I’d walk a mile for a Cabo.

It’s kind of amazing just how quickly landscapes change. One moment you find yourself walking through a verdant paradise filled with bird song and the whispering breeze then without actually noticing it your surroundings evolve, becoming something quite different and totally unexpected.
The great forest thinned out and before he’d realized it Cabo, our mischievous friend, found himself standing in front of a vista of rock and sand of a seemingly endless sea of undulating dunes. The sudden appearance of a dessert puzzled Cabo and probably you as well dear reader, but don’t let these little improbabilities spoil the story.
With the tiniest of shrugs and a scratch behind the ear Cabo leapt off the boulder and onto what he believed to be a sandy outcropping.
That patch of dirt turned out to be not rock nor sand or even earth itself, but one of the most indescribable creatures our amphibian friend has ever encountered. As it bellowed and rose to it’s prodigious height, Cabo noticed pads on it’s feet. It had heavy lidded eyes, a nose that was both long and blunted at the same time and an enormous shaggy furred protrusion where a rider might sit if the beast were anything like a horse; which it wasn’t.
To be fair, Camel, being awakened from siesta by a large pink frog wearing a knapsack was just as perplexed. For even though he had seen many things over the course of his long life, he had yet to encounter a pink frog.
“What under the blazing sun are you?” Bleated Camel once he regained some of his composure and had replaced the spectacles that had fallen off his nose when he was startled from his reverie.
“Hullo, I am Cabo, a frog on adventure.” Cabo replied. He then continued. “I have never seen an animal that looks like you. What manner of creature are you?”
“Why a camel, of course!” Stated Camel.
“What is a camel?” Asked Cabo, positively transfixed on this most unusual character.
“Camels are the rulers of the dune, wanderers of the great barren and the readers of the stars.”
“Sure sounds like a lot of work for one animal?”
“we are not ‘one’ we are many; and yes, there is much work for those who would create a paradise from the world you see around you.”
Cabo and Camel spent the next few hours learning from each other. Camel heard about farms and fish, which he found impossible to believe. He heard about horses and forests; about trains and lakes and rivers and all of the things Cabo had seen and done on his travels. Camel was most interested in forests and trees and explained that these days; he spent much time at the fringe of the desert learning what he could about trees. You see, It was his mission to learn how to bring the trees of the forest into the great swirling sands of the barren to create a better place where his people could gather and live.
From Camel, Cabo learned some things about the wind. About how even if unseen, the wind could be read and if you could learn to read, you might, if you were diligent enough, learn to converse with it. Camel talked about the sands and stone and about the creatures and plants of his land. Then later, as the sun stirred from his throne and burrowed its way into the dunes, Camel talked about the moon and stars and told the stories of his ancestors. That night as Cabo slept he dreamt the dreams of his youth. The kind of dreams one forgets to have as we get older and wiser.
The next day Camel offered to take Cabo into the desert and introduce him to others of his tribe.
“You will be able to see for yourself the wonders of the shifting sands and partake of some of the few delicacies that we have managed to produce.” Brayed Camel.
Cabo, never being one to deny adventure, took Camel up on his offer and in a moment they were off.
Camel’s lumbering gait at first disturbed Cabo who had become used to riding Horse, but soon the swaying seemed completely natural to him. It was almost as if the uneven movement complimented the uneven terrain around them.
The days and nights passed quickly for both travelers; for nothing makes time disappear so thoroughly as good conversation and companionship. During their time together, both Frog and Camel absorbed a great deal from each other. On the fourth day of the journey Cabo noticed a small patch of green in the distance. “Camel,” croaked Cabo, “is that one of those mirages you were telling me about”
“No. That is… my home.”
Cabo sensed unease in Camel as they approached their destination. “Is something troubling you, Camel?”
“I am not so certain that we will be received as readily as I had led you to believe, my friend.”
Camel paused, adjusted his glasses and continued with his explanation. “You see, it has been quite some time since I have last been to this place and I am not so sure that I am welcome. My people believe my ideas to be, uh, somewhat– How can I put this?- irregular.”
“Your family thinks you’re crazy?” Croaked Cabo “Is that what you are trying to tell me?”
“To put it bluntly, Yes.” Snorted Camel. “That’s why I was sent away from the oasis.”
“Well we’ve come this far. We might as well finish what we’ve started”
As they got closer to the oasis, Cabo began to sense a change in the air. The Strange aroma of spices encircled him and made him dizzy. Suddenly there was a loud trumpeting and Cabo heard the sound of many animals coming toward them. At the head of the pack was a large powerful camel with sharp vicious eyes and a grim expression on his visage. He came to a stop right in front of the two companions while the rest of the vanguard circled around them, closing off any and all avenues of escape.
“You should not have returned, old one.” The young camel spoke. And did so in a voice that was oily and sweet yet conveyed a very unfriendly feeling when heard. “We did not expect you to bless us with your presence.”
This situation did not sit well with Cabo. To be in the desert was difficult enough, but to be in the desert; far away from familiar surroundings with a dozen angry camels staring down at him was a completely different matter.
Camel spoke up. “I still hold title, you cannot take that away from me nor refuse my entrance to the oasis.”
“Ah, you stand on law, do you?”
“Yes. I do. As should you, young one.”
“Do Not preach law to me.” Bellowed the young leader. “I know our laws as well as any among us.”
“Then you will allow me my say; and space for the night.”
“You will have your say and you will have your night, but nothing else.” The young leader leaned in closely to speak to Camel in a whisper that left nothing to the imagination. Cabo was wondering what Camel was up to. They were brought into the oasis and Cabo was witness to a world that few get to see. A place where savagery and beauty collide to produce a strangely sensual community. There were murmurs and rumblings as he and Camel approached. The sun was at it’s fiercest and every camel, male and female, young and old had gathered at the center of the wallow to rest themselves under the few sparse trees that grew there. It was as good a moment to speak as any and Camel proceeded without preamble. Cabo noticed a distinct change in Camel’s demeanor. As he spoke he seemed to grow in stature and there was an air of wisdom around him that the frog had not previously recognized. Camel spoke of dreams and finery. He introduced Cabo and recounted the stories he had heard of fish and water. Camel described trees and lakes and urged them to band together to create a true oasis; a place of luxury and abundance, not dust and squalor.
It was at this point that the young one spoke up.
“Enough! We have heard these fantasies before, old man. This was why you lost the right to lead us. You have not lost your title, Caliph, but you do not rule us any longer and worse; you bring an outsider among us to engage in fairytales.”
He then addressed the multitude. “We live in the great Barren. A place where very little water exists and no seed will take root.” He paused for a moment to let the words take effect. “What little we have must be used to water ourselves, not the trees.” There was loud consent to these words, but Cabo noticed that it was not unanimous.
Camel did not argue. It was not his way. If the people could not follow him and his dreams then he did not wish to lead. He believed It to be the purest folly to try and force the truth of things down peoples throats. “I have simply spoken truth.” Camel stated. ”It is for you to see it.”

Later that evening Cabo sat silently near Camel. He sensed that Camel did not want to speak, so he refrained from any conversation until the Caliph was ready to address him. It was hours later and the moon was serenading the sands and bathing the dromedaries in it’s pearly luminescence when Camel began to speak. “It is the wish of any true leader to bring what is best for his people to the forefront of all activity and decision.” Camel sighed deeply. “That is all I ever wanted to do.”
Without any comment Cabo reached into his bag and pulled out the gifts that Owl and Raven had given him. He walked up to Camel and laid them before him. “You have taught me about the stars and wind and shared the stories of your ancestors with me.” Cabo softly croaked. “In return I would like for you to have these.” Camel looked at the frog, but did not understand. Cabo continued“ The seed of the wood is contained within the leaf and the walnut holds the water of life” Camel looked at Cabo in wonder, shocked to discover that this creature possessed such powerful magic. “How is it that a frog has ownership of such things?” Queried Camel.
“They were a gift from those who rule in the forest and it pleases me to give them to you.”
Together Cabo and Camel Chose a spot for the seed. They buried it and carefully then poured the water of life upon the ground. At first nothing happened, but camel continued to stare at the spot as if willing the oasis into existence. Slowly, ever so slowly the first rumblings began. Cabo could see the grains of sand shifting and begin to vibrate. All of a sudden a sprout emerged. Then another! And another. Soon the area was growing and a carpet of green was expanding in an ever widening circle. The rumble turned into a shudder and a spring appeared. Shoots were stretching and straining, sending their roots deep into the sand and raising their boughs skyward. Cabo watched in amazement at the scene taking place before his eyes. Soon many others, awakened by the shaking earth, gathered to watch the creation. By sunrise, in a place that had once been only shrubs, a few date trees and a muddy watering hole stood a garden. An oasis! When the young leader spied the happenings, he was overwhelmed. “How is this possible?” He cried. “What manner of camel are you that you can turn sand into water and rocks into fig and date?” The Caliph looked at the young camel and told him of the magic that the frog had given them. He made it known that it was from the gift of the outsiders that this paradise came into being.
The young camel approached Cabo, bowed in the fashion of camels and said. “There is much I need to apologize for.” Cabo chuckled and told the young camel. “There is no need to apologize to me.” He continued. “You have done me no wrong and have, in fact, given me lodging, food and water for the night.” The young leader looked at the frog noticing the same overly polite tones that he himself had used the previous day.
Cabo hopped over to where Camel was kneeling bounced off of his hump and went sailing headfirst into the pool of crystal clear water that now flowed freely. After days of splashing and swimming and talking with the other camels that came to drink at the hole Cabo decided that it was time for him to be leaving. He hopped up to Camel, who was thoughtfully and lazily chewing on some figs and asked him if there was anyone who could show him out of the desert. Camel stood up with a groan that is customary to such beasts and told Cabo that he would show him out of the great Barren and back to his world. Cabo was puzzled and asked “Don’t you have to stay here at the oasis and rule your people?”
“The people already had a leader. The young one will be fine without me.” Camel replied.
“How can you be so sure?” Asked Cabo.
“I’m not. But his father was a good leader before him, so I believe he has it in his blood” Camel chuckled adjusted his spectacles again and headed off towards the shimmering sea of sand.
After days of travel and continued discourse the two finally reached their destination. Camel told Cabo to remember the stars and presented him with a star scope. “You can use it to look at the stars at night or faraway things during the day. It will help you when you feel lost.”
Cabo thanked Camel and hopped up onto the boulders that divided the desert from the rest of the world. As he turned around to say a final farewell to the Caliph, he noticed that Camel had already turned around and was headed back towards home. Over his shoulder be bellowed “There are no farewells between us. If the fates decree it, we shall meet again.”
Cabo smiled turned away from the desert and continued towards his next adventure.