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Vague re: BWP thread prior.

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He had run as fast as he could from the roaring place, where the water fell and fell and fell, leaving behind the etchings he had attempted to carve in to the wall there; whether they would last was a mystery, as they had already begun to crumble during their carving. He was bereft! Denial had led in to despondency. The snake had spoken the truth and Kwe'tau was going through the stages towards acceptance—but he was a long way from that.

Rage carried him only so far. Then he lost his fire, and in those moments after he realized his bag of goods had been soaked and ruined, and he would need to find new items with which to peddle favor of the people here. He mourned the loss of these little things! The stones that needed appraisal, now probably sunk to the bottom of the cerulean waters; the dried herbs ruined; what did he have left from his old life except his wits? And those, they were fraying!

Curse this place! He yowled in to the ether of night. I'm not supposed to be here! But he did not know what he rallied against besides fate, which he had never controlled. Send me back, whatever-you-are, out there! I have work to do!

[quiet yourself, dog, khusobek groused. your hide would make a fine throw for a queen. his eyes burned as pieces of ice lifted up from the sand, and he stood in bold confrontation of the spotted thing. there was no pack, else he might have been more hesitant to say anything. advancing in the manner of a man drawing sword, the crocodile flashed his fangs. stand down, and for the sake of the gods, be silent. tail lashed. a name must soon be forthcoming or he would strike, and in truth it had been a long while since he had fought. the idea appealed. he was wroth and tense by the horrible arrival of himself and the others to this beautiful place that held little connection for them.]

quiet yourself, dog, khusobek groused. your hide would make a fine throw for a queen. his eyes burned as pieces of ice lifted up from the sand, and he stood in bold confrontation of the spotted thing. there was no pack, else he might have been more hesitant to say anything.

advancing in the manner of a man drawing sword, the crocodile flashed his fangs. stand down, and for the sake of the gods, be silent. tail lashed. a name must soon be forthcoming or he would strike, and in truth it had been a long while since he had fought.

the idea appealed. he was wroth and tense by the horrible arrival of himself and the others to this beautiful place that held little connection for them.

He whined, and pitched his head back, and writhed a little bit as if to shimmy his emotions from his body; but there came a commanding tone from nearby, and as Kwe'tau righted himself he came eye-to-eye with a frigid iris and exposed teeth.

Immediately the man melted in to the dirt, splaying on his belly while his legs scissored. Ahh! I mean no offense, sharp-tooth. It was not for the mortal that he held contempt in his heart.

But wait! This was the first true living thing he had seen since the waterworks—!

Kwe'tau angled his long limbs and sat up more properly, scrambling in the effort. He looked wildly to and fro for his collection of baubles and realized he had dropped it a step behind, and hurried to get it, even though that exposed his back to the stranger.

All the while he was cavorting, he claimed: I am a traveling artist! You cannot begrudge me my spasms, sir. I will be quiet—but only if you look upon my work! He didn't... have... any work... which he had forgotten.

Opening his pouch, he let the contents free (and then caught the last thing before it could be shown; whether it was the water-stone he had fetched or something else, remained to be learned). Ah, by that I mean—I take commission?

A grin spread across his face then, and he tucked his pale tail around his feet.

[your spasms, grunted khusobek, amused despite himself. oh, yes -- he was familiar with those dogs and jackals of the dune, like flat-coated coyotes roving to and fro and just as untrustworthy. a natural prejudice existed in the wolf for these lesser canines, and upon its heels, his superiority to be captain of the guard facing little more than a servant. a servant. the red ears swung, and he took in the gleaming spotted coat and intent eyes for a moment of matched focus. an energetic creature, unable to be still. surely he lunged like this in hopes of distracting the man, but here khusobek did not relent. icewater eyes moved to the offering. you have nothing i want. however, he went on at a clip, i serve a pharaoh and queen who may make use of an artisan. boldly his threat, scarred broad muzzle taking scent while wide paws circled. what is your name? and are you able to calm yourself? despite the last, amusement. humour.]

your spasms, grunted khusobek, amused despite himself. oh, yes -- he was familiar with those dogs and jackals of the dune, like flat-coated coyotes roving to and fro and just as untrustworthy. a natural prejudice existed in the wolf for these lesser canines, and upon its heels, his superiority to be captain of the guard facing little more than a servant.

a servant. the red ears swung, and he took in the gleaming spotted coat and intent eyes for a moment of matched focus. an energetic creature, unable to be still. surely he lunged like this in hopes of distracting the man, but here khusobek did not relent.

icewater eyes moved to the offering. you have nothing i want. however, he went on at a clip, i serve a pharaoh and queen who may make use of an artisan.

boldly his threat, scarred broad muzzle taking scent while wide paws circled. what is your name? and are you able to calm yourself?

despite the last, amusement. humour.

He was a little... Wiggly, regardless. Sitting still was not something Kwetau was particularly good at unless he was focused and working; plus as soon as the guardsman mentioned a Queen—! Well!

I would be honored to work for your king and queen! I will have you know my master is renowned for works favored by many such blue bloods! I have learned much, and — And what did that matter now? The world had become so much smaller.

He deflates a bit upon remembering this fact.

Please, I only ask for some way to be of use. I.. I can behave. While most of Kwetau dropped, he remained restless enough that his eyes and ears darted and shifted to every sound and shadow. I am Kwe'tau al-Anjum.

[i am khusobek, mazoi of the kingdom satriya, which is ruled by the pharaoh khaemwaset and the queen merneith, Beloved of the Obelisk. he appended their title casually, wanting to see what the tradesman made of it. i will take you to where you can be bathed and then i will bring you to dinner with the royal pair, he intoned, glancing at the sky. but before we leave, i will search your collection of objects. and khusobek stepped forward to do so, watching to see if the spotted-dog would put up a fight or if he would allow these belongings the necessary riffle it took to assure the kingsman that there were no poisons or rotted things. the set of his body held a clear message that to refrain or to deny would be to invite the wrath of the heavy yellowed teeth. best now to comply. khusobek did not think that the man sapair would have denied him this task either. i can decide no such thing for you. only they might offer you respite and work.]

i am khusobek, mazoi of the kingdom satriya, which is ruled by the pharaoh khaemwaset and the queen merneith, Beloved of the Obelisk. he appended their title casually, wanting to see what the tradesman made of it.

i will take you to where you can be bathed and then i will bring you to dinner with the royal pair, he intoned, glancing at the sky. but before we leave, i will search your collection of objects.

and khusobek stepped forward to do so, watching to see if the spotted-dog would put up a fight or if he would allow these belongings the necessary riffle it took to assure the kingsman that there were no poisons or rotted things.

the set of his body held a clear message that to refrain or to deny would be to invite the wrath of the heavy yellowed teeth. best now to comply. khusobek did not think that the man sapair would have denied him this task either. i can decide no such thing for you. only they might offer you respite and work.