The Burdens of the Tides
04-02-2013, 02:39 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) ~*~ Gerhardt?s pups? Tribal born? Those lovely darlings? Crusade had a bit of trouble believing her ears. But when she did she could only shake her head and smile. What a blessing. What a rare twist of fate ? that the orphaned pups had been scooped up by one so caring and powerful. Did they appreciate that fully? Crusade hoped so. She herself had never had a better gift than that of her family. But Gerhardt asked another question, and to it Crusade could only give another shake of her head. ?I?m afraid that my prior words are the extent of my Talutain knowledge. ? And what of the male?s next words. Crusade was quiet after them. Nearly any death was tragic, but in this case it had worked out well for the pups, and if the parents had truly loved them then they would?ve been pleased to see them brought up in so fine and sheltered a home ? not to mention privileged. To Crusade, who was no stranger to adoption. It was a wonderful thing. She nodded her head and the two wolves carried on. ? ?You cannot imagine how much I needed to hear that today.? The Alpha?s release made Crusade all more glad she had spoken. And with Gerhardt?s next words he honored her with a question, and an admission of uncertainty ? something rare for any leader to willingly show. ?I?ve never had to deal with such a thing.? Crusade said with an honest shrug. But I won?t say I was lucky for this?for there was one traitorous tragedy that made up for the other years?? The memory was just too horrible ? a visible shudder ran thorugh the she-wolf?s being. She couldn?t speak deeper on it. ?But the perpetrator had gone insane. Before I even had the chance to deal with things he was over a cliff and done with.? But Crusade didn?t want to leave things there ? for one thing she wanted to lead her train of thought far away from such a horror and for another, she wanted to say something that was actually of use to her companion. ?But the truth is that my packmates know what they?re signing up for when they ask to join my pack. They?re trusting to submit themselves to my family and my rules. If one of them committed a transgression, - which I?m sure they would not do unless they had a very good reason - they would be expected to stand up and face the consequences ? whether it be a temporary demotion to omega ? or a three days sentry on the frozen tip of one of our mountains. If this was to their disliking, they can always just leave.? Crusade snorted at the idea of someone holding a grudge over something so typical and expected of every pack member. ?Even I?ve served time as an omega before.? Crusade was aware of the questioning look this was sure to bring. With a roll of her eyes and a dry smile she elaborated a bit. ?Years ago ? my Alpha was wounded and when I came upon a nice little rogue healer on the border, I rushed him in to the Alpha.-? Crusade bent her ears back guilty. ?Disreguarding the strict rule that no one but the Alpha or Beta could allow an outsider into her land.? It hadn?t been her favorite moment. ?Honestly, my Alpha?s great displeasure was worse going through than my term as Omega. But I learned from it. Punishment, when just and taken the right way is meant to be character building ? not permanently degrading. ? Of course for just about all wolves this is hard to accept in the heat of the moment ? and some never see things in that way. Their loss. Hopefully these words would do something towards setting the southern king?s mind at ease. As for Crusade?s mind it was turning upon other things. The more time she spent with this male, the more she approved of him ? no that was too formal - the more she liked him. He was a rare good sort and someone she felt she could talk to for days. Gargoyle had given his trust completely to her in matters of alliance. Her word was as good as his. And at the moment she was very deeply considering bringing up the topic of an alliance again ? but not until she was certain Gerhardt was able to turn away his troubles. ~*~ |