Firestone Hot Springs Good Sleep, a Bath and a Glass of Wine [M]

Peregrine wasn't bored, though he was more than a little put off by the abrupt desperation in Ellie's voice. Out of nowhere, she seemed hellbent on gaining entry into the plateau's ranks, yet she didn't sell herself very well at all. When she finished, he wasn't sure how to respond at first. He wasn't the type to take on a charity case and he would make that known.

"The plateau is a large pack already and we only have room left for those who are particularly skilled," he began. "I cannot accept you based on what you've told me so far. But why the sudden interest in the plateau, anyway? You don't know the first thing about it," he pointed out to her. Perhaps he'd given her some sort of open, welcoming impression because he'd helped her, in which case Peregrine had misrepresented both himself and his pack. He couldn't even say why he'd been compelled to come to Ellie's aid, except that watching her from a distance had reminded him of his brother, who he hadn't been able to help.