Monday: The Unexpected Oasis
After days of walking, the exhaustion was starting to weigh heavily on the group. Jas’s legs felt like lead, and even Roman, usually full of energy, was dragging behind. Ivy Mae kept her head down, trying to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, but it was hard to ignore the bone-deep weariness settling into their muscles.
“That was one hell of a journey,” Roman muttered. “We need to rest, and we need it now.”
Just as the thought of stopping seemed unbearable, Ivy Mae spotted something up ahead. “Wait. Do you see that?”
In the distance, through the haze of the heat, there was a glint of water. As they drew closer, their hearts lifted at the sight of a small, clear pool nestled within a dip in the earth, surrounded by lush green plants. It wasn’t just any pool—it was a cenote, a natural sinkhole filled with water.
But this cenote was unusual. The water wasn’t cool, as they expected it to be, but warm and inviting. It shimmered with an almost mystical glow, like something ancient and mysterious.
“Is this real?” Jas asked, his voice hoarse. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, and there’s a cenote?”
Roman looked around in disbelief. “It’s gotta be a sign. Let’s rest here for a bit. It’s been too long since we’ve had a proper break.”