Firefly Glen [PHE] grow with the trees

Map for reference! Anyone welcome :)

The journey had been long and arduous, at least for those in still growing bodies and dark fur unsuited to the relentless sunshine. His paws had ached so fiercely from their travels, Vincent spent the first day at the camp sprawled out and lounging in the shadows – a near-splitting image of his father.

Their temporary claim was plentiful in the way of shade, thankfully, with a twisted tangle of thorns keeping unwanted visitors away. It would suffice, he thought, although he much preferred their actual home in the peaks.

They were here for a reason, however, and the scents drifting from every different direction had the young prince intrigued. While he and his siblings probably wouldn't contribute too much to the actual Great Hunt, he was curious about the other inhabitants of the Wilds who had been invited, too.

Were they mostly commoners, like the young family that made up their lower rank? Or were there other royal families? So, as the needlessly bright sun finally began to descend below the treeline, Vincent exited their camp and headed east on an expedition, head held high.

there was another kingdom here, and tavina would take this opportunity to distract the royals from any necessity on her part. she loved the young ones and adored toula; she was simply saddled with an irrepressible need to be alone.
therefore, when she saw the proud youth walking down from the camp shrouded in thorns, the physician cleared her throat and stepped to fall into step.
"i am the physician of muat-riya, trusted of akashingo and its royalty. if you're a prince, i have some idea of who you should meet first."

cameo! unless otherwise needed.

 

The moment one of the children was noticed to no longer be in the group (which didn't take long at all) Paloma was up on aching feet once more, hot on the heels of the prince. He was swift, in his youth, but mind you Paloma was still young herself and just as swift. It didn't take long for her to catch up and when she did so, she was silent and held back, simply playing the roll of nanny as she had time and time again to the little royals. Little interest was placed on the other woman, as it was clear the Handmaiden was just as this.

Yay! Thanks for joining <3

It wasn’t long before another appeared; a dark woman with a look so plain that Vincent almost dismissed her entirely, that was until she mentioned the word royalty. He lit up instantly, his eyes betraying his satisfaction at her knowing of his title — as she should. While he didn’t much care to know who the woman was exactly, her offer intrigued him and he was not about to turn it down. Life so far had taught him little about caution and even less about humility around strangers. They were more often than not servants, anyway. Speaking of...

A red shock of fur was spotted out of the corner of his eye, and his mother's handmaiden was acknowledged with a half-glance over his shoulder. He wasn't thrilled about the company, but he had come to accept that it was difficult to escape Paloma's dutiful watch.

Turning his attention back to the woman beside him, Vincent gave a small nod, indicating she lead the way. "Take me to them."

no problem! sorry for the wait <3

"i'm from muat-riya, summer palace of akashingo's rulers," the sesh told the prince as they moved on. a pretty girl followed, a woman really, though tavina did not allow herself to look long.

"my name is tavina. i am physician to both," she explained as she guided the boy toward the gilded camp, and, she hoped, the fervently beautiful face of pharaoh @Toula.

Akashingo and Muat-riya. Both names were foreign in both his and his mother's tongue, and equally as confusing was her mention of..."a summer palace?" he asked dubiously, quirking a brow.

"You mean a place the rulers go in summer?" It sounded strange, and yet Vincent was intrigued by the idea; a secondary pack underneath their rule, a place to visit should they tire of their mountain lair. He would pitch the idea to mother.

Tavina led himself and his mother's handmaiden to the main camp that bustled with activity and was adorned with all sorts of decor. His eyes darted from place to place as he took it in, though still strode alongside the physician with all the confidence who one who believed they belonged there.

"i do," tavina said softly. "muat-riya sits in the desert, upon a cenote of pure water. our emphasis is upon guardianship and healing, a place of peace for the royals when they arrive."

here in the golden place were offerings of fruit, of mutton, of fine cat's-furs and glittering baubles already received in trade. she invited the young prince and his servant to sit, asking a servant to bring pharaoh @Toula if she wished an audience. "now. tell me of your home. perhaps we have some things in common."