Land Of Fire

All welcome

---

There is was, that border of piss again.  It almost stood there confronting him, an invisible barrier between the greater tundra and the sanctum of Duskguard.  It was funny how at one point this border actually made him feel better despite the history with pack borders that the cat had.  But once again, it looked like a problem to him.  After what happened was he free to just walk on through, or would this be another brawl, a collection of scars and gashes?   It wouldn't be right to not get closure on this.  He had to talk to someone.  

Pacing back and forth the big cat's heavy stride repeated back and fourth, trying to will himself over the border.  What would he say to @Olive... @Tiberius?
the staff team luvs u

With the rising of the moon, he was up. With the lowering of the sun, he was up. Torben walked toward the border, spotting the feline form of... well, he rightly didn't know who it was. He could only guess it was that tiger that was allowed here. Approaching, he wore a friendly enough smile. "Ye... Kuhn, right?" he asked politely, dipping his head in greeting.

The border could wait for a bit, while he talked to a new person. "Sorry, I've only heard yer name and that yer an ally" However "I don't spot many tigers round these parts, so I can only assume it's ye." Duskguard was very upfront about who was allied and who was not. He stood before the cat now, on his side.

He noticed how the cat didn't go over the border. "I'm Torben" He introduced himself, raising his eyes to look at the other "joined a week or so ago, aye."

the staff team luvs u

Truthfully, after she and Tiberius had spoken about all of the recent happenings, she had put it out of her mind. To Olive, such transgressions were not a huge obstacle, nor did she even consider them transgressions. This was dissimilar to how Tiberius felt about it all, who seemed to have felt so guilty and awful about learning the evident truth of himself. Not talking about it was easier, and they could at least focus on their children and will themselves into a strange sense of normalcy. Nothing was different, but everything felt different. Different, in a new and novel way.

Olive thought about what she might say to the tiger, when she eventually saw him. The thought occupied much of her time, actually. Once she even prayed about it, asking the Goddess for clarity, but it was no use; the Priestess was distracted, and their willful voices were silent. So all she did was steep in the strange emotional miasma, and verbally whispered her gratitude to the wind whenever she woke and Kuhn wasn't there. Another day that she could play into the idea that nothing was different, at least in her physical reality.

Another day that she wouldn't have to share her husband with someone else.

The puppies were weaned and with this transition came some newfound sense of freedom. She trotted along outer edge of her lands, her mind absolutely occupied with the thoughts of what she would say to Kuhn, the next time she saw him — so it was utterly surprising when, in her absentmindedness, she when she came upon the crest of the hill that served as a borderlands to the vale and saw the Kuhn. She looked at the tiger, hefty and foreboding —

and immediately turned towards Torben, electing to speak to him first instead. All words that had ever come to mind, eluded her."So, you've met Kuhn?" she asked him, painfully awkwardly, almost as if she was attempting to introduce them by only speaking to one.

the staff team luvs u

Loosing track of time with his pacing. The cat's neurosis continued to eat at him as he paced back and forth over and over. Breaking his stride the flash of movement from his periphery caused him to look up at the approaching pale wolf, making his way out of the veil. By now Kuhn knew well what a friendly smile looked like from a wolf, and it was extremely reliving to see one now.

Dipping his head I'm greeting in return, he clenched his jaw, trying to burn off as much of his nerves as he could. The big cat hadn't seen this man before, sporting a white coat and curious red eyes. "Ya, that's me...", Returned the cat, with a hint of a nervous tone, looking over the strange pink flesh and sturdy features.

Shuffling his feet, the cat counted himself lucky that he was still considered 'an ally'. "T-Torben... Good to meet you.", Continued the cat. Genuinely, if Tiberius had trusted this man with his borders, the cat could also consider him a friend. "This is a good place you found here.", He added scanning around, wondering if it would be the last time he was welcome.

"I'm looking for Oli...."

It was as if he had summoned her with his words, as she came into view, the rest of her name was lost. Having to avert his gaze from the small woman, the big cat's heart began to pound harder. Opting to stay silent since he was not directly addressed, the tension in his chest wound tighter and tighter. It wouldn't be hard to pick up on his aura of discomfort, tense, with his tail partially tucked and lashing low to the ground.
the staff team luvs u

So he had been right.

Torben waited for the tiger to become comfortable, a pleasant and lazy smile on his features. He didn't sense malicious intent from the man but did see that the appearance of another startled him. Even triggered him. "Ye..." he was about to say 'Lady Olive? Can I call her for you?' But rougher, of course, due to his accent. And who should appear but Olive herself?

He shifted between them. He also felt a shift between them. "Lady Olive" Torben rumbled respectfully to the woman, dipping his head and turning to face her. She didn't even acknowledge Kuhn outside of mentioning his name "um" The albino shuffled a bit "s' private?" If only he knew "I can leave if it's important to pack business."

He didn't have to know everything in Duskguard. This could very well be tense and bad news, completely diplomatic. Torben didn't know the tension between Kuhn and Olive to be deeper.

the staff team luvs u

This was exactly what Olive had been worried about. The energy between them was disjointed, and the poison of it leaked into the general space, bringing poor Torben into its fold. The woman could feel it clearly as she gazed heavily into the pale face of her pack member, somehow perceiving that Kuhn wasn't looking at her despite not once glancing over to him to check. Kuhn knew that she knew. Olive knew that Kuhn knew. Torben didn't know anything, and somehow that made it all feel worse. Not only did they have an audience, but they were quickly taking him down as a casualty.

Somehow Olive was reluctant to let the guardian go, even as he offered to excuse himself. There was something comforting about having that buffer there, even if he was unknowing and potentially unwilling. It kept it simple, as she wasn't likely to drag the tension between them entirely into the limelight with Torben here. "It's okay Torben," she affirmed vaguely, not wishing for him to stay or go. She didn't know yet, despite it being rather selfish to use him as a shield.

Internally, she begged for the wolf's understand and grace. Still, she was Duskguard's Priestess, with a sort of dignity and composure that she would attempt to uphold. Rolling her shoulders, she pinned the corners of her mouth up into a civil smile, and she turned to look at Kuhn. "I assume you're here to see Tiberius." she said, because certainly he shouldn't have anything to say to her. He couldn't do that to her, and then just decide to come to their home just to talk about it. That felt annoying.

It didn't make sense, but it was the current preoccupation of her the frustration she attempted to mask.

the staff team luvs u

Having just meeting Torben, and he had already been drug into something tense and uncomfortable.  The tiger at this point was avoiding eye contact with either of them.  From the corner of his eye, he could catch the ivory glint of the priestess' smile, formal and professional. Kuhn knew that this was not Olive's typical way of looking at him.  It was obvious that she was keeping it together in front the bystander. Almost not wanting the pale guard to leave, the cat feared that once Torben left it would unleash the wrath of the priestess.  

It was likely that Olive knew.  When he was addressed directly, a pang of anxiety washed over the cat, causing his hackles to rise slightly.  Hoisting himself up straight, he would have to face the music with Olive, just as he had with Valmua.  "Actually... I was looking for you.", he responded, his gaze now leveled at the small woman.  

Though he had rallied himself somewhat, his lip tremored a bit and his body remained somewhat tense.
the staff team luvs u

Torben would move subconsciously to Lady Olive, hoping the tiger would forgive him for it. She was his leader, and he deferred to her guidance in such situations. The pale woman locked eyes with him; he only assumed she wanted him there for a witness of some type. Not due to anything bad. He stood like a wall but knew it could be seen as aggressive. He sat after a brief moment, his eyes flickered between them with a shift of his weight to become comfortable.

He didn't want to assume anything bad of Kuhn, so he didn't. Torben didn't like to judge others.

Giving both, of course, a look of I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. It seemed Kuhn wanted him here too, and... Well, that made less sense to Torben. Of course, possibly everything would be revealed in due time. He made sure to look away, gently humming but alert. Giving them privacy... even though they didn't have it with him being there. "S'okay" he rumbled to Lady Olive after hesitation between all of them. I won't say anything.

the staff team luvs u

"Actually... I was looking for you."

Her thinly-veiled smile fell into an expression of dissatisfaction. It felt strangely, as if he was in control of the moment right then. Olive had spoken golden words to Tiberius, but matters were not as simple as that; the woman, though a priestess, found herself all too willing to forgive and forget. As long as Kuhn wasn't around, everything was fine. Olive and their five children were the sole inheritance of Tiberius's love, and Kuhn was an irrelevant distraction. Now he was here, imposing himself upon her life.

again.

It was strange to feel so competitive with a damn tiger, but how could she not? It all felt like such a delicate balance she had struck, with her children and Tiberius and Duskguard. If the pillars of her life all fell down (Tiberius being the strongest and most stalwart of those pillars), where would that leave her? She would be destitute and hopeless — in the face of such risk, it was only natural that Kuhn would feel like a subversive threat.

Yes, there was a possibility where this was all done in an open and copacetic manner, but to Olive's eye, the events were rife with deceit. These feelings had only grown in the days since Tiberius had come clean what he had actually been doing, when she thought he was 'working.'

"You have my ear, now." She cared somewhat about maintaining composure, and she spoke with a soft ponderosity that placed the entire onus upon him. In that moment, Olive cared little about giving Kuhn an 'out' to a private place. She didn't want to humiliate him, but the woman wondered fervently what he would say in front of the eyes and ears of another.

Her curiosity won out.

the staff team luvs u

"Olive... I'm sorry."

His words escaped him explosively, as if to unwind the guilt and shame that had been winding up within him. Respect, was something that he would say he had for the priestess. Not unlike a kill that wasn't his, he had trespassed on something that belonged to someone else.

There where very few people that he would feel this way about, and as the chances where: it was Olive that he had wronged.

"He... doesn't belong to me, I'm sorry Olive."

Kneading his claws into the ground, the cat almost seemed afraid of the small woman. He knew he had wronged her, coming between her and her husband, their children.

Quickly his gaze shot between the pale guard and the woman, hoping he hadn't revealed to much. Whatever she was going to say to him he would deserve it.

If only in that moment: he would have known how much damage he and the Titian would have done, maybe he could have held back his feelings for the dark man. It would have been best for him if he had been left alone after all; a husband and a father.
the staff team luvs u

Torben wasn't in the business to know others' business. He kept his eyes locked on the ground, even if he was in tune with Lady Olive's distress right now. She felt like electricity was coming off her, tense and hurt and on edge. The albino could only assume Kuhn was talking about Tiberius - who else would it be? But it wasn't his concern, aye. Whatever happened, he was just here for the Priestess and her orders.

If he was to drive Kuhn out if the tiger attacked or escort him away from Duskguard, quietly and nicely - Torben was there. But he would not jump to the whims of a scorned woman; if she ordered him to attack Kuhn, who was apologizing... He would refuse. Respectfully, of course. It could only mean the end of his stay in Duskguard, ignoring the desire of his leader. He felt for her, truly. He didn't know what it was like, to feel like something was stolen - let alone a partner - but...

He was there. And, potentially for them both, to let them know it was a safe space.

the staff team luvs u

Silently, Olive began to assay the two different emotions she had towards Kuhn and Tiberius. They had both apologized, but somehow it was much easier to see Tiberius as a sort of unwitting victim in all of this. The titan had been a quivering mess of anxiety and tears, fearful that his family was being wrenched apart. Was Kuhn as distraught at the potentiality of losing her kinship, over his chicanery? At first glance, Olive might have thought that it appeared not —

but on the second glance, she saw the way that he was kneading the ground with his front paws, like huge maple leaves spread across the earth. So often the tiger was wordless; but here he was, attempting to express his wrongness and seek penance. Olive could appreciate this small show, which he offered without hesitation, as if it was something he had worked to hold inside. Now it was out in the open, in more or less words.

If Kuhn and Tiberius were to be believed, it was all accidental. regretful. Yet still they had shared intimacy, and there was no doubt to Olive that it had felt good for them; good enough for them to progress farther and farther, until they both felt though they needed to apologize.

To her. and hopefully, to Valmua.

Olive had no intention of lording this over their heads forever. She simply felt the duty as a mother, a partner and a leader to investigate any potential threats to their peace. The Priestess felt as though she had been quite gracious to the cat, allowing him in and out of the Vale at whim. He had access to her children, shared her hunting lands, advised herself and her fiancé. Here they were now, lingering on the borderlands, when Olive wished to be anywhere but in this unknown space with him.

Olive would stand by the words and promises she had uttered to Tiberius when he was rolled deep under in the wave of his own sorrow. The slight woman lifted her tail and took a step towards Kuhn, not intentionally stepping away from Torben. "How do I know that you have Duskguard's best interest at heart?" she questioned. Almost anything else felt profane. She wanted Kuhn to understand how seriously she took the sanctity of her family, of the Vale.

Once he understood that, they could proceed into a new understanding together.

the staff team luvs u

At a glance, Torben the guard seemed calm, only keeping himself for presence. He might be needed if Olive had enough of the cat, and demanded that he would leave, even still that might be a show, Kuhn would have no reason to put up a fight against the priestess. Aside from that, the man would probably learn about a good deal of personal information just by standing here.

As the woman stepped forward, the big cat arched his head back awaiting her next verbal or physical move. Whiskers reached out almost awaiting the woman to come lunging in. Though instead the woman pointed a question at him that was something the solitary cat found hard to answer. Did he have the best interest of the pack in mind?

"Because I care about the people that are in it... Ok.", he answered sternly, looking as if he was embarrassed to admit his dependency on others.
the staff team luvs u

He tried not to shift uncomfortably, knowing this needed to be done. He would not let personal opinion - though he had no real one without context - sour Lady Olive or Kuhn. If Torben was a counsel of some sort, he would offer to mediate. But he wasn't. That wasn't where his skills lay. So he more or less tuned it out, whatever was going on between them.

He also didn't let their words linger in his mind for long. Whatever Kuhn had done with or to Tiberius - it wasn't Torben's business. But it was hard not to feel sympathetic to Lady Olive's emotions. He had always presented himself as being there for others. Lady Olive was his leader, she gave birth to the idea of the pack with Tiberius. To lack loyalty to her felt wrong.

Even if he was trying to remain neutral. His words, if allowed, to Kuhn after, if allowed, would be pleasant enough. Ask how he was doing, how he lived... Torben was curious about other species living in harmony since he met Hawking. If Duskguard still thought Kuhn an ally, he would be treated like one.

the staff team luvs u

It was strange, to see Kuhn in this manner. He looked guilty and confused, almost as if he was expecting Olive to attack him. It was an expectation that caused Olive to perk up one eyebrow, wondering if she had ever given the tiger the impression that was how she dealt with her problems or inner frustrations; or if he was just so accustomed to it, he expected it to come to blows. Either way, Olive stowed her fangs and outward expression with ease. She stopped in her advances, ankles posed one in front of the other as if to take another step, as she watched him grapple with the question and finally spit out an answer.

The thoughts that he provoked with such a statement were enough to cause Olive to lapse into quietude. What was caring to a solitary man-tiger? He was welcome within Duskguard, roved the borders and contributed to their cache. There was no doubt that he wished the best for her family, as large as it might be growing, and he edged upon the outer confines of his feline nature to do so. However, wolf society was not set up like that. "Caring is not enough," came her words, soft but stern. Kuhn hadn't seen Tiberius when he came to her, racked with guilt and nearly shaking from tears and confusion. She, her children, their entire pack relied upon Tiberius as their bedrock. She would protect him, just as he protected her.

Thus, Olive didn't believe that Kuhn knew the possible repercussions of his actions. "We need to be strong, together. We need our leaders to be sound and decisive. Otherwise everything we have worked for will crumble." No, this was a worry only a mother would have. But with those who threatened to destabilize her world; she must at least share her intuitive fodder in regards to it.

More than simply expressing herself, Olive wished to lean into the curve. She fully believed that there was much good that could be gleaned from the entire fiasco, now that that invitation wrong-doing and hurt feelings were passed. She said as much to Tiberius, and she would attempt to make it happen now. Olive inhaled deeply. "I want more than caring. I want your loyalty. I want your future to be with us." Truly, Olive was unaccustomed to asking such things of people. Her time as a leader had been short, and she preoccupied by motherhood, but there were a few things she had learned. "Call yourself Duskguard in name, live and work amongst the Vale. Be a real part of this pack." not some amorphous semi-presence that made out with her Fiancé sometimes.

There were reasons he hadn't yet taken Duskguard or Northfall's name, and there were factors to his feline nature that were undeniable. Wolves needed a pack to survive; tigers, however, thrived on their own. "I cannot force you. All I can say is that your freedom will always be assured... but indeed, this is the pledge I'm asking you to make." Her green eyes glinted at home, perhaps the only hint of the nervousness she felt beneath. The last thing she had to say, she hoped Kuhn could understand its subtext. "Tiberius and I care for you immensely. We want you closer. @Valmúa too, if she desires it." A small invitation, into the intimacy of their lives. All Olive needed, was a commitment to the whole.

A small invitation into their family, in whatever way suited him best.

the staff team luvs u

https://open.spotify.com/track/0vTEksNDR...38d3ca4615

---

Olive's predictable reply caused the cat to roll his eyes and look away.  Not being able to clench his teeth, he didn't know what else to say, he had laid it out the best he could and still she insisted on furthering his discomfort.  Besides caring there was... doing?  Certainly, he cad contributed to their pack, giving security to its lands, feeding Olive in her pregnancy, leaving killsites unmarked for others. 

'We need to be strong, together. We need our leaders to be .......'    Sitting back on his haunches, his back leg tremored as he tried to hold himself still and listen.  This was the same sort of lecture he had head before, it didn't involve him, why did it matter.  With an upcurled nose, a small hiss escaped him. Olive insinuated that she did not have his loyalty already, he wouldn't argue, if she couldn't see that as evident than he had wasted so much time. 

By this point two conflicting emotions where building up within the cat, on one hand he felt as of Olive was trying to use his mistake to cage him.  The other knew better, knew to be charitable to her words.  Baring his teeth at the ground, a small growl rattled from his chest as his internal world went to war. Nobody could rule him.  

It was then the priestess delivered the words:  'Tiberius and I care for you immensely'  

So unexpected after what happened, he couldn't deny it:  he felt the same way about them...   It was then something moved inside of the big cat, animating his limbs to move.  As if possessed by something greater he was on his feet and with a step forward, with closed eyes and a long inhale, he attempted to press the bridge of his nose against the woman.    

"I am Duskguard" 

  

the staff team luvs u

He did not know nor could count any large felines as allies. Not before now, anyway. His ears flickered forward as Kuhn growled and fussed. Torben, triggered as a guard, could only look on as Olive approached the tiger. He angled his body to the side, eyeing the exchange with a veil over his eyes. He'd never known another species to join a wolf pack, but he had no bias toward them anyway. It was just a fleeting uncertainty. Surely some - like cats and canines - were ruled differently? He had no way of knowing, but he suspected Kuhn struggled inwardly with the decision.

"Lady Olive" the albino spoke as Olive and Kuhn exchanged the formalities "izzit okay to leave now?" He was no longer fleetingly embarrassed, but since Kuhn had been accepted as one of Duskguard, he relaxed his stance. He didn't think the tiger would attack her, and if she was willing to let him into the pack... There was no danger now "I'd like to finish my patrol if it pleases ye." He made no mention of what transpired, for... well, privacy's sake. He was no gossip either. Nothing would be spoken out of turn. Not even to Tiberius, though he didn't think Olive would keep it from him.

He glanced toward the tiger, giving a friendly enough smile. "Welcome t' Duskguard, Kuhn."

the staff team luvs u

He sighed, and looked away from her. He trembled as she spoke — yet she kept speaking, pushing through the nervousness of her nature and her innate desire to not be putting this much on him, right now. Was it really her fault, though; or was she simply working with the cards she had been dealt? With Tiberius and Kuhn, Olive was aware of the good fortune of her hand, but here and now, these things must be discussed. To the Priestess, an apology was not a true apology unless they also addressed the underlying reasons why the behavior occurred. Still, she heard the low growl eke from his throat as he digested her words.

and then, Kuhn was up and moving towards her, and for the life of her, Olive did not know if he was propelled by a good reason or bad. Her belly hardened, preparing for her proposition to be struck down by the ochre cat. She looked up at him, deciding that her very next move would be to plead; for nothing to change, and that everything might have stayed the way it was before the fated kiss. For him to forget her words, she would eat crow for attempting to tame tiger, and they could simply move on. That it wasn't ever all or nothing with her —

"I am Duskguard"

With his face pressed against her, perhaps he couldn't see the look of stupefaction that crossed her face. It was most evident in her eyes, which were open wide and staring at him, wondering if he knew what the hell he was doing, accepting her offer. To the end, what the hell was she doing?! She was meddling in Tiberius and Kuhn's affairs, inserting herself and the rest of her family where (perhaps they didn't belong). Time would tell, but even now, the touch of him relieved so much of the tension she felt. His acceptance began to soothe her. Her heartbeat stilled. Her eyes shut.

The sprite vaguely heard Torben ask for permission to leave, and for that, she nodded but couldn't remove herself from the bolstering touch of the suncat, the newest representative of Duskguard. For the moment she stayed, and she breathed, and she pondered lightly about a good future, one of security and love and assurance of all things good. The warmth began to blossom in the pit of her belly. "That makes me very happy, Kuhn” was all that she could muster, attempting to put this feeling into words. Perhaps, it was the first time with Kuhn that she had a difficulty spouting some verbose complexity about inner nature and spirits.

All she could feel, was happy.

the staff team luvs u

Plunging in, the cat fully embraced the freefall of his leap of faith.   Never before had he thought of joining anything greater than himself.  In fact he would have spit at the idea of compromising his preferences for the of some group.  Though he could no longer lie to himself, he did care for Olive and Tiberius, and by extension, anyone else that they would call their own.  

As the bridge of his nose made contact with the woman, he could feel the tension slowly drain from the small woman.  For a long moment, he sat in silence, offering his gentle touch as both and apology and a promise.  It was something he couldn't put into words.  Even as the woman proclaimed her happiness the cat remained silent in the moment, feeling the world spin around him.  From the corner of his eye, the cat would return a feint smile to Torben, another such friend that he would extend his trust too.

Placing a paw up on her shoulder, his grip was gentle yet firm, the tips of his claws escaping their hiding place.  "Did you not think... you had my loyalty already?", he asked looking down into the woman's eyes.  Part of him regretted asking the question taking the woman from her moment of happiness, and himself from the melancholy moment.  Though it was a serious question, even if he didn't give himself to the family, did she really think his rarely given loyalty was that fickle.  

Even though to the cat, it felt like a personal sacrifice to take the name; Long before the moment she uttered the name of Duskguard, they had his claws, his fangs, and his pelt against the bitter cold.
the staff team luvs u

Now that it wasn't like he'd rarely see Kuhn again, Torben felt confident leaving Lady Olive alone with him. The tiger joined Duskguard after his hesitation, and his leader spoke of her happiness too. It made a knot of emotion fill his chest, though not negative at all. He gave a curt nod to the woman and began to wander off, leaving the two friends to their privacy.

It was like he said; he had his patrol to finish. The sun was setting even deeper in the sky until it engulfed the land in blackness. He gave a soft whistle of a tune as he walked, though hoped to see both of them around again. Lady Olive had been kind to him thus far, and Kuhn was a new face. It was only natural to be welcoming to him, tiger or no.

/exit

the staff team luvs u

Torben left, and only Olive and Kuhn remained. The magnitude of the moment was intoxicating, and the woman began to lose sense of where her energy field ended and Kuhn's began. Auras nearly enmeshed, Olive felt it was as good a metaphor for their lives as any. It all seemed so complicated, but when face to face (quite literally) with the figureheads that marked significant points and turns within her own soul, it all was really quite simple. She trusted it, easily.

His paw dwarfed her shoulder, and she straightened her leg and tucked up her shoulder blade to support the weight of him. At his words, she smiled and wrinkled her thin muzzle against the velvet of his own. "Not truly," she said, voice like spun silk. At worst, she had thought Kuhn was acting without intention or foresight. He was a man of incredible instinct, which was worthy in its own right. "but now, in name, she attempted to explain herself, somehow breathless,""I have no right to doubt it ever again."

That was the point of a pack, was it not? At one point in her life she too had prided herself on being a vagrant and traveler, to never call a single place home for long. However, the Priestess found herself at a point in her life where it felt good and holy to make these sacrifices. It felt validating, to have Kuhn stand beside her and Tiberius through it all. At the thought, her tail began to sway. "I don't know who will be happier, Tiberius or the girls." All the restless creatures that she held close to her heart, all safely tucked away in a singular place.

It was a desire and a pleasure she had never known before.

the staff team luvs u

Leaving his paw on her shoulder, he took a moment to watch Torben take his leave, looking away from Olive.  He felt like he had to, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth to prevent arguing with the woman over what he perceived to be a contradiction, as she admitted that she never truly doubted him.  More than likely it seemed Olive just wanted him around, which really wasn't a bad thing. Though, the distressed lashing of his tale, was a sign that he did feel manipulated.   

But, there was a choice in the moment, and a few different ways to look at the situation.  Pushing his instinct to the side: the short answer was people he cared about wanted him around.   Focusing on the subtle wag of the woman's tail, his expression softened.  "Well the girls all cried last time they saw me...", he answered through a smirk; then, baring his teeth on a faux show of aggression before returning the crown of his head to rub up against the woman.
the staff team luvs u

The pale woman smiled too, thinking of the story Tiberius had told her of Kuhn scaring the children half to death; Olive had laughed, assuming it to be the sheer mass of him, which was intimidating even to her. Tiberius too was a brute with a large frame and ominous, striped (aka scarred) exterior, so in truth, they were quick used to it —

— all at once, the thought of Kuhn and Tiberius being in the nursery together with her young puppies felt overwhelming, and she forced the train of thought from her mind.

Still, she released a light peal of laughter in an attempt to hide her segue, and the weird sour feeling in her stomach. "I suppose I don't know what this means, for the court." she sighed and shrugged her shoulders, unable to prevent other extenuating circumstances from coming to mind. It frustrated her how it seemed that others seems entirely capable of shirking their responsibilities to cavort in the arms of their lover (that's indeed how Olive saw it, on some subtle level), yet she could not stop thinking of the pack and the court even if she tried.

What would be it like, not to assume so much responsibility all the time? Almost instinctively, Olive answered her own question. "You should Duskguard's open seat," she said with a sudden, demure seriousness, "I have too soft a heart. Perhaps you will be more impartial than I could be." To her, it seemed like an obvious choice. "I am a better ideator and a director, than a judge."Olive's entire end game was to create a balance of powers in the Tundra, and to equip a court with the power to hold others accountable. If she thought deeply about it, Olive didn't feel a need to have herself or her own personal opinions represented on the court.

Kuhn could easily shoulder responsibility, especially now that he brandished the name of Duskguard. His actions today affirmed that he would advocate for the best and most secure result, with Duskguard's welfare held as his number one priority. If Kuhn would take it, it was a decision that she hoped would instill him with an understanding of her deep respect and deference towards another packmember. Perhaps it was a choice that might even serve to pacify Northfall in their upcoming trials too.

the staff team luvs u

Sliding himself off of the woman he took a few steps away, breaking his gaze with her to look out at the landscape.  The thoughts of the court where once again raised.  Looking away his expression was hidden from the woman, if she was sitting at a different angle, she would see how drained he looked, the idea of the court only heaping more atop the day's heavy emotional burden.  

"That's fine...", he replied with a sigh not turning around.  Maybe it was phrased like it was supposed to be an honor but it definitely felt like more of a burden, deciding the fate of others.  The though of representing Duskguard made it even harder.  Before, when he was set to only represent the lone creatures of the tundra, his decision could be more geared in the interest of a greater justice.  But now the load of ensuring the best interest of the pack was also on his shoulders.  Digging his claws into the ground, his back flexed and tail trashed, hinting that he thought the woman was taking advantage of the situation; he was making concessions that he would have never imagined.  

Still, Olive was right, if there had to be a heavy decision, he was likely better suited to shouldering the weight; his illusion of peace in this world had been stripped long ago.  Reluctantly, he would judge.
the staff team luvs u