"...." Yet another moment of him trying to figure out how to answer... and then he shrugged, shaking his head. "Perhaps it is beside the point. My kind don't even attempt to make up specific rules for every possibility. That reeks of having to counter the sort of behavior that mischievous, petulant children are so fond of, in thinking they can get away with something by 'clever' interpretation of what was said. It is enough to be adults and to be good people, and act accordingly. If, as you yourself have said, knowing that one will be punished for doing something morally wrong is the deterrent, rather than the simple knowledge that the act is wrong -- if one needs that threat, to behave as a good person ought... then I would say that one is not a good person. One is simply being coerced into pretending to be, and is likely quite untrustworthy as a member of the community.

"And though I'm unused to having to spell out how to be a good person... I shall try to remember to make note, when I think of more ways to explain such, just for you." That little hint of something in his expression had returned, faintly, though it was probably clearer now in his tone than anything... he was teasing the human. "...So that you know better what is viewed as common decency among my kind." Right, just for academic purposes. He totally wasn't making fun of anyone, or humans in general or anything. Not even a little.

Okay, maybe a little. ...Possibly.

"As for the humans... That dim view, as you called it, is according to them. It is according to those humans who have been mistreated, who come hungry to my forest... and those who have taken from them, when they come hunting. And it is primarily those humans who have taken so much undeservedly -- who have manipulated things among their kind, such that they have authority over others -- who are the monsters. Those who would seek power over others tend not to be good people. And those are the very ones you think I ought to defer to? To whom I ought to bring complaint of their misdeeds? I really have no idea what you think such will accomplish; they raise their weapons against who they please, and it pleases them greatly to aim for me and my kin. They celebrate our deaths. That is why I make them understand what they do; they will not hold themselves accountable if left to their own devices, and they will not be good people. It is in their own twisted self-interest to continue to be monsters; they seem not to have rules against killing, among themselves. They see whatever they do as somehow acceptable, if not justified, no matter what it is.

"...The humans not in power... I have no quarrel with them. They are those who hunt animals out of need." He eyed Yen Sid, serious. "They are the workers, the crafters, the farmers, but have so little to eat that they resort to going after rabbits and birds, and chase them into my forest. You cannot tell me that their kings' and queens' care looks like someone wearing rags, who needs to turn to killing to feed themselves and those around them. But they very much understand that killing is wrong. They are the humans who behave, while in my forest, as I would expect any of my own kind to, regardless of what rules they were given. What I feel from them...." He narrowed his eyes a little as he thought about it. "...Hopefulness. Relief.... Fear." A little quieter, not quite sheepish, "I am rather certain that my appearance reminds them of those monsters... but had they not been monsters, those that visit would not have feared me at first sight.

"And now, your turn. What makes you think I have confused justice and revenge?" He tilted his head, arms still crossed as he leaned there against the shelf, relaxed, waiting for Yen Sid's answer.