Rosewater Oasis The plagues

Samir laughed at the humble demeanor of the boy, leaving little room for argument.

"Do you think Ra’s gaze rests on the ordinary, Andalib? No. It is those who wander, those who stand apart from the masses, who are truly seen. But—I will say nothing further. I have led you to the path, now it is up to you to go down it."

He saw Andalib’s uncertainty, the way his paws pressed closer together, the flicker of self-doubt in his expression. Samir allowed the silence to linger for a moment, his tail flicking idly against the earth before he spoke again. "A life of freedom, then. No roots, no ties."

He hums softly, letting his gilded eyes rest upon the sandy wolf. Poking, prodding, at his features. "But perhaps you can create roots that do not tie you down. Not entirely." his tail swipes across the warm of the desert sand.

"My home. The Oasis. We are called Vahanet. You could be part of us. A Tah-Elçi, perhaps—an envoy of Vahanet. Free to roam as you please, to speak on behalf of the kingdom, to forge alliances. And always, the Oasis would be yours to return to. A home waiting beneath the sun’s warmth."

Samir tilted his head slightly, offering the sway of his wrist, a gesture of good will. "The choice is yours, of course," he said, his tone lighter now, though the undercurrent of his intent remained clear. "The sands are vast, and the paths are many. I will not blame you if you choose to leave once you've had your fill of the Oasis. It has much to give. Forever generous."

But the man can't help but look at the boy expectantly, a certain cold eeriness settling upon his mantle.