The men trudged onward through the plains the dry scrubby grass scratching at their exposed arms. The heat was oppressive and the men were sweating profusely. Suddenly a thrashing rent the air, the men froze, their weapons at the ready. Two tan creatures burst from the underbrush. They were perhaps the size of a man with powerful haunches and great tails. They had smaller forearms and petite dog like faces with ears similar to a horses. The two beasts beat and kicked at one another. Their fur flying as they tore at each other.

"What are those?" Marco whispered loudly.

"I dont know boy." The Captain replied. "Just keep still."

The great beasts hopped away suddenly their powerful legs launching them across the ground at an alarming speed.

"By the rood!" The first mate mused. "What manner of wildlife is that?"

The captain shook his head. "I've never seen such beasts." He admitted. "The search for water must continue! Come let us go."

All the men carefully backed away through the tall grass, and then they moved out. Swinging wide, giving the strange beasts a wide berth as the playfully hopped and wrestled with one another.

Marco was unceremoniously shuffled to the front of the group, and he took care to watch out for snakes as he walked. They progressed into the vast plains and the ground seemed to slant ever so slightly down. They followed the gentle grade down to a large slow moving river. The water was not blue, more of a murky brown with the occasional log or branch floating by on the current.

Captain Columbus stepped forward excitedly and kept by the waters edge. He cupped his hands in the cool water and brought it to his lips. "Its fresh water!" He exclaimed with a smile.

The other men quickly uncorked their canteens and moved to fill them at the waters edge. One of the logs had drifted closer, Marco could make out the odd bark that looked a lot like... eyes. "Look out!" He cried pushing the Captain back away from the water, just as the log launched itself at them it's great mouth wide and full of razor sharp teeth. The Captain scrambled backwards on his bottom, ruining his trousers in more ways than one.

"This land is cursed." He whispered his voice shaking. "Let us fill the water barrels and away from this cursed land. This place is naught fit for any other than criminals!"

The men nodded their heads in agreement as the huge log like lizard hissed at them and then slunk back into the murky water.