Leaving Ankyra Sound behind had been one of the easiest things she had done in her life. There was nothing left there that could hold her back from fleeing. Thea was gone, Akantha had never been there with her, and even Aktaie and Psamathe went back to Temiscyra. But the worst of it all, it had Been Caiaphas who took the Alphaship. Caiaphas from all the eligible coyotes in the word was Aktaie's chosen one to lead her so-much-worshiped dispersal branch. Ridiculous.
At least that was Aella's opinion...
But coming back hadn't been as easy as leaving. The crimson warrior's plans hadn't turned out anywhere near as well as she had expected them to, and she was now in need of shelter. Things weren't clear in Aella's mind when she made the decision to leave anyway... Going out into the world alone was never a good idea, but it hadn't mattered at all back when she left Ankyra. Aella was hot-headed and in the end that was most likely going to be her downfall, but now, for as painful as it might be, Aella needed Caiaphas to allow her to come back home.
Crawling faintly, Aella returned to the pack borders, and made a huge effort to blow an announcement howl. She was starving and she was weak, and she had been lucky to make it back, not she could only expect Caiaphas to be willing to lend her a helping hand.
She had no interest in investigating further, despite the sour smell that wafted towards her. She would have considered her patrol of the border were it not for the hoarse call that sounded not too far from her. Startled, the lanky coywolf turned about, trotting bouncily towards the sound.
Certainly one could assume Caiaphas did not expect to ever see Aella again -- but as she drew closer, the hunched, wretched figure was most certain Aella. It was with a flicker of smug superiority that she noted Aella was considerably worse for wear -- gone was the muscular appeal, the amazonian prowess -- what remained before Caiaphas was a wolf who looked famished. Caiaphas slowed to a stop, her head tilted to the side as if she did not recognize the wolf. She said nothing -- silence was her customary greeting. While she did not expect Aella to explain herself, she assumed whatever explanation she offered would be a most interesting story indeed.
but my petals have fallen.
It felt as if she had waited a whole eternity for Caiaphas to show up, and when she did, she looked just as she did before Aella's departure, only more powerful, and she seemed to like it. Aella's eyes raised from the ground, to take a look at the hybrid, always making sure not to look directly into her eyes.
Look at you!
said the not-so-fierce warrior with trouble, An Alpha...
she almost chuckled with those last words, but she wouldn't be able to handle it. Aella was indeed emaciated for the months she had to go through on her own, but she still was the Aella she had always been, and her grudge towards Caiaphas hadn't been forgotten. Perhaps the reason for holding it were a little blurry, but she still didn't quite like her either way. She knew this wasn't going to be an advantage towards being accepted, but there was no other option for the crimson amazon.
She cast her gaze about the ocean, which thrummed distant behind them. Her gaze fell to the monolith trees that lined their territory, and at last, to the female before her in the sand. "And look at you.." She rejoined wryly, the age-old hint of mischievous spirit in her eyes -- "All hungry."
but my petals have fallen.
Where did you get it!? :o
Aella looked down again, feeling an ache in her neck. She needed to sleep for, at least, a month to recover her strength, and she would come back as if new. But she needed to get permission to come in first. Σκάσε
Aella joked, and this time, she didn't mean it as an insult to Caiaphas, the warrior was laughing at herself, knowing how ridiculous she must have been looking after going through hell, and perhaps she was trying to get Caiaphas to laugh too, something she had never seen her doing but thought would be good to ease the tension. She just really needed to get in.
I'm hungry, Caiaphas. And it is with shame that I ask of you to let me come back, this time to stay for good. You do not need to know what happened to me, and if you prefer you can assume whatever you like. I just need to rest. Άγκυρα ήχου είναι το σπίτι μου, ξέρω ότι τώρα.
The opportunities for torment were endless. Caiaphas indulged herself in an inward smile, pleased by these endless explanations she was capable of forming. She would have to think about this more after, and come back and present Aella with her embellished story after masterfully editing it to her own humorous taste. "Go find Spyridon, he will see to it that you are fed."
It was an unusual shade of mercy that overcame Caiaphas -- and slyly, she gave the female an ugly smile as if suggesting there was some underhanded, ulterior motive for her being 'kind' to the wayward Sister.
but my petals have fallen.
There wasn't much to be expected from Caiaphas, not when you're Aella and she's superior to you. The fiery warrior was already lowering her head as if expecting to be rejected and chased off, but that never happened. Caiaphas gave Aella her blessing to come into the sound and into the pack. What the hell was going on? Her face raised immediately to look at her dark eyes, inspecting her expression and expecting to find a clue that pointed out she was being messed with, and that's when things went back to normal again. Her smile, only a sly grin, suggested that there was something else behind her kindness.
Thank you.
the red girl said with a bow, and slowly began to walk into the packlands. She walked past Caiaphas and a few more steps forward, but there she stopped and looked back, her eyes grimacing, Caiaphas... My sister, Leukothea... Did she ever come back?
Caiaphas watched Aella as she rose -- and just as the little waif was turning to quit the Amazon's company, Aella spoke. Caiaphas stopped, a single ear turned backwards. The coywolf pivoted slowly, facing the red wolf once more. "Nope." She replied flippantly, realizing fully the lack of concern in her voice was somewhat callous. She didn't know Leukothea as Aella did -- the only memory Caiaphas had of the wolf was her departure.
but my petals have fallen.
One last post from you will complete the thread to be archived... It's good to be back!
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Nothing. Caiaphas gave her nothing beyond a sharp negative. It probably didn't even cross her messed up mind mentioning that although there weren't news about 'Thea another one of her sisters was actually back! Nothing!
Aella's face couldn't decide if it was sadness or rage what it wanted to show, so instead, Aella gave the dark bitch a cold look, and silently turned away to head deeper into the forest. σκύλα...
she growled silently, and slowly walked away from Caiaphas. One day she would regret having been born.
Trusting that Aella knew her way about the Sound, Caiaphas felt no need to escort her -- she was quite confident in the brash woman's abilities, having been introduced to the amazon's prowess herself. She would find Spyridon later and instruct him to keep an eye on that one -- but for now, she was content to walk back to the sequoia forest in search of a late lunch.
but my petals have fallen.