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Achilles was indeed good about not butting in when his comment would for the most part be ignored - but that didn't mean the wolf wouldn't voice any opinions he had later, when he and Pen were in private - Achilles was pretty well aware of when to voice his concerns so that they would have the most impact. So he listened and observed and made mental notes about just what he thought about everything that was said. If the sisters could hear some of his mental thought they'd throw atrocious hissy fits...which really just made his inner dialogue all the more amusing to the mottled wolf.

When Pen suggested that they venture further from the dens Achilles gave her a subservient response "If that is what my Queen desires"...Though his eye carried just a hint of amusement as he said so, today it seemed Achilles was choosing to be amused by playing the role of obedient slave rather then being chafed and irritated by it.

"Mmm" Achilles replied with a thoughtful look on his face "I shall have to think of something worthy of you" He stated as they walked away together, they had only just gotten out of earshot of the other when he said what he truly wanted to say "By the gods Wolf..I've already given you five daughters..what more could you want?" Though this remark too was tinged in amusement.

"Yes well...did you not see the look on some of they're faces? Half of them were in awe that you could keep me so well to heel the other half were just confused all to hell that I was behaving so superbly. Either way is good - keep them all on they're toes" He told her with a small chuckle.

He might have continued on but a subtle shift on the wind brought a scent which made his hackles rise and he paused to peer into the woods suspiciously, surely Pen had smelled it as well but he voiced his concern anyways "There is blood on the air, wolf blood"

Achilles sighed grimly and followed after Pen as she chased the blood smell, Achilles was no stranger to blood and carnage and this pack wasn't either if the stories he'd heard had some truth to them - but the scent of blood mean that they're peaceful walk was almost certainly over and depending on what they found at the end of the trail they could be over for a good while to come.

He was swift enough to keep up with Pen easily and he took a moment to recognize the dangerous pair that they made - even in this pack - perhaps more so because he was a hidden strength that was easily over looked. Such reflections and admirations however were brought to halt as a whine cut through the air, he pivoted in mid stride to angle towards the sound certain that Pen had mirrored his move. The whine had a familiar sound to it and as they drew closer Achilles bit back a curse - Orithia's scent was mingled in with all that blood, he sped up and burst through the foliage side by side with Pen to see Orithia wobbling about on three legs.

Achilles eyes narrowed but he didn't stay around to ask what had happened - he left Orithias care to Pen, having only come to a stop long enough to assess the situation Achilles bolted past his daughter and into the woods behind her - he knew a fight wound when he saw on and Achilles was determined to find the culprit. Following Orithia's trail was easy she had left blood spattered everywhere.

Enyo had laid upon the ground for several long minutes after her sister left, regaining her breath and her strength. When she felt as though she could stand she did so though her legs felt shaky. Orithia had walked away quite proud of herself Enyo recalled but as she followed her sisters path she found she had not done so for long.

Enyo came across places where her sister had stopped to rest, where the blood had pooled and her tracks were decidedly staggered and unsteady. It seemed the damage she had caused to her sister was quite substantial and while she knew she wouldn't be capable of finishing her off at the moment weak as she was that didn't stop her from having fleeting happy visions of Orithia bleeding to death on the way home.

Of course those visions came o an abrupt halt when her father came barreling out of the woods to bar her path with a decidedly angry look on his face. Enyo tried to hold her head up and demand he step aside - he was a slave after all and she ought to be able to command him about the same as any other slave - father or not...but her recent shaming and a slight waver in her own capabilies kept her from being able to do so.

She sighed in a weary fashion and let her head hang in defeat. "Hello..father"

Achilles..was not surprised. He was angry..but he wasn't surprised. A part of him wished Enyo would act upon that glint of stubbornness he saw lurking in her eyes so that he might give her a lesson about trying to boss him around...but she seemed thoroughly defeated already. "Daughter...you have some explaining to do..." He told her quietly "Come with me" He motioned with his muzzle down the path and waited for her to join him before walking back the way he had come.

Enyo cooperated up until she smelled her mother ahead and then she dug her heels in and cowered on the ground refusing to budge. Achilles was forced to take her by the ruff and drag her unwillingly the rest of the way before depositing her in a pile before her mother.

Achilles paced away from Enyo as Pen approached - he'd brought her back and now by pack law it was up to her mother to deal with her. Turning his head he gave Orithia a considering look, she was an intelligent wolf - he'd always known that and small and quick in her training but for sheer strength he would have placed his bets on Enyo. Strenght was not always enough to win a battle however and he gave Orithia a reassuring look before turning his attention back to Pen as she screamed at Enyo.

He had seen this coming for quite some time but it still made his heart hurt - it was hard to side with either one in the long run. Enyo had been doing what this pack encouraged to some degree and Orithia had merely been the unfortunate being born first in this little drama. They were both his daughters and either way he saw nothing but a terrible outcome. Listening to Pen and Enyo only half heartedly he turned his thoughts inward.

Enyo cringed as her mother approached cowering on the ground as though she might flee of her own accord at any moment, refusing to look her mother in the eye...until she yelled at her. Enyos fear melted away and she looked at her mother with bitter angry eyes "I thought that was the whole point of a formal challenge" She pointed out in typical snide teenage fashion "It should have been me! I should have born first..she shouldn't have even survived this long..she's always sick, her growth is stunted..how is she going to keep the pack strong when you step down? Some other warrior will tear her apart and your line will end!"

Achilles was torn, Enyo despite her boastful words did not have the skills necessary to survive well without the pack, oh sure she could fight other wolves just fine but she'd been coddled, spoiled and would be little more then a target of opportunity for any wolf who found her outside the pack.

But she must receive some sort of punishment, otherwise the two would heal only to fight again..and again until Enyo succeeded or Orithia grew tired of granting her mercy.

The sound of Pen's paw slapping Enyo down was loud in this small clearing - or perhaps it only seemed loud due to the circumstances. in any case it had sent Achilles mind running back into his past..where he found an idea and after some more careful thought he decided that yes...it might just work...

"Make her a guard..specifically Orithia's guard" He suggested after Orithia herself asked for Enyo's mercy. Pulling his eyes off of Enyo he looked to Pen "It is the ultimate punishment that she must protect something she wanted to destroy and she shall have to do this duty above and beyond any other guard.She's already shamed to fail in something else would be more then she could bear...and perhaps in time they will grow to appreciate one another."

"Not because of skill" Enyo defended herself - she would have won that fight if it hadn't been for that stupid stick..she just knew it but before she could say anything else her mother was shouting again and pain blossomed along her snout as her mother struck her - Enyo was shocked...her mother had never done anything like this to her before! Couldn't she see that she'd only done this for the betterment of the pack?...But no Enyo could see that she didn't, Orithia had always been her favorite and her mother couldn't see past that to the truth.

Having been rocked back by the blow Enyo licked some blood from her muzzle though she refused to do anything more to sooth the sting though her eyes squeezed shut in shame as her sister spoke,when her mother announced that she would be banished Enyo trembled slightly - she had heard stories of the packs beyond this one and she didn't like any of those stories..not one bit. But it didn't seem like the worst punishment to be dreamed up because then her father spoke up and Enyo's jaw dropped and she remained silent in shock.

Achilles could see that his suggestion wasn't at first - received with resounding joy, but then he hadn't expected it to be - Pen was far to angry to think it through logically but Achilles was sure his idea would work. Was it the perfect situation? No..but then there was no perfect solution to a problem such as this. So he remained silent as Pen paced and ignored the looks Orithia and Enyo gave him.

Pen ruled after his suggestion of course once she'd had time to think it through he had been sure that she would draw the same conclusions he had and she had. "You are both young" He told his daughters " And prone to the mistakes of youth, your mother will not be so lenient the next time" He warned.

Enyo flinched slightly as her mother raised her paw again - perhaps she had decided to simply kill her rather then take her fathers suggestion - which when she thought about it..death might have been more merciful then that, but no the tap was soft and mother seemed only to have a desire to instill some sort of wisdom. Enyo docked her ears slightly and listened, still far to shamed to think about rebelling any more as her mother continued to speak.

She was quite sure he mother would end up banishing her - and risked raising her glance to stare at her when she choose to take fathers suggestion. Her jaw worked as a million and one refuse rose to her mind but in the end the only thing that she did was lower her eyes and speak a quiet "Yes mother"

Achilles arched a brow slightly at Pen's domineering attitude and the way she issued orders at him like he was just another common slave, inwardly his own temper boiled...just a bit, but she was angry and worried he reminded himself so he merely shook his pelt and any irritation off with the debris while Pen helped Orithia back down the trail.

"Come along then Enyo..we'll take another path home" He told her because frankly the tension of traveling alongside Orithia and Pen at the moment was not something he wanted to deal with.Besides this way he could talk with Enyo a bit.

Enyo watched as her mother and sister left before rising her her feet and following after her father - her head and tail were low, her steps little more then sluggish no matter how much her father harried her along - and even then she knew that they would arrive back to the dens well before her limping sister.

None of this was fair - her entire life wasn't fair.If only Orithia had died as a pup - none of this would have happened...and now to make matter worse she would have to make sure Orithia lived long enough to actually take control of the pack..and she had to listen to her father who was currently nattering on about the importance of family and other such things. She knew that already...she did but you were supposed to put the betterment of the pack before your family right? Thats what she had done..she was sure of it.

In any case he was glad when they reached the dens and she could crawl inside to curl up in a ball and ignore everyone, she barely noticed when her father left to fetch Yakut and likely follow along to check up on her sister.