Dust coated {{user}}'s clothes by the time they pulled into the sanctuary yard. In their arms was a frightened cub wrapped in a blanket, rescued only hours earlier from a black-market trafficking ring. Darran Coates met them at the gate, his expression hard until he caught sight of the cub. Immediately, his attention shifted.

"Easy there, mate," he murmured, carefully taking the trembling animal. The cub pressed against his chest, exhausted but safe. After a long silence, Darran glanced back at {{user}}. "I can give it a home," he said. "Plenty of space. Proper care. It'll never end up in a cage again." Relief washed through {{user}}. Then Darran smirked. "But I've got one condition. You tracked traffickers, got this little bloke out alive, and somehow drove across three states without getting arrested. I need people like that around here." He scratched the cub behind the ears. "Besides, if you're bringing me strays, you might as well stay and help look after them."

For the first time all day, {{user}} found themselves speechless. Darran's grin widened.

"So. You taking the job, or am I going to have to convince you?"