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 Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:02 pm
 Iosef glanced uneasily over his shoulder, looking at the light-colored figure that followed him. He wondered how it was that he had ended up in this position, as it was a rather awkward one to be in; it had never quite been his intention to recruit anybody, much less a scrawny male, and he wasn't entirely sure that Penthesilea would be pleased to see him.
Still...they were short-staffed here, and it would be good for the pack to have another adult slave. And, well...he couldn't very well leave Tui where he was, could he?
Moving forward again, the calico-pelted wolf glanced around, stopping a respectful distance from his alpha's den, and cleared his throat. He was so not built to do this sort of thing.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:19 pm
 Fortunately for everyone involved, Tui didn't catch the ambivalent glance passed in his direction. He was staring gravely at his bony paws, watching them carry him right straight into the heart of a pack of Amazons. The idea sent a shiver down his knobby spine and raised his sorry hackles, and his pale eyes squeezed shut for a moment to try and rid himself of his heebie-jeebies. He stopped behind Iosef, his heart thumping, and tried to maintain some perspective on his situation. Think about protection. Think about family. Staring rather vacantly forward, he held these images in the forefront of his mind, devoting his willpower to not acknowledging the snarling, squealing ghosts behind them, and waited for the Queen to make her appearance.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:26 pm
 Penthesilea had been taking a break from her duties to relax in her den. Or at least that was that had been the plan until she was interrupted. Whichever of the sisters was bothering her now would get a severe tongue lashing given that she had told them that she was going to take a few minutes to herself. A growl rumbled in her throat as she got up and crawled from her den. Though the sight that greeted her was both unexpected and unpleasant. There was Iosef standing in the classic slave position, but that's not what annoyed the Queen, no it was the wolf that seemed to have been led right to her den. And a male on top of that.
Now normally Penthesilea was gentle with Iosef because he was a bit shy and a loyal slave, but this would not do, this was no time to be nice to him. "What is the meaning of this Iosef?" She barked at him, hackles raised. "You dare bring a strange male into my pack, to my den, after what recently happened?" It took all her effort to not instantly cuff Iosef right then and there then turn on that wolf. But she was trying to show some small amount of restraint only because Iosef had been so good up until now. Now granted this new male didn't exactly look like a would be assassin but she knew very well that looks could be deceiving, he could even be a spy for Achilles or some other assassin.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:40 pm
Iosef ducked his head, nearly prostrating himself before his queen, and his limbs trembled slightly with apprehension. He was not a wolf that was accustomed to being reprimanded; he was a good boy, and had spent all of his life being a good boy. Now, however, he felt like a bad boy, and it tore at him.
Still...what else was he to do? "I found him at the borders," he said, softly, meekly. "When I was disposing of some trash. He..." he hesitated, not sure what, precisely, had led him to the decision to bring the white wolf here. "I thought it would be safest to bring him to you directly, rather than leave him at our border. I see now that I made an error in judgment, and I apologize."
He swallowed, hard, looking uncertainly back at the lank wolf behind him, and then, addressing Penthesilea's paws. "His name is Tui. And he would submit to be your slave, my queen."
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:54 pm
Tui shivered and hunched his shoulders, his head sinking miserably toward the ground. He could hear the bites in the she-wolf's words, and his skin flinched uncontrollably as she doled out her ire onto his hapless guide. Don't let her attack him, he begged the universe, and just in time her burst of anger leveled out to irritation. His body roiling with adrenaline, he tried to listen to them speak, and kept his posture meek and trembly.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:10 pm
Eyes moved to the other male, Tui, for a moment and then back to Iosef. He was as much to blame for this as any, but the sisters were also to blame as well, for it was clear that none of them had stopped the pair nor questioned why the slave was bringing this strange male into the pack lands. "No, I don't believe you were thinking at all." She snapped again at Iosef as he cowered in front of her. "Why not bring every male that wanders near my borders to my den? That will make any assassination attempts so much easier, they won't even need to work for it. They can catch me off guard as I sleep." Penthesilea gave her head a shake trying to calm her fury down. This was the first mistake that Iosef had ever made so it wasn't really fair to punish him so severely. But he also had to understand her side of this. It was only a short time ago that Achilles had nearly killed her in battle.
"Best to leave those things to the sisters next time. That way they can be dealt with before they reach the dens." The Queen's gaze moved to Tui once more, studying his submissive posture and horribly unhealthy look about him. Even if he wasn't an assassin or working for one, how could this bag of bones serve the sisters. Glancing out around the pack lands Penthesilea returned her attention to Iosef for a moment. "And just how is it that you managed to bring him all the way here without the sisters stopping you?" Though she didn't stay to hear his answer, though she still expected him to give one. Now she was walking towards Tui, holding her self up high in a very dominate and intimidating way. Slowly she circled around him, once again taking in his bony hide and sickly look. "So you wish to serve the sisters do you? To serve me?" Her voice was harsh but this was a test after all. Reaching out with her paw she cuffed the male on his shoulder to judge his reaction. If he were an assassin or working for one she would know he'd react in a certain way. "Then speak."
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:31 pm
Iosef's eyes remained firmly planted on his paws. Later, in hindsight, he might be able to look at this particular meeting with a smile of irony, considering how things would work out -- but for now, given the status of things at present, he understood completely the threat that he had unwittingly put his pack at, and twisted in shame.
The fact of it was that, had the sickly wolf on the outskirts been a female, she would have been welcomed -- perhaps not with open arms, but at least given a chance. He had made a terrible transgression in forgetting, however temporarily, the inferiority of his own gender. He had made the mistake of succumbing to a certain weakness...he shivered all over, realizing the full extent of his error, and choked out quietly, "The sisters do not often take notice of the affairs of a slave." Knowing that, at least, should get them in trouble as well -- though the thought did little to appease his guilt, and indeed made him feel worse. Still, it was important to be said. Twice now, a strange male had found his way to the borders of the pack, and twice now he had not been intercepted by the guards.
Nevertheless, he said no further, and instead turned his eyes toward the white wolf, worried how he would react to this sort of initiation. Penthesilea was irritated for the moment, to be sure, but she was a gentle queen. Tui was lucky that it was her, and not the old queen, that was here.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:07 pm
With his ears pinned back to the side of his neck, Tui felt himself being circled and appraised, felt that perennial terror of being at the mercy of strangers. When the cuff came, he cringed and stumbled slightly, crooked his head further still away from Penthesilea. Speak. His ears buzzing quietly, he drew in a quivering breath, and spoke. "I do, your Highness," he almost whispered, his whole brain swirling in a desperate attempt to dredge up a response that would land him a place in a pack, and not jaws snapping at his haunches. "I, uh. I know I don't have anything to bring you that would help you greatly." He blinked hard, still staring squarely at the ground. "But I'm loyal, and I'll do the chores too tiresome for you and your Warriors to bother with." His eyes raised for a moment, not making it to Iosef, but thinking of him; he opened his mouth to say something further, but stopped, and only thought it. Iosef is a good slave, and I want to be like that.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:17 pm
Penthesilea's eyes darted to Iosef for a moment when he answered her question. "Then perhaps we should fix that. Don't you agree?" He would agree, he had to agree, even if he didn't necessarily think it was a good thing. That's what made Iosef a good slave, he questioned nothing, merely did as was told and always agree when it was expected of him. Eyes turned back to Tui as the skinny wolf seemed to stumble over his words. Pathetic creature, what good would he do for the sisters. This was not Penthesilea's normal mind set towards slaves, yes they were quite inferior but also they were needed and she knew that.
"If you have nothing to offer to us then why consider being a slave. I have no use for those who can do nothing for me. If one cannot serve myself and the sisters then they do not deserve to be here." She circled once more, slowly her anger was dissipating but it would take a great deal for this male to prove himself to her, if that was even possible. "You are nothing but dirt under our paws, and yet you wish to serve us. Why?" There had to be a reason behind him wanting to become a slave for surely Iosef couldn't have talked him into such a demeaning job. Only an idiot would do so, and while this wolf looked like nothing, Penthesilea didn't think he was an idiot. But than again, she had been wrong in the past, so best to reserve judgment on that until later.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:27 pm
Iosef nodded in his agreement to the queen's words, not daring to say anything. He was watching the other wolf with a tense expression; his heart ached, watching the awkwardness of it. Oh, why hadn't Tui gone to YMCA like he'd told him to! Maybe there was still time...
He yearned to step up, to answer for his new friend, but knew it was not his place to do so. His answer would need to be his own, not something Iosef fed to him. Still, he attempted to think as loudly as he could, as though somehow he could inject his thoughts into the mind of the other or will him to say something. This was so hard on Tui! He could see it.
He'd made a mistake in bringing him here, he thought; it was going to be his hide, for sure. Say something, he thought, insistently. He had understood Tui's mindset, at least a little, for he had once been alone and miserable and desperate for a home and the security of those stronger than he. But was that something Tui could articulate? was that something strong, mighty, noble Penthesilea could even comprehend? The so-strong desire to be a part of something large and safe that one would submit their whole being just to know they'd never again have to be alone?
He bit his lower lip, and looked anxiously at Tui, hoping the other wolf would have the right answer -- or, if not, would be up to the task of running.
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:50 pm
Tui's eyelids flickered as he felt the queen pass around him. Nothing but the dirt under her paws, he thought. Well, they needed something to walk on. The idea seemed potentially too insolent to say, but both the insult and its resolution gave him an unexpected bit of calm; making an effort to uncurl his tail somewhat from his belly (aiming more toward submission than terror), he took another breath, spoke softly again. "Some wolves are good at heroic things. They can win fights, and rule packs, and inspire." He paused, trying to listen for Penthesilea's mood. "And other wolves are good at things that...you don't realize are useful. They keep puppies out of the way. They bury trash. And they want to look after the wolves who care for them." He swallowed, struggling to explain something he had never thought about in terms of words. How do you explain to someone stronger than you that you need them? What polite way is there to say you will do anything to remain in their shadow?
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:32 am
Why is it that she had to deal with situations like this. Yes it was her responsibility as Queen but seriously would it kill one of the sisters to have actually dealt with this. She noted Iosef's nod in regards to her question and then re-focused on Tui as the male spoke again. His words were encouraging, he didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that he would hold no real position in the pack. Her eyes moved to Iosef for a moment again, she could see that he had had good intentions bringing this wolf to her now, and if Tui did truly wish to serve the sisters then that was a good thing. But she did need to er on the side of cation giving the recent events. "You speak truthfully, which is a decent quality. Iosef is our most valued slave and I do not believe he would have brought you here if he didn't think you could serve us."
Padding away from Tui she came to sit in front of Iosef once more. "I am willing to give you a trial, see if you are truly worth while keeping around." Her eyes were glued to Tui, though her words were also a warning to Iosef to ensure no further mistakes were made in the future. "If you prove that you are a good slave, obedient, hard working and loyal then you may stay. If not, you will be forced from this pack by any means necessary. Is that understood?" Focusing on Iosef once more the Queen spoke somewhat softly now though her voice was still commanding and stern. "You will show him what duties he is to do, teach him what you know. If he does not work out, then expect a just punishment. He may stay at the den near the east border by the river." She fell silent for a moment while she considered her options, then spoke once more. "In the mean time Tui and you will be under more strict supervision. Neither of you are to go anywhere without an escort. I shall have Cleite and one of my guards personally escort you to and from each job as well as stay there with you during your work."
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Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:53 pm
Iosef breathed a sigh of relief; it appeared the queen would be gentle with his misstep --and, even better, would give the scrawny wolf a chance. She had done her part...now it was up to the males to keep their end of the bargain.
He didn't even mind about Cleite, although he did worry slightly about being left with another guard. Hippolyta he wouldn't have minded, but if he was shadowed by Thealia, things would not move so smoothly. Not that he minded the beta, precisely, but he wasn't sure that his new friend had the composure to be around her rather...blunt...self. To put it nicely.
But he was not one to argue. "Yes, my queen. I would be happy to do so." He was glad, too, that even if Tui did not work out, it sounded as though Penthesilea would be so lenient as to merely chase him from the pack lands. Iosef had seen the pack in a time when Tui might have been killed, instead. "We will commence immediately, if it is your will."
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:37 pm
Tui had a difficult time suppressing a shudder as he realized he'd made it, at least a little bit, into the pack. Anxiety and relief fought for dominance as he crouched even lower, trying to find words of gratitude to offer this frightening wolf. Failing, he made do with nodding mutely at her instructions, so overwhelmed that he couldn't even bother to agonize over who Cleite might be.
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:58 pm
Penthesilea hoped that she would not regret showing Tui some slack because of Iosef. It would be a grave day should the Queen be forced to physically punish the packs most loyal slave. But if it came down to that, she was sure Iosef would take it all in stride and hopefully learn from his mistakes. Throwing a final stern look at the two males who sat practically quivering in front of her the Queen decided it was best to dismiss them so they could get on with it.
"See to it then. Just make sure that teaching him his place doesn't interrupt your work." She paused for a moment to let that sink in before speaking again. "Cleite should be near the training field, go to her and tell her the instructions I have left you." With the slaves dismissed Penthesilea stood waiting for them to leave so that she could be left to her thoughts.
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