Chapter 275: Cries of the Dune

Irana She landed hard, her body jarring painfully as she hit the bottom of what seemed to be a cavernous hole. Groaning, she pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, blinking through the dust that filled the air. What had just happened? She glanced around, disoriented, and quickly realized she had fallen into some sort of underground cave. The walls were rough and jagged, the air cool and damp compared to the scorching heat above. Her heart sank as she realized the rabbit was long gone. She wouldn’t be getting her catch today. But before she could process her disappointment, a strange sound reached her ears. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there—a soft, plaintive cry. Irana froze, her breath catching in her throat. She turned her head slowly, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. It was coming from deeper within the cave. Without thinking, she pushed herself to her feet and began moving toward the sound. Her instincts screamed at her to be cautious, to turn