ch 6 Oasis

Deron followed behind his new acquaintance at a respectable trot. All the while Ed would sprint ahead toward some object he spotted, usually so far off Deron couldn’t even see it, and ask “Is you an Antelope?”

Sometimes it was a rock, sometimes a bush, sometimes a combination of both. The only actual animals Ed inquired were a lizard and a chipmunk, both of which scurried away in fear, then could be heard laughing hysterically from their hiding places. Ed would then sprint back to Deron, walk with him for a bit, before sprinting off into the distance to ask a boulder if he would like to join his herd.

Deron was seriously starting to doubt that this strange beast would ever lead him to water. However, after about an hour Deron saw Ed stop at a green spot in the middle of all the desolation, look back toward Deron and smile extra big.

“Water, Deron the Moose!”

Deron now did his best impression of Ed, sprinting for all he was worth. He could taste the cool water on his lips as he ran and just knew he’d been saved. Upon arriving at the watering hole Ed had located, Deron’s heart dropped.

Before him was a measly puddle, nestled amongst standing in a rock, surrounded by a little green grass. Deron was sure he had made bigger puddles himself after a few hours sleep. He looked at Ed, who was still wearing his extra wide smile.

“It’s a pretty big watering hole, best one on this whole mountain range. Drink up!” stated Ed, quite matter-of-factly.

Deron wanted to wipe the ridiculous smile from Ed’s face, but thirst overcame that urge. Deron bent down, and in one slurp drained the puddle. It barely cleared the dust from his throat, and did little to quench his overall thirst.

As he stared at the bottom of the little hole, Deron realized he hadn’t left any water for Ed. It may not have been much of drink, but it was enough to keep him alive, and he owed that all to Ed. He looked up at Ed, and a pang of guilt struck him deep in his guts.

“Sorry Ed. I was so thirsty I drank the whole thing. Will you be all right?” Deron apologized and asked.

“I’ll get a drink. Look it’s full again,” Ed said.

Deron looked back down, and sure enough the little pool had revitalized itself. Ed bent over, took one bitty little drink and belched louder than anyone
Deron had ever heard.

“I couldn’t drink one more drop without getting sick. You can finish it if you want Deron.”

Deron did finish the little pool. He then waited for it to fill, and drank it again, and again, and again. He then ate hungrily at the green grass surrounding the little spring, all the time watching Ed just take a nibble here and there.

The two members of the world’s newest and oddest herd walked away from the spring. Behind them they left an empty pool and gnawed off grass, destined for wherever Deron’s savior, Ed the Antelope, thought it best to go next.