Help Not Harm

B: Noka bowed her head apologetically, her hulking size practically shrinking out of both shame and embarrassment. She felt guilty for the actions of her and her companions, though she hadn’t forgotten the cause it was for. Looking up from the cave floor to meet the Haedian’s eyes, the puller tried to perk up a bit and muster a smile.
“I am terribly sorry for all the trouble. I am Nokare, and I come from above ground- as you well know,” she trailed off, clearing her throat once more, “We found some poor Haedians in need of aid and only wanted to help.” She hoped the Haedians wouldn’t ask about the others, knowing the Forgotten clan must be well-enough known to cover their involvement if anything. She felt awfully vulnerable, as the clan inspected her, suspecting eyes squinting back at her and glancing amongst each other.
The head of the clan hummed, pursing her lips. “There are scavengers everywhere.. But you say you met many. I know exactly who you are here on the behalf of, surface-dweller,” the Haedian said with disdain on her face. “So you admit you have stolen from us? That you came with the Forgotten and took what was ours?”
Noka bowed her head again. “Yes. I am sorry, truly. I needed their help and they needed mine.”
“You make a poor thief, I will say, but you are kind.” The Haedian softened, though her presence still commanded the other’s attention. The other clan members seemed to shift from scrutiny to curiosity. Noka perked her head up and smiled in thanks.
“But, you have nevertheless stolen from my clan. We need our rations, our supplies, and now we are without.” The Haedian’s voice boomed, saddened, but commanding. She had not forgiven for the stranger’s and her accomplices’ actions, not without a remedy to the suffering stores of the clan.” 

From the shadows emerged Troall, glowing eyes watching the rest of the clan warily, keeping her distance. “We need them much more than you, you know that. The outsider has been kind to us.” She argued, her glider wings shifting as she watched the clan glare back at her. “The food and supplies are ours now.”
Before tensions were able to get out of hand, from the caves emerged two familiar Vayron, on their way back to fetch their companion. The unfamiliar clan eyed the newcomers warily, the head of the clan raising her head to look down at the unfamiliar faces. Noka glanced back sheepishly, but her look was that of reassurance. They can come to some peaceful resolution, she was sure of it.

A: Antlia had been sitting beside Noka, watching the whole discussion unfolding in front of her. The runner wasn’t going to just sit by and watch as another clan struggled to get on their feet. Her ears perked forward when Troall had stated that what they stole was theirs now, which she wasn’t wrong.

“If I may, was it not you guys that sent them away, that ended up with them having to steal to survive? Would you expect that they just submit and accept death as they starve?” Her fur bristled as she stood, but she tried to keep her emotions in check.

“Sorry if I offend you in any way, but are we not all working towards survival together? We all have to fight through life, and we all die in the end. Why cast judgment and make them suffer? Surely you have enough food and supplies to spare to help them.” Her head bowed to the unknown Haedian, Antlia didn’t want it to seem like she was being disrespectful. 

“Just hear them out, that’s all I ask.”

B: The Haedian leader stared down upon the runner, listening to her pleas of peace. “I will not allow my young to go hungry after these criminals steal all our food right after we hunt it for ourselves. You’d be better off teaching them to hunt for themselves than stealing.” Squinting at Troall, the two Haedians faced off in a tense glare before Noka stepped up between them.
“I understand. I don’t want this to end up hurting anyone physically, please,” she pleaded. “What if I repay the trouble? I’ve magic that could help any garden grow or mend any injuries your hunters may have gotten? Or,” she pondered, glancing back to Antlia. “We could help make some new traps for prey with your hunters?”
Noka tried to negotiate a suitable solution to make up for their mes that might still save the Forgotten some supplies to go home with while also calming the offended clan. Antlia and Noka could part with Troall for a time and help around the other clan, building or healing, so they can prepare for a future hunt of their own. They could even share some things about the surface while they were there.