Swiftcurrent Creek One night, a few moons ago

There was something soothing about gathering—a monotonous task that did not require great concentration on his end, nor thought.

And yet, his thoughts drifted, as they always did—and Morwenna spoke quietly, causing him to still… a lump to be forcefully swallowed in his throat. “Morwenna, you… misunderstand,” he began, pushing himself from the trunk of the tree and back to four paws. His tail swept through the air one quick motion, a paw lifting to roll the moss to him as a bundle, brows knit as he gathered his thoughts. “My… feelings, or non-feelings of religion and divinity aren’t part of this warning I’m trying to tell you. I don’t wish to paint Toula in a negative light—she is young. Naively sweet, perhaps.” Gullible, is what he did not say. He didn’t truly know that, either, though.

“Her father was Pharaoh before her—from what I know. She took the helm and has worked to make Akashingo a better place. Before, though… They had many fellahin. Slaves. Some likely there as you believe, for the work of their divinity and sense of self. Others were bartered for—traded. I know this, because I had a… friend… who had escaped. She was trafficked as a pleasure slave for the Pharaoh at the time.”

Silvertongue had been many things to him—but a friend had never been part of it. Once held as the love of his life, he had thought.

She had chosen a different course.

“Toula insists those that remain are there of their own accord. She does not see the darker side of politics. So when I say you tread carefully among them, I not only mean for your own safety—but the balance you will need to maintain between Toula’s intention, and what she also might not see.”

Clearing his throat—the shadow wolf moved forward, closing the distance between them—the moss discarded, for now. A paw sought hers—gaze fast upon her. “My eldest daughter pledged herself in an arranged marriage to one of them at one point. Another barter, to better align the pack she had been in. Their generosity and hospitality is not necessarily given freely,” he reiterated.

“But there are those in those kingdom walls that do not deserve to have their children stolen or harmed. That is why we will assist in patrolling. For them. And for us.”