I don’t believe you. It took everything for Jasper to remain planted where he stood. The ache inside him was all-consuming now and he wanted to stumble forward through the grasses, into the shadows and to the lean boy and wrap him tightly in an embrace. It was strange to want to comfort him so intimately, they were strangers after all, but Jasper couldn’t feel any shame or question in the moment for how badly he wanted to offer some sort of reprieve. The burning in those brilliant, sad eyes across from him made Jasper slightly drop his white-covered face, blue eyes shining with a soft sheen of sympathetic tears.
He kept himself from moving, despite what he wanted, his attention fixed only on Khan as the deep gold, black, and white spotted colt remained still. Jasper gave him the silence to process through what he had just learned, his ears tipped forward and eyes watchful. Eventually Khan said something, just one word, so hoarse and quiet that Jasper almost missed it. When?
“Not too long ago,” Jasper admitted, his voice somber. He wondered if he should tell Khan everything, then shortly decided he absolutely should. It was the least he could offer after the colt came unknowingly seeking a ghost. “She gave birth to a filly before she went,” he explained, eyes briefly searching Khan’s face, wondering how he would feel to know he had a half-sibling. (If, of course, Jasper’s assumption as to why Khan was seeking Darshan out in the first place was correct.) “But I don’t think she suffered too long. My father had found her and asked me to find horses in the herd she wanted to be with her when she…” His voice trailed off. Jasper swallowed back against the knot of emotion that had climbed up into his throat. He remembered how panicked he’d felt, racing through the Prairie grasses to find Romulus and Larka and bring them back to his father and Darshan. “She had loved ones with her, when she passed.” He said softly, wondering if that would be any sort of help to know at all. At least she hadn’t been alone.
This was where she wanted to be. At the sight of darkened streaks down Khan’s cheek, Jasper couldn’t hold himself back any longer. Gingerly, almost afraid to move too fast, he picked up his white leg and stretched, stepping in the space between them and close to Khan. He had wanted to reach then, to brush his whiskered lips with reassurance over Khan’s tear-trails, his heart hammering hard and fast in his chest. But, at that same moment, Khan turned away to rub his teary eyes furiously on his knee and Jasper pulled back into his prior spot, cheeks feeling hot. This was where her home was, and her Heart. Jasper set aside whatever strange feelings had just come over him, refocusing on Khan and briefly nodding to agree with his words. Jasper may have not known Darshan personally, but his father had once told him she had been here before Zevulun had taken the land; this was certainly her home.
Khan asked his name, after briefly attempting to smile, and the frosted gold boy’s heart lifted before he said, “I’m Jasper.”
Silence rested between them and Jasper grappled for something to say, wondering what he even could say. He could offer to take Khan to see Zevulun, or even Larka, if that was what the boy wanted. But no invitation came to his lips. For some reason, just for this moment, Jasper liked the quiet between the two, a vulnerable sadness hanging, his own soul aching to provide comfort to the richly golden boy with the ink-black hair.
He blinked and noticed Khan was looking at him. Jasper watched him, studied the endless, dark blue of his irises and noted the way the tears he’d cried made them glisten more. He felt his heartbeat pick up again, which confused him. His mouth felt suddenly dry. Jasper licked hesitantly at his lips and swallowed, about to say something, anything, if he could just find his voice… but then Khan shook and the moment seemed to break apart. Again Jasper felt his cheeks go somewhat warm as he looked briefly away, trying to calm the way his heartbeat had seemed to stammer.
Thank you, Jasper. The small, sad whisper from Khan’s lips drew Jasper’s bright blue eyes back up to his face. His brow pinched and he sucked in a small breath, almost going to ask what he deserved gratitude for, but then decided against it. Instead he breathed out low and offered a small smile before nodding. “You’re welcome, Khan.” A warmth bloomed through his narrow chest.
He only let there be a brief silence before he offered, “Would you like me to take you to the river to drink? There’s a quiet little spot along the border not too far away from here.” He gestured, pointing with his pink muzzle down the line he intended to walk them. They wouldn’t have to step any further into the Prairie unless Khan requested it.
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