Blackfeather Woods take it in your heart now

Drageda. He breathes in sharply as the name of his enemy of an enemy is made known. He wonders why they have joined the Caldera, and why they had waited so long to make their move. According to the woman, they have gathered their forces and likely wait at the Caldera for the time to strike. If so, Blackfeather Woods has run out of time. Perhaps that is why he listens intentively to every word spilling from the strange woman's jowls, calculatively and with intrigue. "Valuable information indeed," The yearling mutters lowly; a hint of suspicion laced delicately within his tone. 

However, before he can utter a word in return to the woman's offer, Kjalarr makes his presence known unto the scene, striking out verbally against the bearers of information, against his own child. Vaati watches, bemusingly, at the display between father and son unfold before his eyes, unable to feel anything but sorry for his estranged half-brother. This is the father you wished for so dearly, Vaati looks to Arrille with a pointed, pitied gaze. He too has felt the Northerner's hate, an unwarranted and misplaced hate but hate nonetheless.

A low grumble develops within his chest, disliking the way the man speaks to his guests on his borders. Betrayal is a recurring theme in the tales of Kjalarr and Blackfeather Woods; it is only ironic that the man should stand there, interrupting Vaati's business to begin to talk about traitors and betrayal, as if those are not the very reasons he sits at the bottom of their ranks. "You would know a lot about betrayal, wouldn't you." Vaati turns to Kjalarr with a dismissive glance. "Go with them if you wish." You will not be welcome back. The man has come and gone too many times, taking for granted the generosity of the dark woods too often. It is insulting. No love would be lost in his traitorous abandonment, only a mark of death should he venture near the woods again. 

Returning his attention to the stranger before them, his brow piques with consideration. It is an interesting proposition, one that if he could trust, would guarantee many things on their part. However, he doesn't trust it. A stranger from another land comes to deliver a miracle? No, he is not a fool to accept so willingly, and without question. "And what do you want with me? Should I choose to believe that your plan has no ulterior motive, hm?" He glances to his co-leader, and then his mother, questioning their take on the matter. Hydra had already warned him -- advised him -- to take Blackfeather and leave, lead the others to believe them gone entirely. This scheme the witch provided was not so different, yet held many opportunities for treachery along the way. It would be easy to believe her. They have the tunnels she speaks of, the will to do so; but at what cost? He wishes to survive, more than he wishes to prove a point as the woman suggests.

Desolate optics return once more to the female, weighing the consequences. "Why risk fighting abroad and at greater risk while our forces lie here prepared, with all the advantages of our land. I wonder if this plan of yours would prove more trouble than its worth." Vaati says so without hostility as his words may imply, he simply seeks only to eliminate uncertainty. He paces silently for a few seconds, uttering as he thinks. "However, one of the leaders of Moonspear suggested a similar thing to me -- let them believe we are gone, only to turn the tide of war in our favour. It may work, if we play this correctly. What do you think?" Vaati looks to Kove, to Potema in earnest, unable to reach a verdict on his own.