Ma'tanza hummed lightly. "Well, there are some similarities, yes. It could help for some very basic instruction, at least. It may be a while before we can do anything with a corpse, though. This one thinks all of our meat is already butchered, and there aren't many suitable creatures out here in the desert. Ah, but we'll figure out something, Ma'tanza is sure." 

---

Once they had a reasonable course of action, Meesei, Ri'nakhad, and Ra'jorr gave the announcement about the soldiers found tracking them. Understandably, it created some worry among the clan, but the fact that they already had not one, but several plans on how to deal with them did help to give some confidence in the clan. They explained the details of what the bulk of the clan should do, while Ra'jorr selected warriors who would be posing as rescuers. Despite the delay, they set out as soon as they could just as they would have normally, as their first plan was still to avoid confrontation entirely. 

The next two days proceeded near identically to the first few, apart from the heightened patrols keeping an eye out for any approaching soldiers. The desert was just as hot, just as dry, and just as uncomfortable. Some of the clan were becoming more well-acclimated to the new climate, but it was still far from being comfortable for most. They prepared a plan for what they would do in case of a sandstorm, but unfortunately, the weather remained almost perfectly calm both days. 

It was late afternoon on the second day, and they would be setting up their camp within a few hours. This time, there were no rocky areas anywhere in sight around them, so they settled for one of the small valleys between two of the dunes. It would keep their camp at least somewhat hidden from view, while their own lookouts could use the dunes as vantage points.