Duskfire Glacier If he don't want me [J]

There was a slight pause before the boy responded to Malachi's prompt, as if the child searched for words he couldn't find. Fair, for the young leader's thoughts were in no better shape. When the boy finally answered, he spoke with respect in his voice, and with a tone of neutrality that did little to reflect the exhaustion Malachi assumed he faced. After a pause of his own, the young leader gave a dip of his muzzle to repay the child the respect he gave. "You are welcome here, Adlartok." Though his reason spoke against him - winter would only thicken in the coming days, and though they had the resources now, whether or not they would have enough to nourish a starved youngling in the coming weeks lay beyond his understanding - his heart spoke louder for more reasons than these. His own family had been shown kindness by others when they had struggled in the bleak midwinter, and the desire to show this compassion to the boy compelled him now.

Yet his welcome did not come without reservation. Though he would not turn Adlartok away, there was no hiding the child was much too young to be out on his own. If the child had run away, or if he had been separated from his kin, Malachi needed to know. "But where is your family?" He would reserve judgment until the child spoke, remembering Linnéa's story with some resistance and praying the wildcats had not gotten to this boy's parents, too.