Working with Jackal to get their things together kept Ezra’s mind occupied, her worry over the animals pushed back until they were ready to move out. Chewing at her lip once she was forced to focus again, she adjusted her pack’s straps then gave him a nod. It was time to head out. This was the last thing they needed, but life in the Wastes rarely went according to plan.
Moving towards the area where she had seen the droppings, Ez kept a look out for the two animals, hoping they might have stayed close to the camp. The walk took a bit longer than she had anticipated due to the added weight they were each carrying, the sun high overhead and beating down on them as they slowed. Nudging the pile with her boot when she came upon it, sweat covered her brow when she stooped down, a frown crossing her lips.
“This is from last night,” she said as she sifted a piece through her fingers and watched as the light breeze picked up the dried particles and carried them away. Glancing around them, she searched the stone and hard-packed dirt for any signs of their passing, the drought that scourged the area leaving few marks on the ground that could be followed. Scowling, Ez moved further out and took off her pack, putting it on top of a rock. “I’m going to search to the west...you go south.” Suspecting he might not want to separate, she put her hand on his arm before he could argue. “We won’t go far. Put your pack up here with mine...neither of us should lose sight of our packs. If we find nothing...then we pick a new spot and start over. If we see any sign of them...or if there’s trouble...we shout.”
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