days of greys

His deference pleased her, though sent a flush of embarrassment through her stomach. It wasn't something she would easily grow accustomed to no matter how long she remained in this position of authority. She appreciated the respect that others gave her, but didn't know how to deal with the deference quite yet. Perhaps she never would.

The wolf's husky voice stirred some vague memory inside her, but she couldn't recall it with clarity. Instead of focussing on that, she turned her attention to the wolf at hand. He was gangly, tall and quite a bit thinner than he would normally be, with knobs of bone that stuck out along his spine. He spoke of being healthy, but it wasn't a picture of health that she saw before her. "Intelligence will be an asset here. However, your state of health concerns me."

After a moment's pause, she continued. "How many months have you been alone? We cannot afford to feed a sickly wolf who does not have the ability to pull his own weight after a time." Her mismatched eyes studied him for a moment longer, noting his demeanor, his stature, and his words. Together, they spoke of a wolf who had lived in a pack before. That would work in his favor. "After your recovery, what skills could you offer us?"

Her words were straightforward, but not harsh. She simply spoke matter-of-factly, painting the situation for him. They would trade their resources for a wolf of little value, at least for a period of time, and she needed to know what they would get in return. "What is your name?"