Roused from sleep by Craw's nose in his cheek that morning, Wraith had risen groggily to the task set before him. The second had been working tirelessly since the arrival of Morganna's pups, patiently teaching them lessons as the need arose and watching over them with all the love and devotion of a father despite the lack of title. But now, he was granted a new chore. In truth, it would be a good reprieve as he'd not had the chance to explore the surrounding territory as he would have liked with how busy the pups kept him.

Tracking @Celandine across the tundra was hardly difficult. After a quick scout from the top of the monadnock, he could see clearly which path she'd taken and her intended destination. While he wasn't certain what her goal was out there, he wouldn't question it if it allowed him the chance to stretch his legs.

Wraith loped his way recklessly down the monadnock and raced headlong across the plains, appreciating the burn in his lungs by the time he reached the pale wolf's side. He barked out a greeting well in advance, not intending to take her off guard and result in a less-than-ideal meeting. As he slowed, Wraith's tail wagged high over his head and he nipped playfully at her own tail. "Craw sent me to accompany you. My apologies if you were looking for some time alone." The black brute could understand how necessary that alone time was especially now that he had so little of it. "If that was the case, we can be alone together."

In truth, Wraith understood Craw's caution. With the recent wind storm, it would have sat ill with him as well to know she was out here on her own without back up well within hearing range.

For all that he looked like a typical 'all brawn and no brains' brute, Wraith was no fool and sharp as they came when it had to do with nuances. Though she put forth the effort to play in return, the black man heard beneath her polite replies to the annoyance beneath. His responding laugh was short, but not lacking in humor. "Take it as an opportunity for us to get to know each other," he suggested. She may find it easier to swallow his presence if she looked at it like that rather than as a burden.

Her question brought forth an amused smile. Ever since entering Relic Lore, he'd had a poor track record when it came to water. Upon first meeting Crystal, the fast little scout from Grizzly Hollow, he had slipped hard on ice, taking them both down. And he'd not soon forget the first time he met Skoll when he landed himself chest-deep in the very same swamp after breaking through said ice. And then there was that struggle with breaking ice with Niq'x, a sea wolf on the hunt for her mute sister. As he thought on it, perhaps it wasn't water that made him look incompetent, but ice. Shaking off the memories, he nodded. "I do, as a matter of fact."

Unshaken, Wraith fell in step easily with @Celandine. "Where is it you come from, if I may ask? I never had the chance to properly get to know you." He frowned as if remembering something and shook his head. "Nor did I properly introduce myself." He inclined his head politely. "I'm Wraith Kael, Craw's Second. I hail from the North as did he before he brought me down South to join Willow Ridge." Though he kept it from his tone, the wolf was grateful to have left that particular pack behind. While it had initially worked out well for him, the constant squabbling and family drama at the exclusion of the rest of the pack had left Wraith feeling less sentimental than he might have.

He listened with polite interest as she spoke, nodding as she described the pack's location. If Wraith remembered correctly, he might have met an old packmate of hers; a heartbroken thing. She'd nearly slipped right off that mountain in a driving rain. He saved the question for whether she knew of the wolf for later should they still find nothing of common interest to discuss. Something told the male she cared little for talking in general, let alone his presence.

Wraith dipped his head in an easy, friendly manner, smiling kindly. "It's nice to officially meet you, @Celandine." Argyris. Hearing it, he was almost certain the wolf he'd met shared the name.

He found himself readily distracted by her question. "Mmm?" Amber eyes lifted towards the sky as he considered. "A couple months, I suppose. Craw I've known only a week or so longer than Morganna as we traveled together to the Ridge." Returning his gaze to her, Wraith searched her face curiously. "And what about you?" They had left the Ridge so suddenly that the brute had been caught off guard by the strange female's presence. However, he had no reason to question Morganna and Craw's judgement then and still saw no reason why she shouldn't be here now. But how she'd come to join their band at all was still a bit of a mystery to him.

Wraith tilted his head in consideration at the mention of a brother of Morganna's. In truth, Wraith had never delved deeply into the Archer bloodline. Of which brother @Celandine was talking about could be anyone's guess, though it couldn't be @Greer she was discussing simply because he was the only one to come join them. His gaze darkened minutely at the possibility of her speaking of Skoll. There was little love between the two males. And while @Morganna may harbor disappointment, Wraith knew she would forgive her brother a million times over for any wrongs against her. However, such forgiveness would not come from the northerner.

He almost laughed when she asked why he didn't stay at the Ridge before realizing she may never have been told why any of them had parted from Willow Ridge in the first place. It was well timed as they had come upon their destination. Without waiting, Wraith dipped his toes in to Kettle Pot Pond, pleased by the way silt dove between his paw pads. Offering only one backward, sly glance at his companion, the brute lunged forward into the water, creating a huge splash that threatened to soak her if she wasn't quick enough to move out of the way.

He laughed warmly and steadily began swimming around to cool himself. "Relations were poor within the ridge. The Alpha male was no leader for all the strong-willed personalities, but his Second wouldn't take responsibility as was asked of him. It was no choice for me. My loyalty has always rested with @Craw and Morganna." He said it simply without hint of any underlying motives. Perhaps it was a boring answer, but it was the truth.

"Are you going to stand there and talk all day or come swimming like you wanted?" Wraith teased.