“It would be for the best interest of the Prairie,” Castillon argued.

“No.” Zevulun’s voice was normally light and humored, but this time it was loud and heavy, accompanied by a pointed snort. His glacial blue eyes fixed his son with a firm look. “We do not drive our family away from the Prairie if they do not want to leave.” A few tense moments trickled between them before Zevulun sighed. “You have good intentions, Castillon, but you can never turn on your family… you can never take that back once it happens.” Yet he had a feeling the lesson was lost on his son, too young and currently caught in that phase of thinking he was right about how to take the future of the Prairie, which called for extremes Zevulun disagreed with. “You can always speak with him, stallion to stallion, brother to brother, and request he leave. Be prepared for the consequences if he disagrees.”

Castillon drew a breath, seeming to briefly wrestle with whether or not it was worth it to continue arguing. A call split through the air, beckoning Zevulun, at that very moment and whatever squabble father and son had been having was immediately, naturally set aside. Guard for the Prairie had them both going silent, lifting their heads high and pointing off in the direction the cry had come. Without a word Zevulun started forward and with the same silence, Castillion fell into step with him.

Just as the form of the red stallion came into view for them both, a moving shape off behind him did too. They called out - not to Zevulun and Castillon, but to the red stallion - with apparent excitement and surprise in their cry. Zevulun blinked a few times, reassessing the situation he and his son were approaching. His aunt, Oswin, had been gone for the last few days (his cousin had told him she was going to the Lagoon, and he’d been worried ever since) but it appeared she’d just arrived back from the sea, given how damp her coat and hair was. She was heading toward the stallion that Zevulun still hadn’t figured out the identity of.

“Nahawi!” His aunt cried out as she got closer and he thought: Well, that solves that one. And huffed as he and Castillon slowed down their pace to stop near the pair, where his aunt was stretching her muzzle to bump with Nahawi’s, blue eyes bright, clearly not having expected to see him here when she returned. Zevulun was also not expecting to see him, but he had an idea of why he was here.

“Nahawi, I overheard?” Zevulun asked by way of introduction, grinning briefly at his aunt and then looking back at the Atlantis leader. “My aunt has spoken highly of you, sorry we haven’t yet come to your home.” Zevulun tilted his pale face toward his golden and charcoal son beside him. “This is Castillon, my second-in-command.”

“Our third is nearby,” Castillon added, briefly glancing off as if to see if he could catch sight of Lir in the few bodies milling in the distance. It was just as likely he was sticking close to the herd after seeing Zevulun and Castillon on their way to investigate, staying near in case he needed to be there to protect them. The Lagoon had not bothered them since they failed to snatch Claret away, but Zevulun knew better than to get complacent. They’d only become distracted by some new target, it was only a matter of time before their eyes drew back to the peace of the Prairie.

Those who did not want peace for themselves did not want peace for anyone else, either.

“What brought you out to the Prairie?” Oswin asked Nahawi, drawing Zevulun’s attention back to the party before him.