Big Salmon Lake always enjoyed and never returned

"We do," Fox replied with all the curtness in the world. Before meeting Peregrine, she had been much shorter with others. It was only with family and pack that she was now wordy. Strangers still got the same treatment she had always given them. The mother had no intentions of revealing their home, especially after the male revealed that he was indeed part of the plateau. She was even more wary when he explained his reasoning for being so far away from home. In all likelihood, he was here to scout out the caldera and bring back a report to his leaders.

"And we should be getting back there," she added. If they went directly back home, it was possible this stranger would follow them, discover their allegiance, and attack. None of which Fox desired. "Tell the nice wolf 'goodbye,' little Dhole," Fox suggested to her daughter before nudging her to head west. They could make a large loop and come back to the caldera at its southern edge.