Edit: Becca's been inactive for a while, but this thread was almost finished and I had already discussed with her the outcome of it, so we've decided to move ahead and finish this based on original plans. I've PPd Camio a little in this post accordingly (again, in line with what we'd already agreed would happen).
What had once been a regular occurrence was now more of a treat. While Craw indulged in spars with @
Isuni to keep himself sharp - and occasionally @
Wraith, though those were rather more playful and relaxed than with with the red woman - he did not get the opportunity to wrestle with the wolf who, at one point, he had almost done so with daily. Where once he had been training her to carry out a conspiracy which was never needed, which had morphed into making sure she would be able to defend her position, now she hardly needed it at all - and the excuse to roll around and clash with her was more for their own entertainment than anything. He was stronger and bigger and able to take more punishment, but she was always,
always faster, and, at this point, he actually enjoyed that he would probably never be able to best her in it.
She wasn't one to just give in, though, not without some devious reason, so when she paused mid-snap it took him a heartbeat longer to notice the same voice which had stopped her. While her attention turned toward the call, he just grunted and whined with disappointment, slumping forward on his forelegs to rub his muzzle against her chest. He'd liked being able to escape it, just for a moment, but as he had once told @
Morganna, the job was eternal. Besides, @
Celandine had never actively called for them before, so it didn't take long before the sparring took a backseat and in its place was an eagerness to find out what his favourite firecracker wanted.
Morganna trotted off, and he jumped after her with a chuff, settling into a comfortable pace side-by-side as they attended to Celandine's summons. It didn't take long before her familiar white shape appeared, stood near to a darker, rather more unfamiliar one, and his ears pressed forward in renewed interest. Where Morganna went to greet their subordinate, Craw chose to move closer to the stranger, tail twitching up over his rump, quickly assessing him in sight and smell and finding everything foreign and average - so, just a loner, then. He glanced to Celandine, and saw how Morganna stood quietly, expectantly, and liked her decision.
Looking back at the stranger, head lifting, Craw also remained silent, letting this man who had managed to provoke Celandine into action break the ice. The stranger spoke smoothly, introducing himself as Cain, and it became clear that Celandine had made the offer of joining Whitestone. While he respected her judgement, Craw valued his own above all, and decided to agree to Cain's induction - after the man had proven himself. Setting him a task of bringing a gift to the pack every morning for the next three, at the end of which he would be assessed again, the loner agreed and quite eagerly.
He seemed an able sort, and certainly in no bad way for a vagrant. Perhaps, if he turned up and with a worthy offering, their numbers would grow a little more. And if they never saw him again, there would be a minimal of time wasted by both parties. Either way, a happy outcome.
(This post was last modified: Aug 10, 2016, 02:17 PM by Craw.)