The scrub land before you becomes dominated by bright yellow grasses and tall pale blue-green leaved bushes. Despite the dense clumps of the bushes it is still a reasonly open area and bright red soil can be seen between each of the plants.

The grasses give off a dry papery scent and, in some places seem to grow in rings, the center of the grass-clump empty. As you push past the first bunch of the grasses you realise the tip of each spine-like blade of grass is sharply spiked. Prickled you side step away from the painful plants.

Pausing to rub your shin you notice small tracks in the soft red soil, lizards and rodents have obviously darted across these sands and into the safety of the grasses. As you straighten up the word 'spinifex' seems to ripple into your mind... some how you *know* that it is the sharp grasses name.

There is a flutter of white between two of the large bushes and you move to investigate, tentatively stepping around the spinifex. Ankh, a Feidaqq mare Standing between two of the pale blue-green bushes and enthusiastically lipping at what appears to be a strange fruit growing on a dark leafed tree. As you come out into view it stops eating and hastily swallows it’s mouthful.

"Hullo! How’re you?"

"uh.. I’m fine..." A sudden thought strikes you as you remember the word spinifex appearing in your head. "Are you telepathic?"

"No." The creatures eyes sparkle with humour. "Why do you ask?"

"Somehow I knew what the spinifex grass was called ..."

"Oh that! That was the earth, as in the soil. It has a slight empathy and telepathic ability. The sapiency occured during the mage storms that blew across this part of the Tir, right back at the beginning of the mage storms. We think it’s due to the amount of iron in it, like blood, it’s what causes it to be red. Pay it no heed."

You shift uncomfortably, hoping the sand doesn’t mind being stepped on. There is a faint sense of humour and maternal comfort emminating from the ground around you.

"I could use a drink after that native passionfruit. Would you like one?" The mare turns fluidly on the spot and strides slowly out into the spinifex, the thick fur on her lower legs protecting her from the barbed leaves. You follow, dancing around the spinifex bushes.

"I suppose I should introduce myself." she bobs her head, silvery mane fluttering "I am Ankh, a Fei’daqq. I decided to move here from my homeland. It’s a bit hotter here than I was at first used to but my winter coat shed and my summer coat has been far finer than normal, perhaps it’s an automatic aclimatisation to my new home."

She jumps a log and forges down a slope into a dry river bed. You walk along the log and jump down onto the sand yourself, managing to avoid the thorn bushes edging the empty water course.

"One moment." Ankh sniffs the ground for a moment and then, choosing a spot, begins to dig, gouts of sand flying up behind her.

Gradually her white and brown striped form disappears down a growing pit.

"Finally!" Her voice echos up, followed by a soft sucking sound and several swallows. She heaves herself up out of the pit, water dripping from her muzzle. Looking down you can see water pooling from the sand.

"Here, use one of those leaves, roll it into a cup. They aren’t poisonous."

Following Ankh’s directions you fashion a cup from a broad eucalytus leaf and carefully climb down into the pit to scoop water from around your ankles. Ignoring what your mother has always drilled into you about boiling the water first you sup from your leafy cup and find the water sweet and satisfying. Alas! As you try and climb out the walls of the pit tumble in a little, like an antlions trap.

Ankh’s face pokes over the edge of the hole. "Oh dear! I forgot you aren’t the same build as I... Here, catch hold." She flicks her long tail down and you hold it as high as you can, wrapping your fingers into the soft hair and around the tail bone.

Like a draft horse she pulls you out, step by step, until you are safe up the top once more. "Here... sit down.. a moment." She pants, regaining her breath. "I can’t leave the soak open for people to fall into."

Wearily you plunk ourself down on the tree trunk and watch as she ‘digs’ the pile of dirt back into the hole and then roles on the spot to flatten out the sand.

"That’s better!" She huffs, shaking the sand from her coat. "All that effort for a small sup eh."

You nod wordlessly, remembering that you still have so much to see of the Tir. She seems to catch your unspoken thoughts despite her claim to not be telepathic.

"You still have many places to go and I a proper meal to hunt so it’s time we parted. Luck on your travels."

She bows fare well and bounds off into the scrubs once more, leaving you to go on your way, either to head back to the edge of the scrub or further out.