Skill — Hunter

It’s Hotep’s 100th post!!! I’m celebrating by giving him a dormouse familiar :3
Originally this was just gonna be a OS but I thought it might make a fun short thread, too! Only open to Satriya members since we’re in the middle of their camp at night haha

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Someone was stealing his food.

At first he thought it a miscount. Idle snacking. But it kept happening. Never when a lost morsel would leave him empty-plated, but especially after the fellahin had just refreshed him with a full meal. Only when he slept, or had left his nest long enough for a theft to occur. Never in the middle of his work.

And more than that… he had noticed things left behind in their place. Herbs he’d never seen before. Piles of seeds. Once — a very large green bug.

Trading, he decided. Someone was trading him items of… varying usefulness, in return for morsels.

Curiosity grew. Especially when they carried on along the road, keeping pace with the caravan. He never saw a single track. None percieved an uninvited visitor to his place of shelter. Did an untethered Ba take offerings to Duat?

Hotep was determined to ascertain the truth of it.

So on an overcast night with no moon, under cover of utter darkness, he left supper untouched and lay with his back to the slab of laden stone. Slowed his breathing, and felt his Ab beat slower in answer, feigning sleep.

He nearly slept in earnest — had begun to doze, as the hour dragged on.

Then came a russle.

Large desert ears swivelling to the sound, it took only a moment to pinpoint. There! By the dried fruits fellahin had provided him for supper.

Lifting his head oh-so slowly, sesh rose quiet to his feet, into a crouch. Still ears stayed fixed on the sound.

A mouse, he was certain.

Though no great hunter, Hotep remained a wolf, and the instinct to stalk and chase was in his blood.

He was also mindful of the hour, and potential mess to be made if he miscalculated. A wait, then, for the creature to be undoubtedly in open space.

But… Hotep was no great hunter.

The brush of his tail across the grass alerted it, rustling turned to fleeing, and Hotep leapt in a hasty bound for fear of losing his one and only chance at catching it in the act.

There was a clamour of scattered food and the loud crack of woven branches snapping against the brunt of sesh’s stumble. Followed by a loud squeak as he trapped prey beneath his paw — and then a louder YEALP as tiny teeth bit very hard between his toes.

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what a cute idea -- tag for ref!

at first, sitamun thought the queen had cried aloud. she sat up with heart in harsh gallop, her pulse thundering along the inside of her wrists. tonight she slept near the bower of the great royal wife, available in the night. Sapair had met her again beside the waters, and she had crept in delicious exhaustion to her simple pallet, twists of sweet soft hay.
its honeyed scent clung to the limbs and shoulders of sitamun as she peered in the direction of her royal lady's bed, but the arch of leaves was silent.
the fog here cooled the night to shivering; she put a cowl of antelope fur around herself and snuck lightly in the direction from where she thought the cry had come. this place was eldritch and dark, branches hanging stark like dead arms, tangled into the appearance of moaning faces.
surely it felt as though some touch of the crying death was here.
sitamun scented food, and then the light fragrance of setemhotep. sesh? her ears were rapt, and she moved until she could see the other. she had not spent a great amount of time with the physician, who was now often with pharaoh as they traveled, but the intimacy of their first true conversation had never left her memory.
now she hurried forward, the antelope-skin falling aside. what has set upon you? she asked, sitamun asked, eyes darting for any lash nor pawstep of impending danger, but none was found. her ironstar eyes moved back to setemhotep with more curiosity than fear now, gaze falling to a tiny form near his paw.

ty for joining :D

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Unwilling to relinquish the catch, he grit his teeth though the pain and adjusted his paws. Then startled all over again at the voice. Hotep took his eyes off his prey, back feet sidestepping and rattling the shaken branches again in a clumsy shuffle. In a loud whisper, he apologized, Sitamun! I did not mean to wake you.

A surge of angry squeaking followed suit.

Fur bristling, Hotep looked back down, sungold eyes dim and grey in the gathered darkness. Black-pearl eyes stared back from ashen fur, beneath a pair of comically large pink ears. It had stopped trying to break free, but had a stillness about it that promised further wriggling at any moment.

Someone has been taking from my meals and leaving offerings behind in secret. I wondered who. Now he knew, and could not confess to being any less perplexed.

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<3!

sitamun almost encouraged the physician in eating the catch, but something in his eyes stayed her tongue. you said it has left offerings? asked the bodyservant, sweeping away setemhotep's apologies without a mention. you know they are abominations of Ra. but maybe not this one.
delicate expression arched. now that you have the one sought, what will you do? this should exist beneath her, wanting to know what the young sesh would make of his capture. but her eyes denied no interest, and her pointed muzzle was quiet with anticipation. there was no reason he should not eat it, after all, but somehow, if it were sentient, that seemed a disservice.

At the word abominations, his prey let out a squeak that sounded rather indignant, and started squirming again.

I almost think it understands. Hotep blinked.

Another squeak, and... a nod?

Mice were born of silt and River vapors — beings of powerful creation which, unchecked, spread vile pestilence in great number. They stole consecrations from temples, and grain from stores. But their creative prowess could be channeled for good or for healing when consumed.

The best course, then... was to eat it. Or prepare it for others to eat.

What would he do? Sitamun's question hung in the air, heavy as the humid fog that so often covered this strange land.

Hotep sighed, It has done no harm. So far. Perhaps my curiosity gets the better of me, but...

He lifted a paw, and the beast ran free.

It could easily have vanished into the dark. Instead it retreated only a short distance before turning to face them again, considerate. Then came creeping back, slowly, to a handful of unbloomed flowers. Tonight's trade. With emphatic gesture, it picked them up and set them closer to his feet. Small paws pat the buds, then palms splayed in what he felt could only be described as cheek... before at last darting out of sight.

Hotep cast a sideways eye at Sitamun, lip quirking.

sitamun watched the interplay between mouse and sesh with more than a little amusement. setemhotep seemed genuinely bewildered, delighted even, and the little creature returned when it did not need to do so. so you have a sorcerer's tool, she teased in the knowing voice that could only be wielded by one versed in such matters. what ever will you do with them?
for had it not heard her own insult, and reacted? suggest that your companion bring such petals for our queen, and you know that pharaoh may make them a noble. she was laughing, jesting, alight somehow with the incredulity of the moment and the trust she felt in setemhotep.
i have seen this myself, and so i believe you, and so you must keep me appraised of what your mouse does next, she said, her smile at last falling away but her eyes no less jubilant.

So it would seem… Nothing in the creature’s behavior indicated it had been scared out of its self-appointed ritual. Now that they had been introduced, he hoped it would be more conspicuous in its arrivals. Admittedly, he was curious how such a spirit could find itself in such a body.

Hotep could not hold back a quiet laugh at her suggestion. A mouse for a Neb, now that would be something! The image of it sat beside Pharaoh, dressed in fine gemstones as it surveyed fellahin in divine-appointed self-confidence, was certainly amusing. I fear it will be hard to fashion ornaments suitable to their, hmm, stature.

But she made a fair point. Even in jest, there was something practical in the idea. And he assumed the mouse was still listening, even if hiding now.

He sat upright, still grinning, If it is inclined to stay, it will require Pharaoh’s permission, will it not? How else shall the rest of camp know this one, particularly, is not for eating? You may be hearing more on the matter sooner rather than later, I am thinking.

sitamun was suddenly seized by a fit of irritation for setemhotep's magnificently submissive behavior. here stood a man who had once held the highest of all holy roles within his land, reduced to some servant who simpered over mice. but her liking for the young sesh forestalled any harsh words rushed hard and hasty to the priestess' smiling mouth.
she decided that if she did no other thing, it would be to see the man returned there. bring your friend to me when they have come back, invited the fellahin. i will bless them as one of Nepthys' creatures before you go to pharaoh, and they will be free from harm.
at very least, sitamun could manuever a situation in which she might hear the clear melodiousness of setemhotep's voice raised beside her in a very old prayer. they were both breaths of a different time, she knew, and she was loathe to part with any aspect of that final string.
her grey eyes were light. it is a good sign. and it is a better omen that the mouse has come to you, physician.

Had the night not been so dark, he might have noticed her flash of displeasure, and seen fit to wonder over it. Even question it outright. But he did not, and to Hotep's mind even now they only bantered over this remarkable event.

I will do so. He agreed, ear flicking toward a telltale rustle which affirmed this new friend did listen a short distance past. And I hope it will appreciate the honour you give it. Of omens he hesitated to commit outright agreement towards, though he could not deny the gods had moved in unexpected manners of late. If this is how Ra wishes to show his favor to a sesh, I will not refuse it. But he has sent a strange messenger indeed!

it is not strange for a god, sitamun pointed out, though the furor of frustration had left her. if this was who setemhotep wished to be, was led to be, then why should she question at all?
she was left, then, with a gentle amusement, an appreciation for the sheen of his companionable eyes as he looked after the mouse. he was a gentle man, and she hoped that the royals and their demands would not jade him.
will you come for a swim? she asked on impulse. here the nights are much cooler, and still my body desires the strain of a long swim.