Lion Head Mesa thirty-ninth

for @Toula, @Sunspots, @Haizel and @Zaahira, no posting order, backdated to july 5th <3

the glare of the day dimmed as the party around the prisoner dipped below the mesa into the cooler rooms and hallways.

a twisting path eventually delivered them unto the spacious domelike entrance marking the entrance to the queen's throne room. flowers had been gathered here in profusion, and the finest gemstones, pelts, and gifts of akashingo auraed the young woman with a soft and wealthy glow.

senmut bowed low, his forehead to the floor for a moment before he rose. "great one. this man refused to fight alongside khaba. he then appears to have approached our borders and angered the mazoi."

greenstone gaze found each of them in turn. "we ask for your divine judgement upon his head."

Sunspots had a hard time keeping her fur from standing on end. For the first time in his life, he felt anger clouding his submission instinct.

If he could, if there were no more wolves around him and if he had been braver, he surely would have attacked Zaahira. However, his own fears and instincts that he had developed as a puppy prevented him from doing so. He had never scratched another wolf, and he wouldn't start today.

At the same time, however, his loyalty to Khaba (a loyalty he had ultimately broken due to fear) kept him from tucking his tail in front of those wolves. Trying to preserve what little dignity he had left, he jerked his tail and looked away rudely, like a spoiled child.

He had no intention of respecting anyone from that place. Khaba had earned the respect of the Sunspots, but no one in this place deserved that respect. However, hearing Senmut's words, the wolf looked at him, unable to stop his fur from standing on end. "I'm still loyal to Khaba, the only wolf that's really worth it" he snarled, noticing his tail twitching in rage.

Zaahira is silent.
Silent, as she trails wedged between Senmut and Khusobek. She does not look at the Omega. She does not look at the Sesh, either.
Silent as they come upon the throne room. Silent as she bows her head to the Divine One with a stoney expression. Silent as she comes to a sit with an oilslick scowl, shoulders back, head high. Silent as Senmut addresses the issue.
Mazoi are not to judge. They are to bring those who require judgment to the proper authority. They do not hold true power.

But that does not mean they do not feel.

Sunspots' repeated insults to the Queen bring a sharp inhale of ice to her lungs. His undying, hypocritical, cowardly loyalty despite his initial desire to betray him—
A seething growl erupts from low in her chest. But she does not say anything. She did not need to.
Osiris help her, the omega would fucking pay.

Toula listened, gaze shifting from one wolf to the next. they lingered upon the Mazoi for a moment, and she had been about to speak before the wolf spoke, looking with anger toward Senmut. 
she swallowed a laugh next. worth it? tell me how your Khaba is worth it, she asked of him. how deep did this now spoken loyalty run? what had Khaba ever done for him, but fail his own pack and subordinates… and therefore, he himself? 
and after came her following inquiry, have you come here to avenge him? Toula, who had been reclining upon her throne, draped one foreleg neatly over the other. 
perhaps Zaahira would taste blood after all, if it were so.

senmut is skippable until/if toula wants him back in! <3

how dare he.

a thunderous expression darkened his brow; with a flick of tail the prince signaled the guardians at the door to the throne room. be alert.

the young queen did not seem outwardly moved, and perhaps for the first time senmut felt the glissade of a true and glowing power beneath her smooth countenance. 

straight-backed, his scribe's ears ready to record all that was said next.

Sunspots tensed, but then hung his head in shame. "I don't want to avenge anyone" he whispered, annoyed with himself. He remembered Zaahira's words: And are you not betraying him right now, running to the Palace?

Sunspots felt afraid. There were several wolves who were willing to follow Toula's orders. "I come in peace, queen" he said louder "Other wolves have told me very well about your pack, I wanted to meet you" None of that was true, no one had told him about Toula. But, because Zaahira seemed to keep silent, he used that to his advantage.

He inclined his head "I never meant to offend anyone." Those lies were risky, especially if Zaahira decided to speak, but Sunspots prayed that everything would turn out well.

Haizel felt... odd. He looked odd, head angled so his eyes trailed the ground, ears pulled back in a solemn expression. His tail was tucked tightly around legs that he focused hard to not tremble, heart pounding in his ears and through his head.

He'd failed. It wasn't even his duty but he'd failed to help anyone. All he did was get in the way; try to bring about a peace that was about as tangible as him growing wings and flying. He'd failed himself.

The giant didn't meet anyone's eyes as he didn't feel anyone was even remotely willing to see him as anything more than some pest of a lump of fur; only listened for a verdict that was slowly dawning on him as a distinct option. 

One he wished he wouldn't have to hear.

It is then that Zaahira speaks up; calmly and monotonously. He is lying to you, Divine One. He came here to heckle me for my change of allegiance, and seek respite since Greatwater Lake is no more, her gaze whips over to him, but only briefly. but he knew very well that I was here and I do not believe he came here out of good will. In his words, I am a traitor of Khaba. Which may be true, but not without reason.
A sharp swallow, and then: But do what you must.

Toula knew who to believe. there was no question about it, and her eyes did not turn away from him as Zaahira spoke. she blinked slowly, and only said, answer me this: do you care to earn my trust?
she could grasp all of the reasons why Zaahira thought as she did, and did not blame her for them. it could be said that she thought along those same lines. but they had also brought him before her for a reason, and she did not think it to waste her time—
her gaze openly searched him for what they might see in him, to see it for herself. he lied to survive, she told herself. what a life he must have endured beneath the thumb of Khaba. 
the rest, though, depended on him… and what sort of life he now might hope to lead.

Sunspots glanced at Zaahira as she spoke, but looked back at Toula immediately.

Like his brothers, Sunspots lost patience easily. Maybe he was genetic, maybe it was just his upbringing that made him that way.

"I don't want to earn your trust" he growled, ruffling his fur. "I owe you no respect, no loyalty" he showed his fangs "Not after what your pack did to Khaba"

From Zaahira comes a snort, one of disdain. So you are two-faced, she faces the omega now. One second you tell her you mean no harm, that you wish to join us; and then you insult her to her face? a rumble, a roar, as she rises to her feet and shifts her shoulders.
She glowers in his face, now, tongue flicking from her lips the same way a snake tastes the air. Why are you really here? To accuse me of disloyalty as if you know me at all? To insult the Queen? For what?
The fire of her eyes flickers up to the Hemet-nekheb, ablaze. A knowingness.

to join? oh! this man was a test. Toula felt something ugly within her, something foreign and awful. she refused to nurture it, to let it grow. Toula felt colder, though, in this one’s presence, and did not like it. to Zaahira, she declared: it does not matter. I have seen enough. Toula found it in herself to look now to Zaahira with gratitude. and greater than that, the very thing this stranger before them did not have, before she looked to him once more.
we provided Khaba a mercy he has proven he would not extend to even one of his own. you are welcome—I imagine you might have been next. and for that, you owe me your life, Toula corrected coolly, and I give that back to you this day once more. I want nothing from a man I cannot trust.  
not even the answer to her other question—lies he must tell himself, to feel better about his misplaced loyalty. one day, when he was older, she prayed that he might grow wiser to see his error. 
go in peace. but do not return, unless you do not value the very thing I give to you now. a smile. she would not suffer his brand of poison, nor his delusions any longer. if he did not listen, he would be perhaps the first to find that Toula’s kindness was not a bottomless well. escort him outside of our walls, she dismissed him effectively.
and still she lay, comfortably and well protected—the command for something far more terrible on the tip of her tongue should he do something worse to displease her.

Sunspots realized his mistake too late.

Begging would be of no use, fighting less. But if he left here he would have to survive as a loner, and that was the last thing Sunspots wanted.

"I'm sorry, Toula" he said, lowering his head "Living in Khaba's pack wasn't easy" It was true, although he wasn't going to speak ill of Khaba, not directly "having lost everything, having lost the territory in which I hunted, having lost the life that I was beginning, it is too difficult"

He glanced at Zaahira "Give me another chance, ask me for anything." He didn't dare look at Toula

This is the most angry she had ever seen the Hemet-nekheb. She is cold, relentless; commanding. And yet merciful enough to spare his life.
He pleads, whines, begs oh-so pitifully, a circle around his weak, pea-sized brain scanning for something, any act that could possibly score him even a scrap of forgiveness. This is all a façade, and the decision had already been made. This, he must realize.
Flatly, she turns back to him; scorned, threatening, emotionless. Respectfully, fuck you. You are lucky you still have a head.
At Toula's word, she would snap his neck. But instead, she jabs her nose into his scruff and nips at him with sharpened teeth, hoping to usher him toward the exit.

he spoke again. her Mazoi snarls, justifiably, though Toula remains unruffled. this she believed, that living beneath Khaba was not easy.  but before this admittance he had disrespected her as easily as he had breathed! still, she held her paw aloft then, considering…
you defend a man better than he has ever defended you. you determine a way in which to prove your fealty to me, now, short of bringing any other to harm. come back within fifteen passing moons, and wait at the borders with proof of your change of heart. something that can be believed, Toula’s eyes were bright. 
she did not think he could not redeem himself. but as it stood, she did not trust the man who’s mind changed as swiftly as the prey did flee from the predator. until then, I want you out of my sight. now, show me you can listen, her ears leaned ever so slightly forward. he tempted fate, staying any longer than that.

Sunspots was about to reply to Zaahira, but fell silent when Toula spoke.
The wolf's eyes sparkled when he heard her "thank you, queen" he said, not quite sure what to say.

He just gave Zaahira a quizzical look before turning around. He could only silently thank that Zaahira was not the queen.

Now, a paw raised, a smack to his heels in order to get him moving. leave.
She would guide him from the throne room and back out to the surface, sending him away once she felt they were at a safe distance from the steppes.
One final, hardened glance, standing tall upon spindly legs. Do not even think of insulting the Hemet-nekheb again. You do not know how lucky you are to still be alive. Embrace it, for Ra has given you a gift.

She would depart with a proud march back to the Queen's side, where she would sit at guard, a wary look given. You are very brave to trust him, she whispers, but I respect your decision.