Spotted Eagle Mountain Or letting people close

@Germanicus Camp patrol thread, perhaps?

The camp that the imperator had chosen was not dreadful, but it was quite an open space. Khaba felt uneasy, constantly on alert.
When he woke early, he had half a thought to patrol on his own; however, he did not know this territory well. It would be foolish to do such a thing. Who knows- he could get lost, or worse, stumble down some unseen cliff.
So, to better his chances, he sought Germanicus, in the hopes that the man would agree to join him. With the man's company, it would also keep him far from Makono and where the mazoi could keep an eye on him.

the silent man was well-trained and suited for his role.

khaba was his name. germanicus knew there was more beyond the quiet watchful eyes.

he set off on a brief patrol. the other man was invited to keep pace. the eagle expected no words.

Acceptance.
To put it plainly, he was relieved. He was also grateful that the imperator expected nothing of him. Khaba could simply follow without need for more than his watchful gaze. It was a nice thing to experience for once. But it wouldn't last long.

every wolf of akashingo could be a spy. including those who did not speak.

he smelled wolf upon the wind. and bear as well.

he came to a tree scored by great claws and looked sidelong at the palace guard, wondering what he made of it.

Living a life without words meant that certain senses would be stronger over others. Khaba had grown use to tiring out his eyes and ears more than anything else. So when new scents were carried by the air, the mazoi did take notice until the imperator gestured towards the scarred trunk.
Shifting closer, he placed both forepaws along the bark and ran one through the marks, testing to see if they would match similarly to his own. 
The answer was no. 
A hard gaze befell Germanicus. Slipping back down on all fours, he shook his head. These were not marks made by wolf. 

bear. and close.

his nape bristled. he did not shy from the trail.

it was a black bear. a young male, the spoor told. it could be driven off unless hungry.

he did not look toward khaba this time. they would communicate in silence.

He saw it too.
Khaba's eyes narrowed to slits. Slowly, he drew away from the imperator and concealed himself in the shadows of the near assembly of topiary. 
Before settling in a low crouch, the dark figure sounded a small snort. If the bear took notice, they would be able to decide then how to act based upon the creature's behavior. If to show no interest, or even fear and depart by his own accord, no action would be required of them; but if aggression ensued, the two would be returning to camp with a scar or two.

germanicus exchanged a level look with khaba.

he chose a noisy approach with the intention of scaring the animal.

the eagle shouted a long snarl and advanced with long lunges. his tail slashed the air and he barked once.

the charge was on.

Khaba had intended to wait and see if the beastly creature would leave from even the small sound; but when the imperator charged forward, he knew he would be required to jump forward and aid.
So, with lengthy strides, the mazoi dove for the limbs, nipping with eager teeth to get his point across. If to fail, he would then aim his open jaw for its throat. He had no patience to wait and see if it would go kindly.

they rushed.

the bear was startled. it leapt away from the wolves almost sheepishly. germanicus snapped for its paw.

faced by two fighters, the poor bruin had no reason not to preserve its life. it reared up on hinds and swiped the air half-heartedly.

the eagle drove it back. khaba leapt for the throat.

Teeth met a thick jugular, sinking deeply. A warm, irony taste flooded his tongue. It wasn't a new sensation, but it still made him grimace. Khaba gave some weight, tearing slightly before releasing.
From then on, the mazoi continued to snap at the ankles, occasionally ripping tufts of coarse hair from the beast.

the bear gurgled. it swatted at the imperator who fell back at once and circled.

he meant to maul. but perhaps not to kill, even as khaba drew the throat's blood.

his own blows continued. claws arced from the air and struck him sidelong. once more he fell back.

A side view caught the imperator every now and again. The man swatted and bit, then circled. Certainly an apt strategy, especially when fighting a beast of great magnitude.
Khaba's own attempts were wearing the bear thin of energy. From its throat, he soon released, letting his feet meet the ground again. 
As Germanicus continued to do, the mazoi joined in, striking blows to the ankles of his forelegs. The more they pushed from the rear, the more irritated the bear would likely become. Then, surely, he would be smart enough to flee.

the bear was overwhelmed and bleeding.

it aimed a blow at them both.

and then it turned, lumbering away into the weald. he followed on stiff legs and then stopped. "well met, khaba."

that bruin was only the first of many enemies who would stand against the princess.

When the beast flew a blow, Khaba reared to avoid it, but was not so fortunate. A heavy paw drew a claw close across his snout. The mazoi snarled, snapping angered jaws in return. But the bear had already gone.
He turned then to the imperator, a crimson flow trickling from his muzzle. His anger had simmered, but was not yet gone. Khaba nodded simply to the man, but gave nothing else.

germanicus moved to clean the blood from khaba's wound.

"when we reach mereo, the matrona will look you over."

for now he applied pressure, using the extent of his field medic knowledge in that moment.

The man titled as imperator came closer. Khaba stiffened and paced a few steps away.
Then he mentioned a matrona... a healer, no doubt. It didn't seem like something in his best interest to be tended by a healer that was not an individual of his knowledge. Germanicus was one of few that he knew of; and he wasn't a wolf that the mazoi approved of.
The beast shook his head, signaling a brief "no". This matrona would not see to his wounds. He would do so for himself, or wait until they returned home and the sesh could do with his scars as she saw fit, for that was her place in the mesa.

germanicus was impassive. "pharaoh would care even less for me if his prince's body-guard died of preventable wounds."

he was not requesting and stepped off before the protector could deny again. 

he returned to makono now.

Wrap here?

The imperator was stubborn. But he was so only on behalf of pharaoh. How amusing. Khaba wouldn't have guessed Germanicus the type.
If he would not relent, then so be it. 
The mazoi would see this healer, but only after seeking his charge.