Just as he’d done so in the beginning of bringing Avalon to the Bay, Zevulun had greedily kept her and his daughter to himself for the first little while. It wasn’t that he didn’t view the rest of the Bay herd as family, but that for just a moment he found he enjoyed it just being the three of them strengthening their bond together and sharing the memories with Avalon alone as they watched Izizel grow. But they’d have to join the rest of the herd sometime, and it was going to be sooner rather than later, what with the cold weather settling in. Within days, maybe a week, Mariael would gather the herd and lead them to the caverns beside the hot springs, where the Bay herd would tuck away while the worst of the winter season passed.
Already she and Zevulun had taken turns making the far trek into the deep mountains to make certain no predators had holed up in their safe caverns, nor were they allowed anywhere near it. Since their father’s accident, Mariael had never let up on how carefully they were meant to keep an eye out for where the wolf packs and bears were claiming as their home. Now, more than ever, Zevulun took to the task with vigor – he had a small foal to protect this winter and he wouldn’t want her anywhere near that sort of danger.
“I suppose today is a good day as any,” he said in a still groggy-with-sleep voice, nestling a little closer to Avalon’s warmth. His eyelids closed and he pressed his velvet, whiskered muzzle against her neck, breathing her scent deep. A few more moments trickled by. “Okay, okay,” he assured himself, pulling away from Avalon and bobbing his head in a nod. “Let’s go meet with Mariael and Maziel.” He could only imagine how happy his sisters were going to be to meet their niece.
His blue eyes sought out his daughter’s similar gaze and a smile cracked over his lips. “What do you say Iz? Ready to meet Aunt Mariael and Aunt Maziel?” He was certain she was, her outgoing personality was already shining like a very bright, very bold light in the world. Zevulun could hardly wait for his sisters to spend time with her. He reached and bumped Avalon gently once again, brushing strands of her hair aside with his lips and then turned to lead his family away from their little forest grove and toward where the herd would be resting.
As he, Avalon, and Izizel approached, he noticed Mariael lift her head and watch him, standing still beside Maziel. Her lips moved – likely telling Maziel he was approaching – and he watched his blind sister lift her head, excitement already a very readable and obvious expression on her face. She shuffled a step forward, ears turned toward them as she awaited their complete approach.
“Mariael, Maziel,” Zevulun greeted with warmth and love in his tone, smiling as he came to stand before them. “I’d like you to meet your niece, Izizel.” He said, pulling his muzzle toward his chest and looking down at his daughter with an even wider smile. “Izizel, this is your aunt Maziel,” he gestured toward Maziel, who smiled wide and happy, “and your Aunt Mariael,” he concluded, looking at Mariael who also smiled and lowered her head to meet the girl on her level.
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