Hush Meadow If you don't like how the table is set

For @Craw, set shortly after this one.

With the waxing moon now high in the sky, she was left with much to consider. There was no denying this turn of events was problematic. With Hecate gone so was any leverage she had over her brother. Had this been one of his schemes? Spirit his thing away from the Ridge and with her any pressure for him to keep his own designated timeline? Hecate had, after all, offered to leave for the duration of her pregnancy then return once her children were born (although she had used the singular child and specifically a daughter, a thought that left her teeth bared to the moonlight, fully aware she was likely to be baring sons herself). The hunt had done little to stifle the annoyance that crawled under her skin, lit with flashes of rage, but somehow, outwardly she had managed to hold it all together until Elettra took her leave to head back to the den and Angier. Usually Morganna would be tucked soundly in the den by now too, this was @Skoll's time to be out and about, not hers, but with her mind racing as it was there would be little sleep to be had until she managed to figure out what her next move would be.

Either Hecate left of her own accord and her brother was clueless or it was his suggestion that she leave. Either way it left her at a disadvantage. She needed to find a way to turn the tables back in her favour, or turn them over. What had she missed? Bringing herself to a seat in the open field she would make an easy target, but she wasn't particularly concerned about who might be coming for her at this hour of night. Perhaps whoever it was stalking her in the dark would come baring the answers she so desperately sought.

M for language

The trail had led directly away from the Ridge, and for long enough that, if it hadn't been Hecate's intention to leave, she had definitely left that impression. What kind of heavily pregnant bitch would willingly wander so far from safety? Unless, of course, her haven wasn't so safe anymore, and obviously Hecate had had the wherewithal to realise it. Craw respected her decision to take fate into her own hands, if that was, at this point, the only thing he respected about her.

The sun had set by the time he crossed back into the pack's territory, having been quite thorough in ensuring that Hecate's trail went far, and there was only one wolf he wanted to speak to. Learning that she'd last been spotted heading south, he'd grunted his thanks and set off again, apparently getting no early rest this night. Skoll did technically have time left until his fated third sunrise, but who challenged in the middle of the night? Unless he had entirely misunderstood his sister's desired and was planning on assassinating Nicolo... though, he thought with dark amusement, perhaps that wouldn't be that large a misunderstanding. Still, it wasn't an outcome that Craw found desirable, so he decided that, after catching up with this Archer, he would do the same with another.

Just how long had he been running around after the damn members of this damn family? When Morganna had asked what he wanted in return, her implied indebtedness to him had better be followed through.

Knowing where to look, he quickly found her trail and pursued it - so not only was he an Archer bitch, but, tonight at least, his sole purpose in life was to track down pregnant bitches. It was good that his tensions regarding the following sunrise were so great that they currently overshadowed any severe resentment he may have been feeling about the whole thing. He just wanted it dealt with so they could all fucking well move on from the seeds of conspiracy that Morganna had planted back in that cavern meeting.

Spotting a dark sitting shape, precisely in the direction of her scent, Craw paused for a moment, and took a rattling breath. Trying to soothe his agitation, to stop constantly waiting for the call which, by now, was surely not going to happen (unless he was literally going to make the challenge at sunrise? fenrir forbid it, he couldn't stand one more night waiting) he took slow, deliberate steps towards her silhouette, not bothering to announce himself. She'd be plenty familiar with the sound of his breathing to quickly realise who her company was.

"She's gone," he rasped, coming to sit beside Morganna, glad to be able to just rest his ass down for a minute.

That familiar rattle, she would know it anywhere by now. As @Craw came to sit at her side she leaned into him, cheek pressing against his own and jaws parting to brush along his muzzle in greeting and silent thanks. Lowering her head to rest against his neck she allowed his words to sink in, weighing up her options. "I can't decide if its a good thing or not." She finally admitted, with all the tension it would be no wonder if Nicolo was on guard, Perhaps he sent her away? No. He was all talk, bark with no bite. If anyone had been in Hecate's ear at all it would have been her dear brother.

As the next moves played out in her mind it dawned on her she had never asked Craw if he wanted what she had in mind. She had been so wrapped up in her own schemes perhaps she was getting herself into an even bigger mess? Better to be forewarned. "Perhaps he'll go after her," she suggested, Perhaps with a little nudge in the right direction...  She was even almost hopeful in her tone (although she knew better than to bet against her brother - especially on any outcome that would require him to respond in a predictable fashion...). Craw had said he knew how to do his job, but was that the same as wanting it? Of course not. There was no point in investing her energy into clearing the way for another temporary fill in.

 

"Do yer want to lead? With me?" No scheming, no skirting around the issue. It already seemed clear to her they made quite the team. Who better?

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

A soft, low growl reverberated in his chest as he accepted Morganna's affections, though didn't yet return them beyond pressing his cheek against hers when they touched. He was tired of re-affirming his position with everyone all the time... it was satisfying to just let her do it for him.

He had expected her sentiment regarding Hecate's confirmed absence to be rather more pleased than the uncertainty he got. How was it not a good thing? He snorted in response, expecting her to come around to the side of reason by her own brainpower, she hardly needed Craw to convince her that running off her children's rival was in her benefit. She was just weary and doubting herself. Until the next sunrise, so much was up in the air; he forcibly reminded himself to be patient with her.

She then mentioned Skoll, or, at least, Craw could not imagine that she meant anyone else. The problem with her brother - which had been Craw's problem with him all along - was his entire lack of predictability; any loyal or lawful creature would naturally wish to protect his brood (Craw would have given his right leg to be the one with a pregnant mate right now), but Skoll? The fact that he had whelps on the way was indicative of his wild nature, that he would likely make the same lust-driven mistake year on year, and that more Isoldes would suffer for it. Running Hecate out was good on every level; running Skoll out was similarly well-advised, but throughout all of Morganna's vitriol towards her littermate, Craw knew there was still deep attachment there. He could not easily relate, having no living siblings of any age, nor any other close familial ties. If pushed, he could say that he loved his mother, but there was a heady dose of pity mixed in with that which muddied the sentiment.

Prepared to discuss the topic of her brother, his jaw had been opened when her last question shot through anything he was about to say. His mouth closed again with a quiet click, and he inhaled deeply through his nose, the air rolling over the gravel in his throat.

She'd pushed so hard for Skoll to challenge at that meeting, had made her feelings on her uncle so very clear... and they had had a conversation like this, not very long ago, where he had said he would do his job if necessary. Either something had changed, or she hadn't made her feelings on the matter entirely clear the first time around. This sounded like a plea.

Licking his lips, he turned his head to the side and down at the smaller woman at his side, eyes pale and desaturated in the moonlight. He regarded her for a long moment, making no sound other than his wheeze. "Are you asking," he said finally, deliberately, "because it's what you want, or are you just cycling through the suitable men of the pack until one sticks?"

It was a question he was almost certain he already knew the answer to, but they had built the entire foundation of their relationship on playing games and manipulation of the pack, even if they had always been, generally, forthright with one another. Only a few days previous she had pressured Skoll to do the same thing. What if she was eyeing Renier or Wraith also? He expected her to react with either indignation of the accusation or brush it off with apathy for stupid questions. What she was asking, though, wasn't trivial; he would have to go through Skoll and Nicolo both, and that was not a short order for two such bull-headed wolves, both of whom likely wanted it a great deal owing to their Archer inheritance.

But the question of leading alongside her? Morganna Archer was, in many ways, his ideal female counterpart; she was strong-headed, decisive, ambitious. She didn't pull her punches and had never tried to pideonhole or restrict him. He could imagine very well what leading Willow Ridge beside her would be like.

The real answer to her question, of course, was nothing but yes - he would gladly have her, but he didn't want Willow Ridge. Not like Skoll or Nicolo Archer did. Not as anything more than a placeholder, not unless something fundamental changed. With how little he knew of what was happening back home... his entire life was becoming one long temporary solution, and he had no idea how long his patience would last before something irrevocably snapped.

His assessment was fair, it could very well seem that way to anyone who had been watching closely (and who had been watching closer than her companion on this moonlit night?). No matter how many times she came back to it, how many angles she viewed it from - he was the perfect choice. "I wouldn' ask if it wasn't what I wanted," if she had decided to be straight forward there was no reason to stop now. "If not you then who? We both know @Skoll isn't fit ter lead. Nothin' will change if he does," and oh they needed a change. She wasn't asking him to love her, or stay with her until she was old and grey, and who better to ensure anyone that thought themselves worthy was thoroughly tested in their claim? She would be lying to herself if she didn't admit she was fond of @Craw, and if he decided to keep it... To keep her, well she supposed she could live with that too.

Perhaps it would be a lot to process, maybe not so much - she had never made such a proposal before. Maybe he would have conditions or questions? Clearly she was making this up as she went along. Her nose lifted to trail along his jaw in affirmation of all she had said. Who was better suited than he? Perchance she would even be able to convince her brother to step aside, or at least temporarily make room if only so he could retrieve the child from the incubator? That would give them time. They didn't need a lot of it.

To his satisfaction, she treated his question completely squarely, replying with a level-headed and earnest answer. He trusted Morganna enough by this point to believe that she would not bullshit him, having also previously promised to also not keep him in the dark about important matters anymore. If she was asking, then she was serious. It stroked his ego to know that she thought that highly of his abilities - but she had every reason to, of course, since he had been guiding her and building her up practically from the moment they met. So, to turn the question on himself - if not her, then who else?

Because she was right: Skoll was incapable, and whether or not he was competent in his own right, Nicolo's incompatibility with Morganna was his downfall. Willow Ridge was always Elettra's first, and thus Morganna's, ever since the daughter had officially earned the title. And she had proven her capacity for leading. Under her rule, the pack would thrive another four years, and likely more.

He still couldn't deny, though, that he didn't want the Ridge. But he had come too far to let that stop him now. He had promised to discuss what he did want after her children were born and the pack was settled, and as that was several moon cycles away, still, he could be patient for longer. Impatience had almost destroyed everything, he would not succumb to it again.

Her nose touched along his jaw, and the growl in his chest was soft, born from excitement and the promise of their mutual power. Craw brought his heavy head down over her own, tucking her muzzle in the crook of his neck, holding her in place for just a moment - a promise of what would come if she really trod down this path. He'd been her underling this long because it strengthened him, gave him the opportunity to focus on his recovery and on building other important relationships, but if she wanted him to lead with her - well, he would not be another dickless stand-in for this woman-dominated pack. If she wanted a male leader for the Ridge that bad, then so be it.

Shifting his head slightly to release her and twisting his body about so that he sat a little more facing her, he brought his muzzle gently down to touch the cold of his nose along the hard bridge of hers, tracing it up between her eyes and to her brow bone, resting his chin gently on the front plate of her skull.

"Very well," he breathed, placing a gentle kiss on her crown, and pulling back, eyes bright. "You deal with your brother, and I'll deal with your uncle."

Whether the move was a possessive one, or a reminder that he was not one of her playthings, it still bought a smile to her face, jaws parting and head wriggling as best it could to rake her teeth through the fur where his throat met his chest to remind him she was not some complacent little den warmer (even though she would be reduced to such for at least some weeks soon enough). It was another reason behind her choice. She didn't need someone beside her that she would have to nip in the ass to get them moving, and she trusted his judgement.

Stilling as he pulled away, smile still in place as the deal was sealed with a kiss, only wondering for a moment just what this would mean going forwards. Progress. Wasn't that all that mattered? "I'll talk ter him tonight, try an' get the stone rolling." She would just need to choose how best to approach it, by gently undermining it until it rolled under its own weight? Or with a large stick to try and move it with pure force? Perhaps the quieter method first.

"Yer said Nicolo could be useful..." she mentioned, clearly approaching things from a different angle, showing she took his opinions seriously. "Do yer think we should keep him?" She inched forwards to tuck her head back under his chin, she supposed she had best get used to the idea with the deal all but done. More quietly she added "I'm o' half a mind ter leave all this behind if a resolution can't be found soon." After all, she had asked if he wanted to lead with her. She hadn't said anything about doing so here.

Her gentle resistance gave the same message as his exertion of control, that she was no beast to be cowed - which was exactly what he wanted. Under different circumstances, a more meek woman would have served in the position of leader, but not these ones. Besides, he very much saw the Ridge as Morganna's, and had relished her displays of strength at every turn; he would have desired it to turn out no other way when it came to her.

She offered a promise to meet with Skoll that night, and he trusted her intentions infinitely more than her sibling's. Craw was under no impression that they would come to a neat resolution anytime soon, but he knew that she was even more driven than him to get this pack back under some kind of unified command. It was partly why he had given that half of the task to her; not only did she know her brother far better, she knew how to play him, and he trusted that she would be best fit to resolve the problem that was Skoll Archer. If she needed his help, she would only have to ask for it.

Keenly aware of the animosity between niece and uncle, Craw had not expected much to be able to change Morganna's view of the man, and yet something he'd said must have struck a chord. In all of this, he had come to view Nicolo Archer as an unfortunate casualty, having no personal dislike for the current leader and yet had chosen to take Morganna's side all the same. The fact that she questioned it at all brought a satisfied rumble to his chest as she tucked her head under his, her willingness to overlook their history bringing a lot more potential to the table. Whether or not he would be able to convince Nicolo of the wisest course of action would yet to be seen, but that Morganna was on his side was a significant boon.

He was prepared to answer when she slipped in a final sentiment which casually changed everything. He had never doubted that she was tied to the Ridge and all the prestige and history which came with it, but perhaps he had been wrong - and while he would not have faulted her for holding onto her attachment, not for one instant, that she was suggesting such flexibility opened up even more options.

Not that he wanted some Willow Ridge 2.0, either, even if it was a minute step in the right direction. At least it would be something he'd created, but he wanted what he'd already created, and there was little room for compromise in his heart for that. It did make things easier in the meantime, though.

"If it comes to that, there are others who would follow," he promised, any resentment he'd earlier felt about chasing around after bitches and Archers diminished by this incredibly fruitful and promising exchange. "Making sure you have somewhere safe to deliver your children is a highest priority. If the Ridge cannot provide that, we can find somewhere else. As for Nicolo," he crooned, enjoying the feeling of her muzzle under his chin, "if he can be brought around, yes, I think we should consider it. He is not the same kind of wild, unpredictable danger as your brother. He is proud and headstrong, but I believe he is also a man of reason. If his personal disagreements with you are rooted too deep, he is of no use to us."

But there was something he needed to know before they entertained that notion too much; casting off undesirables was made easy or difficult depending on whether they were determined to stay. "Would you resent leaving the Ridge, after all you have done to win it?"

She didn't doubt that they would have followers but to hear him say so helped to put her at ease. We can find somewhere else. She allowed her eyes to drift closed for just a moment, enjoying whatever subtle shift had just occurred between them. It was exhausting at the top, and lonely if you had nobody to share it with. Perhaps that was part of the reason she suddenly felt so relaxed. She wouldn't have to do this alone.

His words about Nicolo forced an airy chuckle from her throat, "I'm sure he's all talk now, I wasn't so convinced at first. I can put this feud ter bed if he can." She wasn't afraid to admit he had ruffled her feathers initially, although that only drove her to be better, work harder, act smarter. Was that really such a bad thing? But Craw was correct, if he couldn't make himself useful there was no point in keeping him around. Whatever his decision was ultimately, she could live with either outcome.

Would you resent leaving the Ridge? She gave the words a moment to sink in, turning all the possibilities over in her mind. These last months had been trying, yes, but they had also opened her eyes to problems that ran deeper than what was visible to any who might think to look. Like rising damp in the walls and dry rot in the foundations, repairs would come at a cost. Was it a bill she was willing to foot? "No, I'm a scout at heart, I like ter travel - see new places, face new challenges. I've seen all there is ter see here." Sentimentality and common sense were rarely seen together for a reason. To cling to something so desperately for purely emotional reasons was foolish. "If it comes ter that, I won't resent leaving this place behind fer bigger and better things."

It was at that moment a flutter in her stomach reminded her that perhaps he was the only one without some vested interest in them. His prior words about safely delivering her children being the highest priority gave her hope, but she knew better to invest in daydreams. She extracted herself from under his chin so she could look on his face as she asked, "Is this going ter be a problem? My children?" Whether it was in her choice of words or in their very existence she would rather know now. She wasn't fond of surprises.

(This post was last modified: Apr 28, 2016, 09:49 PM by Morganna.)