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Day 4 of the Drekkal’Zuun
The wind stirs the dust today. The silence is heavier than usual, it is almost as if even Mars is holding its breath.

Marzie and Bexxi move through the ridges together, side by side. They search the terrain for signs of others - footprints, discarded wrappers, a flash of movement behind the rocks. But they find nothing, not yet.

Not far away, Sadbread moves alone. Their eyes are sharp, steps light, hatchet in hand. They are tired, but they won't hold back. They are hunting now.

Cynamity scans the horizon from a low ridge. He hasn’t seen another tribute in hours - but his posture says he’s ready to fight.

In the shade of a warped satellite dish, Suchomimus kneels. He has made a bow from scrap metal and cord, and it is time to test it - firing crude arrows into cracked Martian stone.

Night 4
Mars offers no warmth. The wind carries only silence and red dust.

The Marzie and Bexxi sit close beside a dim, flickering fire. They speak quietly about the others still alive. About Sadbread, about Cynamity, about Suchomimus - They wonder who will be next.
As Bexxi drifts into sleep, the Marzie remains awake for the rest of the night.

Elsewhere, a small crate lands near Suchomimus’s camp. Inside: a hatchet.
He tests its weight in his hand, then places it beside his bow. His collection is growing.

Cynamity crouches by a dried-out spring. He unwraps the bandages from his infected arm.

Sadbread is trying to start a fire beside the rusted rover wreck. Sparks flicker, but nothing catches.

Day 5 of the Drekkal’Zuun
The red sun rises behind a thin veil of dust. Footprints crisscross the dunes.

Suchomimus finds Sadbread near the rover wreck. Their eyes meet. A fight breaks out. Short and brutal.
Sadbread is thrown to the ground, weapon knocked from their hand. Suchomimus stands over them, spear raised. But he doesn't strike, he makes the decision to let them go and leaves the scene.

Sadbread crawls off, but doesn't make it far. Bexxi and the Marzie find them. They say nothing, nor do they ask. Together they strike and Sadbread is left in the dust.

Elsewhere, Cynamity crouches near a thorny bush, trying to collect berries. He curses under his breath, as a sharp thorn cuts his finger.

Fallen Zhaaluuns

@SadBread 

Night 5
The red dust freezes into a thin crust.

Marzie climbs the twisted remains of a collapsed observation tower, to keep watch before going back to camp.
Meanwhile, Bexxi manages to start a fire, but her hands are already numb. She curls beside the flames and wraps her arms around herself, but it’s not enough. When the Marzie get back to camp the fire has turned cold and so has Bexxi.

At the base of a dry crater, Cynamity offers Suchomimus cool water from an old purification canister.
Suchomimus, tired and unguarded, accepts. He opens his mouth to thank Cynamity, but he never gets to finish his sentence before he falls to the ground.