Ravensblood Forest the bigger they are, the harder they fall

Pied should have known that Jinx wouldn't let it go, that she would spot the opportunity to defend herself yet again. Although it set the Gamma's teeth on edge, she couldn't exactly blame the Kesuk; she'd brought it up. Keeping this in mind, she listened, trying to do so with an open mind. Several times, her lips parted, yet she did not talk over Jinx, letting her finish her piece uninterrupted.

"I made a point of not publicizing our bad blood. I probably slipped up a time or two but I won't take responsibility for your bad reputation," Pied rejoined in a steely tone. "As the Alpha, you were intended to be the glue that held us together. That's all we mean when we say those things to you, Jinx. I don't think they're all meant literally. In any case, all we did was reject your absentee leadership, choosing a new and more capable leader and a better territory. Do you see the parallels in the two situations?" She let out a breath. "I only mentioned it in the hope that it had given you perspective. I should've kept my mouth shut. I won't bring it up again—with you or anybody else," Pied said with a note of finality, answering to Jinx's exhaustion on the topic.

"I do agree that you worked hard," Pied said, not unwilling to give Jinx credit, especially considering that the Kesuk had finally taken responsibility for her actions. "I'd heard that you did call him out and attempt to rally the others to usurp him. Or isn't that the truth?" Her eyes sought Jinx's face and fixed on it, hoping to read it when the Kesuk answered.

"Ah," was her only response when Jinx named her new pack and leader. The names honestly meant nothing to her, if only because they were completely unfamiliar. "And the shaman?" she pressed, giving the Kesuk the benefit of the doubt as to why she hadn't answered. Perhaps she'd been too caught up on her soapbox to recall and address the yearling's query about him.