Moonspear Even Doves have pride

Katmai frowned at this pronouncement, but he was glad for the insight all the same. He didn't like to think poorly of others — even considering that they might fail him was difficult. But he understood what Kinusi was saying and, reluctantly, tried to accept it as the truth. He nodded, at least, looking down at his paws for a moment.

His gaze slowly lifted as she offered levelheaded words of reassurance and even praise. Katmai let out a soft little breath and tried to shake his anxieties, already feeling better despite being not quite sure of her evaluation.

"I do, actually," he told her, skipping over talk of following his heart with heated cheeks. "Believe in reincarnation, I mean. But that is still a different life, and I feel quite attached to this one."

He ducked his head, reaching the distance across them to nudge her shoulder.

"Thank you, Kini," he said. "You always know what to say." A tiny, saccharine smile. "I think you are very sugar and sweet."

Not that she wasn't quite a bit of spice as well — but he'd never seen her be cruel. When she was brash or abrasive, he always saw it as her big heart seeking to see things right and fair in the world.