Early morning before the duties unfurled before him (though, in truth, less and less duties fell solely to his shoulders as Castillon rose to his position) Zevulun allowed himself a moment in content peace to graze and let the world slowly wake around him. Mother’s and children could fall back asleep if they wanted to, and wait to wake up once the sun was a little higher in the sky. They could take their lazy morning knowing the pale stallion of the Prairie was never too far from them any more; he had begun to make good on his promise not to leave them again.

His solitude was interrupted, though he wasn’t upset about it, as Micah came up to join him. The grunt was met with a knowing grin and a small nod, agreeing that he, too, was still finding a way to rouse himself up for the day. As Micah playfully reached to snatch the bite Zevulun had just angled his muzzle toward, the pale stallion snorted his surprise, and then found himself grinning even wider before he shook his head at one of his closest friends.

Some day he hoped he might tell Micah what a balm his presence was on Zevulun’s soul. While Balor could never, ever be replaced, there was something his life had been missing that Micah seemed to perfectly fit. A brother by every means except blood. A like minded man to help him look out over the family, to go to when he needed to speak about things he didn’t feel he could share with his mares.

(Not that there was much of that, Zevulun was weak to the women he loved and it was all too common for him to share everything on his mind with them.)

As Micah began to speak, Zevulun flicked a pink-lined, pale ear toward him. It didn’t take long for him to put two-and-two together and know which daughter Micah was talking about. Hael had requested Zevulun find her a future mate, someone he approved of for her. He had been touched by the request, of course, but he was at a private war between the father who didn’t want to let her heart be possibly broken by anyone and who wanted her to experience the love she deserved to know. He chuckled softly and gave a small nod before reaching for a bite to snag and chew as he thought over his words before replying.

“I can do that,” he agreed. In truth, there was likely to be a whole swarm of men the moment they laid eyes on his girl (though Zevulun thought all his daughters were incredibly beautiful and any stallion would be lucky to have their hearts) but he hadn’t exactly held up his end of the bargain by searching for them. Once he decreed he wouldn’t leave the Prairie it was rather difficult to find unrelated boys for her. Too, the poor girl suffered from being of two prolific lineages across the isles, severely limiting her options.

“Where will you get this mystery distraction?” He asked, and there was a bit of a tease in his tone as his eyes briefly widened and he looked over Micah. “Don’t tell me you mean to kidnap some poor young stallion and drag him here against his will; I don’t think things are that desperate yet.”

Though, to be kidnapped and put in front of a beautiful lady you’re meant to woo… that didn’t sound like too bad of a gig, to tell the truth.