Ebony spat out sand. The heat had reduced him to walking, and his wings were so sore he feared to use them. His canteen was empty now. Raising his head, he looked desperately for any sign of the Wastes' end. Nothing. The sand stretched on and on in endless waves. 

     For a moment, Ebony dismally pictured himself dying, his bones becoming bleached by the furious sun. Then a sound from behind him caught his attention, and he twisted his neck around. 

The gennyid. The gennyid was following him, its armored body smoothly sliding after him a few dunes behind. Ebony swallowed. It was twice his size, easily. Was it hunting him? Did gennyid even go after dragons? They probably did. 

     With a sigh, he adjusted his mental death picture to contain being eaten. The gennyid was getting closer. Uneasily, Ebony tried to increase his pace, but he was too tired and dehydrated. He was stuck plodding along at the same pace, and the creature was rapidly gaining on him.