The current build only goes to the valley right, after that we return with the blacksmith? Also as much as I love the character he's kinda stuck on my screen like in a perpetual conversation along with Grove's image, maybe its a bug (looks like the first image when I walk around). All in all I love this game its really well done, even similar games don't compare, I like how it run
Viewing post in [RPG] GROVE: "Dark Places" (v0.308) comments
Make sure you're playing the most recent hotfix, v0.201
And no, after you reach the sandstorm, the game tells you that you need protective equipment and teleports you back to the Quiet Meadow. That's your clue you need to go somewhere else... somewhere in completely the opposite direction to the desert, in fact...
...there's only so many directions you can leave from, so I'm sure you can figure it out if you just try.