Skua wasn't sure what came over Jaguar's expression at the mention of poison. Her colors shifted from the blue and violet to a very dark green and purplish-blue, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "You know something, don't you?" Skua snarled as he stepped closer, his tail lashing once. Her eyes locked with his, and she curled her lip, showing the beginnings of her teeth.
"I guess I should tell you, as much as I hate to do so. You're going to find out anyway, and it'd look bad if I didn't let you know." Jaguar began. No longer did she seem as hostile before. Her snarl became a worried frown, and her sharp, deep-blue eyes lowered to the mud. "What you're talking about isn't a poison, but a type of venom that the RainWings use for self-defense."
Skua arched his neck. That thick, black substance that nearly melted through Ember's throat came straight from the RainWings? Seriously? He wrinkled his snout. "I don't believe you."
Jaguar raised her eyes to glare at him again. This time, she said nothing, but turned her head towards a nearby, bright green shrub that dribbled with moisture that had gathered through the day. In an instant, her jaws snapped open, and a long spout of thick, black liquid shot forth from her fangs and splattered onto the emerald leaves. To Skua's amazement, the leaves sizzled and sweltered under the viscous black venom, and the plant shriveled up. The emerald leaves turned an ugly brown, shriveled, and fell to the floor until the previously healthy plant had turned into a wrinkled, ugly mess.
The RainWing smirked and turned back towards them. "That all the proof you need?"
Skua noticed the snide grin on Jaguar's face when Eclipse answered. "Because RainWings only care about themselves, obviously. Why do you think they'd remain cooped up in this rainforest and not show neither tooth nor tail in the rest of Pyrrhia?" The RainWing flourished her right hand as if showing off something grandeur and amazing. "They've been in here for generations and generations, and no one's ever gotten them to come out. What makes you think they'd help a strange bunch?"
Skua didn't know why, but he caught something under Jaguar's harsh words. Was that remorse? Anger? Betrayal? He didn't know. He only knew that he had heard it somewhere before... in the voices of the soldiers he worked with, right after Ember's death. Nevertheless, his tail flicked back and his eyes narrowed. Jaguar knew something, but she wasn't being direct about it. He wished she'd just spit it out, but knowing her, if he pressed too hard, she would probably just fall silent and refuse to answer.
"I understand where you're coming from, but we really need to speak to the tribe," Dreamseeker told her as she sat back down next to Eclipse. "Pyrrhia's peace rests in our talons, and we have no other lead."
"Lead? Lead on what?" Jaguar's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Must be good, seeing as you can't find anyone else to help but the RainWings."