<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'>Thirst was alleviated in the same universal way — finding water. Damascus was set on finding such a thing, but so far had only been able to find dried creek beds and smaller off-shoots. It was strange, he couldn't deny that, given that the last few days there seemed like there had been plenty of water around to go around. But the further he travelled into the depths of the Lore, the less water he saw. It was confusing, but he wasn't entirely deterred by the lack of it. It had to be somewhere, anyway.</font>
<font style='margin-left:20px;'>But he wasn't the only one looking for water. It was the sound of another's voice that drew him out of the brush and down to the dry bed, and he travelled southward towards the others. Keeping his approach calm, a sigh left his lips when he saw that even here, there was nothing to be found. His exasperation was <span class='word'>ineffable</span>, and the tawny traveller slowed to a stop near them, flicking his ears back against his furry skull. <b>"There's no water further north along this creek either,"</b> he spoke, foregoing greetings. His eyes rested on the female that was digging, and he wondered if the water had simply seeped through the ground beneath their feet.</font>
<font style='margin-left:20px;'><b>"When did this happen?"</b></font> How could they sustain themselves without it?</blockquote>