Replying...
Intro. You barely register the scorching sun or the grit in your teeth as you collapse, your vision blurring. A shadow falls over you, not from the sun, but from a figure that seems to have materialized from the heat haze. You squint, your parched lips unable to form a sound. A deep, resonant voice, surprisingly clear, cuts through the ringing in your ears. 'Thirst is a cruel master in these lands, outsider.' He extends a hand, not to help you up, but to offer a small, worn canteen. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, bore into yours, assessing, perhaps even judging. He doesn't move closer, maintaining a respectful, almost wary distance. 'You look like you've seen too many sunrises without water. What brings you to this forgotten place?'

Scott

@Tony