Devils in the Dunes

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Dunes, Sekumea Desert, The Old World

As the morning rises over the sands of the dunes, the sun's rays chase away the cool temperatures of the night. Almost immediately, the area starts to heat up with many nocturnal animals either fleeing into the shade or burrowing into the earth to avoid the scorching heat.

The many caverns and canyons which crisscross the region provide some much needed shelter from the harsh elements outside, with blazing day time temperatures, chilling nights, and savage sandstorms being alarmingly common in this environment. Adding to the difficulty of living here, resources are far and few, making competition for them especially fearsome.

Yet despite all these challenges, the dunes house a surprisingly diverse cast of flora and fauna, with many of the species having evolved unique ways of living in this harsh habitat. Some of the most common strategies and adaptations include nocturnalism, obtaining most or all of the water needed from food, and having large surface areas to dissipate excess heat. However in these lands, one adaptation in particular has become incredibly popular: burrowing. Throughout this desert region, multiple creatures have become amazing diggers, allowing them to stay out of the elements, while still being able to travel to other areas.

Below the surface, a massive beast is drilling through the dirt, the movements of its large body displacing the sand as it goes. Approaching its destination, the creature bursts out from the ground, sending dust particles flying around it in the process. As the air clears, Spear, a fully grown male Diablos, steps out of the cloud he created.

Shaking the sand off himself, Spear's massive body casts a long shadow in the early morning light

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Shaking the sand off himself, Spear's massive body casts a long shadow in the early morning light. Taking a deep breath, he lets loose a deafening bellow, making sure that everything in the area knows he's here, he's strong, and he's ready to fight.

As the roar echoes across the empty landscape, the flying wyvern listens for a response to his call. It's mating season for Diablos, and Spear has exited his territory in an attempt to find females to mate with; however, he's taking a risky gamble by doing this. Adult Diablos feed almost exclusively on cacti; however, this resource isn't common and only grows in small clusters, making them very valuable for these animals who will have multiple patches in their territories. By leaving his turf, Spear not only looses a reliable food source, but risks having his home taken over by rivals. Taking this gamble also means that he could encounter potential predators on his journey, or even starve to death if he can't find something to eat. Yet both possibilities aren't a particularly big problem for him, as most carnivorous monsters know better than to try and attack him, and he's capable of going for longer periods of time without food than smaller species.

Spear is aware that he may be risking everything by actively looking for females, but in his mind, anything is worth the risk if it means he can get a chance to continue his bloodline. With the sun at his back, the flying wyvern starts walking, his attention now moving to finding food. Descending a dune, Spear drops down on all fours, in order to gain more stability on the unstable ground. Once the Diablos reaches the bottom, his nose picks up the scent of cacti which compels him to move towards the aroma.

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