Dazel awoke to a strange moaning sound. At first, she thought she was dreaming. She opened her eyes but yelped and closed them again as she felt something hot sting her eyes.

Shielding her eyes with her wing she opened them to see a gust of sandy wind blowing, the gale creating an eerie groaning sound.

It was day break, yet, the sky was gloomy. Dazel couldn’t understand this strange weather. The wind was becoming warmer and the force of it was rocking her in her artificial pond.

“Dazel!” shouted a voice above the sound of the blowing wind. “Come into my house.” It was Wiz Rooster, Dazel’s neighbour and teacher — principal of the Aviary School for birds.

Dazel followed the rooster towards his house, but the flight was difficult as they were flying against the strong storm. With difficulty the two birds entered the rooster’s home and shut the door behind them. The window shutters rattled as the wind outside beat against it. Wiz Rooster quickly struggled to shut the windows and heaved a sigh of relief.

“It’s a sandstorm,” informed the rooster. “I could sense a storm building last night. There is a desert a few miles to the west. No one ever goes there because of the lack of vegetation and the harsh climate,” explained Wiz Rooster. “That’s the only place so much sand could come from.”

“I have never seen this desert,” Dazel said in amazement. She had always thought she had explored all the places in D’Land.

“Thank you for offering me shelter. Sir,” Dazel said........

© Dawn Young Magazine