Howls of the moon 🌑 Echoes Roars of the sun 🌕

Chapter 5: Caged

At the kitchen table, the woman placed down gourmet dishes and calmly sat down next to Tiye. While Lyall sat on the other side of the table.

"Now, may I ask who is the man who bust through my door carrying my princess bridle style?" Asked the woman mischievously.

"My name is Silver, I was helping Nia escape from the Blue moon pack near here my lady." Replied Lyall without emotion.

The woman then placed her hand on Tiyes head and sigh pitifully. "Aiya! I told you not to go too far Ti- Nia! Please forgive her. She is still curious, you see? And I was just surprised considering how long she was gone"

Tiye felt ashamed that she made her worried but said nothing and continued to eat.

"I see, well it's alright. And may I have the pleasure of knowing who you are?" Asked Lyall.

"Hmmm... my name is Heka Salma the Wedjat of the previous Amun Ra and Amun Re." Replied Heka

"I'm sorry, I don't seem to understand what you're talking about, Ms. Salma. For I never heard of such titles before."

"Ah yes I suppose that would make sense, since we are a very Ancient civilization. And now that *ahem* Nia has come of age, I suppose it's time I explain some things."

The sound of Tiyes silverware clashed into her plate as she exclaimed with excitement. "Really?! You'll tell me now?!"

Lyall found Nia's childish outburst amusing and cute. However he felt that what he was about to hear was also a first for her as well.

"Yes really, now quite down. Let's see... in your wolf clan you have classes like alpha, Luna, beta, gamma, omega and rogues, correct?" Heka asked. Lyall simply nodded and let her continue. Heka laughed a bit as though she found something extremely funny but continued on.

"Simply put a Wedjat is like beta, Amun Ra is like Alpha and an Amun Re is like a Luna. Our Gammas are the Medjay, our Omegas are called Sekhmet while our rogues are called Exiled. surely you get the jist of it, no?"

Tiye remained confused but Lyall started to show signs of panic in his voice.

"So you're telling me that I-" Lyall was cut off by Heka

"That's right. While the wolf tribe basks in the moon under the goddess Salene, the powerful but forgotten lions bask in the sun under the god Atun. You could say you literally walked right into a lion's den."

Tiye sat her silverware down slowly and stared at Heka as if she suddenly pieced together something in her mind.

"My parents... were they... lions?"

Heka looked at Tiye with sympathy. She pulled Tiye into her arms as she continued her explanation.

"Ti- Nia, I do not have an answer to who your parents were, but yes you are a lioness. When the previous Amun Ra and Amun Re were forced out of their kingdom, there was no sign of them ever again. I found you within the castle's walls, locked away in a cage, three years later after the Amun Ra of that time fell ill. But when I found you... you..."

Heka closed her eyes as if the memory was still vivid to her. It was as if she didn't want to let her weakness show in front of her guess. However, Tiye knew what she was remembering because she remembers it very well. After all, it was the day she was about to be buried that she came back to life. Heka was the only person who was on the site when it happened.

Tiye let go of Heka first and gently grabbed her hand, rubbing the back of it softly.

"Hey, I had a lot of ups and downs in my life but you were always there, waiting for me. That is my blessing." Tiye spoke sincerely.