The days following Darshan’s death had been difficult, but there was new life to look after not only with her daughter, but Zevulun’s children as well. With the islands stirring and even Luthien’s corners growing with activity the Prairie lead knew his vigilance would be necessary to keep the herd safe. Already there had been an issue when the silver-haired mare of Salem’s Dunes came up the shoreline and engaged Zevulun in a fight, besting him and taking away Ramiel. It was a hit Zevulun had trouble taking, not only because it was his son, but because Ramiel was one of his best guardians of the Prairie herd.
With the changing of the season, Zevulun decided he would stay within the Prairie borders as much as possible, hoping to not have to leave his home at all. Without Ramiel he knew he could count on Raziel (despite Raziel’s anger at him for having lost Ramiel) to at least step in if there was trouble, but he wasn’t sure Raziel had the same sense of duty that his twin did. Jasper, of course, wanted to prove himself terribly and took to his new guardian duties with enthusiasm that made Zevulun grin… but he was barely two and a half, and given his small pony-influence stature and his late development, Jasper came across as though he was just a yearling. Zevulun didn’t want to think of what might become of his son if someone with ill intentions decided to press their luck on the Prairie herd and found him standing in their way.
A whinny rose above the lazy early autumn breeze and Zevulun lifted his head, pointing his ears as he looked quickly in the direction the call had come. A strange stallion stood a decent distance from the main area the herd was grazing. Zevulun’s eyes narrowed with concentration but, try as he might, he couldn’t think of any time he’d seen the pale stallion before.
With a rumbling whinny of his own, Zevulun’s white knees picked themselves up high into his chest as he trotted forward, turning his ears back and pushing the herd a few paces further away just as a precaution. The other stallion appeared entirely unaggressive, but Zevulun chose to be safe. Without waiting by as they moved, Zevulun kept advancing toward the stranger, though he pulled his gait and took the last few steps between them at a walk. He stopped and stretched his neck, offering his pale muzzle to the stallion’s own, sharing a few warm breaths and exchanging scents.
“Welcome to the Prairie,” Zevulun said once he’d tucked his chin back, satisfied and certain now that he didn’t know this stallion, nor did he smell of anything or anyone familiar. “I’m Zevulun, the lead.” He paused only briefly before he asked, “What brings you to my home?”
|