|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:06 pm
 Poine was a bit distraught. She'd lost Peino somewhere between that beach territory and these mountains. She wasn't sure when he'd gone, exactly -- only that he had wandered off and never returned. She'd looked for him, for awhile, but found no trace of him -- which seemed especially odd for a wolf whose voracious hunger made him mow down everything in his path at least once an hour.
Still, she couldn't sulk forever. She was not a particularly sentimental wolf, and though she had cared for Peino as much as she could care for anyone...well, either he would turn up, or he wouldn't. No point in worrying about him anymore.
More important: finding the next job.
Poine was a business-woman. She took care of things that needed to be taken care of: fires put out, ends tied up, trash disposed of. She often did this for payments. More often, she did it for the simple joy of the work itself. Occasionally the bribes offered by her victims outweighed both of those perks and she took them without shame.
She was always just looking out for number one.
At present, her wandering had brought her to the outskirts of a territory she'd heard dwelled in the mountains. She had no intention of climbing to the peaks and throwing herself in the path of the members...but she might linger a bit. She had heard tales of some sort of revolt taking place here, some figurehead unseated, and she suspected that if the stories were right there might be a lead to take here. Might be a few angry wolves looking for someone to vent to.
And if not, well...she'd just have to keep moving.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:43 pm
 Tisiphone had to get away. She liked her new pack well enough, but there were so many of them! They were nearly impossible to escape. So, for now, she would leave the territory. Not too far, but she needed her space. It was getting close to the anniversary of Cith’s death. She was not fit company right now and she did not want anyone to intrude on her memories. Not even her painted wolves. She closed her emerald eyes and let out a gusty sigh, her head drooping.
It had happened so fast. It had been so unexpected. Then Cith. Her Cith was gone forever. And Alecto. Her dearest sister. Ajax, her mate. A sweet wolf at heart, if a little too serious sometimes. But worse, in a way, were the pups. The pups. The joy of Ajax and Alecto, the darlings of their little pack. Those innocent, little lives, snuffed out so suddenly. Where was the justice in that?
Hot rage burned in her once more. She felt so powerless! How could she ever avenge them if she could not find their killer? How could she ever live in peace? Even here, in this lovely, welcoming pack, the past plagued her. If she were ever to live again, she needed her revenge. But where could she even begin?
Her frustrated musings were interrupted by the scent of a foreign wolf. Now, who could that be, to dare disturb her when she was in such a mood?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:53 pm
Peino caught sight of the other wolf and paused a moment to look her over from her vantage point within the shadows. She seemed...agitated? Distraught? At any rate, not happy, and that was precisely the emotion Poine wanted to see.
Happy wolves so rarely had stories to tell. Although some would surprise you. Sometimes the happy ones had the juiciest tales of all.
"Apologies if I'm intruding," she said, sliding into view, holding herself in a posture of deference. She knew that her appearance often put other wolves on edge, and while that often came in handy, it was hardly helpful in gaining new clients. "Only I wonder -- is this the land of Acropolis?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:16 am
Tis studied the wolf before her. A curious-looking creature, but she was hardly disturbed. Tisiphone knew that looks were not all and far too often, she had been judged by her war-paint rather than what was beneath. Of course, sometimes the worst ones came in the prettiest packages. One never could tell. Regardless, she doubted that the deferential posture meant very much. Still, it did sooth a little of her irritation at being disturbed while she had deliberately sought solitude.
“Acropolis lies ahead,” she confirmed, though her tone was not particularly inviting. “Why do you ask?” Even if this meeting was an irritation, she could not very well ignore someone who was so obviously interested in her new home. No matter her mood, she would protect her wolves from any possible threats. Her one previous experience with a wolf lurking outside of her territory had been most memorable. She would not repeat the mistake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:43 am
"Oh, is it?" She smiled, looking relieved, and brought herself to a seated posture beside the other, watching her with those curiously glowing eyes -- although it was a bit distracting, as the demonic eye markings on her forehead seemed to watch also. "I wasn't sure, to tell you the truth. I'm going off faulty directions, and my navigator seems to have abandoned me."
She grinned conversationally. "I've some business in the area, and was given the peak as a landmark. Hard to miss, really, now that I look at it." The lie came easily to her. Most lies did. But she could tell that this wolf was one easily set on edge -- one with a sense of duty, perhaps -- and she recognized that any questions about her at this juncture could not only ruin any potential at getting a job...they could also get her chased out of here. Not that she was particularly afraid of coming to harm (she had, after all, only recently dispatched an entire pack with almost absurd ease) but without Peino at her back she wasn't sure she could kill them all as quickly as she'd like.
Also, she hated getting dirty.
"But that can wait. If I'm not much mistaken, you seem a bit...off-put? Apologies again madam if I'm prying, but I hope I didn't stumble into the midst of something?" She glanced around a bit theatrically, as though looking for the source of Tisiphone's distress.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:39 pm
Tisiphone snorted quietly at the other wolf, not certain that she ought to believe her, but not being able to pinpoint anything wrong with her story, either. Well, for now she could simply keep an eye on the interloper.
Her ears twitched back at both the questions and dramatic behavior of the wolf who was making herself so comfortable beside her. A small scowl worked its way onto her maw. What a ridiculous creature. Did she really believe she was being subtle or was she really that flighty? Somehow, Tisiphone doubted the latter. What gave this stranger the right to pry into her business? All she wanted was some space to grieve and rage in private. Was that too much to ask? Why did this stranger have to come along and intrude on her memories? Of a certainty, she did not look like she intended to leave anytime soon.
“There is nothing here but us,” she snapped, annoyed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:25 pm
Ahh, there it was. Anger -- sweet, delicious anger.
Sure, Poine could try for subtlety, but what was the point? Just as easy to get to the point this way, and besides, she guessed that this scowling femme would react better to the simpleton routine. Poine enjoyed playing the fool from time to time.
Also, it reminded he of Peino. Poor, sweet Peino.
"Quite right," she said, casting a look around. She gave a meager little wry smile. "Well, and the ghost of memories, I suppose. I was just sitting here thinking about my brother, and how much he would have liked the view, here."
Which was sort of true. Peino would have liked the view -- a piece of meat on legs, a gift-wrapped meal with some warpaint for flavor.
"But, as you say. Apologies again. I should be going...pressing business, as I say."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:19 pm
So much the better. Tisiphone would be glad to be rid of this annoying, flaky wolf. She had little time or patience for simpletons and if the female was going to act like one, then she had best be on her way before Tis decided to forcibly remove her.
“Yes,” she agreed. “Wouldn’t want you to be late for your business.” So long as it did not take her into Acropolis, of course.
Perhaps now Tis could return to her silence, though her mood had already been ruined by the interruption. Perhaps she should just return to the territory, after all. Perhaps tomorrow she would have better luck seeking her privacy. Perhaps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:49 pm
She hesitated, after padding away a few steps. They'd gotten off on the wrong paw, she could see that now.
The question was, was it worth it to turn around and start again? She weighed the options in her mind.
Sighing, she turned. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't skulk around the point." She wondered how to proceed, and then, with as much vagueness as she thought she could get by with, she carried on. "The fact is, the business I am in is....atonement. I hear of wolves who have been wronged, and I do what I can to bring the wrong-doers to justice."
That was putting it mildly, but it was never good to overstate one's purpose to strangers. "And I've heard that there was a bit of trouble here, some time ago. I thought I would come through and see if there were any....wounds...that needed tending. Of the spiritual kind."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:59 pm
Now, that got her attention. Bringing wrong-doers to justice? Most interesting. Could this strange wolf be of use to her?
“I cannot speak for the pack,” she said, “as I am fairly new here, myself. However, I wonder if you might be able to do something for me.” Could she really be of help? She had seemed to air-headed before, but now she seemed to possess some intelligence. Still, if there was any chance she could help track down the murderer, it would surely be worth it.
“I have been…wronged, as you put it.” Yes. It was worth a chance. At worst, she would be back where she started, no better or worse off than she had been before. At best… well, at best she would gain satisfaction and their ghosts could finally rest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:44 am
She smiled. It was not a particularly friendly smile. "I hope you'll forgive my circuitous discussion on the topic. As it happens, many become...squeamish...around the topic of retribution. Unnecessarily, but that's the fact of it."
She padded back to her side, resuming her seated position. She tilted her head interestedly. "But, of course, only those who have never been wronged would be so unnerved by the notion of justice. My name is Poine." She dipped her maw, though her glowing eyes did not leave the other.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:23 am
Ah. There was intelligence in her, after all. A fierce gleam of it in her eyes. Wonderful. Perhaps she would be useful, after all.
“Tisiphone,” she returned. “You may rest assured that I have no qualms about justice.” A flash of violence entered Tisiphone’s own eyes. “In fact, I would be more than happy to take care of myself; unfortunately, the particular wolf that I am looking for has proved to be most elusive. I wonder. Could you help me find him?” No. There was no beating around the bush for her. Straight to the point. She wanted blood and this wolf could help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:39 am
The pain was close to the surface. Poine could nearly taste it, and it tasted delicious. Never mind her other business here -- that could wait. "I travel quite a bit. There is no quarter of Telk without my tracks on it."
She paused a moment to collect herself, then carried on. "By which I mean -- if there is a wolf to be found, I can find him for you. I'll bring him back to suffer as you wish, if that's your desire, although that's not my usual modus operandi." Her glowing eyes lifted, almost lazily, to her. They drifted over the warpaint, somewhat curious, but did not question it. "Of course, I'll need to know some details before I can take the job. The wolf and the crime, at minimum." She hesitated. "And your name, if you will. I seem not to have gathered that yet."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:07 am
Better and better.
“I am Tisiphone,” she repeated. “As for the rest, his name is Belial. He is a large wolf, brown and red coat. Yellow eyes. Strong. Vicious.” Tis lifted her head from her blank stare to pierce Poine with her intense gaze. “His crime is the murder of my mate, my sister, her mate, and their pups. For that, I will exact my revenge.” And she would enjoy every minute of it. But she considered her new pack. What would they think? For that matter, what would her own painted wolves think? No. They could not know. This was something that she had kept private from them all and it was something that would remain that way. She would not risk being driven out of her new home. Even more, she would not risk her painted wolves being expelled.
“I would be most grateful if you could manage to track him down for me. Even more so if you could bring him back into the area. There is one thing, though. I’m afraid that my pack would not understand. They might be, as you put it, squeamish about such things. If we could keep this away from Acropolis borders, it would be for the best.”
Though, she could not help but wonder how this wolf would manage to bring Belial back here alive. Still, the sense she got from Poine now that she was not hiding herself gave her some assurance. If anyone could do it, she believed Poine could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:27 am
Tisiphone -- ah, yes. She had heard the name right the first time. How delightfully ironic, considering the circumstance!
"Murder," she repeated, shaking her head with a sympathetic sort of 'tut-tut' on the whispering contrails of her breath. "Cold-blooded and unprovoked? Or was their a prior history between you?"
This was important information for her. Already she was filing these away carefully into her mind. Belial. Brown and red. Yellow eyes. And wanted alive. She had little doubt she could do all of that. It would be a fun challenge, indeed.
"And -- of course. Discretion is of utmost importance in a situation such as this. When the time comes, I'll find some quiet place to hold him, where you may do as you wish away from...prying eyes."
This was going much better than expected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
