Zevulun was feeling very, very good about himself and about the turn of events in his life lately. Not only had Mariael decided the time had come for them to emerge from the high caverns and small clearings hidden behind dangerous passes on the cliff faces, Zevulun himself had managed to begin to meet others. Not just anyone, either, but beautiful, gorgeous mares. Just the remembrance of meeting such darling ladies had him wanting to sigh and skip all throughout the Bay!
In the past year he’d become increasingly intrigued by the thought of the fairer sex somewhere out there, waiting for him, but the reality was far exceeding his dreams.
At the moment the young cream and white colt-stallion had finished his morning patrol of the border between the Bay’s inland, studying for fresh tracks and scents. He’d found nothing, but Zevulun was far from sad about it. He had a feeling any day now Mariael would allow him to finally swim to the other islands and he had every intention in visiting as frequently as possible until late fall turned Tinuvel’s waters to stormy seas too dangerous and too cold to swim. Maybe today was the day he could convince his sister it was now safe for him to leave the island… he was dying to see what other exotic beauties lay on the many other islands scattered about, just waiting to be wooed by the likes of him.
Zevulun picked his way through the trees, intent on discovering where his sisters were grazing (Mariael would remind him frequently it was important he eat as much as possible now before the snow came and stole away their vegetation) when he caught sight of faint movement of a creature larger than a deer. It could be a moose. Zevulun paused and lifted his head, alert with his ears pointed forward and his nostrils flared.
Today was his lucky day! It wasn’t a moose at all, but a new lady!
Immediately a happy rumble vibrated behind his lips and he turned about, picking his hooves up high so he practically pranced around the trees and into the clearing she was in. His blue eyes were wide and bright as he smiled, pulling up short and exhaling a breath as he looked at her. How gorgeous she was! With her soft, dun body and thick, black hair. Zevulun nearly wished to collapse to the floor and cry out, her attractiveness was nearly too much to take!
But he smiled instead, bowing his head with his creamy-white tail flagged out behind him. “Welcome to the Bay, my lady.” He’d been practicing saying that line while watching his reflection in the shallow pools of water here and there. He thought he’d absolutely nailed the low tone delivery, chasing it with a smile he thought looked most charming. Sometimes he added a little wink at the end, but today it was just a nice little greeting. “My name is Zevulun but you may call me Zevu. What may I call you?” He’d drawn a step or two closer to her, still smiling.
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