Бесплатный фрагмент - Tales of the Sand

Tales of the Sand

Eyes in the Sky

Once upon a time, in the vast desert, there lived a boy named Ahmed. He often wandered the dunes, watching the animals and their habits, and listening to the wind whisper through shifting sands.

One day, he heard a sharp cry and saw a falcon caught in a net. Ahmed climbed down from a rocky slope and freed the bird, and in a flash, it soared into the sky.

The next day, as Ahmed wandered through the dunes again, he heard that same cry echo from above. It was the very same falcon, now descending from the sky and landing right on Ahmed’s shoulder.

«You’ve come back,» the boy said with joy. «I’ll call you Shahin — King of Birds.»

The proud bird spread its wings and let out a piercing cry. From that day on, the falcon became Ahmed’s faithful companion, always by his side. It became his eyes in the sky, helping him find his way home. Together, they explored the desert around their oasis and often found themselves in new adventures.

Eastern wisdom says:

«If you save a life, life will be indebted to you.»

The Wind’s Gift

In the endless expanse of the desert lived a young nomad girl named Fatma. She had a kind heart and gentle hands, always caring for every living creature she met.

One day, while wandering through the dunes, Fatma heard a desperate whinny carried on the wind. She ran toward the sound and found a foal tangled in a thorny bush, shivering in the shade of a lone palm. Its golden coat was scratched and bleeding, and its eyes were filled with fear.

Without hesitation, Fatma rushed to help. She gently freed the foal, soothed it with soft words, tended its wounds with healing balm, and offered it cool water from her flask. Feeling her kindness, the foal leaned into her touch and nestled its head into her arms.

From that day on, they were inseparable. Fatma named him Riyahan — «the Wind.» She fed and groomed him, taught him to follow her lead, and in return, Riyahan offered unwavering loyalty and affection.

Soon, the nomads prepared to travel again. Fatma was anxious — the young foal was no longer just an animal; he had become her dearest friend.

During the journey, a sudden sandstorm struck. The wind howled, the sky turned to dust, and the caravan scattered in confusion. Fatma rushed to help those who had fallen behind, and Riyahan, sensing her urgency, galloped forward, guiding her through the storm to rescue others.

When the storm finally passed, the exhausted but grateful girl embraced her foal and thanked him. She had learned that a kind heart and true friendship are the greatest treasures — and that they can overcome even the fiercest winds.

Eastern wisdom says:

«Kindness and care are always repaid — for true friendship knows no barriers. And even in the darkest hour, there is always hope for light.»

The Secret of the Sands of Time

In the vast reaches of the Eastern desert, where sunlight dances on the crystals of sand, there lived a boy named Ahmed. He was a dreamer, and his heart burned with a thirst for adventure.

One day, during his wanderings, Ahmed spotted a figure blending into the dunes — a young nomad girl named Fatma, known for her kindness and compassion.

«Greetings, traveler,» Ahmed said with a smile. Fatma returned his gaze with warmth.

And so they met. Ahmed told her of his adventures, of how he had once saved a falcon that became his loyal companion. Fatma spoke of a foal she had rescued from a thicket — how she had nursed it back to health and gained a devoted friend.

The two children soon realized how much they had in common — a love for animals, for the natural world, and a deep desire to help others. They decided to journey together and explore the desert as a team.

So, the two young nomads — Ahmed with Shahin the falcon, and Fatma with Riyahan the horse — set off on their first adventure. They walked side by side across endless sands, listening to the whispers of the wind that carried secrets buried beneath the desert’s waves.

Suddenly, they stumbled upon ancient ruins, half-buried under timeworn dunes. In the shadows of crumbling walls, they discovered a map etched with mysterious symbols. The friends decided to follow the trail and uncover the secrets held within.

Thus began a new chapter in their journey — a path where each footprint in the sand revealed something incredible and unknown.

Eastern wisdom says:

«In the desert, where the wind carries the secrets of ancient times, true travelers find their path by following the stars and the voice of the heart.»

The Well of Life

The hot desert wind whispered its ancient secrets. Ahmed and Fatma, accompanied by their loyal companions — Shahin the falcon and Riyahan the horse — set out on a new journey. This time, their path led to the legendary Well of Life, a place they had learned of from a mysterious scroll found among ancient ruins. According to legend, its waters never ran dry and could revive even the most desolate land.

The road was not easy. Day after day they crossed endless dunes, following the signs in the scroll. One evening, a silhouette appeared on the horizon — a tall, slender animal with long, sharp horns and a shimmering coat. It was an oryx. His eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom.

The oryx studied them in silence, as if already knowing why they had come. Fatma whispered, «Who are you, proud traveler of the desert?»

The creature answered in a calm, low voice, «I am Sandal. The desert is my home, and I am its guardian. You seek the Well of Life?»

Ahmed nodded, surprised that the oryx could speak. «Yes. They say its waters can save the dying oases. But the path is confusing, and we’re afraid we might lose our way.»