dust

Long legs carried the cow over bleak lands into even bleaker lands. The hot sun hit her back like flames off the savanna, and the wind kicked up a torrent of dust that rolled like fog over the desert. Long lashes and notched nostrils did their duty well in keeping the dust and light out of her eyes and nose, and the giraffe shook herself to rid the dust that clung to her short fur. The desert was a breath of fresh air compared to the icy hell she'd just ripped herself from, but it was certainly no place to find a polar bear.

Mara snorted at the image brought to mind. Of all things, they hire a giraffe for a polar bear! She didn't know whether to curse her luck or revel in the challenge. She certainly wasn't sure yet how she was to go about it, though she did have some ideas. First, however, she needed to find the bear before she could make her next move, but before then...before then she needed to gather her strength. Her muscles were still aching from the cold, her spine rendered stiff from the constant shivering she'd had to endure.

The long journey and warm sun were helping her to limber up. A bit of a jog would do her just as well.

The giraffe pulled herself into a steady canter, blasting through the clouds of dust with her head held safely above them. Only the scent of another brought her to pause, head swinging around at the stench of predator.

Instead of trying to avoid it, however, Mara stamped her hooves and called forth into the dry winds, wordlessly announcing her presence. Then she stood back and waited, feeling quite assured and comfortable in her position. It wasn't as though she would be hard to find in this wasteland, and it certainly wouldn't be hard to spot anything coming her way.