CRUEL SUMMER [open + joining]

[Matias]

Who would've thought that deserts could be this big? Sorbet felt like he'd been walking for days, although night had yet to fall, so it was probably closer to hours. Time was weird like that sometimes, especially if one wasn't paying attention. Sand clung to the canine's paws as he pushed himself through the dunes, slowly bringing himself towards the canyons he could see on the horizon. He knew that solid ground beneath him would be a relief. His pace quickened slightly as they drew nearer, speeding up before finally bringing him upon the edge of his goal. The sensation of rock against his paw pads brought a triumphant smile to his face, and he took a break to brush the sand off him and shake drops of melted frost off his coat. Finally he could see the rainforest, the very one that had brought him out here in the first place. Apparently it was some sort of group, a bunch of animals living together to make life easier. Why not join? Isolation was never much fun.

The vegetation of the forest was pleasant, even more so than the smooth rock he'd just left behind. It felt like ages since he'd heard the melodious sound of bird calls, or the faint trickling of water. He brought his tongue across his dry lips, angling his ears towards the tempting sound. First, though, he should make sure that he really wasn't the only one in this odd oasis. "What's up?" he called into the flora, vaguely aware of wing beats above him as he scared some kind of bird away. "Anyone home?" It would be a shame if he'd walked all this way for nothing, but sometimes life was like that. If he could walk here, there was no doubt that he could walk back. His paws froze the plant matter beneath him as he trotted further into the undergrowth, searching for any signs of intelligent life.