Aquila was glad for some quiet following all the commotion, the spectacle and the sights. Fighting itself had been no concern of the warrior but the roar of the crowd was new. The feeling of tension, of consequence. It was a vivid, vicious reminder of how his home land was morphing into something ugly. Something families like Furia's had been fleeing. It was all the more bitter a pill then. His home was under invasion and they could not offer the safety they should, they could not do the job Maua expected...
He was heavy, he was tired following the battle and the weight on his mind since. Along the Oasis shore he walked, silver eyes searching and most of his body alert to his surrounding save for the ear Arjana had torn a piece from. It hug loose against his mane, the edges angry red and the whole appendage generally hurting.

For @Iofiel

Iofiel had been allowed to remain. It gave him time to look to the garden he had been working upon during the time of Ashelia's rule. He had been trying his paw at cultivating some non-native desert plants that would prove useful. He had dried stores still but those had to be traded out near constantly, or so it felt. The large male was trying to make it so that he didn't always have to leave the Oasis to collect plants. It was still a likely cause as he hadn't explored everywhere just yet and so he didn't know everything that there was to be offered. Instead he wanted to keep some of those he used frequently readily available in the Oasis.

It was while tending to these plants that he noticed Aquila out and moving about. The state the other was in had him wincing. He hated the thought of any suffering. That ear was particularly a mess and left him wondering if it could be saved or best to remove it entirely. The risk for infection in it was great. That infection could spread and get into other parts of the body. After all it was usually the infection versus the actual injury that caused the most trouble.

A soft, chuffing call was sent out in order to announce himself as he approached. "If I may..." The large male started in that quiet spoken way of his despite his deep voice. His red gaze was pinned upon the ground with head bowed and ears pinned back upon his head in submission. "You should really have that seen to. The desert is unforgiving enough as it is."

@Aquila

The quiet man's rumbling chuffs reviberated within Aquila's chest and served to draw him into the moment. His eyes and one undamaged ear turned in time with each other towards @Iofiel, the bronze Sovereign's features still and emotionless, at first, towards the near stranger he'd allowed to stay. His darkly adorned face, the striking rubies of his gaze, unlike any of the other strangers Aquila had seen before. He was usually not so interested in the lions he didn't know, they were here and he begrudged that. But not Iofiel, no that was very different. He'd effortlessly dropped Daario's name in such a way Aquila couldn't doubt that the ancestor had been in contact with the non-native. Maybe it was time to find out more... Get to know this quiet lion.

And his offer of some care was well recieved. He couldn't expect his cousins to be around day after day to help him heal, not with their families. The Sovereign nodded. Please. He picked a spot in the shade of one of the sparse Oasis trees to lay down and give Iofiel a good view of his ear. My cousins will have the other ear if I let this one get to me.

"Infection would be the main concern. Open wounds are most susceptible to it. Once an infection gets in it can be hard to fight and spread through the blood towards other parts of the body. I've seen some lost to infection because they thought themselves too tough to receive healing." This was the one subject that Iofiel easily opened up on. Healing and plants loosened his tongue as nothing else could.

"And to answer your question from before all had errupted into chaos. I have spoken with Daario within the Grotto. He said to have a single son out of eight children so I apologize for the confusion." Iofiel hadn't asked after ages, he hadn't thought to. It sounded disrespectful to ask someone how long they had been dead for.

Iofiel moved in a slow circle around the lounging King, trying to take in all of the injuries and possible treatments for most of them. The claw marks would likely due with some aloe to ease pain and inflammation. Perhaps something else to also help against infection and they should manage well enough on their own if kept clean. It was that ear that was the trouble.

After Iofiel finished his circuit and completed his inspection did he speak again. "The cuts should be easy enough. They don;t look enough to be a hindrance and you can function normally with them. Only keep them clean and if possible try not to aggravate them further.I would suggest keeping aloe upon them to soothe against pain and keep inflammation at bay. I would also wish to put some baby bush on it as well to dress it against infection. It is that ear which worries me most. If you feel you can withstand it, with something given for pain before hand, I would wish to burn it. It will prevent against further bleeding and allow me to treat it." It he could cauterize the wound it might stave off infection and allow him to save the ear.

@Aquila

Aquila seemed surprised Iofiel remembered the question. Aquila almost didn't himself, which seemed understandable given what had interupted their conversation. Aurum. His son is Aurum. But I understand the assumption. Not the worst one that has been made of me. There were not many Valour men. His son is younger, I'm actually older that Nymeria. He explained to the calm healer at his patient's bedside.

The cuts are not bad pain wise. Nothing he hadn't suffered before and the smallest of them were already starting to heal over while the edges of the worst were stitching together with fresh new skin. If anything the ones upon his face from Arjana's last swing stung the worst, bright on his cheek where the fur was thinner and the hue of his skin came through more. Most of the Valours have gravitated towards the healing trades. He began to explain. And maybe knowing Daario @Iofiel already knew that of his family. Aloe was a familiar word, and Aquila was a coorporative patient used to being looked at and tended to by the methodical hands of a medic. I've done my part to give them someone to practice on over the years. His head was tilting a little to the side with the injured ear aligned to the sky, the other the ground. From the base of the ear there was a little twitch of movement while a fly buzzed nearby.

He paused at the suggested treatment. He wondered if it was something Nymeria would try or suggest to care for the wound upon his ear? There was unfortunately no time to go ask her, the Oasis Sovereign would either need to take a risk of infection or take a risk and trust that Iofiel knew what was talking about. I can stand it. Came his response. Call it a test. Daario had kindled Aquila to Iofiel but it would be up to the man himself to earn a more permanent place in Aquila's heart and council. Else they be novelties to each other ad eternum.

"I have met Nymeria once one bringing a message to Vermeda Brook. Daario wished for more of his family to visit. Would you know of a Talisa? He has made mention of her a few times." Iofiel wasn't trying to pry into family affairs and he would respect a rebuff if it was a subject that Aquila didn't want to get into. The pale medic simply didn't have faces to place with the names that he had been given.

Iofiel hmmed softly when the new Sovereign mentioned the pain wasn't bad. Everyone's pain scale was different but if Aquila saw himself withstanding it then he wasn't about to contradict and say otherwise. "If I am honest, I am currently more worried about infection than I am pain. Pain can be tended to easy enough, infection not so much. It is best to prevent infection before it can set it. Infection poisons the blood." That is why the ear worried him so much. It was thin and easy to re-injure with only the slightest of things. He couldn't force the other to restrict movement of the appendage when some movements were instinctual. So if he could end the bleeding right away then there would be more of a chance to save it.

"Daario had mentioned himself to be a warrior. Said there was a lot of fighting to be had when he was younger. Should I assume the same of you? Fighting and protecting your family is your passion?" And therefore Iofiel would be seen as soft as he didn't seek to cause harm to anyone. He had fought when it was ordered of him but he didn't have the heart for it. "And if you would rather, I can leave you to your family to attend to your wounds. Familiarity is a boon to healing." When one can trust in whom's paws they had been placed it made it easier to treat.

Iofiel nodded towards the water. "Come, it must be cleaned first. The fire is only to seal the wound to prevent it from bleeding. With the skin being thin and the vessels near the surface it can bleed profusely." As this was a treatment that Iofiel would only suggest when there was a propensity for great blood loss.

@Aquila ♔

His muscles tighened in his neck as if to nod when he recalled he probably shouldn't be moving his head with @Iofiel examining his ear. They relaxed, the energy rolling down over his body and even expelling from his lips as a content exhale. Talisa is a very kind woman. He knew her, of course. It seemed silly to think he wouldn't know a member of his family but knowing now how broken the world could be he knew there were some less fortunate in the family department. Units were split, units were broken and had infighting. So maybe in another universe an Aquila wouldn't know Talisa. You should join me when I go to visit them next. Daario clearly wants you to know his family, be more than a messanger. The forest would be a stark contrast to the Oasis this lion knew well. They could provide plants unseen in the forest to Aquila's family, Aquila could catch up... stash a few trinkets from his old den. His old den. Weird.

Thoughts of home subsided for a minute. He listened astutely to Iofiel. It would be a shame if it should be a slow but deadly infection that did Aquila under. No. His work, his family's stake, it wouldn't be undone by something to meager and preventable. Do what you have to Iofiel. By now, with his methodical and exact explantations, Aquila was near certain this man knew his stuff. He hadn't studied to be a healer but overheard his cousins plenty of times. Yes. Someone has too. I won't let them be taken advantage of. But he didn't sound like he had any regrets that the role fell to him. A year ago though the threats were things like angry prey turning on the hunters or leopards looking for an easy meal. Things have changed. He now sounded remorseful, a deep frown easily found its place on his muzzle and the lines of his face scrunched up naturally. Suggesting he wore this expression quite often.

I know they would not turn me down if I asked for their help but I do not want theirs. They have new cubs in the pride to tend too, to feed. Travel for them was as ill advised as it was for the new Sovereign. You surprised me Iofiel, a lot of lions have come here knowing of this land's creator Maua. You are the only one I know of who one of my own family showed themselves to. If he trusted you, I want to do the same. He was thankful it felt so easy for once. It was more faith and devotion than Aquila had been showing to Maua these last few months. It was much harder to think one of his own blood had anything but the best intentions for his family. And so he would rise up when Iofiel said to come, he would follow where the healer led.

Iofiel didn't know the extent of Aquila's family and it all Valours lived in the Brook or not. He couldn't say how close the relations were. But it did seem as if Daario had been close to his family with the way he spoke of them. And it would seem Aquila was close to them as well. So perhaps the Valours were a tight knit group, so unlike how he had grown up. One misstep and a whole pride could be turned against you, this the healer knew from experience.

"I would not wish to intrude should it be a private affair. Though I must admit I am interested in learning from the healers in your family. I was born in the desert myself so plant life was always limited. Traders had to be dealt with in order to get most plants. I am interested in seeing what they use and how it grows." So he could always use it as a learning experience. Iofiel would be the first to admit that his knowledge on healing was limited as he hadn't been exposed to many plants in his youth. But he had managed to survive the desert on his own when he had been exiled and that in itself was saying something. "I cannot speak to Daario's intentions though. Family appears close to him and a subject he finds it easy to speak of. It could just be the talk of the lonely." It didn't have to mean anything. Maybe Iofiel wanted it to mean something but he wasn't about to stick his neck out that far.

The pale male blinked when his name was used. Certainly he had given it and the other knew it but it was still odd to hear it fall from another's lips. He was used to being that lion that faded into the background and wasn't worth remembering. "That sounds like the Rwh." Iofiel said when Aquila mentioned something about prey turning on the predators. "Have you been giving thanks for the sacrifice of a life? The Rwh can be placated in that manner. If they are disrespected they are quick to vengeance and can plague entire generations before their ire has run its course." It explained why he prayed over every meal, even if done silently. He didn't want to put the pride at risk of having a vengeful spirit curse it.

"Maua was spoke of. As I understand it they are some form of creator. In the desert we had no creator per say. The closest might be the rain as it gave life and was highly celebrated." But he knew that couldn't compare to a true deity. "Trust is easy enough to earn whence everyone is treated with respect." At least Iofiel didn't assume it to be an odd thing to have Daario's trust. The Spectre hadn't seemed the type to be closely guarded with whom he associated with. Perhaps he had been different in life and death had softened him though.

The pale lion waited for Aquila to get over to the water before he spoke. "If you will wait here a moment..." The healer said before retreating to his den to collect some dried plants and brought them back. One was placed down before the High Sovereign. "Consume this. It will take an edge off the pain to come." He then motioned for the other to keep his head low so that he could try to splash the water upon onto the ear in an attempt to clean the area the best he could without causing more damage to it.

@Aquila

I think it would benefit us here and my family if we could trade like you used to. Give you a steady supply of plants from the forest, and they the ones from the desert. The history and idea @Iofiel shared was a little bit of a novel one to Aquila who was used to just being able to go where he needed in the past to get things. He could retrieve plants from the swamp, from the desert, and bring them as Nymeria needed. Now diplomacy, boundaries were in play. Lonely he may be, but as far as I know you are still the only one he's spoken to. So even if it was just the ramblings of an old ghost missing the living it meant something to Aquila. It was a clearer sign than any he'd gotten from Maua. It had taken him far too long for his liking to come around and realize the friend he could have in Furia. It had taken him far too long to realize and confess his feelings for Caeso and now he was paying for that with his longing and broken heart. Aquila couldn't ignore what he percieved to be the clearest sign of them all.

His brows lifted a little to the unfamilar word Iofiel then said. Rwh? I haven't heard of the Rwh before. Talisa usually gives thanks to Maua after our hunts though. Hopefully they hadn't incurred one of these into their midsts. Although if a Rwh might be capable of shifting more than just prey to attack than Aquila couldn't say for certain some of the things happening recently weren't a punishment by something like what Iofiel spoke of. Maua created this land, and they pulled us into their creation. Some of us so long ago our families don't remember anything else. Some more recent, families in need. His tone turned bitter and he frowned a little, his eyes glancing away from Iofiel. Now I don't know. It seems they have different ideas. And he was scared.

Aquila rested upon the sands near the water, taking a moment to dip his paws into the surface. Ripples ran out from the tips of his fingers, his expression looked over and down into the oasis itself. His blemished face looked back at him, the broken ear, the lines across his cheek. And a tired look over his features that seemed alien. When had this happened to him? He was lost in his thoughts when Iofiel came back and tensed up with a little bit of surprise when the quiet lion's voice broke through his thoughts loud and clear again. Of course. Plant consumed Aquila tasted little of the dried matter while he laid his head to rest between his forelimbs, head curled so the damaged ear was visible while the other partly was buried away in the fur of his forelimb.

"I would suggest aloe being chief among those that you wish to trade from here. It has many uses. Within the desert we would use it to combat dehydration. Long stretches of sand were crossed before one found water like this oasis. We would always be on the move in search of prey and the next source of water. Trade was necessary to survival." But perhaps that would prove the same here as well with the many divisions of land. There might be things found only in lands that certain prides had claimed. Though there were still a number of other green areas as well to get plants from, something that he hadn't had in the desert.

"Is it really that odd that, what word was it that Daario used? That those of Daario's being would speak?" The large lion hadn't thought it odd at all. Certainly he didn't have so much experience with the afterlife but he didn't find it a strange concept that they would wish to speak with someone whom was willing to listen and converse.

He wasn't surprised when it wasn't known what Rwh were. Daario hadn't known the term either. "Rwh is my word, a words used in the desert where I was born. A Rwh is..." Again he faltered. He didn't have a Common Tongue word to compare it to. "Everyone, everything can become a Rwh after life has passed. The sand contains a Rwh. The water can be a Rwh too. Prey, plants, stones, us. We all have the potential for Rwh. It is why it is important to show respect and thankfulness for all things. Whatever is giving up a part of itself to further your survival should be thanked. Not all Rwh are vengeful, Daario is not. But Daario is trapped and Rwh, as I know them, can go where they wish and do as they wish. They can give blessings or curses." Most often it was the curses that were heard of. There were very few Rwh that felt thankful enough to bestow a blessing.

"I do not know much of this Maua. From what Daario has said Maua loves all and doesn't discriminate against anyone. Maua wants all to be happy." Of course this talk had centered around Maua blessing couples unable to naturally conceive with litters. But if Maua did that then didn't it stand to reason that they were of a benevolent sort?

Once the plant was consumed and the washing was done. "This will hurt." He wasn't about to lie. There was no way he could make it so that it wouldn't hurt. "The aloe will soothe it though. And with that Iofiel picked up a sun baked rock in his mouth in an attempt to rest it briefly against Aquila's ear, only for a few seconds so that the wound could be cauterized by the heat.

@Aquila