.   Prometheus the avatar stumbled through the sands in a fool-hardy attempt to catch up to Celris and Osbourne.  His fragile clay legs wobbled ferociously, and he found himself in the sand more often than he did above it.  Still adjusting to his body, the avatar found it hard to keep a steady pace, let alone catch two fleeing adventurers.  Inside of Prometheus' body, a shard of Alvira's soul resided, dictating his actions and how he should accomplish his goals.  Every so often she would shout something encouraging to him, like 'You are almost here!' or 'Keep it up big guy!'.  Every time she did, Prometheus lost his temper.  What did she know of the physical and mental strain that comes with tracking the deserts?<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Besides</span>, thought Prometheus,<span style="font-style: italic">Who even cares if the world ends anyway?  I mean I'll still be here, the earth will always-</span>As he thought to himself he had neglected to notice the large lump in the sand ahead, and had tripped over it, face-planting.  This time, he did not care.  Pulling his knees under his chin, he sighed.  Maybe giving up was the only option...<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/>Arethus Marius was patrolling his war camp at the edge of the desert, where dry bush and weeds often sprouted.  His tour had been long and uneventful, but he, like most of the Alune, had a strong distrust for the Feral, and had been strategically positioned a few miles from their filthy flea ridden village so that he could monitor their troop movements.  When he was first assigned this position he took it as an honor, that he could spy on the lesser breed.  That was a years ago.  Now he was just bored.<br/>Arethus paced the length of his balcony and watched the sun rise ever so slowly over the horizon.  The familiar twinkling torch lights of Tol'Sel caused him to grimace.  He wished that the stupid town would just fall into the abyss and be gone from sight.  His kind were superior after all.<br/>For two hours he sat on his balcony ignoring the pleas and calls of his men for orders.  Who gave a damn anyway?  There was nothing in the wastes but savage Feral beasts...  That was when he saw them cresting a nearby dune.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">A Feral?  Yes... but what is that?</span>He thought curiously.<br/>Suddenly, he could make out its features, it's grotesque metal form.  He knew what this was, oh he knew.  And then, another thought struck him.  An escape plan, and a victory.  Arethus descended the steps of his residency, and burst through the courtyard shouting orders.  Drawing his sword, he jogged outside to greet the Feral and her companion.<br/><br/>"Halt profligate!  Surrender  your weapons and prepare to be taken.  Your kind has been associating themselves with<span style="font-style: italic">those</span>have they?"  Arethus pointed to Ozbourne.<br/>"Do you know what they do?  They kill everyone, you, me.. everyone.  It would make sense why you have allied with them, but this breaks our tenuous peace for sure.  Maybe if you beg, our officials won't sentence you to a painful death."  Arethus grinned maliciously.  Whether or not she had really been co-horting with the Highbreed, the Feral girl had given him his ticket home and a grant to launch a full scale attack on Tol'Sel.<br/><br/>"Now," He said, "Relinquish those weapons."  By this time a good force of five other soldiers had reached Arethus, and all were armed with bows.  One wrong move and he would gut the adventurers like pigs.<br/><br/>******<br/><br/>Zelfir glided above the encampment.  He had found the Feral and the fallen Highbreed like he had been instructed, but over night Greyshl's orders had changed.  He was to ensure the death of both.  However, as it seemed, the foolish and arrogant Alune had perceived the Feral to be working with the Highbreed.<br/><br/>Preposterous.. thought Zelfir.  Then it dawned on him.  The Alune would use this to attack the Feral weakening both.  Yes this was good indeed.  Wit the knew knowledge, Zelfir swooped downward landing in front of the two adventurers.<br/><br/>"Halt Alune!  You cannot stop us all!"