Hanged Man Comin' Down From The Gallows [Amon v. Ganta]

Pyralis was in a mood as she stalked after her brother.  She wanted to participate.  She wanted to tear into one of these idiots but ohhhhh no, it was now boiling down to a one on one fight to the death. As fun as it would be though well, Pyralis had her own plans. She respected Amon and his authority but that didn't mean she didn't want any for herself.  Well… technically her son, Ashiel.  She could rule in his stead and then turn the pack over to him when she felt he was worthy enough to do so and then she could live in the lap of luxury!  She could do whatever the hell she wanted, when she wanted because there was no way her son could hold anything over her head.  

Patience.  That's what it all boiled down to and to be honest Pyralis really was not a patient creature.  She wanted what she wanted the moment she wanted it.  She was fickle, her mind always rolling.  Her desires shifting in the moment.  She continued her stride to the battlefield, rolling her eyes at the stupid mortal traditions… when a dark thought entered her mind.  While Amon was distracted with the death match… who was going to prevent her from challenging the pack herself?  She almost cackled at the thought of it.  Of course… would Amon see this as a betrayal?  She hadn't exactly been subtle about Ashiel's desire and her own that one day her son would lead a pack and if she were there, ruling a boy king behind the scenes, she had the perfect opportunity to set herself up for life!  But how to convince her brother?  He'd be livid to come back from a death match to find she'd uprooted the pack.  He'd been working hard, tirelessly for this moment.  For her to usurp him well… that would be just evil.  What a relief she had no qualms about that... most days anyway.  Pyralis valued her family but her harsh upbringing had left a streak in her that was entirely self-absorbed.  Now the question was... how to sell her idea?

Her mind twisted and folded and twined in on itself until at last they arrived at the battlefield.  She moved to brush alongside her brother, a mischevious gleam in her eye before she broke from him as he prepared himself for battle.   Pyralis turned to Amon.  Now to make her case before the stupid mortal showed up. She spoke smoothly, twisting her words, enjoying the feel and the implications as they rolled out of her mouth. "Brother, dearest brother, I'm a bit… displeased by this.  Here you are having all the fun and I have to stand by and watch.  Not that I don't enjoy it but I've been doing some thinking.  Remember our little chat about Ashiel?  Well here's the thing… this whole thing, this… fight to the death.  It's delaying our plans."  Step one, appeal to his logical side.

 "See if you survive you'll have to heal before you can rip the pack away from his widow… assuming our family hasn't disposed of them. In fact I think he's just trying to manipulate you, to lure you away from the vulnerable and buy time for his pathetic family."  She spoke carefully, putting each piece into place.  One wrong step and this could all backfire.  "And if you die and join our god well… I'll just take the pack from them anyway. So why don't we do this more efficiently, my dearest brother."

Now to appeal to his ego. "You are the leader of our family in this conquest and that is exactly why you should lead them on to the next target.  We should move as a unit, swift and calculating. Give me Dragoste.  Let me cleanse it of mortal filth and make it into a training ground for the next generation of leaders while you secure the next target.  What do you say? Let me rip his bride to shreds and send her family scattering before my fangs."  She grinned sweetly at Amon, wondering if he realized that grin meant that most likely… she'd do it anyway. Even if it wasn't today she would, one way or the other.  Of course… there was the mortal.  He was the only factor that she could not entirely account for. If he changed his mind and handed over the pack to Amon then all bets were off but she really doubted he'd do that.  Mortals were particular about their ego, he'd made a big show of it and now they were at the point of no return.

"Please Amon, let's do this together."  She reached out to nuzzle his ruff, her voice low and just a touch sentimental. "Or we can just drop this stupid one-on-one challenge, you take this self-righteous idiots pack… establish the first true Abraxas pack. Leave this fool to watch and then you use your influence to back me up and work with me now that you know my desires. I care little for the act of ruling but I want the freedom it gives.  I want a pack for my son and I don't care who I have to go through to get it. Drop this stupid death match, take his pack, make him watch what he loves be destroyed… do it for me."