[Freezair]

The sand, as it turned out, wasn't easy to travel in either. Their claws sank in deep, making it difficult to move forward. Lohe groaned. "We really are in a mess..."

Kaimana stoically pressed on.

[106]

[Freezair]

The sand seemed to go on and on. Lohe wooshed. "This is going to take forever."

"Perhaps we could take low flight," Kaimana suggested. Anything might help.

[Freezair]

Lohe shook his head. "The hot air here would carry us high no matter what. And then, there's too much wind."

Kaimana sighed, and he forged ahead. He flapped his wings sadly.

[108]

[Freezair]

The tredged on for a very long time--exactly how long, they didn't know. Their arms and legs grew leaden, and their arms dragged. Their tongues dried out for want of water. Lohe felt relatively fine, but Kaimana's neck was trembling. He held out his wings for heat control.

[109]

[Freezair]

Just as they were about to fall apart entirely, Lohe squinted on and saw something. The town! They were close after all! He nudged Kaimana onward. Stumbling, Kaimana lurched toward the village. Together, they ran for the promise of water and shade.

[110]

[Freezair]

The little city was camoflagued--it was the color of sand, submerged in the sand. But the sun caught on colorful awnings and gave it away. Lohe and Kaimana dashed for the gates with flapping wings. The guard took one look at the two paragnon, saw their trembling bodies, and let them pass.

[111]

[Freezair]

He turned to speak with them, though, after they'd moved.

"What's a pair like you two doing out here?"

"Lost," Lohe said.

Kaimana nodded in agreement.

[112]

[Freezair]

"Teleporter accident," Kaimana added.

"Need a drink," Lohe said.

"Watering hole," the guard pointed out. "Crisp and clean. Might have to knee out some camels, though."

[113]

[Freezair]

Kaimana and Lohe nodded thankfully. They wove past people, animals, and pets carefully, trying not to hit shops. They came to a small, perfect pool, and bent low their heads to sip.

[114]

[Freezair]

They both drunk deeply, slurping loudly. They lifted their heads in relief.

"Now what?" Kaimana asked.

"Now let's find that guard again and ask directions," Lohe said.

[115]

[Freezair]

They wavered back into a morass of people and camels. Lohe bent down to speak to a random merchant with her camels. "Excuse me," he said, "but did you see a guard pass through here?"

She shrugged and answered back in a language they didn't know.

Kaimana looked smug; Lohe looked worried.

[116]

[Freezair]

"Leave this to me," Kaimana said. Lohe rolled his eyes.

Kaimana bent down and started babbling to the woman. Clearly, his words ment nothing. Her eyes narrowed. She smacked him across the cheek and huffed away.

[117]

[Freezair]

"That did not go over well," Kaimana said.

"No, really? I never would have thought," Lohe said.

"Let's ask someone else."

[118]

[Freezair]

Everyone they turned to to ask was the same, however. Only the guard seemed to speak their language--even the pets spoke a different type of Pet than usual. The two Paragons looked at one another.

"Maybe we should shout," Lohe proposed. "Someone might understand us."

"And cause a panic? I think not," Kaimana replied.

[119]

[Freezair]

Grudingly, Lohe had to admit that Kaimana had a point. If no one understood, they might interpret the shout as a threat.

"Well, we may as well keep asking," Lohe said. "Can't hurt."

"Be careful," Kaimana said. "Don't want to draw attention to us. I may have enemies even here..."

[120]