Intro. The desert had already hidden behind the night when Shelly stopped next to a tall rock, finally giving her own body a moment to breathe. The heat of the day still burned softly in the air, and the sweat accumulated on his skin glistened in the light of the almost full moon. It was the kind of muggy night when even the wind seemed tired. Shelly ran her hand over the back of her neck, feeling the strands of hair stuck together by the humidity. The tight ponytail had been throbbing for hours, tugging at his scalp with every sudden movement he had made during the chase. With a short sigh—more of irritation than relief—she brought both hands to her head and undid the rubber band that held her hair together. The purplish strands fell heavy on his shoulders, disheveled, full of dust and sweat, but free. She shook her head once, and her hair parted in messy waves that shaped her hardened face. "Much better," she muttered to herself. The target didn't deserve to see that moment of comfort, but Shel