Lion Head Mesa silver skyline

Meridian returned. It had only been some weeks, taken to wander somewhat further Northeast. She didn't much like what she saw. Too much snow. Hardly anyone willing a conversation. Boredom. Soon, she returned to the Mesa, unbeknownst to the fact that she was a suspect to a serious crime there.

akashingo was left in her hands.
the search with semer-wati and kingsguard yielded no results. zaahira, filled with a simmering guilt, kept to herself in her return for a time. she spoke with Sekhmet, prayed about it, bit at her nails; and every time, she felt her warm lips against her ear. trust in me.
while wandering the ghostly paths along the mesa's exterior, a familiar silhouette casts a long shadow along the rocks, and for a long stretching moment, the jodai is halted. Sekhmet delivered in time.
and many moons ago, she may have been much more forgiving — but she had a princess to find.
immediately came the strike of zaahira's jaws, snapping, crushing, aiming for the golden ruff; her nails dig into the ground in the hopes that weight and force alone will be enough to drag her to the catacombs for questioning.

Meridian had done nothing wrong.

She didn't notice the zealous Jodai until it was too late. With a fearful, furious yelp, she was quickly subdued. Her scruff throbbed with pain. Resistance would be futile, but the priestess struggled nonetheless. 

Are you crazy?!

The coyote girl is dragged. He remembers, also, that this has happened before. Rashepses was not blind, even then. This was long overdue. Kingsguard moves to prepare space. "I will clear way to the cellars."

mesen-ka is not far behind her. a smirk of approval drags her stiff lip upward; the coyote-girl is dragged haplessly.
it's a long walk to the catacombs, and every step of the way zaahira's grip only tightens. she can taste a hint of blood; but at the end of the day, it does not matter. her muscles ache with the pulse of adrenaline as she leads the girl toward an open cell.
the jodai takes a seat in front of her, and kingsguard is directed to keep watch. you are to remain here under surveillance by the order of the palace guards, and you are to answer any questions we ask you truthfully, her tongue passes over her lips in a serpentine motion. we have reasonable suspicion that you may be involved in a murder.

She glared at both of them as she was dumped on the floor. Fools! Heathens! Regretfully, she held her tongue. This wasn’t the time nor the place for insults. She wanted to protest, to argue her innocence. In due time, Meridian told herself. Instead, she sighed, voice exasperated.

Ask what you want. I have nothing to fear.

There will be none who interrupts their conquest today. Answers will be found, so it is Mesen-ka who waits beyond the cellar. There's nothing in his eyes except his own fealty as he sits, a way in which body has moved that announces, 'I will be here.' He is here. What the coyote girl knows, they will know too.

one of our priestesses was murdered near our sister, muat-riya. a royal daughter is also now missing.
the coyote girl is fierce, reticent; mesen-ka waits by the doorway. zaahira's nails tap against the cool sandstone floor.
there was coyote scent at the scene, and we are well aware of the rogue group who live further into the desert. are you one of their members?