The boy was nervous. Halcyon could smell it wafting off him, a harsh mix of smells that gave away his secrets. But, the red wolf said nothing on the subject, merely nodding his head as the white pup declined his offer to hunt. Truth be told, he was rather relived. Though he would have certainly braved the storm, the thought of going out in the wind again was unpleasant. Already the cave was beginning to warm with two bodies hiding inside. Not much was said as Halcyon dug at his paws, clearing all the snow and ice, until a name was given in return. "Aiden," the older wolf said, testing the calling on his tongue. "It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Aiden."

It did not go unnoticed how uneasy the cub felt around Halcyon. He didn’t blame him. It was wise to remain cautious, something he knew all too well. After all, the boy knew nothing about him. Luckily, he wouldn’t have to worry too much. Halcyon never favored the taste of wolf meat, though he had seen wolves that did. To him, they were nothing but monsters and murderers who enjoyed killing for the fun of it rather than the necessity. Still, it was best to let the boy feel nervous, at least a little. It was important for him to never let his guard down too far.

A quiet thanks was given for the invitation into the cave and Halcyon nodded. "Think nothing of it. I have no claim to this land. It is not for me to decide who stays and who goes." With his paws free of debris, he turned his full attention to the pup, noticing how he avoided direct eye contact. Though he had spent some time as an alpha, the red wolf never thought of himself as a dominate wolf. Now that he was a loner, he certainly had no place demanding a wolf to submit. Again, he let the boy do what he needed to help ease his nerves. "If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. This storm doesn’t look like it’s going to die down any time soon, however."

Again, he was reminded of his own childhood and how he had been tossed to the jaws of the world at such a young age. Finding himself curious about the boy, Halcyon moved his legs out from underneath him to show that he was in no position to make a quick attack. He was relaxed and gentle. "So, Aiden, tell me, what brings you to this part of Moladion? Have you been traveling alone or do you have a pack to call home?" The questions were carefully asked, allowing for the child to answer however he wished. He could lie, or he could tell the truth. It didn’t matter too much to the older wolf. He waited to hear the reply as the storm raged on outside.