His first reflex is to point out that even if they didn't care at all about their Garou family, preserving Kinfolk would still be vital for the race's survival. Which... considering where in history they stand, that is a bit of a moot point. But that doesn't mean that you can just stop doing your best to protect your Kinfolk. That would just be wrong. There are things that must be questioned, traditions and habits and beliefs alike, but that is not one of them. Kinfolk is precious.
"Then you do this all out of magnanimity? Expecting nothing in return?"
The seeming inconsistency reminds her again: this is the guy who killed her. It's easy to forget when they're talking, especially on a topic like this.
"Would you refuse to protect a family member if they couldn't give you anything in return?"
Because that's what it comes down to, in the end. They will protect them as long as they can, even if they aren't able to produce or raise offspring anymore, which is the one practical use they have, simply because they are weaker. Greater efforts will be extended to ensure the continued survival of a wolf who cannot help with the offspring anymore than to keep alive a werewolf that cannot fight anymore. That's just how it is done, because wolves are weaker, and they are the core of the family, the place where the tribe is born from.
"Humans are weak. They grow stronger through tools and working together, but their greatest strength is how many of them there are. No matter how many are killed, there will be more left."
So a single human can by definition not be strong.
Ray would disagree; she knows quite a few humans who have power to lord over others. But just the thought of them makes her queasy and uncomfortable, so she replaces the thought in her mind with another. "Do you think you know everything about humans?"
"Is them potentially killing me not enough of a reason? Is that what you're trying to tell me? You must never have lived in the tropics."
Ray finds it strange how angry the thought makes her, though she knows she's never killed any creature of real value. Not directly. Surely she hasn't...
When her thoughts hit that wall, she pivots without a thought. They're only talking about mosquitoes.
"Every member of your species is a potential threat to my species." Wolves, not werewolves, but Laughs doesn't see a difference here, because in a roundabout way, it means the same - if all wolves are dead, his tribe will be gone, because Red Talons can't breed with any species but wolves. And, well, they're wolves themselves, aren't they? At least as children, and if you're less technical, always.
Even as she says that, a small voice whispers in her ear that that must be a lie. But she can think of no reason for why that would be, so the idea fades from her mind.
Her frown tightens, but deep down there's almost a sense of relief as part of the anger within her snaps. She doesn't need to think about what he's saying, especially because it's easier to zero in on the external target.
"What about you? You don't seem to care at all about human lives, yet I'm a bad person for behaving the same way? You killed me!"
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