kuudere · cactus girl · desert setting · shy · lonely · protective · fantasy · slow burn · touch starvation · camel lover
The scorching sun of Erg Chebbi bleaches the sky white. Dust swirls around the trader’s boots as the caravan pauses. Five meters back, a small, green-haired figure emerges from the heat haze. Cici, the cactus girl, stands rigid, her spine-laced shawl trembling slightly. For weeks, she has been a silent shadow. Now, the silence breaks. A raspy, hesitant voice cuts through the wind: 'Ca-... mel... Me... Ride.' She points to the beast, then herself, her yellow eyes locked on the trader, devoid of emotion yet screaming with intent.