"It sounds like you have plenty of experience... are you one of those territory leaders preying on poor defenseless pretty young women?"
Zevulun exhaled a loud, harsh snort and let out a one-syllable bark of laughter at her snide remark. He should be kind and patient and sweet and not rise to her bait, keep trying to help bring her back out of the fear she was defending, but he couldn’t help it. “Are you even bothering to take a look at me?” He asked, “You may be torn up, but your eye-sight looks plenty fine. As a matter of fact, I have no need to prey on pretty young women, they come to me willingly.” As though accentuating his remarks (said hot-headed and stupidly) he arched his neck and flagged his pale tail, striking the sand with a few swift, high-kneed digs.
Their childish bickering was interrupted by another horse, which wasn’t something Zevulun had prepared for or thought of happening, so wrapped up in getting Calypso to accept his help.
"Calypso."
Zevulun’s tail dropped as his blue eyes snapped to the red paint, his ears flicking backwards.
"Calypso, are you alright? What happened?"
He tried not to feel the stab of ice cold jealousy in the bottom of his gut, but it happened anyway. Zevulun had assumed fate drew him into Calypso’s path while she was alone and frightful, a chance at redemption to heal the mistake he’d made when he hadn’t come to Atlantis in time for her. Within just a few moments of seeing her he’d planned everything out in his head, but now there was another stallion… Another who may know her better.
Another who may be better for her.
Zevulun tried not to smirk (and failed) as Calypso gave the new stallion the same treatment she’d been giving him. He cleared his throat and forced the look off his face as he tried to think of which angle to go for next. He looked over at her, head high and anxious, and snorted. “Okay, fine. Maybe you just look an awful lot like a good old friend of mine-” He glanced at the painted stallion and begrudgingly added, “Ours.” His blue eyes settled back on her. “And you aren’t her. But I’m not leaving you alone like this, friend or no.”
He paused and tried to keep a level tone as he explained, “My aunt leads an all-mare herd not far from here. I can take you there to rest your wounds and then I’ll leave if you don’t want my company any more.”
That was… mostly a lie. Zevulun really had no interest in leaving Calypso’s side, but things would be easier if he could get her to go along with him… even reluctantly.
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