The desert was a sea of sand in front of Vadya.  Its dunes slowly shifting as the hot air blew in from the sea across the open land.  Near the horizon black smoke rose in plumbs as the wreckage of a caravan burned.  Vadya knew the group of vagabonds that had ransacked the traders, but she had no part with them.  She would wait and scavange what they had left, which usually consisted of all the things she wanted, food and drink.  She had no need for money since she left the center city Ur.  She had lost her old life there and she did not wish to start anew.<br/><br/>Movement to left of the wreckage signaled her that it was time to move in.  The others were leaving and she was hungrier than a basilisk.  The sand beneath her feet hardened into a slate and with a push of her arms through the air the sand began to carry her towards her goal.  Blood tinged the air with its coppery bitterness.  Vadya lifted her hood and linen face mask to block the sting of the smoke.<br/><br/>The camels were gone, a wagon burned and three bodies lay sprawled on the sand.  There blood turned the golden ground crimson and Vadya felt a tinge of remorse for the souls.  They had not deserved what they received, but she was not about to waste her energy giving them a burial.  She dropped her control of the sand and landed next to the flaming wagon looking in and grabbing the lone bag that was left.  There had to be something in it she could use.