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Shadow Tongue closes the door of the extra room. It was already sealed, so it mage a good storage closet. Grabbing a chair, He sat himself down by the door. Tired from staying half the night then fighting through the morning and waiting into the afternoon.
And now Shadow Tongue is babysitting the prize.
He would just have keep pressing on. No use in complaining. It would likely result with his neck in his brother's teeth.
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Matthew enters the basement, a bit shaken from all that had happened. Shadow tongue had a lot to learn about leading, that much was clear. Hopefully he could learn quickly enough. If not ...
Matthew enters the room, sitting down across from Shadow Tongue, seeming a bit ... drained. "Do you want to talk about what happened back there?"
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Andrew watches Matthew come down the stairs and inwardly braces himself.
"Yes," He answers back quietly. Shadow Tongue positions himself to listen.
The Alpha could speak, he could yell. But that would not solve anything, only severe the tight-rope Andrew was having to walk.
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"If you expect to stay as Alpha, you're going to have to learn how to lead effectively, and learn fast. When you didn't reign Alex in, it sent a message that packmates can get away with challenging your authority. I'm afraid everything that happened after the fight had a similar effect, but I didn't have much choice there. You need to be the one who thinks of all the angles, who plans for them. In order to keep your pack's respect, you need to make sure your plans are sound. The Alpha needs to earn his pack's respect. It's sink or swim. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Internally, Matthew is conflicted. When the Alpha shows signs of weakness, he is overthrown. It is the way of the wolf. Am I truly doing this because I think the pack will be stronger for it? Or just to avoid admitting I was wrong?
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Shadow Tongue not only hears Matthew's speech, he internalizes it.
He has done this for months, listening to his pack.
"In that fight. Had I been the focus of anyone of those Spirits. We would not be talking now."
There was no need to hide it. "Physically, I'm the runt of the litter. I have command of two Rahu. I have lead them for months now. At anytime they could easily have taken my place, you could do so now without much effort."
"Would it have been wise to have called out Alex for crossing the street? We are not Animals just as much as we are not Human. Nor are we perfect. I remain Alpha because of my Foresight and my Determination. When the others have quite I have not."
"Whenever we are summoned by Tony like his hounds, we will have to move the Shard again. We are already flirting enough with the Cops. I don't trust that we will able to hide something so violent in a stuffy basement. But I see now why it is the only option. Had I known then what I knew after I would not have even considered preempting Tony in the Hisil"
"I can't very well say 'I understand you' without sounding like a scolded child. But I do understand. Without some edge physically though, It is inevitable. I will be killed in a Challenge." Shadow Tongue holds up a hand emphasizing the point, then lifts his other to represent another alternative. "Or I will find an edge and prove myself as cunning as I truly am."
Andrew finishes with a wry smile.
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"I have seen several effective Alphas who weren't the best fighters. Take Tony for example. If it came to a fight, Tracy or Julia could probably both take him. Yet they don't, because they trust his leadership. You must be the same way. Lead well, and none of us will challenge you." Continue to lead poorly, and I'll be the first. "You are not the strongest fighter, so you must make sure it does not come to a fight. The spirits did not focus on you, because they didn't see you as a threat. Similarly, we do not need to worry about the police finding the shard. If they were to look, then yes, it would be difficult to hide. Which is why we give them no reason to look. Rely on your foresight and on your cunning, and you can win battles before the first blow lands. Lose track of information, like you did after after the fight, and you will lose battles before they even begin."
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Shadow Tongue nods leaning back in his chair. He understood. He spoke his peace, And heard again. He just wasn't sure Matthew heard him.
But Shadow Tongue would have to let that go.
"Is there anything else you noticed, Anything you think I can use to lead us effectively?" Shadow Tongue asks cautiously.
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Matthew thinks back through the brief time since he's rejoined the pack, especially the first meeting. "One more thing: always draw your own conclusions. Do not expect others to do your thinking for you. For example, in Fremont Park you asked why Light Engulfing Forest never leaves his domain. What insight did the fight give you into the answer?"
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"He had his own chorus to do his bidding." Shadow Tongue states. He says nothing further, unsure if Matthew is finished or not.
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Matthew frowns, clearly not pleased with the answer. Maybe I should just admit If was wrong about him.
"Is that all?"
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