Jodai left where Pharaoh’s people gathered and trailed back through the empty moorlands of their camp. He was anxious to begin the next phase of their campaign. But negotiations on the trade route were still in talks, and paranoia had shifted the blaze of his eyes to the mountains for surveillance.
Pharaoh had recruited a young mazoi, and it was this man with the startling green eyes he sought now.
“@Ra Ibrahim. I am Sapair, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. I don’t like the look of these hills. Come patrol with me.”

It was both staggering yet exciting that he was now in training to become mazoi for Pharaoh. Now it was time to prove himself of his worth to the Jodai, a wolf that went by the name of Sapair. Ra caught up with him easily, taking in the massive wolf's figure and demeanor the closer he got. A steady green gaze watched over the landscape before them, listening to every sound that caught his attention. A pleasure, Sapair. I am Ra Ibrahim. It is a pleausre. He kept it short and sweet. Now wasn't the time for pleasantries. It was time to keep watch over the area, and to make sure that their pack and divine rulers were safe. Of course, I'm right with you. The sand colored wolf kept close enough so that he may help if needed, but kept his attention to their surroundings with each sense keen on anything that might look out of place.

His young form bore armor, yet there was nothing in Ra that looked like a blatant killer to Sapair. He answered in silence and turned a brisk trot up the rocky foothills. The moors were damp and scarcely forested. Goat dung reeked the air. Jodai flexed his paws the way a guard might grip the pommel of his sword.
“As a new recruit, it will be your chief task to run perimeter patrols such as this. Medjay Taliba and I are charged with the safe conduct of Pharaoh and Queen Merneith. You may be assigned a lesser noble as needed. Have you ever seen the field of battle?”

The Jodai was dignified, quite and regal. Ra watched him as he rose up the rocky landscape, copper eyes stoic and focused. It was almost unsettling the way the wolf moved and acted, but he supposed that was normal for a wolf of his caliber. Never the less, he listened well to his mentor's words. A single nod came from the golden male, letting him know that he fully understood his role here. Talk of battle came up, and again, he nodded.

Yes, I have. Unfortunately my old home, our oasis, was attacked viciously. We were not a pack led of royalty such as this, so our warriors didn't have any specific charges. We watched over and protected all. Any who, I was taken from my world in the midst of the battle along with another wolf from my clan. Then ended up in this world.

Ra hoped that this was enough to convince him that he was in the right trade for training. Ra knew what bloodshed looked like and what would happen if his mission failed. Memories of what happened to his old pack came back to him slowly, causing him to mentally shake himself from the sights. He then focused back on Sapair as he continued to scout the moors.

They swept along the eastern rise, coming to jut of land upon which they could survey far into the valley below.
Jodai listened in silence and gave a stiff nod. The recruit’s story sounded familiar. Indeed, it seemed all souls entered this world in a kindred fashion.
“For many years I commanded a similar landlocked outpost,” his mouth twitched. The raucous settlement was no place for the faint of heart— certainly neither was the smell. It lent more credence to Ra’s experience as an infantry man.
“Dealings with the monarchy require a certain restraint. Though you’ve already managed to make an impression on Pharaoh. I trust you know how to conduct yourself before royalty. Our Horus Lord is especially insistent when it comes to his queen.”

Ra continued to follow the Jodai up the rise, taking in the scenery as they stopped to further their discussion on the past, present and future. He nodded in understanding, noticing very quickly the similarities between his own past and Sapair's. Memories of the war for his pack's oasis cling on to his mind. But the real start of the conflict is forever lost to him, hidden behind closed doors that would never again open.

The new recruit looked back up to him, making sure to memorize each and every word he spoke. Yes, I am very much aware of my etiquette when it comes to royalty. Though I have yet to meet the Queen face to face, I am aware of how Pharaoh is with the Divine Queen. I keep it in mind and close to the chest at all times. I am humbled to know that I have caught the Divine Pharaoh's attention, however big or small. I shall do my best to live up to his and your expectations. A promise that he would do his best to keep.


Sapair

The captain was assured by this and so allowed for companionable silence to settle. Up the hills they trekked, scented, sighted, marked, and were away again. Before long the men came upon a flatter rise where Sapair halted their business, ears snapping back toward Ra and heavy body following suit.
Now he would measure the youth’s reflexes and fight.
Jodai lunged, bull-chest barreling for the recruit, jaws splayed to take up what was not thrown quickly from his path.

The young recruit followed him up the trail without question, keeping silent unless spoken to. Such was the way of a Fellahin. They both stopped and proceeded with the usual sniff, sight and scent mark, both making sure to keep to their duties in protecting the pack and the royals. There was a sort of tense silence however, as they approached their final destination atop the hill. There was a flat piece of land, a stage for the pair, awaiting them at the top. Ra gave it a good look over, wondering what the Jodai had in store for him. That's when the attack came, the deciding factor in his place amongst them.

The golden wolf sprang to action, taking a side leap from his attacker. Mouth agape, he lunged for the man's legs and underside. Sapair was too big and bulky for him to try and overpower, so it was best to try and snuff out any weak spots by going for anything that might cause instability. Maybe it was the right call, maybe not. But it was better then leaving yourself up for grabs. Ra kept his ears back and body closer together, protecting any areas that might be left open. But his tail remained out and rigid, keeping him balanced and from falling. What was his superior to do now?


Sapair

For the first, Ra managed to hold his own, veering his great weight and size to strike at those parts deemed softer of the older man. In fact they were, as gravity and full guts of beer shaped that which had once been taut. But always a spar put life back into weary muscles, and the recent months of domestication fell away in a cobra’s parry, barreling into the youth’s chest, effectively ending the search for weakness.
In this time did Sapair round the man, feigning to one side before striking the other, teeth seeking that coiffed, gilded nape.

It was a brief victory. Ra had struck just barely on the man's back legs, the Jodai now ramming into him right in the chest. He could feel the wind being nearly knocked out of him, the sheer size of the captain nearly overtaking him with relative ease. That's when he saw the male round him, aiming for his golden nape. He did his best to tuck and roll from his pursuer, hoping that it was enough to not get caught in the man's clutches. Teeth aimed for his underbelly as he rolled, in defense if the man did grab him.



Sapair