Caiaphas had been surprised when Aktaie first approached her one crisp fall night -- but in retrospect, she supposed the Siren Queen's proposition was not without reason. Aktaie's infirmities had compelled her to willingly rescind her title, thereby passing the helm onto Caiaphas. She stated quite simply her reasonings and after a stint of conversation under the luminescence of the brilliant moon the two parted ways, and Caiaphas was left to assume that if the Matriarch willed it, it would be.

The rest of the pack, however, stood to be notified -- certainly the change in leadership would not be received entirely with warmth or festivities. Caiaphas had been kind to few of her pack members, dismissive of many others -- and this would likely not change. The skeletal waif would never be as diplomatic or compassionate as Aktaie, and she had no intention of changing course now. She would wait until morning to share the uprising, and when morning came it would find her trotting down the barren strand in the direction of Aktaie's many shrines. Once there she would throw back her head and summon her packmates -- so that they would be enlightened of her new status and also given the first of many tasks to ready themselves for winter. Those who did not come she would seek out later, and deal with them in the only way she saw fit: cruelly.

Caiaphas was pleased to see Aktaie's followers arrive promptly, though with sharp irony she noted that few, if any, would take the news well. Her gaze fell first to Nishu -- who seemed asleep -- but before she could jostle him the black wraith she knew as Tethys arrived. Quickly after came the pups, their grave-furred caretaker Spyridon, and the fresh-faced recruit Eos.

The congregation was small, and Caiaphas ruefully admitted that two of the more seasoned followers were grievously absent. Solemnly she turned to face each of them, pressing forth into the cold air a succinct summation of her recent ascension. "Aktaie, our honorable Matriarch, has passed the mantle to me so that she may devote her time to more pressing matters -- our vigil to the Mother Sea and Mother Moon. Should you have questions or doubts to the validity of this statement, you may find her. That is all."

After the deliverance of what Caiaphas could only assume would be unsettling news, she watched each wolf hawkishly for a reaction. In some way, she was disproportionately insecure about the potential uprising that could occur -- she knew few wolves better than she knew Aktaie, and other than the pups, Caiaphas had spent little time with her peers.

But as the guardian beside Kevlyn exposed distress, Caiaphas realized her mistake -- and somewhat abash by it, quickly issued explanation. Aktaie παραιτήθηκε από την ηγεσία , και μου έχει διορίσει στη θέση της ."

There was little in the way of displeasure -- no wave of discontent riffled the group -- and as time progressed Caiaphas felt more confident in the limelight. Her gaze fell to Tethys, who said nothing in disagreement -- and then swept to Nishu Inte, who, true to the role of males in the group, had said nothing.

"I will call a ritual in the next few days for the Winter's coming." She finished, though no translation was offered to Spyridon this time. She figured Kevlyn needed to practice his Greek -- and she also knew before the week was over she would approach the dark male and test his loyalty.

For now, she quit the group -- leaving the rest to make their own assumptions.

Her departure was met with no attempt to stop her progress -- in fact, so unhindered was she, she nearly paused and looked behind her to ensure her followers still existed. Quickly, she suppressed this urge -- though one uncannily long ear flicked back to eavesdrop any remarks made during her leave.

None came -- she heard the rushed speech of Kevlyn -- but no scorn or disbelief followed. Content then to entirely leave the disciples, Caiaphas struck towards the grotto to commit to a deep night's sleep.