Bearclaw Valley They don’t get the context ‘cause it’s too complex

to start things off, donovan didn't answer skoll's question at all, which rubbed toad the wrong way. the skinny man wasn't a leader, but he made a valid point that the frogboy would've loved to hear a response to. guess not. next, an apology that didn't mean much considering he had been spoonfed the words after everyone's scoldings. whether or not it was genuine- toad didn't take it one bit as honest, otherwise it should've been the first thing out his mouth when he got here, rather than worrying about the alliance more than a child. 

the next part was frankly just wrong, and toad couldn't help the smirk that slipped onto his face. yeah, nyra, who had crossed rising sun valley and returned to the canyon was totally worse off than the boy who could barely walk and wore a wrap around his broken bones. 

implying that their one request was idiotic wasn't even the cherry on top yet. if someone from ursus fucked up this badly, toad hoped the leaders would have the guts to throw them out. not keep them around like some poor wounded puppy rather than the adult they were. what was the point of having allies if those allies were a gang of fools? donovan said he kept her around because their enemies were looking for them and their numbers were shrinking. if the alliance was more steady, toad would've been concerned, but all he could bitterly think was that it was their own damn problem now. 

and then- will be? toad wasn't an idiot, and he noticed that just like everyone else did. a frown finally graced his neutral expression. someone here had lied- either she was or wasn't already dealt with. toad didn't like this two-faced nature at all. 

evien went on with his words, and though toad found all the talk a bit tiring, the man voiced all of their thoughts. the frogboy agreed that derg would be a better talker- though in this case, he realized, that man might've been the one to lie about the punishment. asshole. sure, they were all assholes here, but the saints were non-ursus assholes- and thus none of their assholery would be tolerated here. 

we're done. evin spoke, and toad's eyes widened slightly, though he felt some weight lifted from his shoulders. here was astara growling, evien telling them to leave and not come back... and toad had been silent this whole time. 

fuck off. he breathed quietly, eyes trained on the both of them. 

hey, he just wanted to get one bitter word in. they'd be smart to take his advice.