Starglow Basin that long black cloud is comin' down

Note: A few days following this. Evening of August 2nd, ish.

From afar this place had appeared to shine like starlight in the dawn. By the time he'd crossed to meet the presumed second oasis, he saw the truth of it. The sun had set at this point, and the micah in the earth no longer glittered like the most refreshing of waters. A trick by nature herself, his father might've cajoled with him. Riddle was unamused—but there was nothing to be done about it, really. He couldn't exactly summon water by the force of his will alone.

Besides, he thought, looking beyond the saguaro keeping his company, to the darkening sky: at least I get to sleep beneath all'a that.

It looked as if the glittering of the earth had died down, certainly, but to Riddle's estimation it was as likely those tempting lights had lifted free of moorings, perhaps gone to dance along the igneous horizon as they settled for the night, above. He couldn't summon water, but for a moment he could imagine that the stars now flickered awake for him as consolation.