Redhawk Caldera The wider sun

"Thank you," Dutiful responded after Peregrine's talk. It meant a lot not to get berated for what he had done and Fitz felt comfortable enough to bring up the other sore point, even if it was sugar coated... a lot. "I do have another question."

He left enough time for some sort of indication from Peregrine that it was okay to go ahead, even if that was just silence, and then took a deep breath before progressing. "Is that what I need to do to work my way up here? I've been here, I've never left or showed any indication of wanting to leave, and yet I'm pretty much at the bottom of the pack ranks. I assumed that's because of my solitary behaviour but if there's anything else that gets taken into consideration... I'd like to know." Fitz wondered if he'd dare say the rest but to be honest, he was on a roll. It was doubtful he could have stopped himself if he'd wanted to. He had no one else to tell this too and if anything this probably showed how young the wolf in front of Peregrine was.

"I see others working their way up, getting somewhere. And, please don't get me wrong I am so proud of them and happy for them, but I really wonder where I'm going wrong. That kind of reinforced the lonely spree I had - wondering if I was useless."