Wallace stopped at the border, sniffing warily. Yes, he smelled like a wolf. And not just any wolf, he smelled like his brother. Also other scents: Khaba, Zaahira. They had both treated him like an intruder. But he didn't smell Aliki, the female who had attacked him.

And Selena? That skittish female who had stayed behind, like a scared cub. Wallace yawned and then raised his head and howled, just crossing the border a little.

The howls of the past month had gone unanswered, but now he was in foreign territory. Did all the wolves protect their territory as fiercely as Khaba?

Wallace remembered the last time he had entered a territory: he had heard an answering howl, warning him, and then Aliki had appeared. Almost an instant later, Khaba was at Aliki's side. Supporting her. They had both advanced toward Wallace, side by side, defending shared territory. Wallace had advanced on them, but then he had jumped to the side, taunting them.
He had asked Aliki to follow him, to leave GreatwaterLake. Aliki had responded aggressively, making it clear that her loyalty lay with Khaba. Aliki had bitten him. Then Selena had arrived, who hid something (from the smell, Wallace thought she was a rabbit). Selena was unsure, though she still went to Khaba's side and, with a grunt, she supported him.
Instantly, Khaba had joined Aliki and attacked Wallace. On top of that, Zaahira appeared and began circling the fighting wolves, like a coyote waiting for her leader's orders, making it clear that she would defend her pack.
Luckily, Khaba had released him and Wallace had been able to get out alive...

Where was Selena's rabbit? Where was that beautiful female that had attacked Wallace? Wallace wanted answers

Wallace wasn't surprised to see Zaahira. He looked around to make sure no one else was there. He snorted: if that was his pack, he'd organize patrols of at least three wolves.

The wolf got up and looked at the female. "It's good to see you again. Last time we couldn't talk" Then she wagged her tail "Can this new pack of yours take in a loner like me?" he asked her, smiling mischievously.

"I told you that as long as my brother is with you, I will never be far away" he added, and then began to circle around Zaahira, imitating what she had done with him many weeks ago

Wallace froze, surprised. "the pup Sunspots, enemy of a whole pack?" he laughed, even though he knew the situation was serious "What could he have done so serious?"

The wolf continued to circle the female, annoyed by her coldness. "I don't have to explain my reasons to you. If you introduce me to your queen, I can convince her. Look at me, I'm charming haha." He started walking faster

"I see you're still as aggressive as ever" he commented. "The good thing is that it doesn't depend on you that I join this pack"

The visiting prince had taken a liking to long walks. When he could escape the eye of his soothsayer, and slip his own guard, that is. There was much to learn about Akashingo and being diplomatic was only one method; Harakhte knew he could learn more if he was in the right place at the right time.
In this case, he came upon a pair of risen voices. There was one body he recognized from the palace halls - and another he did not, who seemed intent to delve beyond the mesa archway. Harakhte happened to be close, and stepped out, in to the strangers path directly.
It could have been accidental.
He felt their shoulders clip one-another, and with a wince, he took a sharp breath. Oh! Who is this, in such a hurry? He was curious, and would play the part of a surprised, shaken royal.

Wallace greatly disliked all of this. Being treated like an intruder! He looked at the new wolf "Calm down. I don't want any trouble" he said, glancing at Zaahira.

Wallace was easily angered. Sunspots, his brother, was trapped in that place (as far as Wallace knew), and Zaahira seemed very aggressive. "I came to join this pack peacefully. Sunspots and I may be of the same blood, but we are not the same wolf."

the palace was lively.

the summons of his fellow mazoi had brought the man to his feet. he traded his role to bayek and climbed from the catacombs to join senmut.

another man. zaahira flared with that same zeal. khusobek slowly circled behind the stranger, cutting off his retreat, ready to set his jaws in a word.

intentionally he meant to trap the wolf between he and her, a gift, a silent assumption she too had history with this one.

Harakhte paid no mind to Zaaira, as she was a mazoi, although he appreciated her presence and the work she did. As she called for the erpa-ha, the prince smiled to the interloper as if they were old friends.
This one does not know our customs. Or general manners, it would appear. A small dig, spoken smoothly, with a pleasant inflection.
It is appropriate to name yourself upon any claim's border and to heed the guard. Myself, well, I had my arrival announced by my own guardsmen. A small flaunt there! Who did this mongrel bring with him? Whose blood ran in those veins? Nothing of value based on his own inferior display.
Finally, Senmut arrived.
Ah, yes. Welcome. For now Harakhte would sink back and watch.

Wallace looked gratefully at Harakhte. But he raised his fur when he heard Zaahira's words. He wanted to retort, but he kept silent. He wished he could control himself, but as Zaahira spoke, his fur stood on end and he began to tremble.

"I never attacked anyone!" He exploded, facing Zaahira. "I went in peace, until GreatwaterLake attacked me. All Khaba's followers are wild and reasonless. As far as I can see, the only aggressive one here is Zaahira: she will always be a member of GreatwaterLake."

He stood there, panting and glad he'd said everything he thought. However, he then remembered that three more wolves were looking at him, and he sat up, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Wallace tilted his head, his face gaze fixated on Senmut. "Do you think I care about Sunspots?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of disdain. It was true that he had followed his brother's trail, but it was merely coincidental that they had ended up in the same vicinity. Wallace hadn't had any intention of actually encountering his brother.


"Please, forgive me if I seemed disrespectful," he added, softening his tone slightly, a flicker of politeness emerging. Then, his gaze shifted to Zaahira as she spoke. "If that's what you believe, Zaahira, then so be it. But a crow can never be an eagle; it will always remain a scavenger," he murmured, his words carrying a touch of condescension.

Siting once again, he continued, his wolf form settling comfortably. "From what I understand, your queen has the final say. You all are merely her servants... or what do you call yourselves? Mazoi?" he said, his tone tinged with a mocking tone. A smug smile played on his lips. "You can do as you wish, but I have every right to stay here until I speak with your queen."

They bickered! Of course it was the mazoi who fought with the stranger, it was in their nature to be abrasive. The word of Senmut was barely heeded and that is what piqued Harakhte's interest, and he felt inclined to insert himself once again.
You misunderstand! He called from beside the erpa-ha, and with a slight bow of his head to the esteemed Senmut, he stepped around one wolf to face the other. Make a show of it! Why not? Harakhte was known in his home as a charismatic voice, he may as well utilize it here! What better way to prove his own strengths before this audience? Most importantly, it would spare this stranger further bereavement.
You stand before the erpa-ha, who speaks with the voice of the gods — and also, that of the divine queen. It felt as if he gave lessons to a child. How did this man not understand the totem of power? Did he think it possible a nobody such as himself would be welcomed in the court of any queen, let alone the hemet-nekheb, Toula?
You must leave. Harakhte implored. The way he stared at the man now, with his hard and hawkish gaze, the stern lifting of his chin, and strengthening of his spine, implied that there would be no further discussion.
Harakhte knew it was beneath his station to man-handle someone at the border, but he would place himself alongside the two mazoi so that they were a barricade; it would be Khusobek that struck first, he presumed — or Zaaira, who now had much to prove.

Wallace stepped back in surprise as the pack he had previously considered peaceful, even weak, attacked him. Zaahira, of course, was the first to attack.

Wallace tries to dodge the female, but he reacted too late: a sharp pain made him shiver. He felt all of Zaahira's hatred in that bite. "Wild!" he yelled at her, throwing himself to the ground and writhing.

He tried to break free, to run away from that place, home to wild wolves. What did Sunspots matter? His brother would have to fend for himself in that hornet's nest.

He looked at Senmut, showing his fangs. "I will be able to leave if you control your servant." Kindness? Formality? Piety? No, at that time there was only blood.

There was nothing else to say. The mazoi reacted with their orders, and Harakhte stepped forward with them - though he chose not to engage, and merely watched as the rude man was grappled with. He had the nerve to speak again! A bold thing, this man.
It was not Harakhte's place to dismiss the guards; and with Senmut done with the situation, there was only one course of action: follow the erpa-ha. He moved with assurance to Senmut's side as if the whole debaucle was not unfolding behind them.
I have heard of your success and fortune with the lake, he could be heard saying to the man, though as they walked their voices would mingle and dim together.

"it was the queen's success," senmut said quietly. "she wished a bloodless end to the conflict. through her was the will of the gods carried out."

before he turned away with harakhte, the erpa-ha spoke again: "mazoi."

and when the attack had halted, he looked to the trespasser. "our guardians will see you out. if you wish to earn the favor of akashingo, then go and hold the lake once more. your true leader lives among us, and it is to she you will answer now."

if wallace continued to open his mouth, the mazoi now had free rein do as they pleased. senmut rejoined the sphinx. "such judgements will belong to pharaoh," the prince said, a heavy allusion to the true reason harahkte was among them.