Lion Head Mesa reed & knife

backdated to the day muat-riya arrives <3

even in his visceral pain did the crocodile look up to the outer walls of akashingo. his steps into the tunnelwork were quick, pain still lancing him. healing shoulder and side of throat would never again wear fur, a naked pink scar that caught the light as he moved.

but he did not care. "@Safiya!" called the heavy tones of the captain, eyes seeking, heart searching. in many ways. "@Tiye!"

a rich voice she's heard since birth, recognizable from the way they send tremors through the mesa. even when the fellahin has been away from him for so long, tending to fiya and sheltered from the war, tiye knew exactly who and where he was.

baba! tiye dropped everything she was doing to sprint through the caverns of the red palace, her nails clicking against the solid rock of the palace floors, sliding to a halt once the tall figure of her father entered her peripherals. he was beaten and battered. fiya really did take to him the most. as even when so much had been taken from them, they both always stood so tall.

even at nine months, the gap between her and khusobek was a canyon's worth. but that allowed her to bury herself in the warmth of his ruff and sob, relieaved to be reunited with the father she lost sleep over.

Fiya had gained much, but also lost much. And when she heard her father's call it was with both guilt and relief. Guilt that she had been unable to be as strong as him. Relief that he was here.

She followed behind her sister at a smaller pace. Both to coll3ct herself and be sure of her footing. She had learned well how to traverse with her handicap. Had begin and learned well to train. You almost. Almost couldn't tell. But she still had moments of issue.

Singular sea green landed on her father and a small smile. But she stood aside until Tiye was ready to share their father.

but his arms were for them both, the powerful pull of them open to each girl, each one together. his princess. his battle-scarred warrior. kisses for foreheads; all that had gone on did not make them less his daughters.

his eyes were wet as he looked from tiye to safiya. "here we are safe. akashingo is fortified. there will be no more taken from us."

from you, safiya.

he held them tightly again, too moved for words as his heart ached with mending.