Greatwater Lake eb k'ak'is

slight pp of caro, let me know if you'd like me to change anything. <3

---

starfire.

with @Caro at their side, ajaw follows her lead to the pack she had spoken to them about. a new addition they are led to believe, not unlike tikal themselves.

for this, ajaw calls upon no holcan, not wishing to appear as force in what they suspect may be a delicate situation.

steps slow as the borders draw nearer; the scent of young heavy upon them.

stop. we stop here. for a moment ajaw forgets that she is still learning the redsand tongue and catches themselves from speaking everything in it.

there is ample distance between the borders and the tikal pair; content that this should appease the worst of the most territorial, ajaw tips their head back and lets out a low summons.

you're all good <3

It is a strange feeling to be the one to lead Ajaw when it usually him that directs her. She wonders if that is what causes her steps to prickle with a fire she has never quite felt before. Or, simply, it is the result of returning to the lakeside pack, she can't quite point a finger to it.

The pair arrive near the borders and at Ajaw's command she pauses, staying close as he summons an audience. Like him, she can smell the milk in the air - the woman with child has given birth it seems.

If it had been just her to make this trip no doubt would she have gotten closer and made things worse. Tikal's discipline is changing her, albeit slowly.

She stands stiffly besides him, fur grazing his pelt slightly as they wait.

her children were growing in to themselves. by now their eyes were open and they'd found their footing; they were more adventurous, and zharille was eager for the freedom of movement herself, so she would accompany them outside of the den to where they might rough-house.

it was the stranger's smell that alerted her first to their presence. she made a rumble of warning for her children and hurried them back to the den mouth, and looked to khaba, commanding that he keep them company. it was zharille's first chance to stretch her legs since the birth of her brood and she was hungry for it.

stalking from the den, zharille took a long route alongside the lake to obscure the scent of them and keep their location well hidden. the last thing she wanted was a stranger knowing where they slept. as she came upon a strong scent again, she recognized it as the interloper from before — but they were not alone.

the woman was a riot of quilled fur as she marched through the wood, stopping when she caught sight of the man, and flashing her front teeth when she recognized the woman.

what did they want?

---

ajaw watches carefully the woman's approach.

bristling and flashing teeth, appearing to be aimed at caro.

quickly, ajaw resists the urge to bristle in return; temporarily dampening the most protective of their urges. for in this moment, in this place: they are diplomat. they are at her borders, requesting her audience.

and no move has been made to either of their safety.

this one greets you, ajaw breaks their silence. this one is called kuhul ajaw, of tikal. tikal claims the redsand canyon. a gesture is made in it's direction; frostbound gaze refocusing back upon the bristled woman before them.

we are neighbors, but this one does not feel that we have to be enemies. this one believes we can benefit from one another.

The woman from before returns, this time without entourage, and approaches the pair with boiling fur mimicking the roiling emotions that stir within Caro. In that moment, it takes every ounce of strength not to snap something vicious, but she cannot, she realises. For as of right now they are envoys, here to make peace not war.

To be made a fool in front of him is the last thing she wants.

She listens as Ajaw speaks but golden eyes remain boring holes into the lakewoman. It is pointless to communicate with someone who does not understand, and yet she remains curious if Ajaw will bring about a different reaction.

Tarantula came from a different direction, arriving moments after his silent mistress had stopped and looking surprised to find her there. He briefly took in the strangers, having heard only half of what had been spoken, then made his way to the bristling alpha female's side, turning to face them.

Fortunately, the murkwood wolf was not keen on fighting anyone without reason, and though he did not raise a hair towards them, he did not seem particularly inviting either.

Tarantula speaks now, he announced himself in a raspy, somewhat strained voice. This pack stay from that territory, he gestured towards them. That pack stay from this territory. Wouldn't that be good enough? Alliances felt foreign to Tarantula, though his broad head was tipped slightly, and his blue eyes were questioning.

plopping Khaba in, since Zharille went inactive.

Zharille had demanded that he stay to watch the children. But he would not do this. Not while their borders were passed freely by so many.

@Selena would be called upon to take his stead, and the alpha would go to see what all was underway.

Two strangers, one a little less familiar than the second. She had been here before, but he had not.

Another of theirs was also here, presuming to speak on behalf of the lake. Khaba did not like this, and made it known.

Pushing the Tarantula with a rough shoulder, the dark male offered a short snarl in warning. He could listen, or he could not. But this situation was no longer headed by the subordinate's tongue.

There is nothing the lake gives. We provide for ourselves. His own voice seemed foreign to him now, but these people only knew this way of communication. Khaba was forced to compromise.

---

the answer they receive is clear: first from the initial male to join and then from the second.

though ajaw cannot help but feel a prickle of insult at their blatant toss of their efforts to open a trade with them, they must respect the choice all the same.

then tikal will not offer nor open up trade with you, it would be settled; the hard steel of their voice forging the living decree. this one will pass word along to this one's wolves. we stay away from your lake and you stay away from our canyon.

disappointing, but ajaw could live with this agreement.

wrapping this up! :3

The matter was finished.

The lake would not walk upon the canyon, and the canyon would not walk upon the lake.

What more was to be said?

With a final, rather disdained look of regard to the man, Khaba turned away. All that had come to represent the lake would return with him, knowing well of the bargain made here.