They may be just (7)
I believe the answer is:
deserts
'they may be just' is the definition.
(as in a person's 'just deserts')
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for deserts that I've seen before include "Wastes" , "Areas like the Sahara" , "Abandons, forsakes" , "barren areas" , "Appropriate rewards" .)