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 Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:13 am
 Achilles had taken the time to clean up somewhat on his return journey - not because he thought Pen would mind a bit of blood but because he was a somewhat vain creature and enjoyed being seen at his best. Thusly by the time he got back to the Queens land he was quite relaxed after a bath in the spring nearby and a good bit of time spent lounging in the sun.
There was no point in returning in victory if you returned haggard and wiped out after all. A rather smug expression on his face as he recalled the feeling of stepping on that useless pile of fur to the south Achilles ambled into Antianeira lands seemingly without much of a care in the world.
This time he didn't bother to hide his progress - though he did keep an eye out for any wayward female that might run across him - it was doubtful that Penthesilea had spoken of this deal with all of her sisters - but he was confident enough in his own abilities that he was certain he could hold his own or better if someone confronted him before he found Pen and claimed his payment.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:22 am
 Silent feet carried Penthesilea through the dense forest that were her home. She had recently stopped at a den not far from here, one that at one time when the pack was quite large was used by warriors who were charged with border patrols. The den had been empty for many months now, but soon it would be the home of her consort. She had made sure to get Iosef to clean it out soon after her deal with Achilles had been made, though the reason behind cleaning it out was left unsaid. Not that Iosef would ever question any of the orders that she gave him.
Feathers bobbed lightly as she now headed towards the small clearing that had been the spot of the initial attack on her and then at a later time where she and Achilles had struck a deal. Most of the pack was still currently unaware of the Queen's choice of consort, but eventually they would all know. Penthesilea did worry a bit as to what Glacier would say and think when she told him the news, but he was older now and would hopefully understand the situation. With the clearing just up ahead the Queen pushed all these thoughts to the back of her mind and continued foward.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:40 am
So far no one seemed all that worried about him wandering through the pack lands - really he would have to speak with Penthesilea about the security of her boarders once he found her. Pausing slightly he scented the air for a hint of his wayward queen..ah yes..she had passed this way recently...and swiveling his head he eyed the surrounding area - it wouldn't surprise him if she were watching him from somewhere nearby.
The clearing in which the had first encountered on another was just a bit to his right and it seemed sensible that they ought to find each other there once more. turning slightly he padded towards the clearing at a jaunty pace, breaking through into the sunlight with one final leap over a stand of brush.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:03 am
She managed to get to the clearing a few moments before Achilles did. Turning around at the sound of an approaching wolf Penthesilea was none too shocked to see it was Achilles coming up behind her. Well he certainly knows how to make entrances she thought to herself as jumped over the bushes. Her eyes roamed over him for a moment, not even a scratch on him. Tierehl mustn't have had the guts to even try to fight back, how pathetic. "You seem in good spirits." She said as her eyes moved to meet his.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:11 am
Landing lightly Achilles gave Penthesilea a pleased look "There is little reason not to be" He told her simply, though she would probably wish to be enlightened about her brother's condition. He had done as he was told and not killed the other wolf - though he had the feeling pen night be just a tad disappointed that he hadn't fubbed up that detail and did away with him despite her instructions not to.
Padding the rest of the way towards her he sat only a scant step away, curling his tail around his front feet. "Your brother proved a dull adversary, though I am certain he received your message" He told her after a few moments pause. She looked the same as she had when he left her, nothing unfortunate must have happened while he was off then - which was good, how bothersome would it be if she had been wounded while he was away. all that work - for nothing.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:22 am
Allowing a slight smile to cross her maw Penthesilea was pleased by the news. Of course Tierehl had been a push over, he always had been and she knew the chances of him learning how to fight in this short of time was pretty slim. "Well I hope you were not too disappointed at how easy that part of your job was." She said somewhat idly. The queen was sure that Tierehl was probably one of Achilles easiest jobs and would likely never have another one with such a lax target again.
"I have had a den prepared for you." She began again after a short pause. "It is close to the border here so that you have the freedom to come and go as jobs come up for you. It should be more than suffice for you, it's quite large and has some game trails nearby so you may hunt when you wish."
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:35 am
"It is hard to be disappointed when you are aware of the facts before hand" He told her with a light shrug - he had seen the wolf before and had known the creature to be the soft and lazy sort. It's likely he would have never taken such a job in the first place - if the deal had not been to good to pass up.
"Don't wish to show me off to your pack then?" He asked her in a light deadpan tone - though the look he gave her would how it was meant to be a teasing remark more then anything else. Perhaps the Queen thought her pack would no agree with her choices - but then he supposed given what he knew of this pack that hardly mattered.
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:45 am
Eyes narrowed a bit at his tone, but she knew it was a joke. "There will be a time and place to show you off, but now is not that time." She had hoped that a very important member of the pack would have returned by now, but there was still no sign of her. Perhaps in a few more days the missing one would return, if not Penthesilea would hold the ceremony herself. "Come." She said motioning with her head. "I will show you to you den."
Turning she led the way out of the clearing, having no problem turning her back to Achilles now that they were no longer enemies - or at least they were less enemies than they previously would. As they walked she looked back at him. "Do you have any questions about your new role?" Though he may choose not to voice them now she was sure that he would be eventually curious about any other duties that he would need to attend to as her consort.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:07 am
Pen's narrowed eyes were not lost on Achilles - but rather then worry him, it only made things more amusing in his mind. If she was expecting a docile obedient consort - she had chosen the wrong wolf but he expected she already knew that, and such was probably the reason she wasn't jumping at the chance to introduce him to the others. You know - despite the fact that most of them probably knew he'd tried to kill her previously. He snorted softly - meeting this pack was going to prove vastly amusing once she finally relented and let it happen.
"You might as well lay it all on me now" He told her when she asked if he had question "Better to know what I'm getting myself into before I get to comfortable" And...better to know what he would not be bothering with. He wasn't going to be cleaning dens...listening to orders...pupsitting or anything of the sort. hunt..sure he'd hunt, that was acceptable task as was guarding and patrols but everything else he fully intended to foist off on whatever peons this pack already had.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:24 am
"Your job will be a simple one." She began to explain as they continued to make their way towards his den. "As my consort you are to oversee the slaves, currently there are three slaves within the pack, two of which are pups." Casting him a sideways glance she spoke again. "You have already met one of them. Currently Iosef is our most veteran slave, he has been in the pack his entire life. He knows his job well and never questions authority, he will need minimal supervision. The others will often work with Iosef and may need to be watched and instructed on occasion."
As they neared the den she slowed her pace until she came to a stop only a few feet away from the entrance then turned and looked upon Achilles. "You may occasionally participate in our hunts, but know that you will never control the hunt yourself, you would merely be there to help. Any disputes are to be settled by myself or one of the high ranking sisters. However, if it is a minor dispute revolving around the slaves you may deal with it yourself, but you do not have the authority to make any major decisions. Those go directly to me."
Lowering herself down on her haunches Penthsilea let a smile cross her maw. "Oh and one final thing. A consort my never seek the company of another female. That is punishable by death." She paused a moment to let all that sink in. "Any questions?" She asked, just to make sure he didn't need any clarification on anything she already covered.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:36 am
Well..that wasn't nearly as terrible as he had half expected - he was in charge of two pups and a veteran. Likely the elder slave already had the pups well in hand and that blue one hadn't seemed to be much of a handful so he could probably just let them continue on they already were and ignore that entire directive.
He was also fine with allowing the sisters to do most of the hunting - it was likely he would rarely eat with the rest of the pack and when on occasion he decided or was asked to do so by Pen - well it gave him perverse pleasure in knowing that in that particular case the sisters had served him. How amusing when you thought of it in that light.
He merely flicked an ear dismissively at these duties indicating they wouldn't be any trouble as he inspected the den - it was a fair enough size, certainly better then the places he often stayed while traveling and so he wouldn't complain about that either. turning his attention back to Pen as she issued her final words he gave her a sly smile "And why pray tell would one search among the peasant's when they already have the queen?"
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:47 am
She watched him silently as he inspected the den, and even if he had have disliked it there was not much she would do about it. This was the ideal location for him so that he could come and go for jobs, avoid the majority of the pack and have some privacy when needed. A small huff came out at his question. "You would be surprised what some males think they can get away with. It has happened before," she let a smile cross her maw before continuing. "But I assure you they never made that mistake again."
Now then there was another small matter to attend to. Standing she padded to behind the dens entrance and picked up two objects before returning to Achilles. She set them down and then picked up the larger of the two, a collar that was simply decorated with bits of bones. It was similar to hers but did not have the feathers or beads upon it. Stepping in close to him she slipped the collar over his head placing it upon his neck. Surely he would wonder what she was doing, but she would explain once she was done. Bending her head again she picked up the second object and reaching out with her paw tapped against Achilles front leg and motioned for him to lift it. Once he did so she slipped the band around his leg, letting the small arrowhead dangle to the side.
Once she was done 'marking' him she took a step back, sat down and spoke. "Those items mark you as my consort. You will wear them always." Or at least as long as he was her consort, she thought as she wasn't sure if he would stick around after she had fulfilled her end of their deal payment wise. "The sisters will know the meaning of these items and give you the proper respect." Though honestly he wouldn't get very much even as her consort, but certainly he was higher than most males.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:57 am
Achillies didn't bother telling her that it was unlikely any of those other males had been as strong,as wise or as cleaver as he was - no point in upsetting her with something he didn't plan on doing. He'd had plenty of females in the past and was content for the moment to stick with a Queen. It behooved him to do so what with his future plans and all.
He might have taken more offense to the collar and leg band if she wasn't wearing a set herself, as such he was able to view them as less a mark of property and more like a mark of respect...the fact that she might seem them differently wasn't important. It was how he saw them that truly mattered. 'So I can go parading about in your lands without being molested by angry women now?" He questioned her with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Well that just takes the fun out of things...." He continued before stretching slightly and giving her a sly grin before slipping into the den. "Coming?" He called back to her from within.
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:08 am
Eyes narrowed at his comment. "Only while you are on your best behavior. Though if you wish to act like a fool you will be treated as such." It was an idle threat but she knew Achilles wouldn't take it serious even if she had been. Rolling her eyes as he slipped into the den Penthesilea took a deep calming breath before following him inside. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was going to enjoy this part of their bargain. Typical male, but she could always crush that spirit just a bit.
"Before you receive your.." She cleared her throat. "...payment, I must say one thing. It is of utmost important that I produce a strong female to become our princess." Glancing off to the side for a moment she spoke again. "We have been most unfortunate with the two litters in our pack so far being horribly male heavy - so think feminine thoughts or something." Her eyes locked with his giving him a stern look. "Without an heir I could lose my place as queen." Her eyes softened and she let a smile cross her maw. "Do not fail me Achilles."
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:15 am
Achilles blinked at her...thinks feminine thoughts? next thing you knew she would be trying to foist wildflowers off on him or worse make him wear them. What a way to completely kill the mood.And he was pretty sure she was completely serious - like he could actually control the genders of their future pups..."whatever my Queen demands" He finally told her. By the moon if they did have males...they were going to be horribly sissy at this rate - what with her making demands like this from him.
"Though I must point out " He told her as he sidled close "None of you sisters are particularly 'feminine', perhaps i should think..strength..instead" Yes.. strength worked much better.
**Fade to black**
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