The mare introduced herself – Electra – and her son – Yiska – and then explained of trouble with leads on another island. Zevulun felt a sense of worry prickle at his mind, his innate necessity for heroism (especially when it came to lone mothers) stirring in his chest. Wrapped up in the dramatics with Salem, followed shortly after the unease he’d felt when regarding the Bay lead and his sister’s residence there, he had yet to visit Atlantis and see if there were any troubles brewing there. He wasn’t sure where Electra had come from, which island she was speaking of, and knew it was likely to protect herself. She did not know him or his allies and couldn’t know that she could name any stallion who might harass a mare into fear and Zevulun would be on the defense in a heartbeat.

I need to find Rafe, it’s important that I talk to him.

Zevulun nodded with understanding, even if he knew little of the details. This worried mare couldn’t be of trouble to Rafe and his kin, not like Zevulun had initially suspected. He didn’t believe delivering her to Rafe would bring any trouble to the brindled paint and it was further confirmed as the boy piped up from behind his mother.

I just want to see my daddy.

At that, Zevulun softened more. His relationship with his children was of the utmost importance to him and, no matter how old they grew, he hoped they’d always know they could come to him for anything. To hear a child aching to see their father tugged on his heart, and Zevulun sighed softly and then nodded. He looked at Electra when he spoke.

“It can be hard to navigate these islands when you’re a stranger to them,” his voice was warmer and more sympathetic than it had been when he was initially suspicious. “Rafe lives in the Badlands of Salem. It’s the furthest island south.” He considered the travel she and her son would need to take and the fact that she had admitted her sense of direction was off. He would have offered one of his grown sons, Ramiel or Jasper, to escort her to the Badlands to be sure she got there safely, but both were gone. Ramiel was still held in the Dunes, which was worrying Zevulun, and Jasper had left with Khan for the Badlands just a little while ago. There was Raziel, but…

Zevulun offered, “I could escort you and your son there safely if you would like. It might be too dangerous for you and your son to travel there alone, given how many other territories are between here and there.” Plus, if they went together, Zevulun was confident they could skirt down the shoreline of Crossing Isle, past the Lagoon bachelors and save Yiska from needing to swim down the entire length of the islands. It wouldn’t do to run the boy ragged.

Additionally, she would need an escort to make sure it was the Badlands she wound up at in Salem. Zevulun’s opinion of the Salem leads had soured, and he assumed immediately that she would run into trouble if she crossed into their territories before finding Rafe.

“But if you’d like to rest at all before our journey, you and Yiska would be welcome to stay in the Prairie.” He offered; in case she wasn’t wanting to leave immediately. “I have children Yiska’s age he could play with, and there are plenty of horses here looking out for the herd.” Then, to make certain she didn’t think he was pressuring her to stay he added, “I understand if you’d like to return to Rafe quickly and would rather not linger. I would be a rude host if I didn’t first offer.” Zevulun offered his characteristic, charming smile and even winked at Yiska, hoping he might’ve managed to ease some of the anxiety and worries this pair had endured while being uncertain where Rafe was.