The guardians longing...

[Lox]

Deep within the endless sea of sand that makes up Egypt the Maket empire flourished along the life giving Nile river and under stern rule of an empress of well known power. At it's peak of wealth and dominion the capital city lay sleeping as the cool night gave way after another blistering day of unrelenting heat. Even in this calm state the city missed the presence of their vagrant empress who was once more on a pilgrimage to further the reach of her empire. But one soul missed her presence more deeply and sullenly than anyone else in the city, which was understandable since he was her personal guardian. To Lox it was as unnatural to be away from her as it would for him to live underneath the sea, but he could not demand of his mistress to take him along everywhere she went no matter how much he wanted to be with her. Stalking the palace grounds as he endlessly would when she was away the servants and even those of higher power gave him a wide berth, as it was very unhealthy and dangerous for anyone to approach a denizen of Anubis in such a dark mood. In some realms Lox would be referred to as a werewolf, and while he was capable of taking on a human the moon was full this night and being human was out of the question. While his memory didn't extend past his service to the empress it was said he was found half dead and still vicious in the desert heat, and since killing an obvious creature of Anubis would doom the city the empress's ability to pacify him was seen as a blessing from the god of death. Regardless of weather or not he really was destined to be a guardian didn't matter in the least as far as he was concerned. All he knew was that his mistress was away, and he wanted her back. Badly.

With his lady away it was hard for Lox to function properly considering his entire life revolved around protecting her, but that was not the only case when the moon was full. Like most of his kind he tended to be far more... frisky with the moon waxing, and almost uncontrollably horny when it was at it's peak. It was true that given his position and considered a denizen of Anubis he could have his pick of servant girls and even women within the city but none of them could compare to the mistress he served. Growling low and agitatedly Lox inadvertently sent a group of scholars and servants scurrying away as he circled the entirety of the palace again, slowly going mad as his instincts drove him on in awaiting for his master's return. The Empress was known far and wide for her beauty and magnificence but he sorely believed she left him behind so often and flaunted her self around to drive him wild. It was hard enough as a human not to examine every single curve she presented but as a werewolf it was nearly impossible not to pounce her. Worse yet she was supposed to be back at the palace any minuet now which was both a blessing and a curse for him. The wind was blowing in the direction of the palace entrance and with him in this form he would go streaking towards her the moment he caught her scent but dammit if he couldn't get the other thoughts about what he could do "with" her out of his head!

Even leaning forward and stalking about he was an imposing sight standing at six feet five inches, that and wearing leather that was dyed the same midnight black as his fur more than a few people changed direction or blatantly ran away at the sight of him. He was heavily built, and known throughout the city and the army to be a deadly fighter that was doubly so when the Empress was away for any given length of time. All he could think about at the moment was her tantalizing scent that made his fur stand on end and how very soft and smooth she looked after the servants bathed and oiled her during the day and at night. Oblivious to the fact that he was still growling viciously Lox couldn't shake the dreadful regret of never touching her in a lover's manner, even if it would be a huge taboo. Though he couldn't be blamed solely for such urges considering it seemed to amuse the empress hugely to tempt and entice even if she wasn't doing it willingly. Gods! Even the way she walked was enough to excite any man but he was sorely tested not to show her such urges to deny her of any enjoyment she might have at his discomfort. Choosing to stalk near the palace entrance he would have to catch himself the moment he caught her scent to keep from being seen so impatiently waiting for her even if basically every one in the palace knew he was markedly more dangerous and sullen when she was away. Where in the hell was his mistress at!

 

[Osheaga]

• 
  
  It was customary for the Mykonos to complete a pilgrimage once every year to the Stilshrine, a glorious however abandoned monastery to the Northernmost reaches of Egypt. The Stilshrine was "nonexistent"; it was absent on even the most detailed maps and scoffed at when mentioned. Only the Mykonos - messiahs and prophets to the Old Gods - knew of its whereabouts. Eryute, the high prophet, was the most secretive of the Myknonos. She kept her existence hidden from the world and operated primarily whilst ensconced. She would - from time to time - commission aesthetically appealing men to appear at social functions in her stead.
  
  "She won't like this." A group of linen-clad servants stood in a half circle near the palace's entrance adjacent to its grand, marble forged pillars. "She dislikes company. A warlord? It's unusual that we invite tyrants into our homes." One of the elder servants chuckled. Her lips twisted into an almost snug grin as she neatly tucked her arms behind her back. "You forget that our prophet is a tyrant herself. She is perfectly capable of entertaining Lord Iferit. Think nothing less of her." As they continued gossipping amongst themselves, they stopped, their voices curbed by the overbearing presence of a rather lethargic shade. Eryute's loyal protector, Vox, appeared to be heavily hindered by his mistress' absence. He moped around the palace from dawn to dusk, dragging his oversized feet across the polished marble.
  
  Eryute's arrival went uncelebrated as she had requested. She rode in on the back of a behemoth ostrich whose feathers had been stained with shades of pumpkin and pomegranate. It was a majestic beast that strode proudly through the gardens at behest of its master. Several servants made attempts to feed and groom the beast, all of which had failed. It was vicious and unruly, only soothed by the presence of the woman that weened it.
  
  "It seems that lady Eryute has returned from her pilgrimage."
  
  Eryute was an exotic woman with a smothering presence. Her eyes were strikingly light in contrast to her shimmery, sun-kissed flesh that seemed littered with flecks of gold and sand. The pilgrimage had siphoned vast reserves of her energy. She was sore and heavily fatigued; her stomach hadn't seen the lights of a hardy meal in weeks. "Milady! I hope that your pilgrimage went as smoothly as possible. Please, rest." Truthfully Eryute despised this treatment. Because this palace served as a haven and allowed her to peacefully practice shamanstic rituals, she bit her tongue and accepted the constant worship. "Would you have me prepare a meal for you? Or perhaps you wish to bathe."

 

[Lox]

Vox was already in the gardens the moment he caught the scent of Eryute in the air, and while the servants were as pesky as ever he made no sound as he let his instincts slip in to guide his footsteps and blend his shape in with the shadows cast by the plants in the moon light. Just seeing the empress made his whole form shiver and his tail wag involuntarily, which he stopped the when he came close enough for the Lady's best to turn it's head and squawk agitatedly at him when he got close. The thing was always in a bad mood weather it was traveling or not, and while Vox growled at it in return he couldn't totally hate the thing because it seemed to have protective streak for it's mistress as long as his own. "Mistress..." Was the only word he was able to get out around the deep growl that reverberated in his chest and ground at the natural instincts for the servants to flee, and while he had stopped his tail from blatantly wagging it was easy enough to tell that he was still slightly shaking even with his form half hidden in the shadows. The servants hesitated to help Eryute down from her mount with him close by and in such a state, he was extremely prickly every time the mistress returned from a long journey and had bitten off the hand of an overbearing retainer before when he had judged them to be overly forceful with her in the past. None the less she was still hampered somewhat by her attendants as the small group entered the palace, and with a few growled out commands sent some of the servants off to prepare a meal and have a bath drawn for her as well. He knew his mistress well enough to know that she would most likely be extremely tired and most likely hungry for something besides the normal traveling rations that would have been carried with her on her journey, but as much as he wanted to be alone with her there were others who also needed her attention for the time being until she sent them away for the night.

Looking his lady over he could tell she wouldn't be in the mood to receive the news of the warlord in the palace, and he didn't think she would be up to speaking to him over anything important until at least the next day after a nights rest. Instead of letting the servants break the news to her and risk her wrath, he murmured softly to her instead as he followed no more than a few feet at her side. "Mistress Eryute, the palace as been entertaining the warlord Iferit in your absence and he has awaited your company upon return. Since he has been here for a few days already I don't think it would hurt him to wait another night until you've had the chance to rest before dealing with him." The older female servant gave him a severe look at breaking the news to her so early in her return but also for the use of her name so directly. It was Vox's familiarity that allowed him to call her by anything besides mistress or lady, very few of the lords in the city even called her by name but with his mistress returned he was starting to visibly relax even if his ears still flicked and swiveled at the slightest sounds in the area. It wasn't long until they reached her private chambers, and it made Lox quite happy to see that the meal had beaten them there. The kitchen staff must have prepared a meal for their empress before she even arrived but turning towards her bathing chamber he could see servants filling the deep basin with cool water to wash away the sand of her travels. The sudden thought of her slipping out of her cloths had him shaking his head violently as the more primal instincts started to kick in again, and with the moment of dizziness gone he waited patiently for her next command.

 

[Osheaga]

• 
  
  
  At the mention of the name Iferit, Eryute's eyes quite literally went white with rage. She remained poised - aside from her wild gaze - which harshly met the shadow of a frightened servant. Eryute was a peaceful woman. A man with the title "Warlord" could only mean harm to her empire. She worked in the shadows, never once being thanked for the buildings she had erected and good she had done. This is what maintained her sanity, or so she claimed. "E-Eryute ... I ... I -" He pressed his lips in a hard line and struggled to swallow the knot bobbing up and down in his throat. "Lord Iferit insisted to be allowed entrance into the palace. We did not want to irk him. He's here with several other officials."
  
  "Officials" meaning his murderous soldiers that would slaughter an infant if given the command.
  
  "Where if he?" Eryute questioned softly.
  
  "In the lounging quarters ... he's taken a particular interest your collection of literature."
  
  She had not yet acknowledged Vox's appearance simply because her mind was plagued with images of Iferit reading her personal notes and tomes. The servant took his mistress' silence as a sign. "Would you have us double the guard? Watch over him, perhaps?"
  
  "No."
  
  "T-Then ... what would you have us do?"
  
  "Leave him be. I will entertain him shortly."

 

[Lox]

With his mistress in such a foul mood Vox took it upon himself to chase the other servants from the room to leave the two of them alone and to allow Eryute time to wind down as much as possible before her encounter with the warlord. When the room was cleared, he made sure to give special orders to the royal guard not too far down the hall to allow no one to disturb the Lady and to notify him on any emergencies should they arise but with a soft touch he steered his mistress towards the still hot food at the table murmuring softly to her as he pulled out the chair for her to sit. "Mistress..... It will not do you any good to entertain such a man when your tired and unprepared for the games he will no doubt attempt to play with you as soon as he lays eyes on you. His kind do not acknowledge women as equals, and you know he's only here to try and pressure you into either a one sided treaty or marriage." It was always the same with the warlords bordering their kingdom. They always came with honey coated lies and barely concealed threats as to what would be "best" for the kingdom and Eryute had always driven them away with the same political jargon and worse. Some of said warlords he himself escorted out of the city to keep them from causing havoc in their towering rages but he had heard only the most terrible of Lord Iferit. There was nothing he wanted more than to delay their meeting to give his Lady time to rest and recover her wits but with a tired sigh he knew he could not force her to do anything once she had her mind set. With the smallest touch to her soft hand Lox murmured almost too low for anyone to hear but he knew she would catch his words.

"I've missed you Lady Eryute. If you would only allow I will chase that warlord from these lands to give you the peace you desire... But as of late you require less of me." He felt low saying such a thing to her when she was so tired but it seemed that as the years passed his lady had all but forgotten about the servants who served her without reserve and with their lives. While he was far from the only one he truly did miss her presence as her travels took her farther away and for longer stretches of time. "Your loyal await only your words Lady, and we will act without hesitation. You need not bear the burden of this whole kingdom on your shoulders alone." With that Lox drifted away from her in silence, moving about her private chambers in the way he always did to check not only her bathing room but also the large balcony overlooking the city for any soul who dared tried to intrude on her privacy. He dreaded the confrontation she was going to have with Iferit once she finished eating and bathing, regardless of his helplessness at changing her mind but quietly he positioned himself outside on the balcony and gazed out at the beautiful city that prospered under his mistresses loving care. The earlier thoughts of being physically intimate with her all but vanishing under the weight of fatigue she carried with her after the long journey away, though he still felt the urge to hold her when she got like this.