The world she looked out upon was unlike any she had ever seen. At least half of the oasis had been completely demolished by the tornado. Her house, among many others, had been completely ripped up, and it's pieces lay randomly scattered throughout the oasis and the desert around it. Over half of their shade trees were gone, and the sun shone in hotter than it ever had before. Their lake that had grown so large in the shade, and that had already lost much of it's contents to the storm, was now being drained in the suns direct rays. Her home was no longer recognizable, and everywhere she looked her fellow people were either sitting or walking aimlessly through the torn oasis, taking in the damage of their home. Julie had never realized how much she loved the oasis, but now that it was half gone she realized that she would miss it more than she had ever imagined. Her sorrow was laced with guilt as well. If only she had left sooner, perhaps the wind wouldn't have came calling to her so strongly. She looked at all of the pain around her feeling as though, at least in an indirect way, she had caused it all, and tears fell from her eyes heavier than stolen diamonds.

Child of the stars, torn by the wind.

That day was spent mostly making sure everyone was alright, which sometimes meant digging people out of the wreckage of their homes. The houses that still stood became hospitals for the injured, and soup kitchens for the homeless. By the next morning, after a long and restless night, everyone was accounted for. No one had died, and the injuries weren't serious. It appeared that everyone was okay, but not for long. Many of the gardens had been ruined, the lake was diminishing more and more as time passed, and the oasis was only half the size of what it had once been. The problem was clear, the oasis just didn't have enough space or resources left in it to house all of the people that had once called it home.

Julie laid down, exhausted, on one of the sleeping mats rolled out for the homeless. She was covered in dirt and grime, and her muscles ached. She had spent the entire previous day and night helping to dig out survivors and supplies. She had worked tirelessly, and her people had all noticed it, though they did not know that her tireless work ethic was actually driven by guilt.

She slept the entire day, and woke up near dusk. The sky was red above her when she opened her eyes, and tendrils of wind still wafted through the air, remnants of the storm now passed. Her friend the seagull looked beadily down at her from his perch on one of the remaining trees.

"We're leaving soon." She said up to him, surprised at the strength in her own voice.

She pulled herself up, remembering the announcement she had heard that morning that at dusk a meeting would be held to form a course of action. She made her way across the sad, but now familiar wreckage to the shore of the lake, where many other people had already gathered. She took a seat on the ground in the front row next to her mother. They sat there in silence until the leader of the people stepped up onto a platform that had been quickly assembled earlier that day. His appearance was no different than the rest of theirs. He was tall with long flowing hair that was matted, and wore dark torn clothes. His kind eyes were sad. The people could barely stand to listen to his words as he spoke. He discussed solution after solution that would not solve their problem in a sorrowful tone. By the time he finished the sun was down and his hands hung limp by his sides. His eyes looked imploringly into every face before him.

"If any one of you, wise or young, has an idea that could save us, I beg you to voice it now."

No one stood. Julie's heart raced. She looked up to see the seagull slowly circling in the sky overhead, and knew what she had to do. She stood up, feeling the silence of the crowd almost overpower her.

"I have an idea." She said, trying to feel more confident. The leader nodded, and she turned to face her people. Never before had she spoken in front of them all, and she hoped she would be able to convey her message correctly. the crowd took in her tangled, braidless hair and torn clothes collectively, as well as the dirt on her face and the starlight shinning out from her eyes.

"I am sure that you all remember the traveler who came into our oasis those many years ago. He spoke to me of lands far away and ancient ideas that need to be reborn into our community." She said, embellishing the ideas that the traveler had given her. "There is a world outside of our oasis, we cannot hide from it anymore. He told me that someday the wind would come for me. I believe that the storm last night was my final calling to leave. There is an ocean to the west. We have a seagull to prove it! We cannot stay here isolated any longer." She paused, looking down at her hands, and taking a deep breath. When she looked back up her audience saw tears in her eyes.

"I must admit that I love this oasis, and I am sad to see it like this. And seeing as I believe that the storm last night was a sign for my time to leave, I also believe that in some ways the wreckage here is my fault." She heard rumblings in the crowd, and she could see here mother shaking her head. "I believe this." She said with conviction. "And so I propose to bring all those willing to cross the desert with me. I promise that seeing as it is partly my fault you have no home now I will lead you to a new land, more fertile and beautiful than you have ever seen here. It is clear that we cannot all live here any longer. Come with me! The wind has finally called us, we cannot deny it any longer! There is only one choice left to make. Come with me." She let her last words linger in the air, hoping she had managed to convince at least a few, praying for the chance to rectify her guilt.

Some of the people were looking at her as though she was crazy, others as though they finally understood the strong young woman's mind. The people's leader cleared his throat.

"Though it may be fruitless to attempt a crossing of the desert, it is the best idea I've heard so far. At least it can give us some hope." He looked out into the crowd. "But are there any out there willing to attempt to cross the desert with Julie? If there are, make yourselves known."

Silence. And seemingly hundreds of pale eyes blinking and staring in the early evening light. Julie's heart was beating so hard she was sure the crowd could see it moving her chest. And then movement. Her mother stood up.

"My family and I will accompany Julie across the desert." She smiled at her daughter.

More silence, and then:

"We will take the chance." Said a man in the back, standing up with his wife and daughter. "Providing we will be given the proper supplies."

The leader nodded in affirmation. Several more families stood up, including a black haired girl and her mother, two middled aged brothers, and a few others. The leader looked out across the crowd with his solemn, sad manner.

"I will be sad to see you all go, as will the rest of your people. But I thank you all, brave travelers and your leader," he said, turning to Julie. "Our numbers should be few enough now that we can survive until our home grows itself back. I wish you good luck on your journey, and hope you find the ocean that you seek. Remember that it is the loving heart that lasts the longest and--," he placed a hand on Julie's shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes. "Never forget your home, Julie of the stars, nor to run with the wind."