The Exodus [Athena]

[Valeria]

She would meet up with her sister soon. There was much work to be done in preparation for their journey.

Valeria had separated from Zofia so not to attract too much unnecessary attention from Descai. The last thing she needed was word getting back to her darling brother who would likely send a party after them in an attempt to intercept them. Fat chance that Valeria would leave them all alive. She was done with the patriarchal ways of her father's pack. If they failed to see her as anything more than a sweet little bobble head good for hunting and watching pups, she would show them. She was no longer that puppy. Her mother was not around to show her sympathy, so why would she stick around any longer? She was eternally grateful that her sister planned to stick with her, as she could not have handled leaving behind her littermate. Zofia would make an excellent beta, especially since she was the voice of reason behind Valeria's dominant nature.

So once she exited the southern border of Kamari into the free lands, the alphess-to-be let out a breath of relief. She could not fathom living another day under her reckless brother's rule. While he had yet to make a mistake to devastate the pack, it was only a matter of time before something destroyed Descai. She was not going to be the one the pack came running to to pick up the pieces of her brother's mess. No, she would forge her own path; one of success, strength, and promise. Together, she and Zofia would be unstoppable.

But now came the difficult part. Val could not hope to make a pack with just herself and her sister. No, she would need to locate others to stand behind their cause. They would need to find lone females prepared to stand up and support a strong, matriarchal pack that would rise above all the males in Anikira. Surely it could not be too hard, given the oppressive nature of many of the males Val had encountered in her short time outside the pack's borders. Heck, even within Descai the favoritism for males was blatantly obvious. They would provide a safe haven for females, where no male could take advantage or manipulate them. She was certain there were others out there that would support such an idea, even if it was a little unorthodox in their world.

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Word Count: 405 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: I suppose just have her stumble across Val?

[Deleted]

Athena’s independence had come to a sudden halt near the borders of Kamari. Two months had gone by, the weeks crawling by at a snail’s pace, and her foreleg was only now beginning to feel normal again. She would wear the scar left by an enraged bear’s claws for the rest of her life, and still walked with a slight limp. While she healed, she was alone more often than not. Athena was not to interact with Descai, and could only guess what its alpha thought of her.

She just couldn’t shake the look in his emerald eyes – aloof to her suffering, an accidental rescuer who cared little if she lived or died. Despite the odds, Athena had made it through the worst of it. The first two weeks were excruciating as she staved off the infection with limited mobility. If she hadn’t known the right plants, she would have been long gone. For once, her knowledge saved her own life, which left her with some sense of satisfaction.

The loss of freedom had been devastating, though – she now relished her ability to walk again, and while she had stayed close to Ryker’s territory, there was a part of Athena that was ready to keep moving along. There was another part of the fae that felt indebted to the dark male for killing the bear before it had a chance to kill Athena, but her restless paws could no longer be still. With the intention of returning, if not later that day than perhaps tomorrow, to where she knew Ryker would come looking for her – if indeed he cared to do so. Athena was not thoroughly convinced.

Each step was more labored than it had been before her injury, but the silver fae inhaled the fresh air as she ventured further into the unknown. Every direction she looked, there were interesting plants and shrubs that she recognized immediately, and as she limped along, she recited the names of the species she could identify. ”Fennel, to help the body digest. Yarrow, to help sore joints.” Her amber eyes flicked about, a growing smile spreading as she noticed the tiny white flowers of another herb. ”Valerian root, to sleep soundly.”

Her peaceful day was interrupted by the scent of another wolf, and in the distance, she spotted a familiar black-and-gold coat. Athena froze in her steps – Ryker would never come looking for her, would he? But the smell was undeniably feminine. The silvery female looked from a safe distance, puzzled.  The stranger was quite large, and Athena was in no condition for fighting.

words: 432
tag: Valeria

[Valeria]

    And suddenly, there was another in her presence.

   It was rare that anyone dared to approach her, let alone outside of pack borders due to her sheer size. So it was puzzling when the scent of another femme wafted through the golden and black wolf's nostrils. With a slight twist of her neck, Valeria met the eyes of another lone wolf. It was obvious that this female was not part of another pack due to the disheveled appearance she bore. No pack would allow their charges to take such wear and tear and leave it unattended. So clearly, this female was on her own. The question was, why did she approach the Mackenzie Valley wolf with such ease before halting?

    "Greetings, stranger. My name is Valeria. Can I help you?" she inquired cautiously, yet still polite enough not to burn any bridges. Only moments before, she had been pondering ways to recruit wolves into her new pack, and perhaps Tor and Fenris were answering her silent prayers in the form of another wolf. Maybe it would not be quite as difficult as she thought. It was best not to make assumptions, however, because the scent of Descai's borders littered the fur on the femme's paws. Surely she had entered the wolf's former pack borders recently, if not having just come across the border. Perhaps this was someone new to the pack that Ryker sent to retrieve her. But it was unlikely that word had gotten back to him so quickly... The possibilities were endless.

    And so the young female hoisted herself about, rising to her full height while still remaining as passive as possible. If there was one thing she could remember her father teaching her and her sister, it was to never fully trust a stranger unless their body also gives you trust. Anyone could twist words to seem kind, but the body never lied. It was time to see if Valeria could truly survive in a world outside of Descai. Surely the world could not be so scary, right?
                

---

Word Count: 343 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: Not too much muse here, sorry.

[Deleted]

The silver fae was usually more cautious than this, and more observant. But the sight of the female version of Ryker was so startling, Athena found herself staring, her gaze lingering longer than was safe. Already, the stranger had taken notice of her sudden appearance. Athena made no attempt to hide or to flee. Muscles tensed beneath her unkempt pelt, but they quivered from lack of use. The sound of the other’s name brought a coy smile to Athena’s muzzle, and almost immediately, she felt her body begin to relax unexpectedly. How strange it seemed to encounter a wolf who shared a name with the flower she had just been admiring. She thought to mention the coincidence. Perhaps it was some strange sign of fate. But she kept her thoughts private. Some wolves were suspicious of others who knew too much about plants, and Datura did not believe in kismet.

As her jaws parted to reply, Athena saw the dark wolf rising to her paws to reveal her true size. Instinctively, the much smaller female took a step backwards, biting back a wince as her healing right leg throbbed painfully. The two-toned fae, with markings that were so unusual, was impressively big – she looked larger than even Ryker, which was nearly as surprising as their shared traits. Her smile returned, and Athena gave a low nod. ”No, I am not looking for help. I am simply looking,” she responded, unintentionally vague.

She was significantly smaller than the ebony she-wolf, who looked to be a warrior, one who conducted herself with honor. The sudden realization of her own current state made her heart pound – she was undoubtedly a mess. Her fur was not groomed, her muscles beginning to atrophy during her long recovery. A surge of shame shot through her weakened body, but she tried to carry her head high, no matter how shabby and wild she appeared.

”My name is Athena. Forgive me if I stare, you remind me of someone I once knew,” she commented as her smile slowly disappeared. "Are these lands claimed by you?"

words: 344
tag: Valeria

[Valeria]

So her assumptions were not so off base. This female was, in fact a loner, and a wounded one at that. It did not escape Valeria's notice that when she moved a grimace spread across her face. What exactly was the problem? There was nothing visible to the black and golden female, but that was not saying much. There were far more wounds that hurt from the inside out than there were visible ailments. This she wolf, however, did not seem too keen on explaining anything to Valeria. Whether it was intimidation or unfamiliarity, she was not sure. Either way, she could not say that she blamed the silver wolf.

The comment did not escape her notice that the female, Athena as she introduced herself, mentioned she reminded her of someone else. A curt smile brushed across her golden lips; likely Athena had encountered one of her brothers or sisters, potentially even her father. The golden markings were quite indicative of her bloodline; there was no hiding where she originated. That was one of the less savory aspects of growing up an heir of Descai. She would never be able to pass herself off as just another loner. No, she would always be the daughter of Vorilye, doomed to bear his name whether good or bad. "Which one of them?" she asked with a slight smirk. "I am surprised you haven't run into more gold wolves running around. I have more siblings than I can count these days."

It was a bit bitter, but Valeria resented that her father spread himself so thin. There was not enough love to give them all, especially since they all seemed to remain in Descai. It was one thing if the sons had wandered out and they as daughters had taken mates and ventured away from the pack, but Vorilye had always seemed so keen on keeping them home. Perhaps it was to keep up the numbers within the pack, or perhaps there were other reasons. She never really understood, but it was no matter any longer. She was not a part of that world anymore, and she would not continue to allow that life to hang over her head. 

"These are loner lands, though I do intend to lay a claim of my own," she responded to the she wolf's question, remaining somewhat vague as Athena had done with her. If she had any interest, she might ask. If not, they would part their ways and this encounter would be done. Either way was of no consequence to Valeria. However, the slightly aggressive posture she had assumed involuntarily gradually faded away as she realized Athena was not a threat to her. She had nothing to fear from this casual conversation. After all, that was what loners did, right?

---

Word Count: 465 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: A little bit better muse on this one.

[Deleted]

As Valeria spoke of her many siblings, Athena could sense... something. The tone of her voice, the way the ironic smirk spread across her golden muzzle – Ryker had never spoken of his siblings to her, at least not by name, and their pervasive familial strain was readily apparent to Athena as the words escaped the other’s golden maw. The impression the sensitive silver girl received from those subtle visual clues suggested that at least one sibling relationship in her regal clan was at best strained, but probably much worse.

It seemed odd to Athena, who was the only survivor her wretched mother ever bore. She gave no credit for her longevity to the monster who had given her life, and seldom thought of the siblings who had wasted away years ago before her young eyes. Valeria and Ryker shared their life’s blood, along with a similarly impressive stature and the same distinct markings. Not wishing to offend Valeria, the silvery fae’s response to her inquiry hesitated on her dry tongue. She inhaled slowly to report, ”It was Ryker. He spared my life some months ago.” The story was, of course, much more complicated than that. Descai’s alpha had saved her life – a life that meant next to nothing to him. She was, after all, only an outsider, and a charity case.

In truth, no one would have noticed or cared much if Athena had been slaughtered in Kamari. The thought was sobering – if she allowed herself to think it. Athena was quite adept at avoiding everything. But it was a reality most lone wolves faced: a brutal life and an early grave. It was nearly impossible to dream and to hope when your daily existence were the necessities. Food, water, shelter, warmth. Fleeing or fighting. Still, she had relished her freedom before it had been taken away. Slowly, Athena shifted her weight, heavily favoring her left foreleg.

Valeria’s response was veiled in intrigue. For a thoughtful moment, she fell silent to consider the larger female’s words. There was an abundance of unclaimed territories throughout Anikira for a wolf to claim, if he had the will and the strength – she knew because she had spent a lifetime wandering the free lands, evading packs and lone scoundrels. Some of the packs were just as dreadful as the murderous thieves who roamed the nights. Hell, some were even worse. But in her rambling years, Athena had never encountered a pack led solely be a female alpha.

She could feel the atmosphere settling as both faes relaxed, deciding that the other was not going to pose a threat. Her expression remained enigmatic, but her strange sunset-hued eyes lit up with interest at the prospect. ”Tell me more.”

words: 454
tag: Valeria

[Valeria]

So not only was her brother the better choice for alpha, but clearly he had a much larger heart than Valeria. At least, that was how Athena's words came across. Ryker was her savior, her guardian angel. She could tell the slight awe with which she held him; it was the same way the majority of the elder wolves in Descai had looked at her elder brother. What could possibly make him so special? All Valeria saw was a weak brute who did not have the guts to lead the pack the way it needed to be led. Yet everyone seemed to think he walked on water. She was certain that everyone looked at her as a weak, fragile pup still. Regardless of her size, she was still young, therefore weak. It was the only logical explanation...

"Ryker... Yes, he has a knack for doing things like that," she mused with a little bit of a smirk. Her brother never ventured out of Descai's territory unless absolutely necessary, so it was highly unlikely that her brother had "rescued" Athena in the loner lands. Intruders were always harshly punished under her father's rule. She wondered what their dear daddy would think if they knew that not only was Ryker running around playing Superman to the lone wolves, but he was allowing them to leave unscathed? It was repulsive; he had no balls, to put it simply. "He has a heart, that is for sure. That is about all I have to say about my dear brother."

However, when Athena's interest perked at mention of her new pack, Valeria grew slightly more alert to the situation. Perhaps this she-wolf would be a potential recruit for the pack. "This world... it is founded on a patriarchal structure. No matter which pack you see in Anikira, at the helm is a strong, male alpha. There are very few that even take mates or place females in positions of power. I am tired of the oppressive nature of all these packs," she ground out, her eyes flashing with irritation. The gold and black female had experienced time and time again the discrimination behind her gender. She was obviously built to be a warrior, and a great one at that. Yet she was never allowed more than hunting trips or casual patrols. She was not utilized to her highest potential, and that was simply a shame.

"I want to create a place where females are utilized for their skills, not just for their standard positions. We are not the weaker sex, by any means. The cunning and wiles of the females could far outsmart and outmaneuver the majority of the males on this continent. I want us to be seen and to be heard as more than what everyone believes we are."

---

Word Count: 467 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: Val would make a great graduation speaker.

[Deleted]

Despite Valeria’s impression, Athena felt no sense of reverence for Ryker. He was big, but so were many of the wolves that roamed Anikira. Athena was, unfortunately, not in the ranks of the powerful and robust. Though she had survived well enough on her own, everything was different now. She did feel a vague sense of guilt for having left without properly thanking the alpha for his indifferent assistance. She still owed him her life, and had wanted to help him in return, but Ryker had not asked and Athena had no desire to go back to inquire.

She gave only a tense smile in response to Valeria’s comments regarding her look-alike brother. Her has a heart, that’s for sure... But Athena was not so sure. Exhaling a deep breath, itfelt good to be away, back on her paws and free. Now she would not have to worry about his sudden arrivals or trying to stay on his good side. He had witnessed her weakest moments. He had seen her vulnerability, and no one liked to be exposed. If he had acted differently, then perhaps she would have stayed, but she was never more than a foreigner in a place she had not belonged.

The silver-gray female listened in intent silence as Valeria spoke passionately . There were the good and the bad on both sides of the gender spectrum. Certainly, Athena had seen examples of brutality from all, but the males in her life had been violent in unspeakable ways. Not everyone was born to lead – and some are never given the chance. The male-dominated world the inhabited was hard to deny. The hint of a grin traced her dark lips at the scene her imagination conjured as Valeria spoke: a place accepting of females for being more than a burden or vessel for potential offspring, where, Athena would be in the majority. Finally.

”I believe I have skills that may be useful to your cause. I learned the art of healing from a master. Though you have no reason to trust me,” she spoke candidly, her tone balanced. ”I have no reason to harm you. I have never heard of a pack led exclusively by females, but why? The brutes live for dominance. What does that leave for us?” Once before, when she was younger and weaker, Athena had been dominated. Her brows furrowed at the thought of him – he was gone now, she had made certain of that, but the memory of his sadistic abuse remained upsetting to the young female.

”I have enough knowledge to mend this, in any case.” She lifted her right foreleg from where it rest gingerly on the ground and shifted her weight to expose the still hideous scar that traversed the exposed flesh. Recollections of the gore, torn muscle and draining blood, made her stomach churn, and she winced visibly. The injured digit hung awkwardly in the air for a few seconds before she carefully allowed it to descend. Her matted tail swept the dust behind her unconsciously. Her eyes never left Valeria’s golden orbs, watching closely.

words: 516
tag: Valeria
ooc: is the font in my post hard to read?

[Valeria]

Clearly, something about Valeria's cause had piqued Athena's interest, or so the curious look on her face indicated. Valeria knew that she came across a bit strong on this idea, but what else could she do? She was quite surprised to hear that Athena possessed skills similar to her own mother's. While Valeria had studied under Sarin for quite some time, her mother was far more interested in sinister uses for herbs than she was for healing. That would be a particularly useful skill set to obtain for her pack. Perhaps Athena could be a welcomed member of the fold. With a smile, she nodded in agreement. "True, I do not know you. But I am certain if you were to pose a threat to me, I would have been attacked by now."

Athena confirmed what she knew already to be true. Females did not have a place in the leadership in this world. It was unjust, and she simply would not stand for it any longer. She was not inferior to anyone, let alone the tiny males who proclaimed to be superior to her. She was one of the largest wolves on the continent. They should be dedicating their servitude to her, not ordering her around like a common mongrel. It was this mentality that was slowly tainting any and all kindness toward males in the black and gold female. She was no longer that scared little puppy, waiting to be scooped up and watched over by big brother. She was an adult, and she was capable. "We are no weaker than any male. I truly believe that creating a safe haven for other females will lead to a much stronger sense of family and loyalty than any intimidation could create. Why should we continue to live in the shadow of our male counterparts?" She paused briefly, her eyes casting toward the west.

"Are you well enough to walk with me? If you choose to come with me, I have my sights set on the west. The rumors of the new lands of Anikira are, indeed, true. It is there where we shall form our home; away from these other packs that know nothing of our troubles. If you wish to join me, you are welcome to tag along."

---

Word Count: 380 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: And now I feel like she has a hitler-esque vibe. It's not terrible to read the black, but it's not exactly the easiest font color either so I think you're fine either way really.

[Deleted]

There was something enticing about Valeria’s confidence and the way she carried herself with self-assurance and poise. Athena observed the way she held her head high as a queen, and her own tense muscles began to relax beneath her dirty pelt. There would always be a part of the silvery fae that remained wary of others, for every wolf was capable of violence, she knew. She had seen the savagery enough times for one lifetime, and was resigned to the fact that she would see it until the end. There were always wars to fight and territories to take.

At least in Valeria’s planned utopia, Athena would not be expected to participate in future battles. She would be there instead to cure, given a purpose and a second chance by the forming pack. Athena was at her best when she was healing those open wounds, setting broken bones, away from the heat of the battle. Life was fragile. Athena seldom learned the fate of those she had helped to heal along her journey, but she was living proof that she had the skills to be a shaman.

Her gaze remained fixed on the dual-colored female for a moment longer as Valeria looked towards the west. The sun was still near its zenith, but in a few hours time, it would again sink into the deep blue ocean until it came up behind them again. Athena would do more than merely tag-along. There was a stirring of emotion that was foreign to the female, who had focused on survival for her entire life. It becomes impossible to hope for something more when every day was a constant struggle, but she felt a swell of excitement at the prospect of a new home far from the cruelty of the packs and loners that littered Anikira like trash. All she had to do now was follow. Her head dipped in a low nod, making her seem even smaller compared to the other fae.

”Yes. I will follow you. I believe that you are more worthy of the title ‘alpha’ than the conceited brutes I have encountered over the years.” It had nothing to do with Valeria’s heritage as the daughter of a former leader. It made sense in Athena’s mind that a female should lead, for females were the ones who gave life (even if her own mother had not been an ideal parent).

”Have you gathered other followers, Valeria?” She spoke her new leader's name as her smile widened across her muzzle.

words: 420
tag: Valeria
ooc: that comment made me laugh so hard,
no going to lie!

[Valeria]

And so they were a band of three. Although Zofia was not with Valeria at the moment, she knew her sister would never abandon her. The white counterpart was her partner in crime and the conscious that kept her in line. "My younger sister plans to meet us out west. I do believe you will quite like her," she laughed slightly at the comment. Nobody disliked Zofia. The white wolf was just so pleasant to be around that anyone who disliked her clearly had no soul. There was not an ounce of bad in Zofia, whereas Valeria seemed to have received a double dose. She was, after all, her mother's daughter.

Athena's words of praise were exactly what Valeria needed to confirm that she was capable of executing this plan. It soothed her to know that she was not the only who saw the inequality in their world. Surely it would not be difficult to locate others who shared a similar philosophy. Even the wolves within Descai had poor back stories. Most of the females had been taken advantage of at some point or another. Valeria simply hoped to create a place where that was not an option. The males were nobody; they were everything. "Your expertise will be very useful. I am privileged to have met someone with such skills," she stated with a slight dip of her head in acknowledgment. 

Such an interesting wolf that her brother allowed to slip away. With the knowledge of Athena's skills, it was surprising that Ryker had not attempted to recruit her into her birth pack. However, his loss was most certainly her gain. Athena seemed to be a worthy member of their cause, and she had no doubts that the silver femme would do great things for the pack. "We should head on our way. Zofia will be looking for me," she mused out loud. With a slight gesture with her head, Valeria motioned for Athena to follow. They were on their way to the future. And so the carbon-copy of her father left all that she had ever known behind, heading off to start a new life.

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Word Count: 357 words
Tags: @athena
Notes: I had a hard time with this end to the thread lol.