where we all went wrong?

The party set a camp in the desert. Ags was the first to fall asleep - almost instantly, right after setting up a small camfire with charcoal chunks and some liquid firestarter, and packing out the sleeping bags. He had a heavily grace on his draconic face, while smiling in his sleep.

Casey was away for air patrol. Renato and Phillie were sharing some beer at the campfire - the albatross, and muscular lion.
-Look at the poor devil- Phillie chuckled, pointing at their dragon hippie buddy- at the beginning of the road he looked so miserable, and now he looks so blissful. Just like a little angel... - then he added with some friendly sarcasm in his tone- as if, angels had reptilian scales and breathed fire. Renato laughed quietly:
-He really needed to be taken out- he took a huge sip from his drink- Thanks for giving him the wheel. This joyride definitely rushed through his depression. The lion nodded:
-It was my sheet intention- he looked turned to Reno- Deen told me everything before assigning me to you guys. Not only the task, but also to look after his big bro. Then he scratched his fuzzy head in embarresament:
-Okay... not really "assignment", because we know eachother since we were derpy little teens, and I'm happy to hang around any time with you guys. But under the current conditions, maybe this would be the best way to address why I'm here.

This reminded Renato about the passing out of the other two. He asked:
-Did you see anything?- then he added- you know, when you and Ags...
-Not much- replied Phillie, twirling the bear bottle around his clawls- I had a huge spear, and I stood before a bigass building... probably a palace. He sighed:
-Sorry pal, it was really all just a flash. Renato smiled:
-That's okay. I was just curious- he stared back to the fire- just, it seems a weird coincidence, that you're connected to this madness, as well. The lion smirked:
-Tell me about it - he took a big sip from the beer, and continued- In cases like these it makes me wonder how much Deen was a good choice to be the leader. Maybe she had some 6th sense for sending me with you guys. He got thoughful for a moment: - I mean, beside having a mechanic. I wouldn't be in anybody's place with a broken vehicle. Just look around - waved around with one hand- we're currently in the middle of nowhere. The next establishment is hours from here. The albatross nodded again in agreement:
-That was really thoughtfull of here.

They stood in silence for a moment, as they have drank in sync, then Phillie asked:
-So...- he started really slowly, being aware that this topic might be uncomfortable - you and Cez... ? It was now Reno's turn to scratch his head in embarresment, included with a nervous smile:
-Boy, I really wondered which of you guys would come up with this first. He drank out the last of his beer, continuing in his nervuos smile:
-I don't know...- shaking his head slowly- I really don't know. He looked at Phillie:
-I did remember, why we grew apart... but I honestly didn't think about coming together again. Then he stared back to the fire:
-It's been years... and there was a broken trust. And people don't change after a certain point, you know - Renato shrugged- I'm glad we speak to eachother... but I'm not sure if we could get back ever again. Phillie nodded. He didn't completely agreed, but he acknowledged what Reno is thinking. He slapped his back for encouragement:
-Don't overthink it buddy. Nothing worths overthinking, not even chicks.

Renato smiled back with hints of relief. First time since the breakup he could discuss his messed-up relationship with Casey. Thankfully, he received understanding. He remembered how much these friends ment to him.
-By the way- he asked back- what about you and Deen? Phillie fell calm, smiling, and his voice idealistic:
-Things are going pretty good. You know, I never thought that a wild cat like her could grow into such an amazing and responsible woman - took a drink from the bottle, before proceeding - I'm considering marrying her. Reno's eyebrows skipped up. Right, it has been quite a time since Phillie and Deen are dating seriously, but he never thought about hearing these words out loud.
-Woah- his jaw dropped in his surprise- what about she being the matriarch? And what does Ags have to say about it? The mechanic shrugged:
-We grew up. I guess I can handle when she appoaches me as a wife, or gives me order as a matriarch. It's a thin like between the two, since we are talking about the same person, but... it's like separating you job with your private like. He turned to Renato:
-You're approaching you navy mates outside of the army, right?
-Good point- Reno strongly agreed.
-'Bout him- Phillie waves towards Ags with the beer bottle in his paw- officially, he hasn't got much say in it. I still hope that he gets better, so does our relation. I wouldn't mind having a the happy hippie back as my brother-in-law. Renato smiled wildely. Perhaps it's Phillie with his positive and carefree attitude is the one who changed the least of them.

Cez arrived back, landing near the campfire, instantly looking for a blanket:
-It's freezing- she hissed, as she wrapped herself up, sitting down close to he warming blazes.
-How's it going?- asked Phillie. Casey flapped down her big bat ears to conserv as much heat as possible:
-No clouds or stong currents. We'll have a peaceful night. She turned to both guys:
-You can go to sleep. I'll stand guard and keep the fire burning. Renato took a long stare at her. He almost asked back if she was sure about this decision, but he both realized that Casey is always up at nights due to her totem, and it is also useless to argue with her.
-Goodnight, Cez- he ssid finally, as he fell asleep alongside with Phillie, leaving her in charge...

sandride

It was late afternoon, and the Sun was reaching the horizon when the gang dashed from Nouakchott into the wide open. Endless dunes of sand, as far as the eye could see.

Ags seemed to enjoy being behinf the wheel - he stepped on it real hard, and shout out loud in joy. Like someone who had its first ride on a rollercoaster. Phillie sat beside him, having both compass, paper map and a GPS at hand. But when he wasn't checking the route, he checked on the hippie. He smiled in satisfaction, as he saw Ags being his old self again, screaming in excitement.

The other two were in the back of the jeep, on a plateau, with the backpacks and the supply, sharing in the joy of the sand navigation. Cez turned to Renato:
-Wanna meditate some? Reno looked back in curiousity:
-Why should I?
-Because you didn't sleep much - Casey explained - and we both have a lot of way up ahead. The other two already has it under control, so don't have much to do. Renato nodded:
-You're right. He slowly laid down, made himself comfortable - as much as this is possible on the back of a bumping jeep - and put his head into Casey's crouch. She started to massage his head, and started humming. It was the same humming with the bat-like chirping, but the vehicle's sounds mostly enveloped its noise. Still, the massage, and the vibration didn't lose a bit... and it was all that mattered...

Renato found himself among a bunch of random scenes. In the first one, he was doing some administrations - at least, it seemed like it considering the summs, equations and totals. It was somekind of budget calculation. And he wasn't alone: two other men were with him. The only difference was, that he was in his bestial albatross form, and a very detailed and ornated suit with jewels, while the otehr two seemed perfectly human, black-skinned, and with much simpler clothes than his. Probably they were his subordinated...
In the next scene, he was performing some ritual, before an altar. The altar itself was enormous: both wide and tall - made of gold and some blue gemstones - sapphire maybe? - and on the top of it, the statues of Poseidon stood proodly, raising his mighty trident. As he realized the others around him, wearing the same clothes as the two in the previous scene, renato relaized, that they were priests. This meant... he was the high priest here...
Another scene followed: he, flighing in the sky. Big, fat, dark clouthes started to gather around him slowly. He wasn1t simply flighing around them... it was another ritual. He was doing specific maneuvres in the sky, gathering all those clouds, stuffed with precious rain. The peasants from the acricultural zone begged him for help. There was no rain for weeks, however, the salty water of the sea couldn't help much nurturing their crops. Zoolooks always had connection with nature, and had the ability to decypher and manipulate nature - something that mankind considered magic. Still, it wasn't always a small or insignificant task - especially in big deals, like this ritual. Gathering so many clouds could easily cause imbalance. He had to calculate his moves for the rituale, what to gather, and where to gather from - if he "stole" rain from otehr countries in need, that may cause climating disasters. The safest way was to get the rainclouds from above the Atlantic Ocean - still caused a certain level of imbalance, but it was less worse than making another country suffer due to the lack of rain. Now... he saved the people. The rain fell on the glorious city and on all its 3 rings...

Renato stood up in spook, breaking in sweat. It was almost dark. The last rays of the setting Sun tinted the horizon. The jeep was standing in one place. He looked around:
-What happened? Casey was laying back to the edge of the jeep's back, chilling:
-You saw? Renato kept nodding:
-I saw.. a lot. I was the high priest of Atlantis. Casey smiled mildly:
-How pelicular... Renato didn't pay much attention to her. More on the fact that the otehr two didn't responde. Looked around again:
-Why aren't we moving? What's with Phillie and Ags? Cez waved down with one hand:
-They passed out. About 10-15 minutes after you fell in trans. As she saw Renato's expression stunning in fear, she added:
-At least, our hippie noticed that something was fishy going on, and he slowed and stopped the jeep. But them, both fellas' eyes were glowing. I guess, more of us conencted to this story, than we thought. Renato sighed:
-Boy... and it seems, Deen knew who to pick. At this point, no onw would guess if Phillie is in, as well..