to me. I didn’t hear it as I died closing my eyes slowly dying and when the world went black I quickly woke up looking at my wife near me. I slowly got out of bed.

“Is something wrong love?”

I turn my head to look back at my wife smiling.

“Everything is fine, I just need some fresh air. Please go back to sleep.”

The dragoness yawns going back to sleep. I walk through the house opening the door to my wife’s hatchlings. They’re getting so big and they have called me a mother. I wish I could have met their father before he died. I walk out of the house sitting in a chair outside of my home. Looking up into the sky and seeing the stars.

“You look like a little lost old friend.”

I turn my head to see Pinda standing right beside me. I quickly sat up looking at Pinda. The camel is out here why?

“Pinda why are you here?”

The camel stares at me like she? Why is Pinda female? I shook my head, waking my brain up again to finally see who that camel is? She is wearing a white robe of the order of MImic and I have seen her before.

“Oh Dune you haven’t had much sleep have you?”

I think I know why she is here because of my dreams. I yawn trying to keep my mind from drifting again. I haven’t been able to sleep because of these dreams. These dreams have been happening ever since Ruby returned.

“Why are you here? Did the order of Mimic ask you to come to see me?”

She shook her head.

“I have heard you have been having awful dreams, Dune. Anys called us so I could talk to you about them. Before you get too upset, that wife of yours for a dragon. She deeply cares for you Dune.”

I took a deep breath releasing the hot air from my mouth. I do what I can to explain what I saw in my dream. I felt it would be more simple than arguing with her. The camel nods looking around the town, a deep sigh releasing from her.

“There have been rumors of Wheel Tread and his warriors have been eyeing this area. He wants the water. He can’t get it from Dj mixers place since she has upped the security even more and made the creatures around the area more protective of the area.”

I have a feeling that the dreams are telling me what will happen if I don’t do something.

“The dream could be telling you that it’s time to rise and fight. I feel even if you fight his warriors. That all around you will still die. Here I have been able to get this.”

She reaches into her bag giving me a disk. I take it in my robotic paw and the paw turns into fingers while I hold it looking right at it.

“What is it?”

She smirks

“Oh, I gave myself to sin. This disk talks about something that could help you. I can’t tell you but my sin was to have sex with an old ghoul to get ahold of this disk. It's an old plan they never used during the war I was told. So use it if you have to.”

I look at the disk. I find it strange that it’s a type that could go inside my leg slot. I haven’t used this part of my cybernetics for years. I doubt it even works. I put the disk in such a slot and a little screen opens up on my leg.

“Take care, Dunewalker.”

I lift my head while it takes a while for the old computer to boot up and download whatever is on this disk.

“You know what is about to happen don’t you?”

The camel is just about to leave and she stops. She takes a deep breath looking back at me with a sad smile.

“All I can tell you is that you finally remove the Dunewalker curse. You know full well what that means my dear friend. The only way to remove the Dunewalker curse is to prove yourself. You know the only way and chance you will have to prove yourself.”

The camel smirks, putting a hood over her head. I close my eyes, sighing softly. I knew full well what she meant. The only way to remove the curse of the Dunewalker. The only way to remove the curse is to prove yourself. Then my choices are clear what I need to do.

I stood up and looked at the screen and what came up. A frown forms on my face. A plan to not only poison the water but destroy the water for generations. If the only way to save my friends and family and to make sure no one else suffers a loss is to make up lies to send those I care for and all the exiles to Hard Rock. First, is something my wife and I have been planning to do. I close the screen heading inside to wake my wife.

I shake Anys awake.

“Hmm Dune?”

I smile as she sits up grunting a bit.

“What’s up?”

I release a very soft sight from my mouth. It's something she has been wanting to do for a while. I took a deep breath and nodded.

“I am up for mixing our eggs and then taking a male dragon of your choice and making a child. I felt it would have been a bad idea. Since he or she would have the curse of the Dunewalker. But I found a way to remove it.”

Anys smirks.

“I already picked a male dragon. When everyone wakes up we will do this.”

I get in bed since it is still in the middle of the night. It's best to get some sleep. I have a lot to do. I would have to tell the leader of the exiles that I have been having dreams of what is to come. Since she is a camel she will believe these are true. I am hoping she will tell me what to do.

I close my eyes again this time when I dream again. It’s not of the same dream, it's of another dream. I know who it is; it's the first Dunewalker, the one who caused our entire family line to become this curse.

“So you’re wishing to free all those that came before you from the Dunewalker curse? You and I both know the only way to do that is what the order of Mimic preachers told you. I hope those you love understand this.”

I look away from him.

“They won’t know till it’s too late. I plan on sending them out. I have plans and each camel knows when another has a plan. I plan on at least keeping those I trained with me. So the others leave and do not realize till it’s too late.”

The old camel smiles.

“So you wish to not only fulfill the task. You wish to break the curse to the point a Dunewalker can never be formed again. This won’t only break the curse it will destroy the spell to ever cast it again. Even if it’s read out loud to anyone that those wish to curse.”

I quickly nodded, turning around to see the others in the line of Dunewalkers.

“When the time comes, meet with us near the cube. Ask the Lorekeepers to allow you in to explain that you wish to walk the cycle of sand. You will be able to talk to us all and then the next time you see us. It will be the endless sands and you will be able to express your heart to us and your mind.”

I nod to him, bowing my head to the starter of the Dunewalker curse.

“No my friend, we don't bow to anyone. We don’t allow ourselves to become minions of another. We have our agenda and that is to free ourselves from this curse. Sooner or later my friend you will either be insulted during stories or a hero to them. It’s how to take this matter into your own heart. So please don’t fail us.”

I woke up when my wife shook me awake. Opening my eyes, staring at Anys, a gentle smile spreads on my face. I always love waking up to see her eyes and that smile on her scaled face. It makes me so happy.

“I need to take the kids to school Dunewalker and then we can go to the doctor and do what you said you wish to do. No going back on this, correct you want to do this?”

I nod getting out of the bed grunting a bit.

“Are you having that pain again in your cybernetics?”

I nod standing on my paws and grunting. It only happens when I feel something is wrong. The joints that my cybernetics are connected to make the cybernetics do a strange throb like it’s a twitch. It’s a weird twitch that I don’t notice.

“I will go to Wrench to see if he can help me with anything. I need to talk to Black Rain anyway and she should be there. I promise it won't be too long I promise.”

Anys smiles

“Please Dunewalker no need to worry about it, Cra will wait. She has been asking me about this every time we have lunch together. So I will tell her this time it’s on. It’s something she is looking very forward to doing. Do you need anything to eat?”

I shook my head.

“I will get something before patrol. I love you Anys.”

The dragon smirks.

“You have been saying that a lot lately, Dunewalker. Don’t worry, I know how you feel about me. Just please don’t get hurt again. I don’t wish to have the great and powerful betrayer get hurt again on my account.”

I chuckle leaving the house. Looked up into the sky seeing where I would be standing in the mountains above while I watch the town burn. This time though I wouldn’t be joining Wheel Tread I will be fighting him.

I walk into the workshop Wrench the hellhound and Black Rain are looking through their list of all the supplies they have. Black rain looks up from the clipboard. A smile forms on her face. Looking back down to the clipboard.

“Okay Wrench, how many nuts and bolts do we have?”

The hellhound shifts through everything to look

“Only enough to repair the water system once if the system shuts down again.”

Black Rain sighs checking the board.

“We will have to make a list for when we send one out for supplies. Now how can I help you Dunewalker?”

I took a deep breath sighing.

“I had a sand dream.”

Wrench and Black Rain stop what they’re doing. Wrench has been friends with Black Rain for years and he knows what a sand dream means. A sand dream to my species normally means an awful future.

“Wrench, keep looking, I will talk to Dune about this.”

Black Rain leads me to the back of the workshop. She closes the door and makes sure no one else is coming before she closes it fully.

“Dune what happens in this Sand dream?”

I explain to her what happens. I tell her that the entire village gets destroyed and that Wheel Tread does it just for the water. I told her about everything and how I seemed to have betrayed everyone.

“In this dream you betray us? Then you’re given this dream to make sure this doesn’t happen right?”

I shook my head.

“It won’t work that way. There is no way we can fight him and this army of his. Including the judges and then the Storm King. if anyone even fights they will die. So all I can think of doing is making sure that everyone who doesn’t stay with me makes it look like we are fighting back to go.”

Black Rain sighs.

“I knew sooner or later he would want the water here. I have been getting warnings from the order of Mimic about this too. Just how do you wish to go about this?”

I lift my cybernetic leg showing her the old pony plan to destroy water supplies that were never used. It said it would take years for the water to become drinkable again. She stares at me with an unhappy look.

“Do you think that would be enough?”

I shook my head.

“No, we would also have to have the Eels take full control of this village. I know you have worked so hard in this town. But it’s the only way and the only way to free my family from this curse.”

Black Rain shifts looking at me.

“So you were told the only way to lift the Dunewalker curse is by doing this? So you and Anys plan on doing what she has been wanting then? Mixing your eggs with a male and then giving her a half camel dragon hybrid with your families and those of your family line?”

I quickly nod.

“Are you going to stop me Black Rain?”

She shook her head.

“I can’t Dunewalker. We all know that we can’t stop a sand dream. What do you plan to do?”

I sigh, shrugging my shoulders.

“I am unsure to keep a lookout just in case Wheel Tread or the others show up. Just I think I need to do all this and then go to the cube in the cavern of the LoreKeepers and do a sand walk to speak to all those that wish to speak to me from my past.”

Black Rain shakes her head.

“What will you do in the meantime then?”

I shift a bit unsure.

“Do me a favor Black Rain. Talk to Cra and tell her what is going on. Please tell her not to tell anyone else. I want her to create such a hormone to bring the eels here when the time is right. I also will be picking those I trained to stick with me and please convince some citizens to stay to make it look lively here.”

Black Rain sighs holding her face with her paws. She is not taking this well at all. She stays silent a moment looking back at me with a weaker smile. I know that she is unable to ask anyone to do this. She knows though that some will stay if they were asked.

“Oh Dune this is heartbreaking. I have been working to make this a home for everyone that is a runway or an exile you know this. Now, where would we go to Hard Rock? Pinda would never welcome me there again.”

“He will.”

We look around looking for who spoke. The door opens behind us Wrench and the order of Mimic Camels hears everything. I could tell Wrench did because of the look on his face. It was the look of despair and anger but he knew full well he can’t stop this.

“I will tell him it’s a decree by Mimic herself. It wouldn’t be a full lie again to us. A lie is not always a sin when it’s the truth. Just it won’t happen till you have to run from the battle. Black Rain my dear Wrench has something to say.”

Wrench the hellhounds sigh.

“I will be one of those to stay. If I can survive this battle I am sure I will be able to. I will come and join you. If I can't be my old friend I want you to know I died well.”

Black Rain smiles, tears falling down her face.

“Thank you Wrench. I wish you didn’t have to do this. But if your mind is fully made up please tell no one else.”

The stress of this is getting to me. I look at the clock on the wall sighing deeply. Looking back to the others.

“I need to get to the doctor’s office. Then I will talk to those I trained and Black Rain will talk to those that want to stay. Just tell me when does the Order of Mimic know that this will happen?”

I still haven’t gotten her name. She just laughs softly. I just call her the order of mimic camel in my brain.

“Oh, the order of Mimic has nothing to do with this. We see you doing this, how you do this is up to you. How you do this though Mimic wishes to keep things from me. All I can say though it will weaken the hold the Storm King and others have on this desert. How you go with that will be up to you.”

A deep sigh releases from my mouth. The stress of this is getting to me and I worry too much. We have a glassmaker here. I am going to go talk with them.

“I am sorry, Dune. I wish I could tell you otherwise. You offer this place to Wheel Tread for all we were shown. What happens here we have no idea anymore. I will say this: all the judges will be with them. All of them and that’s all I can say.”

Will the judges be with them? Then I know some of the weaknesses for some of them. I worked with them for many years. I head to the door to lead outside looking back to the others with a weak smile.

“It’s now time to meet with Anys.”

I left the workshop hearing a radio playing a song.

“There's no time for us.”

That song it’s the same song that was playing when Ruby was shot. That song is starting to make me wonder. If the only time it’s played is when something hopeful or death is coming close. I close my eyes tightly, sighing deeply feeling the stress getting to me more.

I quickly run on my paws running past many radios playing that song. Getting to the doctor’s office and then quickly getting inside panting. Anys is standing by the counter talking to one of the nurses. So she is the same species as our doctor Cra. I pant hard leaning on the wall sliding down feeling my stress building. Anys leans down and the nurse clitters overlooking me over with her claws.

“I am okay Fish.”

I look up at the silver bug and she nods back, going back to the counter. Anys tilts her head looking at me. She could tell I am stressed out. When I am stressed the cybernetics on my face expand a bit.

“Dune sweetheart we can do this another time if you’re that stressed.”

I shook my head standing back up. Grunting a bit and a gentle smile forms on my face. Looking down to the dragoness.

“Did you pick the male?”

Anys nods.

“He is already in there getting his seed taken. He was happy we accepted his offer.”

It was a few minutes and the male dragon nodded to us while he left. He leaves the office since what he was needed for is done. Cra comes out of her office coming to the counter with a gentle smile on her Ferrum face. It’s hard to tell if she is smiling though since the bug features.

“Alright, now thanks to the old tech that the ponies gave us back in the day. Now we have a unicorn here to help with it all. To make sure you don’t feel any pain when the needles go in to get your eggs. Now come with me and we will get this going.”

We both follow Cra into the room and her nurses have large needles they’re holding. They have a doner sample ready for us. Anys and I lay on the bed. She holds my paw with her claw. A unicorn uses her magic to make the pain not so bad. She nods to the others and I feel the needle go in and then take the eggs. I close my eyes knowing that the curse will be fully broken. So he or she will never suffer from what I went through.

The needles are taken out of us.

“Now Anys I am going to need you to stay awhile.”

I nod and slowly get off the bed looking down at Anys stroking her scales with my fleshy paw. I lean in and give her a deep kiss.

“Come and find me when all this is said and done. I need to take care of some things.”

I walk out of the room and Cra comes out and I watch her and Black Rain talk. I know what it’s about. Cra looks at me with a frown forming on her bug face. At least I think it was a frown. It's still very hard to tell with how emotions are hard to read on their faces.

Cra comes over to me after she is done talking to Black Rain whispering in my ear.

“You want to use hormones to attract eels to fight what is coming? Also, destroy the water? I may not like this idea Dunealker. . I can do both things just give me the recipe and I can create both for you to use.”

I sigh, taking out the disk from my leg she takes it and heads to her office. I look to Black Rain. She leads me into the town hall. I see the guards I trained and like ten of the citizens I made friends with over the years.

“I am sure Black Rain told you what I need and that it may cause your death, correct?”

An old Buffalo snorts laughing.

“Oh, Missy, I think I speak for all of us and those you trained that we would be happy to do this. If it means proving ourselves through death as well as to give these so-called progress punks a black eye then I am all over it.”

I look at the guards I trained and the citizens willing to stay. I stroke my forehead letting out a sigh. I felt that this is not going to be easy. I have been told that someone is searching for me. I know who it is and I will meet them again when this is all said and done.

“You will be given weapons when the time is right. I can’t promise any of you will survive this battle. It’s the judges and the Storm King himself as well as his minions. All I can promise is I can give them a black eye till a real hero rises.”

Wrench the hell hound stands up getting to the podium while I move away from it. Seeing what he will say before I leave to gather what I need to get everything ready. Then I need to go on a walkabout.

“There are old and I mean very old turrets in the water caverns below. They have been down there all this time. They were used to push the eels out years ago and now we could bring them up here.”

Black Rain walks into the town hall looking at all that came. I could see the fear in her eyes of all those she saved and brought here would be killed when it happens. She looks at me with a weak sad smile. She gets up on the podium.

“I wish I didn’t have to say these words. I hope you will all survive and come to be with us. If the judges or such leave you alone or you find a way to get out. Please run and try to make it to Hard Rock. When things are ready we will be heading there. A place I was banished from by my husband. Now, this meeting is dismissed, stay with your families and take care of everything that is needed. Then Dunewalker must go do what is needed.”

I quickly nod heading out of the town hall. Standing by the door is the same order of Mimic camel. I stand beside her while we watch the others leave. She doesn’t say anything for a long time as well as me. Black Rain comes out last looking towards me tears have been falling down her face. I feel bad for her when she walks back to her home.

“I have been told that I am allowed to tell you what causes them to come here. You say that the water of this land is very pure. You even lie that everyone here is willing to welcome the Storm King and Wheel Tread Progress. Then Mimic saw the battle happening but that future is now cloudy. In the first future, you betray everyone and become a minion again. This future is now cloudy for her.”

I sigh deeply, shaking my head.

“Alright, then I better do what I need to do. First I need to go to the glassblower. Then I will be going on a walkabout. I will be heading to every city and the island to talk to my friends and even Mount Aris. We will see each other again I am sure.”

The camel nods.

“May Mimic bless your steps.”

I walk away from the town hall. I have a lot to think about before I can do anything. Before I do all this I need to spend time with my wife. I went home to see if she was there. She was sitting in a chair reading a book. Since I had to help her learn how to read. She lowers her book.

“Whelp Dune I was told it worked. So..hmmm”

I cut her off by giving her a deep kiss, breaking it.

“Heh someone is happy.”

I laugh, smirking.

“Come let’s enjoy ourselves. I have to go on a walkabout like I have done the last few years.”

Anys laughs.

“I am sorry Dune but I need to pick up my hatchlings from school. . How about when you return from your walkabout.”

I quickly nod heading inside the house grabbing a large bag that I already had put together. With food, water, and my weapons. I wave to her heading to the glassblower before I leave this lovely town of exile. I stop before going inside the glass blowers store looking around. Watching the families and guards go on their way. I see fire engulfing the town, hear screaming and dead bodies all over. Opening my eyes I swear to myself I will not let them get away with this without at least a black eye enough to get those to have hope.

Footnote: Dunewalker Max level

Perk added: Sand Dream: You were given a dream that the sand wishes you to see. The sand may not be alive but to a camel, the sand will give those that wish to listen to it. When the sand speaks you will listen.

Next Chapter: Chapter Forty-one: Walkabout Dunewalkers Fate Mini arc Estimated time remaining: 22 Hours, 3 Minutes