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 Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 8:40 am
 In the weeks since the attack on her Penthesilea had made sure to double the patrols to ensure everyone's safety. Glacier was protected by Cleite when she herself wasn't around and though he was growing up fast she still felt the need to keep him close to the dens unless there was a job further off that had to be done. Her wounds had completely healed thanks to some herbs and a bit of rest. Of course they hadn't been all that bad considering how close to death she had been.
Funny how that male was stuck in her mind since then. There was so many things she wished to know. Like where he learned to fight, why he had accepted this job and just who he was. Though she doubted that she would ever see him again. Giving her head a shake she concentrated back on the task at hand and that was preforming another border patrol. Strange how the tasks that she normally preformed to help herself clear her mind were not working this time around. For some reason yet unknown she couldn't get Achilles out of her mind.
Slowing her pace down a bit Penthesilea glanced about taking in the scenery. Funny, she was going towards the place where he had attacked her without even thinking about it. In fact when she set out on this patrol she had all intentions of going the other way in hopes of avoiding this spot. When she finally reached the small clearing the Queen came to a stop and looked around. There was no longer any signs of the fight that had happened not that long ago. Scenting the air Penthesilea stood silent, looking, listening for any sign of an attack to come. But it appeared there wasn't going to be one today.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:29 am
 Achilles wasn't sure why he hadn't moved on - there wasn't really anything left for him in this area, he told himself he stuck around because he hated leaving a job unfinished but if he was truthful with himself he would have to admit that he never intended to finish this particular job. He ought to move on - ought to find himself a new challenge, a new job. But he didn't.
Instead the mottled wolf had spent his time skulking about the packs boarders, watching from a distance as his attack caused more patrols, as the poor blue pup was followed about by the lynx. Achilles was careful to keep from the well traveled paths,careful to keep his scent to a minimum and leave it behind in places the more capable wolves would be unlikely to range.
Today however - instead of the green female or another of the lackeys it was the Queen herself who trod the pathways and Achilles shadowed her for a while. She was heading towards the place they had fought and though he wasn't sure exactly why he did so, Achilles stepped from the shadows and into the sunlight. He was still a fair distance away - far to far to speak -but he knew she would see him.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:34 am
Up ahead movement caught her attention. Eyes settled upon the mottled male as he stepped out from the hiding spot. So he had come back after all. Was today the day they would finish what was started those few weeks ago. Hackles raised but she didn't go on the attack - not yet at least. Padding forward to close the distance between them the Queen once again came to a stop, this time close enough so that they could speak but far enough back that he would need to make a great effort in order to attack her unnoticed.
"You have returned." She said somewhat coldly, but its not like the situation called her to be nice to him. In fact he was male, so the chances of her being nice to him was pretty slim. "Come to finish me off then?"
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:44 am
Achilles gave the Queen a wolfish grin as she closed the distance, his eyes clearly measuring the distance between them. The results of this observation seemed to amuse him and his tilted his head slightly at her comments before sitting down and glancing away from her. To anyone else it may look like he was simply staring off into the woods, but to a warrior...like she was...it was something more. He was presenting her with the side of his neck, a sign that he did not intend to do anything frightful at he moment.
Blinking in the sunlight he looked back to her "Never really left" He told her "But your guards, while watchful are not accustomed to ghosts, they look only for the noisy clumsy wolves you see more often. They are a victim of their own success believing no other could possibly move with the stealth they themselves possess." He ignored the question about finishing the job - surely his actions would have answered that already. He did no think she was a stupid wolf.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:51 am
Letting out a huff as he presented his neck to her she wasn't fully buying it. Just because he was acting like he was here to chat and not attack her didn't make it true. She would only find that out in good time. Eyes narrowed a bit as he pointed out the flaws of her guards. She had received one or two reports of a wolf with a similar description to Achilles still roaming the edges of her pack lands.
"The males of these lands are large brutes who don't know how to move around quietly if their lives depended on it." She retorted though she knew full well that Achilles did not fall into that category. Finally lowering herself down onto her haunches she gave him a quick look over. The wounds on his throat had healed up much like the ones on her neck and chest. "And just how is it that you were fortunate enough to acquire your stealthy ways?" She was fishing for information. After all if he was willing to talk, why not use that to her advantage and not only learn things about her attacker but about other possible threats out there.
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:12 am
"Or.." He told her in a wry tone "Those are the only ones you notice" He pointed out. Achilles found it strange that a wolf who was clearly not mentally deficient held such broad based assumptions based on Gender. To say that all males were large and noisy would be the same as saying all plants were green. Most of them were it was true - but not all. There didn't seem much point in arguing this with her however Achilles was pretty sure she wouldn't listen - or care, about his arguments.
"I learned the same way your warriors learned, through time and study and practice" He replied. "It is not a limited skill - anyone is capable of learning should they have the desire to better themselves" He continued "With the proper motivation it was not difficult"
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:19 am
"It is rare for us to encounter males of your caliber." She admitted though like him was not willing to argue the point. Penthesilea knew that not all males fell into the category that she and her pack often put them in, but any who didn't were few and far between. In fact Achilles was not the first male she had ran across that proved himself to not fit within the slave mold, but he was certainly the most skilled so far - and that is what had left such an impression on her mind about him.
"And these skill you have acquired. You learned them in a pack environment?" She questioned. If there was a pack out there training males to be like her sisters than that could cause problems further down the road. "And what is your motivation Achilles?"
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:38 am
"I would hazard" He started after a few moments pause "That other packs would consider both of us a rarity in terms of talents, few packs place so much necessity in fighting." He told her - and having spent much time traveling throughout the packs he felt he knew what he was talking about.
"My family did not all think themselves warriors"He told her "But there was adequate training for those who did, most did so to protect the pack...but I had other aspirations. Who wishes to live forever in the minds of only his home pack? No...I desired something more then that. I desired to be remembered by all of Telk..and I am well on my way to that end"
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Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:51 am
"Indeed," She stated simply. It was certainly a rare sight to her eyes as well to encounter ones who dedicated their lives to the warrior ways. In a way it was a shame their first encounter had turned out the way it was, for they were equals in so many ways - even if he was of the lesser gender. It was that thought that reminded her how her mind had been clouded by thoughts of Achilles for the past few weeks.
"And you believed that killing me would help spread your name around as a great warrior?" It made sense for not many could down a well trained warrior queen like herself. "Speaking of which, how did Tierehl take the news that you didn't finish the job?" Hopefully her brother would be horribly disappointed at Achilles failure.
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 10:53 am
"More or less, it was not a personal attack" He told her "Just business". Another job like may others he had taken in the last couple of years, another stepping stone to the fame he desired in life. Achilles wasn't sure if the feathered wolf would understand the concept, most had this irritating tendency to take attempts on their lives pretty personally even if they weren't meant as such.
"I had not thought to go back and tell him" He told her after a few moments - what would be the point? Without her head he couldn't collect on the payment and would just have to hear the patchy wolf rant and fuss. Would be a complete waste of time..besides "If I told him he would just try to hire another, would you not prefer a few weeks of peace before the next assassin arrives?"
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 11:48 am
"Just business." She said somewhat quietly, shaking her head slightly. "Had it been a personal attack you would have done more to hurt Glacier than to simply lie to him about being his father." It was clear that he had been told of her weakness toward the blue pup - though he wasn't a pup any more. Standing she walked forward slowly, though her posture was relaxed, she had no intention of going on the attack at the moment.
"It's a shame really." She began as she reached him, slowing circling around behind him. "I do aim to disappoint Tierehl as often as possible. And an unsuccessful attempt on my life would have quite thoroughly pissed him off." Coming around his side she stopped in front of him, several feet of distance between her and Achilles. Lowering herself down once more she continued to look upon him. "Perhaps I should hire you to return to my brother and repay the kindness that he wished you to bestow upon me." Though her facial expression and tone were quite serious, the Queen was joking - for the most part at least.
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 12:19 pm
"There was no reason to injure the pup" He told her, watching her as she walked around him. Though he did not completely trust her there was nothing in her body language that would indicate she meant to start the fight again and so he didn't bother to get up as she looked him over. He was a fine looking wolf - he doubted she would find anything she didn't like about him in her little walk about.
"Now there..." The Mottled wolf started after a slight pause in which to ponder the possibilities "Is a venture worth considering" He told her ith a slow smile creeping up his maw.
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 12:44 pm
"I should hope not." She replied somewhat sharply. Her pack may not treat males as well as others did, but male or not a pup should never be deliberately harmed. Accidents happened yes, but to hurt a pup because it was your job or you didn't wish them around was not acceptable.
A small smile crossed her maw for a moment though it quickly faded. "Should you accept you are not to kill him. I promised that pack's Alpha that he would live so that he may help in raising his pups, though I know he will not." Penthesilea fell silent for a few moments while she thought on a few things. He would likely require some sort of payment for his deeds. It made her wonder just what Tierehl offered him that caused the male to accept the job. Tierehl had nothing worth while to offer to any wolf or pack, so it would be somewhat amusing to find out what it was. Another time, she mentally told herself.
"I would assume you require some form of payment." She said offhandedly, for either she could bring it up herself or wait for him to ask. There was one thing that Penthesilea was lacking in her life that perhaps Achilles could help her with, but would he accept her offer as payment for the job. "As Queen I am expected to produce a strong female heir for my pack, yet I am without a consort. Slaves are not an good option as they are far too weak in many ways. What I need is a strong male to father my pups." She paused for a few moments allowing that to sink it. "And in all my travels I have not met a stronger male than you. Should you succeed in your job of harassing my brother I could carry a litter of your pups. The females would be under my control, training to be warriors. The males would be given their choice of either a life of servitude to the pack or to leave once they are old enough. You would be allowed to stay around to see your sons grow, but would not be allowed to force them into any type of life as it is their choice." With her offer placed in front of him she sat quietly waiting for his reply.
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:00 pm
Achilles had long ago determined that the issue of harming pups was a sensitive one to females so her sharp tone was not entirely surprising. He himself had an aversion to the harming of youth - though he had seen cases where it might well have been the better choice.
But there seemed to be no point in interrupting the female as she spoke, ear pricking slightly as she laid out her offer - now there was something he hadn't expected...and he let his eyes rove over her for a few moments. It would be no great chore to comply to such a payment of that he had to admit..and the promise of siring not only strong sons - for surely some of them would choose to lead a more worthwhile life then that of slave...but also strong daughters was an alluring one. Ones fame and legacy was often added to by the production of such progeny and to a Queen at that well...how often did one get proposed to from such a wolf? No this would be a foolish thing to turn down and the brother would prove to be an easy target.
"You would require me to become a consort...in your pack? And I shall be allowed to teach my sons what I know..watch my daughters become warriors as well? These terms are acceptable...provided I am still given leave to come and go as...jobs require."
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:13 pm
Penthesilea watched in silences as his eyes roamed over her while he seemed to mull over his options. She would be quite surprised if he turned her down, but wouldn't be horribly disappointed. Surely there would be some other male out there would could provide her with the pups she needed. When he agreed to her offer the Queen nodded. "Yes, it is a tradition that the Queens consort join the pack. While you would certainly not be of a high rank due to your gender, you would be the highest a male can attain. That gives you special privileges that few could dream to attain."
As for his other question she nodded once more. "Your sons may be taught what you know as long as it is clear that you are not trying to force them into that life. Your daughters would follow the ways of Antianeira and become warriors, the first born becoming the Princess of the pack." Pausing she smiled slightly before continuing. "You would be given leave from the pack to attend to your job as long as you are here when I wish for your company." Her smile grew wider for a moment, surely he would get what she meant by that. "Also you must never accept a job that would bring harm to a sister of this pack, be it a past or present sister."
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