The sun beat down on Crane's neck like an angry mother.  With each passing moment he felt stronger, and faster, but at the same time parched and uncomfortable.  The lack of food and water was starting to worry him.  He had never felt these needs so greatly, and would usually only feel a light gnawing feeling in his stomach when hungry.  Never had he felt so hungry, so thirsty, in all his life.  For the first time, Crane felt almost Alune like in nature.  Felt... regular.<br/><br/>About thirty minutes into the ride, a strong wind seemed to blow from the east, startling Crane.  It was not the very wind that made him jump, but it's smell.  The strange gaseous smell assaulted his nose, and reminded him of the smell of death.  It seemed rank, rotten even, carried by the wind by a curse unknown.   Even his beast seemed to catch it's scent, slowing considerably, before stopping all together.  Crane scoured the horizon, looking for the source of the strange scent.  He found no such thing, and soon reminded himself of the task at hand.  Not without a twinge of fear, Crane shook the beast's reigns prodding it to move forward at regular pace.  Such an anomaly unnerved his, making him somewhat edgy even.  He could only hope that whatever was out there wouldn't find him or his companions anytime soon.<br/><br/>"Anyone else catch that smell?" he asked, attempting to make conversation.  Perhaps talking about it would help get his mind off of it.