Why did Enyo have to be so mean all the time? Always saying that Orithia didn't deserve to be the heir or was wasting time with going to training. It wasn't fair. Orithia couldn't help it that she was sick all the time, but mother said she was growing stronger each day and now that the Shamaness was back surely the strange horned wolf would be able to cure her. It was from a recent training exercise that Orithia was tromping through the forest from. She may not have the strength of Enyo thanks to her smaller size but being large wasn't everything as Enyo wasn't as agile or quick on her feet as Orithia was.
Besides mother saying being an Alpha took more than just being strong, you had to be able to lead and that meant being smart. Orithia was smart, she had already learned a great deal about what it took to lead the pack, how to solve quarrels and make alliances. Mother was even going to take her to visit their ally pack soon, to attend to some busy and ensure their relations stayed friendly. Doing so not only meant gaining more experience but she would also get to see her half-cousins. Orithia had heard a little bit about the pups of her mothers half-brother and was looking forward to meeting them for the first time. But what she should be thinking about was not where she would be going soon, but where her paws were taking her right now.
The berries were so readily this year that Alcinoe could feast for well over a week and not need to move more than a few feet to move from bush to bush. She needed to eat as much as she could before winter set in and these berries would make an excellent start. There was also a good amount of tubers, other plants and some small prey that she could feast on as well. There was another reason she stayed in this area and that was a small pup from the pack in the area that Alcinoe felt the need to learn more about. Taking another mouthful of berries Alcinoe sat comfortably on the hard ground with not much of a care in the world.
Kicking at the ground as she walked Orithia's eyes weren't looking at where she was headed, just at the what was directly in front of her paws. So when she walked into a wall of fur it was a bit of a shock. The small pup stumbled backwards to see what had happened, praying that it wasn't Varia. No it wasn't Varia, it was something much more dangerous - a bear, a very large bear at that. Swallowing hard Orithia trying to decide whether it was best to run or stand her ground, well she would have ran only her legs refused to move. Instead she stood there staring at the bear with wide eyes not exactly from fear but from awe.
Mid-chew something bumped into her. Alcinoe's head lifted and she turned it around to see a certain little pup that had been on her mind only moments before staring up at her. Swallowing the berries Alcinoe smiled at the pup, though she was certain it would look a bit intimidating. "Hello little one." She could see a bit of fear in the young wolfs eyes. "No need to be afraid."
No need to be afraid? She wasn't afraid. "I'm...not afraid of you." Orithia told the bear a bit hesitantly, but she was still getting over the shock that she had walked into a bear - she really needed to learn to pay more attention. "Your in my mothers land." It wasn't meant to be a threat, more a statement of fact.
Alcinoe chuckled slightly. "Well your mothers land just happens to have the best patch of berries I have ever come across." She glanced around them, noting the feast they stood amongst. "I mean no threat to your mothers pack or to you."
Odd, she didn't feel threatened by the bear, though normally she should have. "What's your name?"
"Alcinoe." She said with a bob of her head. "And what's yours?"
"Orithia, princess of Antianeira." She couldn't help but stand tall and straight when she said that. No matter what her sister said, she was indeed the rightful heir to this pack. One day she would prove to Enyo just that.
"Princess." Alcinoe's voice fell into a whisper of respect as her head bowed to the small pup. "You should not be out here alone, you do not know what dangers could befall you."
"I know these lands well, the sisters keep it safe." The last thing she wanted was a lecture about keeping safe. Orithia knew that dangers could lurk around any tree, especially to one of her rank. It was why she really shouldn't be wandering out here alone, not without telling her mother where she was going first, but she had been so upset with Eyno that the thought never crossed her mind.
Turning so that she fully faced the pup Alcinoe smiled. "Knowing lands and being safe in them are two different things." That was an important lesson that this pup was yet to learn. "For example, you may have know the path you were following today but were not prepared to run into me. What would you have done had I become aggressive?"
"I would have ran." And it was the honest truth, she would have been no match to fight a full grown bear. Even someone as strong as her mother would find it a challenge.
"Good that's a start. But you underestimate how fast we can run." Pups could not outrun an angry bear for long, hell even an adult could have trouble if they were not in top shape. "However if you were to have one of us to protect you, there would never be anything to fear."
Protection from a bear? While Orithia didn't think she needed protection but mother did have Cleite there whenever she was needed. Perhaps Alcinoe could be that for her. "You want to protect me?"
"Yes, and more. I can help you learn things that a wolf cannot. All I ask in return in a den to sleep in."
Orithia thought on the offer for a few moments. Well having a bear to protect and guide her like Cleite did for her mother wouldn't be a half bad idea. "Alright, you can protect me and teach me, and I will get you a den." She would need to talk to her mother about which den to use for Alcinoe but that was a minor detail. "Come on, I'll show you to a den."
Alcinoe smiled, yes there was a good reason she had stuck around and it was this small pup. She took a moment to take another mouthful of berries, something she would return for more later. "Lead the way." She said after swallowing the mouthful. Standing Alcinoe towered over Orithia, which made the two of them that much more of an interesting pair.
Orithia looked up at the massive size of Alcinoe. Once again she felt far too small, but at least she had the bear on her side and wouldn't it make Enyo even more jealous. Orithia padded on, leading Alcinoe towards the dens. She would talk to mother and introduce her to her new friend.
