The yelp (and the slight smell of blood that wells up from the wound) brings a smile to Jouno's face. Licking his lips for a faint taste of it, he responds, "You were to reckless in the forest. You needed something to redirect your energy." Besides, this way, Jouno could keep tabs on the human world without having to participate in it much himself.

The compliment does it's trick, and Jouno practically preens. "Of course," he agrees, tucking a stray strand of silver hair behind his ear. As far as he's concerned, everything would fall apart without him. "That doesn't mean I enjoy it, though. Things were much simpler when I had a scapegoat around."