Heron Lake Plateau Down in the Valley

He didn't respond to her statement that she would give it to her bird; though he was split on it, it was a gift, and she could really do with it what she wanted.  Sides, he got it; the bird did her favors, made sense she'd return on that somehow.

"Hear you stepped down," he said, taking a step back and sitting down. "Just wanted to make sure you knew... that wasn't my intention.  Much as I might've sucked at sayin what I meant."  He wasn't sure how she'd react to this, but he needed to clear the air, and this time he was going to try to say it better.  "I know you said it was a partnership, but in every situation, it seemed like Frog and Elwood had other priorities.  I just wanted confirmation that someone else was making the pack number one."  He snorted.  "Guess it doesn't really matter now.  But just in case that was twisted last time.  From where I stand, we got no issue."