Nephilim’s happiness to have Rohanne here in the Bay with him became muted (though no less impactful) as Rohanne spoke. A burn of understanding lingered in the gold shine of his irises, but he said no more. The death of their child affected them both in different ways, though it had affected them. Privately, Nephilim promised himself he would be as sensitive toward Rohanne’s needs as he could possibly be. If she required distance he would move from her side; if she craved closeness, he would be there.

They were long from healed in the tragedy which had afflicted them as young, first time parents, but they were making a start.

Nephilim’s ears twitched as Rohanne lifted her eyes to his and spoke. A relaxed, slightly proud smile came over his mouth. Mariael and Maziel, the only two children he knew of, were his everything. He knew his main overprotectiveness to their wellbeing had been because of the loss of his first child (and issues with his own upbringing), but they’d also both had absent mothers (Maziel’s more so than Mariael’s).

“They should be near,” he said, lifting his head and glancing toward the grove of trees.

With his chin high in the air, Nephilim let loose a beckoning whinny, one which shook his sides and cut through the chilly Tinuvel air. It felt good to hear his voice in the Bay again, for though he had not been born here, this was the first home he’d ever had.

Within moments, his ears turned forward, he caught the sound of hooves moving over the ground and brush shaking as bodies pushed against their branches. Mariael and Maziel emerged into the clearing he and Rohanne occupied, their ears forward. Mariael appeared alert, ever the proud and watchful creature, while Maziel’s head slung low as she moved by her sister’s side, milky-blue pale eyes seeing nothing in her path. The girls drew to a stop near their father, Mariael looking from Nephilim to Rohanne with slightly quizzical look but allowing their father to explain why he’d called. Maziel’s nostrils quivered as she scented the air near Rohanne, her ears turned forward to draw every sound the mare made.

“Mariael, Maziel, this is Rohanne, an old friend of mine. She used to live in the Bay before you were born.” Nephilim paused, a glance jumping from his daughters, to Rohanne. “She’ll be living with us for as long as she likes.”

He hadn’t yet asked about Roza and why her overprotective sister was not near, but thought perhaps now was not the time.

Mariael relaxed upon hearing the mare was a friend of Nephilim’s and therefore no immediate threat to their family. “Welcome back.”

While Mariael seemed to maintain a somewhat offstandish, protective nature (even if she’d let up a little bit), Maziel warmed immediately. A smile pressed softly onto her velvet lips and she inched a step or so forward to draw herself slightly closer to the mare. “Hello Rohanne.” She said, ear ears forward and expression somewhat eager (for Maziel loved to make friends). “I’m Maziel,” in case her father hadn’t indicated who was who. “I can’t wait to get to know you.”