Barren Lands.
Once, oases dotted this barren land like stars. But after the plant calamity, the desert completely enveloped it like a shadow.
The natives unwilling to leave were covered in yellow sand, and those who wished to depart migrated to cities and ports like ants.
A vast, scattered caravan crossed the hills that had once been oases, where withered bushes had not yet been buried by the sand, strangely progressing deeper into the Barren Lands.
Only the tumbleweeds passing with the wind accompanied them.
"There's nothing here but wind and sand," Copeland complained, spitting out the sand that had blown into his mouth. He was about to have enough of the sharp sting of the coarse grains against his skin.
"You forgot one thing, Rand," McDonald said as he stopped beside the complaining Copeland. "And the weirdness."
"That joke's not funny, gentlemen," the squad leader Heinz turned back and sternly said, "Focus and don't forget our mission."
