Tolly sneezed as the dry sand got kicked up as Noel ran past her. Noel skidded to a stop and looked back the way she had come. A big dust cloud bellowed up into the air before slowly shifting back down to the desert floor.

"Did you really have to do that?" Tolly said, as she sneezed again. "This place is too dry. Why exactly are we here again."

Issun had to agree with Tolly, Issiq was nothing like his native land with it's lush green hills and lazy rivers.

Susan, a white and gold draconic tark'ee, slithered next to Tolly and Issun, shielding them from the harsh sun. Her large body leaving behind a single rut in the sands.

"We are here to look for a yellow flower. Kestrel said she is needing a couple for a potion she is working on. And Issiq was the only place to find it." Susan said in her usual soft, gentle voice.

And where do you suppose we will find this flower? There is nothing but sand for as far as the eye can see." Tolly said as she waved her clawed paw around at the landscape. A landscape that was a sea of red, orange sand. A couple of arches of hardened sandstone stood as silent testimony to the harsh winds that sometimes blew, scoring and shaping this part of the world.

"I heard there was a ravine not too far from here. I bet that is where we will find some plants." Issun said as he continued to plod along next to Susan. Grateful for the shade she provided. Seeing that Susan was providing shade to Issun Tolly matched Issun's and Susan's pace.

Noel came running back to them. "Sorry! I just have all this energy! And this place is huge! And the sand feels strange, and weird and it's just so much fun." She said, "I can't wait to get to the ravine. Do you think there will be animals?

"Oh Noel." Susan chuckled. "I am sure there will be animals there. But only if you don't scare them." she pointed out soothingly.

"Oh right." Noel said as she visibly tired to call down. She took deep breaths and then shook her body. "Sorry guys, I don't know what happened to me. I guess I got carried away."

They walked on. Moving across the sands, passing by huge sandstone arches that had been shaped by the blowing sands. When the suns were high in the sky they came to the edge of a cliff. Looking down they could see a small river at the bottom winding its way through the ravine.

"Well we found the ravine. How are we going to get down?" Tolly said as she leaned over the side. Issun came over and peered down. "Looks like we might have to walk a little more to find a place where the ravine isn't so high."

Susan decided she was good where she was. She did not want to risk causing the ravine side to cave and plummet everyone down the ravine.

Noel on the other hand was right at the edge. "Oh look guys! There is a path over there." She said as she leaned over the edge of the cliff face. She got up and raced away. Leaving her companions to chase after her.

"Noel no!" Tolly shouted as Noel seemed to run right off the cliff.

"What?" Noel said as she poked her head back up. "I told you I found a trail. Now come on."

Issun, Tolly and Susan all made their way over to where Noel had disappeared only to discover that she had indeed found a trail that led all the way down to the bottom of the ravine.

When they reached the bottom they could hear the small river moving slowly through the ravine. Water swirled and moved, causing small water eddies to form. There was plenty of dry land on either side of the river and they could see brightly colored flowers growing amongst the rocks and along the bank.

Susan settled down near the water edge and started to enjoy the coolness that the canyon brought, while Noel and Tolly pulled out their baskets and started jumping from rock to rock to harvest what they could find. Issun started to dig into the bank to see if there was anything of interest. Another basket lay at his feet.

It was sure nice to be out of the sun. And he was going to enjoy every minute of it.