The Great Veiled Pearl

Avishai squinted in the darkness at the dimly lit parchment map given to him by Yedaya.  The remains of a decaying acacia tree provided wood for the small fire that warmed him on the surprisingly chilly night.  The wind howled with a low, plaintive whistle across the sandy desert floor as the flames danced atop the burning wood.  The horses flinched and raised their heads, flaring their nostrils as they sensed the air for danger.  Aviator too sounded the alert, calling out, “Kek, kek, kek,” as she fanned her large brown wings.  Then the larger of the two horses neighed and bucked furiously as he raised his hooves into the air and brought them to the ground with a repetitive, thunderous boom.  Avishai jumped to his feet, startled by the horse’s frantic activity, and then he backed away, perplexed by all the uproar.  He saw the unmistakable beige spotted flesh of a horned viper now brutalized and partially obscured by the sand.