That there's a boy hanging around overhearing is odd--but there's fur, and there are two options. He either owns the wolf, or this is a mage who's learned the dangerous power of shapeshifting. That idea alone makes him wary, but either way, he's helpful. Malcolm levels a squint at him, a look with the slightest tilt of his head that indicates he's suspicious and trying to decide his next course of action.

Eventually nods. "Thank you." Because honestly he probably wouldn't fare any better with a cat than a child. At least a child can speak. He leads the dog and child duo toward the kitchens, and if anyone who sees this scene finds it unusual (and they should), they had better not say anything to his face about it. He's never been good at idle chatter, less so with a child, though children are generally content to chatter on, aren't they? And at the very least a dog can be a good distraction.