Arrow Lake jul nab

for @Xtabay

---

spearlake.

the afternoon is cool but not frigid, the sun unobstructed in the dreamy blue sky.

@Sabah remains always near them, their companion in these trips outside the canyon ... in this continuing search for their holcan commanded to the four winds of the wilds before their entry. one holcan was sufficient ... until proven otherwise.

ajaw was not ready to unleash their full might upon the wilds, to show the ( believed ) godless wolves that call it home the power they wield.

the holcan were unmatched, ajaw believes with feverish reverence of a worshipper themselves. they were power.

it is for the remaining sisters that ajaw searches for; weathered eye searching closer to the suntouched canyon tikal had begun to claim.

Sabah walks close, never far. 

It is ajaw who gave her rebirth; fighting chance; the respect she never received. This all and more. And so, to return this debt, she gives her service willingly.

Ajaw searches, and she knows what for. The remaining holcan, for they are nothing without their sisters. A team to be revered. One never to be underestimated. 

Ajaw think they close? She said they, though she did not know how many remained. Some may have followed. Others, perhaps not.

her travels were provident and hurried, but xtabay felt she had ventured to far. the shadow had turned the direction she came, seeking for scents or tells of her god, her sisters. she roamed beside the sandy shore, searching.

there was no panicked hurry; xtabay knew she would find her ajaw. she had planned it, every step from her body would be serving them. every step would be with the holcan. xtabay would spill blood with no avail for them all. they had seen through the clouded past, the rumors, and even the truth. she would continue to think of it each time she woke, this was her life.

the shadow's ears pressed forward, eyes following the sounds shortly after. a familiar aroma resided in the air.

❝ajaw?❞ she called.

---

sabah asks her question and ajaw interprets it as concern. this one does. there is no doubt in their abilities, no doubt that the four winds of the wilds ajaw commanded them to would bring them to the suntouched canyon.

their home.

or to ajaw who searched for them.

ajaw?

ears cup forth to attention atop their head, frostbound gaze scouring the lake for the holcan; footfalls taking them in the direction of the call.

holcan. rumbles ajaw in warm greeting as they draw nearer and her form comes into their view. this one greets you. ajaw would move closer in an effort to touch their forehead to her's in their usual gesture of greeting the holcan.

He had been right. One of her sisters was in fact here. For she came to greet them!

Once greetings had been passed between the two, Sabah would lumber forward to also greet, head bumping the others shoulder. Good to see sister.

a smile was faint her expression as she pressed her head to her ajaw's. xtabay then sighed a breath of relief as she greeted sabah as well. her eyes danced between the two of them for a moment before speaking.

❝ajaw, sabah.❞ she nodded, the corners of her mouth still tugging into a smile. ❝there's no shortage of packs here. we're surrounded on many sides, some farther than others it seems. did you find the others too?❞

xtabay communicated tactfully, ready to offer everything she had seen. these wilds were truly awing, as far as the inhabitants- they would have to see.

---

there were packs on the other side of the suntouched canyon. this was not something that had gone unnoticed by ajaw but as there was peaks between them on either side with the canyon cradled betwixt those peaks, ajaw does not see it as trespassing.

and even if they did ... they do not particularly care.

the comfort of their neighbors is not their concern.

tikal and it's neighbors would either live in peace or they would not.

this one thanks you for the report. ajaw speaks, not wishing to dismiss the information given.

many of your sisters have reunited with this one and are in the canyon, a gesture of ajaw's muzzle in the direction of the canyon. few are still completing their reconnoissance tasks.

skipping heretic with permission! <3 sorry for late reply ^^

xtabay listened earnestly; her ears were facing her ajaw. then with a sense of relief, the shadow figured she may be patrolling the sands of the canyon rather than the inital reconnaissance. though her sister's still roamed farther.

❝am i to continuing seeking the others out, or will my efforts be better spent holding the canyon?❞ she expressed her wonders so freely, despite wanting to quiet herself already.

she had not heard her voice for a time but already dreaded using it. xtabay glanced around them before looking towards the way they came.

---

a question posed; a moment to consider where ajaw would her placement be.

to search for her sisters or remain in the canyon?

stay with your sisters in the canyon. ajaw decides. this one would not have the holcan spread too thin, and as this one intends to search still, the force of the holcan should remain in tikal.

last from me! :>

❝of course.❞ she'd responded, he was right.

the umbra would follow their way back to canyon, eager to see this place as home for the time being. there was a part of herself not willing to admit it, but she was just as eager to see her sisters.