This is Gōlaka. Here, the Persians and their kin breed like naked mole rats. And every now and then, one of them goes crazy.
These are the Persian deserts. They rise and fall too much for patience. And the wind never lets it be...as doesn't the sun. Many who live out here live alone. And that can drive a soul crazy.
With that said, it's hard to believe that Persia is this world's superpower.
Hence, Persia has colonies in the southern hemisphere. This is one of them. And it's Ramadan. With that said, the heat couldn't be more intense...as couldn't the droughts.
Across the desert plains, the herds are droved. There are sheep, goats, horses, and horses. They keep Persia fed. Or rather, they keep the Shiites fed. O, what pride Ali would lack, if not for these herds' flesh...
By night, the herds are haunted...by packs of hyenas. And they're just the big bads...
Like a city of mountains, the Summer Highlands stand in the midst of a desert plain. Up here, rain falls more often...if only on one side.
Up here, locals live at their own peril. These highlands' shadows have been known to conceal quite a few shady specters of sorts...
In a shaded vale, a Khmer youth stands still. He's a long way from home.
From out of nowhere, a jihadi's fist flies, and leaves a dent in his face. He flies across the clearing...only to have his face met by another jihadi's fist.
Shiite mujaheddin gather around, and praise their own nation by making fun of an "inferior" one. They're having WAY too much fun... And what can Ali do, but codepend them in their little crusade against human nature?
They slug Arun in the groin. Arun flinches, of course. They kick him in the rear. THIS is sensitive...
They lean him against a tree, and constantly hammer his face with their fists. Fucking love, this is fun...!
At last, the mujaheddin tire, and leaves the Khmer boy throbbing in his own misfortune. With luck, the vultures will get to him before LeStrade can get to them...or something MUCH worse...
As the day passes, the sun sets. And the shadows in the caves get longer...
All alone, in his tormentors' absence, Arun recovers...slowly. He'd better. He's been told that wolves and hyenas plague these highlands. And the vultures are never too far behind...
At last, he thinks he can walk. He stands. He struggles to find the right way out...
From atop a pile of rocks between two hills, a brief rockslide rolls downhill. Soon after that, a very loud howl rings bleats throughout the canyon.
Arun freezes, while wiping his bloody nose. He looks up, and around. A great shadow approaches. It takes its time, passing arriving...as its maker is very big.
Its feet are very big. Here and there, Arun hears them stir. If he were in a better mood, he'd mistake them for vermin...
Arun tries to slip away quietly...but it's too late. He's been spotted.
With great teeth, an apocalyptic pair of jaws dives through the darkness, and apprehends Arun. If he was up shit creek before, he's doomed now...
From down a pile of rocks in the highlands, a skull rolls downhill. It stops...scary face forward.