[The cat is infinitely less concerned with dominance than wolves are. The tiger inside - except it's not, she doesn't differentiate them like that, it's not her and the tiger, its her instincts and her logic that she distinguishes is more concerned with pride.

And maybe the hurt, the hurt that she trusted him and he didn't trust her back, but what is this, she thinks? Bad karma. Loss of faith. Why should he trust her when she does this in response?

She can smell his fear and that makes her want to bite, but she doesn't. She pushes off and tries to take control of her shift, to bite back the edges of her rage. It's hard. Rage is hard. She's back up the tree in a moment, just like a cat, the pride making her haughtier than usual, to mask the pain.]

Don't think that killing humans makes you less human. Don't think it makes a side less clean.

[She's been there. She's faced that, too.]

I just want you to be honest with me.

[She isn't judging him for the things he's done to others. The shift back from Sotko isn't quick or easy, but they're alone in this corner of the gardens so she's not in any hurry. Up in the three more of her body is on display, but she doesn't seem embarrassed]