Zion
When Sabah emerges from beneath the falling water, Zion is unsure of himself. Should he call to her to announce himself? Should he go to her and seek to share his warmth? All the thoughts that swirled in his mind mattered for not when her mismatched eyes found him and she froze, her body unmoving aside from the involuntary shivering. The painted mare stood that way just long enough he considered wading out further into the water to reach her, but she began moving before he did.
Retreating from where he had stood in the water, Zion met Sabah on the bank. Their warm breath swirled and mixed like morning fog, but the stallion hardly noticed. It was the tears that welled in her eyes and the sadness of her smile that had not been there before. Zion didn’t understand, the question lingering on the tip of his tongue, wanting to know why their reunion brought her such sorrow. He dared not think it was happiness that made such an expression upon her face.
“Why would you not see me again?” he asked, though the answer didn’t truly matter. Not when she was still standing there dripping and her shivering continued. Easing forward, the stallion extended his nose first to see if she accepted his touch. He hated how much the water clinging to her coat muffled her scent, but with the stench of the Lagoon mingled with it earlier, he wondered if it was actually a blessing. Further still, Zion offered his body heat by standing next to her. Her shoulder to his flank, while he moved his head to rest over her back. Easy enough to sidestep away from him if she wished. But as he did so, Zion was well aware of how her swollen sides pressed against his shoulder and wondered who’s child grew inside her. “Awful cold for a bath, don’t you think?” he murmured.
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