Verdant Basin Forever's a long time

Laika smiled as she patted beside him, all moodiness gone. He belatedly mentioned that he never called her weak, as if he read her mind. She glanced at him in wonder for a split second. Sometimes he really did seem to read her mind. Her tail  swayed back and forth as she walked, meeting him stride for stride. 

Her blue eyes trailed around their surroundings with much interest. It was mostly dry, dead trees here and there with the barren wasteland and verdant basin now lingering in the distance. Suddenly, she paused and looked up. Her ears pricked in excitement. There, atop a naked tree sat a small, skinny bird, but at least it was something. She stopped walking to look up at it. If only they could find a way to bring it down...