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Nightingale nodded meekly. "Perhaps accusing me is a ruse by the predators to defend their own. After all, I am the most vocal opponent of Optimist. Wild Sage himself has been fairly inoffensive, hasn't he?"

"Well, the same logic I used can be used against me...or even, in my defense, so..." she pawed at the dirt, not having enough energy for drawn-out arguments. "I still think that Optimist is a predator."

"For someone so meek, Nightingale seems pretty focused on eliminating one person."

In fact, even her failure last round to rally up a lynch for Okay is Wonderful did not deter her. Doubleback found such hatred unusual and detrimental. The consensus of the group seemed to be with Optimist, and if the white doe were prey, then why would she repeatedly go against the group? Doubleback, though more suspicious now, still felt that eliminating Okay is Wonderful was a bad idea. It was extremely questionable behavior, but was that the mark of a predator?

"Swamp Trees, Peep, Lost Apathy, Look-See, Wild Cry, Wild Sage, Bare Trees, Bitter End, Nightingale, Story, Okay is Wonderful and I are the only ones left alive. That makes twelve of us. If we are to assume all five predators are alive, then times are dire. In fact, we will know by the next morn if indeed all five predators live for they only have to equal us in numbers - and we will be down to 10 member in the next day phase."

"Forgive me, it was not my intention to omit you. It seems we will yet survive to the next round."

Thirteen members. If the number of prey dropped to equal the number of predators, they would lose. This game would soon be over if nothing happened.

She was certainly alarmed at the realization that it would be two mere nights that they'd be overrun by the wolves if they were all alive. To be honest, the idea of the latter surprised her more. Bare Trees had hoped they'd made some progress at least, that's what she believed. But they certainly had to flush out the wolves without mistake from now, as Doubleback had mentioned, it's possible the game would soon be over.

"Nightingale does seem focused on Optimist, even after two days.." she sighed. "I'm not particularly suspicious of the much quieter ones... but that's not really a good reason as well. We could go round and round trying to build up a solid argument but I don't think that will -- or can happen." She thought long and hard about this decision she had to make once again.

As usual there was a lot that Optimist wanted to say. For once, though, it was because someone had asked her something directly instead. She turned to face Bare Trees, nodding. "I don't think I could truly tell what the wolves wanted unless I was one," she began, and then shrugged. "But I could think of a number of reasons that I haven't been killed yet. It might be that they think it a likely enough prospect that I'll be killed in the day, or it might be that I haven't been suspicious of the right kin." That would be a big thing: even if she wasn't persuasive, she talked a lot, and she brought things up, even if she couldn't get votes passed very well and hadn't been able to do much about Fire Made Flesh (although in all honesty she was a bit relieved he'd died instead of her: she at least knew she was prey. She'd only been a bit certain about him).

She nodded with interest at Peep and Wild Sage. "Nightingale's been rather quiet with the exception of the accusations. But I don't think she was overly-focused, either, although I suppose her refusal to engage in discussion is..." Well, it wasn't for the best, was what it was. She shrugged, though, nodding over at Nightingale anyway. "I think she's just reacting to the lack of information." Still, she didn't like that Nightingale was otherwise ignoring the rest of the game - it didn't feel conducive to progress, or gaining new information at all.

She shrugged at Story - she wasn't really sure where he was going with his argument, and it seemed as though his opinions changed from day to day, and she wasn't quite sure what caused it. First he believed in Kiss of Death's guilt, and then in Optimist's, and now he was hinting somewhat differently. She wasn't sure whether it indicated a lack of information or a desire to look like he wasn't allied with anyone. Yet what could she ask him to try to obtain this information? "Perhaps it might be best to analyze what's happened to those we've thought innocent - or try to figure out the motivations behind certain votes." She paused. So far only two of the kin who'd been killed during the day were kin that Optimist still thought were predators.

"I've missed two votes," said Optimist, cocking her head. "But I don't think that makes me definitively innocent - I still said things those days, and I think it's more important to look at what I said rather than the fact that I, um, wasn't paying as close attention as I should've been yesterday." She shrugged. "I-I mean, I think votes are meaningful! But I don't think a large amount of information can be taken from the list of people who've missed a day of voting. I think most of us have, at this point."

Optimist inclined her head at Doubleback. "That's very important," she said. "But of course if five predators are still alive, and we fail to eliminate one, that means we've lost. I'd rather..."

She paused, and then began to talk. "I think I'm a bit more suspicious of Story than Nightingale. She's at least been consistent, even if a bit, um, unwilling to discuss things." Actually she was wondering where Nightingale's suspicion for Apathy had gone - especially since the doe had still been questioning Apathy, the last time she'd said much of use. "I feel like Story's opinion has been changing every day." That might be the sign of opportunism in a wolf, or of course it could just be impressionable prey. "But I don't think we have a lot of information."

She wished dearly that the wolves hadn't killed Wintershadow, or Snake Flower. When they weren't dead they'd at least contributed to the game. Erratically, but still.

"I didn't say we were done for. Only that we are very close to losing if all the wolves yet live. But if the time passes and the game does not end, then we will know for a fact that we have eliminated some of our enemies. Either way, how we use the next two days is of utmost importance."

Doubleback glanced around. She was surprised that Bare Trees and Wild Sage were quick to give up. Though it went against her nature, she decided to talk about he suspicions. Hopefully the others would follow suit.

"Of our remaining members, I find Story, Bitter End, Look-See, Swamp Trees, and Peep most suspicious.

I don't find Giveforward suspicious - I played the previous game with her and she played this game much as she played the last game.

Of the others, I am undecided. Sometimes I feel as if they could be predators and sometimes I feel as if they are prey.

Am I alone in my suspicions? We must talk openly now or never at again at all."

It was not that Bare Trees was quick to give up, she just didn't want today's discussions to end to nothing. And pleasantly she saw more starting to speak up, and she listened cautiously but open-mindedly.

And as Optimist answered her question and elaborated on her own suspicions, she nodded, "That is.. a fair point." the doe paused, bowing her head. "Perhaps we have to focus on those more who have been inconsistent, because that may be a tell-tale sign of a wolf."

She turned to Doubleback, "You are not alone... I suppose I should speak up more now, I do find Story, the least consistent aside from Swamp Trees (she had almost mistakenly thought of her own name for a moment there) and Bitter End with their votes.. at least that's from what I remember.."

She understood going by their gut or randomly voting but -- the time for that was over. She was still up in the air with Optimist or Nightingale but the others seemed more suspicious this time.

The doe gave a sympathetic smile at Giveforward's words. "I don't either..."

((will be back later tonight ><))