Redsand Canyon farfalla

From the wind and rain she slips betwixt red rocks, dark shadow blending into the earthen walls. For a brief moment she pauses to watch the sun dip below the rim, casting the canyon in a brilliant golden glow before it was gone just as quickly.

If it weren't for the scent that clung to every wall, she would rest here tonight. The sharp pangs of hunter draw her onwards.

She must be careful now, this place was not hers. The hunter could become the hunted as quickly as a butterfly sprouts its wings. But she is unafraid. Picking her way carefully beneath the arches, she seeks a trail.

---

ajaw moves through the suntouched red rock, the redsand warm beneath his paws, despite the lingering chill of frostthaw of the world 'round them.

ajaw's steps are assured, leisurely ... until their path crosses that of a stranger.

steps move then with clear purpose: to intercept.

they are not overjoyed a stranger lingers inside their claim but they temper the worst of their instincts. for now. perhaps there was a breach of the scent markers that ajaw or the holcan have missed.

but their patience for such mishaps was rapidly thinning.

this one greets you. ajaw calls out switching to the tongue of many out of default, words commanding the stranger's attention.

Cameo for now unless things escalate or she's interacted with!

Sovereign was not far when Ajaw's voice rang through the canyon.
Immediately her body shifted into a prowling lope to stand a couple short paces away from her Lord's flank.

She would stay silent unless spoken to, remain in place unless commanded otherwise. 
Her amber gaze held Ajaw's muzzle in her peripherals in case of receiving an order.

same here^^

xtabay watched the pale girl move with haste. with furrowed brows, the shadow followed; curiosity had trumped her rest. it was then she saw the stranger a distance from her ajaw. a rather foreign feeling of sympathy resided in her gut as she looked over the ebony woman. despite this, la xtabay's face held a scowl as she furtively approached.

she sat herself beside the young warrior to watch the scene play out, nodding her head in acknowledgement. she felt the lone woman would not be one to pick fights; the fur along her spine lowering from it's previously raised state.

They emerge like snakes one by one from the shadows of the canyon. Time has caught up to her, it seems.

She regards the first as he speaks, gaze flicking lazily to the next, a giant ghost of a wolf, and finally to the last, a shadow in the vastness of her companions and the canyon itself.

"This one greets you too," voice drawls, raspy from disuse. Almost relaxed, she steps closer to the bicoloured man, gold eyes level with his silver.

---

not far behind ajaw come the holcan and young holcan in training.

doe-like tail flicks behind them once, swift; like a cobrastrike. it lifts as the stranger steps nearer and ajaw catches glimpse of her golden gaze.

ajaw's chin lifts, lip curling to accompany the low growl of warning they give; needled by the repetition of their own words back at them ... unable to determine whether they were being mocked or not.

this is tikal's claim. thin and fraying string of patience snaps; quietly. perhaps in this, in the lack of the volatile: most dangerous. retreat to the borders and this one will speak to you ... refuse and you will feel tikal's teeth.

Like her sisters, she notices this approach. But unlike them, she does not keep too much distance between herself and her ajaw. 

Approaching slow; like a lumbering bear, she stops at his flank.

There is another stranger here. One none of them knew. But Kukulkaan seemed intrigued. They would talk together, and Sabah will stay to watch. Wary of the stranger, but still curious, the same as her ajaw.

Another came, a great lumbering beast. She regards her also with the same hard gaze, albeit with a flicker of concern carefully concealed with a slow blink.

Ears swivel as the man speaks again; an invitation. And a warning. Tikal, she learns - the canyon is theirs.

Turning, she starts back the way she came, steps slow, drawn out. She is no match for them, she knows this, still she cannot leave this place just yet. They are strong and they are many, but perhaps strength is not all they need.

She twists her head until the man and his posse come back into view. "We speak alone."

---

she retreats.

ajaw follows, keeping hawk-like watch upon her.

hackles bristle at her words, coming across to ajaw as command. would it have been asked as a request, ajaw would have obliged ... but they were in charge here. of this place. of this situation and they would refuse.

no. rumbles the feathered serpent. one comes with this one. not because ajaw, formidable warrior themselves, needs protection. no, it's a power move. a reminder that she walks upon tikal's sands, would stand at tikal's borders.

to @Xtabay and @Sovereign he commands as he walks, do not follow, go back to your patrols and training. knowing that even if sovereign did not fully understand the redsand tongue, xtabay would be able to communicate it, in one way or another.

to @Sabah, she makes commands of this one. you will join this one, as a show that she does not command kuhul ajaw.

whether the stranger decided to stay and talk when they reached the borders was up to her.

This woman tries to command ajaw? How dare she!

Sabah is ready to spring; to show this woman manners. But ajaw beats her to it. He too is angered by her behavior, but luckily, does not give in to these demands. 

The other two of company would leave, and Sabah would stay. Ajaw commanded it, and she was more than happy to oblige.

When he moved, she moved, not far in step of his nearest flank. If the woman dared to argue against this, the holcan would be ready. But in the meantime, she would only watch and listen; fully on alert.

Exit for Sov!

 

Sovereign listened as Ajaw and the trespasser spoke, the seeming lack of respect that made ripples among her fellow Tikalians. 
Though the pale yearling didn't quite see it as this at first, she was quick to heed her Lord's command, and without hesitation she turned to disappear back into the deeper parts of the Canyon, assuming the shadow-Holcan was coming with her.

assuming Xtabay left with Sov - let me know if this isn't ok <3
she is attempting to join but I'm okay with any outcome!

She sees him boil at her words and her eyes gleam with a wicked light. It was not her intention to antagonise him, but she finds herself enjoying it all the same.

He speaks then in a foreign tongue, nose wrinkling in a scowl as they walk and she does not understand. Two slink back to the shadows whence they came and the beast-woman follows - not alone but the next best thing. She will pay no attention to her lest teeth meet skin.

They reach the borders then and she speaks, turning once more to gaze at him. "I make you an offer. Your lands and food for me, myself for you."

Slithering closer still, she whispers into obsidian ears. "I have killed before."

---

the woman is bold. ajaw struggles with whether it irritates them or fascinates them. only their holcan speak freely in their presence, are allowed to come as close as the dark woman slithers now.

like a serpent.

shoulders tense, trusting sabah to be still, lest their command say otherwise.

as have all of this one's holcan, ajaw speaks simply. this one is called kuhul ajaw. the ajaw of these lands. a title. never their name.

it is reserved for few. the holcan being the rare ones that knew it.

if you join tikal, know that you will learn to show this one and the holcan proper respect. disobedience was an unforgivable offense ... and not just to ajaw.

They try to come closer. 

Sabah tenses, lips unfurling. But she does not move. She will not without ajaw's command.

They go on to speak, ajaw telling this woman the terms of her joining. Will she accept them, or refuse? Sabah wonders this, studying them carefully.

As have all this one's Holcan. "Then you will not be disappointed, Ajaw," she adds quickly, pulling away slightly until her muzzle is a feather's distance from his, beast-woman's objections ignored. If she is disappointed her feats do not impress him more then her face does not show it.

Quietly, she wonders what these titles mean - warrior perhaps? The man - Ajaw - leads them undoubtedly. 

An olive branch is offered and she knows she must take it, for her body she thinks will not last much longer. "In time, Ajaw, as with your Holcan. Your kindness will not be forgotten." Placing a lick upon his chin, should he allow it, her head dips as her gaze falls to the redrock.

She hopes her actions carry across the sincerity she means should her words not. "I am yours to command," an afterthought, "call me what you wish." Not a name, but she is not ready to let that part of her go just yet.

---

she appears to accept ajaw's words, though they do not put full trust in words but rather actions.

ajaw accepts the lick to their chin, rising it a few inches higher.

you will be addressed by rank. winak, for now. until you earn another. it's tongue of many translation was not so kind ... lingering somewhere in the realm of peon or serf.

come, this one will give you a tour. a gesture of their chin: a silent motion for sabah to either join in the tour or veer her own way.

This woman was accepted, as winak.

Sabah knew ajaw was slim with trust, as was she. But hopefully this would change over time.

When ajaw prepared for them to depart, she knew this was not a time to stray far. She would join them, falling back a bit from the pair so that she could keep a close eye on the new winak. She was now the holcan's focus and subject of interest.

fade?

The trio depart and she enters the canyon once again, as Winak. 

Though her trust runs thin also, she is grateful for Ajaw's acceptance and wishes only to grow stronger beneath his gaze. 

She falls into a tense silence following the lead of Ajaw while beast-woman's gaze burns her from behind. Uncomfortable, though beginning to tolerate her presence, she figures she is his guardian of sorts. Nevertheless earthen ears remain swivelled backwards the remainder of the tour.