The canon had no end, Re-l decided. She had been walking for hours, already, and while the streams around her feet were a welcome change from the desert sands, they didn't lift the exhaustion from her bones or the weariness from her eyes.

She stumbled, righted herself, and looked down at the rocky path beneath her feet. If she kept going in this state, she was going to collapse, which would be helpful to no one. She spotted a broad, flattish rock nearby and sat down on it.

With some of the exhaustion gone she could fully admire the sunset. The sky was bright red above the horizon, and heavy swirls of pink and gold lifted it higher, spreading out until they met the deepening blue of the sky's dome. It was an extraordinary sight.

A light breeze whipped Re-l hair, and she hooked it back behind her shoulders, breathing in and out slowly.