To the colt’s utter joy, his call seemed to summon the mare he had been hoping to see! The painted mare approached with loud movement. His eyes lit up with his face in joy. The leaves around her moved and he could imagine the sounds of them coming together like the sight of the rain. Her smile when she came up to him warmed his heart and he greeted her excitedly, sticking his nose out to gently bump her neck. He felt as though he did not need to say anything, or even make a noise when she came around him. His excitement had his body vibrating. He had learned quick, from their first day, if she was around he would be okay. He paused in his excited greeting, his face falling for a moment as he wondered if he would ever be able to tell her how much their first meeting had meant to him… Shaking his head, he cleared the thoughts and continued on determinedly. If he could not tell her, he would show her through action and deed!

His glee was a little short lived as the solid dark stallion approached. The boy knew this man and had watched his actions for a season. There was not a doubt in his mind the stallion also knew he had been on the island for some time, and would possibly have something to do about it. Zeru’s eyed widened in fear, and he glanced at Monster, hoping she would be as effective at keeping him away from this danger as she had been at keeping him out of the water.

He watched the interaction between the two with intensity, trying desperately to pay attention and read how he should proceed. The stallion held his nose out him, a grin that was not meant for him on the man’s face. Zeru returned the greeting, as he had seen it done, and kept his eyes on Rougaru’s lips. He did not get any clues from what he had seen and stepped back uncertainly, lowering his head in respect to the lead. Ears twitching, he searched his memories for anything that could convey what he needed to say. Searching eyes looked at Monster. When they had met, she had insisted he stay. His brother had spoken to him, tried to teach him the best he could while they were both new to the world. He had seen his mother screaming, a sound he could almost pretend he heard. Hoping he was not wrong, the colt carefully slid a hoof against the soil, still his head lowered humbly. He… he tried first, just barely feeling the vibrations in his throat. His face fell and he tried again, believing himself to be too quiet. He- - here? Stay here? For a boy who looked all the world to have been born from a glacier, the tone he had chosen was still soft, warm, and inviting. It naturally held the pitch of a youth still growing, and a hitch of never being used, but it promised of a richness the would be sinful to be unheard.

Ears twisted back into his haphazard tufts. With a glance at Monster, he silently asked if he had done well, waiting to see if the stallion was going to chase him out, or if either of them winced from his pitch.