Duscae was wet. Marshy, even. They'd taken the chocobos because it would make transporting their kill back to camp easier, and the humidity did nothing for their smell.

Or for Szayel's hair.

He wanted a shower. Every morning he showered and the most they managed while camping was a quick wash. They were, collectively, starting to smell like Al Bhed. Some of them could deal with it, some of them were just fine being filthy, sweaty, and smelly. Others were Szayel.

The Slough, as Ignis referred to it, was basically a swamp. A herd of something large enough to have no interest in them gathered in the centre of it, lowing at each other like giant cattle.

Catoblepas, he concluded, although different from the variety found on the mainland. Island Gigantism at work, perhaps, or a mutation brought on by Mist, of which there was plenty.

There were small plains, and ruined buildings, and forests that began near the water's edge. There was also a herd of things that looked like Nanna that had undergone a similar mutation to the Catoblepas. Szayel spotted a couple of calves, that would be sufficient to feed the camp for a day, and there were adults that would keep them going for a few days.

The herd didn't react to their presence. They weren't aggressive creatures, then. On the other hand, they also weren't fearful. At least they wouldn't have to chase them down.

"Shall we get this over with?" he asked, with a note of complaint.