Big Salmon Lake i said i thought it would be colder

Once the caldera was a little more established, Peregrine would probably resort to his usual ways and refuse to roam beyond the pack's territory. Presently, he tentatively ventured away from his new home base, wondering if he could possibly find some fresh blood. Recruiting certainly wasn't his forte — making nice with strangers was definitely not among his favorite things to do — and he hated the air of implied desperation. Yet they needed bodies, especially as winter encroached, so he would just have to suck it up and do what was best for the pack.

Today's roaming brought him near to a small lake, specifically toward a small body perched on its edge. Even as he padded closer, the slender wolf began to wade. Peregrine pursed his lips, watching her. She was young, which made him hesitate to consider her as a potential recruit. But her markings were rather eye-catching, he had to admit. She looked a lot like a magpie. He only knew that because Mo had spent a lot of time teaching him about various birds when he was young.

Wait, he thought freezing. Magpie? Was that this young stranger's name? Why was it so familiar? Peregrine stood there, head tilted, plumbing the depths of his mind for its origin. Was... she one of the wolves Fox accidentally got captured? He stared. What were the odds that a wolf marked like a magpie would be called Magpie? What were the odds this was the very same wolf his mate had incidentally betrayed in the past?

Only one way to find out, right? "Magpie?" he said, making sure his voice was loud enough to be heard over her splashing.