The mare’s tone was decidedly not-friendly, or at least neutral-but-leaning-toward-antagonistic, and the Nez Perce turned his ears back briefly. It was likely she was still feeling some stress about her missing daughter, and therefore he did not take her tone personally. He pushed his ears forward and glanced down at Mera as she came to stand before him. Şahin could not help the smile that sprang to his lips. His heart echoed her first question. He hadn’t allowed himself to think of their departure because if he acknowledged how empty and lonely he would feel once they were gone, he would poison the joy of the company he did have at the moment. Mera’s pleading brought those thoughts straight to the surface of his mind.

“Perhaps not polite, but certainly welcome,” Şahin rejoined, his eyes flicking away from the filly’s big eyes and up to her paler mother. He thought he sensed a bit of pride in her, and while everything he said was the truth, he was careful to word his next response in such a way that it would be Xina who was doing him a favor and not the other way around. The stallion did not think she would react well if he came across as pitying her. “I’ve no one else to share Paradise with and it has been very lonely. There’s plenty of beach and grass and sun for everyone, but too much for just one horse.” He turned his ears back and looked aside for a moment. Even now he knew he dared to hope too much. Ekko had disappeared before they even reached Paradise, and he had not seen Yusuf in months. If these two did decide to stay, he worried that they would fade as the others had. Şahin glanced at Xina again before dropping his gaze to Mera. At least he’d made a nice memory today, he thought as he pointed his ears at the girl.