((Yes, though I'm not sure I'd like to randomly encounter an elk with a 15ft antler spread.))

When you say you've got it, the elk raises its head and steps back.

When  you ask where it came from, it turns its head side to side, looking at the rolling sand, and snorts, shaking its mighty head and rack of antlers.

Randy, remembering how handy it was to have his sword lit up before, would be willing to Coljin do so again.  He'd be more than happy to take some Holy water as well.

Randy has been spending a lot of time in contemplation, using his new awareness of the desert to help with scouting and path finding for the party, scrounging food, etc. He's got a lot to think about. 

When he hears the elk bugle, he comes at a dead run with a look of dread in his eyes, expecting to see some monstrosity attacking the camp.  He skids to a stop and stares at the scene before him,  before slowly approaching with one hand held out  speaking gently in elvish:

 Animal handling: 5

 Randy is ready to pull back and dive out of the way if the critter isn't friendly.

Randy arriving at a dead sprint startled the elk initially, but when he speaks, it comes over and snuffles his hand, before bugling in response.

"Breeeeee--- aaaaaaaauuughhh uunnnnnnnnnnnnggggk."

Coljin watches the encounter with the Elk at a distance.   Ready if needed, but thinking and hoping that would not be the case.

On one evening he will create the lit sword and the holy water for Randy.  (I know we have the silver to do the holy water, 25gp)

He will ask Dornikal for the needed powdered ruby so he can do the spell for on the sword.

Randy gives the elk a pat and a scratch under the chin. He looks at Dornikal. "I'm guessing you decided to play with some of the items we found then."   He shakes his head.  "We'll have to try to keep him cool as best as possible and keep him well watered.  We'll probably have to get Zokk to make him some goodberries to keep him fed for now. He's a big 'un for sure!"

Dornikal still looks with distrust at the elk and grumbles,

"Aye wasn't playing with anything. Aye was testing... aye'm not sure what aye did though? He is as big as aye've ever seen. Loud too."

Dornikal will see to that Coljin gets some rougher, not very nice looking rubies to smash.

Religion: 5

"He's a giant Elk. Very rare and reportedly intelligent. Several religions consider them messengers of the gods and harbingers of momentous events. They can reportedly understand people.  He's going to cause a bit of a ruckus when we show up with him in tow."

((Making a bit of an assumption that this would be common knowledge. If you want to play it differently, Spider, I'll change it accordingly.))

((Geez, all I did was edit in some commentary!))

((Totally reasonable for anyone with sufficient nature/religious knowledge to be aware of giant elk.))

The elk paws the ground with a hoof at Randy's comments.

Dornikal looks at the elk dubiously.

"Aye, okay. No meh religion, but fine. Ye think maybe it's here for something in particular other than using meh as a salt lick?"

It butts Dornikal with its large snout, sniffing at the pouch.

Dornikal waves the elk away,

"It's empty. No food. See-" He holds the bag open to show it.

"So we have a prophecy elk now? Well, aye guess that's good. Animals are yer thing Randy, so Aye'll leave ye to it."

He shoves the bag in a pocket, disappointed he couldn't discover it's secrets.

The giant elk rolls set of massive eyes at Dornikal, looking at Randy and nudging it's head at the dwarf.

"I'm not sure what the elk is trying to say, but something tells me it might be smarter than Dornikal in this instance..."

"Breeee-- uuung unng unng"

You continue onward towards the oasis, and as you stop to find what shelter you can against the day, as the first rays of light shine down on it, the elk dissolves into motes of light that fade and drift before vanishing.

Randy stares a minute, then shakes his head.  "Okay, some kind of magic involved then.  Dornikal, can I have a look at that bag, please? Just a hunch..."

Dornikal pauses to pull the bag out and toss it to Randy.

"Just an empty bag, near as aye can tell."

When the elk disappears,

"Well that solves some problems.  Probably off sneaking up on folks and heralding something, loudly, somewhere else."

Randy closely examines the bag.

Investigation: 15

It's a bag and it's gray.  He shrugs his shoulders.  "I'll hang onto it a bit if that's okay."

Feeling the closed bag it feels empty, and looking in it looks empty. No giant elk in evidence.