Shy Deer Steppes Where the shivering dog rests

The warrior’s coat was layered with snow when he reached the steppes. His gait had slowed more than an hour before he had found his target, but he had not seen many leave the mesa territory.

Upon the steppes, Foxfur found a small cave where he could find some peace from the cold through the coming night. It looked out across the mesa. He would have a fine view of the southern side of it if the sun rose in the morning. With a frown, the warrior cast his gaze to the skies and searched the clouds for a sign of such a blessing. Darker ones loomed in the distance.

the man had been seen. tavina had been pulled out of her pharmacy by whispering fellahin. it was too cold for them to leave akashingo. and pharaoh had given an order.

it was why tavina found herself out of doors, blowing breath into frigid wind. her black coat stood out starkly against the red earth, and eventually the red earth became white snow.

"you have been given an invitation to come inside," tavina called when she spotted the stranger. he had lingered close to akashingo for a long while. and now he had caught the eye of the pharaoh.

A dark woman called out to him, offering invitation to enter the mesa.

Foxfur regarded her with a shrewd squinting of his eyes. He did not forget the words of the man who had met him – barred from the gates. The warrior did not wish to be tricked into making a mistake that would cost him. He had traveled for too long to watch everything crumble away.

A man in charcoal with silver upon his muzzle barred me from your lands. I seek someone I believe is being kept inside.

What did she say to this?

tavina shrugged a moment after he finished. "i don't know anyone here by that description." she squinted her eyes against the glare of sun upon snow, something she did not have to deal with at the mesa. 

"my order is directly from our pharaoh." she watched him, wondering if he would decline again. and if so, how would ramesses react? tavina did not want to have to be the one to tell the man.

The urge to join her was strong.

Foxfur did not know what a Pharaoh was, but he could piece together that they were of great importance to the mesa wolves. It did not bode well to hear that she did not recognize the description of the man who had kept him from entering the heart of the territory. The warrior did not like to feel like he was being made to play a game.

Tell me this, he barked out to her, is there a dark yearling in your land? A boy named Crowfeather. If she confirmed, he would have no choice but to follow her into the heart of the mesa. He could only hope they did not cross the path of the grey-muzzled man.

crowfeather. the name of her patient. tavina had not been given leave to speak of anyone inside the mesa. "maybe." who was he to order her around? she shouldn't even be on this messenger's errand. "you can ask the pharaoh. when you see him."

the end of her sable tail curled, tavina set off back down the steppes into the sand. if the man followed she would know, but she did not look back for him. the winter was harsh and she had a patient. whatever drama was about to ensue did not involve her.

A plume of his breath rose into the air.

The dark woman did not give him the answer he sought, but she did not give him anything beyond instruction to ask the one she called Pharaoh. Foxfur lingered for only a moment before he opted to follow her. The tired figure’s tracks in the snow were swift until he drew in behind her.

What is a Pharaoh? he asked.

oh, there he was. "pharaoh is the title. ramesses is the name. never call him by his name." the mesa loomed larger and larger. tavina was content to return. "he is the ruler of akashingo. only the queen is equal to him."

the nurse led the man up the steps. unbeknownst to him, crowfeather was closest here. she eyed the stranger and then started down the sloping path that led down into the mesa. active as usual, she led him past the fellahin, past the guards, and into the throne room where pharaoh sat with his retinue of pets.

"the stranger has come," tavina announced, standing beside the man and indicating that he should introduce himself to the white wolf in the throne.

The dark woman offered him direct answers. The man was called Ramesses, but he seemed to prefer being called by his title. It was a peculiar thing, but nearly everything about Akashingo had been strange to Foxfur. It was not a clan he would willingly spend his time in, he was certain of this much.

As the doctor led him into the Pharaoh’s throne room and presented him like an object, the warrior stared up at the wolf called Pharaoh. The traveler’s weary gaze was shrewd. He could see the servants who dwelled around him. They looked stricken with something – devotion, perhaps. Foxfur had never seen anything like it in all his years.

Greetings, Pharaoh, your- your dark-furred warrior has extended your invitation. I give my apologies, there had been a time when I had come and was barred from your lands by a dark man with greyed features. I have hunted on the outskirts of your clan since then.

The warrior dipped his muzzle slightly, hoping it would be enough.

I seek a young man. A yearling named Crowfeather. He is a prince to our people and his father has sent me to find him. The grey-muzzled one has led me to believe he is here.