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 Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:53 pm
She was stronger now, knew better how to take care of herself - even with a bellyful of whelps. She'd survive better this time, too, she knew. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to keep any of the young this time, if she could bear to, even. Last time only one had survived and that one had betrayed her, run off into the forest as a youth. This time...
She sighed, lapsing from anger into the mild depression which overtook her once the bouts of adrenaline wore off. This time it had been her fault... she had trusted a male, let him get close and all he'd really wanted was... that. No. Screw him. She wished she could have, and left him with this problem. It was his fault, not hers at all. She had been vulnerable and he'd taken advantage of it and hadn't even the decency to stick around.
Well, never again. Maybe she would keep the pups, to spite him. To spite all of those who'd thought she'd never survive her first litter alone, to spite those who'd treated her cruelly and casually. Maybe. Anger, confused thoughts, and a thousand worries crept through her mind as she walked.
One particular thought pervaded. As much as she hated to admit it, if she wanted to be better off this time she had to find somewhere better to stay. She didn't want to be wandering whilst she was big again, she didn't want to worry that there were males nearby to harm her whilst she was vulnerable. Somewhere quiet, perhaps, a cave or a den away from everywhere.
Not here, though, she thought, as her nose picked up the scent of others...
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:27 pm
 It seemed that every time she turned around the pack was growing. Her pups were growing strong and bigger each day, even little Orithia was doing better, Varia had returned with news that Yakut was still out there somewhere, some old slaves were back and even the packs nanny was fat with pups. If they kept up they would be at their old size in no time, of course they were not yet at their previous strength. While numbers were good, the sisters also needed to learn to fight, protect the pack and become true warriors. With Varia around that was sure to happen in no time, as the Head Warrior did not accept failures or excuses.
Penthesilea was forced to push all these thoughts to the back of her mind so that she may concentrate on her border check. Padding silently through the trees the Queen was alert to the presence of another not far away. The light tan wolf padded forward slowly, ready to attack if needed, though from the scent the unknown wolf was a female, but that did not mean she wasn't a thread to her pack.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:50 pm
It was almost in her mind, right away, to move off quickly when she heard the other nearby. She couldn't catch a scent yet - the wind wasn't in her favour - so she had no way to know whether it was male or female, healthy or weak until she came face to face with the stranger. She didn't really want to get that up-close to another - even another female - but the fact that the other had probably caught scent of her meant she had to at least know who they were, if only to avoid them.
Moving forward, still mostly unencumbered by the thickening around her middle, she soon came within sight of the other. Female. Even with the wind not in her favour she could scent that from here and she didn't need her nose to tell her that the one before her was healthy. She stood tall, wasn't skinny or lame, and had a bearing that reminded her of another from far in her past.
With a small internal sigh, wondering why the world kept throwing her in the path of others instead of leaving her the hell alone, she announced her presence formally. "Forgive my trespass here" she said, having guessed she was on packlands by the number of wolf scents she had come across already "I only mean to pass through quickly". Her tone suggested her weariness though, despite her small frame, she was in rugged good health.
If it had been a male, she might have seen him and walked off, making sure to lose him somewhere. It was a tedious process, though, and she felt that even if she was wary of other females they deserved a level of politeness. She had been well brought up, afterall.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:57 pm
Eyes swept over the strange female quickly, taking in stock of her body condition. This female was lucky that her gender was her saving grace. Coming to a stop Penthesilea lowered herself onto her haunches, becoming a bit less threatening to the female but remained alert and at the ready. The strangers weariness was not missed by the Queen. Had it been a male in the same situation then he would have been run off, but this female, well she looked in need of a good rest and a meal.
"Perhaps you should rest a bit first. You look like you could use it." Her eyes very quickly rolled over the female once more. "My pack, while not usually open to strangers could house you for the night. You will be provided with a den to sleep in, a meal and the protection of the sisters while you are within our borders." It wasn't every day that Penthesilea would make such an offer, but she was compassionate and could not allow this female to wander through without at least having the chance at protected rest and food.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:10 pm
Neira's suspicion was prickled by the easy manner of the female in front of her and yet the matter-of-fact manner in which she spoke was slightly appealing to a wolf tired of smooth talking trickery. Still... the last time such an offer had been made it had led to a cavalcade of bad decisions and even worse situations for the grey and black wolf.
Indeed, a simple offer of a meal and a rest when she had nowhere else to go had led to so much heartache. True, then, she'd had a pup in tow and couldn't afford to say no but she wasn't beholden to the little ones inside her just yet this time. Her ears laid back, her eyes flicked quickly from side to side as if to make sure she could make her escape from the large female if she needed to.
"Sisters? ...I wouldn't have to stay, would I?" she cringed as that last came out of her mouth but she wasn't going to put herself into a situation she couldn't get out of again. Was the offer genuine, or did it come with hidden consequences?
All that aside, a bed and some food sounded wonderful, right about now.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:20 am
A slight smile crossed Penthesilea's maw. Ah she recognized the hesitation as well as the curiosity in the females words and actions. "The Sisters are the main members of the pack. We are warriors who prefer to live our lives with as little male interaction as possible. Males in our pack are slaves." It was certainly a short version of her normal explanation of her pack, yet Penthesilea was confident that it would be enough for now, any other questions could be answered when they were posed.
"No, you would not need to stay." Giving her head a shake, feathers bobbing slightly. "After you have gotten some rest and a good meal you would be free to go." Perhaps after seeing the way the pack was run she would decide to stay, if not Penthesilea would allow her to go as promised. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Penthesilea Queen of Antianeira. May I know your name?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:13 am
Neira's lips crawled back in a slightly ugly smile as she listened to this feather-bedecked glorious looking female. Well, well, well. "You keep males as slaves?" her tone was half incredulous, half hopeful. With a snort she muttered "more than they bloody well deserve". She might, at any other time, have felt at least a little appalled by the idea of any wolf being held as a slave but right now she was full of such a deep-seated hatred against males that the thought seemed positively appealing.
With the assurance that 'having to' stay was not necessary, Neira's interest grew. She was curious to see such a setup and how it really worked and, to be honest, a good meal and a safe place to rest for the night would be divine.
When the female introduced herself and her pack, though, Neira was more than a little shocked. Their pack was named Antianeira? She rarely used her full name, these days, but to come across a pack with the same name as herself? She wasn't a wolf who really put much stock in deities but she could almost imagine one now, prodding her towards some fated destiny.
It made her a little uncomfortable, truth be told - so when she finally replied, trying to cover her shock, she called herself by the short form only. "I'm Neira, it's a pleasure to have come across you". Her wariness was starting to falter, in the face of kindness, the pack's apparent suitability to her beliefs and it's name... She wondered, for the briefest of seconds, if they might need another warm body on the hunt.
Best to see how things were first, though, scope out the situation and see if she'd stumbled into a dream or a nightmare which had been set up to ensare her.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:24 am
"They willingly work for the sisters...however, if they choose not to, well then they are disposed of quickly." The Queen explained. It had been a long while since a slave had actually be 'disposed of' but others had been run out or simply left on their own accord. The point was that as long as they worked for the pack and knew their place they were allowed to stay. It was the way it had been for many generations now, and that was something that would never change.
"Neira, it is good to meet you as well. I can show you to a den now if you wish to rest or I can give you a small tour of the lands. The sisters should be back from a hunt by now so if you wish to have a meal first there will more than likely be a fresh kill waiting." Penthesilea was flexible, she had offered nothing more than a den and food to Neira, however if the other wished any more then she, as Alpha, would provide it for her if only to better serve her guest.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:30 am
More and more interesting. She could think of a few males she'd like to have disposed. Under her paw would be even better, though, hah! She'd have loved it of both males who'd burdened her with little ones. She'd make them take care of their progeny, make them struggle to find food for little mouths and for her own. The thought filled her with glee.
Neira was not used to being so well treated, though, to say the least. She'd never been the lowest of the low, but she'd never exactly been high enough in any hierarchy to expect others to ask her how she'd like to do things. Feeling slightly disconcerted, Neira agreed with Pen's suggestion of food. "That'd be good, I am hungry, and I'd like to meet... the sisters" using the title seemed somewhat odd but comforting, as she imagined the community such a group would bring about.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:22 pm
Standing Penthesilea gave her muscles a quick stretch. "This way." She said as she turned to lead Neira towards the dens. If the hunt had gone well there should be a deer or two waiting for them. As she walked, leading the way her paws made not a sound, a benefit of her years of training. Eyes and ears remained alert, just because they were in the packs territory did not mean that threats were impossible. Those many months ago when Achilles had first come to the area was proof of that. Of course now that the pack was getting larger they could afford more sisters to preform more regular border checks.
She had kept the pace somewhat slow to ensure her counterpart was not left behind but also since Neira had earlier displayed signs of weariness. When they did reach the den Penthesilea's eyes swept over the area, she could see some of the sisters roaming about, those that had been on the hunt were here. Ahead on a stone slab was a very large buck, the hunt had indeed been a successful one. A fine meal for the pack.
Coming to a stop near the buck Penthesilea turned to look at Neira. "You are free to eat as much as you wish. Perhaps some of the sisters will come by now that we have arrived." Kill were not usually consumed until the Queen had made her presence, so those who had been on the hunt were merely waiting for her to arrive and then they could feast at their leisure.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 2:49 pm
Neira kept us as best she could, the easier pace benefiting her in her current condition. She noticed the other female was wary and kept her own eyes and ears open, wondering what could be lurking in the forest if the queen was wary in her own lands.
As the neared the den, Neira could smell the blood smell, the scent of a fresh kill. She could hunt on her own, of course, but that big juicy buck was something that needed a pack to bring down. If that good for nothing male had done more than abuse her moment of weakness they might have brought down something together. Her lip twitched in an involuntary snarl before she caught herself and tried to calm down, thinking of a night of rest and good food amongst other females. Other, seemingly sane females...
"Thank you" she said to the queen, unsure what else to say in the face of such open generosity. She wasn't sure where to begin and looked around, waiting to see if any of the 'sisters' nearby would make a start.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:32 pm
 The hunt had indeed been a successful one, even the lack luster members had contributed enough to bring back a prize of a buck. The hunting party had taken their leave once the deer had been dragged to the stone slab. Varia however stuck around as she wished to speak to the Queen once she returned from her patrol. Rising to her paws once the Queen came into sight Varia noticed the new comer as well. If Penthsilea brought her another useless wolf to pretend to be a warrior there would be hell to pay.
Padding towards the pair Varia arrived only moments after Penthesilea offered the stranger her fill of the buck. It only took the slightest of looks towards the other female to note her condition. Well that's just great! The last thing this pack needed was more damn pregnant females. Coming to a stop in front of the Queen dipped her head in a respectful bow. "With all due respect my Queen does the pack not have enough puppies already?" Eyes ticked to the other female for a moment and then back to Penthesilea.
While waiting for the Queen's reply Varia stepped over to the fresh kill, one again glancing over at the stranger before taking hold of the flank of the deer and with a few good tugs ripped open the flesh. Taking a big bit of meat Varia turned her attention back to the Queen though continued to take bits of the deer, temporarily ignoring the new female.Her smile faded just a bit when she spotted Varia coming over. Knowing the hear warriors general bitchiness even towards other females she was a bit concerned as to her reaction. That comment wasn't all that shocking coming from Varia, but it still did not sit well with the Queen. Pups were the future of the pack after all and without them Antianeira would eventually die off.
"Calm yourself Varia, she is our guest." The Queen said to her second in command. If she was not careful Varia would ruin the chance of recruit another wolf to the cause. She turned her attention to Neira for a moment while Varia took the first bite of the buck. "Neira, this is Varia our Head Warrior. She is a bit less welcoming than others, however she is the best fighter in the pack and trains all of our warriors."
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:05 am
If she hadn't been a guest in these lands, surrounded by wolves she didn't know, Neira would have let her prickling anger out. As it was she tried to calm herself, stopping her hackles rising. She did not want to be in this state and the sooner the whelps were out of her belly the better, as far as she was concerned. It wasn't like she'd asked to stay... yet. She could sense the unspoken words in Varia's chill gaze.
Neira, keeping herself in check as best she could, gave a respectful nod to Varia, though a glimmer of anger showed in her eyes. She felt the urge to put the damn b***h in her place. No, this was not her place and this female had every right to be concerned about her pack. Still. b***h.
Feeling a little goaded, and not willing to entirely let it go, Neira was no longer shy about grasping at a hunk of haunch - not the best piece of meat, but not an insignificant piece. She wasn't going to let any wolf, male or female, look down on her for a situation she didn't see as her own fault. When she wasn't in this condition she was a good hunter, a strong hunter, and usually had a wiry strength borne of years living off her own back. At the moment, though, she knew she did look a little weak and swollen from her burden - not just her belly, but her sore joints as well. It helped her keep her tongue that she knew how rough she looked.
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:02 am
Well now, what do you know, apparently this Neira had some fire in her. That hateful look she cast was certainly not missed and it almost made Varia respect her a bit - almost. It was impossible for Varia to ever respect outsiders, but perhaps with time they could get a bit less harsh treatment from her should they prove themselves to not be worthless dolts. Swallowing a mouthful of meat Varia glanced at the Queen with a faint smirk on her maw. "It is hard to be welcoming when you are forced to train those pathetic excuses for warriors that you have given me. At least some of the old blood is back so I know my time is not a complete waste."
Taking one last bite of the bucks flank Varia stepped away from the carcass and sat not far from Penthesilea. She still didn't trust this new female and it was her duty to protect the Queen, even if it was from a pup laden female. "Will the princess be attending the afternoon training?" She asked of the Queen though her eyes were glued on Neira.
Penthesilea watched the two closely. It could go either way right now depending on what Neira did in reaction to Varia's comment, though it seemed that she, at least for now, was willing to not make any moves against the splotchy female. Good, the last thing that needed to happen was for her guest to be hurt right away. Throwing Varia a look as if to say 'please be nice' Penthesilea nodded slightly. "Yes Varia, I have heard your argument many times, you know it is what we have to work with. I have no doubt that you will be able to whip them into shape." Hopefully not literally of course.
"Orithia will be at the afternoon training. She is steadily gaining her strength so I believe she will be able to participate." Though the look she gave Varia silently told the Head Warrior to not push the pup too hard. Her heir was still weak compared to her litter mates and forcing her into full blown training right off the bat would only worsen her condition in the long run. If only Yakut would come back, she thought silently, then she might be able to cure the princess of whatever ails her.
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:54 pm
Nice to know she'd be 'welcomed', Neira thought. Varia reminded her a little of an old acquaintance in her harsh nature and words but where that personality had been misplaced in an alphess, it could be an asset in a second in command - as Neira assumed Varia was, given her demeanour.
Her comments on the wolves who'd obviously recently joined the pack rankled Neira, though she wasn't sure why she should care - they might well be useless, for all she knew. She knew she could handle herself, though, and felt that Varia was passing judgement on her rather than just 'others'. What also was becoming obvious was that the self-styled queen must be recruiting for her group of sisters if this other female complained of too much new blood.
The next comment, though, made Neira wonder. Perhaps, if Penthesilea had her own little ones, that was why she had offered sustenance to Neira and there was no ulterior motive.
Ripping pieces off of the haunch, the grey and black female looked around. "How many sisters are there?" she asked, casually, still trying to scope out the nature and reach of this pack.
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