The southern Desert Area.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
A mottled packhorse galloped aimlessly through the desert.
A closer look revealed a man clinging to the horse's back, hugging its neck for dear life. "Faster, run faster!"
After running for an unknown amount of time, the packhorse was panting heavily, its hooves slowing.
The man on its back drew a blade and stabbed it viciously into the horse's rump.
The pain gave the packhorse another burst of strength to keep running.
"Run!" the man roared, instinctively glancing behind him.
There was nothing but endless sand, yet he felt death nipping at his heels.
After running for some time more, the packhorse collapsed, its mouth gaping as it gasped for air.
"Useless! Useless!" The man scrambled up from the ground, gripped a small knife with both hands, and stabbed the packhorse again and again. Blood spurted out, and he lowered his head to drink greedily from the wounds.
