Hawkeye sat at her new favorite spot -- a section of open area on the edge of the plateau that gave her a panoramic view. She looked across the way to the silver-tipped mountains, down to the hot springs, then followed the river as far as possible, and then started over from the opposite direction. The large, black wolf had been quietly thinking of her friend Pied while doing all of this; her unwavering loyalty, support, and friendship through everything.

Closing her eyes, Hawkeye raised her head to the cloud-spotted sky and called out. Pied, I need to speak to you. Keeping her eyes closed, she lowered her head and flicked her tail contentedly. The she-wolf admired her new home, and, as she opened her eyes, she saw the sun break through the clouds to spread rays onto the view she enjoyed so much.

Hawkeye turned and raised herself from the view and eyed her friend, worry crossing her face when the white and blue female said she needed to tell the Alpha something. "Pied, you look exhausted." It looked as if she hadn't slept in a week. "...But I suppose you will tell me why after you hear what I have to say." The midnight wolf continued, knowing that her friend would want to listen to her words first.

"You have stood beside me as a friend, and now you stand next to me as your Alpha." Hawkeye paused, trying to choose her next words carefully. "You have been infinitely loyal, and you are a vital part of this pack. I would like to promote you to Gamma, an advisor to both myself and Leto. I want you to know that I am honored to have to follow beside me as your leader, not behind me." The large female let a small smile appear as she spoke, but now she frowned. "I am worried about you, though, Pied; you do not look well. Are you alright?" Genuine concern flooded the charcoal female's voice, letting her friend know that her health was a priority.

The ebony wolf sucked in air at what Pied had told her. She hadn't expected her to open up about these things here and now -- and should she play dumb, or tell the truth about how she already knew? Maybe now was a time for trust and the truth.

"Pied... I, uh, I know you can see and talk to ghosts..." Hawkeye started uneasily, flinching at her own words in apprehension. "But let me explain." She quickly added. "The voice that I told you about--he told me that day I asked you about the wolf in the clearing. I wanted you to be able to trust me and tell me yourself... I didn't want to upset you in any way. Although, I have never noticed anything else besides that one wolf, especially the magpie." Hawkeye smiled at the blue-splotched wolf. The Alpha hoped that Pied would understand, and she herself would accept if the white wolf became bothered by it.

"But it seems like you are stressed and things are taking a toll on you..." Hawkeye looked into Pied's mismatched eyes. "Do you need anything from me?" Not knowing exactly what she could do or say to help, she still offered up to her friend.

Hawkeye shook her head. "I wasn't hearing anything back then, but I know I assumed it had been my brother. I think he heard things, too, but it drove him crazy. I wouldn't doubt him taking on someone that was part of a pack and didn't tolerate his crazy behavior." She spoke quietly at the end, lowering her head; she felt torn on how to feel about her brother. He had been two years older than her and taught her most things she knew before he had chased her off that cliff. "I don't really count the wolf he became in the end as my brother. He was driven insane by something. His eyes were red, not emerald. I--it just wasn't him."

At that moment, she herself saw red and narrowed her brow. Looking up, her eyes widened a bit; she finally saw the ghostly image of the magpie that Pied had spoken of. She closed her eyes tightly, thinking about her friend's words. "I wouldn't doubt that it was my brother, though, if he had been making faces. That seems just like something he would do." She smiled fondly. The mountainous female opened her eyes again, connecting them with Pied's. "Let me know if you see him again, if you don't mind." Hawkeye paused a beat. "...Do you accept your position as advisor? Before you go to rest, Pied."

The midnight wolf nodded her large head and smiled at the little joke Pied had made. "Yes, we will definitely need to consult with the dead to make any and all definite decisions in this pack." She contemplated for a moment and then spoke her thoughts aloud. "I will make you Delta for now, then, Pied. But, in the future, a commitment to a leadership role might be needed, though it isn't a concern right now. Let me know of any ventures and wolves you meet in or out of the territory. I wonder if any packs could be scouting the area having heard of the Dragonwatchers' disappearance or our claim to the land."

She nodded once more, letting Pied know she was free to leave, or stay and watch the view with her. Hawkeye would walk the borders soon, but not just yet--she was enjoying the new scenery too much.