He felt relaxed, he felt at ease. He also felt very very guilty. He'd brought a good sized chunk of his smoked venison and a few loaves of fresh baked bread for the male. He knew how he'd technically won the fight between the two, but it didn't help him feel less badly about it. He never should have thrown the first punch. He made sure the bread was still in the backpack, and made his way up the ladder. He'd seen the ramp, but he wanted to put off the meeting. He knew he needed to face the larger male and apologize, but that didn't mean he was ready to.

He stood at the top of the tree now, hesitating. He nibbled his lip uncertainly, feeling less sure of himself now that he was here. Well, the worst Shaw could do was throw him over the edge.

Shit.

Maybe the meeting should have been on more neutral ground. Literally.

Too late now. The pale scholar shifted his weight and swallowed, his throat suddenly very dry. The dryness wasn't from exertion, but anxiety. He swallowed once. Swallowed twice. Cleared his throat and swallowed again. He whispered Shaw's name. He swallowed again, then spoke up, unsure of which treetop house was the large male's tree. "Shawchert? I have something for you."

The death glare from Shaw was enough to make the male take a step back. His ears laid back in semi-submission, then subtly changed position to indicate anger. His hackles raised slightly, a growl sounding in the back of his throat. "I came to apologize, and to give you this." He'd pulled the backpack off, opening it and removing the smaller cloth bags with the two loaves of fresh bread and the third bag of smoked meat. His voice was sharp and angry. He wanted to hit the male with them, but instead he laid them on the ground so the male didn't have to soil himself by touching him. Bi-colored eyes were narrowed as he stared in anger and irritation at the giant warrior. He gritted his teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw. He'd had an entire apology in his head, but the frustrating warrior had erased all understandable thought from the scholar's head.

Tal and Sky had been mates for a little over a week now, so Shaw's threat of bodily harm if he ever hurt her came as little surprise. The torn and ragged appearance of the male did, however, and the smaller scholar couldn't help himself from taking a small step back. The stinging words were delivered by the warrior, and Tal flinched, his face warming in humiliation. His ears pressed against his skull as he tried to figure out what to do now. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh, frustrated and angry at both the former leader and himself.