Katherine's new understanding of the scope of their task left Bunny silent in thought for more than a moment.
The number of adults prepared to take up the cause was heartening - but that only highlighted just how unsuitable the teenagers were, how inappropriate it was that they had been asked by their presence to participate in this fight.
Not to mention the fact that Howard had valid points. Bunny and Jack had told them the best of their knowledge, but the best of their knowledge had been wildly optimistic. Now, though Jack was doubtless as determined to continue NOT having the children fight as Bunny was, no matter what they did - this battle had become theirs as well.
He reached to Jack, putting a paw on his shoulder as Howard exploded at them, flinching only a little at the severity - and sincerity - of the boy's vitriol.
And there went Mami, responding with the same resolve she was much too young to have. There was clearly so much more to her situation that he and Jack were going to have to learn about in order to understand why she was so much keener to fight than a child like her had to be.
"The only thing this changes is that now it IS your problem as well as ours," he said, addressing Howard and Nico particularly. "That doesn't mean anyone's getting sent to the frontlines who's not suited to it."
That still included Mami, in his book. Though getting her to agree to that was going to take some work.
"The kids're staying hidden. The Pole's still an option until we get you home, and there are other places you can hole out that haven't been compromised."
His warren, for example. He was prepared to hide the children there, even if he still wanted to learn a little more about the adults before giving them a pass.
He spared a glance at Howard, a very brief one. It hurt - not that Howard hated him, because his skin was too thick for that, and they had so many more concerns now than whether or not children under their protection resented them - but that there was nothing he knew to do better for the kid.
no subject
The number of adults prepared to take up the cause was heartening - but that only highlighted just how unsuitable the teenagers were, how inappropriate it was that they had been asked by their presence to participate in this fight.
Not to mention the fact that Howard had valid points. Bunny and Jack had told them the best of their knowledge, but the best of their knowledge had been wildly optimistic. Now, though Jack was doubtless as determined to continue NOT having the children fight as Bunny was, no matter what they did - this battle had become theirs as well.
He reached to Jack, putting a paw on his shoulder as Howard exploded at them, flinching only a little at the severity - and sincerity - of the boy's vitriol.
And there went Mami, responding with the same resolve she was much too young to have. There was clearly so much more to her situation that he and Jack were going to have to learn about in order to understand why she was so much keener to fight than a child like her had to be.
"The only thing this changes is that now it IS your problem as well as ours," he said, addressing Howard and Nico particularly. "That doesn't mean anyone's getting sent to the frontlines who's not suited to it."
That still included Mami, in his book. Though getting her to agree to that was going to take some work.
"The kids're staying hidden. The Pole's still an option until we get you home, and there are other places you can hole out that haven't been compromised."
His warren, for example. He was prepared to hide the children there, even if he still wanted to learn a little more about the adults before giving them a pass.
He spared a glance at Howard, a very brief one. It hurt - not that Howard hated him, because his skin was too thick for that, and they had so many more concerns now than whether or not children under their protection resented them - but that there was nothing he knew to do better for the kid.