A warm sirocco wind whispers across the austere dunes, bathed in the crystalline pallor of a crescent moon and reverberating with celestial stillness. You clutch your woven cloak tighter around your shoulders despite the heat - the sand susurrates and you’re certain there’s life somewhere beneath. A ripple rolls gently atop the silken surface with a suggestion of symmetry and the smirk of consciousness. The light must be playing tricks on you. You need to find the oasis. Incense emanates from over the crest of the next ridge. Cedarwood. Sage. Frankincense. You must be near. The chaotic flicker of torchlight dances upon the sand and ecstatic voices drift incomprehensibly through the night. You can make out the sounds of tabla, djembe, kora, and chanting. The ritual must have begun, and you’re eager to join. You turn for one final gaze at the cosmos. The cosmos are gazing back with sincerity. Each star - brilliant but aloof - seems to wink, nudge and hint at ancient wisdom. They seem connected but it’s not clear how. Even the darkness between the stars is rich with secrets. A deep rumble emanates from the sky. “How did you come to be here?” booms the moon, imposing yet benevolent. “How did YOU come to be here?” you retort, suddenly defiant. “Will you always be here, little one?” responds the moon, iridescent with tranquility. Your heart beats faster. You’re here now, and that’s enough. You whisk around once more and slide down towards the encampment.