Blackfeather Woods phoenix; you can't touch her without burning

wintersbane's never been the gullible sort; probably because he's always been rather good at lying and deception, even if he did it under the guise of 'protecting himself' or whatever else he told himself. wintersbane watches as she gives him a thin-lipped smile. she leans in instead of shrinking away from him as she had before. she was growing bold. too bold given her position. even if her family came for her it is unlikely they would be able to find her down here. the web is a network of tunnels, of dead ends and turnarounds. it would be easy to get lost in them. a low warning growl vibrates from deep within his chest.

"how do i know you aren't lying to me?" a captive would do anything, say anything to be free. he doesn't exactly trust her to keep her word ... and wintersbane does have his own card to play should the redhawks show up on their doorstep. he saved tywyll. he nursed the boy as best he could and took him back home. that was before he'd re-joined blackfeather but as far as the tundrian cared to see it he was owed a favor.

granted, he'd never intended to use it as a bargaining chip but if it would keep war from erupting wintersbane had no qualms about using it to his and blackfeather's advantage. "that is an audacious promise," wintersbane drawls carefully, glacial gaze assessing her face studiously. "are you of a rank to guarantee me such a thing? would your leaders and warriors listen to you?" did they have a valuable piece of the chess board or was she, like him, a peon; the ultimate decision not up to her?