Meadowlark Prairie to hold a flame to a gas filled lake

To be frank, Vaati had no interest in serving the dark woods nor its beliefs. What dedication he had for it was in seeing it fall, and by no means did he enjoy entertaining the idea that he would play part in seeing it rise once more. However, what his uncle presented before him was an opportunity to see it do so, only under the condition that he play along quietly. It was fair, he knew that, even if it did not presently suit his desires. Vaati did support Damien’s claim to the dark woods, yet it was foolish to assume that the scale of anarchy they currently devised would go down as any other coup. “Except this is not simply a challenge, uncle, it is a revolution.” And would need to be treated as such. 

“Blackfeather Woods cannot be rebuilt unless it is first destroyed… and I will not wait around for that traitor’s natural death to see it come to pass.” In that belief, Vaati was wholly invested. Vaati waited around for none and had never before held back his claw for the graces of others. Yet, there was still the underlying fact that he could accomplish none of this without the support of his uncle. The realization quickly came that he could not move forth without appealing to Damien’s interests, at the expense of his own. He knew he needed to prioritize his ambitions since it was clear he could not have both at the same time. Kove’s death or the Wood’s destruction? What mattered more to him, he wondered internally. The answer was both, yet one held precedence over the other. Kove was just a man, but the dark woods was a soul-sucking entity that needed to be surrendered to its timely death as soon as could be.

Perhaps he did not need to internally agree with Damien’s loyalist mantra - there would always be an opportunity to accomplish what he desired once the woods had fallen. To go along with his uncle’s plan until his own path veered from it seemed to be the wisest option, for now. Through gritted teeth did he offer a compromise in the place of flat-out rejection to his uncle’s terms. “Perhaps he does not need to be killed. In the event that he should oppose the destruction of what is rightfully ours by blood, you must agree to have him run out. It is merciful, if you ask me.” Vaati knew how to play his cards. While Damien was right, the woods needed to become more than just reckless impulsivity, Vaati knew in his heart that a purge of all things associated to it was necessary - save for a few select individuals of course. All greatness he had known had been born out of chaos, after all.