Jaylen dragged the metal sled across the gravel-covered ground. It’s been years since the sharp edges were able to cut into his now calloused feet, but he still suffered from the thin atmosphere above ground like anyone else. Dropping the lead rope and standing up straight was the signal to Javvi, his brother, that they were taking a break.

“Ground bless, Jay. I didn’t think you were ever going to stop.”

“I’m anxious to get back. Today’s harvest day and the roach burgers will be the freshest!”

“Bleh. I much prefer algae soup. Roach burgers are just too crunchy for my tastes.”

The brothers sat down back to back so they could keep an eye on the land around them while they rested. A thick cloud cover hovered over the land and met the horizon all around. Thicker sections were outlined by slightly lighter lines like the stringy ligaments of the ravagers. At least that’s what Javvi likened them to, Jaylen saw them as rivulets of light trying their hardest to touch the land once more.

“Do you think we’ll ever see it?” Jaylen asked, looking at the clouds.

“See what?”

“The bright light gran used to tell us about.”

“I don’t even think it exists, she was just telling us stories from her grandmother.”

“Yeah, but can you imagine a blanket of blue and a blinding ball of light? Or what about when the big light is gone and then it’s filled with pinpricks of smaller lights.”

“It’s just a fantasy. Why do you let your imagination run wild?”

“It’s not fantasy, the elders tell us of a time when there were breaks in the clouds and green things lived on those broken stone pillars.”

A flash of light shocked them into moving. Jaylen started counting the seconds out loud until the rolling thunder passed over the land. He’d reached twenty-one before the sound hit.

“Four miles,” Javvi said. Jaylen nodded in agreement.

“You think it’s coming towards us?”

“Hard to say. I’ll pull this time, you keep the lookout.”

“Just let me know when you need me to take over.”

With a grunt, the older brother pushed his feet against the ground and pulled the salvaged materials for their village. Jaylen used the spear as a walking staff while they made their way across the barren landscape. The downburst from the storm sent dust flying into the air, once it started it told the boys the storm was coming towards them.

Jaylen would count the seconds each time the lightning struck the ground. And each time it told him the storm was getting closer and closer. When it was less than two miles away he grabbed the spare lead and hooked it to the sled.

Of the younger people in their village, they were a handful that could survive the surface without any adverse reactions. They were an invaluable resource to their people and were under instructions to abandon their tasks and get to the safety of the town. But both had agreed the materials were too important this time. So both dragged the sled at a good clip hoping the ravagers set to hiding from the storm rather than traveling above ground looking for their next meal.

“We’re not going to make it!” Javvi cried out.

“We’ll be fine, just keep going,” Jaylen shouted with his blind optimism.

“When it reaches less than five seconds we run, okay.”

“Deal, now keep pulling.”

Both were grunting with each step. The wall of red-tinted water was approaching them faster than they could move. Jaylen abandoned pulling and got behind the sled and pushed for all he was worth.

“There!” Javvi shouted as the cave entrance came into view.

“Keep pulling!”

“Fine, keep pushing.”

With strained effort, they managed to get the sled into the tunnel and up to a ledge so it was out of the water’s path. Javvi bent over his knees heaving deep breaths trying to get oxygen back into his system. Jaylen hurried to the other side of the ledge to shout.

“Acid rain coming!” His voice echoed deep into the tunnel hoping to give them a bit more of a heads-up.

The water already created a small stream of hissing water that washed down the tunnel. Javvi and Jaylen sat and watched the tunnel, trapped until the storm passed and the water dispersed.

“See, told you we’d make it.” Jaylen nudged his brother’s shoulder with his.

“Yeah, but it was too close. We won’t tell the elders.”

“Agreed, not sure I want to sit through another of dad’s lectures.”

“Guess this means no fresh roach burger?”

Shocked horror etched into Jaylen’s face. “No, no, no… aww man.”

His brother chuckled. “Maybe the storm will pass by fast.”

Jaylen hoped and they both watched the rain fall and the clouds pass by. And then like a glow worm at night a bright ray of light pierced through the clouds followed by a handful of others as the storm passed. The young brother’s heart fluttered in his chest as he stood up slapping Javvi’s back who was making sure the cargo was secure for their trip down the tunnel.

“Look! Javvi! Look! It’s the soon!”