Foraging in the desert of Issiq was very different than what Glow was used to. She, Nova, Inky, and a visiting Zulli were accompanying Boti and Ballor out into the sands in search of what plants it had to offer.

Zulli soared above in the clear periwinkle of the sky, still flush with the morning's purple tones. mid-shemesh was starting to set in, the temperatures warming from the mildness of early shemesh. Still, in the desert, all the dry months tended to blend together into 'hot and dry.'

Boti and Ballor chatted, then Boti launched themself into the air to join Zulli in scouting, while Ballor slithered over to Glow and Nova, who had Inky wrapped around his shoulders.

"They're looking for an oasis," the draconic explained, stretching out his wings to soak up the early morning sun, "there's one around here but it changes as the winds shift the sands."

Nova and Glow nodded in understanding, sweating as the sun peaked above the horizon and the temperature had began to rise. Inky, however, seemed to be enjoying the heat. Nova had been - less than enthused to have to go out so early, but he could see now that it was the right choice. If given the choice between getting up early and baking… well, he could always catch up on sleep. Heatstroke was another matter entirely.

Above, Boti called out and began to lead Zulli in one direction, and Ballor launched himself into the sky after while Glow, Inky, and Nova followed on the ground, carting their baskets over the warm orange dunes.

As they crested the rise, the oasis spread out before them. The water glittered in the early morning sun, bushes that had seemingly sprouted up overnight covering its shores. The rich warm tones of the sand contrasted beautifully with the rich green of the plants and purple of the sky, and it made for a very nice view. Zulli was already on the ground, munching on some berries that Boti was collecting as well, so Nova assumed they were safe.

He and Glow made a beeline for the pool and began to sip their fill, while Inky slithered off Nova's back to go see what Zulli was doing and Ballor laughed.

"Still not used to the heat, huh?"

Nova sighed and rolled his eyes, wandering over to start picking the berries from the same bush as Zulli and Inky, taking ones that were above the aerobic's reach.

"Says the lizard."

Ballor flipped a wing over his chest as Boti snickered, amused. "I'm wounded by your words!"

Zulli laughed, a high, reedy sound, and was distracted by Glow beckoning her over to help her look for tubers. Soon, clouds of muddy sand were flying in every direction, and Glow's basket was filling fast. Nova tried a few of the berries and nodded - they were good - before moving on to another bush as to not deplete that one too far. Inky followed him, eyeing the dirt explosion with a suspicious eye, slithering into the bush to reach the hidden fruits.

After seeing their flexibility, Boti asked Inky to climb one of the trees and knock fruit down for them. The two made quiet the pair, dark-coated but completely unaffected by the heat, and Nova looked on in envy before rescuing Glow from the mud monster formerly known as Zulli. The mud-covered whelp was convinced to take a bath in the water, which washed most of it off, and then set up on Glow's back to sun herself.

The group stayed out until the sun's heat began to make itself known, even to those that called this desert their home, and so began to head back. By this point, Zulli had dried off, but had ruined whatever washing the water had done by throwing mud at Inky. Inky had replied in kind, and so the two youngsters were being carted off by Nova and Boti respectively so they didn't get into more trouble on the way back. Glow carried her and Nova's basket, while Ballor did the same for Boti.

Youngster drama aside, it had been a very successful afternoon in the desert oasis, gathering tubers and berries that would decorate the night's dinner.