As they went on down the great slope on that side, they saw further plants were yet larger. And then there were shrubs. It took a long while, but when they came near the bottom, there were small trees along the slope they saw there, and there were growths of plants right at the edge of the base...
It was that dry desert area, ahead, beyond this mountain range. Little was growing there, the sparse shrubs far apart were only seen in the area closer to this range, the further reaches looking more empty.
Argon spoke. "How can we go on anymore? We can't go that way, there won't be water or...
Argon said, "There is no way I would turn back even to stay with where we would have water. I am sure you would not, either."
Alverten said, "No! Not at all!"
Jecharon said, "We will not turn back. We must go on but if there is a last stop we could have for water I am fairly sure it will still...
Argon said, "Did that insect creature just speak to us?"
Jecharon said, "I heard it too, so it seems that it did. It seemed to me to be words I understood, too, but if so I was not understanding the meaning."
Argon said, "From where could that creature learn words to speak to us?"
Jecharon...
Jecharon alerted the others. "A huge flying insect is following after us!"
Those who had armed themselves with a simple sharp weapon stood ready for using it, as they waited to not be taken by surprise.
This insect, also huge, had a long body with a couple of very huge membranous wings at each...
Argon said, "Jecharon, those great centaurbug insects are not really pursuing us. They must have been trying to drive us away."
Jecharon said, "It seems so, though I would not like to try finding out what they would do if we just stayed while they came at us. They look tough and I don't know...
The group from Ariyah were quickly ready and they moved staying close together to the thicker growth of shrubs and bushes with few trees growing all along the creek, and Jecharon and Argon kept watching the creatures they thought of as centaurbugs approach with the branches held in front, but...
These huge insects were yet larger, and their shapes were vaguely like centaurs, with four legs holding the thorax of each off the ground, with a great abdomen behind, but front limbs held forward in front where the thorax was lifted higher, and the great head of each of the very huge insects...
Nothing further happened, until the ones who would be up for the watch after that were up. Those who had watched before and seen the huge beetle approaching had to forget about possibility of other insects approaching, to then get any sleep that they still could for that night. Everyone was in...
The huge beetle did not move quickly, and apparently was looking around to the right and left sides and it still came forward toward the camp, where several others were still lying down asleep, though most were awake now. The huge beetle came close to where the men guarding stood, between the...
Deseradar saw the movement first. He called out, "Alert, something is approaching!"
Alverton and a few others awake and watching looked where Deseradar had indicated. There it was seen that a very huge beetle moved closer to where these people, some still sleeping though Tenaspir and Jippera...
All there were agreeing, so they ate the bread they still had among them, and did not heat any food there, worrying about insects around there being attracted and gathering there with them. But they kept the fire going and several were gathering pieces of wood they could find among shrubs there...
Deseradar hearing that said, "What? Many large flies?"
Jecharon said, "Yes, not just flies, there are some of those. Many insects are around that running creek, some of them large too!"
Deseradar said, "We will not want them coming here while we want to rest here this night."
Jecharon said...
It was a fly much like any flies such as houseflies, but it was distinctly larger, and made a sound they all heard as it flew around.
Deseradar said, "I would rather we wait before we make good use of this fire for us, heating food we brought, until this pest would fly away, as I hope it will...
The group was quick enough now about settling in at the best spot for them all near each other, with the least of a slope there, and the blankets out for a basically comfortable place to rest, where they could stay for that night. They still had provisions, which were brought out. Jippera and...
The fugitives from Ariyah searching for the new country where they could settle came down further along the descent, and nearer to where all the growth of plants they had seen, which grew thickly along a creek that flowed swiftly to the left.
Jecharon said, "It is sloped all along this way, but...
Solima asked, "What is it we are seeing further ahead?"
Jecharon answered, "There is a narrow valley ahead that we were told about, with lush vegetation along a creek that runs along through that valley, before we climb up out of that again. But we can see the mountain climb ahead is not as...
They all sat at that spot in a group, each of them breathing heavily. It was about high noon now. Here they had a view of some of the country beyond the descent further ahead. As they had heard, there was a band of a dry desert area, in this view, and greener country beyond it, with some very...
Hillariah said, "Don't you see? It is something about this place, if that many of us feel that way with breathing heavily. We must move on, and not stay right here. We must not stay resting here. Moving on is the only way we will get away from this place where there are these effects on us."...
After that short break to look around at the country behind them, with Ariyah which they had come from far and out of sight beyond the hills, the group of exiles continued up this pass between the higher reaches of this mountain range. It was a gradual slope, but still leading them much higher...