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 Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:44 am
 Achilles hadn't wasted much time in leaving for this search, he had taken time only to say farewell to those he cared to..and to dig up as much information about Varia's travels as he could...since he hadn't been able to ask Varia herself the information was scarce and second hand but it had provided him a direction and assuming that Yakut was still heading back towards the pack he had been able to approximate the area she might be in.
He had also worn the signs of Penthesilea's favor - where typically he left them behind while he was away from the packlands this time he had judged it to be wise that he wear them. It was an old pack tradition as far as he could tell and perhaps this Shamaness would trust him the more if he bore the obvious signs of trust from her Queen. He would need to tread carefully however - this was not one of his usual runs and would require different tactics.
Several days had come and gone while he traveled, his pace had been fast and he was making good time, by his estimates he should be nearing the area Yakut might be in, it was time to slow down and really begin looking and hen he awoke that morning and crawled from his makeshift den under a fallen pine Achilles, rather then head off in the direction had been traveling began to cast sideways, the first wing of what would become an extensive search pattern.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:52 am
 Night had been filled with a constant drip of water in her tiny rock cave. While most wolves would have been bothered by such a noise Yakut found it pleasant, in fact the water spoke to her throughout the night in her dreams. Rising a good deal before the sun took control of the sky Yakut set out on a mission turtle shell in mouth, she had something new to investigate. The forest was still quiet as most creatures remained asleep at this time, but she knew that in the coming hours the woods would be bustling with activity. When she reached the spot where she would later be meeting with Necro again Yakut set the shell down.
Nose low to the ground Yakut scented about looking for her quarry. The grouse may have thought it was well hidden but the bush told Yakut of it's hiding spot and she quickly moved in - though did not kill it right away. Picking up the stunned bird the horned wolfess turned and made her way back to the spot where she left her turtle shell. Then she waited, waited silently for the right moment, right as the sun started to affect the sky. Snapping the grouses neck she the set it in the turtle shell and ripped open it's neck. Allowing the beast the bleed out in the shell Yakut plucked a few feathers from it's body before removing it from the makeshift bowl. The she stared at the blood contained within, using on of the feathers to push some of it this way or that. Interesting.
Dropping the feather for a moment Yakut picked up a few tiny rocks and tossed them into the shell. Very interesting. Picking up the feather she pushed the blood around once more, manipulating it until it told her what it wished her to know. Head snapped up, Necro would be here soon but it would seem they were not to be alone today - and she wasn't referring to his Spirit guide either.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:15 pm
Necromancer had not slept far away and as the sun rose so too did the grey wolf, stretching he shook the forest debris from his pelt before padding to the meeting area Yakut had appointed the night before. The scent of blood was strong as he approached the clearing and Necro's ear pricked up in curiosity, his slow walk becoming a quick trot as he completed the last of the distance.
...perhaps she will seek to look at your blood... Came his mothers nattering comment as his silver eyes fell upon the scene. Would he care if she did? Unlikely, pain was little to Necromancer but another part of life..or death depending on the circumstances. Perhaps he would let her..if only to know what she saw though it would be unfortunate if only death blood worked - what good would the revelations do him in the spirit realm. "Does the grouse lend you her eyes? Does she tell you anything worthwhile?" He asked as he drew closer, sitting on his haunches to wrap his fluffy tail about his forepaws.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:23 pm
Achilles had been tracing a pattern through the woods since well before dawn - it was a habit he followed on all his jobs. It just made sense really - most wolves slept until at least first light and it was simply easier on everyone if he could locate them before they really started moving in the morning. He assumed the Shamaness would be no different - even though he had no desire to well..kill her..as per his usual order.
So it was that when the stench of fresh blood flooded his nostrils, Achilles altered his path to investigate, slowing to stalk through the brush until he knew precisely what he would face ahead - if it was the Shamaness - his luck would be great, if it was a lesser wolf well then..perhaps he would find an easy breakfast.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:30 pm
Yakut growled slightly as the grey ghost of a wolf approached. He dared interrupt her? If it was not for what the grouses blood showed her as well as their conversation the night before she likely would have gone on the attack. But knowing that it was the Necromancer and not some other worthless male made her fury calm quickly. Looking at the blood and then towards him Yakut nodded. "She has shared her wisdom, ghost walker." Why she didn't use his real name was unknown, but what she did call him was pretty accurate.
"There is one who lurks in the forest today, one who seeks to find something lost. A male." The last part was spoken with an obvious hatred in her voice. Lifting her head she glanced about the trees, knowing that this unknown wolf was close but was yet to reveal himself. "He approaches." Her gaze settled upon the area of the trees where this unknown male would make his appearance, sniffing the air she listened to the trees, seeing if they would tell her more about this unexpected visitor.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:16 pm
...you have angered her... His mother warned and though Necromancer was not entirely sure what he had done to do so - etiquette was not his strong point, should he have barked before he entered? Come from a different direction? Who was to say really - he did watch her warily for a few moments though, silver eyes wondering just what she would do and while his look was neither aggressive nor defensive..merely curious, one would be foolish to overlook his balanced posture and ready stance. Necromancer had not been lying when he'd told her he'd been used in battle. Another's war, not his own...but war and bloodshed just the same.
But it seemed that whatever he had done to anger Yakut she was going to overlook and as Necromancer had no interest in whatever social nicety he'd neglected was willing to do the same and offered no apologies, when she spoke of the coming Male her anger did puzzle him a bit - did she know this male? She did not look worried and merely sounded angry. "Always searching are the mortal beasts" He told Yakut as his gaze swung in the direction she was looking.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:26 pm
Achilles had circled around the clearing as he approached, ear's flicking and eyes searching for any signs of what might lie ahead, he'd found some tracks..caught a few scents and knew without a doubt that two wolves awaited him in the clearing ahead. But until he laid eyes on them he couldn't tell if it was who he sought. He had only a description and nothing more.
When he peeked through foliage it was unsettling to see the silver eyes of the grey male and the reddish hued ones of the female looking his way. they had known he was coming - which was unsettling but something he'd been prepared for. Clearly someone called a shamaness would be more observant then a regular wolf. Penthesilea had warned him of this...she'd told him other things as well and while it galled him to no end - Achilles was a proud and commanding wolf, he knew that he would have to play the part of obedient slave - at least this one time.
Taking a deep breath and blowing out a annoyed sigh Achilles stood and walked foreward, his gaze cast upon the ground and his tail - so typically flying proudly - tucked low in order to appear subservient. He could do nothing of course about the battle hardened look of his body, or the calculating look in his eyes when he dared to take stock of his situation. Penthesilea had told him that Yakut would likely recognize his decorations...and it would be wise to let her speak first and so once he had approached to a respectable distance he paused an remained silent to see what she would say.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:04 pm
"A flaw of mortal flesh is that it is always searching, but rarely finding." She explained to the ghost grey wolf though her eyes remained on the forest before them. Soon the soft rustle of leaves reached her ears, only it was not the wind that disturbed them but the incoming wolf. Eyed narrowed as she looked upon the large male as he came out of the bushes. A growl rumbled in her throat as she watched him approach, he carried himself like a slave but his well muscled body and decorations spoke otherwise.
When the large male stopped Yakut moved forward, circling around the large brute, inspecting him, his decorations and growling the whole time. "You are not of the blood but you wear the signs." She finally said as she stopped in front of male. "Slave you most certainly are not, yet tied to the Queen. The blood told me you would come, told me you were searching. The rocks told me more, that you do not believe in the pack, think us fools, and yet you are a Queen's consort." Yakut stepped away from the male, returning to the turtle shell filled with blood and rocks. Using her left front paw she shifted the rocks around slightly and then looks towards Achilles. "The Queen has sent you yes?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:14 pm
...warrior wolf...His mother spoke the sound almost..softly... and Necro's teeth gnashed together at the tone. If not for her fondness for well muscled males this miserable life would not have been and when he parroted his mothers words there was a decidedly different tone in his voice. "Warrior Wolf, shadowed death" He spat with no small amount of fury in his voice. Necromancer despised wolves like this one, cocky fools who pranced and posed and killed for glory.
If he had the power no doubt he would mark this beast for the ghosts to have, perhaps collect a bone trinket for his collection from the carcass. ...Jealous much?.. his mother prodded him with a taunting voice and Necro's lips curled. "The ghost will have you one day" He told the mottled male "Sooner then they will have me I would think" He finished before huffing slightly and sitting down to see how this played out between Yakut and the strange male.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:30 pm
Achilles straighted, somewhat amused that the brown femme had called his bluff and seen through his facade, she snarled and growled and seemed as resentful - maybe even more so - then some of the other sisters - but Achilles almost..almost found himself liking her. Funny how that worked out sometimes.
"I have pledged myself to Penthesilea" He agreed "I am the sire of her heir and believe in her words....though I find the irrational cruelty of some others in the pack foolish and wasteful" He admitted, harsh words but something told him lying to this one would be rather pointless. "The Queen was worried for you, it has been some time since Varia returned and spoke of you, I offered to come and find you and return with news...I am expendable you see and the pack is not yet large nor settled enough to send a sister" He told Yakut though his bi-hued eyes had settled upon the grey male.
Such anger and resentment..and strangeness came from this one - and how very odd to find Yakut, so vaunted in her pack to be slumming it with a male. It might have made him grin if the creepiness oozing off the two didn't make his hide feel like crawling away. Achilles was not afraid of the two wolves..but they were certainly... different. "Mind yourself Grey, I've been known to change a destiny or two in my time" He warned. Yakut he wouldn't touch - or Pen would no doubt have his hide but this grey fool was fair game if he kept running his odd little mouth.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:03 pm
"Calm yourself ghost walker." Yakut warned Necro, while she hated this new male strictly for his gender she did have business to attend to with him. With her attention placed upon the new male Yakut spoke again. "Queen and pack are tied together, they are one, you cannot pledge yourself to one without the other." The idea of someone being loyal to the Queen and not the pack did not sit well with Yakut. Picking up a small rock in her maw she gentle tossed it towards Achilles. The rock bounced, rolled and came to a stop a few feet in front of his paws. "So the Queen has produced an heir...yet something tells me all is not well."
Taking a few steps closer Yakut positioned herself exactly half way between the blood filled turtle shell and Achilles. "Your name consort, I have yet to hear it." Lowering herself onto her haunches Yakut cast her eyes over the patchy male, the beads of her headdress rattling slightly as she moved her head. As much as she disliked this male she did mostly approve of the Queen choice, he clearly had strong blood within him, and strong blood mixed with strong blood often produced more strong blood. "Long I have traveled to return home, many things have stopped me, the trees tell me when and where to go, I know of the worry in the Queen's heart, she did not need to send a male to fetch me." Yakut had every intention of going home anyways, but she would not under any circumstance be escorted there by a male, especially a cocky male like this one was.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:20 pm
Necro's silver eyes flickered to Yakut's for a few moments as she told him to calm himself. He snorted but decided not to tell her that he was calm...or at least calm enough to keep the berserker at bay which was all that mattered really.
In any case it was clear that he was not the focus of this conversation. His hackles still raised but his thoughts had been voiced and now he would wait to see what would happen between the Shamaness and the Stranger. It would likely prove interesting if nothing else. And he had no where else to be.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:35 pm
"To a point" Achilles countered but did not elaborate an further. To point out that pack and Queen had certainly separated some time in the past - a revolt no less - would be a waste of time, surely this beast knew the history of her own pack. "I follow the Queens law..but I will not suffer the menial tasks seen to by others of my gender. It is not in me to bow low to one I could defeat, Penthesilea on the other hand, she is another story" Funny but he almost thought a hint of fondness had entered his voice there.
It was something he wasn't sure he wished the brown female to pick up on and he allowed an impassive look to bleed across his face as the rock bounced towards him...had she really just thrown a rock? At him? Achilles?...a rock?!? It was almost insulting...but he held his tongue. "Five daughters, one son" He elaborated "Orithia is first born of our brood, she...struggled at birth, but is growing and gaining strength. She is wise beyond her age and will make a good Queen when her time comes" He stated, somewhat proudly, almost defensively. Achilles might not feel warm and fuzzy feeling for the majority of the pack but it was clear how he felt for the Queen and his children.
"I am known as Achilles and I was not sent to escort you home - surely you are strong enough to travel forth on your own paws, vaunted member of the pack that you are" He told her "I came to find news of your health, and to ease the Queens worries"
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:20 pm
Eyes ticked to Necro for a moment but it seemed that the grey wolf was willing to sit out of this for now, though she could see the tension in his body. Listening carefully to Achilles words and his tone Yakut was quick to pick up on something that perhaps the big oaf wasn't aware of. Ears perked a bit at the name of the heir, Orithia was Penthesilea's mothers name and giving her such a name was a way to ensure strength would be passed on from the former. Orithia had been a strong warrior to the day she died and Yakut could hope that honoring the heir with such a strong name would do the pup well. "Five daughters, an impressive lot. I must honor my Queen properly when I return."
Standing Yakut moved towards Achilles casually, once again circling around him as she spoke. "Achilles." She poke his name with little enthusiasm. "It is rare for a consort to truly fall in love with his Queen like you have - yet you seem oblivious to it. Are you too proud to accept those feelings? Or too stupid?" Yakut might not look it but she was quite a bit older than Achilles, likely old enough to be his grand dam. Pausing she nudged him in the shoulder with a paw and then continued to walk around him. "Run on annoying pup, hurry home to your master. Tell her to worry no more, I will be home soon."
Having dismissed the patchy male Yakut turned her attention back to Necro. "Now then ghost walker, we have much to discuss and not much time. The urgency is present and I cannot dally much longer."
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:58 pm
Necromancer watched as Yakut seemed to put the mottled male in his place - the sight almost made him gleeful, especially when she sent him on his way, troublesome beast that he was.
He was most pleased when Yakut's attention turned back to him - now perhaps at long last they would find out what had drawn them both togther. Surely something had - Necro was not one to dally long in one place and clearly she had somewhere to be as well and yet neither of them were willing to leave quite yet. 'Elsewhere...the others scent ha tainted this place" He urged, hoping that she would agree. They could talk by the river, or simply move further into the tree's it mattered not to him.
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