Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sun hangs above in a cloudless sky, blazing down with relentless intensity. The rays making the air shimmer with dry, vaporous heat. The sun deadlier than any weapon to those unprepared for the sharp edge of its rays. The course sand, fine and gritty, molten under the feet of those who dare tread it bare. The combination of the desert environment, a way to cook those it catches unawares. To survive, you couldn't rely on the sparse vegetation, or brittle shrubs. Hot gusts travel unfettered with no trees to break up their path. Only those accustomed to the harsh unforgiving lands, knew never to underestimate her. The biggest key to survival hinging on every drop of water, and thin gossamered shade. Without trees, you had to create your own shelter. One such soquili traveled with thin dust colored rag covering every inch of his body. Around his feet, cloth wrapped to keep his hooves from burning in the golden grains underhoof. Several packs of water slung around his back. He is no stranger to this inferno.

On the horizon, a canopy of palm trees sway in the breeze, wavering to those that travel. It is no mirage, though some might mistake it as such. It's a place where time slows, and offers retribution to those that would find it.

Zahid's favorite place to be on a hot summer day in the hottest place in the land.

As he crests a hill, he increases his gait. Happy to finally have arrived. He slides down the sand, and breaks beneath the palms. Tossing his sword into the sand, and unclasping his hood, he heads for the shaded waters. Articles of cloth, and packs of various shapes are shed. He fails to notice that he is not alone.

Zahid curses under his breath. The water in the oasis is hot, and unpleasant. Swirling the water with one hoof, he looks down with disappointment. The typical cool dip the waters offered, felt more like a steamy bowl of soup. These things didn't bother him normally, but for some reason, it made him agitated, anxious. Change is something that always got under his skin, because it often followed bad omens.

Asra cocked one of his eyebrows at Zahid's trepidation towards the hot waters. Before this stallion had joined him, he had already noticed the all too warm waters. He looked away from Zahid, acting like he didn't notice the way he cursed at the waters. This way, Asra didn't make him more uncomfortable by balking at his reaction to hot waters in a hot desert. Something tugged as Asra though. He had an innate desire to help others when they were in need. A plan already formed in his mind. Would it work? Maybe not. He also couldn't expose himself to a stranger. Walking over to his pack, he made a show of looking around. "Hey Zahid?" he called to him, not like a stranger, but like one might call to someone they were familiar with. "Do you know if any of those palms have fruit?" He didn't look for himself to answer the question. He wanted Zahid to do it as a distraction to what Asra had planned.

Zahid watched Asra move to his bags on the ground and begin to rummage. His eyes darted to his sword, hesitant at the movement. Just to note the distance, should he need to grab it. Cool blue eyes looked up to the coconut trees that lined the oasis, in answer to Asra. More than a few brown husks adorned the trees. Typically coconut palms couldn't grow in the desert. Here, they grew with the surrounding waters able to help them sustain the dry heat. Zahid knew a distraction when he got one. Misfortune a close friend of his. He unfortunetly trusted no one. "There's a few coconuts. Let me guess, you'd like me to fetch you a couple?"

Asra stiffened at Zahid's tone, then forced himself to relax. "Yes, could you please? 3 of them maybe?" He almost said 2, but wasn't sure that would give him the time he needed. "Are you good at cutting them in half?" he gave Zahid a look over his shoulder at his scimitar, with gleaming red gems on the hilt. "You should take better care of it, than sticking it in the hot sands." he half balked at Zahid's treatment of the curved blade.

Zahid huffed a laugh without mirth. He looked at Asra, hunched over, making himself look small as he fretted over whatever interested him. Without a reply, he plucked up his sword, and went to the shortest coconut tree closest to him.