So her ambitions were young yet, the wheels not yet turning at full speed. That was all well and good, for preparations had to be laid, alliances made, contingencies put in place. Craw understood the need for careful planning. Whether or not her plans - and preparations, and alliances, and contingencies - were sensible and well-thought out, he could not know, not by only knowing her for these precious few moments. He did not doubt her intentions nor her spirit, but that was to say nothing of her actual competencies.
She fell silent, and he watched her, seeing the cogs shift inside her head. What was she deciding?
Truth is, she started, and his ears pressed forward, curious to learn of the drawbacks, the weaknesses, faintly flattered that she was sharing it at all. Clearly he had succeeded in making a good impression on her. Weighing up his options, Craw knew that he had not - and likely would not - receive an offer as interesting as this one before the winter came, and while Morganna Archer was a fascinating creature, she did not strike him as a suitable mate, not of the sort he desired. Ally, though, and partner - in the meantime - perhaps. Craw liked his women a certain way, but he liked his...
friends to be quite different. If Morganna's bite was as keen as her bark, she would make an excellent friend.
Her problem, it seemed, was a lack of genetic diversity. Unsurprising if the pack was well-established, for why would her mother have any need of fresh blood if she was able to populate her pack with family? A stab of jealous resentment struck Craw, but he hid and buried it. One step at a time.
He watched her for a moment longer before turning back to gaze at the stream and copper rocks, tongue flashing out to lick at his rough lips, buying time for thought. She was clearly offering him a great deal, and in sharing her aspirations was automatically bringing him into the pack under a conspiratorial umbrella, unless everything she intended was entirely above-board and expected. But then she would not be discussing it in such tones with a stranger she met far to the north of her homeland. While Craw cared nothing for her familial politics, he could see potential in Morganna, and he was not the type to let such opportunities slip away.
Tit for tat - if he made himself useful to her now, she could be useful to him later. In this foreign land, he had no enemies but also no allies, and such a clean slate was tantalizing. It was time to unbalance that scale.
Turning back to her, his expression was solemn but his eyes keen. It was clear that he was sold; now she just had to seal the deal.
"Tell me everything."