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 Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:45 pm
The pack was slowly growing and expanding, in time they would hopefully be back at the size they were before the fighting. Of course that may take a bit longer then she hoped as many members had been lost in that fighting and even more still were no where to be found. Penthesilea didn't let that stop her heart from feeling joy at the packs slow growth, each new or old member brought their numbers that much closer to her goal. Perhaps today she would find another, if not well there was always tomorrow.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:55 pm
Iosef had spent far too much of his time in mourning, but it was a difficult situation to avoid -- there was very little room for a wolf such as himself to live as a loner. Both his mother and his mistress were gone, now; his sisters, too, gone, though he retained some hope that they were merely scattered and would return soon enough. It was a lonely life, being a slave with no one to tend to; especially lonely because Iosef had never felt any desire to be a free wolf, and being forced into that position was filling him with nothing but dread.
At the moment, the calico-marked wolf was lying in a patch of sunlight, enjoying the warming weather as he gnawed the mostly-empty bones of an ill-fortuned rabbit. His ears and nose twitched rapidly, constantly informing him of the world around him, for Iosef was never one to let his guard down.
The scent of another crossed the air, and his head snapped up, eyes wide and apprehensive. He was not one for fighting, not with his thin, nearly dainty physique; no, if someone was coming who meant him harm, Iosef's only recourse would be to run, and so he readied himself, muscles tensed and paws beneath his body.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:14 pm
It didn't take long for Penthesilea to catch wind of the other wolf. They were not far away, though she was slightly confused by the scent of the other. It was both familiar and foreign. Narrowing her eyes Penthesilea's gaze swept across the trees as she slowly padded forward. If the other was meaning to attack her thinking that she was a weak female they would have a rude awakening coming their way. However, she didn't think that was the case. There was no movement to indicate the wolf was slinking about getting ready to attack.
When she finally caught site of the other wolf Penthesilea paused. That coat pattern was all too familiar to her. There had been several members of the pack with those same colors and similar patterns. Those members had been lost since the fighting, and now she was looking upon one. This one had quite the feminine appearance but she knew that it was a male. Relaxing her muscles and taking on a more welcoming posture Penthesilea looked upon the small male. "Don't be afraid." She said in a calm voice knowing that this male may just run if he looked at her as a threat.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:27 pm
He had reflexively assumed the position of the utter subordinate, head down, ears folded back, tail tucked tightly between his legs, legs trembling slightly. He gazed up at her with shockingly purple eyes, although afraid to hold eye contact for long before looking down at her paws.
There was something familiar about her...her sight, her scent...although it had been some time....his brow furrowed, and he looked up again hopefully, confusion registering in his features.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:51 am
In that moment when the dainty male looked up at her Penthesilea caught sight of the those purple eyes. She knew of a few wolves from her old pack who had such eyes as well as that fur pattern. But damn it what was this males name? She took a tentative step forward, though she was not trying to scare the male. "I won't hurt you." She told him softly.
As she looked more at the male who crouched before her a name finally popped into her head, though she wasn't entirely sure it was the right one. "Iosef? Is that you?" Perhaps calling him by name would ease his nerves just a bit, and Penthesilea continued to use a soft and calm voice that was only reserved for pups and the shy members.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:13 pm
He nodded meekly, but something in his expression melted and shifted as he gazed up at her with a look of pure awe, a gaze that was almost worshipful. "Penthesilea," he said, his voice quiet, respectful, and showing his complete shock that she was actually speaking to him directly. He recognized her, as one of the warriors from his pack long-since past, although something about her seemed to have changed -- she had become, if anything, even stronger and more lovely. "My lady! I...I never thought I would have the fortune of seeing one of the sisterhood ever again." He lowered his head in a submissive gesture, but there was a smile on his maw and the trembling had subsided in his limbs.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 1:46 pm
A smile crossed her name when he said her name. Iosef may just be a slave but knowing that he recognized her after all this time was a refreshing thought. Her eyes glanced about him, she had vaguely remembering him leaving with a few other females when the pack disbanded after war - his mother, sisters and another female who favored him. Where were they?
"We have long been cast about these lands like leaves in the wind Iosef, but that is changing now. The pack is being brought back together under a new queen." She couldn't remember him being there when Marpe named her queen. "Your place within the pack is still available if you wish, we can use your services and as your new Queen I would very much like for you to return."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:05 pm
"Together, again?" He asked, with the same wide-eyed enthusiasm of a pup receiving a special treat. "My queen...I would be honored." And he meant it. Iosef had been lost, not knowing how to live as a loner, and just now nothing appealed to him more than the protection of a strong pack, and a job for him to do.
Then he remembered, and his expression fell a little, sadness shining in his violet eyes. "I regret to tell you that I will be returning alone, my queen. The others....they have fallen, in the time we have been alone."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:41 pm
"Yes Iosef, together again. The pack will not fall ever again." She assured the male as she took a few steps closer to him now. "You will always have a place within the pack Iosef, never forget that." At his next words Penthesliea let out a sigh and shook her head slightly. "So many sisters lost." The pain of losing her friends, relatives and fellow pack mates was still fresh to Penthsilea but it helped to serve as a reminder of what was lost and what was needed to be rebuilt.
"I'm sorry for your loses Iosef, but know that you are not the only one who has lost in this. Many of our sisters are gone, either in spirit or lost among the expanse of the lands." She lowered her head a bit to look him in the eyes. "But the pack will grow strong once more."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:47 pm
He nodded, daring to meet her eyes for just a moment, the ghost of a smile returning to his maw. "Then I shall help, in any way you see fit for me."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:07 pm
Her smile remained as Iosef once more spoke. He had always been a good slave within the pack and he would continue to be so even now. Though she did wonder exactly what happened to the females that had left with him after the war. Did they perish in their travels or merely leave the male on his own and set off to find themselves a new home. “Iosef, I must ask a question that may hurt you to answer.” She told him in that soft tone that very few in the pack ever heard. “What happened to the others who were with you? You mother and sisters, and you mistress, did they abandon you? Or did they...” She couldn’t bring herself to finish that question, not in the presence of the shy male, though she was certain that he would know what she meant to ask
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:55 pm
He hung his head, expression pained. "Two sisters did leave us, breaking away shortly after we began wandering. I do not know what happened to them." His brow furrowed and he swallowed, hard, to avoid the tears that stung at his eyes. "But the others....there was a raid, a pack of males, of warriors...alone or from another pack I don't know...." He trailed off, and swallowed. "They fought bravely, but....they were overcome." He lifted his eyes to meet Penthesilea's, apolgetically, and there was heartache in their depths. "I tried to help them, but...they ordered me to run, struck at me, snapped at my heels....they would not allow me to die at their side...." And he trailed off, unable to speak any longer for fear of shedding the tears at the back of his eyes.
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:30 pm
Penthesliea nodded slowly as she listened to Iosef's story. So two sisters were likely still out there and the others were long lost to more fighting. It saddened her greatly to know that even more of her pack had died after their fighting had stopped in the pack and had gone to wanderign only to be killed in another attack. Seeing the pain in Iosef's eyes stung Penthesilea greatly.
"I'm so sorry Iosef, you have lost many in such a short time. But know that they did not die in vain as you have managed to survive without them and passing this knowledge on allows the others to know the fates of their sisters."
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:01 pm
He nodded mutely, ears still folded to his skull; something in his shoulders and jawline tightened with resolve. "It is fate that brings us here," he said, at length. "And I embrace it. Perhaps....if the fates allow...my sisters will find their way back to us."
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Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:34 pm
"Let us hope that fate allows them to join us once more." She said confidently though honestly she wasn't sure on how many of her lost sisters would return. Some surely would, others would be forever lost. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind Penthesilea concentrated on the present and looked upon Iosef once more. "Come then, we shall start our journey home." Turning she began to pad away but made sure to look back and ensure that Iosef was following.
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