[Jaykobell]

With Howlingwind's stunned at the blow, Rosecloud snapped her head towards the other Kuhna. "And Gildedfaith!" she hissed. "What's your excuse? Why didn't you stop Coldclaw from going out on his own?"

The green Kuhna blinked slowly, processing Rosecloud's words; and unlike Howlingwind, she seemed to express regret. "I thought Howlingwind had a point," she admitted, speaking quietly. "Coldclaw insisted he would be okay. I didn't dare to argue with him."

Unlike her reaction with Howlingwind, Rosecloud only narrowed her eyes at the young female Kuhna, her tails lashing irritably.

[The Frozen Forest - 16]

[Jaykobell]

"You really ought to speak up for yourself, you know," Rosecloud said quietly. "You have the authority, as an Oracle," she pointed out.

Gildedfaith didn't look up as Rosecloud spoke. She simply nodded slowly, acknowledging the words.

"Coldclaw's a senior sentry," Howlingwind argued, a growl rumbling in his throat. "I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing! Maybe you could trust us instead of assuming we're too stupid to make our own decisions."

Rosecloud's head snapped right back towards Howlingwind, her eyes blown up with anger. "It has nothing to do with trust!"

[The Frozen Forest - 17]

[Jaykobell]

Frustrated, Howlingwind turned to Earthstrike. "Earthstrike! Speak up!" he snarled at the brown Kuhna who, thus far, had stayed out of this conversation.

Rosecloud took a step forward and smacked another paw against Howlingwind's head, hissing in anger. "Respect him!"

Earthstrike stared, dumbfounded at the chaos that was ensuing within his group. "Calm down!" he ordered, getting up and stepping between the two Kuhnas. "Enough," he said, his tone calm, but strict. He looked at Rosecloud, and then at Howlingwind, and both seemed to let their fur lie flat again.

[The Frozen Forest - 18]

[Jaykobell]

"We're already exhausted, cold and hungry," Earthstrike pointed out sympathetically. "Arguing and fighting between ourselves will just waste whatever energy we still have," he said, and as he looked between the two Kuhnas again, they looked calmer and ready to listen to him.

"Howlingwind," he said, turning to the younger sentry. "Rosecloud is right. Coldclaw is a strong sentry, but we don't know where we are, or what's in this forest. We don't know where we're going, or if something fishy is going on in this place."

[The Frozen Forest - 19]

[Jaykobell]

Howlingwind looked a little bit more sympathetic now, with a little bit of remorse showing in his eyes,

"There could be predators out there," Earthstrike continued, and he shook his head. "And he could get lost. What then? We wouldn't even know how to find him again." As he spoke, something struck his mind, hitting him like a brick to the head. "Wait..." he breathed slowly, and his eyes widened. "You said he left not too long ago, didn't you?"

Howlingwind looked up and blinked, confused. "Yeah," he confirmed, and he hesitantly asked, "Why?"

Earthstrike shivered. "Does anybody smell him?"

[The Frozen Forest - 20]