[They do indeed, and one part of that is that the wolf will never believe the bird has any right to comment on his state of being. This is not at all different now--Nergal's expression tightens, his grip doing so as well on his cane, though he does not take a single step forward or back.]

You are awfully presumptuous, it's true. One should be careful with such freely aired presumptions.

Politeness is a virtue for little birds and those who can't afford the consequences of bluntness.