Zevulun offered another kind smile when the girl answered him. “Velaris? What a pretty name,” he complimented, finding it surprisingly easy to keep his tone calm as he focused on letting Velaris feel welcomed. When Vervain spoke, introducing each of them, he noted the excitable way she spoke to the girl as well. “This is who we came allllll the way to see,” she concluded and Zevulun met her nervous gaze and wilted somewhat, wishing there was a way to assure her they would never shun her or refuse to accept her daughter or whatever terrible things she must’ve been worried about. He watched the way her tail flicked and nickered softly at her, much like he had done a time or two when she was a babe frightened by something.

“You came alllllll this way just to see us?” Zevulun asked as his eyes returned to little Velaris. “I’m honored, aren’t you honored, Cas?” He asked his son who blinked away from where he was closely watching Nephilim, looked at Zevulun, then at Velaris, then back at his dad.

“Oh! Yeah, absolutely,” Castillon said, grinning down at Velaris. “Super honored.”

“Are you tired?” Nephilim asked softly. It could’ve been that he was asking the filly, but his eyes hadn’t moved away from watching Vervain, even as the rest of the gathering interacted with the young girl, making it clear his focus and attention was completely hers.

“If… you’d like,” Zevulun interjected gently, “I’m certain Castillon and Aura would not mind watching Velaris while you take some time to rest.”