Redsand Canyon the ritual pyre's sending smoke to the sky

watching derg haul himself back onto shore, renard was impressed to hear the man echo their own thoughts so clearly, giving their own nod of assent. what would have been an uncomfortable route before was improved by this stopover; though there was still not much in the way of shade, there would be water waiting, and not much in the way of shade for anyone who decided to ignore their borders, either.

renard almost enjoyed expecting ambushes all the time, but they'd found they couldn't expect that of anyone else.

“he has a way of making you believe in his goal.” his goal could have been to burn the whole wilds to the ground; renard did what was asked of them, when someone was capable of commanding them to do so. a goal was secondary.

unlike derg, they remained largely submerged, though they did pull themselves closer to the bank so their neck and shoulders were exposed enough to drink, meeting his eyes when he looked over to them.

“did he ask you to fight him?” they asked wryly.