Lion Head Mesa a final inundation

a god.

a man.

a woman.

the flesh fell away to fear but father was resplendent. cries erupted all around him but khaemwaset found some root of courage in himself.

blood streamed in the water; father's offering. the boy felt he could not give less.

his paw twined with neith's own. "we do not fear."

water rose around them, rose from heel to ankle to thigh to flank, but it was only her eyes he saw then, her gemstone gaze and the starred dot beneath the left; he felt her fear enter him and gave back what courage had been built in his young heart.

stones fell in heavy crashing around them but khaemwaset did not look away. 

"we endure."

a shadow darkened his face, a crumbled terrace of crimson rock hurtling directly downward toward his crown of gold and silken black;

"neith! look for me beside Osiris' hand! i will be there! i will be there!"