King Elk Forest you're offering more than you owe

a smile warms his features briefly as he's calmed down. it's impossible to predict if everyone will be willing to follow them across the wilds, but gracious is right: they can't force them. let them make their loyalties elsewhere indeed. it pains delight to think about, prone to anxiety over abandonment as he is, but worse would be to stubbornly try to keep everyone happy by staying here and run the risk of the pack failing due to their seclusion.

and besides, this is all hypothetical until he talks about it with the rest anyway. "yeah," he agrees, his tail wagging softly. "thanks for talking it out with me -- i appreciate it." gracious was definitely a lucky find, he thinks -- she's been like a rock for him during all of his transitions. delight hopes she knows how much he appreciates her and her company.