Desert

Desert biomes are the driest of all the biomes. In fact, the most important characteristic of a desert is that it receives very little rainfall. Most deserts receive less than 300 mm a year compared to rainforests, which receive over 2,000 mm. That means that the desert only gets 10 percent of the rain that a rainforest gets! The temperature in the desert can change drastically from day to night because the air is so dry that heat escapes rapidly at night. The daytime temperature averages 38°C while in some deserts it can get down to -4°C at night. The temperature also varies greatly depending on the location of the desert.

Since desert conditions are so severe, the plants that live there need to have adaptations to compensate for the lack of water. Some plants, such as cacti, store water in their stems and use it very slowly, while others like bushes conserve water by growing few leaves or by having large root systems to gather water or few leaves. Some desert plant species have a short life cycle of a few weeks that lasts only during periods of rain.

Only those who are adapted to the harsh conditions of desert living, such as those native to Northern Africa, Okavango and Kalahari deserts, are able to stand the proverbial 'wasteland' effect it may have on some who visit. The Silent Striders and Swara have taken great interest in the area. Though the conditions are harsh, most of those who have been well-adapted from feral living are accustomed to its desolate and thriving conditions.

Messenger's Run

Primarily populated by some of the more xenophobia occupants of the Ahadi, Messenger's Run is a training ground for those who seek solace in the vast and desolate plains of Ushirikiano Kisiwa's deserts. The Swara often gather here, if only to get away from the other Member Breeds, as well as to sharpen their athletic skills. The Silent Striders form packs and coordinate races of stength and endurance out on the sands, which is more akin to their tribal home in Egypt.

There are no particular landmarks in this place, only the occasional covering of a yellow fever tree here or there and endless tracks of animals who are adapted to these conditions. Rock formations are there one day, gone the next because of the nature of the sands, covering any landmarks and leaving mystery to the land. Swara prefer to sit and watch the Striders with a intention not so honorable- perhaps they're stealing the tricks of the Striders' speed, or even watching their gifts and rites take place. Whatever the case, these two tribes have managed to co-exist peacefully for some time.