The food was good, and when you weren't walking, the warmth of the sun was quite plesant. Re-l felt the dust settling in her clothes and on her skin, worming its way into all the crevices of her body. It was going to take her a week to get clean after this march.

"Animals? Maybe? I think I'm somewhat biased by my memories." She took another bite of an apple. "But there should at least be insects, and there aren't."

The breeze had died down again, and the air was heavy and dry. Sweat collected on Re-l's forehead and the back of her neck.

"It might be worth drawing up a map," she said, biting into the apple again. "Even if it's rudimentary, it could be useful."