Four Paws, New Perspective
Redmane awakens to her new wolven form and to more information about the current situation. |
Redmane is allowed some recovery time from her rather painful ordeal of being changed so completely. Exhaustion soon set in after she returned to Erzebet's home. Within an hour, she was fast asleep. Around noon, she is nudged awake by Erzabet, who promptly told her training will begin soon. She doesn't have to look far for Thomas ... he's asleep against her, head draped over her back ... and drooling into her fur.
"Wake up, Thomas," Redmane urges, and tries to dislodge the large wolf. She doesn't comment on the drool just yet.
Dislodging someone who weighs about fifty percent more than you do turns out to not be so easy. But finally, he starts coming to and rolls to his side. Blinking and yawning widely, he somehow asks, "Was it good for you?"
Redmane just swats Thomas with her tail for that, and gets up to follow Erzsebet. "I'm certain this will be unpleasant," she comments.
Thomas nips the tip of Redmane's retreating tail, then rolls to his feet himself. "You really need a sense of humor," he comments.
"I have a fine sense of humor!" Redmane counters. "It's just that my sense of smell is overpowering it at the moment."
"Don't tempt me to sniff you," Thomas warns as he moves so he's walking side -by-side with Redmane. "Feeling more ... comfortable yet?"
"No," Redmane insists. "I will never be comfortable in this situation, not after spending a Year fighting free of it once before."
"It's easier to ride the river of life until the solution presents itself. Much less stressful," Thomas notes, "Otherwise you're just expending needless energy."
Erzsebet has shifted back into her female form for the present and can be seen through the door of the small kitchen, rummaging through shelves that look like they haven't been cleaned or organized in weeks. "Where is it, where is...ah, here we are!" she says at last, pulling down a tall, rectangular box. Looking back at the other two now, she tells them, "I have some hard-cured rabbit meat here if you're both hungry. It's also close enough to food that a fey would eat, in case you're not ready to try fresh game yet."
"I ate earlier, but she may want some," Thomas notes to Erzsebet.
"I'm starving," Redmane notes, and looks up at the box longingly.
The wolf-woman kneels down then, taking a generous handful of the rabbit jerky from the box and spreading it out on the floor before Redmane. She takes one or two pieces for herself, as well, but it is clear that she's saving the major share of it for her new-found 'family.'
The black-and-red wolf does her best to eat the jerky; trying to use her paws to maneuver it around to where she can bite junks off. "Did you make this yourself?" she asks Erzsebet.
"No, I'm sure she bought it from the local trade shop," Thomas quips, tongue lolling out as he grins.
Redmane gives Thomas a look.
Thomas just wags.
"It's an important question," Redmane insists.
The wolf-woman nods as she replaces the box on the kitchen shelf. "I've learned a few things from watching the folk in the fey villages for all these years," she answers. Biting off a chunk of her own jerky, she adds, "I'm going to get some water, since I'm a little more thirsty than hungry. I'll be right back." Then she disappears out of another door at the back of the kitchen and can be heard collecting water from a rain barrel outside.
"See?" Redmane tells Thomas. "At least some of them can see some advantage to civilization, beyond inhabiting ruins of the one they abandoned."
"Can you tell if it was a related male or not?" Redmane asks.
"Not really. I haven't been a wolf that long, you know," Thomas points out, "I can make the distinction between make and female, and individuals. Relations, no. For reference,, males tend to have a thicker, musky smell. Well, unless there's a female in heat nearby."
Pausing in trying to chew her jerky, Redmane eyes Thomas again. "And what would you know about females in heat? How native are you going, Thomas?"
"It's noticeable, is all. It's heavy and it lingers. Rather like a bad hangover, really," Thomas tries to explain.
"Never had a hangover, so that doesn't help much," Redmane notes. "What have you learned about the society here so far?" she asks.
"Hmm. I'll have to help you experience a hangover sometime," Thomas notes with a sidelong glance. "As for society, it's structured as you would expect, into social groups. The Alpha male and female lead, followed by the betas. Those of lowest rank are considered the omega and are usually, well, the pack kicking bag. Incidentally, all those shifted fall into the last category. Not terribly surprising. Position is maintained through shows of strength."
Redmane lets out a wolfish sigh, then asks, "What about divisions of labor, or is everyone expected to fend for themselves?"
"Hunts are generally communal. Food is shared, even with the omegas," Thomas explains, "It would be pointless to let them starve after all the effort to get them."
"Granted the food is just scraps, but it is better than starving," Thomas adds.
"Do you know if any of the elders were ever omegas?" Redmane asks next, as she attacks another strip of jerky.
"I'm certain some where. Though they like to make a show of solidarity in their decision ... they are fragmented. I haven't just sat around and let people beat me up while I've been here," Thomas answers as he settles his head down on his front feet. "Someone people see as weak and harmless tends to get overlooked when they just happen to lie down near the meetings of the leaders."
Redmane tries to smirk at that, and some trouble. "Grrr, I don't have time to learn a whole new set of expressions. Good work, Thomas."
"I'm not just sitting on my tail and letting this happen. I'm just not as ... direct as you want to be," Thomas comments, tail wagging lazily. "Force never convinces anyone, understanding does. This is a dangerous situation. Your desire to alert the whole court to this may not be wise."
"I can't see any other way to prevent a confrontation between December and these people," Redmane admits. "I don't think they want to understand. This whole plan of changing fey into wolves is ridiculously dangerous compared to simply taking on fey form, putting on clothes, and living like civilized people - which they clearly once were."
"Oh, there's more to that story than I have been able to get so far, of that I'm certain," Thomas notes and glances in the direction Erzsebet went. "As for why it is dangerous ... you do not want to make an enemy of Lord December. Of any Lord, if you can manage it. Most have long memories ... and for a knight new to a house, have quite a bit of influence over your position. though, I suppose I could take the blame if it comes to it, after all, people expect it of me."
Redmane rests her head on her paws for a moment, mid-meal. "I cannot see things at that scale, Thomas, only what is before me. And before me now I see a lot of people dying for no reason other than stubbornness. I used to be like that, but I learned better in time."
"Then it's a good thing you have me around. I know enough of the games of Court to know how to occasionally work things as I wish it," Thomas comments, "Which is why I've been keeping an eye on you through various means. I don't intend to let the politics of the lands harm you."
"Thank you for that, I think," Redmane says. "But as for our current situation: are the wolves discontent? Do they blame the fey for their troubles?"
"I think they are grasping at whatever they can to survive as a distinct people. They do not wish to be absorbed into the Fey," Thomas answers after a bit of thought. "I do not think they hate my kind. Do not understand well, perhaps. Do not trust, certainly. I'm sure you of all people can understand that."
"And they don't see that abducting the fey will draw down unwanted attention?" Redmane asks. "That I cannot believe. Erzsebet knows it is wrong, and I'm sure some of the elders must as well. Do you think some of them actually hope for a confrontation?"
"Yes, I do. It could be a way to commit 'honorable' suicide. If they believe you are going to die regardless of what they do ... then at least go out in glory. Or other such foolishness," Thomas notes, his lips drawing back into a short growl.
"There must not be many omegas compared to the rest of the population," Redmane suggests. "Aside from Erzsebet, do you know if any of the non-transformed share our status?"
"None that I know of," Thomas admits with a roll of his shoulders.
"Of course not," Redmane says. "It would be dangerous otherwise, as the bottom class all have to compete for limited advancement opportunities. But our nature is likely to limit that competition, and draw us together instead. We three are the ones most outside of the group now."
Thomas' tail wags for a moment, but he seems to decide against a particular comment. "And oh, I didn't say it earlier, but it is good to see you again. I wish circumstances were better, though," he says.
Redmane flaps her ears a bit. "Thank you, Thomas," she says. "I hope I can deal with this. It brings back so many bad memories from when I was.. the smallest and weakest and least important in my family."
"You are important, never forget that," Thomas says, his eyes locking onto Redmane's. "Form is secondary to who you are in your heart. And ... consider this a chance to learn something; how to depend on someone else when you need to. You have two friends here who will always be there for you."
Erzsebet comes back inside at last, effectively ending their private conversation. There is a large clay bowl in her hands, which is filled to the brim with water. "Both of you drink," she says as she puts the bowl on the floor, including Thomas in her yellow-eyed stare. "It won't do for either of you to drop from thirst during your training."
After the dry jerky, Redmane finds herself very thirsty, and flounders and snorts a bit before figuring out how to lap up the water.
"Graceful," Thomas observes, amused. A bit more familiar with the form, he has no major issue in getting a drink from the other side of the bowl.
"What will you be teaching us first, Erzsebet?" Redmane asks once she's had her fill of water.
Erzsebet answers Redmane's question by motioning for both of them to come with her and goes through the house to exit by the front door. Once all three are outside, she gives them that fangy half-smile of hers and says merely, "Follow." The other two barely have time to register her command before she shifts quickly into wolf form and shoots down the street in a blur of motion, heading for the forest.
"No laughing if I trip!" Redmane tells Thomas before trying to run after their host.
"I wish I could do glamour in this form," Thomas grumbles. Still, he streaks off after Erzsebet down the street, becoming a blur of gray and black fur.
As the three run through the crumbling city and into the woods, many of Cerridwen's children turn to watch them as they pass but none try to stop them. Erzsebet is still several lengths ahead as they gain the edge of the tree-cover, with Thomas more quickly gaining ground and Redmane slowly but surely catching up as she gets more accustomed to having four paws flying under her instead of just two feet.
"I miss having boots already!" Redmane complains as she tries to catch up.
"Stretch your body forward with each push of your rear legs," Thomas calls to Redmane as the two enter the woods. "The better the stretch, the faster you go!" he adds as he leaps over a fallen log, then actually rebounds off a tree and surges forward.
"Wait!" Redmane calls. She doesn't risk a running leap, and has to scramble over the log.
Thomas circles back and meets up with Redmane. "You can do better. Let go and quit fighting your body!" he chides.
With an angry growl, Redmane tries to 'let go' and let her body move as it wants to - but she's clearly not happy about doing so.
"Better," Thomas says approvingly as he runs beside her, "Using your body does not make you an animal" Slowly, Redmane does find herself moving far faster. Redmane, in fact, finds the experience oddly exhilarating; she can feel her blood flow.
"You don't know ... never mind," Redmane replies, and remains quiet for the time being.
For her part, Erzsebet does not do much to cater to the two slower wolves; she always makes sure they can keep her in sight, but does not slacken her grueling pace. Now, to make things even more challenging, she sets off up the side of a steep, rocky incline.
"My paws will be bleeding after this," Redmane notes, breaking her silence when they reach the incline.
"I know plenty," Thomas notes. Thomas heads towards the incline ... but not in a straight manner; instead hie zigzags up the incline, jumping from rock outcropping to rock outcropping.
Redmane lags behind again, unwilling to trust her footing to leaps.
"Trust in yourself, you can do it," Thomas calls back.
Without even seeming to be out of breath, Redmane and Thomas hear Erzsebet 'shout' from a great distance ahead, Are you two pups coming or not?
Between the encouragement and the cajoling, Redmane manages to pick up her pace a bit.
When Redmane reaches the point Thomas is as, he tells her, "I believe in you. Come on." And off he bounds again, surging up the hillside.
Eventually, the new wolf reaches the top. Her mood doesn't appear to be one of accomplishment, however.
As soon as the other two join her at the summit of the hill, Erzsebet circles around them playfully, jumping and bumping against their flanks. Not as bad as I would have thought! The tracker is doing better than you, Muirenn, she tells the ruddy wolf, surprising her by using her given name, but I hope that will change in time. Then she noses Redmane's fur and says more quietly, I can smell your fear and doubt, you know. Just remember that if you wish to help the tribe later, you must learn to survive as you are now. Nothing will be gained if you refuse to know this form's advantages. You will need them.
"I have experience in moving in the wilds. It translates reasonably enough," Thomas offers by way of explanation.
Redmane shudders, and pants despite not being winded. "You don't realize how hard this is for me, and how dangerous," she comments, before lying down for a moment to get control of herself.
Erzsebet lies down across from Redmane, as well, but a few paces away. Notice that I said know this form's advantages, not lose yourself in them. I would not wish that for you, either. Then you would become as Angryff is now - more feral than rational.
"I had to fight to keep the monster part of me under control," Redmane says, giving a nod to Erzsebet. "It's so close now, it seems. Just.. under the skin. I'm afraid of it."
"It's about finding the edge and riding it, but always knowing how to never go over that edge," Thomas adds as he settles down beside Redmane, refusing to give her the chance to think everyone may fear her. "And we are here for you. You aren't alone, find strength in that."
"I could hurt you though, Thomas," Redmane warns.
Erzsebet cocks her ears forward in Thomas' direction. Well, said, tracker. Also, whenever I find the feral side of my nature taking complete control, it helps me to focus on the needs of others for a while. I don't know if that will help you, also, but I offer it as a suggestion.
Thomas rests his chin against Redmane's neck. "I know," he says, "That's life. Everything in life can hurt. Being willing to take the risk anyway ... and amazing things and people, are found."
"My sword is my focus," Redmane explains, seeming more relaxed now. "If I become feral, take me to it before I become dangerous. I won't just become a wolf, I'll become a rabid wolf."
Erzsebet dips her head to Redmane in a very fey-like fashion. As you wish. And never be afraid to tell me of what you need. Adopted 'mother' or no, I won't be a very good one if you keep such things to yourself. The same goes for you, Thomas.
"Eh, nothing special to say about me," Thomas comments with a small shrug and lifts his chin from the back of Redmane's neck.
"Was this our lesson?" Redmane asks, somewhat hopefully. "Or is there more?"
Erzsebet gives the male wolf a look that says she isn't quite convinced by this. Then something seems to capture her attention and she stands quickly, sniffing and staring off the left side of the hill. Perhaps we're not quite done yet...do you smell what I do?
Redmane lifts her snout to sniff the air, unsure of what she's expected to recognize.
Thomas eases to his feet and sniffs as well. "Yes," he says, "I think I do."
The scent that floats to her on the breeze is an animal one but not wolfish. Rather, it is the weaker and more fragile scent of prey. When Redmane looks in the same direction as Erzsebet, she can see what's she's smelling, too. Deer.
"It's just a deer," Redmane notes.
"It's dinner," Thomas corrects as he watches the creature in the distance, "I believe our 'mother' wants us to learn to hunt properly."
One of Erzsebet's ears turns towards Thomas. Correct. If we want to work as a pack in the future, we should learn to hunt as one now.
"Properly is with a bow and arrow," Redmane notes, but sounds resigned. "I can drive it, I suppose, if you two handle the kill."
If a wolf can be said to grin playfully, Erzsebet does just that now. Other way around, Muirenn. Thomas is the larger, and therefore more threatening, wolf among us. He will drive the beast to us for the kill.
Redmane shudders again. "It.. I don't know if I can do this, Erzsebet," she notes, sounding fearful again. "It will bring up bad memories."
Thomas looks ahead, as if that was what he expected Erzsebet to say. "We will be with you," he says, "You must learn to face those memories and come to terms with them. Running from them doesn't make them go away; it only makes their hold on you stronger."
"Do you know how addictive killing can be, Thomas?" Redmane asks. "Or how good it feels to a monster?"
"Yes, I do," Thomas answers rather oddly, then starts his way down the hill.
Redmane just grits her teeth, and looks to Erzsebet for guidance.
Erzsebet appears to think about this as she watches the deer nibble a few remaining leaves off some low-hanging branches. Then if you think it better, go with Thomas to harry the deer in my direction. I will be waiting in the trees below the hill; you can find me by scent. When the deer comes within range, you may attack it with us or merely watch as I make the kill. Will this help?
"Yes, thank you Erzsebet," Redmane replies, sounding relieved. She heads after Thomas now, but keeps a distance between them.
There is a swift rustling behind Remane as she leaves, telling her that Erzsebet is already slipping into the tree-cover to take up her position.
Thomas glances back, but doesn't say anything further on the matter. For now he's content to leave the gap as he heads down towards the deer. He pauses for a moment, raising his head and sniffing. Nodding once, he starts a slow arc, keeping himself downwind from the deer so that his scent doesn't reach the deer before he wants it to know he's present. Even in wolf form, when Thomas is trying ... he can move without making any noise.
Maintaining some distance because she can't move silently, Redmane follows. If the deer notices her first, then Thomas will be that much closer to the target at the time.
Thomas' experience is evident with the way he moves and crouches, ears forward and eyes locked on the prey. When he's within ten feet, the wolf suddenly surges forward, growling loudly, then snapping at its legs, trying to get it to bolt back in the direction Erzsebet waits.
Behind and to the side of Thomas, Redmane crouches and prepares to bolt after the deer once it makes its move.
The deer's head jerks from the grass upon which it was nibbling and stares at Thomas, wide-eyed, for a fraction of a second. With a graceful leap, the deer turns, then bolts away from her hunter. It bounds in a zig-zag, trying to shake the male wolf that is soon pursuing and snapping at its heels.
The black and red wolf gives chase then as well, making sure the deer doesn't zig or zag too far off course.
The deer bolts hard to the right, momentarily throwing off Thomas' pursuit...
Redmane changes course, trying to bracket the deer in and lead it back towards Thomas.
Spotting the second pursuing wolf, the deer's course jerks back. There's a lot of back-and forth between the two wolves now as they close on Erzsebet's position.
Trying to narrow the path of the deer, Redmane darts in closer whenever it heads back towards Thomas.
Thomas' keen eyes spot the tufts of Erzsebet's ears up ahead ... so decides to make a move. The wolf surges forward in a dash, then vaults up into the air. His full weight slams down onto her back. The deer bleats out loudly and staggers, then falls forward falls forward on its front knees. Wildly, it shakes as it tries to push itself back up. Thomas, for his part, only has a light grip on the scruff of her neck for now.
Redmane catches up quickly, and keeps a safe distance from the struggling deer. She seems to watch Thomas instead.
In that instant, Erzsebet is a flash of motion that leaps from the cover of the trees and right for the deer's throat. Her powerful jaws lock around it, piercing through fur and skin, then finally flesh and bone with a sickening crunch. The deer flails jerkily for a few moments underneath the male wolf, quickly becoming weaker as Erzsebet closes her teeth even more tightly around its neck. Blood flows onto the snow, covering the area with a red slickness. After that, the deer lies still beneath Thomas' body, dead.
The blood scent causes Redmane's nostrils to flare wide open, but she still keeps back, content to watch the others for now.
Thomas holds onto its neck for near a minute after it grows still, using his eight to pin it on the off-chance it tries to run yet again. Satisfied that it is indeed dead, his jaws now finally release. The male wolf then leans in and sniffs at the point Erzsebet has bitten, scenting the coppery smell of the blood. His head then comes back up and looks back to Redmane. Somehow Redmane can tell one thing from his look ... he's worried. For her for for what they have done, though ... is unknown.
Redmane returns Thomas' look with a wolfish sort of grin. Something in her eyes suggests recognition, perhaps.
Erzsebet immediately lets go of the deer's throat and wipes her muzzle in the snow that has not been stained by its blood. She also appears to be chewing some of the snow, as well, and spitting it back out. This has the effect of cleaning her face of any red traces, after which she slowly approaches the other two wolves and sits on her haunches. Hear what I say, she says to them, her wolfish 'voice' serious now. Smell me. Do I appear any less rational and more dangerous to you, now that I have done this?
"You do not," Redmane says. "But I never thought you would."
Thomas' response to that is to calmly walk around Erzsebet. The wolf then leans down and nips the spot right above her tail. "Well, you have to stand up to be properly scented," he teases, then hops backwards several times. Boy, he's grinning with tongue hanging out of the side of his muzzle.
Erzsebet's answer to Thomas is to whirl around and slam her flank into his, knocking him to the ground with a whud! This doesn't appear to hurt him - or at least, not his body but merely his pride. After the slightest flick of a wolfish smile, she turns back to Redmane. And neither will you, when the time comes. Trust me. And trust yourself. Then, with a wag of her tail in the snow, she adds, So...care to taste fresh game now? There's nothing finer to a wolf than flesh that has been newly killed!
"Redmane, leap to my defense!" Thomas pleads and flails his legs in the air.
Redmane twitches, either at the invitation to eat or at Thomas's silliness. "I never said I'd have trouble with killing, Erzsebet," she notes, and approaches the deer, giving it a sniff. "It's the stopping that I worry about."
Since I was talking about not losing your rationality when it comes time to attack, then it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it? Erzsebet asks lightly.
Thomas, once again rejected, sniffs loudly and rolls back to his feet. "I guess knights only rescue princesses," he mutters.
"Hmmm, we'll see," Redmane replies, before trying to take a bite out of the carcass. "When you have no power among your peers, the power you feel from killing can be... an escape, of sorts."
"That is illusion, though. Anyone can kill. True power comes from giving life, not taking it," Thomas comments absently. He doesn't seem too inclined to eat right now.
"I didn't know that at the time, Thomas," Redmane explains.
Well, I'll not argue that. The times that I've excelled in hunting over the higher-ranking members of our tribe were certainly...invigorating, Erzsebet says, trotting a few steps away from the deer's carcass to lie on the ground. She seems content to let Redmane feed first. But as you say, we shall see.
"You used killing as your glamour, then," Thomas observes with a small shrug, settling down for now. "We all have moments in our pasts we are not proud of. If you wish it to not rule you, you must learn to let it go. Otherwise it will just eat you from the inside."
While she struggles with the hide, Redmane asks Thomas, almost casually, "Were both of your parents of House November, Thomas, or was one a ... traveler?"
"Does it matter?" Thomas asks.
"I'm simply curious," Redmane replies. "Since we first met, I felt... something familiar about you. I don't suppose you've felt any connection like that?"
"My family died a long time ago," Thomas comments as he lays his head down on his paws. "If you must know, my father was from November, my mother was not. She came from a different house, February. Daughter of the founder of the house, Lady Cherise, in fact. As the two houses were feuding over some insipid matter, it was frowned upon that they dared to love; much less one of a noble line caring for some poor woodsman. Not that it ever stops people in love. So, they were both disowned over the matter. A little fact not recorded in any History ... for how dare the next in line to February turn against her family. They traveled for a long time, then I was born. We traveled for much of my early life; which are all a blur of memory now."
"You are older than you seem then, Thomas," Redmane comments, as she finally gets past the deer's hide and into the meat. "You seem different from the other fey here as well. I thought that you might be of sidhe blood. Perhaps you are - I don't know much about the origins of Mirari's founders."
"It's possible. I don't know much of Lady Cherise's origins before she founded her House," Thomas admits with a shrugging roll of his shoulders. "If I am, does that make us enemies?"
"No, not anymore," Redmane says, her muzzle tinted red from blood. "Just.. with something in common."
"That's good, because I would hate to have to beat your butt," Thomas notes with a playful grin. "Grr."
Turning to Erzsebet, Redmane asks, "Are all male wolves like this?"
Erzsebet cants her head to one side, looking Thomas over thoughtfully. Not all. But from this one, I can understand the behavior. It comes from being cocksure and too full of oneself. From her tone, Redmane assumes she is teasing, but it is rather hard to tell.
"So, I suppose the truth is out with you," Thomas admits, "I really don't have a home. I bear the hallmarks of November, but well ... mixed blood. Old blood, at that. Not that anyone would believe you if you told them."
"Why would I tell anyone?" Redmane asks, then notes to Erzsebet, "Will that be a problem, since he's an omega? How are we supposed to act around higher ranks?"
"Were you worried that perhaps you killed one of my parents?" Thomas asks suddenly, head tilting a bit to look at Redmane.
"Nope, not a bit," Redmane says to Thomas. "I doubt they'd have traveled that far."
As omegas, we're expected to follow the orders of the higher-ranking pack members...but that doesn't mean we have to respect them. In fact, that's how a lot of dominance fights start and are won, Erzebet notes. It's how I moved into the beta ranks, until I lost my status for disobeying the elders.
"I'll have to travel that far, then. I cannot abide a place in this world to be left untouched by my hand," Thomas muses.
"Can just anyone give us orders, or is it only the ones from the highest ranks that we need to obey?" Redmane asks next, and gives Tom one of her looks. "That means you do want to get your hands back, then?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Thomas asks, "I only haven't because I haven't tried yet." He grins smugly.
Yes, any higher-ranking pack member can expect our obedience, Erzsebet clarifies. So if you choose to disobey, do so wisely.
"There are surely limits to what they can order us to do though?" Redmane asks.
To a degree, Erzsebet says. For example, no beta is going to force you to mate with them. In fact, they'd be looked down upon by the other betas for doing so. Does this answer your question?
"Good, because I would have to kill them," Thomas comments idly.
"I was thinking more of being ordered to fight someone, spy, or do something suicidal," Redmane notes.Four Paws
"Who do you think they would order you to fight?" Thomas asks.
"Fey," Redmane suggests. "Or trouble-making omegas. Can they demand our kills?" she asks, patting the carcass with a paw.
"Yes, they can," Thomas answers for Erzsebet. "And we can be ordered to hunt for them."
"So, they really don't have to do anything for themselves if they can get omegas to do it for them," Redmane suggests. "If only the current batch of omegas knew how to do anything, that is. You seem to be the only one worth bossing around, Erzsebet."
Killing during dominance fights is not unheard of, Erzsebet muses. And there is no penalty for doing such a thing. If you enter into that type of fight, you're on your own. But for a beta to randomly order the murder of an omega? No, that would have to be sanctioned by the alphas first. Then they could oder you to kill another omega.
"That.." Redmane starts to reply, and then shudders. "That is just awful."
That is the law of the pack, Erzsebet responds. Do not blame me. This has gone on for generations.
Redmane just shakes her head, and then digs back into the deer. "Better eat our fill then, and try to sneak the rest to the other omegas. And whatever you do, Thomas, maintain your guise of idiocy. If the others suspect we are competent at all, we'll never have time to get anything done."
"Gee, thanks. Now I have to question why it is I took an interest in you," Thomas mutters and shakes his head. "I put up with so much; I deserve a medal..."
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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.