Athene turned back over, her paws getting beneath her quickly so that she could rise gracefully as soon as he nodded over her - accepting both her submission and her way into the pack. Honey pools poured over the king, and she sneered - not at him, but at the thought of this whelp of a femme trying to use flirtation upon him. If she was sure of anything, it was of Kershov's worth, merely from the stories she had heard of him. She had lived in Blossom Forest for years - longer than this little faeling had likely even been alive, and for most of those years Kershov had ruled over Abendrot. True, she had never before met him, but she had heard enough about him to know about the fear and respect they had for him. 'They' being a collective term for most of the wolves living within these lands - be they his enemies, his subjects, or his friends. Such a collective group of wolves would not have such sentiments if the member of their feelings was not worthy. Had he done terrible things? Most likely, but there were two sides to every story and not everyone had the same views of such things. It was a lesson that Athene had learned all too acutely with her recent dealings with Pierce and her own... unique upbringings. If anything, it made Athene now feel a kinship with the Ice King.
'I go by Kershov, Lady Athene. I am honored that you would employ your services in a newly kinged pack, and will do my best to be a ruler worthy or your skills and energy. Now, as for you, little phoenix . . .' She too dipped her, with the grace of a smile crossing her facade, lolling her pools across the earth, peering about her surroundings and even as she spoke, she wondered about what things she would find.
"It is my experience, if you please, Kershov King
That the attributes of a true ruler cannot be held in a sling.
A leader either is or is not, there is no in between
So all that you are simply remains to be seen.
There is no try in any of this, no intentions, no meaning.
Instead there is only knowing, and there is only doing.
A ruler is worthy if and only if they are.
Nothing can change that, not even wishing on a star."
A lazy gaze shifted up to him and she stared for a few moments, letting her words sink in, before it swiveled to the fae that had previously - and briefly - crossed her thoughts. Who had been so rude and course in not only her her introductions, but in her manners altogether. The smile that had graced her kissers for Kershov's sake sank into something that lay halfway between a smirk and a sneer. She did not look upon the opposing fae condescendingly, as a Queen would her servant, but rather the way an elder peered down upon a child who was about to punished for misbehaving. Her lids slitted into long horizontal slants and she turned about, moving to Kershov's side if only a slight bit behind him. Her ruff rippled and she let loose a purr as she felt the piloerection stiffen her spines. It started at her nape until it rolled down her dorsum and fully over her spine. With perfect intent, her plume stroked the air with large gracing sweeps, visionaries in contrast completely still and glued upon the fae. The varg who may yet prove stupid enough to want to be Athene's prey.
Kershov inched closer to the stranger, and Athene stayed where she was, but she was not idle in her stillness. Rather, it was just the opposite. Each of her muscles were tensed and her mind was focused. If so much as one wrong movement was made, she would strike as quickly as a viper would in the same poison. Athene was not a wolf like most others - she had been born and bred into a pack unlike most others. Where hierarchy ruled most packs, hers had had no ruler. Instead it had been a co-op in which every single wolf played their own part. Each wolf had had a job within the pack, and in that job them were experts. Athene had belonged to the Warrior clan, and from her birth had been taught nothing but that. Everything important to them was either present in her at birth or had been so rigorously drilled into her as to make it unbreakable - patience, speed, strength, intelligence, experience. Athene existed for one task - to fight. And if this little...
Athene tilted her neck ever so slightly, eliciting a crack from one of her vertebrae, and smiled grimly.
Kershov spoke them, delivering an ultimatum - deliver loyalty, or be delivered into death. In her peripheral she noted Kershov's gentle touch - but it was meant to be anything but gentle. Instead it was clearly a threat - a lethal one at that. His words merely mimicked his thoughts, but they were not necessary... or at least it should not have been. But what with this young whelp, perhaps she was duller and with a thicker skull than even she seemed. She had at least the sense to be on edge, her hackles raised and muscles tensed, but she dropped just in the nick of time - but she perhaps should not have waited so long. But she made it quickly known - she would constantly be testing the boundaries, but it would not be in a good way. She was trouble... and Athene would watch her like a hawk. Even the words she spoke while submitted did nothing for Athene. Oh sure, Athene enjoyed her bit of sarcasm and riddles, but not this.
Firey eyes watched her rise and move toward Kershov and speak her name aloud, before whispering something else within his ears before moving toward Athene. More crap fell from whipped lips before looking back toward Kershov as a student would look for approval from their teacher. Athene smiled, her facade calm and her vocals still as she spoke a quiet monologue.
"My words are spoken straight and told true
There is nothing I respect that is within you.
You lack the knowledge to be useful yet
You think the world of yourself I would bet.
Now if you dare question my actions or words
I invite you to cross me that I may spill your innards.
Or if, for once, you should choose to be wiser
And get the fuck away from me before I mess up your fur."
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