Sunspire Mountains oppono

@Nephele @Sakai @Sihaya (@Jawahir) + any ursus wolves that stayed behind!

akashingo had yet been present for the promised battle. the war had dwindled to a skirmish, and nyra had run with another packmate.

merrick disappeared into the shadows after the pair.

germanicus flicked his eyes over the mountain. "she was gravely wounded. it will not be long before rest is necessary." such things were a matter of timing.

they had gathered bones and medicines. germanicus gestured toward the piles. "these must be carried back for slate." for crowfeather. 

"i will follow merrick and see where our enemy has gone." nephele was wounded and in the curious company of a bird. germanicus stalked to her. in his eyes were both approval and worry. "go with the pharaoh." she could not be a good escort alone and so he nodded at their newest, sakai. "carry what you are able. walk with them. return to the mesa."

this left sihaya. germanicus would rather not be alone with that one, but he had seen the demonic fighting of the tradesman. his internal feelings were irrelevant. "you and i will track and then we will also go back to akashingo. pharaoh," he said softly, "i will be four days behind you."

dogs killing dogs. heathens killing heathens. ramesses was pleased that no blows had come to him. this ill-fated war had ended, presumably with nyra crawling somewhere to die of her horrible wounds.
pharaoh was further pleased that merrick had gone. perhaps all the wolves of ursus might follow and then akashingo could possess its own land once more.
germanicus gave his soldierly orders. pharaoh stared at him. "if you do not return at that time, i will presume you dead, roman."
a small, cruel smile. pharaoh pulled away and nodded to the bloodied sabah and sakai. "guard. are you well to walk?" he asked of her, ignoring germanicus' departure.

Nephele had been quiet since threatening the bird. He now sat between her shoulder blades, hooked claws digging into her uninjured shoulder. There was a knowing between them, a threat that the bird could take an eye, but Nephele would take his life.

Her eyes snapped to Germanicus when he spoke, away from the skull of a bear she had been eyeing. There were others. Wolf, coyote, the bear. Trophies. She slowly moved over to pluck up the skull of a wolf, holding it tight between her jaws. She had killed this day, so she would remind herself of it. This was not the skull of the wolf she had killed, but maybe, perhaps, she could come back for it in some months’ time. Decor for her sleeping space, to mark it as her own.

After claiming her prize, the shadowed captain nodded to Pharoah, flashing a little smile around the skull between her teeth.

At the Pharoah’s word Sihaya had been busy pillaging. He had found a few nice furs for himself and a massive sun-bleached bear jaw with yellowed teeth. He laced it around himself like a necklace. Akashingo’s war party regrouped – the woman Jodai returning with bloodied wounds and a new pet.

Sihaya frowned at Germanicus’ command and dropped his loot to the ground. What a waste.

He had nothing to add and readied himself to follow the General.

they came over the rise as germanicus split from the lord sun; having missed his remarks, yet preoccupied in ferrying @Sayyadina along.

the group the mumis spied made jawahir wary until they saw ramesses there among them, a shining beacon.

Sayyadina followed Jawahir as the war party returned. There was the Pharaoh, as she had promised. A grand, golden King leading his chariots home. She fell into position at the haunch of the Fellahin, ears smoothed back and eyes drawn to the ground.

Sakai had had an effortless hunt as the war had ended only moments before their arrival. Some members were lucky to catch a glimpse of what retreating wolves were left, but with the greyscale bringing up the rear, only the stench of blood and mixing packs lay stagnant for him to imagine what the carnage must have looked like.

His attention turned from Germanicus, giving an understanding nod, to the bloodied wolf with the bird, and then the Pharoah.

"Of course." He replied, and followed is packmates silently, stopping for a moment to gather medicine that Nephele would undoubtedly need once in the safety of the mesa.