Serpent Lake Eye, tooth, claw, death

his muscles ache as he pushes out of the shale. it’s juárez; he’s worried something has gotten the jaguar by its tail. besides, he needs the exercise. he’s lost condition these recent weeks, playing conservative with the injuries khusobek felt fit to give him. 

a shape collapsing in the brush ahead informs him he’s not alone. he moves carefully, his one good eye narrowed in a squint. 

saff-iya, he gasps, tensing then. waiting for her retinue. but they are alone, just the two of them and their shadows cast by the moon. 

why is she out here?