the flatlands wolf climbed into the mountains. it was no small wonder that belen stopped thriving after that. she fished out of desperation and ate carrion when she could find it. by the time that she scraped to the edge of a red canyon, belen was starving again, plagued by patchy fur and a wasting look to her already small frame. she was not suited for any of this. the former acolyte would have moved on had she not caught a scent that felt vaguely familiar. belen did not call out; she shakily sank to her haunches, brow furrowed as she considered who this might be.
it was maxim.
maybe not the familiar scent, but it was who arrived first. eyes fixed on the scrappy looking thing that settled near their borders. had a coyote grown bold? perhaps desperate for an end without its band.
but no she did look...something a bit more wolfish, despite the horrible frail state of her.
who are you?
he questioned hard with pinched brows, eyes fixed hard on her terrible form.
a man approached. he was handsome, belen noticed, and had she been in a better state she might have complimented him. aware of her hangdog appearance and scruffy mien, belen pulled herself upright and regarded the stranger. "i am belen of — well, formerly of akashingo." she had almost mentioned the name of blackwater there, but caught it at the last moment. "what is this place?" belen asked, flashing him a sweet grin in spite of her sorry position.
oh. she was formerly of akashingo. maxim did his best to steady his features at this reveal.
did germanicus know her? was she aware of the investigations at the palace?
it was not his place to speak on such things.
it is mereo, and i am its scutarius.
he told her plainly. what has brought you here, belen?
had she left akashingo in favor of somewhere new?
he was very formal and would have been unpleasant were it not for belen's malaise. "the pharaoh sent me as an emissary to another pack which lived off the main coast. but they have gone away. i should return to akashingo but i found myself lost." surely there was someone here who knew her! "if i could only rest, just a while, i would be fit to go back to the palace." she blinked wide sea-green eyes at the stoic man. she did not want to go back to akashingo; surely this one would not deny her entry.
it was a tall order. he was neither a medic with the capability to declare her too ill to travel but nor was he high ranking enough to declare her a place to rest among their lot.
i don't have the power to say if you can or not.
his brows pinched softly, some edge of thoughtful sympathy. i will call for the man who does, if you would like.
he imagined germanicus might wish to hear about this either way.
belen nodded and settled in a crouch. she had no other choice but to throw herself on this man's mercy. secretly she hoped that she would not be sent back to akashingo.
i'll spare you the double tag heh
he would tilt his head back and announce a request for the imperator himself. informing that they had a visitor here who sought...some kind of entry. lest he go and make it sound like she was a viable recruit.
<3
maxim's summons brought the imperator. he stared down at the girl who was not recognized. "i am germanicus. this is mereo. what brings me here, scutarius?" he asked, addressing the man beside him and not the stranger.
by the time that the other man appeared, belen had laid down. perhaps it was why he addressed the scutarius and not herself. she was indignant all the same, dragging her body upright to regard the second newcomer with a sharp look. he was handsome if a bit aged, but belen found his dismissal to be a great annoyance. still, she stayed quiet, smiling sweetly at the first soldier should he look her way again.
he stood rigid and patient as he awaited the older soldier's presence. the woman seemed content to make herself comfortable at their borders, regardless of any lasting stay or not.
how odd she seemed so composed when she looked so far from it.
this is belen, formerly of akashingo. she has traveled as an emissary for the pharaoh from a gone pack beyond the coast. she seeks a resting place after having been lost on her return to the palace.
he turned his gaze respectfully upon the other man.
germanicus. they spoke over her head while she remembered many things: helping crowfeather back to his rooms, the utterance of this man's name, how anguished the prince had been. he had run away to find this wolf! "crowfeather!" she interjected. "did he come here?" that scent; could it have been him. "i helped to tend him when i lived in the palace. he said your name." her brow furrowed upon germanicus.
wow ope ok rolling w it
no sooner had maxim explained the young woman's purpose before she began to exclaim and clamour.
crowfeather.
he was quiet for a moment of time. "yes. he is here. the journey from akashingo was a torment for him."
belen was no threat. he straightened. "do you intend to go back to the palace?"
the girl burst, germanicus answered formally.
maxim fell silent for this passing exchange, stance still guarded and eyes still heavy upon belen. he imagined her looking rather out of place somewhere like the palace.
"only for a little while, germanicus." his voice was bulky in her tones. she tried to add sugar to them. "i would love to see crowfeather again. and then i think i should go back, at least to tell them what has happened." she was dizzy now, and it was why she did not get up. but she tried to remain poised all the same, tail wrapped around her forefeet.
germ out!
another visitor. and a member of akashingo, pending reentry. "she is our ally," he told the other soldier. "please escort her to the tablinum. aquene may need to look her over."
to the woman he turned his attention. "maxim will take you there. stay as long as you need, lady belen."
he nodded to them both and turned away.
it seemed he was tasked with escorting her. he offered a respectful nod to the imperator, a silent recognition of his words and instructions.
he moved closer to belen, offering her his own body, if she needed it to stand. i will walk you there,
he told her. calmer and softer now. you will get you rested and then a meal.
keep going or fade? <3
the gruff man was gone. belen looked after him and then back toward her protector. "thank you, maxim," she said, perhaps leaning into him more than was necessary. she had been servant. fellahin. and then she had been an emissary. once she had been an acolyte. and now she would be a courtesan. belen had higher aspirations and they only grew in detail as she bloomed in elegance. she was led to a structure, and it was here that she confirmed the scent was indeed that of the wayward prince.