Almost as soon as he'd been crowned king, Evrain was faced with a unique predicament: a child he had no means of taking care of. Marceline had left the young filly motherless, and Işık was gone to the wind. Most of the Hills herd had also quietly dismissed themselves it seemed, and with a stark lack of nursing mares in his land, something had to be done soon or the girl would die. He considered taking her to his father, but doubted Rafe's willingness to foster one of Işık's kin in his home.

Within a day of Marceline's death, Evrain had made a decision that he hoped was the right one, and would end up being worth the risk. He gathered the girl to his side and plunged them both into the sea, sight set north. It was early morning when they set out, the sun barely peeking above the horizon and painting the sky in ever-lightening hues of pink and purple and blue. When Mazikeen showed signs of tiring he allowed her to sling her small body over his back and carried her the rest of the way until at last they touched hoof on the Crossing.

It was in the Commons that they paused and took the chance to rest, having successfully evaded the sights of the Lagoon stallions. Evrain foraged mouthfuls of sweet grass and eagerly plucked at the blossoms that decorated the sprawling meadow. At his side Mazikeen nibbled curiously at the grass as they ambled through the meadow, hunger gnawing at her belly. She was too young to survive on grass alone, and if she didn't find an adoptive dam soon she would be in serious trouble. Evrain might not have particularly cared for the girl, but he wasn't about to let her die on his watch. She was the last thing Marceline had left in this world, and he would see to it she was taken care of by someone. Even better if that someone could give him something in exchange for her.

It was late afternoon before the pair made it to Tinuvel. Evrain's heart pounded anxiously inside his chest as he pulled himself from the sea and onto Fell's shores. Mazikeen cried out softly at his side, a shiver wracking her small, soaking body. Evrain shushed her softly before raising his head and letting out a call for the Bay king.


mixed • blue roan overo • fifteen-three
king of the hills • rafe x marceline • pippa