Phoenix Maplewood fast and furious

Skipping Ukko with permission just to move this!

Saena listens, forming her opinion slowly but surely of this strange drifter. He claims to be a hunter but not a great one. He then corrects her on poisons and how detectable they are, though Saena does not believe him. The nose of a wolf misses nothing. Antar explains that he dislikes fighting, then attempts to justify his use of poison by putting down healers. Prior to this, Saena's opinion could lean either way, but when Antar speaks poorly of healers who don't deal with poisons, he solidifies her opinion and resolve.

It certainly helps that his voice has a quality to it that makes her uneasy, or maybe she only hears it there because of his previous cocky smirk. Perception is a powerful thing. Either way, Saena decides she cannot trust a snake. It's for two reasons, ultimately: her claim to her rank being more important than ever with her upcoming sexual maturity, which is endangered by any untrustworthy individual within her pack; and the honour of her husband, a healer, and of Blue Willow, arguably the best healer in the entire wilds, neither of whom would agree that poisons are medicine.

Is it ignorance? Yes, absolutely. Saena knows nothing about dosage and how important it is to prevent toxicity. Still, she holds her opinion above all others and so she seals Antar's fate with a cold look.

"My husband and my aunt are great healers who do not resort to using poisonous substances. I've yet to see anyone poisoned by their treatment, which suggests to me that you use questionable methods or questionable substances, neither of which is a promising prospect even if you could reverse your knowledge and become a healer." She licks her chops, then flicks her muzzle dismissively. "I have no use for snakes here. Go find Blackfeather Woods. They prefer your kind." She pauses, then adds, "and I'd wipe the smirk off your face the next time you are addressed by an alpha."