Sun Mote Copse What a fool believes

Phox hadn't exactly been looking forward to meeting up with Niamh again. He knew she would be angry—furious, even—but he stood by what he had done. So when she approached from his blind side and made a remark about a lying dog, he knew she was talking about him. Is he better or worse than the piece-of-shit coward dog? he asked. He had been both, and he strongly preferred being the liar. At least then he wasn't letting anybody down. Sure, he might make others angry, but he wasn't setting any expectations.

I've broken a promise before, a promise to Towhee, and I told myself I'd never do that again. If that means it's off between you and me, I'd be deeply saddened, but I'd understand. And I wouldn't change a thing. For once in his goddamn life, Phox was standing up for himself. It was hard, but he had to. He couldn't be walked over again like he had for the majority of his life. He couldn't continue to be subservient to anybody (except Towhee, Figment, and Fennec, because reasons). He had his code of honor, and that put promises above revealing information that did not wish to be revealed.