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

Malachi's let his tail sway off tandem with the boy's, delighted at the pleasure - and impressed with the ethics - of this young lad. "No need to pay me back. You'll do that time enough by being a helpful member of the pack. Though if you want something specific, we're always in need of good hunters." He offered with a slight dip of his head. If Adlartok retained his eagerness to help, Malachi could see him becoming a strong addition to the pack. Nea, and now Adlartok. He felt a prick of guilt when he counted the juveniles they had among them: with Maera, almost as many as the Sveijarn brood. If three had not disappeared, would they have had the resources to support the growing orphans they took in now?

The man ushered the guilt away and hardened himself against it. Instead he let his concerns flow to Adlartok and ran his gaze along the boy again, tracing the jutting bones that made the child's frame sharp and angular. "But that can wait for a bit. Are you hungry? I can show you to a cache nearby. The meat'll be frozen, but it'll give you some energy." In truth, Malachi had not checked the caches since he had returned, but he hoped they would not turn up empty - not for his sake, but for the child's.