Seifer, who had remained silent during recent events, approached Xan while they continued along the path.

"I understand your concerns about Maya. It's good to be cautious, especially dealing with anyone connected with a Sith. That said, Maya's tale seems to be truthful. In these trying times we must remember to be mindful of our feelings. I can see you regret how the conversation went, but I your heart was in the right place. Know that you don't have to carry your burden alone. Who knows, perhaps Maya can be redeemed. Perhaps not. But she does deserve that chance. We all do."

Kovin accepted that it was unlikely that this would be a very conversational night about the campfire, but as the sun dipped, burning over the treetops, he knew they'd need to find shelter soon. "You guys go on, find somewhere to set up. Seifer, if you could get your medical supplies ready I might need them shortly. I'll catch you up soon, once I've found us some supplies."

While Kovin was foraging, he came upon a large knoll that afforded him a view of the surrounding area. The sun had sunk beneath the distant horizon, and the moons were high in the sky, but what he was surprised to see beyond the forest's edge was a vast sea of sand, glistening in the moonlight.

The thought occurred to Kovin that they were probably going to need more water.

The hook hawks were apparently not nocturnal beasts; as the night wore on, their songs lessened even further, to the point of eventual silence. At least they didn't have that to worry about, for the time being.

His supplies collected, Kovin reached out through the Force. It was a mundane use of his seeking powers to track them back to their source, and soon he was laying out what he had gathered before them in the moonlight, along with a set of water skins he had fashioned.

"This world is stranger than I could have even imagined. I've travelled a long way in my time here, but I had no idea there was a desert so close to the jungle," noticing the general look of surprise about the fire, he goes on. "I've no idea how far it is to this temple, but to get there we've a sea of sand to cross. I say we should heal up, gather as much water as we can, and get started before sun-up," he turns to one of the Jedi across the campfire. "Seifer, I could really use some medical help here. Those birds left me with some nasty wounds."

While Kovin was getting his wounds tended, Maya's eyes had glossed over. That would explain the sand in my vision. I didn't know that this planet had a desert either. So maybe the Force truly is trying to guide us to these stones.

Idly, she grabbed a stick nearby and began to draw the circular pattern in the ground. In my vision, the ground fell beneath my feat while within this circle. This could mean nothing or this could mean everything. Visions can be metaphorical or literal. It could mean that our journey turns heel, or it could mean there is some sort of underground network

She stared at the diagram she drew, not daring to catch anyone's eye.

Kovin winces at the pain as his wounds are dressed, but after it is done he relaxes back against a rock. "Thanks, " he gasps. "Anyone got a stimpack?"

Maya abandoned her diagram. Cautiously, she approached Seifer and Kovin. I almost forgot I had these. she said said as she handed Kovin a packaged Stimpac.

To Siefer, the young Togruta offered a sheepish, mirthless, Half-smile. I hope you don't mind if I borrow your patient

Presumably, Seifer gives her permission. If he has a problem, we can retroactively have a conversation.

Maya led Kovin to the edge of the encampment. Once out of ear-shot to the rest of the camp, the pair stopped. She turned her back to Kovin, allowing him the privacy to medicated himself.

"Be my guest. Compassion is something a Jedi should strive for, as is giving freely of oneself. Thank you Maya." Seifer stated with a slight smile on his face.

Thanks to the rest and resupplying done by the motley crew, their morning start came early and with the confidence that comes from preparedness. Still, as they ventured past the treeline to leave the sleep-inducing cries of the hook hawks behind them, they couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. Stretched out over the horizon, as far as they could see, lay a vast desert of sand dunes. The longitudinal destination on their datapads pinged dead ahead, a healthy day's journey.

Good thing they brought extra water...

The difficulty to cross the desert sands in good condition is Daunting ( ). For the early morning start, you will only be dealing with one Setback for lack of shelter in the heat instead of two. The Boost die is for the water that Kovin gathered.

"Come on then," says Kovin. "Let's start before it gets too hot. No time like the present!" he sets off, leading them on, feeling the press of Destiny leading him on to wherever he was going.

Survival : 1eA+1eP+4eD+1eB+1eS 3 failures

Not a clue.

Surviving : 4eD+1eB+1eS+1eA+1eP 4 successes, 3 threat

Firan marches over the sand hills, used to terrain this difficult, but still baking in the blazing sun. The fierce light reflects off of his armor, causing him to glisten, from the distance looking like a twinkling star.

Maya glanced at the Rock formation. She made a note to investigate it, but not before taking a moment to rest and collect her thoughts. The trek through the desert was mostly silent. There seemed to be an unspoken promise between the group to conserve their energy.

With a sigh of relief, she threw her pack near a large rock, and wiped the sweat from her budding Montrals. Finally, she turned to the others.

In my vision, the ground around the stone formation gave out. As I said earlier, it could be literal, or it could be a metaphor. In either case, we'll need to be on our guards,

"A metaphor for what though?"

Mostly silent like the rest of them, Jonas nevertheless is thankful that someone has broken the silence. The conservation of strength notwithstanding, some talking while on a difficult trek can actually help alleviate the stress and tiredness. Or at the very least that is how he sees it.

Oooh, throwing your backpack near strange objects...

Maya's pack hit one of the stones with a thud. Several silent moments later, the desert sand underneath the feet of the party started shifting. Up from the ground began to rise four tall curved pillars, like giant teeth made of rock. In a matter of seconds, the pillars were already towering over the heads of the group, and still they kept rising, moving tons of sand with them.

I'll need a Hard ( ) Coordination or Athletics check from everyone, please!

Seeing the rising pillars, Kovin moved quickly to keep his footing.

And sometimes it's literal! shrieked Maya as she struggled to keep her footing.

Coordination : 2eA+3eD 1 failure

Maya slipped and fell in the shifting sand...

Is this like quick sand, is she being pulled under?

It is not quicksand, but suddenly and rapidly moving desert sand due to displacement.

Maya is not being pulled under or buried (at least, not yet), but is simply "prone," sliding around on a bed of quickly-moving sand. There is danger of being buried, but Maya is herself not in imminent danger of such.

"Maya!" Kovin screams in sudden shock as she tumbles away from him. He reaches out a hand, wondering there is any way of reaching her.