Kyri was buzzing with excitement as Auntie Mel unfolded a map on the table. The paper was covered in scribbled notes and drawings of mountains, rivers, and one enormous desert.
“We’re going to explore the Great Desert of Wadi Anah,” Auntie Mel said, pointing to the map. “It’s one of the hottest places on Earth, but it’s full of secrets—sand dunes, fossils, and creatures that are amazing at surviving.”
Kyri’s eyes lit up. “Will we see camels?”
“Maybe,” Auntie Mel said with a grin. “But first, we need to be prepared.”
They packed plenty of water, hats, sunscreen, and Auntie Mel’s sketchbook. Kyri stuffed his notebook and magnifying glass into his bag. “You never know when we’ll find something cool,” he said.
Arriving in the Desert
The moment they stepped out of the jeep, Kyri was in awe. The desert stretched as far as he could see, the sand glowing golden under the sun. Rolling dunes rose and fell like giant waves frozen in time.
“It’s so quiet,” Kyri whispered.
“That’s the desert for you,” Auntie Mel said. “But it’s not empty. The desert is teeming with life—if you know where to look.”
She pointed to small tracks in the sand. “See those? They’re from a jerboa, a little mouse-like creature that hops like a kangaroo.”
Kyri bent down to examine the tracks. “Did you know jerboas can survive without drinking water? They get all the moisture they need from seeds and plants!”
“Impressive,” Auntie Mel said. “I hope you packed that fact in your brain.”
The Shifting Dunes
As they climbed a sand dune, Kyri noticed the wind pushing tiny grains of sand over the top.
“Why is the sand moving?” he asked.
“It’s called wind erosion,” Auntie Mel explained. “The wind carries the sand, piling it up to make dunes. And because the wind is always blowing, the dunes are constantly shifting.”
“That’s why maps of deserts change!” Kyri said, scribbling the fact in his notebook.
At the top of the dune, Kyri spotted something half-buried in the sand. “What’s that?”
They dug carefully and uncovered a fossilized shell.
“It’s a sea fossil,” Auntie Mel said, brushing off the sand. “Millions of years ago, this desert was an ocean.”
Kyri’s jaw dropped. “An ocean? That’s amazing!”
But as they admired the fossil, a sudden gust of wind whipped across the dune, sending a wave of sand tumbling down the slope.
“Mel!” Kyri shouted, shielding his eyes.
Auntie Mel grabbed his hand. “It’s a sandstorm! We need to find shelter—now!”
Caught in the Storm
The wind howled as the sandstorm swept over them, turning the world into a swirling blur of gold and brown. Auntie Mel pulled Kyri’s scarf over his face.
“Stay close to me!” she shouted.
They stumbled down the dune, the wind tugging at their clothes and the sand stinging their skin. Kyri clung to Auntie Mel’s hand, his heart racing.
“Where do we go?” he yelled.
“There was an old tree back there—head for that!” Auntie Mel pointed to a faint, dark shape in the distance.
They pushed through the storm, finally reaching the tree. Auntie Mel knelt and pulled Kyri close, using her bag to shield them from the worst of the wind.
“Sandstorms don’t last long,” she said, her voice calm despite the chaos. “Just breathe slowly and stay low.”
Kyri nodded, gripping his notebook tightly. He tried to remember what he’d read about sandstorms: Stay down, cover your face, and don’t panic.
A Narrow Escape
After what felt like forever, the wind began to die down, and the swirling sand settled. The desert was eerily quiet again, the dunes reshaped by the storm.
“You alright?” Auntie Mel asked, brushing sand out of Kyri’s hair.
Kyri nodded, though his legs felt wobbly. “That was scary.”
“Scary, but we made it,” Auntie Mel said with a reassuring smile. “And now we’ve got a good story to tell.”
Kyri looked around and gasped. “The storm uncovered something!”
A Hidden Treasure
Near the base of the dune, the sandstorm had exposed the edge of a large, flat rock. Carved into its surface were intricate patterns—spirals, animals, and symbols Kyri didn’t recognize.
“It’s a petroglyph!” Auntie Mel said, her eyes lighting up. “These carvings could be thousands of years old.”
Kyri ran his fingers gently over the symbols. “What do they mean?”
“They were probably made by people who lived here long ago,” Auntie Mel said, pulling out her sketchbook. “They might tell stories about their lives, their animals, or even their beliefs.”
Kyri carefully copied the carvings into his notebook. “This is the coolest thing ever.”
The Journey Back
As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the jeep, the desert glowing orange and red in the fading light.
“Did you know,” Kyri said as they walked, “that camels have three eyelids to protect their eyes from sandstorms? I think I need one of those!”
Auntie Mel laughed. “You handled that storm like a pro, Kyri. Maybe you’ll be a desert explorer one day.”
Kyri grinned. “I think I already am!”
As they drove back to camp, Kyri stared out at the dunes, his mind full of fossils, petroglyphs, and the wild power of the desert.
And he knew one thing for sure—this was an adventure he’d never forget.