The gangplank creaked and thudded heavily onto the weathered wooden dock as the ship finally settled against the pier. You stepped off first, boots hitting sun-baked planks that radiated heat like an open furnace. The rest of your harem followed close behind—six of you now, a mismatched but unbreakable unit. The moment you cleared the shadow of the hull, the desert slammed into you like a physical wall.
Sand stretched endlessly in every direction, golden waves of dunes shimmering under a blinding white sun that felt close enough to touch. The air was bone-dry and scorching, carrying the faint metallic tang of heated rock mixed with distant spices from the port market. No lush forests. No gentle warmth. This was the kind of heat that baked the marrow in your bones and sucked the moisture from your skin in seconds. You stared out at the wasteland, sweat already beading on your forehead, and thought, *I absolutely fucked this up.* You had asked for "somewhere warm," but this was not what you meant. Not even close. The ship's captain had delivered you straight into an oven.
The girls fanned out beside you, each reacting in her own way. Mia's auburn ears flattened against the glare, her striped tail flicking irritably as she shielded her eyes with one hand. Sora's leathery wings half-spread for balance, violet eyes squinting against the brightness. Sylvia's shifting patterns adjusted to reflect more light, but her petite frame already looked uncomfortable, tail curling around her own leg. Seraphine coiled her long scarlet tail tightly around herself, forked tongue flicking out in distress as she hissed softly at the dry air. Only Ignis seemed at ease, her scaled wings and tail catching the sun like she was born for it—which, of course, she was.
You shook your head, wiping sweat from your brow. "Market first. We need supplies before we drop dead out here. Waterskins, food, cloaks—everything."
The port town was small but lively, a tight cluster of low sandstone buildings huddled around the docks. Colorful awnings flapped in the hot wind, and stalls groaned under bolts of light cloth, dried fruits, waterskins, and survival gear. Merchants called out in rough, accented voices, their skin tanned dark from years under this relentless sun. You moved quickly through the narrow streets, the group staying close as you pooled what little coin remained after the voyage. You bought six sturdy waterskins that could be slung across shoulders, bundles of dried meats and fruits that wouldn't spoil in the heat, light linen cloaks for everyone to block the worst of the sun, a small cooking pot, flint and steel, and a couple of simple daggers for the girls who didn't already carry claws or scales. Finally, you found a weathered map seller in the corner of the market and traded a few coins for a detailed parchment of the region. The ink was faded but clear enough to show dunes, oases, and scattered settlements.
Back in the shade of a stall, Ignis unrolled the map across a wooden crate, her scaled finger tracing the lines with growing excitement. "There," she said, tapping a small dot nestled between two larger dunes. "Shalkar. My hometown. It's only a few days' walk north-east if we cut through the dunes."
You studied the map for a long moment, noting the empty stretches of sand and the few marked water sources. "Alright," you said, rolling it up and tucking it away. "Let's go there. You surely want to see them again."
Ignis's eyes lit up with pure, unrestrained excitement—something you hadn't seen in her since the day you freed her from the collar. She had been taken from her home as a young dragon girl and sold into slavery; the chance to return hit her hard. She nodded rapidly, tail lashing once. "Yes. Please."
You rolled the map and tucked it away. "Then we leave now. No point lingering."
The port town shrank behind you as the six of you struck out into the open desert. The sun beat down without mercy, turning the sand into a furnace that radiated heat up through your boots. Sweat poured down your back almost immediately. The dunes rolled like golden waves, each step sinking slightly and making the walk exhausting. Mia and Sylvia, less accustomed to this kind of dry heat, drank from their waterskins more than the others. Seraphine and Ignis handled the warmth better—lamia and dragon physiology thriving in it—while Sora's wings provided a little shade when she walked close. You, however, suffered the most. Before reincarnating here, you had spent most of your life in a dark room under constant cold AC, rarely venturing outside. Now the sun felt like it was trying to cook you alive.
Hours passed in a haze. The water ran dangerously low. Mia and Sylvia had been sipping steadily, their bodies protesting the heat with flushed cheeks and heavy breathing. You felt light-headed, vision starting to blur at the edges. Hallucinations flickered—shadows on the dunes that looked like people from your old life, the distant sound of mocking laughter echoing in your ears. Your legs grew heavier with every step. Ignis noticed first. She slipped under your arm without a word, scaled wing draping across your back to give you support, her body heat somehow steadying rather than adding to the burn.
"Lean on me, Master," she said quietly, voice firm. "We're almost there. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other."
You pushed on, half-supported by the dragon girl, the others closing ranks around you protectively. Mia offered you her waterskin when yours ran dry. Sora scouted short distances ahead to find the easiest path between dunes. Sylvia stayed close on your other side, her small hand in yours. Seraphine's tail occasionally brushed your leg in silent comfort. The sun climbed higher, then began its slow descent, painting the dunes in fiery oranges and reds. Just when your vision started to tunnel and the world tilted dangerously, Ignis pointed ahead.
"There," she breathed, voice cracking with emotion. "Shalkar."
The town appeared like a mirage at first—low sandstone buildings clustered around a central oasis, palm-like trees swaying gently, colorful banners fluttering in the hot wind. You stumbled through the outer gate, boots dragging in the sand, and the first thing you did was spot the communal well in the center square. You broke away from Ignis's support and rushed to it, dropping to your knees and plunging your face into the cool water. You drank greedily, gulping down mouthful after mouthful, water spilling down your chin and soaking your shirt. The other dragon folk in the square—tall figures with scales in shades of red and gold—stopped and stared openly at the strange group and the desperate man guzzling from their well.
Two older dragon folk stepped out from the nearest building—a sturdy woman with faded scarlet scales and a broad-shouldered man with silver-streaked horns. Their eyes widened the instant they saw Ignis.
"Ignis…?" the woman whispered, voice breaking.
Then they rushed forward and pulled her into a fierce, tearful hug, wings wrapping around her as the three of them clung together in the middle of the square.