Two Eyes Cenote calling the scarlet sands

Briar arrived in the evening just as night fell. Whispers from afar brought to him a familiar name. Toula. It was one he remembered being spoken outside of the gates  of Akashingo. That had been several months ago now. A "divine queen." Or so the guardian stated.

His last desert expedition had been a misadventure he thought bitterly of. And yet, he'd be lying to say that he wasn't intrigued by foreign palaces and so-called divinity. Much to his surprise, the coronation was not within the red palace walls, but in the lowlands. And surprising still, he was welcomed warmly by coyotes introducing themselves as fellahin and ushered into the hall.

His meager gift of seashells he collected on the coast was eagerly taken and he was offered a strange drink in exchange. His nose wrinkled as a faint scent of rotten fruit wafted from the liquid. Skeptically, he accepted it. He took a few cautious sips to find it sweet. Dangerously sweet. Covering it with his paw, he refrained from further indulging. Keeping to himself as he took in the open air chamber. Various scents filled the room. So many wolves gathered from far away places. His gaze swept the crowd, perhaps for the familiar faces of the mazoi Zaahira and the impish little wolf that had assisted him previously. Finding neither, Briar sat back until the ceremony began.

And an impressive ceremony it was. Lavishly adorned wolves, lengthy titles, and song all kept his attention. He was struck at how young the woman of the hour appeared. A slight smile played upon his lips as questions sprang to the forefront of his mind. The resident wolves believed the young woman was godly, that much was apparent, but was that all it took to be a leader? The titles had no meaning to him. He doubted that they were from her own accomplishments. How vastly different life was here than what he was used to. Yet Briar still envied the luxury on display.

These thoughts would not be spoken. At the conclusion of the ceremony he politely joined the cheer before winding his way through the festivities to the feast.