Writing to include certain words was way harder than I thought it would be, but I did have a good time giving it a go! ^-^

Words Used: Arena, Thief, Curse, Bones, Cactus, Camel, Canteen, Dunes, Wanderer, Compass, Coyote, Dawn, Drought, Sandstorm, Vulture, Sweltering, Lantern, Mouse, Well & Ruins

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"You're a thief!" Torrent Sentinel cried, one paw jabbed into the centre of Vertigo's chest. Vertigo leaned in closer, plastering a look on her face that she thought radiated I am innocent and I have never stolen anything in my entire life, but instead screamed something more like, I am the biggest menace on this entire continent.

"I am not!" She replied, as if that made her sound any more innocent.

"You took it!" He hissed. "You took it! Give it back!"

"I did no such thing!" Vertigo replied as Crescendo and Paradiso Divine crowded her forward, forcing her out of the alleyway she'd been no so unsubtly backing into. The many things strapped to her pack clinked together as she startled, glancing back at them over her shoulder.

A small gold compass caught Crescendo's eye as it bounced and caught the light. She reached for it. Vertigo immediately slapped her paw away. "Don't touch my things!" She hissed.

Crescendo's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because it's mine!" She cried.

"So you admit you're a thief?" Torrent asked with a humourless laugh.

"I am not a thief!"

Torrent reached and snatched at the compass, pushing it over to look at the back of it as Vertigo smacked at the side of his head with her claws. He yanked it free with his teeth and took a step back. Vertigo scowled at him. There was a crest engraved in the back. Ahh, yes. Vertigo remembered where she'd found that one. She'd only had it for a week or two, and there were already people after her for it. There's no way it belonged to them more than it belonged to her. She'd found it hidden away in some ruins deep in the desert.

Whoever it belonged to was long dead. It definitely didn't belong to these fools.

A distant howl drifted across the desert, interrupting her thoughts. She scowled. A coyote. They better not be expecting her to come with them out there.

"You're coming with us," Torrent demanded. Vertigo shook her head. No way. Further down the gravel street, a mouse skittered between the buildings, dodging between the legs of a camel, before wedging itself into a small hole in the foundation, disappearing completely. Vertigo wished she could disappear completely right now.

Torrent growled and shoved her forward towards the outskirts of the town.

"Wonderful," Vertigo huffed as she started to walk, the other three falling into place behind her.

- - - - -

Vertigo had been quick.

She had snuck in behind them, gathered the most alluring pieces of treasure, and clambered out through a crumbling window before anyone had caught a glimpse of her. For whatever reason, be it because she was gone before the curse had time to set in or simply because she had been lucky, the curse didn't stick to Vertigo. Instead, it attached itself to one of the wanderers, Pyre Warden.

She was the only one still inside. The others had all left in search of a well to fill Torrent's Canteen and so that the two Sylvorpas could fit in a long-overdue swim into their trek across the desert after suffering through the water drought and sandstorm from the previous week.

It didn't take long to establish that it was a curse. One that demanded that she roam the ruins from dawn each day beneath the sweltering sun. When it had first taken hold of her, she had thrashed at the perimeter with all her might, trying to sway whatever had a hold of her into letting her leave. It didn't budge. She never made it more than a millimetre past the boundary. The vultures watched her; they seemed amused, or hungry.

Pyre and Torrent had spent days standing at the boundary trying to figure out what was keeping her trapped there and them out.

On the fifth day while Pyre was dragging a lantern into each room beneath the arena, she had finally found what she thought was keeping her there. It was not hard to figure out that someone had taken a great many things from the pile of treasure. She knew there'd been more there when they'd first discovered the room, the bones had deterred them from even considering taking anything. Torrent could only scowl when she told him.

The trio said their goodbyes to Pyre, promising to be back soon.

They had a thief to catch.

- - - - -

"I still don't understand what you think I stole," Vertigo whined after hours of walking. Innocent, innocent, I'm completely innocent. Paradiso turned up her nose and huffed.

Torrent stopped.

"You were inside the arena," he said simply, inclining his head to the compass that was now attached to his side. "You know what you stole."

They finally reached the arena again when the sky was crowded with stars and the dunes were bathed in darkness.

The Ruins looked different at night, the cactus out front looked much more imposing. Vertigo took a step back just to test, but Torrent quickly pushed her forward again. At the bounds, Torrent took a breath before stepping forward

Inside, Pyre stood alone in the treasure chamber.

"You came back." She smiled at Torrent.

Vertigo gulped.

"And I brought the thief."

Pyre pointed towards the treasure.

"Put it back."

Vertigo sighed and snatched it from Torrent's belt.

"Fine."

The moment the Compass touched the pile, the invisible wall wavered and then vanished.

Pyre blinked, then she smiled.

"See? Completely innocent," Vertigo said.

Torrent groaned.

"No one believes you."

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Word Count: 924

Just a reminder, a few entries missed the main rule that you have to use EXACTLY 12 of the words. I will still award these entries participation prizes, but they were ineligible to win a placement prize. Please make sure to follow the rules in future contests so you can win!


1st Place Winner(s)
Winner(s): Ashias (Story Link)
Prizes: Free Stable, [Peerless Avatar Token] x1, 3-Visible Summer Festival Themed Pet of Choice (2-Vis if Majestic) x2 OR Sculpting Mold of Choice x2, [Quick Drying Agent] x1, [Majestic Beach Shovel] x10, [Majestic Fishing Pole] x10, [Premium Clam] x3, [Box of Sculpting Supplies] x1, [Box of Sculpting Agents] x3


2nd Place Winner(s)
Winner(s): Blueloverw (Story Link)
Prizes: Free Stable, 3-Visible Summer Festival Themed Pet of Choice (2-Vis if Majestic) OR Sculpting Mold of Choice x1, [Quick Drying Agent] x1, [Majestic Beach Shovel] x5, [Majestic Fishing Pole] x5, [Premium Clam] x2, [Box of Sculpting Supplies] x1, [Box of Sculpting Agents] x3


3rd Place Winner(s)
Winner(s): Flyier (Story Link)
Prizes: Free Stable, [Majestic Sculpting Mold] x1 OR [Fabled Sculpting Mold] x1, [Quick Drying Agent] x1, [Premium Clam] x1, [Box of Sculpting Supplies] x1, [Box of Sculpting Agents] x3


All Participants
With valid submissions

Prizes: Title: Sizzling Storyteller, [Mystery Sculpting Mold] x1, [Box of Sculpting Agents] x2, [Sylestiopoly Piece] x3, [Avatar Item (Summer - Retired)] x2, [Sun Token] x1,000