Arabia
an excerpt

The riders crossed over the dunes in a rough single-file line, their furry steeds trudging along with the knowledge that their only purpose in life was to carry their masters wherever they wished to go. The lead rider halted his beast and raised a scaly hand to signal to the others at the peak of the current dune they were on. His serpentine eyes focused upon the odd looking, shiny object at the base of the dune. It’s surface almost blinding from reflecting the light of the planet’s two suns. One of his companions rode up alongside and queried, “What do you make of it?”
The lead rider flicked his tongue several times, trying to catch a scent in the air. “I cannot tell. It has a taste I have never scented before.”
“Nor I.” the companion noted. “Whatever it is, we will need to get a closer look.”
The lead rider nodded, made another signal and coaxed his steed forward. The riders moved down to the base of the dune, separating into 2 columns to circle the object. As they got closer, they could see it was some type of shelter, but the hide was alien to them. It looked like no animal skin any of them had ever seen before. The wood that supported it was common enough to them, but the hide still produced an odd scent on their tongues. They could now taste something else. Something alive within the shelter. Something that breathed. However, it’s scent was alien as well. They puzzled over this and looked at each other trying to decide which of them would “volunteer” to investigate up close.
The decision was made for them when the creature poked it’s head out of it’s shelter and gazed at them, eyes wide. The scents it exuded now was unmistakable…surprise…and fear.