Her voice always had the power to cause his heart to flutter. Carried by the air, the sweet tones washed over him. Ears perked, his head swiveling to watch as she carried herself over to them. His grin spread over his lips, his eyes shined with delight at the sight of her. Over their year together, the times they had been torn apart, he knew he would never take for granted the sight of her beautiful speckled red body, the look on her face, or the glint in her own eyes. The years and pain tugged at her features, and cold had bitten off the tips of her ears. Still, there was none more beautiful to him than Siobhan.

She buried her face in his mane and all he could do was let the very sense of her surround him. Silently, he basked in her presence, knowing she had almost been ripped away from him yet again. Good morning, my love. he whispered into her mane. Even as she pulled away to smile at their son, he stayed close to her, comforted by her nearness.

Zvaid smiled at her touch, lifting his velvet nose up to her in greeting. The protective aggression he had shown at his birth still sparked in his chest, tempered by Ailill’s careful teaching and upbringing. Though his parents had tried to shield him from the conflicts going on around them, the stories of battle and his mother’s nightmares in the dark were impossible to deny. His anger boiled in him, even as he was touched by her gentle kindness. He knew enough to know any who sought to harm his family would not deserve mercy.

Her question struck him curiously. What had they been up to? Ailill had brought him out simply for their morning walk around The Ridge. They had been walking together to learn the trails, so he could commit his home to memory when the time came he might have to rise to defend it. Today he had grown curious though. He knew he had sisters, he had family that stretched far and was curious about them. He had heard the names of Akadi and Aislinn, but had never seen them. He looked up at his mother. Who are Akadi and Ailsinn? Where is the rest of my family?