Willow Ridge Wait For It

Ah yes, Elettra. Who better to guide on ruling Willow Ridge? So did that imply that she was supporting her brother, helping him rule, rather than her daughter? That the willow queen wasn't asking for the official role was interesting. She probably wouldn't truly accept any title other than Leader until she was truly too old for the task, and while her health had fallen temporarily, she was far from past her prime.

When Nicolò looked squarely at him, Craw met his eyes, yellow eyes fixed on each other for a moment - and what the man said next actually took the silvered wolf by surprise. Archers didn't bullshit, and the tail wag was evidence of genuine sentiment. Craw's jaw cracked open a fraction but he had no immediate retort. "Thank you," he said, after a moment's hesitation, finding the simple comment had provoked a strange reaction within himself. It wasn't guilt, per se, but he did feel regret that Nicolò may have to become an enemy depending on how Morganna wished to proceed. In another world, Craw could see himself easily allying with the dark, collected man walking at his side, the Archer's calm and observational manner far better suited to Craw's tastes than the more volatile, impatient side of the family he had been associating with. In some ways, Nicolò reminded him of another dark-pelted man from a lifetime ago, a man who had given Craw the confidence to fight for what was his. It was a complimentary comparison.

Such a shame that things would likely not go that way. Still, if he played it right, the bridges that Morganna burned may not have to be the same as his own. He could only wait and see and act sensibly.

"I will help to bolster the defensive skills of those packmembers who wish to improve themselves," he continued, gaze returning to the path ahead, choosing to keep a cautious distance between himself and the man. Wait and see. They were not enemies, not yet, and so Craw would treat the man as nothing other than what he was - his superior. "The role of Guardian does interest me. Perhaps I could also identify those wolves who should be groomed for other roles, to improve the pack's specialisation. It is inefficient to simply have all subordinates performing the same duties with no attention to their particular talents."

For a moment, the other man did not a respond, and in that moment, Nicolò was equally pleased with himself. It was not often that he had conversation with others within Willow Ridge. He stuck with his work and stuck to the firm hope that others were doing the same. Craw's response was equally genuine and Nico responded with a small nod of his head. There was no need to go into detail and pepper in him praise. He had already done enough. They continued to walk and the alpha decided that he did not mind the silence. The man observed the heavily marked borders, though he doubted that anyone would dare penetrate them. He allowed Craw to mull over his question and it wasn't too long before he received his answer. His dark ears flicked toward the other man to show that he was listening. He hummed in interest, nodding his head in agreement towards his last statement. He spoke, "I'm glad you think so. The best way for the next generation of the pack to be in good paws is for the older members of the pack to be able to own their skills in every possible way, and that is only done through specialization." The Archer remained silent, his pale yellow eyes trained in front of him. He had enjoyed this chat with Craw and it was unfortunate that in the future things would not be so calm between them, only because of Morganna's manipulation. With a glance at the setting sun, Nico gave Craw one last glance, speaking one last time, "Duty calls, I'm afraid. My sister and I are going out on an evening hunt and I do not wish to keep her waiting. I'm afraid I must leave you." He gave the lad one last parting nod before going to find his sister, knowing that he had already kept her waiting long enough.

WesternStock @ DA, KYghost @ DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

<33 thank you for this thread! Maybe, depending on how everything turns out with WR, we could have another one post-challenge, because Craw really rather liked what little he saw of Nico :)

How would things have been different had it been this Archer who recruited him, and not Morganna? There would have had to be some non-trivial changes in the pack's situation, for it had been Angier in the lead's position and not Nicolo. As Craw watched the dark-coated Archer, he wondered whether the man had his own plans for the pack, whether he saw himself as shaping its future as much as Morganna expected to. Just because he was not Elettra's child did not strip him of the rights he had earned in being the most highly-ranked male in the pack... That's how authority worked, the more worthy rose higher.

No matter how he looked at it, though, the thought of an uncle and niece ruling side by side just didn't sit right. Something would have to change.

He nodded at Nicolo's words, finding sense in them, knowing of packs which had functioned very well under that kind of strict role-assignment. And then, just as cleanly as the Archer had sought him out in the first place, so their meeting was concluded; respecting that kind of purposefulness, Craw just inclined his head to signal that he understood.

"May your teeth find their mark," he rumbled as Nicolo Archer departed, and then Craw himself turned in the opposite direction to go and ponder the implications of all he had just learned of the man.