Lion Head Mesa you listen to a talking snake and there's gonna be trouble.

His time in the infirmary was remarkably short thanks to Tavina's attention, and when he finally felt able-bodied enough to explore Raimo did not think to ask her first. He got up, stretched, breathed deeply of the cool air within the mesa corridors, and made his way.

He passed individuals tending to all manner of work: meat being organized, beds being tidied, even as he passed the wellspring he saw fellahin sprinkling flower buds atop the water. It was all so fascinating! Raimo was tempted to ignore his debt and seek each of them out for questions.

The man had thought he had woken at a suitable time to be of use, but the other inhabitants — those not deemed servants — were nowhere to be seen. Raimo ambled along until he was above-ground, then looked to the sky and saw a dimming light upon the horizon as well as a diminishing purple glow.

The mazoi had slept cleanly through the day.

You're new here.

She found him looking at the twilight sky, and smiled, coming closer. There were stirrings within her she perhaps did not understand, and sought distraction wherever she could, especially in conversation.

I'm Lilitu. Welcome to Akashingo, she told the man. What brings you here?

Lilitu stood beside him, her own gaze admiring the onset of moon and stars and the colors of last sunlight.

A voice carried over his shoulder.

Soon a young woman was standing beside him, watching the sky as he watched it, and when she spoke he drew his attention away to look at her. The silvers of her pelt were made to blush with shades of lavender and gold, catching on the sharpness of her features; glowing faintly within her pale gaze.

Raimo, he introduced after her name was shared; her question came after that, and while he wished he had a grand story to tell her, he did not.

Heatstroke. Or something very much worse. There was an edge of mirth to his voice despite the rest of him being so ragged and unfriendly in apperance. It was no laughing matter - almost dying - but it would make for a good story one day, if he could spin it.

I have never seen a place such as this before.

Her lips pulled back in a frown. Heatstroke sounded awful, especially given her voluminous pelt (which, granted, shed a bit for the summer months, but not nearly enough). She spent most of her time in the shadows here, or bathing in the pool.

But he'd survived. Beautiful, isn't it? Lilitu replied, tail wagging. I hadn't, either. And it took some getting used to. How are you feeling now?