They don't call it a river for nothing

Remus prowled cautiously through the desolate expanse of the Sand River, his keen senses attuned to every subtle shift in the arid landscape. The dried-up riverbed stretched out before him, a cracked and desiccated testament to the unforgiving nature of the desert. Scrub brush and cacti dotted the sandy terrain, their twisted forms providing sparse cover against the relentless sun. His slate fur shifted and swayed in the breeze, the thicker, taller fur of the mohawk along the back of his neck especially being caught in the wind that had nothing to really block its progress across the landscape out here in the desert. His ruby and emerald eyes scanning the horizon with a watchful curiosity. Despite the apparent emptiness of the surroundings, Remus knew better than to let his guard down. He was certainly old enough to know better than to be cocky and assume that he was the only predator wandering through an area, no matter how quiet it seemed. He never hoped to run into a fight when he was out exploring the world around him, but he was always prepared for it just in case.

As he padded silently along the sandy bank, Remus detected the faint scent of moisture carried on the dry desert breeze. Even though rain was infrequent out here in the desert, it certainly wasn't impossible. He knew that when rain did strike on these dry, parched lands it could go south very quickly as the area flooded with water that the soil couldn't immediately absorb. Still, he had come this far and didn't want to leave without getting a closer look at the dried riverbed. It only meant that he was going to have to keep a closer eye on the sky as he watched for the impending storm. The sky above churned with darkening clouds, casting ominous shadows across the barren landscape. The sky had been clear when he set out from Ashen's borders, but storms could move in fast during the Summer and that fact was very much present and true in this moment. His curiosity and eagerness to explore pushed him onwards, but far more apprehensively than before. The last thing he wanted was to get trapped in a flood out here.

As he ventured deeper into the heart of the Sand River, Remus encountered a stark contrast to the desolation that surrounded him. Amidst the scrub and cacti, a cluster of palmetto trees stood tall and green, their emerald fronds a stark contrast against the sun-bleached backdrop of the desert. Remus paused, his gaze lingering on the oasis-like plants, where the promise of life flourished amidst the harshness of the desert. The palmetto trees swayed gently in the breeze, their rustling leaves like a soothing melody amidst the oppressive stillness of the Sand River. But even as Remus admired the splash of color, he did not want to allow himself to get distracted and ignore the approaching weather. He kept moving, doing a broad sweep of the terrain. This area of the desert did hold more life and greenery than many other areas he had seen or passed through in the arid landscape of western Boreas with all of its cacti and hardy shrubbery all over the place, but it still felt like a wasteland compared to the lush foliage of the aviary and the ravine that they called home.

With a wary glance at the gathering storm clouds overhead, Remus knew that his time in the Sand River was running short. His interest in this land that had been previously unexplored by him was tempered by the ever-present threat of disaster, a reminder of the fragile balance that governed life in the desert. Turning away from his place and back toward Ashen, Remus retraced his steps along the dried riverbed, his senses alert for any sign of danger. The air was thick with the scent of rain, a harbinger of the impending deluge that would soon transform the desert landscape. As he neared the edges of the desert and the landscape began to shift, Remus cast one final glance back at the desolate expanse he had traversed. Despite its bleakness, there was a rugged beauty to the landscape, a harsh and unforgiving beauty that spoke to the resilience of life in the desert.

He crossed back into his pack's territory just in time for the clouds to finally open up, letting loose a downpour and showering the world with much needed rain. The dire wolf loped back toward the dens, using some of the tree cover to block the worst of it from hitting him as he went. His mind was still back in the Sand River, trying to imagine how fast the surge of water filled the dry riverbed and flooded the area. A part of him had wanted to stay and watch from a safe distance, but it was better that he get back home just in case this rain turned into something more dangerous. All in all he could call this a successful scouting mission regardless and he was eager to explore the desolate lands that surrounded their oasis here more throughly.

WC: 859/800

"Remus Armada"