If one traveled far enough to the East in Decatar, they would observe how the amount of trees grew fewer and fewer, the grass yellower and yellower.
Soon it the grass would grow more sparse, and then give away to rough dirt. Then even that would transform into barren, dry soil, and rocks scattered everywhere.
The temperatures would also rise, going from cool, to warm to sweltering hot. Finally, the heat becomes unbearable, if not dangerous for the inexperienced traveler. That's when one would reach the Canyons.
It dropped 200 meters down a sloping crevasse, the bottom dry but even, acting as a workable road. That was where the four heroes found themselves, walking alongside the moving caravans.
They were a special type of caravans, though. Magical in nature, they did not require animals to pull them, since in such heat they would most likely have to stop frequently for rest, which would slow down the convoy considerably. Something that was very bad in a place full of hiding spots for bandits.
Instead, they were moved by a simple momentum spell, moving at 4 kilometers an hour, a steady walking speed. The drivers only had to steer the caravans with something that looked very similar to a helm of a ship, which turned the front wheels.
It was a clever solution to combat the heat and keep the trade moving smoothly. Marty only wished John was so clever.
Instead of dressing as lightly as possible like the rest of them, wearing a cowl that not only provided shade but allowed a lot of ventilation and kept each of them cool, the foolish dragon had decided to go dressed in full armor. His reason being wanting to be ready for action should there be danger.
He did not last six kilometers before he collapsed due to a minor heatstroke. Cassy said he would be fine, though. Hopefully he'll learn his lesson and stop being such a wise guy, thought Marty.
The cheetah mage continued to walk alongside the caravans. They had a long way to go, at least a hundred kilometers before they reached the end of the Canyons, arriving at the oasis town where there destination was.
So far, they'd walked half that distance in twelve hours, and the sun was beginning to set. With no other lights it would soon become nessisarty to make camp for the night rather than risk traveling in the dark.
After traveling two kilometers more, it was getting dark, and they stopped to set up camp. The adventurers set to work at their task, keeping watch. Though, some were more focused on gazing at the night sky.
"Have you ever seen a sky this clear," said Tabitha in wonder.
"No, I haven't, " said Cassy, ''It's far brighter than even in the deepest areas of the forest."
A groan tore them from their stargazing, and they saw John lumbering towards them, clutching his head in pain.
He had wisely decided to ditch his armor, wearing only leather pants, sleeveless shirt, which fitted him rather badly, a few inches of his big belly exposed, and a cowl.
He sat down next to his companions, and Cassy handed him a cup full of strange liquid. "It's a mix of herbs, honey and a little alcohol," she explained, "It's for the headache."
He gratefully accepted and drank deeply, even if it burned his tongue and tasted horrible. It helped with the headache, though, and they sat around the fire, gazing at the stars for hours, unaware that they were being watched from the nooks and crannies of the canyon walls...
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