{King of Hearts} [Minerva/open]

[⋆Ravɛn]

MENELAUS

--Until my bones
give out--

"Disgusting."

Menelaus growled softly to himself, pressing onward through the muck. Somehow he had found himself in this dark, desolate place. So this was where exploring had brought him. It reeked of another wolf, a brute it seemed, and that had Menelaus' warning bells sounding in his head. But who would he be to turn and leave now? Besides, assuming that this was some sort of pack land, Menelaus couldn't help but wonder just what the Alpha would be like. A Dominor, surely, but what truly piqued Menelaus' interest was seeing what kind of wolf could survive in this type of environment. It all honestly, Menelaus found that he could get used to this. But generally wolves shied away from getting their pelts dirty, whining and whinging like pups. Menelaus snorted, continuing on.

As he picked his way deeper and deeper into the lands, he began to wonder if he should announce himself. Would the brute who resided here grow angry if Menelaus did not? Menelaus himself wouldn't have liked to stumble upon some stranger on his lands, and he didn't particularly feel like fighting on this day. With a sigh he came to a halt, stepping around a pile of muck as he shook himself before tilting his head back, letting loose a loud, long howl that rang eerily through the land. He let his head drop after a moment, maw snapping shut and tail swaying as he glanced around. How long would it take for the brute to come running, and would others be with him?

Amber eyes flickering, he sat back on his haunches, careful so that his bottom didn't land in the muck. Ears twitching slightly, he gazed around. He had found himself here by mistake, but now the idea of a potential pack was...appealing, perhaps. Would it be a strong, able pack? Or would it be one of the weaker, lesser packs that could easily be ripped apart? Depending on how this brute came off, and if he was even welcoming towards Menelaus, he might find himself in a new home. Snorting once more, he allowed his tail to sway back and forth, his eyes constantly scanning the land, waiting.

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Kronos

<sup>It was like an intricate dance. Short step, longer one, a bit to the right, back to center. It was akin to a taking a path of stepping stones across a river. He could traverse his land easily now, his eyes trained to pick out dry bits and stable pieces of earth. He still had to clean mud out of his fur every night, but it was not like his earliest weeks, when the taste of the dirt seemed ever-present on his tongue.

Kronos paused mid-stride. A fat bullfrog lazed at the edge of a particularly wet area. Slowly, Kronos settled into his hunting crouch. It had to be adapted to work in this unforgiving swamp, but he'd finally perfected it. His steps were light and careful; the tiniest splash or squelch could alert his prey. His mouth began to water at the thought of a meal. Then a howl ripped through the stagnate air of the swamp, and with a croak and a splash, the frog escaped to see another day.

The giant brute was less annoyed at losing his meal than he was at the fact that there was a stranger in his territory. He could always find another meal, but a wolf had to be dealt with. If it wasn't a challenge, it would probably be a messenger from another pack. If fact, Kronos had heard rumors that some wolf had set up a pack in the northeast and proclaimed himself king over Ravensbruck. A smirk appeared on Kronos' maw. He'd like to see the little whelp try to assert authority over him. Entertaining himself with this idea, he continued his dance across the swamp, looking for the source of the howl.

He had the good fortune to be behind the other wolf when he approached. Kronos took a few deep breaths. Male. Freior. He watched the brute's body language. Not hostile, but defensive. Obviously not the so-called king, nor a challenger. Kronos would have thought him a messenger, but he didn't carry the scent of any pack Kronos knew of. Done with his observations, he finally stepped forward to announce his presence.

"Lost, are we?"</sup>

[⋆Ravɛn]

MENELAUS

--Until my bones
give out--

For a long moment, Menelaus wondered if he had been mistaken and had perhaps caught an old scent. Moments after, however, a voice sounded from seemingly nowhere, and Menelaus turned his head, ears tipping forward.

"Lost, are we?"

Before Menelaus was a large brute, and from the easy way he carried himself, it was obvious that he was used to the area. Although Menelaus was both smaller and an intruder in this male's land, he found himself almost relieved that someone had responded to his call. Letting a small smile tug at his muzzle, he shifted his body so that he was turned towards the male, his tail now still, his posture proud yet harmless. The last thing he wanted was a fight with this brute - unless the male gave him a reason to.

"Maybe just a bit," Menelaus admitted, letting an easy laugh slid through his teeth. "I'm not exactly used to the area yet." That was the truth. Menelaus hadn't really meant to end up here, but he had a feeling that he would be glad that he had. The last thing this brute seemed to be was weak or spineless, but then again, first appearances didn't count for much these days. Might as well see what I've gotten myself into this time.

Glancing around, Menelaus pointedly stepped around a mushy bit of ground, glancing up at the stranger. "So I'm guessing that you're the Alpha here, right? You seem to know your way around," he said, shrugging his shoulders a bit as he managed to settle on an...almost firm piece of land. He shuffled his feet for a moment before clearing his throat. "Name's Menelaus."

OoC: Sorry it's short :c

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Kronos

<sup>Kronos couldn't hide a smirk as the other wolf turned. The brute wasn't timid, but the care he took to prevent any hostility made Kronos want to pretend to start a fight, just to make him scared. Fear made him feel powerful, and he liked feeling powerful.

"Maybe just a bit. I'm not exactly used to the area yet."

"That's encouraging. I'm not really a fan of unexpected visitors, much less repeat offenders." Despite his nonchalant tone, Kronos was warning this wolf to get on with whatever he came here for. Small talk wasn't really his thing. Kronos never spoke unless he had a reason to do so and conversation was a skill that he had never cared to develop. One of the many reasons he hated politics, especially where royalty was concerned. There were so many rules for etiquette, so many feet that couldn't be trampled on, that wolves almost said what they really wanted to. An army was so much more straightforward, more honest.

"So I'm guessing that you're the Alpha here, right? You seem to know your way around."

"That would be me." Kronos narrowed his eyes at the stranger as he moved. What was this guy playing at? If he was trying to curry favor, he was wasting his time. "Kronos," he barked gruffly by way of introduction. He waited for a few moments, but Menelaus did not speak again. Kronos moved closer, trying to emphasize his height.

"I'm not the most patient of wolves, so if you have something to say, say it before I chase your ass off my land."

Kronos's eyes bored into the other wolf's. Fight me, they dared.</sup>

[⋆Ravɛn]

MENELAUS

--Until my bones
give out--

"Kronos."

Ah, a name finally. Menelaus nodded once, but before another word could slip from his mouth, Kronos was speaking again in quite a gruff tone.

"I'm not the most patient of wolves, so if you have something to say, say it before I chase your ass off my land."

Menelaus' hackles rose fast, and his amber eyes narrowed to slits as he sized Kronos up. Definitely larger by at least a good ten inches, there was no question about that. Inwardly Menelaus cursed the Gods for sticking such a brutish personality in the body of an Italian wolf, but now was not the time to dwell on that. Standing up straighter, he locked eyes with Kronos, all of his so-called 'manners' going straight out of the window. Size or no, if Kronos wanted a fight, Menelaus would give him one. But so far this wolf had proven that he wasn't a wolf to be messed with. Menelaus could appreciate that.

"Well you're certainly not soft and I don't suppose hospitality is a word you know, is it?" Menelaus growled, before letting a rough laugh slip from his throat. "I like that, if we're getting to the point here."

He held Kronos' gaze, his body still as he continued on. "Let's be honest, I'm tired of wandering around without a purpose and if it's a pack I'm searching for, I'm going to assume by your personality that yours would be as good as any. Tell me, Kronos, would you happen to be...recruiting?"

There, out with it. Menelaus had made his mind up, and it could go either way now. Kronos could take offense to Menelaus' nerve and do exactly as he had said - chase Menelaus away in a heartbeat. Or, he could appreciate it and offer Menelaus a home. Either way, this would prove to be quite an interesting day. Smirking, Menelaus tilted his head to one side as he watched Kronos expectantly, his own body slightly tensed, prepared for the worst yet somehow, through everything, hoping for the absolute best.

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[atrb=background,http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/dragon_rider_2200/kronostable_bg.png] Kronos mirrored Menelaus's aggressive stance. Now we're getting somewhere! Adrenaline surged through his body as he prepared for a fight. It had been so long. He feared that without practice, his muscles might forget the many battle moves they used to execute perfectly. But Menelaus was merely on the defensive, it seemed. Though the brute claimed he liked this, Kronos could see that he wouldn't fight unless attacked first. Kronos was considering starting a fight anyway, though he knew he had no good reason to do so, when Menelaus finally got to the point. "Tell me, Kronos, would you happen to be...recruiting?" If Kronos had been the type of wolf who jumped for joy, he would have done so now. At the moment his "army" consisted of female slaves. While they had their uses and would fight well if trained properly, Kronos would be happy to welcome some testosterone into the pack. But he wasn't about to let Menelaus know that. "So you just woke up one day and felt like joining a pack? Figured you just waltz in and I'd invite you in for a meal? Tell me, Menelaus, why should I let you join my pack? What do you have to offer me? I'm not interested in pack member that are here today, gone tomorrow." Kronos settled a cool gaze on Menelaus, waiting for an answer. Truth be told, he knew what the brute could bring to his pack: a powerful set of claws and teeth; a fighting spirit; and, maybe one day, a loyal ally. But, as always, this was about power. Kronos needed to establish his dominance not only as the older and bigger wolf, but also as the Alpha and decider of his pack's fate. Plus, he meant what he said. Menelaus would have to work hard in Groavche; if he couldn't hack it, it was better to find out now rather than after he was welcomed into the inner circle. And through it all, Kronos dearly hoped that this brute was up to the challenge.

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[⋆Ravɛn]

MENELAUS

--Until my bones
give out--

"So you just woke up one day and felt like joining a pack? Figured you just waltz in and I'd invite you in for a meal? Tell me, Menelaus, why should I let you join my pack? What do you have to offer me? I'm not interested in pack member that are here today, gone tomorrow."

Menelaus let a short bark of laughter slide past his incisors, his eyes remaining glued to Kronos. He should have known that the brute wouldn't let him off easily. This male was clearly up for a fight, but that wasn't why Menelaus was here. His tail lashed back and forth, his eyes flashing as adrenaline pumped through his veins. Although he had no intentions to fight, his body was alive as if he did, as if he were about to spring. Working hard to keep his body still instead, Menelaus cleared his throat and dipped his head down just slightly.

"Here today and gone tomorrow? No, one thing I can offer you is my loyalty, even if that may cost me my life. I can assure you, death is not something I'm afraid of, yet also not something I intend to greet any time soon," he said, glancing up at the sky thoughtfully as he mulled over his options. "Another thing would be my body. Teeth, claws, muscles, every inch of me is ready and willing to fight."

Shifting his weight just slightly as if to emphasize his last offer, Menelaus flashed a quick grin, his teeth bared in a doggish grin. "And the last thing that I think I could offer to you is intelligence. Not to sound like the arrogant bastard that I am, but I like to think things over. I don't make rushed decisions, and I consider my options very carefully before I ever take action." This much was true. Menelaus' father had taught him to look at every possible outcome, to expect the unexpected. He had informed Menelaus that brute strength would not always get the job done, and that sometimes, a little intelligence was required. This was a lesson that Menelaus had taken to heart, something he had kept with him always. He had learned how to use his head when he was hunting, when he was sparring, and even when he was solving simple riddles that the clever little pups of the pack had presented him with. Never clever enough to fool me, he thought, lifting his head slightly higher.

"Overall," Menelaus concluded, feeling as if he had nearly said enough, ""you would have a warrior on your hands. I can proudly say that I would stand by the pack through everything."

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[atrb=background,http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/dragon_rider_2200/kronostable_bg.png] Kronos stiffened as Menelaus laughed. The tall brute didn't see anything funny in his speech. If Menelaus laughed at the idea of loyalty, then he could remove his furry rump from Groavche right now. "Here today and gone tomorrow? No, one thing I can offer you is my loyalty, even if that may cost me my life." Kronos calmed. The hint of a smile even appeared on his muzzle. This was what he wanted to hear. He nodded appreciatively as Menelaus continued to speak, the words mirroring his own feelings about loyalty and courage. The more Menelaus spoke, the more Kronos knew he needed this wolf in his pack. He sat patiently, listening attentively, until Menelaus finished. "Overall, you would have a warrior on your hands. I can proudly say that I would stand by the pack through everything." "That was well said." Kronos meant it; Menelaus got his point without dawdling, but it made his words interesting enough that Kronos wanted to listen. With his mind devoted to strategy and fighting, Kronos had little room left for the art of rhetoric. He realized now that a wolf more comfortable with speeches than he would be very useful. "Well, you've got me convinced." He felt no need to test Menelaus further, mostly because he saw so much of himself in the smaller wolf. "I initiate you as a full pack member of Groavche. If you are as good as you say you are, I'm sure I could find you a better position." The need for a Beta had been troubling Kronos since the beginning. Not that he was eager to share his power, but he would never be able to effectively rule his pack if he took all administrative duties on himself. Only time would tell if his newest member would be up to the task.

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[⋆Ravɛn]

MENELAUS

--Until my bones
give out--

"That was well said. Well, you've got me convinced."

Slowly, a small smile crept onto Menelaus' muzzle. While everything he had said had been true, he was almost expecting more of a third degree from Kronos. In a way, he was glad that there were no more questions for him to answer. He nodded to the brute, his tail tipping back and forth slowly. He was loathe to show how glad he was that all of this traveling had come to an end, finally.

"I initiate you as a full pack member of Groavche. If you are as good as you say you are, I'm sure I could find you a better position."

Dipping his head once more, Menelaus cleared his throat. "Thank you. I'll do my best to serve Groavche, and to serve it well." That much was true. All of a sudden, Groavche was his home. Perhaps he would come to grow fond of the mushy, uneven ground. Maybe he would come to know it well, until he could pirouette and glide effortlessly across the dry spots, avoiding the mush just as Kronos seemed to do. Fighting on the terrain might prove to be difficult, but it was nothing that Menelaus couldn't handle. Perhaps he would better aquaint himself with the land, now that he would be spending most of his time here.

Well, your journeys have taken you far, he thought to himself, before shaking himself from his reverie and glancing up at Kronos.

"Before I wander off to explore the land, is there anything I should know?"

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[atrb=background,http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/dragon_rider_2200/kronostable_bg.png] With the present matter settled, Kronos was suddenly aware of the emptiness of his stomach. Out in the forests and hills of Ravensbruck, he could have been full for a week after taking down a deer or a moose, but here hunger was almost every day. Large prey seemed to avoid the swamp, but he remained hopeful that something might wander over from the neighboring Regnen. "Before I wander off to explore the land, is there anything I should know?" His stomach would have to wait. At least Menelaus didn't want a guided tour. It took Kronos a moment to arrange his thoughts. His briefings usually contained instructions for slaves; he would have to alter it to fit an actual member. He decided to start with what was on his mind anyway: prey. "You'll soon find that the prey here is . . . unique. And if you do find something with fur, it'll probably be soaking wet." He gave Menelaus a grim smile. "Still, it's your duty to protect it from thieves." Kronos angled his muzzle so it pointed deeper into the swamp. "The camp is almost in the middle, on an island in a lake. Head straight in from any border and you'll find it, but it's up to you to actually find a path through this muck." Kronos decided he could give Menelaus a better tour when they were both at the camp. Satisfied with the knowledge he had given the new member, Kronos turned his thoughts eagerly to hunting. There was a small pond shaded by tall trees to the south. He expected it to yield a good amount of prey, but had yet to hunt there. A sudden thought popped into his head. "By the way, don't spend too much time by deep water. Some logs aren't quite what they seem, and they have some damn big teeth." With a grin on his face, Kronos left his explanation there. Maybe one day he would try to catch one the damn beasts. They looked like they could keep him full for a while.

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