The Sands of Mars: Snapshots

 Steles such as these can be found across the Sands. It is thought that they were placed to aid navigators. The significance of the markings is unknown. They predate Karathambra by several millennia.

Arlazir

The shade of a black cypress can provide a brief respite for the Ringmaster on his journey.

The Great Divide.

Succulents of various kinds may be found in certain stretches of the Sands.

Shaodan lizards migrating in search of kelbar deposits. Between Mars' lighter gravity and some quirk of their own anatomy, shaodan are able to move across all but the very finest of sand without disturbing a single grain.

A blood arc over Nivala. Blood arcs are atmospheric phenomena, the origins of which are not yet understood. Some attribute them to light reflecting off of ice crystals high in the atmosphere. Others aver a metaphysical origin.

Birds scatter from an approaching devourer. Although they often prefer the richer hunting grounds of the plains or the sea, border canyons such as this one offer plenty of opportunity for the bulky creature to ambush its prey.

The Whistler

In general, the aerial creatures of Mars known as "drifters" consume food by ingesting their prey whole. This keeps most from being a great threat to human visitors, as they are limited to swallowing creatures smaller than themselves. The toxins in their tentacles are still harmful to a human, and a drifter that feels threatened or startled is likely to lash out. But most kinds will tend to avoid human-sized beings if possible.

There are, however, two main exceptions. We will discuss one today.

The whistler is a drifter that has several specialized tentacles which contain "leeching tubes". Once it has paralyzed a victim with its toxin, it inserts the leeching tubes into its prey and proceeds to suck up nutrients from the victim's body. This method of feeding allows the whistler to live off creatures larger than itself, and also to share its prey with others of its kind.

In other words, they hunt in packs.

Like most drifters, the whistler propels itself by forcing air through its aeolian ventricles. This method allows it to reach roughly the speed of an average human's walking pace. Faster speeds require preparation. The whistler has a specialized bladder-like organ which it will gradually fill with highly pressurized air. To achieve top speed, the whistler will let the air out in a swift stream, pushing the animal swiftly forward and causing the high-pitched sound for which it is named.

They commonly rely on ambush tactics, using trees or rocks as cover, tethering themselves with their tentacles. Conserving their energy by remaining in one place, they can go for months without eating. Once suitable prey comes within range, they emerge and strike quickly with a speed burst.

Conversely, whistlers may simply drift on the air currents. They can even harness a favorable wind by extending a retractable fin known as the artemon, which functions as a sail. This is useful for longer migrations or excursions in search of prey. Once a potential target is spotted, a pack may stalk their quarry, gradually hemming it in on all sides. Their energy expenditure is fairly low when moving at a normal speed. If they can tire out their quarry, they will move in when it stops to rest or collapses from exhaustion. If they seek to end things more quickly, they may use the speed burst to close the distance. 

Whistlers are opportunistic, and will not hesitate to feed off another predator's kill if possible. They may even scavenge carcasses that have been dead for some time. Like most drifters, they can use their tentacles to snag smaller prey, such as birds or small skyrays, which they swallow whole. The paralytic toxin numbs the animal while it is digested in the main compartment of the whistler's body. A whistler's digestive system is highly effective. Even bones and cartilage are  broken down and consumed.

Whistlers have no fear of humans and will actively hunt them if they sense an opportunity. Even one sting may leave you unable to move for hours-- long enough for a whistler pack to completely exsanguinate you. Dress in thick clothing that covers the majority of your body. If you should encounter a whistler, fire is typically the most effective method of dealing with them. The gas which keeps them aloft is highly flammable. Be careful not to get caught by the resulting explosion. The whistlers are wary of fire and the sight of it may be enough to keep them at bay-- for a time. They probably can afford to outwait you.

Author's note: I had to watch this during research, so now you do too. Them's bloggin' rules.

The Black Cypress

    Although not a true cypress, the Black Cypress has been termed such by Terran visitors due to certain superficial similarities. The Martian name is not shared with visitors due to a local religious belief. In fact, Martians will avoid speaking of the tree at all, and if they need to draw attention to one, they will simply gesture in its direction. The reasons for this are obscure and beyond the scope of this article.

    First time visitors to the Sands are struck by the tall, slender trees which grow scattered about the dunes. How these plants manage to thrive in such an arid environment is a matter of debate. Some argue that the tree gathers what trace amounts of water it can from the air and whatever recent rainfalls may hit the area. Others believe that the deep roots of the tree reach hidden reservoirs. A still more controversial claim is that the tree has developed to live not off of water, but a black viscous substance found in pools below the surface, similar to the tarry sap the tree occasionally extrudes.

    During its lifespan, the cypress may have a noticeable impact on an area, as sand piles around its root system and forms a strong dune. Desert shrubs may grow in the organic material it sheds. Shaodan lizards have been known to dig burrows in the relative stability of its root system, using their petrifying spit to harden the tunnel surfaces. Skyrays drift lazily among its branches in ponderous mating rituals.

    When the cypress has exhausted what nutrients it can extract from the soil, the tree rapidly desiccates and detaches from its root system. It becomes very lightweight, and uses its last bit of energy to create thousands of tiny seeds. When one of the powerful windstorms that periodically sweep the sands comes by, it will pick up the lightweight trunk and carry it off to another area, scattering seeds in its wake. This also makes Martian sandstorms particularly dangerous, as in the blinding cover of the storm one is in danger of being hit by a flying tree.

[Author's Note: Images generated via the Image Creator on Bing. The concept of tall, slender black trees among white and pink sand dunes was inspired by the photos in this article.]