He’d expected to see two foals playing in the sunshine, and so Şahin was not surprised by the sight of two small children frolicking across Paradise. Sokka and Elliot were both young yet, one a bright chestnut and the other a pale buckskin with generous white spots. What surprised him, then, was to see Elliot bounding along behind a black foal. Şahin trotted towards the pair and wondered if this was yet another foal Xina had brought into Paradise without telling him, and gave a low snort of amusement. One more child among the palms did not bother him, and he thought Xina and he had enough of an understanding that the duo-eyed mare would not keep such secrets from him again.

As he neared he saw that the black foal was a filly, and he whickered a greeting to both of them. The heat today came only from the sun and he was glad there was no humidity, though he still thought longingly of one of the pools. Perhaps he could convince Dia to join him in one of them later this afternoon... The stallion reined his thoughts away from that possible tryst as he came to a stop in front of the children’s path and smiled down at them. “Elliot,” he greeted the boy, though his dark eyes remained on the filly. “Have you found a friend already?” Maybe it was one of the children from the Ridge. Şahin lifted his eyes to scan the territory behind the foals but saw no one else. His attention returned to the small horses before him.