Avalon has not minded the isolation that Zevulun has seemed to favor since he’d brought her to the Bay, and even more so since the birth of their daughter. For the longest time, it had only been her, her mother, and her uncle, and once her mother died, she and Falcon had become each other’s whole world. Izizel is so perfect that Avalon has agreed with Zevulun about keeping her all to themselves.

Izizel, however, has been chomping at the bit to meet more of her family. They haven’t exactly been hidden away – the filly’s energy would never allow for that – but Avalon has realized that it isn’t fair of them to have left her with only her parents for company for so long. She will miss their little trio feeling like the center of the universe, although, she thinks wryly, it’s not as if they’ll be handing off custody. Izizel will just have more family members to dote on her.

Avalon arches her neck in a lazy stretch, offering Zevulun a lopsided smile as he psychs himself up to take them to finally meet his sisters. She only feels a brief flutter of nervousness at the thought, mostly for her daughter’s sake, until she reminds herself that neither mare is likely to not instantly love Izizel.

The filly herself has taken the unusual step to leave her parents be this morning, though now she is practically vibrating with excitement that the moment has arrived. Her blue eyes almost glow as she exclaims, ”Yes, yes, yes!”, and bounds out of the trees. She turns around frequently to wait for them to catch up, making an occasional noise of impatience.

Avalon almost enjoys the tortured look on Izizel’s face as the girl appears ready to jump out of her skin. She stays at Zevulun’s shoulder, content to let him guide their path and watch their daughter frolic ahead of them. She sees Mariael and Maziel when Zevulun does, but Izizel is turned toward them at that moment and doesn’t see her aunts. When the filly catches her eye, Avalon gestures for her to turn around. By the time Izizel does so, Zevulun is greeting his sisters.

Avalon hangs back, ready to watch Izizel do her thing and charm her aunts. She smiles broadly as she watches her daughter’s eyes light up. For a few moments after Zevulun introduces them, everybody is silent. Zevulun had told them about Maziel’s blindness, and Avalon had further warned Izizel not to bring it up or treat Maziel any differently.

Izizel’s young mind hadn’t been able to grasp the concept of blindness at the time, but now that she can observe Maziel’s clouded eyes, she can begin to understand. Without a trace of anxiety, she bounces forward, skipping around her aunts and proclaiming in a sing-song voice, ”Auntie Mazie and Auntie Mari!”

After circling the mares a couple of times, she stops in front of Mariael, whose head is at her level. She thrusts her white face forward, her nose ending up inches from her pale aunt’s. If either of them move, their muzzles are likely to touch. She grins happily, having waited what feels like a lifetime for this.