Porcupine Ridge immortals

"Much appreciated. You'll be doing my job for me," Rue replied, tossing another amused look over her shoulder. When was the last time her heart had felt so light? And in the presence of a strange man, to boot. Perhaps she was finally growing into the confidence she had always assumed she would possess as a pack wolf of respectable standing. 

Rue's ears lifted as he gave the name of his birthpack. "Sounds familiar," she said, voice surprised. "Indeed," she agreed, it certainly was a small word.

"Hopefully you departed on better terms than I did," she mused, only realizing a split second later what she had implied. "Not that I-- I mean.." Rue searched her brain for a suitable ammendment. "There was just.. an accident. And someone had to take the blame." Her voice was offhanded, which would hopefully reassure the man that she wasn't some kind of... traitor or lawbreaker or something.