Firestone Hot Springs sunday morning

The similarly curt response from the black wolf caused a moment of shock to ripple through FitzDutiful. What was he doing? If he wanted to recruit, he needed a little more tact and understanding. He wasn't an old wolf and, even though this one was younger than him, that didn't give him any excuse to be rude.

The other responded that the bathing looked relaxing and, as FitzDutiful felt the tension dissipate, he replied. "It is. I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm FitzDutiful - and apologies for the curt questions I recently lost my mate but that doesn't excuse my behaviour." The fact she ran away wasn't all that important. "Anyway, I'm alpha of Silvertip Mountain - that mountain," with an indication to the mountain's base, "I'd like to offer you a place with us. We could use someone who would like to specialise in hunting and, in return, lead the pack hunts."

The opportunity to run the pack hunt - that was what FitzDutiful wanted his gamekeepers to do. He just needed gamekeepers in the first place.