Lion Head Mesa tempus frangit

The last thing Reyes wanted to do was visit this place, but he knew it was habitable and well stocked with all manner of supplies. He knew too, that he'd royally fucked up the last time he'd come this way — but Brecheliant was at least two days hard march away from here, and he wasn't in a good enough state to make it, which Reyes was painfully aware of.

He'd pushed himself to get this far. There had been help - some from healers, some from strangers - and with such a short distance to go, he was mightily tempted to say fuck it and push onward. His wound was still infected; there had been treatments and attempts, but he was so focused on returning home that the poultices hadn't lasted long. It was his own fault. Reyes knew he should've been careful.

The man weighed his options. He could've probably lasted another couple of hours before the pains of his body got the better of him. He hadn't eaten anything in quite a while, and the lack of fresh water was spiraling him through a migraine and in to delirium.

He needed mending, and food, and a decent night of sleep. He was so close to home now that he was mightily tempted to continue on, fate be damned - but as he crossed along the outskirts of Akashingo's claim he found himself too desperate to continue. He was gritting his teeth against the pain of each step by the time he was forced to stop, slouching in to the sand.

In the distance was the palace where Reyes knew he wasn't welcome.

tavina had not been present for the unfortunate first part of reyes' saga to akashingo.

the sesh saw only another wounded man, another patient, upon their far borders. she knew enough to see he was hurt before inspection. tavina sent nazli back to the palace, to bring a sheaf of emergency medicine, and approached the wolf at once.

"what happened to you?" she asked dryly. "you're in horrible shape."

A shadow came to him. He was cognizant of the fact it was speaking, and knew on some level that meant it was alive and real and not some part of his feverdream; he didn't know the face that drifted before his eye nor the voice in his ear, which meant it was a stranger.

I did what I had to do, he said. He sounded confident at first. The words were genuine but held a rehearsed quality, as if he were speaking a mantra. I had to save her. He wasn't present after all. Whatever had been done to mend his leg hadn't done enough in time. Reyes was weakened once over by the wounds and their festering, again by his hunger and his thirst, and lastly by the memory that haunted him.

another addled man. "she's not here, sir," tavina said dryly, stooping forward to look into his eyes. "you'll need to come with me. you're on akashingo's land after all."

she moved to assist him, the firm set of her jaw inviting no talkback.

Not here? No, she wouldn't be here. She was gone years ago. He blinked at the dark shape as if he didn't see the woman there at all - and perhaps he didn't, because her mention of Akashingo did not warrant any reaction good or bad from him, as it might've had Reyes been healthy.

He was obedient, though. He stood up on his shaking limbs and did not even strike her when she moved to help him. Her touch was cool and refreshing. She smelled strongly feminine; but also of the clay of the earth.

Fade?

<3

he heeded. she helped.

tavina would find the stranger to be very intriguing as time went on. for now, he was her patient.