Introducing Glen

A group of four watched as Adalyn wandered away with Xia. Taliesin watched her walk away, the slight curiosity in his eyes drew a companion's attention. 

"That ones a pretty one, Taliesin. Are you considering her?" A young male at his side asked watching as the teen led the girl away. He was tall and a bit burly, a pair of bear ears on the crown of his head. Brown hair and black eyes brought out the grisly in him. 

"I mean… sort of. She's interesting but she could also mean trouble. The clan needs good women, but with the child she would mean more mouths to feed. Granted we need more males I am just concerned she wouldn't consider it." Taliesen offered honestly considering talking her into his clan. She was certainly an option. "Not to mention she's helping a friend. That could very easily mean a potential mate." 

"I wonder if its Zyan's mate that she's helping?" The little fox sitting on the bear's shoulder asked tilting her head to the side. The three males exchanged glances and then looked to Taliesen pointedly. 

"Zy… Rain, Zyan was killed. We are going to invite his wife to come home with us." Taliesen told her his voice cold. He was trying to be reassuring but it wasn't easy when she has a protective bear mate. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. Zyan had been her elder brother, until her parents sent him away several years ago. Luckily, he had found a good mate and had been happy last she saw him.

"How?" She whimpered and her mate pet her head. Talisen looked away from the loving pair. He honestly felt out of place here. It hadn't been long ago that he lived to comfort a female. Who would have thought he would be alone now?

"We won't know till the lady's mourning time is over." Her mate replied as she turned human in front of him. His arm wrapped around her. 

"What if she isn't okay?" Rain asked and Talisen frowned. He had considered this as well. A single female alone for several days… it could weaken her considerably. Taking in the news she was pregnant last they heard of her, there could be cubs to consider. 

"If it makes you feel better, I was Zyan's chosen brother. I fit the law of mourning. I will go check on her." Talisen offered and Rain nodded, wiping her eyes dry. "We must trust that they provided for this situation." 

"We can only hope." Rain replied softly, her voice faltering slightly. The three males tried to comfort their lady as the group made their way to the inn. 

******🌕******

The sun was high in the sky and slowly beginning its decent as Adalyn finished her shopping. Xia held a basket of chosen goods, despite her asking several times if it was too heavy. It was silly, afterall he had more than enough power to carry it but it was sweet that she asked. He smiled happily following her as she made her way back to the edge of the village, toward the winding path that led to the beach below the cliffs. The toddler in her arms was awake now, watching the world around him from the arms of the strange woman who rescued him from the water. 

It was strange… being enveloped in her embrace as if there was nowhere warmer or safer for him. She wasn't his mother… but she cared for him. He was content with that for now. Perhaps she would have a use for him? He wondered quietly as the quiet female flashed him another smile. This was the third one now, one more than his mother ever gave him. That had to be good… right? Her two bright eyes in their different colors that seemed more welcoming than even his father's pitying gaze. 

"Look who's awake…" Adalyn chuckled as she saw the boy looking back at her with inquisitive eyes, his little red and white ears flicked as she spoke to him. His little tail flicked around as she waited for his response. Her excitement caused his cheeks to warm up to a soft red. "What's your name little one?" 

"Glen." He replied a bit sheepishly, glancing up at her through his eyelashes. He couldn't help but feel shy introducing himself to this woman. Females normally ignored him. Adalyn felt her heart melt from his bashfulness.

"Alright Glen, I am Adalyn. Sorry, I… really don't know what to say. I didn't expect to be carrying a son home today." Adalyn chuckled trying to blow off the slight awkwardness at the child's uncertain stare. She really wasn't sure what to say. There were no chapters in the guide to explain how to accept a random child. Actually… come to think of it… this was a bit of a mess. An impulsive decision that made Adalyn nervous. She couldn't think of that now. She would find a safe solution for him before she left.

"I'm sure you will get the hang of it." Xia offered with a bit of a smile, noticing a slight concern on her face. Adalyn smiled at him, he had finally relaxed at least a little around her. She flashed Xia another smile, ignoring her uncertainty. 

"I will. Afterall, He's just too cute not to." Adalyn teased kissing Glen's little forehead. "Oh… The sea." She looked at the beach and turned to Xia. "I should take the basket now so you don't have to escort me all the way back." 

"Oh no, it's not a problem. Your carrying Glen, and it would be too much for you to carry both." Xia tried to protest and Adalyn frowned. He was right. She had got everything she needed but most of it had a little weight to it and would be difficult to carry back with the baby in her arms. A glance at Glen's feet, they were bare with adorable little toes ending in tiny claws. That sort of shot him walking on his own. The sand was hot from baking in the sunlight and the child's feet would scorch.

"Oh shoot. I didn't even think about that." Adalyn sighed deeply "I will have to trouble you then." She said a bit nervously and he hid a satisfied smile. He wasn't ready to let this female and the child out of his site yet. His heart would be more at ease if they parted when she went inside, out of the elements. There was a storm off the water… maybe a day or two out. 

"Can Walk." Glen said, his childlike vocabulary resulting in a simple sentence that made Adalyn glow with amusement. She understood now why all the women back home would coo when their child said kiddy sentences. 

"You are so cute. I am sure you could walk, brave boy. However, your little feet would burn on the sand. I'm wearing shoes so I should carry you. Also, Xia is being kind enough to carry the basket for us. Do you think it would be nice to refuse when he is offering to be so sweet to you and me?" Adalyn asked, and the little boy seemed to think about it. He looked at her lost, as if he wasn't sure how to  respond. This was a question he had never heard before. He scrunched his little nose after thinking for a long moment and ventured an answer.

"No?" The response was a question and Adalyn smiled brightly and squeezed him lightly. 

"Exactly right, Glen! That's exactly right. It isn't nice to refuse help when someone is being nice to you and they are sincere." Adalyn praised and smiled at Xia who looked a little surprised at the pair. She was… already teaching the child new ideas but it sounded nice. Especially since it meant he would get to walk with them a while longer. He decided she would be a very good mother. 

"Then shall we?" Xia asked with a bit of a joking bow. Adalyn smiled and took his arm with her free hand. She led him back down the beach. 

"So how old are you, Xia?" Adalyn asked conversationally. The boy tensed a bit. 

"20 summers." He replied a bit tensely, honestly a big worried. Most males had found a female to serve by now and he hadn't. He even belonged to a clan with more females than most and none of them wanted him. Would she think there was something wrong with him?

"Oh? I am a couple years younger than you. I thought we were close in age." She chuckled and winked at him as Glen sat up a bit go look up at her as she spoke.

"Your over 17 and you don't have a mate?" He asked rather astonished. Adalyn nodded slowly. It dawned on her how early some of the original civilizations had wedded. She was indeed a bit old by some of their standards. 

"Yes, I was a sheltered child and my Mother and Grandmother protected me from boys with bad intentions. I want a proper family." She replied trying to explain away his surprise. It didn't seem to be working. "Does that matter to you? I mean, I thought you were being nice to me I didn't realize you would care that I'm older." She replies a bit tense and his face flushed white. 

"No, not at all. I was just surprised. Most girls around here have a first child and 6 or 7 males to take care of them by the time they are your age. There's nothing wrong with it though…" he tried to explain rather hasty. She smiled gently. 

"Its fine. I was teasing." Adalyn chuckled and his cheeks were pink and flustered. 

"Oh.. teasing… hahaha" his laugh was a bit tense and Adalyn felt a bit bad. 

"It just means I am trying to relax. Don't take it personally. It means I like your company." Adalyn added as the cave came into site. It was only a short walk away. The pressure of the situation was slowly building. She would need to plan for food and shelter as soon as she could. Would Meriwether be angry she brought a child home? Did she alienate her new friend. Crap… she was impulsive but a single glance at the tiny tot in her arms and she knew she made the right choice. Even if it did end up being just her and Glen against the world. 

Xia sniffed the air. He could sense the blood but there was also a masculine smell. Strong and dangerous. The young teen stopped at the edge of the territory and glanced at Adalyn. "You have permission to cross the Outlander property?" 

"Outlander? Umm that's where I'm staying. I'm a guest of Meriwether." Adalyn offered and the boy looked even more shocked than he was at her age. 

"Ryodan let you… stay in his cave?" Xia asked and Adalyn chuckled. 

"He… is asleep. There was a fight. He barely survived. That's why I needed these tools. To provide for us till he is back on his feet." Adalyn admitted. It wasn't like no one had seen the funeral boat. Xia looked solemn. 

"I heard there were many killed." He whispered and Adalyn nodded. 

"Ry is the only one to survive." Adalyn admitted and Xia frowned. 

"So there are no males protecting you or helping you with food?" He asked and Adalyn shook her head. 

"I will be taking care of us till Ry is well enough. Then Glen and I will make a place of our own." Adalyn replied as she smiled at the child. She could just see Meriwether watching from the cave entrance. She seemed concerned, and Adalyn waved. Meri waved back. 

"I shouldn't go any further. I don't want to challenge Ryodan. Even injured I would struggle." He replied honestly. There was a certain wounded tone to his voice that made Adalyn sigh deeply. She had heard the same tone in beta wolves voices. The sound of inferiority. 

"If you are sure, let me have the basket." Adalyn reached for it and he frowned. Letting her carry it… even that short way could be difficult. Her hands could blister or her shoulder could ache. He couldn't do it. 

"I will carry it. If Ryodan gets angry then...I will deal with the consequences." Xia replied gravely and Adalyn nodded. 

"Alright." She wandered her way up to Meriwether who smiled welcoming to her. 

"Ahh, Adalyn I heard there was trouble in town. Are you and the child alright?" Meri asked seeing the toddler in her arms. Adalyn looked at Xia as if asking how news traveled so fast. 

"Yes. I have the things we need to prepare for winter and I should introduce you to my son, Glen." Adalyn replied setting Glen down on the cooler stone of the cave floor. The little boy stood straight, but his little hand was on Adalyn's leg. 

"Well hello, Glen. I was surprised to hear about you. Welcome sweet boy." Meriwether greeted him with a gentle pat on his head. 

"How did you hear about him?" Adalyn asked and then she saw her answer. Talisen was sitting in the cave, by the fire cooking something. She raised an eyebrow. 

AUTHOR'S Note

(I have been really really sick the last few days. I am going to try and post a few things to catch up but I'm doing little else than sleeping right now)