clever tyrants are never punished

♛

⌠ with so much going on, Érebos felt overwhelmed in many areas of his like, one including medusa. their marriage was seemingly last minute, she fought in a maimed raid against a pack he failed to see reasoning behind, joined about the dangerous parties pertaining to the stranger happenings in the land, grim was gone and now the birth.. so much was on his plate. with enyo challenging for a pack and disagreements amongst clan members, Érebos held a stern, pensive if not angered look on his face as he marched through the green plains he'd known for over a year. three now, things changed in him. his life, changed.

married with children, Érebos sought to make better choices now more than ever. but he felt the tugging in so many directions. where was his wife when he needed it? their intimacy seemingly took a hit, their quality time was nonexistent and soon, Érebos felt disconnected from her emotionally. and he didn't feel shame for it-, but rather.. stress. was she losing her grip on him, too?

he didn't call for her, didn't bother to alert the others near by of his search for his mate. it was approaching night and all settled in the pack except for him. his eyes skimming over the territory to find what medusa was up to as of late, needing to rekindle whatever he felt was missing before it was too late. he was weary- uncertain where things would lead, especially with his sister. hopefully, this visit would help. ⌡



─
Speech

Art by Nelsa/Made for Alo by Skelle !

HE WAS THE KING,

As the crimson hues of the setting sun gave way to a dark void across the plains, Enyo moved with purpose. Her piebald figure is a striking contrast against the rolling plains. Her eyes scanned the horizon, her mind restless and vigilant more than ever. Even her muscles were more tense since her strange and deadly encounters with the giant worm. The land was haunted by uncertainty, Enyo's instincts told her that peace would not come for quite some time. That she would need to adapt to survive.

High above her, Foberos let out a shrill cry. Her wings sliced through the air as she swooped down and away. Enyo recognized that call—it was one of greeting, a cry of recognition that her falcon only offered to Erebros' bird. Enyo's eyes followed the bird and spotted the familiar shape of her brother in the distance. His hawk perched nearby. Upon seeing Foberos, the bird took flight toward the other falcon to greet her.

Enyo picked up the pace, her brisk walk turning into a trot. Her eyes squinted as they dialed in on Erebros, her vision picking up something unusual in her brother's posture. His broad frame seemed weighed down, and his high head was held lower than usual. Even his stride seemed less assured. The pensive expression carved into his face was unlike the calm and controlled exterior he typically displayed.

Enyo frowned softly, her curiosity piqued. She tilted her head towards her owl, Atromitos, who silently began circling overhead, massive wings flapping softly to keep watch. Though no immediate threat loomed, the plains were too open for comfort. Enyo wouldn't let her guard down, knowing what lurked below the surface.

She quickened her pace, her heavy paws pressing into the soft grass until she was within speaking distance of her brother. "Erebros," she called, her voice carrying easily over the open air. As she approached she studied him, "Τι είναι αυτό που σας κάνει να μοιάζετε σαν να παλεύετε με το βάρος του κόσμου?"

She stopped just short of him, her usual domineering stance was tempered with rare concern. "Σε έχω δει θυμωμένο. Σε έχω δει συγκεντρωμένο και σε έχω δει ανήσυχο. Αλλά αυτό;" She gestured subtly toward his face, "Αυτό είναι διαφορετικό. Τι τρέχει? Πες μου τι σε ενοχλεί, αδερφέ."

Her gaze held his, offering him the space to speak.

AND SHE WAS HIS SWORD

"GREEK"
"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

he was the king, she was his sword

⚔︎


he did not find his wife in the night, but instead enyo. a twinkle in his mind sparked- had she not been related so closely to him.. but it drifted as soon as it appeared. he looks to the right, seeing her comforting presence come closer. sighing, it was difficult to explain. to share his deeper conflicts, internal struggles and even personal desires; did it make him less of a man to confide in the women around him? would it make enyo lose respect for him?

his ears flattened, buffering his frustration that still in fact, he could not find medusa. that instead, his sister would be the one he met with tonight. although partially unwanted, he would not deny this was perhaps what he needed. "ειναι τα παντα(it's.. everything).." he didn't know where to being, truth be told. when did things start feeling to empty?

he sat then, reclining to his haunches slowly as he looked afar. he sighed again, putting the sentences together in his mind first. "Η γυναίκα μου με αγχώνει. Νιώθω μόνος και αγνοημένος. Σαν να είναι μια φωτιά που δεν μπορώ ποτέ να οδηγήσω χωρίς να κάψω εμένα ή την οικογένειά μου(my wife stresses me. I feel alone and disregarded. Like she's a fire I can never lead straight without burning me, or my family)." honesty poised in his deep and powerful voice. it was no guessing that medusa did what ever her heart desired.. and it couldn't be more than foreign from Érebos' reality. every choice he made impacted their linage.. yet when was medusa going reflect such? "Αναρωτιέμαι λοιπόν αν έκανα σωστά τη δουλειά μου(I wonder then if I have done my job correctly)."



"Speech" ─ Think

Made for Alo by Skelle !

HE WAS THE KING,

Enyo's eyes blinked briefly, the faintest flicker of surprise passing through her mind as Erebros' words reached her. This was not what she had expected, such an open invitation into the vulnerability her brother kept so tightly guarded. So guarded that she doubted it was there in the first place. It was a moment she did not take lightly. Still, Enyo did not allow any surprise to show upon her maw as her gaze lingered on his.

The silence between them stretched for only a breath. The soft rustle of the plains around them broke the stillness. Enyo settled onto her haunches, mirroring his stance. She leaned forward slightly, her voice steady and deliberate. Layered with the care, she so rarely offered.

But she supposed if anyone deserved it, her brother did. Boreas had made them many things: warriors, leaders, threats, and parents. But more than anything it had changed them. The siblings were away from the prying eyes of their elders and parents. Such distance allowed them to see each other clearly without the weight of expectations clouding their bond.

"Erebros," she began with a firm tone, "Ο γάμος δεν προοριζόταν ποτέ για αγάπη, αδελφέ. Είναι ένα συμβόλαιο, μια συμμαχία που σφυρηλατήθηκε για να ενισχύσει τη θέση μας. Όχι οι καρδιές μας. Αν η Μέδουσα καίγεται σαν πυρκαγιά, τότε αυτό είναι που πρέπει να δεχτείτε." She paused, letting her words settle before continuing, "Διαχωρίστε την καρδιά σας από το μυαλό σας. Η αγάπη δεν έχει θέση στο καθήκον. Ο γάμος είναι καθήκον."

Enyo tilted her head, as she thought for just a moment more. "Είστε ο πατριάρχης των Dunamis. Σύμφωνα με τον κανόνα σας, δείτε τι έχουμε επιτύχει. Σε μόλις δύο σεζόν, η αϋπνία έχει γίνει ισχυρότερη. Υπερασπιστήκαμε τα εδάφη μας και επεκτείναμε την Αϋπνία. Έκανε τους Dunamis ένα όνομα που φοβόταν και σεβόταν για άλλη μια φορά. Τίποτα από αυτά δεν θα ήταν δυνατό χωρίς εσάς. Και κοιτάξτε μας τώρα, θα πάρουμε άλλα δύο για την οικογένειά μας."

Enyo shifted, taking another breath, "Πρέπει να παραμείνεις πιστός σε αυτό που είσαι, ακόμα κι αν ξεστρατίσει. Ακόμα κι αν απαιτεί να αλλάξεις. Η δύναμη και ο έλεγχος είναι η κληρονομιά σας. Ο συμβιβασμός και το χάος δεν είναι." She aware that Medusa, while strong and deserving all the things she took was still unpredictable at best. After spending time, interacting with all the Queen's children, Enyo couldn't help but notice all their quirks. Was it genetic? Or was it a product of poor care? Even with her most recent escapade, Enyo was surprised to see the pregnant woman on the battlefield. Something she decided to not mention today.

"Όσο για τα υπόλοιπα," her voice lowered , "Καλή διασκέδαση, αδερφέ. Βρείτε κάθαρση και ευχαρίστηση όπου μπορείτε. Βρείτε κάποιον που σκύβει. Κάποιος που υπακούει. Δεν θα χτυπήσω ούτε ένα μάτι ούτε θα αρθρώσω μια λέξη. Θα σας προστατεύσω ακόμα κι αν αυτό σημαίνει να κάμψω την αλήθεια για να κρατήσω την τιμή σας ανέπαφη."

The Dunamis did not come from monogamy. There was a reason, she was sure. From what she understood, such things were expected of her brother. From who? A woman she did not even think was of a good enough pedigree to demand such things. Erebros was kinder than her. Enyo knew he would carve his own path. It made her wonder if he rushed in marriage after all.

But things could not be changed, and Enyo would not advise him to leave the Queen. She was still valuable.

Enyo would lean back, "Κάναμε πάντα αυτό που έπρεπε για την οικογένεια, για το μέλλον μας. Αυτό δεν διαφέρει. Δεν είσαι μόνος, όπως μπορεί να αισθάνεσαι, Erebros. Όχι όσο αναπνέω. Ήρθαμε μαζί σε αυτή τη ζωή και απελευθερωθήκαμε από τη μήτρα της Nike. Δεν υπάρχει βάρος τόσο βαρύ που η συνδυασμένη δύναμή μας δεν θα μπορούσε να αντέξει μαζί. Υπάρχει λόγος που οι Θεοί δεν μας γέννησαν μόνους. Υπάρχει λόγος που ήμασταν μόνο εμείς οι δύο."

Her words hung heavy in the air, her gaze unwavering as she waited for his response. Ready to shoulder his burdens alongside him if that was what he required of her.

AND SHE WAS HIS SWORD

"GREEK"
"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

he was the king, she was his sword

⚔︎


enyo knew more than anyone who he really was. behind it all-, enyo saw the many shades of him that he kept normally at bay. under control and tamed. his emotional outpour may of been surprising but it was not the first. he confided in her for many things.. however, never so much about his love life. alas, his sister was given the very key he kept and hid away from everyone else.

and once she did see his looming shadows, she said only the rightest of things. her words clear as clean water while they purified through his fogginess. she provided a light to follow, to carry & know. and this, he would forever be grateful for. enyo was as well versed as him in such matters; and he knew that all she said was only truth. marriage was in fact a tactic that the dunamis used for greater gain of the whole. enyo displayed amazing loyalty to him in this instance then, giving her own allegiance in the end should he choose to live by his darker desires for once.

sometimes.. he felt enyo was suppose to take his place, had she been born a male. but these gentle gems of ponderous wonder never left his mind. how dearly he yearned to connect with enyo on a deeper level.., a level he had no experience, no clue on how to navigate. so all he could say was nothing. nothing at all.

his mother made sure to place a lasting wound on him- ensuring he spent his life healing it. did enyo suffer inside too? he could never ask her. but he sudden yet slowly lifts himself before coming toward's enyo, his wide head angled down as his eyes closed. a form of trust he held only for his littermate,- and with a sigh, he attempted to slam his body firmly against her own. his nares flaring her scent as he sat there, muscular arms rising slowly to envelope her in a tight embrace. and for some time, he held her. loving her silently as he breathed through his frustration and entrapped feelings. he was not so hallow then.

pulling back now, he sat before her with a soft but serious gaze. "Ήσασταν εκεί από την αρχή. Και θα ανέβεις στην κορυφή μαζί μου(You have been there since the beginning. And you will rise to the top with me)." he said, letting his deep voice sail over her. "Θα είστε δεύτεροι υπεύθυνοι για όλα τα θέματα που αφορούν την οικογένεια και τη φυλή μας εδώ έξω. Θα τους ξεπεράσεις μαζί μου. Και δεν θα περνάς πια τις μέρες σου λιγότερα, επειδή είσαι η αδερφή μου(You will be second in charge of all matters regarding our family and clan here on out. You will above them with me. And no more will you spend your days being less because you are my sister)." he watched her then with pensive eyes, looking at her with rare admiration and sincerity.



"Speech" ─ Think

Made for Alo by Skelle !

DISREGARD

HE WAS THE KING,

Still as a stone, Enyo watched as her brother approached her. When he leaned into her, pressing his frame against her she instinctively stiffened. The feeling was alien. Her brother's warmth, the weight of his body against her were things she only felt during fights. Never had she ever been embraced. Her ear twitched slightly and she resisted the urge to take a step back.

Physical was something she sought elsewhere, from the fleeting warmth of her harem and the stable affections of the women in her harem. It was passion and pleasure, a transaction of comfort she could understand and control. But this? This was foreign. It was raw, unspoken, and vulnerable in a way she had never expected from Erebros or any member of the Dunamis, for that matter. Her mother had denied her such gestures, and in turn, Enyo had never learned to crave them. To never expect comfort. To self-soothe her tears when she was a puppy. She was raised that the Dunamis were the best of the best but in some ways, she would forever be in competition with them. Who could be more useful? Who could stand on top? Yes, her family was support and a place where she found strength in the way a weapon provided security. Consolation was not their way.

Strength was.

Her breath hitched ever so slightly as his scent of warm and earthy spices filled her senses. A sharp pang of confusion stabbed through her chest as it tightened. How would she view him now? Would this moment make him weaker? Why would it? Because such things were hammered into her as weakness. But why shouldn't she be allowed to seek affection from her family? Why must they all be lonely strangers? Was this another milestone in their relationship? A bond they had forged far from the judgemental eyes of their elders. She didn't know what to think. All she knew was that she was unsettled. This fragile thing growing between them. Enyo was not a careful creature, she was not delicate. She was not gentle. This was rare and precious. What if it broke? Even with her armor on, she felt more exposed than ever.

Bare.

Naked.

When he pulled back, Enyo exhaled, relieved. She met his gaze, throwing a mask on her face to hide her sense of embarrassment. His words washed over her, though her muscles remained taut. Second in charge? That was seemingly more unlikely than the embrace they shared. Such a title. Such weight. Such significance. It wasn't just the promotion that struck her—it was the sincerity in his eyes, the unguarded admiration.

Did he think so highly of her?

Did he see her?

Truly see her in a way others did not?

More so, he appreciated her and all her efforts. Honored them, found value in them.

"Erebros," she began, pausing to clear her mind from whirling thoughts, "I've always been at your side. I always will be. You're my brother. My blood. My only equal." Her tone softened slightly though she kept her head held high. Her pride was a shield she wasn't ready to lower, "If this is what you need of me, then so be it. I will do whatever it takes to ensure our family rises above all else."

She paused now. Mulling over the words that flew so quickly from her to the edge of her tongue, "I see you for all your strengths, flaws, and everything in between. I've seen you when you were scared as a child. When we both were terrified. When our parents pitted us against each other. I see you as you see me, and I respect you for all of it."

Her eyes flicked away briefly, scanning the empty horizon of the plains. "It makes me sad though," she admitted. Her voice quieter now, nearly to herself, "That we have this, and yet it is not the same with the others. They're distant. Like ghosts in the corner of a room. I don't know if they'll ever understand us... or if we'll ever understand them. Perhaps they have bonds with each other? Ones we do not see? A shame. Imagine how wonderful it would be if we all could confide in each other like this?" Maybe the Elders did not have everything right.

She turned back to him, "Maybe things will change in a year's time. Maybe they never do. But for now, you have me. Always." Enyo could be many things: proud, stubborn, inflexible, lustful. But she was a Dunamis, and more than that, she was his sister.

That meant everything.

AND SHE WAS HIS SWORD

"GREEK"
"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN