Lion Head Mesa Take your time, and consume all of it

At some point in their travel, Fennec wound up in the vicinity of Akashingo. And rather than pass it by entirely, for some reason… she sent up a call. One that she hoped @Makono would recognize and take herself.

They had nothing now that Mereo was gone, and he’d always been closer with the new Pharaoh than Fennec had. Still - something drove her to wanting to find out for herself how the pack fared. She’d had no small hand in its fate.

Besides, she should know that there was no help to be found in the canyon anymore.

Fennec listened carefully and waited, muscles and nerves taught for any sign of unexpected approach. She didn’t know what they had done - or what they knew. She had trusted the Prince, but recent events had highlighted rather stark flaws in her judgement. She could have been sold out weeks ago.

it was unexpected, but not unwelcomed. not entirely. so on swift limbs she moved out to the far reaches of akashingo. seeing the familiar golden imperatrix now.

welcome! her voice was warm even if it was not bright. for she too still mourned a father lost, even if it had been for greater good.

have you come for a visit?

Skippable! Sorry, missed your post!!! (you can also PP her being sent away if that is what Makono would do, Medusa would listen!)

Medusa lurked near the borders more often than not as of late, but only during the later hours, when it had grown dark. It was here she could taste the freedom she longed for. It was not Akashingo that kept her on this leash, but her father who she hoped to protect. And given that, there was no resentment toward him. Only everybody else that wasn't on the shortlist of who she gave any shits about. 

She sighed, thinking of her store of poisons, and planning to return to them to test them on the pests of Akashingo. Literal ones, of course.

But then there was a call, and the pink nosed Medusa found herself near enough to answer it. Who cared that it might not be her job? Where Medusa could, she would get a taste of that outside world. Today, it was this stranger that would deliver it. 

But then Pharaoh came! And Medusa slowed her roll, but did not stop from meeting them. Medusa still had the idea that she could learn things of the outside world, and hoped to glean whatever she could of it from this stranger. Pharaoh was pleasant, which meant there was no reason for her not to be. So she lingered in the backdrop, the girls head low in respect for Pharaoh.

There were two. The first was recognizable, the second quiet, though they didn’t sound as if they were hiding. She thought perhaps Makono had brought a guard. Not the same one she had usually been tailed by in Mereo. Had something happened to him?

I came to see how you, and your pack were. She answered, unsmiling but not unfriendly. And to give you news. Mereo is gone; the Imperator has left the canyon to travel.

She’d confirmed it to be empty when she left Epoch. The marks had already been fading. It was brief and vague, but saying anything more here would be petty. Despite the impulse, Fennec didn’t want to ruin his name here. The respect of this woman had meant something to him.

@Medusa makono is giving a lil task!! <3

well, she had not expected this news. a soft sagging of her features that would be missed by blind eyes. no word had been sent to her besides fennec's arrival. did germanicus simply...intend to not tell her or had he not made his way yet?

nebet, her voice was soft and turned to the girl now. may you go and spread word to the medjay @Bayek of this? for it would certainly offer a gentle hitch in plans and be important information for their messenger.

she expected no backlash to this request and when medusa had gone, her attention would sweep back to fennec.

akashingo is in a time of mourning now and i am pharaoh. the politest way of saying things had worked out as intended. what do you intend to do now?

for it was the once imperatrix who had come to her, not the imperator.

She seemed to take it well, from the soft orders she gave. Fennec hadn’t counted on it being a crushing blow to a pack that seemed more established in about every way than Mereo had been… but she was glad the other woman didn’t sound angry. It would have been too tempting to let that stoke her own.

The fact that she’d come at all was an indicator things had at least not gone as badly as they could, but the news was good. It meant Fennec had, in fact, killed a wolf. But she still didn’t find any guilt over it. If his own daughter had wanted him murdered then she didn’t feel like her own judgement mattered. If her kids wanted her dead… she would absolutely deserve it.

Fennec huffed out a breath at the question. Fuck if she knew. I’ll go where my son does. Hope he can find happiness and be happy with that too. That was really her only plan at the moment. I don’t know where he wants to go, but if we make a claim, I’d consider us allies. Whatever that might be worth. Next to nothing right now. It was stupid to say, when she didn’t even know where tomorrow would place them, but something in her desperately reached out for that thread. A glimmer of friendship, however faint, was worth everything right now.

a son. she thought of the roman's own, who slept under the cover of akashingo now. who she called her mazoi. she supposed there was no point in sending word now of the boy's arrival.

an ugly budding in her gut.

let her forge forward with fennec who had given makono all she had needed. who came to her now in the aftermath with the strength of a woman. the honesty of allies.

it is worth plenty to me. and she smiled, warm. even if it could not be seen then perhaps it would be heard in the light of her voice. you have already done so much to help me! she laughed with that same glimmering warmth.

you and your son will be welcomed to rest here until you move onward. if you are interested in it. even if only for a night.

makono did not realize how badly she too wished to hold that thread. weave them tightly into this budding relationship. things that were not haunted by the shadowed steps of her father.

Fennec smiled at her laugh. It was as slight as her smiles generally were, but it was genuine for a change. I’m not sure what you mean. There was a touch of dark humor to it, and an answering relaxing within her. If she was no longer Imperatrix, then she no longer had to care how she was perceived.

There was an idea, though. A way to justify avoiding her mother’s impending pups while still making Killdeer happy. Fennec was heavily interested in finding more out about Akashingo too, ever since Germanicus had argued so heavily to keep her from it. A place where even he had secrets to hide, albeit secrets she now knew.

He’s going to visit his father. The title came out flat, even to her ears, but fuck it. Killer wasn’t around to hear. That’s the last place I want to be, and I wouldn’t mind the excuse of staying here a few days. I never did get to visit the way I wanted to. Surely Killdeer would be just as happy knowing she was staying with “a friend”.

aha! makono felt a grand spread of warmth in her chest. fennec, smart and sly. they were serpents woven around one another. she could feel this in her heart.

it would be a shame to not meet the son, but this was also more time with fennec. one on one. the importance of building things.

then you will be my personal guest and all that akashingo can offer, within mourning, will be provided. and how good it felt! to have someone who wished to be here not out of duty or politics, but for the want to see akashingo. to walk the halls and simply experience.

she stepped aside slightly. walk with me? an invitation now, fully extended. word would likely gently trickle through the palace of a visitor come to them. let the fellahin go and settle things for such a guest, let the pharaoh play host.

There was a freedom here that was similar to dealing with strangers, but it was different too. She didn’t have to worry about disappointing someone who didn’t know her well enough to carry any expectations. And she didn’t have to worry about being disappointed by someone who she wanted nothing from.

Lead the way. I should be the easiest tour you’ve ever given. I don’t even care if you lie, as long as the lies are interesting. Fennec fell in step with an easy gait, but kept herself close out of habit. She’d only be able to keep up on unfamiliar ground if she relied on the Pharaoh to guide her through.

She’d meet @Killdeer after and let him know where she would be while he visited with Bronco. They could reconvene after to discuss what would come next.

i believe those are called stories, her voice was a humored tease. her slow, thoughtful steps would guide them towards halls. she knew exactly where she wished to take fennec first. only it was not the quickest trip.

and akashingo has a rich history and culture full of them. if you are a storyteller — or story listener. her voice continued to express her great pleasure with this visit. the joy she was taking in the presence of fennec. but maybe you are interested in just the basics first.

another little laugh in her throat.

Only if you aren’t convincing enough. Fennec replied, wryly countering the first statement almost instinctually. Some might take issue with it but she had a hard time making hard claims about things like this anymore. Obviously she felt strongly about lies - the last few weeks were a painful reminder - but sometimes a lie was at least something to hold onto. Her fortunes more often than not became this.

I’ve always enjoyed stories, but I’m shit at telling them. Apparently “stuff that gets everywhere, and I mean everywhere” isn’t the most poetic way to describe a beach. Truth is overrated I guess. She huffed a silent laugh of her own, then focused her ears on Makono again. The ground had transitioned to more bare terrain, dirt mixed with patched stone.

You can do basic. Or you can surprise me; worst story you’ve ever heard? It had been too long since she’d heard a proper twisted tale. Bad endings, monstrous murders, horrific creatures. Akashingo had to have something like that. (Parents not included - she knew that story already).