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Shar-Kali touched her nose demurely to her shoulder. Who, me? it said. She had more or less stayed true to Amon for the duration of their mateship, straying only when it served her to do so. Those gentlemen callers had not been so charming, but a lady did not breed for wits - she did so for strong, virile offspring. Amon himself had been a sweet but utterly simple creature, very unlike the wolf that stood before her now. He was charming without being trite, and quite a looker.

"As a woman of a certain age - a little of everything. I was a formidable fighter in my youth, but these days I would serve you better as counsellor, midwife, or winter-time tracker." Finding food where there was none to be had was something of a sport for Shar-Kali, and it was a skill that had served her well in her near year as a lone wolf. "If nothing else, I am a hardy old woman. A full year alone did not kill me - now it is high time I put my twilight years to good use," she finished, regarding him with her clever eyes.