OOC: Trigger warning: Though while not graphic, rape is implied
-----------
The Oasis at Ahts-mostehp resided at the base of a series of craggy, canyon steps in the North West strip of the Moraki. Though the travel was hot and bothersome, the priestesses were to make their journey and be back in a fort night. And being as this strip of the desert was frequented by travelers and was within miles of the great city-state of Essyrn (or more presumably so, the western bank and high society), it was one of the more safer routes they could take-
and Priest Neft'em was their guide, and though he was not her favored priest (and in particular, he was her least favorite one...) she knew she'd be safe under his care, as he was a prudent and careful man, if not a bit aloof. Though she and Neft'em never saw eye to eye. So as the caravan of priestess traveled across the hot, sandy route, she peered up from beneath her veil and out into the desert.
There was a sparkle of something, a moving shadow, but then it was gone. Perhaps it was but a trick of the sun. It was far too hot today, so she thought not much of it and was glad they had stopped at a small outcropping near to the valley of Hhem. They were nearly half way there, but Aïda Ah'nikh was ready to go back to her temple in the capital of Essyrn. She thought the city of Essyrn was hot, but at least inside her temple, she could hide within the protection of the shade. BUt out here- the sun was merciless and she was sweating and smelled anything but the desert flower she believed herself to be.
Hours later, when the sun began to set, they made camp in the lower step of the valley of Hhem, and had a camp fire going so when the temperature dropped, the group would not freeze to death. ANd as it were, she was thankful for the fire, but not the company. Neft'em was really testing her patience, and only after about an hour of socializing at the camp fire, she informed the others she was to retire early. No sense in suffering here any longer.
Dusting off her white skirts, she moved towards their make shift tents and pushed the opening aside, but as she stepped in, she was surprised to see a man within.
He stared at her as she stared back at him from where he was perched beside a crate carrying their perfumes and other supplies. It only took her another second to realize his grubby hands were on a few meager trinkets these woman possessed before she hissed at him like a snake and picked up a nearby walking staff to defend herself.
"Thief!"s he barked, baring her teeth at him dangerously. Though where most priestesses might have been afraid, Aïda Ah'nikh was the daughter of the Shah! With the blood of the goddess in her veins, she felt invincible, and used that power of mind to started the thief. He wasn't so scary looking either, if anything, he looked like a disgusting rat with a massive adam's apple on his throat, a gangly body and ratty clothes. Even his teeth were like that of a rat, as was his demeanor, and when he realized the priestess meant business, he dropped the necklace he had snatched and tore out of the tent and disappeared into the night. Glaring at where he had disappeared to, she peered down at what he was rummaging through, and her heart leaped into her throat.
Her scrolls! He had dug through her personal belongings and found them! Quickly she moved to tie them closed and tucked them away, burying them deep within the bottom of her satchel so that no one else could find them.
No one could know about them- or find out that she had them. She knew the consequences for taking the ancient scrolls of Tehfkeht without permission. The High Priest had warned her, but she could not help herself. She had a hunger for knowledge, and desired to learn the magic powers of these ancient scrolls- and she was so close to finishing deciphering the Scroll of Storms and wanted to continue to work on them, even in her travels. Now that they were safely tucked away, she peered back out into the desert night, but felt too anxious to try to sleep now. So in the dusty light of the moon, she brought out a few of those secret scrolls and began to read.
A few days later, the caravan continued on ward and finally made it to the Oasis. But the journey down was tiresome. The canyon floors were a lot less gentler on their feet, and the sands that had already made some of their feet already raw, were making the priestesses whimper. But a quick silencing noise from Neft'em had them all returning to their songs of Hakeshna to pass the time, and soon they were all in the valley and out before them spread the beautiful and lush Oasis at Ahts-mostehp.
Ahts-mostehp was a small temple of worship where the Kings of the past were taken to be prepared for the after life, and it is here the priests and priestess were to pay respects and to learn the proper funerary rites and processes. Though Aïda was not a fearful girl, nor paranoid (though perhaps she was to some degree), she had all but forgot about that night in the valley of Hhem when the same rat-like thief poked his head out from behind a rock and watched as the priestesses all entered the temple.
Normally a caravan was much larger than the one here, and so when a few more beady eyes peered out from behind the rocks, their plans moved about in a whisper and soon their shadows began to trickle down ever closer to the temple at Ahts-mostehp.
It was night, and the temple lanterns were still lit, and Neft'em had ordered them all to retire early and they'd have a chance to bathe in the oasis come morning. But as usual, Aïda was too restless, and she wanted to read more on her scrolls. But she had to be careful, for the temple was small, she knew she could be caught reading far too easily, so she tucked the scrolls away inside her skirts and slipped out the back door.
Creeping through the sands, she found her way onto a perching of rocks that over looked the temple, but hid her in enough shadows that Neft'em might not be able to see her if he came out the back door, and it also offered her enough light for which she could read.
And now, unbinding the scroll from it's leather tie, she opened it upa nd stared back at the ancient parchment and began to softly receipt the ancient text out loud, but kept fumbling over the pronunciation. So she tried again, not realizing that as she read, the rat- like thief was creeping up on her- but so were many others.
And when a pebble was tossed her way and went trickle down the side of the canyon slope, she held her breath and waited a moment, before creeping out to peer over the side to see if anyone was coming. But there was nothing. Relieved, she returned to her perch, only to find a dagger brought suddenly to her throat.
"Drop the scroll, priestess," the man hissed, a hook hand gesturing towards the parchment. "And I won't slit your pretty little throat."
Aïda's eyes went wide, fear prickling through her vein for not only her life, but the precious scroll in her shaking grip. Her knuckles were going white, but the man only pressed the cold dagger closer to her skin and breathed his hot, foul breath against her neck.
"The scroll... priestess.." he purred like a panther, and she felt herself finally let it drop. At hte sound of the parchment hitting rock, the thief now moved his hook hand lower.
"Such a good and obedient girl.." And he moved in close to admire her in the moonlight. He knew she was young, and probably a virgin. So it seemed he could get more than one treasure that night.
"Now.. lift up your skirts girl. I don't have all night. Your body is mine. ANd don't look so fearful." He stroked her cheek, but she only glared back at him, her green eyes defiant. "Hakeshna will bless it when you welcome my seed."
"My body is not your temple!" She shouted, and spat directly on his face. "Hakeshna will turn your cock into a snake and have it bite you until you're dead!"
At such a threat, not only did the thief laugh, but so did a handful of his friends who showed up from the dusty shadows of the cliff sides all around her. She turned to look at them, eyes widening in disbelief, and when she tried to fight it, the hook hand went to her throat this time, and she, thrown down onto the rocks.
"Let me go!" she shouted, but found it futile as the man was hefting up what meager skirts she wore, ripping them as he did so in his hungered greed.
"Come on, priestess," the man told her gruffly, and lustfully. "Open up your temple. I want to pray." Not that she had a choice- for the man's 'friends' had grabbed onto her arms and legs, and it left her completely at the mercy of the scoundrel over top of her as he dropped his pants and went to work. And he was not the only one to share in this wealth, for many of his friends got to sample her as well.
