#yeah!! they're very interesting and i like how different they are! sylv has artair crazy curious right now

[townofcadence]

A new sensation was there. Concern added to the mix, though about what, he had no inkling. He kind of doubted it was himself; after all, he was giving this poor crow guy so much more work to do just by being here and injured. Sure, it wasn't so bad, just a bruise and a rib, but... he supposed any weakness might be weakness enough.

"I see... so the heart allows entrance, but it's not..... very hard to get on their bad side. I guess being connected to the whole forest, every little action against the place counts." He speaks in a tone that is thinking aloud rather than expecting any kind of reply. "I guess it makes sense. I'm not from the woods and the wood will always be the priority if you're a part of it."

He leans forward, looking up at the guy at an angle, some of his hair draping down in a curtain at the angle. "Are you from the woods then? So you're safe from repercussions? Oh-- sorry. Getting carried away. You don't have to answer that. And-- don't worry about what I did. That doesn't really count as anything." He waves a hand, and with a swish he's back to standing straight as someone like him can manage. "I just did it because I wanted to. But you didn't have a choice. So-- it's not something I'd want you to owe me for."

"You are...hurt. They will... see you...easy prey." He did his best to explain. "You are...not allowed...to hurt...them. Heart wouldn't...like that." He doesn't think the other is weak, he's seen the magic he can wield and from that alone assumes Artair must be capable of protecting himself, but he also knows that if Artair harms one of the forest's creatures, even in self-defense or purely by accident, he would no longer be welcome in this place. Hell, he might not even get a chance to leave. Not alive, anyway.

The Heart is the biggest threat after all, and while the crow may not realize it, that's probably what he's protecting Artair from. By staying close to Artair, no creature would dare to approach. One look at the crow's hands and they'd head the other way. By keeping them away, nobody would be getting harmed. Not Artair, not the other creatures in the forest. A perfect solution, as far as the crow was concerned.

"You owe me...nothing." He was only doing what he was supposed to: protect the forest. Protect a guest that the Heart had shown an interest in. "You...healed me." That was payment enough, wasn't it? He didn't thank Artair for it, but since he'd saved Artair's life and was now escorting him to the Heart, he didn't think that was necessary. Not like he'd know, he hadn't exactly been exposed to any social norms.