Heron Lake Plateau Tyrants and kings both meet the same fate, strung up at your city gate

Things started to then click in to place -- the thing that had been quietly nagging at him and was perhaps the reason he took offense.  Why was Towhee so wrapped up trying to prove that Raven was going to be great?  It made her sound like some sort of weird brainwashed zealot or something.  It made him nervous.  There was also the fact that there were no words saying something about how he'd probably do okay too, but that was a minor offense, because he honestly didn't expect anything from anyone.

He was Winston Smith and she sounded like the Thought Police, or any other comparable sort in a dystopian novel.  It was dangerous to have that kind of unwavering loyalty, wasn't it?  What if he did something that somehow wronged whatever perfect world she had in her head?  Though Quixote hadn't had any problems with her before this, maybe this was why Colt and Towhee had knocked heads.  Had Quixote's playing by the rules and keeping his head low just let him squeak on by without noticing?  Why was he trusting her to know what to do anyway?  Towhee was so sure of herself, and apparently thought the same of Raven, perhaps to a ridiculous amount.  No, somehow everything was totally fine, from members to diplomacy.  There'd been all this drama -- for there to be nothing now, it sounded wrong.  Maybe he just wanted it all to be wrong.

It made him not want to share.  Sure, she'd be the aunt of any pups, but they weren't here yet, or even really confirmed, but that new recognition made him wish she'd stay away.  He kind of didn't want to mention Raven, but at the same time he pretty much had to, didn't he?  Still kinda early to be too much.  With Raven around, I'm sure everything will be.. Uh.  He searched for a word that was properly private, but frustratingly enough could only think of things too emotional or too bland, I dunno, it'll be fine, though.  Yeah, sure, there was a certain amount of denial in it too, but he wasn't going to share his joys with her at all.  His life was changing and it should be good in the end, but it was gonna probably be a bit bumpy to get there, and yet, good.  It was still only between himself and Raven as far as he was greedily concerned.  And he was trapped here on patrol with her, and on the longer term with her as beta -- his answer probably wouldn't satisfy her at all.