It was the change in temperature rather than any sound that woke the large male. Wraith woke fully in a single moment, eyes flashing open without a hint of sleep despite the fact that he had been slumbering deeply only seconds before. Lifting his head, he noticed Craw missing from his place at Morganna's side. So as not to disturb his weary Alpha, the northerner slowly extracted himself from the den to join his friend.

"You've been up to something." It was not an accusation by any means, but a quiet observation. Wraith had become accustomed to reading what lay behind Craw's yellow eyes. Today, his friend's eyes told him. Today was a day for action. Something else occurred to the black male as he began to nibble at the base of Craw's ear. His friend's scent was...different. It was subtle, but unmistakable to one so familiar with him.

"What's changed?" His voice was low, but thrumming with excitement. It had not escaped Wraith the way Craw and Morganna had been spending more time together. Thus far, the pale wolf had kept his own counsel on the matters of discussion, but the northerner felt the underlying tension of the day. He had a feeling the pack was about to be rocked to its core.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

Craw's smile was infectious. As the white male informed him that everything had indeed changed, Wraith felt a part of himself that had felt off-kilter for quite some time slip back into the place where it was meant. Balance. With that single word, he'd found it, already anticipating what it meant. Wraith suspected it was as he'd hoped; that Craw was taking initiative since Skoll had failed to follow through on his empty promises.

At his friend's urge, the black wolf stood to walk alongside him. While they walked, Wraith let his shoulder bump comfortably against Craw's. When they were out of earshot of the rest of the pack, Wraith's dark ear flicked toward the male to listen. With his suspicions confirmed, the northerner breathed easier. Finally, he thought with relief. "I'm with you," Wraith reassured, his deep tone calm as he said it. "If you are asking if I will join, you needn't bother. My loyalty has always rested with you over the rest. No matter what comes, I'm with you. And Morganna." As bluntly as Craw approached the subject, so too would Wraith. There was no need for speaking around things as the pair had long since learned to speak plainly with each other.

This change was fortunate. With Craw as his Alpha, Wraith knew his loyalties would no longer need to feel divided. He would do his best for this new pack without worry of the political correctness within Willow Ridge's current hierarchial disaster.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

The first to know. As always, @Craw found ways to reaffirm their friendship in even the most subtle of ways. Of course, Wraith had no doubt this was by design, but whatever the motivations, he was appreciative of the effort. When their friendship had been in its infancy, the dark male couldn't help but wonder if there was some other purpose for Craw's steadfast recruitment of him, but he'd long since stopped caring for whatever it was that encouraged him to invite him along. They were brothers in the ways that mattered and that was really all there was to it anymore.

The thought of @Morganna informing her brother of her plans to leave gave the wolf some pleasure as he tried to imagine Skoll's reaction. To be fair, Wraith was certain the wolf didn't deserve his judgement for his personality. While the northerner knew not the sins of the wolf's past, he knew well enough his own to know better than to cast stones. But still, the Archer male rubbed Wraith wrong and he bore no love for him nor a want to form any sort of lasting bond. It was only one reason why Wraith had been concerned of this plan to overthrow Nicolo in the first place - Wraith felt no more loyalty to Skoll than he did the current male lead.

Of course, none of that was his concern anymore, apparently. As Craw informed him that he would be his second, Wraith blinked. He shouldn't be surprised. With the amount of faith they placed in each other, it made the most sense. Yet the wolf had never expected to be thrust into a position of any sort of authority. He was capable of it, of course, but worthy in his own eyes? He still had quite a few ghosts to overcome first. However, he wouldn't let Craw down.

"You honor me, brother." Wraith pressed his cheek to Craw's own in solidarity.
"I only hope I can live up to the task." But while he was given this opportunity, the wolf considered who else may like to join them. "I know @Greer was hoping to leave Willow Ridge soon. He's a good wolf. Of those here, I would trust him at our side so long as you agree."

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

Wraith listened with rapt attention, nodding as @Craw explained his viewpoint. With the future already in mind, Wraith found he cared little for what happened within Willow Ridge after they parted. He found himself mildly worried at how easily he could write off the pack he'd been part of since he first left the Highlands. But as he thought more on it, the only part of this place that had become home would be coming with him. It wasn't the place he'd grown attached to; land was land - it gave shelter, food, water, and a certain amount of safety, but little else. The wolves, Wraith knew, were what kept him rooted to this place. Craw, @Morganna, @Greer - these were the wolves that he'd surrounded himself with, immersed himself in. If they were going, there was nothing he regretted leaving behind.

His thoughts drifted to a few others. Capable, for one. He was becoming more and more curious about her, about the life she'd led prior to joining the pack. She seemed to hold no love for the place either - perhaps she could join them as well. But Wraith didn't know enough about her or her feelings on Morganna, Craw, or Greer to place his faith in her joining. It would be up to Craw or Morganna to seek her out if she came to their thoughts as well.

Beyond Capable, he thought, too of Crystal (@Yvly). Though she wasn't pack, she was a good, trusted friend. Perhaps the friendship between them was enough to form an alliance in the future between the one they intended and Grizzly Hollow. It brought to mind another important question.

"Where are we headed?" His heart yearned for the north. For the familiarity that came with it, but he would follow his friend to the ends of the earth in whichever direction he so chose. However, the brute had an inkling that Craw's on unfinished business would draw him north as well.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

The answer did satisfy him. North. Back to where the weather was cooler and his thick coat wasn't such a burden. Though he had shed a great deal - more than he ever had before in his life - there were still plenty of tufts caught in his summer coat that needed to be lost. Not only that, but...perhaps he could see to a bit of his own unfinished business as well. However, if he were to be @Craw's Second, that would leave little time for personal journeys. He'd not shirk his responsibilities; his ghosts could wait as they had been waiting.

"We can take the same path," Wraith suggested, thinking of the journey the pair had made when first they met in Nightingale Palisade. It was tried and proven as safe. Though he had only walked it once, the brute felt confident they could trace the same one with the eastern mountains as a guide.

There was much to prepare. As much as Wraith would have loved to start going now, he knew Craw had discussions still to have with others. Recruitment or goodbyes, he would leave it to @Morganna and Craw. "When do we leave?" he wondered. If it was soon, the male intended on going for a hunt immediately to fill the bellies of those who would join them - especially Morganna. She had to eat for more than herself after all and it didn't suit to have her travel on an empty stomach. Their troupe wouldn't get very far.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de