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 Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 12:19 pm
The male had told Glacier that he was the pups father? That was ridiculous. But she was glad that Glacier did have enough sense to move away from the male at her order. "He is not your father." She told him while her eyes remained on the male. In that moment she gave him a quick once over. He was well muscled and balanced, good coat, certainly a wolf that kept care of himself - certainly not the type of male that was usually seen within her pack. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind she continued to stare down the strange male as he spoke once more. So he was looking for her, clearly using Glacier as bait. Well she was here now.
"Glacier get behind Cleite." She ordered, though in a gentler tone now. Penthesilea didn't want to scare the pup too much but she couldn't afford to have him close to this male. "What do you want with me?" She asked the strange male.
Letting out a huff Cleite couldn't imagine why the male would tell Glacier such a lie. There was no way he could be the pups father, and even if he was there was no way Penthesilea would let the pup go. Shifting slightly to get in a better position not only to protect the Queen but also provide cover for the pup to move Cleite didn't take her eyes off the male.
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 12:40 pm
Achilles made no attempt to say Penthesilea's words were untrue or to hold up the illusions of being the pups father. The ruse had served it's purpose and he was no longer interested in keeping it going. He might have - if he thought it would lull the female into a false sense of security - but it appeared she had already seen through the hoax. Which of course had been expected - it had only been designed to fool the pup. Pups were gullible.
"I have a message for you" He told the female, remaining still as he waited for the pup to do as he was told - Achilles was sure he would - the young fellow seemed disinclined to ignore and order from the feathered female.
Achilles was right in that respect, and when the spotted male made no attempt to prove that he was indeed his father the pups head sagged slight and with tail still tucked between his legs slunk over to the lynx, crawling behind him with a dismal look on his face. "Yes Ma'am" He was probably going to get in trouble later for wandering ff he knew. Which meant he would have to stay closer to home from now on - and closer to Azalea. This presumption did nothing to help his mood.
As Glacier cut between himself and Penthesila on the way to his hiding spot Achilles moved, one second the mottled wolf was still and silent behind the slinking pup the next he was soaring over the pups back towards the pale Queen teeth bared as he landed just a stride away from her and charged, looking for all the world as though he meant to aim for her throat.
But that was a foolish maneuver - She would protect her throat from such an obvious attack and so Achille's action was yet another ruse - he counted on the pup drawing her attention away for a quick moment and should that startle her then the delay to her reaction would get him even closer to her before he tried to defend herself. At the second where he might have struck Achilles sudden;y snapped his teeth towards her foreleg instead. If he could but break a bone and cripple her this fight would be quickly over.
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 12:55 pm
"Glacier!" She yelled out worried that when he male made his move her would hurt the pup. She immediately caught her flaw of letting her attention fall to the pup and had almost no time to react to his true attack - almost. Thankfully she had been trained over many years to have lightening quick reflexes even when at an obvious disadvantage. Pulling her legs back with little time to spare she felt the wind from his missed attack brush her fur. Too close, this male was certainly not a push over like Tierehl was.
Taking a couple of steps back to get in better position Penthesilea set her steady gaze on the male more solidly now. "Take Glacier to the dens, keep him there." She barked an order to Cleite before going on the attack. Should the lynx so choose to send other wolves to come to the Queen's aid then so but it but she trusted that Cleite knew this was her fight and that no others were to be involved unless things turned for the worse. Lunging forward, teeth ready to strike Penthesilea used the space she had gained while retreating from his attack to reinforce her own.
Snapping at his shoulder the feathered Queen also reached out with her paw meaning to gouge out his eyes, but would not let her paw stay there long enough for him to grab onto it. She remember what she had done to Tierehl's leg and being ripped up like that was not on her agenda today.
Before the Queen even got her order out Cleite was already on the move to make it over to Glacier. It was a stupid move to place himself between them and the enemy. Using her free paw she pushed him forward. "Move young one!" She commanded of him and the fight broke out. This was the Queens fight, she knew, but she would send another to check on her once she got Glacier back to the dens safely. Using her nose she continued to push the pup onward, knowing that he may be worried about the queen and possibly be somewhat hesitant to leave her.
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 1:22 pm
Achilles was not disappointed as the Queens attention drifted to the pup - it was a universal flaw of females, throw a pup into the mix and they lost a bit of their attention span. He had hoped to put a quick end to the battle - but as Tier had warned him this female had training and it would likely be a longer battle.
The mottled male knew however that he could not afford to let it drag on too long - not when she had sent the Lynx back to the main pack lands. Undoubtedly the meddling cat would send help for the queen. At least the pup had kept the Lynx from joining into the fray as he'd expected he would. While his first attack failed he had managed to make the Queen give him a little more respect - which was a mixed blessing, he'd rather she keep treating him like a useless male for the fighting advantages that would open up but being a proud creature he was inwardly pleased at her sudden guard. She was right to regard him with respect.
He did not follow as she retreated to give herself more space after his attack - instead the spotted male used that time to place himself in a more defensible position, he backtracked until he stood beside a small log on the ground and when she rushed he was ready for her. As her teeth reached for his shoulder he dodged sideways in a circular manner putting her between him in the log. It was a split second move and it meant her claws raked across his face - but they scraped closer to the base of his ears rather then his eyes and Achilles ignored the blooms of pain it created, focusing instead on the reason he had allowed such a thing to happen to his beautiful coat.
As her claws raked across her face Achilles took advantage of the Queens three legged stance and shoved himself forward with a powerful lunge of his hindlegs attempting to push her up and sideways so that she would trip over the log and fall over it. TO further this goal he snarled viciously and harried her with his fangs with snaps towards her muzzle - hoping she'd also jerk her face up help with the overbalancing herself.
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 1:34 pm
With Glacier safely on his way home Penthesilea could focus all of her attention of the fight. The satisfaction of feeling her claw hit close to the mark was good though she didn't allow such a thing to distract her. This was a real fight, not some showing of her dominance that she showed to any males in the pack that decided to think for themselves.
When he pushed his weight towards her she was off balance, but that was not complete disadvantage. Every situation could be used in a different way if one reacted fast enough. She allowed herself to lift her other front paw in a feign that she hoped would make him think she was going to fall over as her back legs touched the log behind her. Though instead of falling forward she reached out with her front legs in an attempt to wrap them around his neck to pull him down with her. At the same time she slammed her head forward, head tipped down so her skull would hopefully connect with his snapping jaws and knock his hard enough to make him back up.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:39 am
Achilles was not fooled As Penthesilea lifted up on her front paws - she was still far to balanced on her hind legs to be falling over - pity he would have liked to have seen her fall -and expose that wonderfully unprotected underbelly. It seems they would have to continue fighting a bit longer. At least he was getting what he wanted - a challenge.
As she rose up and wrapped her paw around his neck he used his own forelegs to to claw at the more tender skin where her legs met chest in hops of leaving some - not mortal - but certainly painful wounds that would encumber her movements. When her head tipped down and then slammed down towards him Achilles was surprised - but quick to react, like the feathered queen Achilles himself had spent a goodly portion of his life training to fight, and while it made things a bit more difficult on his end he relished the challenge this savage beauty was presenting him.
Jerking his head sideways her hard skull missed his head but slammed painfully into his shoulder,growling at the pain Achillies twisted his head and tried to latch onto her ruff behind the ear before she could pull away.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:53 am
Feeling his claws rake across her chest Penthesilea let out another growl. The cuts stung but she could work through the pain, she had been in many fights in the past where injuries like these were common place. The pain would keep her focused on him, it would reinforce her determination to beat this male. There was a very satisfying cracking sound when her head slammed into his shoulder, sure it hadn't hit him in the jaw like she had planned but it still had the same effect of knocking him back a bit.
A smile of anger crossed her maw as he twisted him head around to grab at her ear. Stupid male didn't he see that he was making a mistake. Penthesilea also twisted her head around, not to avoid the bite he was tossing her way, but to latch onto his now unprotected throat. Clamping down hard she was reminded of her relatively recent fight with her half-brother. She still didn't know the reason this male was attacking her, but that didn't matter right now. Setting her legs rigid Penthesilea let a growl rumble in her throat as she held tightly onto his.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:04 am
The pain from his shoulder was matched only by the satisfaction he got from hearing her growl while he drug shallow - and not for the first time did he wish wolves had the more damaging claws of cat kind - but still painful wounds in her skin. Like her however Achilles was not a creature to give in when the gong to tough - a little bit of pain was a decent price to pay for victory, and if he killed this feather ridden Queen it would sling him that much closer to the infamy he desired. He would be recalled and remembered through the ages as a warrior and that was worth a sore shoulder or two.
He nearly crowed in victory as she failed to see the true reason behind his strike. Stupid female! Didn't she see she was leaving herself unprotected? Well no point in dithering on about it! Achilles clamped down on the females neck, jaws sinking into the flesh behind her ears - just a bit more pressure and he would crush her spine. That would certainly make her decapitation easier.
But just as that thought crossed him mind he felt the females jaws clamp down on his own throat.
Well. They were both up crap creek now weren't they?
Growling low in his throat Achilles tested his hold on her neck by applying a bit more pressure. This female wolf had given him a good workout - it would almost be a shame to kill her....and while he worked his jaws every so slightly he couldn't quite seem to bring himself to fully finish the job.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:12 am
Feeling the pressure on the back of her neck Penthesilea cursed slightly as she had left herself open to his attack even though hers had hit the mark. No matter, she could probably kill him before he snapped her neck anyways. Tightening her grip on his throat as he did the same about her neck they were in a game that would likely be the end to both of them.
Soon he would run out of air to breath, of course if she applied just a bit more pressure she could just completely crush his throat and be done with it. But it seemed for some reason that she was unwilling to do so. He had been a worthy opponent indeed. Feeling the blood running down her fur from the puncture wounds on his neck she wondered why he hadn't finished her off. He could easily crush her spine with a bit more pressure but he seemed to be holding back, no matter. Penthsilea continued to hold onto his throat not willing to back down even if it meant possibly losing her life - at least it would be to an equally skilled warrior.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:22 am
Achilles cursed himself for his hesitation, sure that she would take the extra time he'd given her to tear his throat out. For some reason however she did not and that confused him somewhat - perhaps she like he himself found the thought of killing such a worthy opponent distasteful. He told himself that if he went and killed her now she would die with his throat in her jaws and that would be a real bugger to pry out of.
He could always come back and kill her later anyways - no point in killing off the only good opponent he'd had in a long time right away he reasoned and taking somewhat of a chance he loosened his grip ever so slightly. What the hell was he doing?!? His mind screamed at him but Achilles for once in his life ignored the logical question his mind was screaming at him.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:28 am
Penthesilea wasn't sure how long they would be stuck in this stalemate until one of them decided to just end it. Honestly she had all day if it came down to it. When she felt the pressure on her neck lessen Penthesilea was a bit hesitant to let go of his throat, it could have been a trick, and one that would cost her her life. But after a few moments she realized that he was not trying to trick her but merely letting her live to see another day.
Slowly she released her grip from his throat though her eyes were set on him for any sign of another attack. As she did so the pressure on her neck lightened once more. Soon she was free of his grip and as he was of hers. Taking a couple of steps back she licked the blood from her maw that had gathered there, studying him with a critical eye. Finally she decided to break the silence between them. "Who are you?" She questioned somewhat harshly. "Why were you sent after me?"
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:41 am
Giving his neck a bit of a shake as he was freed of her grasp Achilles fixed her with an equally critical and suspicious eye. It was an unusual predicament they faced now - ti wasn't often that assassin and target found themselves bonded over such an event. And it was an event - at least to Achilles, he had let her live as she had let him in a weird twisted way they had saved each others life. Even if those lives never would have been in danger had they not fought in the first place, that was inconsequential to the conclusion.
He studied her as he licked his blood from her mouth but ignored her's which still dripped from his. "I am Achilles' He told her simply "I was hired to bring your head to a patchy yellow - tan wolf. he had a limp.." He recalled, it only seemed fair now that she already knew why he had come hereto supply the information he requested. He knew all about her. Tipping his head slightly he questioned her "your doing?"
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:47 am
Ignoring the feeling of blood dripping down from the puncture wounds on the back of her neck Penthesilea huffed at the mention of a patchy yellow wolf with a limp. So Tierehl had set this whole thing up, and why? Because she had beat him up last she saw him over his stupidity of impregnanting a female whom he didn't love.
"Achilles." She said his name out loud to further ingrain it into her memory. "So my worthless half brother sent you to kill me did he?" She couldn't help but let a rumble of anger come up her throat. She should have killed that b*****d when she had the chance. "It's a shame he can walk once more, I had hoped to have him laid up a bit longer."
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:52 am
"Half brother hmm?" Achilles looked her over "I suppose one could see the resemblance...but he is soft and you are not" He concluded "I would not expect him to go far but perhaps you should have broken the leg. It is unlikely then he could have hired me" He told the wolfess. How unusual it was to be standing here and holding a conversation with a creature he had just tried to kill.
But whether she wished to admit it or not Achilles was sure they had a great deal in common. Both were warriors - even if they had separate goals, and now that their truce seemed to be holding Achilles didn't mind talking arts - one killer to another.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 9:01 am
As soon as Cleite had returned to the dens with Glacier the lynx had informed Thealia what was happening. Knowing that it was her duty to protect the Queen Thealiea immediately set off to find her. Should she need more help than just her then Thealia would call for the others as the pack was now on high alert.
Running through the dense trees Thealia quickly found herself approaching the spot that Cleite had left the Queen with the attacker. Bursting through the trees Thealia came to the queens side, a snarl coming from her as she looked upon the male. He had blood on his maw, and from a quick glance towards Penthesilea it was apparent that it was the Queen's blood. Though honestly the injuries were not bad, something that would heal in a short time.
Penthsilea nodded slowly. "It is quite unfortunate but yes he is my half-brother." Letting out a snort she continued. "Of course he is soft, he is a worthless male. He did not train to be a warrior like I did, nor will he ever do so." She would have said more but the rustling of the nearby bushes stopped her. As Thealia made her entrance the queen remained focused on Achilles.
"Stand down sister." She ordered of the green wolf. The fight had been conceded by both parties already and she would not let Thealia start it up again. Achilles would live to see another day just as she herself would. Perhaps their paths would cross again, perhaps not.
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