Big Salmon Lake always enjoyed and never returned

As they walked closer to the lake, Wildfire was too caught up staring at the sparkling waters to notice the wolf across the way. But when Fox said the words, "That wolf..." Wildfire's head snapped upward. Her yellow eyes scoured the shoreline until they fixed on the stranger. Her red fur prickled instinctively, her ears tilting toward her mother as Fox spoke to her. She bobbed her head to acknowledge her dam's words, her amber gaze never leaving the unfamiliar wolf.

"Will we try to recruit her?" Wildfire queried. Squinting slightly, the child added, "She's pretty." Since they couldn't pick up the stranger's scent, she had no idea she was actually looking at a male.