i tried to be vague b/c i am not sure where exactly the borders are located given that they're on an island, lol.
@Akantha
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She swims to the Islands out of mere curiosity born of her desire to see. She has heard of these Teekon Wilds from the mouth of her father who lived here, who ruled in these Wilds — however briefly. Aztec is filled with a wonder that is not unlike a child’s as they discover their new favorite playground. Her mother was not happy with her desire to venture and her grandmother had insisted that she take a guard but Aztec had rejected any notion of it. I do not want to venture as a daughter of Coatl, she thinks to herself as she crosses the short stretch of sea between the mainland and the islands that the natives called Blackwater. It is only as she nears the shore that she halts when she can stand comfortably without the risk of the waves surging over her head that she realizes the island is not as uninhabited as she had first assumed. Her plans are dashed immediately and her face falls as her ears slick back against her head. She should turn around, she knows, but she is stopped as she drinks in the scents once more, paying closer attention. The pack is dominantly female and her excitement and curiosity breathe to life with a new spark. Without delay her head tips back and she lets out a call for a leader, wading through the waters so it laps just at her elbows and belly now though she keeps distance, ready to turn and swim back should she need.
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in the process of working on a map, haha! but it's fine! we assume anything by the landspit is neutral when it comes to wolves wandering up. WELCOME, BY THE WAY! <3
Akantha was not far off when the call went up to the air. Once more she was summoned, and once again she wondered if yet another pilgim from Themiscrya was clamoring to find their place among this newest sect of Nereides. She strode forward in her characteristically bold fashion and emerged from the treeline like a shadow materializing out of the ether, stiff-legged and domineering. Her hazel eyes narrowed, hackles bristled, and her nostrils flared as they drew in the particles of scent that the outsider female carried on her warm earthen pelt, but her gaze was quickly drawn to the curious sweeps of white beneath a pair of milky blue eyes. She appeared hale, but Akantha knew that illnesses often failed to reveal themselves until it was far too late.
A displeased twist of her mouth punctuated the end of her visual assessment, but her hand was stayed by the mere fact of the stranger's gender. Her eyes locked on the pale blue of the she-wolf's own, and her tail flagged high above her back.
"Why have you come here?" She rumbled.
ok cool, haha. & thank you. c:
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Her call is answered by the physical appearance of a woman who holds her tail high over her back, her posture letting Aztec who she is immediately. Courtesies are not unknown to a daughter of Coatl and she lowers her posture, her ears lowering against her skull in submission. She watches the older woman assess her and kind of …deflates as she notices the disapproval on her expression. She has never before been looked at like that before and the naive amazon girl shrinks down, mindful of the tide. For a moment her words choke in her throat as she wonders what is wrong with her that she be given such a look. Her excitement has been sapped of her and it takes her a moment to find her voice, causing her to realize she is woefully unprepared for a life outside of Coatl’s Rise. “I was going to explore when I realized your Island is claimed,” She explains, taking a soft, slightly uneven breath. “and I noticed that your pack is dominately female which reminds me of my birth pack —” she doesn’t care, Aztec. Right. “— anyway, I was uhm, I thought I might like to speak to you about possibly joining.” She says in a sort of squeak, swallowing hard in her sudden burst of nerves.
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There is little logical reason for the way Akantha reacts to the world, but her displeasure towards the girl was something she was able to pinpoint—she desired older women to carry the burden of the Nereides, not yet more younger children in which to teach and tame. Kalika was doing wonders with the males, so far, but soon the she would begin her lessons with the females. But, in that same vein, she needed pilable minds in which to shape her own rule and solidify her mark upon the history books.
The girl shrinks beneath the weight of her gaze and is immediately complacent to the dominance Akantha demanded. A small smirk winds and twists upon the cruel cast of her lips at the sight of her submission—she begins to circle the girl without relieving her, and ascertains that she harbors no illness that would cause them undo burden. Her ears flick and perk at the mention of her origins, and she pauses with her side fully exposed to the girl's front. Her head sweeps around to her level and she narrows her eyes further. "It is, and we are." She replied cooly before drawing back and resuming her place before Aztec.
"If you can find it in yourself to shed preconceptions of the world as you know it, and accept our ways, you will be welcome here." Akantha revealed with an agitated sweep of her tail. Border patrol was not a favorite thing of hers. "It will take dedication, but hard work is rewarded with protection, food, and, perhaps, the favor of the Mothers given they do not find you lacking."
She smiled, "I am Akantha, Matriarch."
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Aztec holds her submission as the older woman circles her. She is not a stranger to showing submission. She might have been a daughter of the Coatl the only of her litter to bear the family markings she was never acknowledged as the next ruler. She is a young girl, eager and full of life and love of adventure. She wants to find herself as her father before her had. There has been no concept of the world outside of Coatl’s Rise so Aztec does not think shedding of preconceptions will be much of an issue. “What are your ways, Matriarch? If I may ask?” It only seemed fair to get, at the very least, some details about their ‘ways’ before she agreed. Aztec addresses Akantha by the title she was given. Naive as Aztec may be she is intelligent and knows better than to blindly agree to something without knowing anything about it. She is unsure if the Matriarch would be willing to divulge them but Aztec knows all she can do is ask. Hard work, Aztec can do. She was taught to always pull her weight. Women might have been superior to their gladiator counterparts in Coatl’s Rise but they had many more responsibilities than the males who were simply raised for breeding and entertainment. “I’m Aztec.” She offers her name with a low dip of her crown in return.
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A narcissistic little thrill races down her spine when the lone female uses her official title, rather than her name. Akantha's smile grows, despite herself, and she draws in a breath before addressing the young woman—Aztec. "We respect the Mothers Sea and Moon above all else, because all she-wolves were made by their hands." Or so we're led to believe. A casual twist of her ear indicated she wasn't fond of preaching, so she quickly moved on. "Males, on the other hand, are made to serve us. They are our consorts and guards."
"Rituals and offerings to the Mothers are important to us, but I don't expect newcomers to participate immediately. I simply require that you watch, learn, and do your best to emulate until you either understand or move on." Akantha leveled her with a piercing stare, her smile lingering but malignant. "But if you abandon us, you will not find shelter here again."
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Aztec watches as the older woman’s smile grows and she feels some of the tension release in her shoulders upon the hope that she has, in some way, pleased the Matriarch. She listens as Akantha divulges her and tells her about the pack. Aztec takes her time to consider it. She recognizes that it is fairly monumental. She would not just be pledging herself to a pack but also devoting herself to their lifestyle. While it had it’s similarities to the society she had grew up within it is also very different and she does not make the choice lightly. Her ears smooth back to rest atop her skull at half mast as she contemplates it. It is unlikely she will return to Coatl’s Rise and there are enough similarities for her to go into the new lifestyle feeling (semi) confident. “I will join you and yours, Matriarch,” Aztec speaks with a sage nod of her head before her ears smooth flush with her skull and she offers a sheepish little grin. “If-if you’ll have me, of course.” Aztec adds a moment later. She is a curious little lamb and easily intrigued by what vague descriptions Akantha has offered her, desiring to learn more.
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We can wrap it up here if you'd like, or keep going!
Akantha is patiently quiet to allow the girl some time to ruminate on what she's just been told, though the storm that idles beneath the surface could be keenly felt in the subtle refractions of her flinty gaze. She can only hope the young girl—Aztec, is as beneficial to them as they will be to her. The winter was, indeed, over but that did not diminish the chance of the Sea turning her eye away from the Nereides and leaving them with little food to go around. A breath was drawn as the girl finally responded, and Akantha could only nod and wave her elevated tail.
"Of course. For now, your title will be Neophyte until you demonstrate a basic understanding of our ways." Akantha replied,
"If you'll walk with me I'll show you the island, and give you a bit more detail about our life here."
With that the Matriarch set off down the beach with an inviting tilt of her head.