Anxiety prickled his skin like spiderlings, but they faded some at the sound of Zevulun's short laugh. Castillon had looked over at him as if expecting the older cream stallion to say something. Lir wasn't sure what was going on as he watched the exchange. The overo didn't understand what needed said that both of them had come to him. Had they decided that he needed to leave? Lir's brain spiraled into the worst-case scenario, simply sputtering.
He watched Cas turn to him, the buckskin male having a different look than Lir would have expected for a presumed eviction. The only show of his inward panic was the way Lir's white face knitted in confusion. There were smiles from both of the golden stallions. "Well, my dad thinks it’s time we officially have someone occupy the third leadership position in the Prairie.” Hazel eyes glance to Zevulun then back to Cas. Lir's brain worked slowly, not deducing why the other young stallion was so excited.
“I don’t know if you’ve been thinking about where you might want to go in the future but, if you want to stick around here…” Slowly, the realization came. “I thought you and I might make a pretty good team around here.” He couldn't believe it. They were asking him to stay? To take a position? Surprise and excitement blended together across his pale face. “What do you say, son? Would you like to be a part of the Prairie leadership," came the question straight from Zevulun's mouth.
Lir wasn't sure if they would ever understand what asking him this question meant to him. It meant that this place, the Prairie, really was his home. Not some place where the thought of being forced to move on dangled over his head, his mother's head and Vervain's. It meant they wanted him to stay and be a true part of the Prairie's future. "O-Of course! The words stammered forth in a rush, and his ears twitched nervously. "Are you sure you want me?"
An unsure tone tapered in his words as Lir met Castillon's eyes, and then a further meaningful glance was cast at Zevulun. It didn't feel right to continue to omit their relation, especially if the buckskin trusted him enough to have him lead at his side. Now it felt too close to a lie, and, if the Prairie was to be his future, he didn't want to start off hiding something from his friend. He'd have to address Zevulun later about this; that is, if he didn't mention it right now.