The Burdens of the Tides
04-12-2013, 10:21 AM
![[Image: one_eyed_crusade_by_kidrylm_writer-d5yxnla.png]](http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/081/c/e/one_eyed_crusade_by_kidrylm_writer-d5yxnla.png) ~*~ Gerhardt's request, made her pause.Up til then, Crusade had been free enough with her words, and yet the conversation went back and forth as any should. They spoke of deep matters, but here Gerhardt was going a step further. He was asking for her opinion on an action he'd taken within his pack. And Crusade hesitated. Certainly she knew the value of a confidant, and a part of her was honored that he should seek one in her. But it, well, it wasn't proper. It wasn't because they'd only just met. Nor because they were from different packs. It was a rare day that saw Crusade limiting herself by hollow formalities. She hesitated, because she knew what it was to be an Alpha. There would always be wolves seeking to give advice or judgement, to make whispers in ears whether with good intentions or ill, but in the end the Alpha had to make the decisions. And he had to stand by them, on his own four paws. It was out of respect for this, that Crusade would gently recline. And she planned to say this and her reasons along with it, when another Seracian came up. The mark on his shoulder caught her eye at once. Seemed the pups were not the only remnant of the old Tribe. He immediately spoke up to speak of lessons he'd been giving the pups - and then, turning to politely praise the once Alphess. The words of his complement surprised her, but no more so than his boldness in voicing them. Saying such things came as casual to some wolves, this she knew, and she made little of it, only tilting her head and lowering her eyes in a silent gesture to be read as he liked. She had nothing to say on the matter at hand. As she'd said before she'd known only two tatulahs - and only for a matter of minutes, the one had struck her as very friendly, the other as the opposite. This wolf before her might be a very nice sort, but his words worried her. Among Gerhardt's young was Maverick, the future king of Seracia. Was he to be trained to walk in the pawsteps of the Tribe? Troubling. To say the least. But Gerhardt's reaction was prompt - controlled, as it should be, but it got the point across. Crusade felt the better for hearing it. Education was one thing, indoctrination another, and yet at a young age it is often hard to tell the difference. But her own opinions she kept to herself. She'd said enough on the matter, and as for the current moment, it was obviously between the two Seracians. ~*~ |