The heavy hooves slowed to a stop, a final stamp raising a light cloud of dust from the cold desert floor. Above the winding canyons and empty vastness, two moons shone their pale light over the normally sepia landscape. The night air swayed gently around the lone rider, lifting her flowing duster until it hovered parallel with her mount's hindquarters. The pair had been riding for the better part of a fortnight, tracking their quarry across the southern plateau. 

Dust was caked onto her cheeks that felt like no length of hot bath could remove while her hair was held firmly in place beneath the wide-brimmed hat by a surplus of dried sweat. The town's folk had at least been generous with a payment upfront, but even so, her supplies were rapidly dwindling and there was still no sign of the bloodthirsty beast she'd been sent after.