Near the Black Wing

Sasha stood in the middle of the desert with blood-stained hands. The sand stretched for miles like the ocean, and only the soft howl of wind could be heard. He wondered if the desert heard his shrieks and wounded outcries. The remnants of the helicopter were nowhere to be seen. Sasha wondered how he could have been flung so far away from the machine that had carried him earlier. For Sasha, the sky was just a view, and the earth was just a runway—until now. The desert was real. It had crater-like holes and waves. There was not a single hint of green as far as bare human eyes could see.
The sun was piercing right through Sasha's bruises and cuts. Grains of sand were competing to stick to his naked wounds. Waves of sand rearranged themselves. Finally, Sasha saw a big black metallic rod near the horizon. He knew which direction he was supposed to walk, but he did not know if he would make it that far.

How does the setting affect the theme of the passage?
A.
Being stranded in the desert causes Sasha to struggle with nature.
B.
Sasha's journey is more difficult because it takes place at sunrise.
C.
The absence of other human beings makes Sasha think about life.
D.
Being separated from the helicopter causes Sasha to invent his escape.