|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:13 am
Zagreus picked his way along the snow-covered ground, his dark paws crunching softly as he placed them down. Clumps of ice clung to the thick fur on his legs and belly where he had brushed against the snow and his breath misted in front of him.
Pausing, the alpha male sniffed at a nearby plant before snuffing at the ground. The snow was making picking up scents difficult, but Zagreus was determined to find him. Ouranos had told the charcoal-grey male about Helios' arrival, and it had concerned Zagreus enough for him to attempt to track the intruders down. While Ouranos had many strengths, his judgement of other wolves was often on the generous side. Zagreus had not known Helios well when they had been in the same pack, but he knew enough of him. The alpha had a bad feeling about this..
Moving on again, Zagreus headed towards the area that Ouranos and Anya had met the new arrivals. Perhaps they hadn't moved too far away yet. If Helios was still around, then Zagreus wanted a word.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:39 am
Helios had not, in fact, moved very far. He was holed up in a small clearing, awaiting the arrival of Erin and food. It wasn't that he'd asked her or that she had said she was going to bring him food just that he expected it and would be more than dissapointed with her if she did not.
He was thus alone, bored and trying to ponder the conundrum of finding a few of his old packmates in this area. On the one hand it seemed a good thing - wolves who might allow him in, whom he could eventually show that he was rightfully an alpha and they'd gracefully let him take over. On the other hand, that Zagreus had always been a bit above his station. Son of two betas, black, handsome and laid back Zagreus was evenly matched with the golden furred wolf in both social and hierarchical terms - although those terms were of his own making.
His mind on this problem, he didn't notice the approach of the other. Helios had never been wonderfully observant of anything except social status and so Zagreus' movements went unnoticed whilst Helios ensconced himself in his own little bubble-world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:57 am
Zagreus hadn't moved far from the area that Ouranos had mentioned when he began to pick up a faint, vaguely familiar scent, albeit one that he had not detected for a long time. Figuring that it must be what he was looking for, the dark male began to follow it. His ears and eyes alert, Zagreus made his way to the small clearing. He wasn't entirely sure how Helios might react to him, and he was ready to fight off an attack if he had to. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that though. Zagreus didn't like physically fighting other wolves if he could avoid it. He was a great believer in the idea that there were other ways of resolving problems most of the time.
Black against the white snow, Zagreus stepped out into the clearing. The scent had gotten much stronger here. And sure enough, a flash of golden fur caught his eye. Turning, Zagreus faced the large golden wolf, his expression neutral. On his journey over, he had considered what to say to Helios, turning over the possibilities in his mind. Perhaps, though, the golden wolf had changed. Afterall, he was here now, wasn't he?
"It's been a long time, Helios. I trust the old pack is well?" he said politely, watching the golden wolf carefully as he spoke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:15 am
Helios stayed very very still for a few moments, as if gathering his thoughts or perhaps his strength to talk to such a rude intruder. One would have thought he was lord of the clearing. In fact, he had really almost jumped out of his skin when the dark male had appeared. He did not like to be made a fool of and felt that this uncouth male had deliberately sneaked up on him to gain some sort of advantage, to show Helios up! Hmph!
As his one good emerald-toned eye swivelled round to take in the stranger, his nose reaching out for the scent he came to the grave realisation that his very nemesis, whom he had been just thinking of, had appeared in front of him. It wasn't totally unexpected - he was on what this male laughably colled 'his' territory but Helios had not expected him so soon. Or to be caught at such a disadvantage.
Lazily he got to his feet, stretching out slowly whilst he considered Zagreus' question and what it might be advantageous to tell him. Certainly not the exact truth of the story as for some reason it always seemed to make Helios sound like he was the one at fault. No. An edited version, perhaps. "Well..." he said slowly, his thoughts coalescing quickly as he tried to find a way to put Zagreus at a similar disadvantage. "After you left with your little sidekick things sort of... fell apart. I mean, the son of the beta pair leaving? Well... all sorts of trouble comes from that. It's not like it's easy to find a replacement for such a wolf of your standing." Helios did not like to pay compliments to others but when it was backhanded or suited his purpose he wouldn't hesitate to do so. Afterall, he knew his compliments were false.
"There was some squabbling, the pack has broken apart. As much as I tried to help things just couldn't be salvaged. Now old Nova and my mother have half the pack they once did. It's not been a kind time for them." Helios gave Zagreus a look which implied he was saddened but not surprised by the events.
"I hear you're doing well for yourself, Zagreus. Your little lackey tells me these are your lands, that you have uite the little happy family started here? Your parents would be proud... if they weren't so distracted by events..."
Perhaps it wasn't fair of him to suggest that Zagreus was the cause of all of the pack's troubles but it didn't hurt...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:31 am
Zagreus stared at Helios for a few moments, allowing him to complete his tirade without interruption. Evidently, the golden wolf had not changed overly much since the dark alpha had last known him. Before he made a decision about chasing him off the packland though, Zagreus decided to keep the large wolf in conversation for a short while longer. Maybe he'd find out why Helios was here, and what he wanted.
"It couldn't be helped.." he replied quietly after Helios finished speaking, trying his best to keep his tone and expression neutral. Hopefully he had mostly succeeded. He hadn't expected such news, or for the pack to deteriorate so much just because he had left. However, he did not want to give Helios any advantage if he could help it. "There would have been more trouble had we stayed, and you know that. I'm sorry to hear that there have been such.. troubles though. Your mother was a skilled leader though. I am sure that she has the strength and ability to pull the pack through."
Zagreus paused again, as if taking a moment to consider his words. He regarded the large golden wolf levelly before changing the subject.
"I was told that Erin was with you also, yet I do not see her here. Where is she now?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:05 pm
"Zagreus, Zagreus... who would have thought you'd be such a troublemaker!" Helios said in tones of disbelief, only a hint of sarcasm peeking through. He was good at acting, good at pretending he was being sympathetic or caring, but any wolf who had known him long enough would see through that easily.
"Well, I suppose if you're here and out of the way and, well, in charge, it's not like you can cause any trouble... You make the rules afterall." It was a slight dig but Helios was a master of subtly jabbing at others. Although he was so good at giving false compliments he took most good things said about him at face value. Even if he knew another might not mean them so. "Well, yes, my mother is a remarkable wolf. She was a good leader but her judgement is failing in her old age... She really should have passed leadership onto someone else. If I hadn't been so exasperated with the situation I might have stayed and done so myself..." he turned the comment into a chance to further boost his already inflated ego.
Helios wondered briefly why Zagreus wanted to know where the little omega female was. Perhaps he wanted to steal her into his pack? Not like she'd go. She obviously saw Helios' superiority over other wolves, hence why she had followed him. And afterall... Zagreus did have some sort of odd liking for the more pathetic wolves... like that big fawny oaf Oranis or whatever he was called.
"She's around, hunting most probably." was all he said, not giving away anything else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:25 pm
Zagreus drew himself up to full height and stared at Helios, a flicker of annoyance passing through his golden eyes. As a rule, the dark wolf did not get irked easily. However, Helios' condescending tone and arrogant manner was beginning to strike a nerve. The golden wolf had no right coming onto his and Calliope's lands with such accusations.
"Yes, I and my mate do make the rules. And you would do well to remember that Helios, being that you are on *my* land as a guest, eating my pack's food and drinking my pack's water. We are, in fact, being remarkably hospitable to you so far. Keep pushing though, and that may change very fast." Zagreus' tone was beginning to lose its polite edge.
The alpha male paused again, staring at Helios and taking in the golden male's scarred, blinded face. Zagreus was willing to bet that there was a story in itself there.
"You come to me with accusations of destroying your pack. I might have caused trouble, but you're no angel, Helios. If you were, you'd be back assisting your alphas and not skulking around pitifully on lands that aren't yours."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:40 pm
This was exactly why he disliked Zagreus, Helios began to remember. He didn't bother to observe social niceties and just came out and said things in such a coarse manner. Helios was irked doubly. By the fact Zagreus would suggest he was lesser for not staying with his old pack and also by the suggestion that Helios was somehow emburdening Zagreus and his mate by taking his food and water.
"Zagreus, now, don't get so angry. I wasn't suggesting it was simply your fault that the pack became.. unstuck." the big golden wolf said placatingly, not really wishing to fight on another's territory where their friends could come and help out "simply that we were disadvantaged by your absence." Helios tried to sound ingratiating as he spoke and managed not a bad approximation.
"And as I said, I tried to help but it seems they were not keen on staying together. They'd rather let the pack fall apart than hand over power to someone younger." Riled, Helios was now getting a little closer to the true story of what had happened. "Some wolves don't know when it's best to give up leadership, to let a better wolf step up to the position." he said, his mind on his old situation but also on his current one.
Helios managed a wolfish grin as he stared at Zagreus with his one remaining good eye. "I thank you, of course, for your letting myself and Erin stay here" he said, a hint of mockery underpinning the thankful tone of his voice. Stay here. Not pass through. He wasn't sure he intended to leave and his words had perhaps let that slip. Helios was often far more transparent than he thought he was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:04 pm
From what Helios had said earlier, and just now, Zagreus was beginning to put together a much bigger picture of what had happened in his old pack after he had left. And it wasn't one that said much for Helios or his abilities.
"Perhaps everyone has their own opinion on what a 'better' wolf is," Zagreus replied simply, keeping his full attention on Helios. It did not look as though the golden wolf had come off well in the troubles of the old pack, judging by his current situation and his new scars.
As Helios 'thanked' Zagreus, the alpha male said nothing, noting the other wolf's tone and his words. Helios should have said that at the start. Zagreus also suspected the sincerity of his words. He was beginning to doubt that Helios had said one word that he actually meant in the whole of this conversation.
"You have stayed here so far, but you cannot linger. The pack grows, and it needs all that the land can give now that winter is fully here." Zagreus was now convinced that he could not allow Helios to remain on his lands. The golden male was condescending, rude and potentially a troublemaker for the pack. From what he remembered, Erin, Helios' companion, was a sweet young wolf. Had Erin been on his lands alone, Zagreus would most likely have made an allowance for her to winter with the Glen pack. However, he was being reminded of just how much he disliked Helios. He was certain that Calliope would utterly hate him. The golden wolf could not stay on his lands, and if Erin chose to follow him as she had so far, then she would have to leave too.
"Look south. There are many other packs, but you may find somewhere that is not another group's territory. You cannot stay here." Zagreus stated, an undertone in his voice that would normally brook no arguments. With Helios however, it could be another matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:18 pm
Zagreus was getting distinctly unfriendly now and that riled Helios. He was wary, he had not come off best in the last fight he had taken part in but he wouldn't back down from a challenge.
His main annoyance with the dark male's words was that he felt he was bing brushed off, disregarded. Thrown out. Again. He had thought he'd found a nice place, good hunting, relatively easy to defend. It hadn't come as a surprise that a wolf pack inhabited it already but when he had found it was members of his ld pack things had looked s though they might go a little easier for him than he'd hoped. He had assumed he could take up his dominant stance once more - one which right up until the end had been heeded by his peers...
What Helios wanted, in the end, was a pack of his own to dominate. He believed he was a born leader, he should be in charge and that, obviously, he should have his pick of any female he so wished. He liked these lands and wanted them. He had to find a way to get them. For a little while he had allowed himself to imagine he could just walk in and dominate these wolves but it happened to be the most bothersome of his old pack - those who were uncouth and disagreeable...
Now was the time to retreat, to regroup, to plan. If his last takeover attempt had taught him anything it was to plan a little more - to be more prepared and to be sure of winning when you went into something.
"To the south, you say?" he said, his voice all of a sudden calm once more. "Well thank you for that information, Zagreus. I guess I shall head that way..." The golden hued male turned but paused and spoke once again. "See you around, Zagreus...".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:30 pm
Zagreus watched as the golden male turned and began to leave. He had been prepared to have to back up his order with more words, or possibly even force, but fortunately it seemed that Helios was going to back down without a fight. Perhaps he might actually heed his words and find a space for himself to the south.
"Goodbye Helios," Zagreus replied, turning so that he still faced the other wolf. Once he returned to the den, he would inform the other pack members of the outcome of his chat with the golden wolf. He intended to ask the older members to watch the southern border of the packlands, to ensure that Helios passed into the south without incident.
As the other wolf paused, a thought occurred to the dark male. It was unfortunate that he had not been given the opportunity to see Erin again. He would have much preferred an encounter with the shy omega than with Helios and his arrogance. It was a shame, really, that she insisted on following the golden male.
Zagreus waited until Helios had left the clearing well behind before he moved again. He began to follow Helios' trail a short way, just to make sure that the golden wolf was going where he had been told. Once he was reasonably sure that Helios was leaving the Glen packlands, he intended to turn to head back to the warmth of the den.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
