Sura Desert

Naoshu is minding his own business, enjoying the breeze and the large expanse of desert around him. The sun is in the sky, just past the midday peak. It's not often he has time alone so this moment is something to be savored. With his nose turned to the sun and the warm cast across his closed eyes and cheeks, Naoshu doesn’t register the clucking at first. His ear flicks back and forth looking for the sound but his mind doesn’t catch on that he’s not entire...

Ansai just stands still long after the messenger is gone. A corrupted shrine he'd been told. Can you purify it, he'd been asked. And Aiti above he'd said yes. What was wrong with him?? Put on the spot Ansai couldn't say no and really this is a serious matter but… him? They couldn't find a worse Aiti for this. Did he even have enough magic? The right kind of magic? Wh...

Naoshu should have listened. He should have listened and he should have turned back long ago. The wind is whipping and howling past him. If it blows much harder, it’s going to start pulling his mane out or perhaps scrape off his coat. The sand is gritty in his eyes and nose. He’s inhaled enough that it’s grinding between his teeth. A sandstorm. A monster of one and he can’t see shelter, barely see his feet and he most certainly can’t see his mate Tianx...

The first crack of thunder was more alarming for simply the time of day. Or, well, night, technically. Tianxing’s ears were up before the rest of his head, eyes darting across the endlessly dark sky for any indication of the incoming storm. Night thunderstorms weren’t terribly common, but they did happen on occasion, and it was clear from the starless expanse above his head that the clouds had already rolled their way in. ...