[Mousen]

Muu watched her companion with interest. She'd never really watched anybody sleep before, she found it fascinating. The little beetle hoped he was having a good dream.

[Mousen]

The colours flickered faster, blurring together. Spinning faster and faster into a sickening mess of colours. It was then everything in his dream skidded to a halt in the apparent blackness.

[Mousen]

Muu, if she had, had a human form would have bit her lip. But she was a bug so she didn't. For the past minutes she had watched him toss and turn, his dream obviously sour. She was just about to wake him when Zaar lay still again.

[Mousen]

For a moment Muu thought he was woken up, from his tense posture. But he was dreaming, something else this time, it wasn't the hazy dozy kind of dream he had been having before. This one was serious. Muu could see that. Their was nothing to do except wait. These kind of dreams were important.

[Mousen]

Zaar felt the chill in the air, and his breath rose in clouds of steam. Where was he? Zaar's eyes glinted around in the dark, trying to see where the hell he was. But the darkness seemed impenetrable.

[Mousen]

He could smell the soft smell of dead leaves and mud. The ground beneath his feet seemed springy. Pine needles? That's what they felt like,a light bulb went off in Zaar's head. "Nanti."

[Mousen]

His eyes snapped open, just as he registered the mist. The Forest of The Fallen, now? It didn't make any sense for the forest between realms to come back. It just didn't.

[Mousen]

"Zaar?" Muu chittered. "Tell me what's wrong?" Her eyes were wide with fear and aprehension. Zaar attempted a smile and drew breath. This may take a while.

[Mousen]

"Nanti? Now?" The beetle asked, her head tilting slightly as her antenna waved. "I believe so." He answered simply.

"At least we know where we're headed."

[Mousen]

The midday sun had passed, and a cool breeze stirred the sand as the pair moved onward. Their next destination set. The Whisper forests.

[Mousen]

I was a going to be a long trip. A huge trip,but if they got to the nearest city, they could get to the city closest to the forests, ten walk. Hopefully it would be worth it in the end.

[Mousen]

Conversation simple, they trod on. The harsh sandy environment of the desert much more than one should bear. It was taking a toll on them both, even if they were used to it.

[Mousen]

It felt like they were never going to get there. The horizon it seemed just kept getting further away. After a third mirage things were getting a bit too much.

[Mousen]

Muu cast a glance at Zaar. He knew well enough what it meant. "Just a little space further. For then we shall stop at a dessert village."

[Mousen]

The life of a traveller was no easy task. It was a path they chose, many chose it of of necessity. But not Zaar or Muu. They chose it because it chose them, staying still wasn't an option.