Heat of the Moment

Lo, Squiggle, Shania and Ommin all trekked through the barren wasteland that was the border between The Nile and Angor. The desert slowly turned to a fiery inferno, one that not many people lived in due to the high temperatures and overall unlivable conditions. Lo knew one thing about society in the upcoming region. There was one town not far from the start of the Angor side of the border. Brimdome.

Brimdome was, as its name would suggest, a giant dome. The people there built it to protect themselves from the harsh weather. Often, fire storms would sweep through the area and wipe out anything that they came across. It was imperative that they got to Brimdome before the next fire storm.

"Wow, you two really know nothing about Reefance, do you?" Shania asked. Lo and Squiggle were melting because of their clothes adding to their already staggering body heat. Lo felt too hot to be angry. Squiggle was more displeased than anything. "I would have told you to change your clothes into something cooler before going here, but it slipped my mind."

Ommin staggered behind, sweating a river. "I thirst!" Ommin exclaimed, holding up a mug saying I (Heart) Evil. "I demand tea right now! The one I had pre-made has gone cold."

"No, Ommin, I'm not your servant," Lo grumbled. "Nobody here is. Where'd you learn to be so spoiled? This whole time you've been doing nothing but whining and demanding things. Meand--- I mean… adventurers don't whine. Agh, now you have me doing it!"

"I have always had servants at my beck and call!" Ommin shouted, smoke coming from his ears. "It's all relative, you know. I could very easily ask how you learned to have absolutely no selfishness and also a large regard for others. But, I already know why." He had completely switched gears, going from enraged to mocking.

Lo stopped, and balled up his fists. "Why's that?" Lo asked.

"Simple! Your mommy and daddy never gave you everything you wanted as mine did," Ommin chastised, walking right past him. Lo felt like someone splashed him with cold water, despite the burning feeling in the air. "You must come from a poor, poor island in the middle of nowhere. As a result, well, just look at you! You have no grand sense of self. Sure, you play dress-up with your little tuxedo and top hat, but deep down… you know you are a complete peasant!"

"Don't talk about my parents," Lo growled. He turned to Ommin. "My mom is great, and she always provides for me. But she isn't raising me to be a self-absorbed jerk like you, Ommin!" Ommin stepped back, confusedly. Lo sighed shakily. "You just don't get it. Maybe I don't come from as wealthy a background as you do, but that's why I want the treasure. I'm going to split the money I get from it between everyone on my island, so that we can all live more prosperous lives!"

"Just think about the things you could do for yourself!" Ommin exclaimed. "You could become a god among men! You could have all the toys or whatever it is you want! The possibilities could be endless!"

"Whatever, I don't care about any of that," Lo said. "What I do care about is you shutting your---!" Lo stopped and stumbled in place as the earth shook. Everybody else did as well. Squiggle struggled to stay on Lo's hat.

Volcanic rock began to hit the ground, rocketing down from the fiery sky. Lo and the others were lucky that none hit them while they were immobilized. "We need to get out of here!" Lo exclaimed. "Everybody, find shelter!" Lo and his friends ran forward jerkily due to the continuous shaking, dodging many volcanic rocks hurdling their way.

"Agh… we won't ever make it!" Ommin shouted. "I have a better idea!" Ommin whistled, and soon, there was a louder rumbling sound than the one coming from the ground, and it was coming from all sides. Lo stopped, looked over, and saw Ommin's pirate goons stampeding towards them. "Everyone! Protect me from the imminent rockfall and get me to Brimdome! Oh, I guess you can get these weirdos away from danger as well. You know, if you want."

The goons stacked on each other from all different angles, and then fell forward. Their hands met as they formed a shelter around Ommin and the team. But mostly Ommin. The incoming rocks broke apart against their muscle mass.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow," their voices mixed together in indifferent pain as they slowly scuttled forward, getting hit by the volcanic rocks the whole way. The squad continued onward within the makeshift dome, searching for a way bigger one in the form of Brimdome.