He watched Claret closely as she started to speak and then stopped herself. Rather than prompting her verbally, Zevulun just watched his daughter with concerned eyes and waited in silence for her to ask her question. What she asked - for him to stay and watch over her - made his throat tighten, restricted with a sudden wave of emotion. Even after he had failed her so horribly, she still wanted and trusted him to watch over her. Zevulun swallowed back the lump that’d gathered and offered her a small nod before in a hushed but firm voice he assured her, “Of course, sweetheart, I’ll be right here. Get some rest.”

Zevulun reached out and gently, lovingly brushed his muzzle along his daughter's speckled neck. He brushed a few strands of her hair away and sighed a warm breath into her skin before he tucked back, offering her the room to lay and sleep if she wanted, or even himself as something to prop up against if she preferred to remain standing. He glanced toward her brother and knew that although Castillon was happy to see his sister again he was still a young boy full of rambunctious energy. While he might settle in for a little while with them he’d eventually grow bored and restless.

“Castillon, could you find Raziel for me and tell him Claret is home safe?” He asked, even knowing that Raziel would likely… not care that much. As hard as that was to admit, Zevulun was becoming increasingly aware of his eldest son’s disinterest and detachment to the world around him. There was little Zevulun felt he could do, and too many other places for his attention to go. Namely at the moment he was absorbed in Claret; in helping her feel safe again, in making sure everything stayed that way. But the excuse would help Castillon feel like he wasn’t being sent away with little reason and, after he spoke with Raziel, he could wander off and do as he pleased. All the while Zevulun would be here, right beside Claret, for as long as his daughter needed him to be.

Castillon nodded and then shuffled a little closer to his sister. His big brown eyes stared quietly at her for just a moment before he said in a hushed voice, “I’m happy you’re home, sis,” and offered a small, lop-sided smile. He stretched his neck to share a soft whuff of warm air with her before he smiled at his dad, then turned and trotted off, black tail flagging out behind his white-blanketed rump as he went to look for his older half-brother.

“Get some rest, sweetheart,” Zevulun repeated his earlier sentiment in the silence that followed Castillon’s departure, turning his loving, attentive gaze back onto his daughter. “I’ll keep you safe.”