Lion Head Mesa but i won't do that

A wise bard named Meatloaf once sang, "I'd do anything for love, but I won't do that." Vasya thought he had similar limits.

After nearly two moons had come and gone, and him still in the service of Akashingo, he realized that he actually, truly did not.

(Seriously - all this for some (admittedly great) sex?)

He walked the corridors, checking on those he served. No one seemed to be in the mood for wine these days, so, naturally, he was getting completely ripped on his own.

The political weather had turned dramatically in his time here. Some band of rogues was harrying the kingdom, and conflict was brewing. As a strong, healthy man, he expected to be sent to the front lines. 

As the lazy son of a bitch who had only ended up in this predicament because of his worse instincts, he was torn between lingering for any kind of second try at Medusa or slipping away one quiet evening.

Both seemed at once appealing and impossible.

tags for ref <3

war in the desert.
behind the banners of akashingo they had followed, but she and @Tiye went on with their guard.

she had looked for @Safiya at once, tossing her traveling-bag to a passing servant and keeping the young mazoi's sister close at hand.

when it seemed that such things were settled, tavina set tiye to cleaning her examination room and went out-of-doors for the herbs that had desiccated in her absence from akashingo. "mazoi. please escort me to the serpent," she asked, but did not stop her brisk pad toward the glitter of riverwater far in the distance.

cameo!

tiye was pissed.

safiya had ran off, even after everything. even after knowing that this war will soon truly paint the sands red. she was too young to give her life to this palace, even if it did love and smile down upon her more than anyone else.
her mind was a storm, thinking of what to say to her stubborn sister — but would she run away again? this time she'd lost an eye. what was next that safiya could lose? the other eye, her life?

tiye nods as she hurries to the medicine bed. she hopes it won't be for safiya or baba.

The little healer from the sister territory walked briskly, giving orders left and right. He received one, too, and gave a wordless nod before falling into step beside her, the pair headed toward water.

Was there fight? Vasya asked, eyes cutting sideways for a moment to take in her expression. The air was cool, but the overhead sun bright and hot. Any dead?

He hoped that this was the sum of it. Maybe he'd escape this little desert war with his hide intact, after all.

"i was left here," tavina said, attempting not to speak dryly. "before all this, one of our young warriors, her eye was put out." so in the dark he was. perhaps that was the role of a guardian.

"i hope to avoid more," tavina muttered, nodding in vague memory toward the tomb of satsu and ramesses as she and vasiliy passed.

on the banks of the serpent, she stooped at once to sort among the leaves of a dark fern.

You and me both, Vasya thought, but did not say, at Tavina's remarks. They finally made their way down to the water, where the healer began to dig in the reeds, looking for. . .well, whatever the fuck a healer needed down here. He'd assumed it was water, but maybe it was herbs.

I help? Vasiliy asked, cocking his head. 

Probably a mistake. But expediting the task would get him out of here sooner, and back to the wine—

Oh, that sweet wine. The last dose was already kicking in, and if he didn't reload soon, he would be asleep on his paws. The struggle was real, folks.

help offered. tavina watched him for a moment, then gestured at the plants. "i need at least seven of these ferns and these roots? they run deep. they'll have to be dug up. guard your paws."

the sesh started on the second of these now, using her claws to save some wear upon the pads of her feet.

"are you familiar with herbs at all?" she asked, an archaeologist stained now with rivermud.

He shook his head, beginning to follow her instructions as needed. The water was murky from their disturbance; it was strange to not see his paws when he plunged them down, raking up the necessary herbs from the water.

No herbs, Vasya told her. Prayers only.

The greenery was piling up, but he turned to Tavina at one point with an inquisitive look. Prayers needed? he asked. He knew the Akashingo wolves were religious—not of his faith, of course, but still attuned to their gods. 

But he would pray to his gods, anyway, if it would help.

"if you're that sort of person, i suppose," tavina said, not glancing up. "but i'm not. such an irony to live here and not believe, don't you think?"

at length the purple eyes lifted. "are you a priest then?" she asked idly, rearranging her greeneries for the return to their palace.

Well, there were always a few nonbelievers in a bunch.

It had never bothered him that much. His father had been incredibly debout; Vasiliy, not so much. Born with a healthy amount of skepticism, he'd accepted his birthright, but had never relished in it.

Born priest, Vasya replied. Father was priest—his father priest. Now. . .maybe not.

He brought his muzzle into the water, tearing away a particularly stubborn bunch of greens from the riverbank. The roots were strong, but his teeth stronger. He set the bundle alongside what they'd already collected, tongue swiping to clear the riverwater from his lips.

"a rebel then. a warrior where there once was god." she was teasing, of course, though her tone left much to be decided by way of amusement.

she inspected his catch with a briskly nodding head. "of course you could be a warrior for a god. paladins, i believe they're called." tavina bundled everything together and straightened. "that's all, i think."