Zevulun smiled at her determination to see her twin brother Trell again and felt a strange ache in his heart he hadn’t felt in quite some time. Immediately he thought of Auraleigh, seeing her and their youthful games when they’d been but spindly-legged foals. Zevulun didn’t often speak of Auraleigh or of his mother as he didn’t have anyone to speak with who didn’t know them, but he glanced at Kikka and decided he had nothing to fear with telling her… and somewhere inside he wanted to share this piece of himself with her, too.
“I have a twin sister,” he said with a smile, though it was a little sad and less filled than his other, happier grins were. “Auraleigh. I haven’t seen her in some time, but I miss her. Sometimes it feels like I lost a piece of myself when she went, but I would never tell my other sisters because I don’t want them to feel as if I don’t love them.” Zevulun hoped Kikka would understand, there was a bond between those that shared the womb that others simply might not get. He never wanted Mariael or Maziel to think he cared less for them than he did for Auraleigh, but it was a different sort of love, wasn’t it? “I think she’ll come back someday though,” his smile grew a little bit as he lifted his head, seemingly uplifted by the thought and having absolute confidence in it. “My sisters have told me my mother did this quite frequently – left, that is. But she always came back, so I hope Auraleigh will too.”
It was lovely how pleasant this was, the walk through his home with Kikka, feeling as if they were growing closer with each tale of himself he gave and what she told him of her brother, Trell. Zevulun had to imagine the next time he walked this part of Tinuvel’s forest again he would think of walking it with Kikka and smile.
“It is.” Zevulun didn’t hesitate from the truth. Mariael had always told him though the Bay and Tinuvel was difficult to live in, it would reward those who were hardy and clever enough to survive the worst of its elements. It was not a place for the faint of heart to live and she warned Zevulun to always be straightforward when inviting anyone to live in the Bay. Though he wasn’t telling Kikka to live here, he felt the same thought applied. “Since I’ve been alive I don’t think any horses have tried to come in that way, but I’m sure it’s happened in the past. The currents are very tricky for a less experienced swimmer and if the tide is strong, there’s a high possibility of being swept up against the rocks. It’s definitely a safer swim to the other beach which you came in at.”
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