They were exiting the wagon to see the destruction laid in its wake. Zack flew high up to examine the full extent and noticed the plains permanently altered. The former hills covering the horizon were now a wasteland.
'If that happens again they will be wiped out.'
"Send relief teams to the plains, and offer sanctuary." Zack relayed.
"Haruna is on a mission, and the others are present. Who should lead?" Aida asked.
"Andrea, and Savannah should run it together," Zack replied while closing his eyes.
He was sensing his surroundings for signs of life, and people in distress. After a thorough search, they were the only ones around. Zack slowly descended to his comrades and relayed the situation.
"Residents here know to take shelter before it arrives, but not everyone is lucky enough," Miu stated.
"Let's get some time on the road before nightfall." Kaya fastened the horses to the wagon.
"Sleeping in wasn't too bad." Zack relayed as the elves blushed.
"I'll lay cover if you wanna stay in the front." Miu offered.
"Are you sure the shurikens will reach?" Octavia asked.
Miu began chanting with her hands a few inches apart. As they gradually separated an elegant white Yumi appeared that shimmered in the sun. Once the chant finished Miu extended her arm, and a white owl appeared stretching its wings.
"I'll manage," Miu replied as the owl took flight.
'The Koga clan is impressive.' Octavia smirked.
Once they were in the position they continued their journey. To move efficiently, Zack had to use the wind orb to keep a steady path. While the others discussed techniques Zack tried to pinpoint the storm's aura again, but it vanished.
"How big was the desert originally?" Zack asked.
"It was a small strip along the border. The fact that it overlaps Lucifer's domain is what scares people. He has been secluded from the world for so long that it's easy for rumors to get started." Miu replied.
While riding down the road both arms had an elf snuggled against them. The heat was a little exhausting, but Zack offered relief by conjuring storm clouds. This drew the attention of several species facing a similar problem. When seeing the shade was following a wagon of magic users they stayed hidden, but gradually tailed along.
"What should we do?" Miu relayed.
"They aren't hostile," Zack replied.
"Can't be easy to withstand this heat," Kaya said while glancing back.
"I prefer this over the humid swamps," Octavia stated.
"It is annoying for the hair," Miu replied.
"Do you recognize this area?" Zack asked.
"Not really. When the storm stops we try to get back on track before it shifts again." Miu replied.
"How do they live out here if the magic alters the land?" Octavia investigated.
"They were the ones who gave us the idea about the crystals. It seems some areas are immune to the effects, and they settle around them." Miu replied.
After traveling for an hour the desert wasn't offering much in terms of answers, and the only species they saw were stragglers seeking shade. With no water in sight for miles, Zack was searching for a stable area to remedy the situation.
"How do you determine the safe areas?" Zack asked.
"Anyplace with bedrock, or solid earth unaffected by the sand. They seem to be eroding the area down to the foundations." Miu stated.
'What are they looking for?'
After bringing the horses to a halt Zack took his canteen to offer relief. The others set up a perimeter around the wagon while Zack did a survey. With each of the orbs in play, he became one with the environment.
'That should work.' Zack extended his hand to the east.
A cyclone kicked up all the sand in the area as it gathered into the earth orb. The storm stopped suddenly as the orb launched down sprouting an outpost. Once the earth began to rumble a geyser appeared, and the ground shifted forming a lake.
After checking the area one last time Zack shifted the pond into several narrow channels. Two orbs fused as life began to flourish once more. The observers trailing behind them watched in wonder as the land was reshaped. They glanced at one another and broke the distancing rule they established.
"How are they doing that?"
"Better yet why."
"Maybe it's the slavers."
"Doubt it. That familiar noticed us long ago, but they haven't touched us."
"He's still a human though."
"I trust a human over a snake."
"Fuck off."
"What should we do?"
While the others were debating a petite woman approached with cream-colored fox ears atop her head. Zack was intrigued about her ears being taller, and narrow, unlike the other species. Her aura was also different from the inari, and youko he's encountered. The woman's name is Sabrina, and she is a Vulpes.
"What are you doing?" Sabrina asked.
Miu turned to see a woman in a white cloak approaching. She couldn't read Sabrina and was raising the weapon as a precaution. Sabrina did a gesture with her hand as the sand came alive blocking their view with a wall.
Octavia shattered it an instant, but Sabrina's body already shifted into a sandstorm.
They attempted to halt it, but it was pointless. So long as a retained thirty percent of the sand Sabrina was safe, and the speed she maneuvered made it difficult to counter. Her body reappeared near Zack with her arm around his shoulder.
"It's rude to ignore people." Sabrina teased.
"Sorry I had to focus on the task at hand," Zack replied before standing.
"What's rude is using your powers, and rushing past us." Octavia retorted.
"He was the only friendly-looking one in the bunch," Sabrina stated.
"Are you coming or what?" Sabrina announced.
There was no response to Sabrina's question, but after Zack got his comrades to stand down the others approached. They were all strangers seeking shade, but the majority of them were reptiles.
One group was a sibling duo of lizard species. They had bronzed skin, orange scales along their cheeks, and an orange tail with black spots. When seeing freshwater nearby the younger sibling rushed over to sample it. Meanwhile, the older sister argued with a woman.
She had a long serpent tail with a diamond pattern trailing down the back. When the arguing intensified the woman's tail began to rattle as her body coiled up. Wanting to intervene before they strike Zack put himself between them.
"What's the problem?" Zack asked.
"It's hard to turn my back with her kind around." Kiara declared.
"I've done nothing to you, but if you don't get out of my face that can change." Isabel retracted her fangs.
"Did you check out the others?" Zack gestured towards the water.
Next to Kiara's brother was a Girtablilu handing him a bucket. From the thighs down was a scorpion's body, but above was a beautiful woman. The two were caught up in their arguing they failed to notice everyone else drinking peacefully.
"I can only imagine the struggles you faced out here, but no one here is gonna harm you," Zack stated.
"Do you want a report of the plains?" Aida relayed.
"I'll be right there," Zack replied