The crew continued to trudge through the bleak landscape. There was no cover from the blazing sun. Absolutely nothing tall enough to cast a shadow. Wash kept his eyes squinted against the glare as they all waited for Jayne to return from scouting ahead. It wasn’t long before Jayne appeared as a shimmering mirage and then slowly solidified.

"Nothin' doin', Mal." He stated, sweat trickling down his face.

"Nothin' at all?" Mal shaded his eyes and peered into the direction from which Jayne had come.

"Not a gorram thing. Just more of the same."

"It got swallowed." River interjected.

"Will you cut that out!" Jayne whipped his brow on his sleeve and looked angrily at River.

Simon put a hand on her shoulder and she twisted away. "River, everything is fine."

"Not so much." She said. "That's what you think. When've I ever been wrong?"

Simon had no answer for her. They continued onward through the heat.

It was gradual, but Wash began to notice the horizon darkening. "What is that?" He indicated the shadowy horizon to Zoe. < "I haven’t a notion." She raised her voice. "Mal, look there."

Mal lifted his gaze from the shimmering rocks. "What the-?"

"Swallowed. I told you so." River stuck her tongue out at Simon. He pushed back his hat and looked questioningly at the horizon.

"What is that?" He asked.

Wash realized that he actually knew. "Eclipse." He stated.

"Good!" Jayne exulted. "Finally some gorram shade."

"Swallowed." River moaned quietly. Everyone ignored her and quickened their pace toward the darkening horizon.

Soon they were walking in twilight and had welcome relief from the sun. Wash was glad to give his blistering skin a break, but a certain agitation was growing in the back of his mind. "What'll we do when it's too dark to see?"

Mal stopped.

"We'll be swallowed!" River said ominously, her smile smug.

"Shut her up." Mal said to Simon.

"River," Simon began.

"No, Simon." She walked away from him.

A/N: This begins to sound too much like "Pitch Black." I really cannot continue. I got a comment about an eclipse and decided to go with it. Thanks for that. I also have no idea why most of the crew is wandering around on this world. But this is the end. Sorry and all that.