The Burdens of the Tides
03-31-2013, 07:53 PM
![[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) ~*~ Talutah. Yes she knew the name. ?Tribals.? Crusade muttered with a nod. ?Very secretive bunch. I only ever met two of them ? one a happy, polite male who obviously cared about his gods and his beliefs ? he even told me a bit about them. But then the other was some sort of high priestess or something ? I never could remember the name she gave ? she stamped into the meeting and with some very colorful language scolded the male for telling a stranger anything and ordered him back with his tail between his legs.? So obviously Crusade had had mixed feelings about the Tribe from the start. ?There were plenty of strong rumors going around at the time ? that the Tribals kept slaves was known for a fact, but hearsay was they would sometimes sacrifice them to their gods! They?d do anything for the gods ? even inbreed!? Crusade gave a shudder of disgust. To be quite honest, Talutah had been first on her list of, well, ?crusades? when she?d had control of Glaciem. Everything about them was sinister and twisted. But she?d learned to have a bit more of a heart since then. Still believed they were wrong and what not, but she wasn?t about to shed buckets of blood until she had talked. Now such things were in Gargoyle?s hands. And to tell the truth he seemed content with peace - Espically now that he and Ocena seemed to be starting a family. And yet? Crusade had wracked her brain about it until she was certain. Gargoyle was a vetran. He?d been in war ? she could see it in the way he carried himself and the way he held his gaze ? not to mention in the way he?d nearly shredded the rogue known as Oberon when he?d nearly killed Crusade at the border. Gargoyle had seen war. Been a part of it, even. But about such things as his years apart from his family ? he was a locked book. It was something Crusade could respect even if she couldn?t understand. ? Crusade had finished her words upon her experiences and upon war in general, and now they walked in silence for a short time. Well, it wasn?t true silence, for always there was the steady rush and roar of the waves, the wet slap of the breakers upon the sand and stone, and ominous swaying of the trees, and the cry of the white gulls. Then came Gerhardt?s words, as heavy as the waves themselves. And Crusade was pleasantly taken aback. She hadn?t been looking for compliments ? rather, if her wandering muses wanted anything ? it was Gerhardt?s own thoughts on conflict. Not that she was disappointed here. It was a curious twist of her personality ? but Crusade had never been very at ease with taking praise ? particularly not from wolves where it really seemed to mean something. Asheni, her healer, adored her, but they were close enough to be sisters. The feelings were old and mutual. Here was a male she?d known only for a number of days ? a King in his own right ? and he was paying her such a sincere and elegant compliment. And yet, could she really take credit for all that? So many times she?d gotten by through sheer luck and other times by the strength within her that she could hardly call her own. She?d been blessed with great gifts and she?d always done her best to be worthy of them. That was all. In the end, the old she-wolf inclined her head thankfully, bearing a soft smile that was half grateful for the praise, half sad at all she?d come through to earn it. ?You?re a fine sort of Alpha yourself, M?lord Gerhardt. I?ve met few who are so calm and at peace. Truly your subjects must be grateful to have you. ? Crusade meant it. And meant something by it. She hoped that the lord would take it to heart if she was correct in her earlier inference about him being troubled by the infractions of his packmates. She might not have been in Seracia for very long, but it was clear they were governed by firstly, their own codes of conduct, and secondly by a male who cared very much for the nurturing of his family. What wolf could ask for more than that? ~*~ |