So defensive this boy was. That was a good thing, considering his presence on the street with a young girl at his side.

Malachi hated the fact that he was most likely spooking them, regardless of his efforts to appear as something harmless, but what was he supposed to do? Turn around and leave them here, just to hear about two dead kids in the morning?

He didn’t encroach any farther into the stranger’s space. His eyes strayed from the smaller figure back to the boy, watching with a neutral expression as he checked on her.

“Ah,” another dip of his head. “I am too, actually. This is my third night here.”

It was not necessary information for a stranger, no, but he hoped that his offering would smooth out some of the tension. It was hard enough moving to a new place, and from the looks of things… he suspected it was even harder for them.

Malachi clasped his hands together, fighting the urge to hold them at his back the way he usually did.

“You… don’t have anywhere else to rest?” he ventured, “it isn’t safe to stay here all night. I’d be happy to help you find a better place – there are a few inns that would at least have beds.”